See Los Angeles in three days—everything you’re looking for is right here.

Last summer, Xiao Yu spent four months living in Minnesota and then began an ambitious journey through the American West before returning home. The first destination was Los Angeles, the City of Angels. Since the first stop is casual and the city has too much to offer, Xiao Yu took the time to do some practical research and put together this itinerary in an effort to ease the trip and make it more enjoyable.

Before You Go

What should you prepare in advance?

a. Flights: If you are a traveler from China, you will want to track the airfare for 1-2 months leading up to your departure. With multiple flight booking sites open, it is easier to find a good price. b. SIM card: Buy your SIM card before leaving, as Xiao Yu noticed better signal coverage and faster data with AT&T.

What is an affordable option for convenient lodging?

by: 7 Christina Hotels located by the main Metro stations in Los Angeles usually charge high rates. If you are looking for a good price and better convenience, then Koreatown and Chinatown are a good option as they are located near each other. Xiao Yu stayed in Koreatown, where there was a bus stop within easy reach to access a Metro station. This is a good base for those wanting to keep lodging costs low while also having good transportation options.

Important phone applications

a. Maps

Itinerary

Day 1: Settle in and explore Griffith Observatory. The airport shuttles should be easy to access by following the signs after leaving the airport. There are many shuttles to Union Station available right after each exit to the different colored marked routes.

Quick tip: Union Station has an automated ticketing machine, and it is better to buy your Metro card there. You can add balance to your card for the rest of your trip as needed.

Griffith Observatory

Griffith Observatory is one of the most famous observatories in the world. It provides the Los Angeles view visitors expect. You can see all of Los Angeles and the Hollywood sign from the hills.

There are many exhibits to see and 2 shows worth seeing. One of them is free dome and it is very nice. It feels as if you are lying under the sky and you will hear the story of the universe. You will be able to get a half-price ticket as a student, and no student id is required, just tell the ticket staff you are a student and the ticket will cost you 5 dollars.

Day 2: You will spend the entire day in Hollywood and Universal Studios

by: Drifting Maple Bridge

Visiting Hollywood is a must when traveling to Los Angeles and Universal Studios should take a whole day and not just a few hours. You can take the Metro Red Line to the Hollywood stop and from there a picturesque free shuttle train goes directly to the entrance.

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Do not forget to download the Universal Studios Hollywood app and also before your visit, as you will be able to check the wait times for the attractions and you will have the full map of the park. You can also get maps of the park in Chinese and English at the entry point. It is a nice service.

The attraction is divided into major themed sections, such as Harry Potter's Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Transformers, The Simpsons, Minions, The Walking Dead, and Kung Fu Panda. A must-do is the Universal Studios Tour, where you go behind the scenes in the movie world.

by: Chinesesunlight

It's hard to leave the park for Harry Potter fans. They recreated Platform 9¾ and the famous Hogsmeade village, walk through, and there stands Hogwarts Castle.

by: Chinesesunlight

Tickets are best bought online before the visit. You can scan your electronic ticket at the entrance, so you do not need to waste time in line to buy tickets.

Day 3: 360 degrees of sightseeing in Los Angeles.

Leave the third day of your trip for the city. If you want to cover more distance, book a rental car in advance online. Los Angeles is famous for traffic. But, if you want to visit multiple places in one day, driving is the best option.

Other recommended stops are the arena of LA Lakers, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the famous houses in Beverly Hills, and the wall that is famous on Instagram.