5-Day Shoestring Budget Itinerary for Beverly Hills, California

• Day 1 - Beverly Hills walking tour: Start the day with a visit to the Rodeo Drive for luxury window shopping. Next, visit the Beverly Hills Sign for a fun photo opportunity. Then, make your way to the Greystone Mansion and Gardens where you can enjoy a guided tour of the estate and its gardens. End the day with a sunset hike at the Franklin Canyon Park.
• Day 2 - Cultural experience: Start the day with a hike at Runyon Canyon Park before heading to the Getty Center Museum for a cultural experience of art and architecture. Next, visit the Beverly Hills Farmers Market for a taste of local cuisine. End the day with a relaxing movie at the historic Beverly Cinema.
• Day 3 - Beach day: Start the day with a trip to the Santa Monica Pier for beachside activities like fishing, music, and amusement park rides. Next, visit the Third Street Promenade for shopping, dining, and street performances. End the day with a sunset at the Annenberg Community Beach House.
• Day 4 - Attractions day: Start the day with a visit to the Universal Studios Hollywood for a day of thrilling rides and attractions. Next, visit the world-famous Hollywood Walk of Fame before heading to the Griffith Observatory where you can learn about space and take in stunning views of the city. End the day with a visit to the iconic Hollywood Sign.
• Day 5 - Outdoor adventure: Start the day with a road trip to the Joshua Tree National Park for an outdoor adventure of hiking and rock climbing. Next, visit the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway for a scenic ride and stunning views of the desert landscape. End the day with a relaxing soak in the Desert Hot Springs Spa.

Time and Costs Estimates

• Rodeo Drive (1 hour, free)
• Beverly Hills Sign (30 minutes, free)
• Greystone Mansion and Gardens (2 hours, $10)
• Franklin Canyon Park (2 hours, free)
• Runyon Canyon Park (2 hours, free)
• Getty Center Museum (3 hours, free)
• Beverly Hills Farmers Market (1 hour, free)
• Beverly Cinema (2 hours, $10)
• Santa Monica Pier (4 hours, free admission)
• Third Street Promenade (2 hours, free)
• Annenberg Community Beach House (2 hours, free)
• Universal Studios Hollywood (1 day, $100)
• Hollywood Walk of Fame (1 hour, free)
• Griffith Observatory (2 hours, free)
• Hollywood Sign (1 hour, free)
• Joshua Tree National Park (1 day, $30 per vehicle)
• Palm Springs Aerial Tramway (3 hours, $26)
• Desert Hot Springs Spa (2 hours, $10)
Total Estimated Costs: $236 per person

Transportation

While it is possible to tour Beverly Hills and Hollywood on foot, public transportation such as buses and metros are available for longer distances. Ride-hailing services such as Lyft and Uber are also available but can be expensive. For the outdoorsy travelers, renting a car is recommended to explore the national parks and other destinations outside of Beverly Hills. Car rentals start at around $25 per day.

Useful Tips

If you have more time, consider visiting the nearby cities of Los Angeles and Malibu. The iconic Venice Beach and Muscle Beach are also worth a visit. For those on a tighter budget, consider skipping the theme parks and opting for free activities such as hiking in the hills or visiting the free museums.

Airports

The nearest airport to Beverly Hills is Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), located 10 miles away from the city center. Other nearby airports include Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), about 13 miles away, and Long Beach Airport (LGB), about 30 miles away.