5-Day California City Experience Itinerary

• Day 1: Santa Monica Pier
  10 minutes (1.3 miles) from Downtown Santa Monica

  The Santa Monica Pier is a landmark and popular attraction located in Santa Monica. It’s known for its amusement park, beautiful beach, and various attractions for tourists and locals to enjoy.

• Day 2: The Getty Center
  20 minutes (10.2 miles) from Santa Monica

  The Getty Center offers stunning views of LA and its collection comprises impressive artwork ranging from classics to modern collections. A must-go place for average tourists and enthusiastic artist who love the artistic aspect of the city.

• Day 3: Universal Studios Hollywood
  20 minutes (9.8 miles) from The Getty Center

  Universal Studios Hollywood is a top-rated amusement park with thrilling rides, shows, and attractions based on some of the most popular films and TV shows. Check the availability and timings of the studio tram tour beforehand.

• Day 4: Hollywood
  20 minutes (6.9 miles) from Universal Studios Hollywood

  walk around Hollywood and visit The Hollywood Museum, The Chinese Theatre, The Kodak Theater, and even try to take the time to catch a show or live event at The Dolby Theatre if it is happening on the day of the visit.

• Day 5: San Francisco (Golden Gate Park)
  and 6-hour drive (383 miles) from Hollywood

  Visit Golden Gate Park, ranging over 1,000 acres, it has attractions such as the De Young Museum, Academy of Sciences, Gardens, and Lakes. If you feel pressed for time, instead of driving, consider taking the scenic Amtrak Coast Starlight train journey from LA to San Francisco then continue with a taxi or rental car.

Time and Costs Estimates

• Santa Monica Pier (2-3 hours, free)
• The Getty Center (3-4 hours, free)
• Universal Studios Hollywood (6-8 hours, $109/person for a general ticket)
• Hollywood (4-6 hours, free for walking)
• Golden Gate Park (4-6 hours, various costs depending on the activity. General admission to De Young Museum and Academy of Sciences is $15/person each)
• Total Estimated Costs: $238 for one person, excluding transportation and accommodation.

Transportation

Public transportation in California is underdeveloped and may not cover all the destinations mentioned in this itinerary, so it is recommended to rent a car for the trip. Make sure to map out the journey from your hotel/Airbnb to each location the night before to save time. The estimated total cost for gasoline is around $100.

Useful Tips

Adding one or two more days to this itinerary can cover more locations such as Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, Venice Beach, or even Disneyland. The itinerary can also be adjusted by subtracting one day from Hollywood or Santa Monica and adding it to the other locations.

Airports

There are three major airports in California: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), and San Diego International Airport (SAN). LAX is located 16 miles from Downtown LA, while SFO is located 13 miles from Downtown San Francisco. SAN is only 4 miles away from Downtown San Diego.