The key cultural center of the West Coast, Los Angeles is one of America’s great cities. Combining year-round perfect weather, a vibrant local culture and economy, as well as the world-class glitz of Hollywood, LA is the perfect destination for a day trip.

Los Angeles is difficult to summarize due to its eclectic combination of diverse neighborhoods, with the scene ranging from trendy and glamorous to retro, or laidback and bohemian. No matter whether you’re an artist, a business professional, a family visiting with the kids, or a young person looking to hit the town, there’s something for everyone in Los Angeles.

And of course, while you’re spending your day trip in Los Angeles, you might as well do it in comfort with a hotel day stay at one of our gorgeous partner properties like the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood with its rooftop pool and elite cabanas, the luxury Shade Hotel in pristine Manhattan Beach, or the bright boutique Cadillac Hotel in the funky Venice Beach.

Check out our insider guide to a day stay in Los Angeles below, from HotelsByDay!

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Relaxation & People Watching

Tomoko Spa

For a day of relaxation, Los Angeles insiders know the best play to check out is the Tomoko Spa. One of LA’s best-kept secrets, the Tomoko Spa offers a wide range of Japanese massage and beauty treatments in a serene environment. When your afternoon involves 2 hours in deadly LA traffic, there’s no better way to release that tension than with a tranquil treatment at this Beverly Hills staple.

Regen Projects

If you’re looking for an artistic experience in LA but have already hit the Getty Center and LACMA, head over to Regen Projects. The modern art gallery is a great space to check out contemporary international work with a rotating calendar of exhibitions.

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Adventure & Exploration

Griffith Observatory

Located on Mount Hollywood, the Art Deco-style Griffith Observatory is one of the must-see stops on any visit to Los Angeles. While you might be impressed by the architecture of the structure itself, the real attraction is vantage point. With spectacular views of the surrounding Los Angeles area, Griffith Observatory is definitely worth the stop during your stay for the day in LA.

Going for a Run in Franklin Canyon

Nestled between the San Fernando Valley and Beverly Hills, Franklin Canyon is an easily accessible but significantly less tourist-oriented alternative to Runyon Canyon. If you’re looking for an experience that takes you for a breath of fresh air and also might yield a celebrity sighting or two, we suggest heading over for a job through Franklin Canyon. Oh, and the rustic, natural beauty of the park space isn’t too shabby either.

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Venice Beach Canals

Head down to Venice Beach for a quiet excursion that brings you through some of the city’s finest architecture. The Venice Beach canals were initially part of a developer’s plan to turn Venice into a weekend getaway destination for Angelenos, modeled in part after the Italian city of the same name.

As LA expanded and grew to absorb Venice into the fold, the canals have remained, and they are a charming place to spend the afternoon before heading over to the beach to watch the sunset over the Pacific.

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Food & Drink

Stir Market

For a city like Los Angeles, the emphasis of the food scene is more often on see and be seen than the quality of the food. Stir Market‘s California adaptations of European classics turn that on its head with killer dishes like a Smoked Salmon BLT and Avocado Toast. Head down to the sprawling market for a fun atmosphere and friendly service.

Gracias Madre

We all love Mexican food, but Gracias Madre is a step above the traditional fare you’re used to getting from your local taco truck. With a vegan and organic menu featuring instant classics like sweet potato tacos, this ultra chic West Hollywood restaurant is a great stop for lunch during your intra-day stay in Los Angeles.

Know something we don’t? We’d love to hear what suggestions you have for getting the full Los Angeles experience. Check the HotelsByDay’s blog for more insider guides on how to spend your day stay.

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Yannis Moati

Founder at HotelsByDay
Yannis has a rich background of 15 years in travel, from guiding tours in Europe at a young age, to co-founding an exotic travel agency, and then directing a New York-based global tour operator company. Throughout his professional life, for both his clients and personal travels, Yannis had to always pull strings to get a more personalized hotel check-in or check-out times. Frustration turned to illumination, witnessing first-hand the important customer behavioral shifts of the ‘on-demand’ economy: something could be done in boosting hotel revenues by selling uncommitted inventory by day.