Los Angeles City and Coastal Day Trips
Stay in Santa Monica; three days in the city, plus day trips to Malibu, Catalina Island and Laguna Beach.
The first three days cover Hollywood, the Observatory, the Getty Center and Museum Row; the following days radiate out of the city: Malibu's coast and the Getty Villa, a ferry to Catalina Island, and Laguna Beach in Orange County for tide pools and cliff trails; the last day wraps up downtown. A rental car is needed. Suited to first-time or second-time visitors who want to combine city and coast.
Catalina ferries run more often in summer; in winter, rough seas can occasionally halt sailings.
Day by day
Day 1 · Arrival and Santa Monica Beach
Los Angeles（Santa Monica Pier、Venice Beach）
A car from the airport takes about 20–30 minutes to Santa Monica; walk or bike along the boardwalk from the pier to Venice Beach.
Stay: Santa Monica
Day 2 · Hollywood and the Griffith Observatory
Los Angeles（Hollywood Walk of Fame / TCL Chinese Theatre、Hollywood Forever Cemetery、Griffith Observatory）
About 45–60 minutes by car from Santa Monica to Hollywood; after parking, walk the Walk of Fame, visit Hollywood Forever Cemetery, and in the evening go up to the Observatory.
The Observatory is closed on Mondays; parking is hard to find on weekends.
Stay: Santa Monica
Day 3 · Getty Center and Museum Row
Los Angeles（Getty Center、Beverly Hills / Rodeo Drive、La Brea Tar Pits、Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)）
About 20 minutes to the Getty Center; in the afternoon, about 30 minutes to Museum Row on Wilshire Boulevard, passing through Beverly Hills.
The Getty Center and LACMA each have closed days; check before you go.
Stay: Santa Monica
Day 4 · Malibu Coast Day
Los Angeles（Getty Villa、Malibu & El Matador State Beach）
Drive west on Highway 1 about 15 minutes to the Getty Villa, then about 40 minutes more to Matador Beach, and return the same way.
The Getty Villa is closed on Tuesdays and requires a reservation for free timed-entry tickets; Highway 1 still has post-disaster construction.
Stay: Santa Monica
Day 5 · Ferry to Catalina Island
Los Angeles（Santa Catalina Island (Avalon)）
Drive about 40–50 minutes to the Long Beach harbor, take a ferry about 1 hour 15 minutes to Avalon; on the island, walk or ride a golf cart, and return in the evening.
Book ferry tickets in advance; the island restricts outside vehicles.
Stay: Santa Monica
Day 6 · Laguna Beach Day
Laguna Beach（Crystal Cove State Park、Heisler Park、Main Beach Park、Laguna Art Museum）
Take I-405 about 1 hour 15 minutes to Crystal Cove, then follow the coast to downtown Laguna Beach; return in the evening to avoid rush-hour traffic.
Check low tide times for tide pools; do not collect creatures from the rocky areas.
Stay: Santa Monica
Day 7 · Downtown and Departure
Los Angeles（Grand Central Market、The Broad、Walt Disney Concert Hall）
Drive about 30–45 minutes from Santa Monica to downtown; in the afternoon, drive about 40 minutes to the airport to return the car.
The Broad is free but requires a timed reservation.