Downtown Los Angeles is where the city began and where its rail lines meet. In a day on foot you can see the plaza where the pueblo was founded, a 1939 train station, food halls, free art museums and a Frank Gehry concert hall. Downtown is a collection of districts, each with a different feel, and they are close enough to walk between or connect with a short Metro ride. This guide goes district by district, with hours and fares we checked in October 2026.
In this guide
It is part of our Los Angeles neighborhood guide. For a full plan, see Day 3 of our 3-day Los Angeles itinerary.
Downtown LA at a glance
- Rail hub Union Station, served by the A, B and D Lines, Metrolink and Amtrak
- Free museums The Broad and MOCA Grand Avenue, both on Grand Avenue
- Disney Concert Hall Free self-guided audio tours, usually 10am to 3pm
- Angels Flight Open 6:45am to 10pm, $1.50 one way
- City Hall deck Free 27th-floor observation deck on weekdays
- Closed Mondays The Broad
Bunker Hill and Grand Avenue
Grand Avenue on Bunker Hill is Downtown’s cultural strip. The Broad, a contemporary art museum, has free general admission, with timed tickets recommended and walk-up entry available. Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Room needs a separate reservation, and the museum closes on Mondays. Across the street, MOCA Grand Avenue is also free, with reservations recommended.
Walt Disney Concert Hall, home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, is next door. Its curved stainless-steel exterior was designed by Frank Gehry. The Music Center offers free self-guided audio tours that usually run daily from 10am to 3pm, with the last tour starting at 2pm, and they take about an hour. Performances can change the schedule, so check before you go. Climb the outside stairs to the rooftop garden for views of the building up close.
Gloria Molina Grand Park runs downhill from the Music Center to City Hall and hosts free events, including the NYELA New Year’s Eve party.
Historic Core and Broadway
Grand Central Market
Grand Central Market on Broadway has served food under one roof since 1917. Stalls range from tacos and pupusas to coffee and egg sandwiches; Eggslut has a counter here. See our best brunch list for more about it. Go before noon on weekends to beat the lunch crowd.
Angels Flight
Across Hill Street from the market, Angels Flight is a short funicular railway that climbs Bunker Hill. It runs daily from 6:45am to 10pm. A one-way ride costs $1.50, or $0.75 with stored value on a Metro TAP card. It is a fun way up to the museums.
Broadway theaters
Broadway has a long line of historic movie palaces, many from the 1910s to 1930s. Some host concerts and screenings, and others have been turned into shops. Walk the stretch from 3rd to 9th Street to see the marquees.
Civic Center
Los Angeles City Hall at 200 N Spring St has a free observation deck on the 27th floor. It is open on weekdays during business hours and closed on weekends and holidays. You check in at security and get a visitor badge. Hours vary by source, so call ahead before you go.
El Pueblo and Union Station
El Pueblo de Los Angeles marks the place where the city was founded. Olvera Street, a market lane with Mexican food and crafts, runs off the old plaza, and several historic buildings stand around it. The plaza hosts festivals through the year; check the El Pueblo calendar.
Union Station, which opened in 1939, is across Alameda Street. Even if you are not catching a train, walk through the waiting room to see the tiled floors and leather chairs. It is the main hub for Metro, Metrolink, Amtrak and the FlyAway bus to LAX. See our LAX to Downtown guide.
Chinatown
Chinatown sits just north of El Pueblo, with restaurants, bakeries, galleries and the Central Plaza. The A Line stops at Chinatown station. Each year the Golden Dragon Parade marks the Lunar New Year here.
Little Tokyo
Little Tokyo, a few blocks southeast of City Hall, is one of the main centers of Japanese American life in Southern California. The Japanese American National Museum is here, along with Japanese restaurants, shops and the Japanese Village Plaza. The Little Tokyo/Arts District station on the A and E Lines is in the middle of the neighborhood.
Arts District
East of Little Tokyo, the Arts District fills old warehouses with breweries, galleries, restaurants and murals. It is spread out, so plan to walk a lot or use rideshare. Weekends are busiest. Many breweries and restaurants open later in the day, so this district works best in the afternoon and evening rather than first thing in the morning.
South Park and L.A. Live
South Park, at the southwest end of Downtown, has Crypto.com Arena, home of the Lakers, Sparks and Kings, plus the L.A. Live entertainment complex and the Convention Center. Expect heavy traffic and surge pricing on event nights.
Getting around Downtown
Downtown has the best transit in the region. The B and D Lines run under 7th Street, Pershing Square and Civic Center. The A and E Lines share stations along the Regional Connector, including Historic Broadway, Grand Av Arts/Bunker Hill and Little Tokyo/Arts District. Metro fares are $1.75 per ride, with free transfers within two hours and a $5 daily cap on TAP or a contactless card. See our LA Metro guide.
LADOT’s DASH buses run short local routes across Downtown. Driving is possible, but garages are expensive and streets are one-way in many places.
Downtown tips
- Avoid Monday if The Broad is on your list.
- Book The Broad’s timed tickets for weekends.
- Pair Grand Central Market, Angels Flight and Grand Avenue in one morning.
- Some blocks are quiet at night, so plan your route back to your hotel or station.
- Check event calendars; games and concerts at Crypto.com Arena fill streets and garages.
Where to stay
Downtown is a strong base for travelers without a car, since rail lines reach Hollywood, Santa Monica, Pasadena and Long Beach. See our where to stay in Los Angeles guide. For more museums, see our best museums in Los Angeles list.
Frequently asked questions
Is Downtown Los Angeles worth visiting?
Yes, especially for free museums, architecture, food halls and history. Union Station, Olvera Street and Grand Avenue are all close together.
How much is Angels Flight?
$1.50 one way, or $0.75 with stored value on a Metro TAP card. It runs daily from 6:45am to 10pm.
Is the Walt Disney Concert Hall tour free?
Yes. Self-guided audio tours are free and usually run from 10am to 3pm, but performances can change the schedule.
Can you go up Los Angeles City Hall?
Yes. The 27th-floor observation deck is free on weekdays. You need to check in at security.
Is Downtown LA walkable?
The core is walkable. Use Metro or DASH between farther districts like the Arts District and South Park.
Official sources: The Broad; Walt Disney Concert Hall self-guided tours; Angels Flight Railway; Grand Central Market; El Pueblo de Los Angeles; Japanese American National Museum; LA Metro.
Photo credits
Featured image: Downtowngal / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0