Where to Stay in Los Angeles: Santa Monica, Hollywood, Downtown, Beverly Hills and More
The best areas to stay in Los Angeles: Santa Monica, Venice, Hollywood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Downtown, Anaheim and near LAX, with traffic, parking and car hire tips.
Key takeaways
- LA is huge and car-centric; choose your base around what you want to do most.
- Santa Monica is the best all-round first-time base for beach, walkability and transit.
- West Hollywood and Beverly Hills suit nightlife and luxury; Downtown suits culture and events.
- Families focused on Disneyland should stay in Anaheim, about an hour from central LA.
In this guide
- Quick picks
- Santa Monica
- Venice
- West Hollywood
- Beverly Hills
- Hollywood
- Downtown LA
- Anaheim
- Beach towns: Manhattan Beach, Hermosa, Malibu
- Getting around
- When to visit
- Hotel tips
- Which area suits which traveller?
- A four-day LA itinerary (by area to beat traffic)
- Combining LA with other trips
- Common mistakes to avoid
- The bottom line
Los Angeles is not one city but a sprawling collection of neighbourhoods. Staying in the wrong place can mean hours in traffic every day. Here is how to choose the right base.
Quick picks
| You want... | Stay in | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Beach and walkable | Santa Monica | Pier, Third Street Promenade, Metro |
| Bohemian beach | Venice | Boardwalk, canals, Abbot Kinney |
| Nightlife and central | West Hollywood | Sunset Strip, restaurants |
| Luxury and shopping | Beverly Hills | Rodeo Drive, five-star hotels |
| Movie sights | Hollywood | Walk of Fame, Griffith Observatory nearby |
| Culture and events | Downtown | Arena, museums, food halls |
| Disneyland | Anaheim | Walk to the parks |
| Early flights | LAX area | Airport hotels |
| Quiet beach town | Manhattan Beach / Malibu | Relaxed, upscale |
Santa Monica
Best for: first-timers, families, couples.
Pros: beach, pier, bike path, shops, Metro E Line to Downtown. Cons: expensive; traffic to Hollywood and Disneyland.
Venice
Best for: creative travellers, couples.
Pros: Venice Beach Boardwalk, canals, Abbot Kinney Boulevard shopping and dining. Cons: some areas feel gritty, especially at night.
West Hollywood
Best for: nightlife, couples, LGBTQ+ travellers.
Pros: central, walkable areas, Sunset Strip, top restaurants. Cons: pricey hotels.
Beverly Hills
Best for: luxury travellers.
Pros: iconic hotels, Rodeo Drive, safe and elegant. Cons: high prices; quieter evenings.
Hollywood
Best for: first-time sightseeing.
Pros: Walk of Fame, TCL Chinese Theatre, Metro B Line, near Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood Sign viewpoints. Cons: busy, gritty in parts; read reviews carefully.
Downtown LA
Best for: concerts, sports, museums, food.
Pros: Crypto.com Arena, Walt Disney Concert Hall, The Broad, Grand Central Market, Metro hub. Cons: some streets feel unsafe at night; homelessness is visible in parts.
Anaheim
Best for: Disneyland families.
Pros: walk to Disneyland Resort; many family hotels. Cons: around an hour from central LA without traffic.
Beach towns: Manhattan Beach, Hermosa, Malibu
Best for: relaxed beach holidays.
Pros: beautiful beaches, upscale and calm. Cons: you will need a car.
Getting around
- Car hire: useful but parking is expensive at many hotels.
- Metro: improving, with lines linking Santa Monica, Downtown, Hollywood and more.
- Rideshare: widely used.
- Traffic: plan each day around one area.
When to visit
LA has mild weather year-round. Spring and autumn are lovely; summer is hot inland but pleasant at the coast, and "June Gloom" brings morning clouds to beaches. Winter is mild with occasional rain.
Hotel tips
- Check parking fees and resort fees.
- Choose a base near what you will do most.
- Look at Metro access if you will not drive.
- For an early flight, see LAX airport hotels.
Which area suits which traveller?
| Traveller | Best area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timer | Santa Monica or West Hollywood | Walkable, central or beachside |
| Family | Santa Monica or Anaheim | Beach or Disneyland |
| Couple | Malibu, Santa Monica or Beverly Hills | Romance, views |
| Nightlife | West Hollywood or Downtown | Bars, venues |
| Budget | Hollywood (check the block), Koreatown, LAX area | Lower rates |
| Movie fan | Hollywood or Burbank | Studio tours, sights |
A four-day LA itinerary (by area to beat traffic)
Day 1 (West): Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach Boardwalk, Venice Canals, sunset in Malibu. Day 2 (Hollywood): Griffith Observatory, Hollywood Walk of Fame, a studio tour in Burbank. Day 3 (Central): The Getty Center, Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive, dinner in West Hollywood. Day 4 (Downtown): The Broad, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Grand Central Market, Little Tokyo and the Arts District.
Combining LA with other trips
- Disneyland: spend two or three nights in Anaheim.
- Las Vegas: about four to five hours' drive. See where to stay in Las Vegas.
- San Francisco: drive the Pacific Coast Highway or fly. See where to stay in San Francisco.
- Palm Springs and Joshua Tree: two to three hours east.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Staying in one place and driving everywhere daily.
- Booking Hollywood expecting glamour; it can be gritty.
- Ignoring parking fees at hotels.
- Underestimating the distance to Disneyland.
- Planning too much for one day.
The bottom line
Stay in Santa Monica for an all-round first trip, West Hollywood for nightlife, Beverly Hills for luxury, Downtown for events and Anaheim for Disneyland. In LA, location is everything because traffic is real.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to stay in LA for first-timers?
Santa Monica is the most popular first-time base: beaches, a walkable centre, the pier and the Metro E Line to Downtown. West Hollywood is a good alternative for nightlife and central access.
Do I need a car in Los Angeles?
It helps for exploring widely, but you can manage with the Metro, rideshare and walking if you stay in Santa Monica, West Hollywood or Downtown and plan your days by area.
Is it better to stay in Hollywood or Santa Monica?
Santa Monica is generally more pleasant and walkable, with the beach. Hollywood is central for the Walk of Fame and Griffith Observatory but feels gritty in places.
Prices, fees, taxes and booking rules change often and vary by hotel, date and country. Figures in this guide are typical ranges for planning, not quotes. Always confirm the total price and cancellation terms with the hotel or booking site before you pay.
