Ah, Los Angeles. The City of Angels. With so much to do and so much to see it’s hard to imagine what one might do with only twenty-four hours? What are the most important stops to make? Where are the places that make Los Angeles so truly unique found? Well, if there were only twenty-four hours to explore this beautiful and unique city filled with diverse people, cuisines, landscapes, and ecosystems, it’s best to just get right into it.

Let’s take a dive into some of the places that will make the most out of a short trip through the city of angels.

10 Communing With Nature

One of the greatest things about Los Angeles is how connected it all feels. Whether visitors are looking to experience the city or go out and explore some of California’s amazing wildlife, they’re never too far away from exactly what they’re looking for.

Should visitors to Los Angeles be looking to get out of the city, it’s just a short drive to Angeles National Forest, home to some of the most amazing hiking trails, waterfalls, creeks, and plant life in Los Angeles. On the other side of that, it’s only about a thirty-minute drive to Venice beach from downtown. So whether travelers have their hearts set on beaches or forests, Los Angeles has plenty to offer.

9 The Most Important Meal Of The Day...Brunch

For any visitors that may be looking to start their day the boozy way, Los Angeles has some of the finest brunch spots in the entire country. For any vegan visitors, there’s the always incredible Crossroads Kitchen on Melrose, serving up anything from (vegan) chicken and waffles to breakfast burritos complete with mimosas and a gorgeous aesthetic. For everyone else, there’s plenty of amazing places to choose from.

Places like Winsome in Echo Park, which serves up SoCal inspired dishes like their duck egg toast as well as their brioche french toast alongside the type of cocktails that’ll really get your morning started off with a kick.

8 8) Taking In The Arts

With landmark museums like the Getty and the MOCA, art galleries littering the streets, and iconic street artists using the city as their canvas, Los Angeles is a living piece of artwork collaborated on by artists from all over the world.

Locals, as well as people new to the area, can find anything from walking art tours that include pitstops at local breweries to weekly art walks, there’s no shortage of activities for those looking to liven up their day with some brilliant works of art. However, for anyone just looking to knock back a few, there are plenty of BYOB painting classes all over the city.

7 7) The Birthplace Of Your Favorite Films

It’s almost impossible to imagine a trip to Los Angeles without taking in some of the sights that Hollywood and it’s bustling film industry have to take in. Anyone looking can find the Hollywood walk of fame rather quickly along with bus tours of the most famous spots in Los Angeles (places like the ever popular Griffith Observatory, made famous by Rebel Without A Cause Starring James Dean).

Anyone looking for something a little more hands-on can make their way over to Universal Studios Holly and Citywalk to find a massive IMAX theater, a gigantic shopping center, and of course, Universal Studios and all the attractions and tours therein.

6 6) Lunchtime

Now that visitors have had a chance to walk around and explore all the art and nature that Los Angeles has to offer, it’s time to get some lunch. Should travelers happen to find themselves in Los Angeles on a Sunday afternoon there are two places that both locals and travelers will absolutely love. First, there’s Smorgasburg LA located at the Row in downtown Los Angeles and next, there’s the all-vegan Vegan Sundays NoHo.

Both of these events bring together a sizeable number of food vendors, art vendors, and pretty much anything one might need for that authentic Los Angeles experience. Both events are held weekly, every Sunday afternoon from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. While both events do cater to Vegans, Smorgasburg is where the meat eaters will find there bliss.

5 5) Exploring The City

Now that lunch is out of the way, new adventures on the horizon, and an increasingly limited amount of time left to explore, now is the perfect time to do a little free exploration of the city. Setting aside time to just explore and stumble upon new and exciting things is an important part of the process.

There are plenty of amazing bookstores (skylight books, The Last Bookstore is a crowd favorite), record shops (like amoeba music), libraries, bars (Beelman’s, The Abbey, The Edison, to name a few), and plenty of local parks to visit. For anyone more interested in just walking around and exploring the city there are plenty of iconic and architecturally significant buildings that paint the Los Angeles skyline. All one has to do take a quick walk around and there’s bound to be something interesting.

4 4) Candle Lit Dinner, Anyone?

With the day slowly coming to an end there’s time for just one last meal. For any vegans out there looking for that high-end dining experience that one might expect from Los Angeles, there’s Crossroads Kitchen. Chef Tal Ronnen is there serving up anything from a vegan seafood tower to homemade pasta.

Sushi lovers out there might enjoy shopping by Shojin in Little Tokyo for some incredibly authentic vegan Japanese dishes, including sushi and ramen. And last but not least, for all the omnivores looking for that fine-dining experience, Somni is the place to go. Aitor Zabala is serving up some of the most elegant dishes in one of the most beautiful restaurants in town. Bon Appetit!

3 3) Drinks & Nightlife

As the last bit of our time in Los Angeles begins to wrap up, what better place to end the night than with a few drinks? Should travelers be looking for something a little more lowkey, Beelman’s Pub is located downtown and they have all the classic sports bar staples, Tv, relatively cheap drinks, and bar food.

However, for anyone looking for something a bit more elevated, Perch, also in downtown Los Angeles has of the best rooftop bars the city has to offer. So whether they’re looking for a place to chill out and somewhere to help travelers take in as much of the city as they can before calling it a night, downtown likely has exactly what visitors need. Now get some sleep. It’s been a long day.

2 2) Late Night Munchies

So, let’s face it. It’s been a long day. Fun was had. Food was eaten. And alcohol, well, that definitely played it’s part too. So at the end of a long and fun-filled day traversing the many exciting things Los Angeles has offer, why not top it off with a midnight snack before nestling comfortably in bed?

For anyone looking to soothe their weary soul with some of the most delicious and slurpable late-night ramen in Little Tokyo, head straight to Kouraku for both vegan and non-vegan savory bowls of steaming happiness. Anyone looking for something leaning a little more towards tradition, greasy diner food, The Original Pantry is the place to be. Serving up anything from cheeseburgers and fries to pancakes, eggs, and bacon 24 hours a day, it’s never too late to stop by. Just make sure to have some cash as they are cash only!

1 1) California Dreamin’

So, the night has finally come to an end. Anyone would be tuckered out after a day so packed to the brim with delicious food, drink, and just about as many adventures as can be packed into a single day. Now that it’s finally time to jump in the jammies and hop into bed, where are the best places to rest your head in Los Angeles?

Well, anyone looking to spend an inordinate amount of money and slumber peacefully in the lap of luxury, if only for a night, may want to stop by the always regal, Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills. For anyone looking to spend a more reasonable amount of money while still experiencing some of the best food, views, and drinks that Los Angeles has to offer, Chateau Marmont located just off Sunset has everything a weary traveler could possibly need. There’s no need to break the bank for this one though. Sweet dreams!