I visited Los Angeles without renting a car or using rideshare apps. Navigating public transportation was easy with some planning.
02.10.2023 - 12:27
/ insider.com
I was concerned when my friend, who doesn't drive, told me she was visiting Los Angeles.
After all, the city isn't necessarily known for its public transportation. At first, I planned to meet her in LA and rent a car. But then I began to consider visiting the sprawling city without one.
I'm used to taking New York City's 24-hour subway system, and most of my vacations have been to cities with extensive transportation networks. This trip, however, required some research.
LA has public transportation options, even if they don't seem popular. The subway and buses are only $1.75 per ride, which includes any transfers within two hours. There's also a $2 fee to purchase a refillable TAP card that's used for the transit.
With such great prices, I was willing to give it all a try.
We took the FlyAway bus, located outside each airport terminal, to Union Station for $9.75. Because there is no ticket kiosk at LAX, we had to download the FlyAway app.
The bus ride was comfortable and took about 30 minutes at midday. At the end of our trip, however, the return trip to LAX took about 50 minutes due to the morning rush.
Once at Union Station, we followed signs for the Metro and purchased tickets at the kiosk. We had to ensure the kiosk was for Metro, not Metrolink, which is a separate commuter rail service.
I booked the Millennium Biltmore downtown, which was pricier than other hotels. However, its convenient location and great quality made it the best option for our stay.
The hotel is a quick, five-minute walk from the Pershing Square Metro station and two stops from Union Station.
The hotel was also close to other Metro lines and bus stops, making it easier to get around the sprawling city.
If I had to go to LA again, I'd choose a different location to stay, only because downtown isn't the most exciting place in the city. However, I'd still make sure I stayed near a Metro station.
With temperatures in the 70s, downtown LA was walkable. Our hotel was close to the Museum of Contemporary Art, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Bradbury Building, Angels Flight Railway, and Grand Central Market.
Metro Line B took us to Hollywood for popular tourist destinations like the Hollywood Walk of Fame and TCL Chinese Theater. The same subway took us to the Vermont/Sunset Station for the Observatory/Los Feliz bus to Griffith Observatory. The bus was crowded on the way back, and traffic delayed our schedule.
We also visited the Petersen Automotive Museum, which felt fitting while we avoided driving in the city. This trip required a 40-minute bus ride, but a bus stop was only a block from the museum. An added advantage was that the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and Little Ethiopia were also a short