Written by Angelenos. Independently operated. No fluff — just the information you need to plan a trip to one of the most complex cities in the world during the biggest sporting event it has ever hosted.
LA is not like other Olympic cities. It has a proper Downtown — and it spans another 500 square miles of distinct neighborhoods beyond it. The traffic is genuinely challenging. The food, culture, and variety are genuinely exceptional.
This guide exists to help you navigate the real city — not a brochure version of it. We cover where to stay based on which venues you are attending, how to get between them without spending half your day in traffic, where to eat without getting taken for a tourist, and what to actually do between events.
We update this guide regularly as LA28 confirms new information. Everything time-sensitive has a date label. When we do not know something, we say so.
Where you stay in LA shapes your entire trip. Different neighborhoods mean different commutes to venues, different price ranges, and completely different experiences of the city. Here is the honest breakdown — so you can pick the right base for your schedule.
The Walk of Fame, TCL Chinese Theatre, and Griffith Observatory are here. Good for first-timers who want the iconic shots — less good if you want quiet or walkability. Midrange hotels clustered near Hollywood Blvd.
Muscle Beach, the boardwalk, street performers, independent shops. Best sunsets in LA. Good base if your events are on the Westside. Car or bike recommended for anything east of the 405.
Rodeo Drive, top-end hotels, exceptional restaurants. Expensive across the board. Central enough for Westside events. Good choice if budget is not a constraint and you want reliable walkable dining.
The pier, Third Street Promenade, Palisades Park, and excellent farmers markets. Clean, walkable, family-friendly. Strong Expo Line connection to downtown and USC venues.
Independent coffee shops, vinyl record stores, murals everywhere, and the reservoir walk that locals actually use. LA's most walkable non-beach neighborhood. Good value compared to Westside.
24-hour Korean BBQ, legendary karaoke bars, authentic banchan, and the most vibrant late-night scene in the city. Central location. Strong Metro access. Excellent value for accommodation.
The Sunset Strip, world-famous live music venues, high-end boutiques, and some of the best brunch spots in the city. Walkable in the core. Premium hotel prices.
Old-money LA charm next to Griffith Park. The Greek Theatre, Barnsdall Art Park, and some of the city's best brunch spots. Quieter than Hollywood but close to it. Good for families who want space.
The Broad Museum, Grand Central Market, Arts District, Little Tokyo, and the Convention Center are all here. The most urban part of LA — genuine skyscraper skyline, walkable core, Metro hub. Strong base for Crypto.com Arena events and USC venue access.
Authentic Chicano culture and the best Mexican food in the city. Mariachi Plaza, murals by major artists, and family taco stands that have been open since the 1960s. A different and genuinely rewarding LA experience for visitors willing to explore.
Gated estates, one iconic hotel, canyon drives, and the UCLA campus at the eastern edge. Almost entirely residential — limited food and transport options. Best for visitors who want exclusivity and have a car.
Amazon Studios, Apple TV+, the Platform shopping complex, and a restaurant scene that has become one of the strongest in LA over the last five years. Good Expo Line access. Increasingly popular with visitors who want a less-touristy base.
These are the venues currently confirmed for the 2028 Summer Olympics, based on publicly available LA28 announcements. Venue assignments, capacities, and schedules may still change between now and July 2028.
Inglewood's 70,000-seat stadium hosts the Opening and Closing Ceremonies plus athletics. Built in 2020, it is the largest NFL stadium in the US.
Home of the Lakers and Clippers, hosting Olympic basketball finals in the heart of downtown LA. Opened in 1999, one of the most-used arenas in the US.
The University of Southern California's aquatics facility, undergoing upgrades ahead of the Games. Located in Exposition Park, adjacent to the LA Memorial Coliseum.
UCLA's arena, home to 11 NCAA gymnastics championships. Located on the Westwood campus. Serves as the gymnastics venue for both artistic and rhythmic events.
Pasadena's 92,000-seat iconic venue in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. Hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup Final and 1984 Olympic soccer. A genuinely spectacular setting.
Beach volleyball will be hosted in the Long Beach area. Specific venue details remain subject to LA28 confirmation. Check la28.org for the latest information.
UCLA's tennis facility with multiple courts. Located on the Westwood campus. Used for both Olympic and Paralympic tennis events.
The track cycling velodrome at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson (formerly StubHub Center area). UCI-standard velodrome rebuilt for the Games. Home ground for the LA Galaxy.
The LACC — one of the largest convention centers in the US — transforms into a multi-discipline combat sports arena. Located in downtown LA, steps from Crypto.com Arena.
LA is spread across hundreds of square miles. A badly planned day means hours between stops. Use this planner to cluster your stops, build a realistic schedule, and get a shareable itinerary.
Opening Ceremony, athletics at SoFi, basketball finals, gymnastics at UCLA, soccer at the Rose Bowl. Built around event days with dining near each venue.
Hollywood, Venice, Getty Center, Grand Central Market, one Olympic event, and a day in Santa Monica. Designed around the Metro — no car needed.
Grand Central Market, Koreatown BBQ, Nobu Malibu, Leo's Tacos truck, Providence, Gjusta in Venice. One Olympic event included. Evenings built around restaurants.
Griffith Observatory, Santa Monica Pier, Universal Studios, one family-friendly Olympic event, and a day trip to Disneyland. Timed around manageable distances.
LA's restaurant scene is genuinely one of the best in the world — not because of Michelin coverage, but because of the range and the immigrant communities who built it. These are places we'd send our own families to.
Two Michelin stars. Michael Cimarusti's sustainable seafood tasting menu is the most technically accomplished restaurant in LA. Reservations open months in advance — book before you book your flights.
The best Oaxacan food outside of Oaxaca itself. Mole negro made the way families make it at home, tlayudas, and a mezcal list that is better than you'd expect on Olympic Blvd. Family-owned since 1994.
Celebrity hotspot perched directly over the Pacific. The black cod with miso is what it has always been — one of the great restaurant dishes in the US. Best experienced at lunch on a clear day. Worth the drive.
The al pastor tacos that locals consistently cite as the best in LA. The spit-roasted pork, the pineapple, the tortilla — it is that simple and that good. Cash only. Moves nightly — follow @leostacostruckla on Instagram for current location.
The most consistently loved Italian restaurant in LA. Excellent pasta, wood-fired pizza, and a room that captures the casual confidence of the city at its best. Also has a very good AM deli counter for lunch.
The best bread in LA, excellent house-cured meats, and a menu that changes constantly. A good early morning or lunchtime stop when you're on the Westside. Expect a line on weekends — it moves quickly.
The hot chicken shop that genuinely changed how LA thinks about fried chicken. Lines around the block at the Chinatown location. Order the Howlin' level only if you have a real tolerance for heat. The Nashville level is plenty.
Downtown LA's best seafood restaurant. The Grand Plateau — Dungeness crab, oysters, and Maine lobster — is the quintessential LA celebration meal. Reliable, classic, excellent service. Good pre-Crypto.com Arena option.
Table-top BBQ with prime wagyu galbi, unlimited banchan, and soju until early morning. Open until 3am. Good for groups. The Koreatown late-night experience at its most reliable.
LA traffic is bad enough on a normal Tuesday. During the Games — with road closures, security perimeters, and hundreds of thousands of additional visitors daily — driving will be significantly harder. Plan your transport before you plan your events.
LA's expanding Metro connects most major Olympic venues. The B/D Lines serve Downtown, Koreatown, Hollywood, and the UCLA area. The E (Expo) Line connects Santa Monica to Downtown via Culver City and USC. The K Line serves Inglewood and SoFi Stadium. The A (Blue) Line connects to Long Beach.
→ Plan your route at metro.netLA28 has committed to a venue-to-venue shuttle network for Games time. Specific routes, stops, and schedules have not been confirmed as of mid-2026. Check la28.org for official announcements when published. Do not plan event logistics around unconfirmed shuttle routes.
The LAX Automated People Mover is expected to connect all terminals to the Metro and car rental facilities before the Games. As of 2026 it remains in phased testing — check flylax.com for current status before you travel. Budget 2.5 hours minimum for international arrivals. Terminals 7/8 and the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) handle the largest international flights.
→ LAX official info at flylax.comRideshare is widely available but surge pricing during major event days will be significant. Designated rideshare pickup zones will operate at each Olympic venue — follow venue signage. Book at least 30 minutes before you need to depart from a major event. Have a backup plan.
Metro Bike Share operates across LA with stations near many transit hubs. Particularly useful for the Venice–Santa Monica corridor. Bird and Lime scooters are available in beach areas. Helmet use is legally required in LA. Monthly passes available for Metro Bike.
→ Metro Bike info at bikeshare.metro.netMetrolink connects LA to Anaheim (30 min for Disneyland day trips), with Amtrak Pacific Surfliner reaching San Diego (2.5–3 hrs) and Santa Barbara (2 hrs). Book early — trains sell out during peak Olympics weeks. Metrolink connects to the Metro system at Union Station Downtown.
→ Metrolink at metrolinktrains.comIf you must drive: expect significant delays around all venue zones on event days. Road closures and security perimeters will affect major arterials including Figueroa, Sepulveda, and corridors around Inglewood. Parking at most venues will be extremely limited. Park-and-ride options with Metro connections are the most reliable approach.
All Metro stations are ADA accessible with elevators. LA28 has committed to accessible venue design at all sites. Metro's Paratransit service (Access Services) is available across LA County. Contact Metro for accessibility trip planning.
→ Metro accessibility at metro.netLA puts you within reach of beaches, deserts, mountains, wine country, and a second major theme park within 3 hours. These are all realistic day trips — but drive times vary massively with traffic. Don't plan to attend a 7pm event in LA and leave Joshua Tree at 4pm.
Both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks, 40–90 minutes south depending on traffic. For summer 2028 you will need to book tickets months in advance — Disneyland regularly sells out on peak summer days. The Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC) has direct Amtrak and Metrolink connections from LA Union Station.
Drive PCH north from Santa Monica and stop at Zuma Beach, Point Dume, and El Matador State Beach. The drive itself along the cliffs is the attraction. Lunch at Nobu Malibu or Geoffrey's. Return via Mulholland Drive at sunset for views over the Valley. No public transport — you need a car or rideshare.
Santa Barbara itself is a beautiful Spanish Colonial city with a good beach, great restaurants, and a walkable State Street. The Santa Ynez Valley wine country (the Sideways territory) is another 45 minutes north — wineries, Solvang (a Danish village that is exactly what it sounds like), and 40+ tasting rooms. Amtrak Pacific Surfliner from Union Station runs directly to Santa Barbara.
Surreal boulder landscapes, excellent rock climbing, and the best stargazing in Southern California. The park is genuinely striking at dawn and dusk. Combine with Palm Springs for a comfortable overnight — Palm Springs has good hotels, the tram up to San Jacinto, and excellent midcentury architecture. Not practical as a same-day return if you have an evening event in LA.
Balboa Park, the Zoo, Little Italy, La Jolla Cove, and Coronado Island. World-class beaches. Also hosting some Olympic sailing events in 2028. Worth an overnight if you can manage it. Amtrak Pacific Surfliner runs from Union Station to San Diego Santa Fe Depot — roughly 3 hours, scenic coastal route.
Mountain escape 2 hours east. Hiking, paddleboarding, and genuine alpine air at 6,752 feet elevation — a sharp contrast to July heat in LA. The winding highway up to the lake (CA-18 or CA-38) is part of the experience. No direct public transport from LA — car required.
Reach LA28 visitors while they're actively planning
Hotels, tours, transfers, telecoms, dining — this is when your audience is making decisions.
Los Angeles is one of the most internationally diverse cities on earth — but arriving without preparation is still a mistake. Visa rules, health costs, tipping culture, and transport all have real implications for your trip.
| Currency | US Dollar (USD). Major credit and debit cards accepted almost everywhere. ATMs at all venues and most 7-Elevens. Notify your bank before travel. |
| Power | 110V / 60Hz. Type A and B plugs. Bring a universal adapter if your devices use other standards. |
| Emergency | Dial 911 for police, fire, and medical. This is a free call from any phone including mobile. |
| SIM / eSIM | T-Mobile and AT&T offer tourist eSIM plans from ~$30/month. Buy before arrival or at LAX. Most international visitors find eSIM the simplest option. |
| Health | Travel insurance with medical coverage is strongly recommended. US healthcare without insurance is extremely expensive. Hospitals are located near all venue clusters. |
| Tipping | 18–20% at sit-down restaurants. $1–2 per drink at bars. $5 per night for hotel housekeeping. Tipping is standard and expected — it is part of how these workers are compensated. |
| Driving | Drive on the right. International driving licenses are accepted. Speed limits are in miles per hour. Turning right on a red light is generally permitted unless signed otherwise. |
| Drinking age | 21 — strictly enforced. ID will be checked at bars, restaurants, and venues. Bring a passport or your country's national ID. |
| ESTA / Visa | Verify requirements for your country at travel.state.gov. ESTA must be applied for online at esta.cbp.dhs.gov. |
Most visitors start planning 12–24 months before arrival. This is when they choose hotels, book transport, and shortlist restaurants. Your brand needs to be visible at that planning moment — not after they've already booked.
You do not need a big budget or long contract to appear here. A Featured Listing or a single Newsletter Sponsor slot is the fastest way to get in front of the planning audience — and the easiest first step for both sides. Bigger packages are available once you've seen what works.
Best for: restaurants, hotels, airport transfers, private drivers, tour operators, luggage storage, eSIM/mobile brands, day-trip vendors. Low risk, easy to start, month-to-month available.
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Practical guides, honest tips, and local knowledge for visitors planning their LA 2028 Olympic trip.
Where you stay will define your experience. We break down top LA neighborhoods by venue proximity, budget, and transport access.
Includes accommodation suggestions & practical budget notes.
Read the guide →Metro rail, rideshare, FlyAway buses, and event shuttles: here is what actually works for Olympic visitors.
Includes transport recommendations & partner transfer options.
Read the guide →What sports are at each venue, how to get there, and what to expect on event day — all 9 venues covered.
Includes hotel & transport suggestions near each venue.
Read the guide →Venue news, transport updates & insider tips — free every week until the Games.
We accept editorial contributions from local experts and travel writers. Sponsored blog posts and content partnerships available for hospitality, transport, and tour businesses.
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