First Time in Los Angeles? What to Do in LA on Your First Visit
Deciding what to do in LA as a luxury traveler means pairing its icons—Hollywood, the Pacific, rooftop views—with private, highly curated experiences built around your villa, driver, and concierge. Los Angeles welcomed about 49.1 million visitors in 2023, nearly back to pre-2019 levels, so planning exclusive access, off-peak timings, and skip-the-line moments is essential (Discover Los Angeles, 2024). At the same time, the global luxury travel market has grown to an estimated USD 1.48 trillion in 2024, with demand shifting toward personalized, experience-led stays rather than simple five-star labels (Grand View Research, 2024). This guide shows exactly what to do in LA when you want privacy, design, and impeccable service.
Key Takeaways
- Because the location of your villa affects dining options, traffic patterns, and beach access, knowing what to do in Los Angeles begins with where you stay.
- When choosing what to do in Los Angeles, affluent tourists weigh quiet luxury experiences like private art tours, in-villa chefs, and coastal helicopter flights against must-see attractions.
- Each of Los Angeles’ top tourist destinations—Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Malibu, Santa Monica, and Downtown—offers a unique atmosphere, ranging from gallery-soaked to oceanfront.
- A luxury travel concierge with verified drivers, guides, and chefs is essential if you want smooth days and nights while you decide what to do in Los Angeles.
- Dramatic sunsets, cutting-edge villas, and quick access to other luxury honeymoon destinations across the globe are all features that LA offers for romantic getaways.
Last updated: November 25, 2025
Real Guest & Client Experience with What to Do in LA
Finding things to do in Los Angeles is important for affluent tourists because the city can seem overwhelming until your days are planned around time, taste, and traffic.
Many customers of Haute Retreats arrive with a list of must-see locations, such as the Getty, Malibu, and Rodeo Drive, but they soon discover that what to do in Los Angeles is more about layering experiences around a stunning base than it is about checking off sights. They want reservations that seem unattainable, a driver on standby, and mornings by a private pool in the Hills.
What to do in Los Angeles that makes everyone happy is the first question that usually arises during a family vacation. For some, that entails sunsets at Santa Monica Pier, studio tours, and villa breakfasts. For teenagers, it could be a sneaker-focused afternoon in Melrose followed by a visit to a private recording studio set up by our opulent travel concierge.
Before or after visiting one of our worldwide luxury honeymoon destinations, couples frequently inquire about what to do in Los Angeles for a three-night getaway. The solution typically combines a chef’s table dinner, a luxurious villa in the hills, and a leisurely drive along the Pacific Coast Highway with carefully chosen photo ops.
The most frequent surprise is how much driving time influences LA activities. A 90-minute crosstown trip can be reduced to a 20-minute ride by selecting a villa in the ideal neighborhood, giving guests more time for shopping, long lunches, and spa rituals.
Why Los Angeles Is Ideal When You’re Deciding What to Do in LA
Few cities combine the ocean, mountains, world-class dining, and entertainment power in one location, which makes Los Angeles the perfect destination for travelers.
The coastal duality of Los Angeles is often the starting point for luxury travelers’ itinerary: in one well-planned day, you can wake up in a hillside villa, eat lunch on the beach in Malibu, and finish with rooftop cocktails downtown. Alfresco dining and pool days are practically year-round due to Southern California’s mild climate.
One of the main centers of upscale travel in North America, LA draws wealthy tourists who are drawn to its private villas, custom experiences, and entertainment options. You can select from a range of privacy options as you decide what to do in Los Angeles, from fully staffed villas to private VIP tables and studio access.
The city is a part of a larger itinerary for many Haute Retreats visitors that is in line with 2025 luxury travel trends, where shorter, more frequent trips and “quiet luxury” experiences are more important than ostentatious displays. This influences what to do in Los Angeles: instead of the red carpet crowds, consider private gallery previews, wellness-focused mornings, and time spent with chefs and sommeliers.
What Defines a True Luxury Experience When You Plan What to Do in LA
When deciding what to do in Los Angeles, control over time, access, and ambience is what defines true luxury.
Our most contented visitors ask how they want to feel—hurried, safe, seen, and creatively inspired—rather than just what to do in Los Angeles. This results in itineraries that are flexible and centered around a villa or estate that has room for everyone, along with a luxurious travel concierge who can make last-minute changes to plans.
Group tours are rarely part of what to do in Los Angeles at this level. Vetted private guides, licensed drivers in cozy cars, and secret reservations at eateries that the locals genuinely adore are all part of your trip. Your villa turns into a private “hotel lobby.”
As you decide what to do in Los Angeles, staffing is a component of the definition of luxury. A full live-in team is preferred by many guests over light staffing, which includes daily housekeeping, a chef on call, and a concierge available around-the-clock. However, having a personal bartender, sommelier, or wellness therapist on hand for festivities changes the atmosphere of every night.
Best Areas in LA and What to Do There
The best areas in LA for luxury travelers deciding what to do in LA are Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Malibu, Santa Monica, and Downtown’s emerging arts districts.
Beverly Hills & West Hollywood: Shopping, Dining, and Hillside Views
If dining, shopping, and nightlife are your top priorities when visiting Los Angeles, concentrate on West Hollywood or Beverly Hills.
Rodeo Drive, Melrose, and dining tables where movie and fashion insiders congregate are all just a short distance from a hillside villa. Here, what to do in Los Angeles could include late-night driver-escorted dinners, private styling sessions, and access to boutiques after hours.
While their villa hosts set up in-house massages and poolside lunches, design-conscious visitors frequently add a day of architecture touring, exploring mid-century homes in the Hollywood Hills and iconic hotels.
Malibu & the Pacific Coast: Beachfront & “Quiet Luxury”
Malibu is the ideal starting point if your idea of what to do in Los Angeles is sunrise surf and sunset wine.
Here, the Pacific is the focal point of LA activities: catered beach picnics in secret coves, private yoga on the deck, and picturesque coastal drives. Malibu is ideal for visitors who value seclusion and space, including honeymooners, multigenerational families, and creative retreats.
In between villas, our luxury travel concierge can easily arrange chef-led seafood dinners back at your estate, horseback riding, and vineyard tastings in the Malibu hills.
Santa Monica & Venice: Active, Walkable, and Family-Friendly
A villa or townhouse close to Santa Monica or Venice offers a more walkable, relaxed experience if you’re wondering what to do in Los Angeles with children or teenagers.
Here, beachside bike rides, informal brunches, and pier entertainment are some of the things to do in Los Angeles. With quick driving access to both Malibu and Beverly Hills, it’s perfect for visitors who want luxury but would rather wear flip-flops than stilettos.
Families who divide their days between active time by the sea and carefully planned cultural excursions will find this area ideal—imagine a private tour of the Getty Villa followed by a sunset on the sand.
Downtown LA & Arts District: Culture, Food, and Edge
Downtown and the Arts District are appealing to tourists who define what to do in Los Angeles as art, architecture, and culinary exploration.
Visit museums, galleries, and chef-driven tasting menus in DTLA while lodging in a modern loft or a nearby hillside villa. A backstage tour of the Walt Disney Concert Hall, a private tour of The Broad, and cocktail bar hopping with a local guide might be on your list of things to do in Los Angeles.
This is also where couples who travel frequently for work, corporate groups, and creatives find a more urban perspective on what to do in Los Angeles outside of the ocean and palm trees.
Iconic, Exclusive & Under-the-Radar Experiences: What to Do in LA Beyond the Obvious
The best answer to what to do in LA is a blend of icons and insider moments tailored to your interests and budget tier.
Below are curated ideas based on typical Haute Retreats guest profiles. These are not fixed packages but examples of how we design what to do in LA around your villa and schedule.
For Design Lovers & Culture Seekers
- Private tours of The Getty Center or Getty Villa before or after public hours, paired with a driver and flexible museum timing.
- A customized gallery walk in Culver City or the Arts District, ending with a chef’s table at a contemporary restaurant.
- Architecture-focused routes through Hollywood Hills and Silver Lake, followed by cocktails back at your villa.
Culture-focused what to do in LA
If you’re a design lover wondering what to do in LA, focus on two or three anchors: a major museum, an architecture tour, and one exceptional dinner. With a car and driver, you can connect the Getty, a hillside villa, and downtown galleries in a single curated day, avoiding traffic pinch points and rushed transfers.
For Families & Multi-Generational Groups
Families often worry what to do in LA that feels both magical and manageable for all ages.
We usually recommend combining one “headline” attraction each day (such as a studio backlot visit or theme park) with low-pressure time in and around your villa. Your family’s version of what to do in LA might include:
- Studio tours with private transfers and flexible timings.
- A half-day at the beach with pre-arranged chairs, umbrellas, and beach toys.
- A taco tasting tour adapted for younger palates, ending with churros at your villa.
Family-friendly what to do in LA
For families, the smartest way to plan what to do in LA is to book your villa first, then work out which attractions are realistic within 30–40 minutes’ drive. Build days around nap times and downtime at home, not a packed checklist, and let a concierge manage timing, transfers, and restaurant bookings.
For Wellness, Food & Nightlife
If your main question is what to do in LA that feels indulgent but still restorative, lean into wellness and culinary experiences.
A “quiet luxury” itinerary for what to do in LA might include:
- Morning hikes in Griffith Park or Topanga Canyon with a guide.
- In-villa sound baths, facials, or IV drips arranged between meetings or outings.
- Progressive dinners that hop between three neighborhoods in one evening.
This is where a luxury travel concierge becomes essential: in a city with so many options, having a curated nightly answer to what to do in LA keeps the trip feeling effortless, not exhausting.
Essential Services and Amenities for High-End Travelers Deciding What to Do in LA
The most important “amenity” when you choose what to do in LA is a responsive support team to orchestrate each day.
High-end guests rarely want to spend their own time researching what to do in LA; they prefer a single point of contact to coordinate drivers, tables, tickets, and wellness. This is where a dedicated luxury travel concierge becomes non-negotiable, especially for shorter stays or complex group dynamics.
When we design what to do in LA for Haute Retreats clients, we look at:
- Staffing level – daily housekeeping, on-call chef, and optional add-ons like bartenders or nannies.
- Location – minimizing cross-city drives based on your shortlist of what to do in LA.
- Access & security – gated communities, parking, and low-profile arrivals.
- Family-friendliness – fenced pools, media rooms, and flexible mealtimes.
These criteria ensure that what to do in LA fits your travel style—from glamorous, late-night energy to barefoot, slow-living Malibu days—without friction.
How to Plan What to Do in LA for a Luxury Stay
The most effective way to plan what to do in LA for a luxury stay is to start with your villa, then build a realistic, flexible itinerary around location, group profile, and season.
Step-by-step process
- Define your nightly budget and length of stay
Decide how much you’ll invest per night in accommodation and experiences. This frames whether what to do in LA includes helicopters and private shopping, or primarily tailored driving days and in-villa dining. - Clarify group size and profile
Note ages, mobility needs, and interests. A multi-generational family’s view of what to do in LA will differ from a couple’s or a small executive retreat. - Choose your primary neighborhood
With help from a luxury travel concierge, pick a base—Hills, Malibu, Westside, or DTLA—based on your top three priorities for what to do in LA (beach, shopping, culture, or nightlife). - Decide on staffing level and in-villa services
Confirm housekeeping frequency, chef options, wellness services, and childcare. This impacts what to do in LA on quieter days, when you might stay by the pool but still want restaurant-level food and spa rituals. - List your non-negotiable experiences
Write down 3–6 must-dos (for example: “one studio visit, one beach day, one art museum, two big dinners”). Rank them. This makes it easier to say yes or no to extra suggestions of what to do in LA. - Map experiences to realistic daily routes
Cluster experiences by geography so your version of what to do in LA minimizes traffic. For example, pair Beverly Hills shopping and West Hollywood dining, or Malibu beach time with a coastal hike. - Review policies and fine print
Check villa rules on events, noise, and visitor numbers, plus cancellation terms. This matters if your planned what to do in LA includes hosting dinners or gatherings at home. - Confirm logistics & timing with your concierge
Lock in drivers, restaurant reservations, and timed entries where needed. Aim to keep at least one “open” segment each day so what to do in LA can adapt to energy levels and last-minute opportunities. - Do a final pre-arrival run-through
A week before departure, review your what to do in LA plan with your Haute Retreats specialist. Confirm addresses, contacts, and backup options in case of weather, traffic, or mood changes.
FAQ
1. What to do in LA for a 3-day luxury stay?
Focus your what to do in LA list on one area each day: Beverly Hills/West Hollywood, Malibu, and a culture-focused day (DTLA or the Getty), with a driver and one special dinner nightly.
2. What to do in LA if I’m traveling with kids?
Plan what to do in LA around one big outing per day—such as a studio tour or theme park—plus villa time, beach time, and relaxed meals that keep everyone on schedule.
3. What to do in LA that feels exclusive but not ostentatious?
Look for “quiet luxury” versions of what to do in LA: private gallery walks, in-villa chef dinners, scenic hikes with a guide, and low-profile reservations at serious restaurants rather than red-carpet spots.
4. How much should I budget for what to do in LA beyond my villa?
For high-end travelers, a comfortable range for what to do in LA is often from $500 to $2,000+ per day on drivers, dining, and curated experiences, depending on group size and activity level.
5. What to do in LA if I only have one full day?
Choose a single geographic focus—Malibu, Beverly Hills & West Hollywood, or DTLA—and let your concierge design what to do in LA within that pocket so you avoid wasting time in traffic.
6. Is it better to base what to do in LA around a hotel or a villa?
If you value privacy, space, and bespoke service, a villa with luxury travel concierge support offers more control over what to do in LA than even the best hotels.
7. What to do in LA at night for couples?
An elegant answer to what to do in LA at night might include rooftop drinks at sunset, a chef’s counter or tasting menu, and an intimate jazz bar or speakeasy, with a driver to handle every transfer.
8. What to do in LA between meetings on a business trip?
Use shorter windows for wellness-forward what to do in LA—villa massages, neighborhood walks, or a quick gallery visit—with one “anchor” dinner or show as your nightly highlight.
Plan Your Next Stay in LA with Haute Retreats
Choosing what to do in LA is ultimately about designing days that feel like you at your best—unhurried mornings, meaningful outings, and evenings that end exactly when you want them to.
Haute Retreats curates villas in the most desirable pockets of the city and pairs them with a luxury travel concierge team who can translate your preferences into a living, breathing itinerary of what to do in LA, hour by hour. As you think beyond this trip—to other Luxury Honeymoon Destinations or emerging luxury travel trends for 2026 and beyond—our role is to keep the planning discreet, intelligent, and deeply personal.
