Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Spending a long layover sitting at LAX — catching up on emails, reading the newspaper and checking your watch — isn’t exactly time well spent. At LAX, passengers with time to spare can grab a hotel shuttle, use public transportation, cab it or rent a car to turn an LAX layover into a chance to explore. Of course, you can’t do LA justice in less than a day, but consider it a cameo. You can always come back for more.
3-Hour LAX Layover
For a three-hour layover, LAX hotels — just beyond the airport entrance — offer shuttles to and from every terminal. Just getting out of the airport and into a cozy bar or sit-down restaurant is a guaranteed stress reliever. Board the hotel shuttles under the red sign outside the Lower/Arrival level. Many hotels use a single shuttle, while others have their own buses.
The Top of the Radisson Lounge has a spectacular nighttime view for drinks and late nightcaps. Downstairs, Palmira Bar & Grille serves prime steaks along with soothing martinis. For a bit of European flavor, head to the Renaissance Montura Hotel LAX, known for its ultramodern architecture and fine art collection. The Hilton LAX features Andiamo, a northern Italian restaurant, while the hotel bistro is open 24 hours a day.
If you haven’t tried local cuisine, Brasserie Restaurant at the Crowne Plaza Hotel LAX focuses on California cuisine. Live jazz offers a chance to unwind over drinks. Meanwhile, the LAX Marriott has several options for the tired traveler: JW’s Steakhouse, Latitude 33 and Champions Sports Bar. You can find another sports bar at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel, which features Shula’s 347 America's Steakhouse, owned by famed NFL coach, Don Shula.
6-Hour LAX Layover
If you're eager to squeeze in a round of golf, try the Lakes at El Segundo’s public golf course, just south of LAX. The nine-hole course and driving range offer travelers a chance to hit the links without straying too far from the airport. On the north side of LAX, the Westchester Golf Course features 15 holes and is often open until 9 or 10 p.m. Weekend tee reservations are recommended. Both courses are a very short taxi ride from the terminals, and both rent clubs.
For those who want to wander a little farther, the classic LAX layover strategy is to hit LA’s iconic beaches. Quintessential Hermosa Beach, with its white stretches of sand and numerous people-watching opportunities, is one of the closest beaches to LAX. Redondo Beach, just a few miles north, features the Redondo Pier, a pedestrian area filled with restaurants and bars — right by the water.
If you’re yearning to see the notorious Venice Beach, prepare yourself for some quirky, offbeat sights. Recognized for its eccentric characters, the Venice Beach Oceanfront Walk has food stalls, a sidewalk café and plenty of sunshine. You can even rent skates or a bike and zip up the bike path. Have the cabbie drop you off at the foot of Windward Avenue, home to several good restaurants.
Families often head to Santa Monica, directly north of Venice. Get dropped off at Colorado Avenue. In addition to the numerous dining options, you'll find a historic carousel, an aquarium and an arcade. Make sure you save some time for the historic roller coaster.
9+ Hours
Options abound for visitors staying nine hours or longer. Head to Downtown LA on the LAX FlyAway bus service, located on the Lower/Arrival level underneath the green “FlyAway, Buses and Long Distance Vans” signs.
Board the “Union Station” FlyAway to get Downtown. When you arrive, Union Station — a landmark building in itself — is worth some exploration. Built in 1939, the magnificent structure has one of the grandest waiting rooms in the country, featuring ornate painted ceilings and original leather chairs. Nearby, another LA landmark, Olvera Street, offers a lively cobblestone street lined with cafes, restaurants and shops.
That’s only a little sliver of what Downtown LA has to offer. Check out our 24 Hours in Downtown itinerary to fully experience LA’s major attractions, which include Frank Gehry’s Walt Disney Concert Hall, Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA), Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels and much more.
If you’ve already toured Downtown LA, hop on the other FlyAway bus to Westwood/UCLA. With its broad plaza and stately Romanesque buildings, UCLA is a fine place to stretch your legs. Find a snack and relax in the Sculpture Garden, which features works by Rodin, Moore, Lachaise, Zuniga, Noguchi and others. Also on campus are free exhibitions at the Fowler Museum.
In Westwood, you’ll find plenty of restaurants to fill your stomach. Multiple movie theaters offer a lineup of the latest Hollywood releases to pass the time, and there’s always the standby option of shopping at one of Westwood's many boutique stores.
View our Los Angeles itineraries for more ideas. Note: These suggestions allow for time to go through security again, but it’s best to check with your airline on the amount of time they recommend.
