Downtown Los Angeles
The best of Grand Central Market and Downtown LA
Grand Central Market, Angels Flight, The Broad, Olvera Street and Little Tokyo: here is how to spend a day in Downtown LA, with honest advice on safety, parking and which walking tour is worth the money.
See our 6 picks
Short answer Grand Central Market is Downtown LA's historic food hall at 317 South Broadway, open daily from 8am to 9pm. Each stall sets its own hours. It has been a Downtown landmark since 1917. Go hungry, ride Angels Flight across the street for $1.50, then walk on to The Broad, Little Tokyo or Olvera Street.
Our 6 picks for Downtown LA tours
Walking tours of history, architecture and street art, an arts tour that gets you into The Broad, and a hands-on graffiti class. Two of them start a block from Grand Central Market.
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from €44 per person Our top pick 3 hours 5.0 (109) reviews on GetYourGuide
Downtown history and architecture walk
Three hours past the Bradbury Building, Disney Concert Hall and famous film spots. You ride Angels Flight and taste mochi in Little Tokyo.
Best for First-timers who want the stories behind the buildings
Check availability: Downtown history and architecture walk on GetYourGuide -
from €39 per person 2 hours 4.8 (10) reviews on GetYourGuide
Arts tour with MOCA and The Broad
Two hours on Bunker Hill with a local guide and artist. Entry to MOCA and The Broad is included, with the Infinity Mirror Rooms.
Best for Art fans who don't want to deal with reservations
Check availability: Arts tour with MOCA and The Broad on GetYourGuide -
from €18 per person 2 hours 4.8 (31) reviews on GetYourGuide
Arts District street art walk
A local street artist leads you past more than 100 works, from huge murals to hidden pieces. Stops include ArtShare and The Container Yard.
Best for Budget travellers and photographers
Check availability: Arts District street art walk on GetYourGuide -
from €218 per group up to 15 2.5 hours 4.5 (35) reviews on GetYourGuide
Private walk: culture, history and city change
A 2.5-hour private walk for your group, from the Grand Central Market garage. You see Art Deco and Beaux-Arts landmarks, the Bradbury Building and The Last Bookstore.
Best for Groups and families who can share one price
Check availability: Private walk: culture, history and city change on GetYourGuide -
from €34 per person 2 hours 5.0 (5) reviews on GetYourGuide
Private Downtown walk you plan with the guide
A 2-hour private walking tour. You choose what to see, and the guide adds places and tips. Guides speak English, French, Italian or Spanish.
Best for Visitors with their own wish list
Check availability: Private Downtown walk you plan with the guide on GetYourGuide -
from €40 per person 1 hour 4.9 (6) reviews on GetYourGuide
Hands-on graffiti lesson
One hour in a studio with a local graffiti artist. You paint your own piece on the wall; paint and supplies are included.
Best for Teens, groups and anyone who wants to make something
Check availability: Hands-on graffiti lesson on GetYourGuide
Downtown LA tours compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Group size | Pickup | Free cancellation | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown history and architecture walk | €44 per person | 3 hours | Standard group: Up to 20 people | Meet on site | Yes, up to 24 hours in advance | First-timers who want the stories behind the buildings | Rated 5.0 from over 100 reviews, and it starts a few steps from Grand Central Market. |
| Arts tour with MOCA and The Broad | €39 per person | 2 hours | Small group: Up to 8 people | Meet on site | Yes, up to 24 hours in advance | Art fans who don't want to deal with reservations | It gets you into two museums and the mirror rooms in one booking; rated 4.8, from 10 reviews so far. |
| Arts District street art walk | €18 per person | 2 hours | Standard group: Up to 20 people | Meet on site | Yes, up to 24 hours in advance | Budget travellers and photographers | The cheapest tour on this page and rated 4.8 from 31 reviews. |
| Private walk: culture, history and city change | €218 per group up to 15 | 2.5 hours | Private group | Meet on site | Yes, up to 24 hours in advance | Groups and families who can share one price | One price for the whole group, rated 4.5 from 35 reviews. |
| Private Downtown walk you plan with the guide | €34 per person | 2 hours | Private option available | Meet on site | Yes, up to 24 hours in advance | Visitors with their own wish list | The most flexible option; rated 5.0, but from only 5 reviews. |
| Hands-on graffiti lesson | €40 per person | 1 hour | Small group: Limited to 6 participants | Meet on site | Yes, up to 24 hours in advance | Teens, groups and anyone who wants to make something | The only hands-on pick, in groups of up to 6; rated 4.9 from 6 reviews. |
Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 22 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Things to do in Downtown Los Angeles in one day
Start at Grand Central Market, ride Angels Flight up the hill, then see The Broad. After lunch, walk to Little Tokyo and the Arts District. That is a full, easy day on foot.
- Morning: breakfast or coffee at Grand Central Market. It opens at 8am.
- Late morning: ride Angels Flight from Hill Street up to Grand Avenue. Then visit The Broad or MOCA, which open at 10 or 11am.
- Afternoon: walk or ride Metro to Little Tokyo. Go on to the murals of the Arts District.
- Late afternoon: Olvera Street, the old heart of the city, for a snack and a stroll.
Fun things to do in Downtown Los Angeles
Paint your own graffiti in a studio, ride a 1901 funicular, or step into the Infinity Mirror Rooms at The Broad. All three are a short walk apart.
Grand Central Market: what to eat, hours, how to get there, parking
Grand Central Market is open daily from 8am to 9pm, and each vendor sets its own hours. The entrance is at 317 South Broadway. The stalls change over time, so check the market's site before you set your heart on one.
The market's own site features vendors such as Tacos Tumbras a Tomas, Ramen Hood, Cinnies, La Sandunga, Lucky Bird and Go Get Em Tiger. For tacos or ramen, the first two names say it all. Walk the whole hall once before you order, then share plates.
If you want a guide to lead you to the best bites, see our picks for food tours in Los Angeles. One of them starts in Downtown at Philippe The Original.
Getting there and parking
By Metro, get off at Pershing Square station on the B or D Line. Its entrance near Angels Flight is a short walk from the market. A ride costs $1.75. By car, the market's garage is at 308 South Hill Street. The market's site does not list the rate or any validation.
Guides on Downtown and the neighborhoods
A short history of the market
The market opened in October 1917 on the ground floor of the Homer Laughlin Building. Early on, wealthier shoppers rode Angels Flight down from Bunker Hill to buy food. The little funicular opened in 1901 and still runs today. Its lower station is across Hill Street from the market.
Museums and culture: The Broad museum, MOCA, Olvera Street
Two big art museums sit next to each other on Grand Avenue, and both are free to enter.
The Broad museum
General admission to The Broad is free. The museum recommends a timed reservation, but it also takes walk-ups each day. The Infinity Mirrored Room by Yayoi Kusama needs its own reservation in advance. The Broad is at 221 South Grand Avenue and is closed on Mondays.
MOCA Grand Avenue
MOCA Grand Avenue is across the street at 250 South Grand Avenue. General admission is free, and advance reservations are recommended. It is closed on Mondays.
Olvera Street
Olvera Street is the marketplace inside El Pueblo de Los Angeles, the historic site where the city began. The district has free museums and exhibits. Shops and restaurants set their own hours.
Little Tokyo and the Arts District
Little Tokyo sits on the east side of Downtown, and the Arts District starts right next to it. Little Tokyo became a National Historic Landmark District in 1995. The Japanese American National Museum is there too.
The Arts District runs from Alameda Street east to the Los Angeles River. It is known for murals, galleries and cafes in old warehouses. The rebuilt Sixth Street Viaduct links it to the Eastside. Metro's Little Tokyo/Arts District station on the A and E Lines serves both.
Downtown tours you can book: walking, history, architecture, street art
The best walking tour of Downtown Los Angeles for most visitors is the history and architecture walk. It is rated 5.0 from over 100 reviews and costs from €44. It also covers Angels Flight and Little Tokyo.
Walking tour of Downtown Los Angeles
Pick the history walk for a group tour. Pick one of the two private walks if you travel as a group: the culture walk is one price for up to 15 people, and the other lets you plan the route.
Los Angeles architecture tours
Both the history walk and the private culture walk focus on buildings. You see the Bradbury Building, and the history walk also passes Disney Concert Hall.
Street art and art museums
The Arts District walk shows over 100 murals and pieces from €18. The arts tour adds entry to MOCA and The Broad, with the Infinity Mirror Rooms, from €39.
Is Downtown safe, and where to stay
Downtown is a busy city center, so use normal city sense. The LA tourism board advises staying alert, keeping valuables out of sight and walking on busy, well-lit streets, especially at night. Downtown has Business Improvement Districts whose safety officers patrol the streets. Skid Row lies just south of Little Tokyo; keep to the main sights and streets.
Downtown is a good base for museums, food and Metro trips. Hollywood is better if you plan to use the tour buses. See where to stay in Los Angeles for both areas.
LAX to Downtown Los Angeles and getting around on Metro
There is no direct train from LAX to Downtown. A shuttle bus runs from the terminals to the LAX/Metro Transit Center, which opened in June 2025. From there the C and K Lines run, and you change trains on the way Downtown. Check the route in Metro's trip planner.
A Metro ride costs $1.75 when you tap a card. Transfers within two hours are free, and you never pay more than $5 a day. More options are in our guide to getting around Los Angeles.
Tips for a day in Downtown LA
Reserve The Broad first
Entry is free, but timed tickets are recommended and the mirror room needs its own reservation. Or book the arts tour, which includes both.
Take Metro, not the car
Pershing Square station is a short walk from the market. A ride is $1.75 and the day costs at most $5.
Go to the market early
It opens at 8am. Breakfast is a calm way to see the hall before the lunch crowd.
Check the cancellation line
Most picks show free cancellation on their booking page. Check the exact cut-off there before you pay.
Questions people ask
Is downtown los angeles safe?
Where to stay in downtown los angeles?
Is downtown los angeles safe for tourists?
Where to stay in los angeles downtown or hollywood?
Is Central Market worth visiting?
Who is the owner of Central Market?
What is the best food at Grand Central Station?
Is there free parking near Grand Central Market?
More Downtown LA tours, live
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Facts checked on 22 October 2026 against: Grand Central Market · Wikipedia: Grand Central Market · Angels Flight · The Broad: Visit · MOCA: Plan your visit · El Pueblo de Los Angeles · Wikipedia: Little Tokyo · Wikipedia: Arts District · Wikipedia: Pershing Square station · Wikipedia: LAX/Metro Transit Center · LA Metro: Fares · Discover Los Angeles: travel tips.
Written by the Things to Do in Los Angeles editorial team.