Transport in Los Angeles
The best ways to get around Los Angeles without a car
LAX to the city, Metro trains and buses, the TAP card, rental cars and parking: here is how to move around LA, with honest advice on what a car really costs, waiting for buses and long travel times.
See our 6 picks
Short answer You can get around Los Angeles without a car if you stay near a Metro Rail line and plan each day around one area. A Metro ride costs $1.75, and you never pay more than $5 a day. From LAX, the FlyAway bus goes to Union Station for $12.75. Rent a car only for days like Malibu, Disneyland or a long coast drive.
Our 6 picks for getting around Los Angeles
Three hop-on hop-off buses, which are sightseeing with transport built in, two city passes and one private airport transfer. Ratings are mixed, so read the "why" line on each card.
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from €53 per person Our top pick Valid 1 - 3 days 3.8 (1,357) reviews on GetYourGuide
Big Bus hop-on hop-off: Hollywood and Santa Monica
An open-top double-decker with two routes, one around Hollywood and one out to Santa Monica. The ticket covers 24, 48 or 72 hours with digital commentary and live bus tracking in the app.
Best for First-timers who want the big sights without planning trains
Check availability: Big Bus hop-on hop-off: Hollywood and Santa Monica on GetYourGuide -
from €51 per person Valid 1 - 3 days 3.4 (2,346) reviews on GetYourGuide
Starline hop-on hop-off with Griffith Observatory shuttle
A Hollywood route and a Beach route with 30+ stops, plus express shuttles. Every ticket includes a direct shuttle to Griffith Observatory, and audio comes in 9 languages.
Best for Visitors who want the observatory without driving up the hill
Check availability: Starline hop-on hop-off with Griffith Observatory shuttle on GetYourGuide -
from €88 per person 1 day 3.8 (16) reviews on GetYourGuide
TMZ celebrity tour plus a 1-day hop-on hop-off ticket
A 2-hour TMZ celebrity tour with a live guide, then a 1-day Big Bus ticket to ride on your own. The bus passes the TCL Chinese Theatre, the Walk of Fame and Rodeo Drive.
Best for Fans of celebrity gossip with one free day
Check availability: TMZ celebrity tour plus a 1-day hop-on hop-off ticket on GetYourGuide -
from €84 per person Valid 1 - 7 days 4.6 (21) reviews on GetYourGuide
Go City All-Inclusive Pass: 35+ attractions
One digital pass for 35+ attractions over 1 to 7 days, including Knott’s Berry Farm, the Warner Bros. studio tour and a Big Bus tour. You use your days within a 14-day window.
Best for Busy sightseers who will visit several paid attractions
Check availability: Go City All-Inclusive Pass: 35+ attractions on GetYourGuide -
from €217 per person Valid 2 - 7 days 4.3 (545) reviews on GetYourGuide
Go City Pass Plus with Universal Studios
A 2 to 7 day pass for 40+ activities that adds Universal Studios, the Warner Bros. studio tour, Madame Tussauds and a Big Bus celebrity homes tour.
Best for Families who plan to do Universal and more
Check availability: Go City Pass Plus with Universal Studios on GetYourGuide -
from €40 per group up to 3 1 hour 3.1 (19) reviews on GetYourGuide
Private transfer between LAX and your hotel
A private car with a driver between LAX and your hotel, about an hour, priced per group of up to 3.
Best for Late arrivals, heavy bags or a group of three
Check availability: Private transfer between LAX and your hotel on GetYourGuide
Compare the passes, buses and transfer
| Tour | From | Duration | Group size | Pickup | Free cancellation | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Bus hop-on hop-off: Hollywood and Santa Monica | €53 per person | Valid 1 - 3 days | Not stated | Meet on site | Yes, up to 24 hours in advance | First-timers who want the big sights without planning trains | The better-rated of the two big hop-on hop-off buses (3.8 from 1,357 reviews), and it reaches the beach. |
| Starline hop-on hop-off with Griffith Observatory shuttle | €51 per person | Valid 1 - 3 days | Not stated | Meet on site | Yes, up to 24 hours in advance | Visitors who want the observatory without driving up the hill | The most-reviewed bus here (2,346 reviews), but the rating is low at 3.4, so expect waits between buses. |
| TMZ celebrity tour plus a 1-day hop-on hop-off ticket | €88 per person | 1 day | Not stated | Meet on site | Yes, up to 24 hours in advance | Fans of celebrity gossip with one free day | One ticket for a guided show and a day of transport; only 16 reviews so far (3.8). |
| Go City All-Inclusive Pass: 35+ attractions | €84 per person | Valid 1 - 7 days | Not stated | Meet on site | Yes, up to 24 hours in advance | Busy sightseers who will visit several paid attractions | The best rating in this list (4.6 from 21 reviews) and free cancellation, but transport to attractions is not included. |
| Go City Pass Plus with Universal Studios | €217 per person | Valid 2 - 7 days | Not stated | Meet on site | No | Families who plan to do Universal and more | Rated 4.3 from 545 reviews, but it is non-refundable, so only buy it once your dates are fixed. |
| Private transfer between LAX and your hotel | €40 per group up to 3 | 1 hour | Private group | Pickup included | Yes, up to 24 hours in advance | Late arrivals, heavy bags or a group of three | A fixed price you book ahead; the rating is low (3.1 from 19 reviews), so compare it with a taxi before you book. |
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.
From LAX to the city: FlyAway, Metro, taxi or transfer
The FlyAway bus is the easiest cheap ride from LAX to downtown. It runs from every terminal to Union Station for $12.75 one way. You pay by tapping a Visa or Mastercard, or in the FlyAway app; cash is not accepted. The first bus leaves Terminal 1 at 5:40 am and the last at 11:40 pm. The ride takes 30 to 50 minutes, depending on traffic.
Metro Rail is the cheapest way. A free shuttle runs from the terminals to the LAX/Metro Transit Center. There, the C Line and K Line leave about every 10 minutes. The fare is $1.75 and includes 2 hours of free transfers. Expect at least one change of train on the way into the city.
A taxi costs a flat $51.15 between LAX and downtown, plus a $4 airport surcharge. That price is for the whole group. Taxis and ride apps pick up at a lot by Terminal 1 called LAX-it; follow the green signs. A private transfer costs more but is booked ahead, so it suits late flights and heavy bags.
Getting around the city: Metro, buses and the TAP card
LA Metro Rail covers the visitor basics: Hollywood, Downtown, Universal City and Santa Monica. One ride costs $1.75. After three rides in a day, the rest are free, so you never pay more than $5 a day or $18 a week. Transfers within 2 hours are free.
You need a TAP card or the TAP app, or you can tap a bank card or phone. Metro accepts Apple Pay and Google Pay at the gates and on buses. Seniors 62 and over pay at most $2.50 a day.
The lines visitors use most
The B Line runs from Union Station through Hollywood/Highland to Universal City/Studio City. Ride it to Universal City for Universal CityWalk Hollywood and the theme park. The E Line links downtown with Santa Monica in about 45 minutes. The A Line runs south to Long Beach in about an hour.
Short local buses
The DASH Observatory bus climbs from Vermont/Sunset station to Griffith Observatory every 20 to 25 minutes. It costs 50 cents, or 35 cents with TAP. The observatory is a classic place to see the Hollywood Sign across the hills. In Santa Monica, the Big Blue Bus costs $1.25 if you pay contactless.
Walking and hop-on hop-off buses
Walk inside one area, not between them: Santa Monica and Venice are the easiest places to explore on foot. A hop-on hop-off bus is sightseeing with transport built in. It is slower than Metro, but it links Hollywood, Beverly Hills and the beach with commentary on board.
Guides on getting around Los Angeles
Day trips on your own: train, bus, ferry or car
Most day trips work without a car if you start early. Here is how each one works on public transport.
- Long Beach: the Metro A Line runs from downtown in about an hour.
- Catalina Island: Catalina Express boats leave Long Beach and take about an hour to Avalon. An adult round trip is $103 with fees.
- Malibu: Metro bus 134 runs from Santa Monica along the coast. It reaches Malibu Civic Center in about 35 to 40 minutes, every 30 to 60 minutes.
- Disneyland: the Pacific Surfliner train reaches Anaheim in about 40 minutes from Union Station. From there, a resort bus takes about 30 minutes and is free with your Amtrak ticket.
- San Diego: the same train reaches downtown San Diego in just under 3 hours, up to 13 times a day.
Car rental in Los Angeles: when it makes sense and when not
Rent a car only for the days you leave the Metro area. A car pays off for Malibu beaches, the outlets, Disneyland with kids or a coast drive. It costs you time and money in Hollywood, Downtown and Santa Monica, where parking is paid and traffic is slow.
Published average daily prices for a rental car in Los Angeles ran from $23 to $97 on 5 booking sites read in October 2026, as the 2026 Los Angeles Travel Cost Study shows. Add parking, gas and your hotel’s parking fee before you decide.
A good mix for most trips is no car for the city days and a one- or two-day rental for the coast. For the WB Studio Tour Hollywood in Burbank, a short ride app trip from Universal City/Studio City station is often simpler than a rental.
Planning a coast day or Disneyland with kids? Compare rental car prices at LAX before you go.
Which areas work without a car, and where to stay
Stay near a Metro Rail station and you can skip the car. Downtown is best for trains, because the A, B, D and E Lines meet at 7th St/Metro Center. Hollywood sits on the B Line, with Universal City one stop away. Santa Monica is the end of the E Line and has its own Big Blue Bus.
Our guide to where to stay in Los Angeles compares these areas with hotel picks in each.
Taxi, Uber and Lyft in Los Angeles: when they pay off
Ride apps and taxis pay off at night, with heavy bags, and for short hops that need two buses. For four people, the flat taxi fare from LAX to downtown ($55.15 with the surcharge) costs about the same as four FlyAway tickets ($51).
Los Angeles taxi cab fares
City taxis charge $3.10 to start and $2.97 per mile, plus $32.11 per hour of waiting. All passengers ride for the price of one. Trips from LAX add a $4 surcharge and have a $16.50 minimum.
Uber and Lyft in Los Angeles
Uber and Lyft do not publish a fixed price list for LA. Prices change with demand, so open both apps and compare before you book. At LAX, ride apps pick up at the LAX-it lot.
Parking in Los Angeles: downtown, Santa Monica and the pier
Parking in Los Angeles is paid almost everywhere visitors go, and the posted sign is the rule. LADOT says posted signs decide when a meter is enforced, so read the sign on your block every time.
Parking in downtown Los Angeles is easiest in a paid garage. Driving there is not worth it if you can take the Metro, since four rail lines meet downtown.
Santa Monica and Santa Monica Pier parking
Santa Monica raised its beach-lot and meter rates on 12 January 2026. In its downtown garages, the first 30 minutes are free. For the pier, the E Line to Downtown Santa Monica station often beats hunting for a space.
Route-by-route: the fastest and cheapest way for each trip
For most trips the Metro is the cheapest pick, and the FlyAway is the simplest airport ride. Our picks per route:
- LAX to downtown: FlyAway bus; a taxi for a group of four.
- Downtown to Santa Monica: Metro E Line.
- Hollywood to downtown or Universal City: Metro B Line.
- Downtown to Long Beach: Metro A Line.
- Long Beach to Catalina: Catalina Express ferry.
- Santa Monica to Malibu: Metro bus 134, or a rental car for beach-hopping.
- Union Station to Disneyland or San Diego: Pacific Surfliner train.
- Vermont/Sunset to Griffith Observatory: DASH Observatory bus.
| Route | Option | Time | Cost | How often | Hassle | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAX to downtown (Union Station) | Bus (FlyAway) | 30–50 min, by traffic | $12.75 one way | every 15–30 min, 5:40 am–11:40 pm from LAX | one bus, no changes; card or app only | LAWA: transit to LAX |
| Metro | shuttle plus train, varies | $1.75 with 2 h of transfers | C and K Lines every 10 min | free shuttle to LAX/Metro Transit Center, then at least one change | LAWA: transit to LAX | |
| Taxi | by traffic | $51.15 flat for the group + $4 LAX surcharge | on demand | pickup at the LAX-it lot | LADOT: taxicab rates | |
| Tour (private transfer) | about 1 hour | from €40 per group of up to 3 | book a time | driver to your hotel | GetYourGuide: LAX private transfer | |
| Downtown to Santa Monica | Metro (E Line) | about 45 min | $1.75 | every 8–10 min on weekday daytime | no changes | LA Metro: E Line timetable |
| Hollywood to downtown | Metro (B Line) | about 25 min to Union Station | $1.75 | about every 10 min in the day | no changes | LA Metro: B Line timetable |
| Hollywood to Universal City | Metro (B Line) | about 4 min | $1.75 | about every 10 min in the day | one stop | LA Metro: B Line timetable |
| Downtown to Long Beach | Metro (A Line) | about 1 hour | $1.75 | every 8 min at weekday peak | no changes | LA Metro: A Line timetable |
| Long Beach to Catalina (Avalon) | Ferry | about 1 hour | $93 adult round trip + $10 fee and tax ($103) | 5 sailings in the winter schedule, some on set days only | book ahead | Catalina Express: schedule and fares |
| Santa Monica to Malibu | Bus (Metro 134) | 35–40 min to Malibu Civic Center | $1.75 | every 30–60 min on weekdays | no changes, slow along the coast | LA Metro: Line 134 timetable |
| Union Station to Disneyland | Train + bus | about 40 min to Anaheim, then about 30 min by bus | train fare varies; resort bus free with an Amtrak ticket | up to 13 trains a day | one change at Anaheim (ARTIC) | Disneyland Resort: by train |
| Union Station to San Diego | Train (Pacific Surfliner) | about 2 h 55 min | fare varies by train | up to 13 a day | no changes | Pacific Surfliner: timetable |
| Vermont/Sunset to Griffith Observatory | Bus (DASH Observatory) | not stated | 50¢, 35¢ with TAP | every 20–25 min | stops in front of the observatory | Griffith Observatory: getting here |
Read from the operators' own pages on 22 October 2026. Fares and timetables change; check before you travel.
Tips before you ride or book
Tap your card
Tap a bank card, phone or TAP card on every Metro bus and gate. Fare capping means you never pay more than $5 a day.
Have a card for FlyAway
FlyAway takes no cash. Tap a Visa or Mastercard, or buy in the FlyAway app.
Check the hop-on routes
Each bus company runs its own routes and times. Look at the route map on the booking page before you choose, and expect some waiting.
Read the cancellation line
Most picks show free cancellation on their booking page; check the exact cut-off there. The Go City Pass Plus with Universal is non-refundable.
Count people for the transfer
The private LAX transfer is priced per group of up to 3. For one person, the FlyAway or a taxi is usually cheaper.
Questions about getting around Los Angeles
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More Los Angeles transport and passes
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
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Facts checked on 22 October 2026 against: LA Metro: fares · LAWA: transit to LAX · Metrolink: LAX FlyAway · LADOT: taxicab rates · LA Metro: E Line timetable · LA Metro: B Line timetable · LA Metro: A Line timetable · LA Metro: Line 134 timetable · Catalina Express: schedule and fares · Pacific Surfliner: timetable · Disneyland Resort: by train · Griffith Observatory: getting here · Big Blue Bus: fares · City of Santa Monica: 2026 parking rates · LADOT: metered parking data · Visit Burbank: Warner Bros. Studio Tour.
Written by the Things to Do in Los Angeles editorial team.