Where to stay/no car

Question

Hi all, was wondering if anyone could help.

Where would be the best place/location to stay when we are not going to be driving or hiring a car? We will be relying on public transport. Don't have a massive budget but willing to up it if location makes sense. We may arrive at LAX or Burbank airport. We are staying for three nights.

I see everything is spread out in LA! The things we want to see/do include:

Hollywood walk of fame

Chinese Theatre

The Abbey

Griffith Observatory

Universal Studios

Rodeo Drive

Grand Central market

Santa Monica Pier

Venice beach

Amongst other things, should time allow!

Any advice would be appreciated, thank you.

Answer

Los Angeles without a car is absolutely doable if you choose the right base. Since LA is very spread out, the key is staying somewhere with excellent transit connections, walkability, and easy access to rideshares when needed. Based on what you want to see, you’ll be happiest in either Hollywood or West Hollywood (WeHo). Both allow you to reach most places on your list without too much hassle.

Below is a breakdown of the best locations, how each works for your itinerary, and what to avoid.

1. Best Overall Area Without a Car: Hollywood (around Hollywood & Highland)

This is the most transit-friendly base for first-time visitors. You can walk to multiple things on your list and have access to the Metro Red Line, which is the only rail line in LA that consistently helps tourists.

Walkable to: Walk of Fame, Chinese Theatre, many restaurants.
Metro Red Line: Direct to Universal Studios (1 stop), Downtown LA/Grand Central Market (15–20 min).
Easy rideshares: 10–20 minutes to Griffith Observatory, 15–25 minutes to The Abbey, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills.
Arrival convenience: From LAX take Flyaway Bus → Hollywood; from Burbank take a short rideshare or train/Metro.
Budget-friendly hotels available.

Why Hollywood works: It minimizes time spent transferring between buses. For Universal and Downtown, it’s perfect. It is also the most common recommendation for car-free visitors.

2. Best for Nightlife & LGBTQ+ Scene: West Hollywood (near Santa Monica Blvd.)

If visiting The Abbey is important and you want a safer, trendier, walkable neighborhood, WeHo is ideal. However, transit here is mostly buses, not trains.

Walkable to: The Abbey, shops, restaurants, nightlife.
Easy rideshare to: Rodeo Drive (10 min), Hollywood Blvd (10–15 min), Griffith Observatory (20–25 min).
Bus to Santa Monica & Beverly Hills: 20–40 minutes depending on traffic.
More expensive hotels, but safer and nicer than Hollywood.

Why WeHo works: It’s fun, vibrant, and centrally located — but you’ll use rideshares more often than Metro. Still very convenient.

3. Secondary Option: Downtown LA (near Grand Central Market)

Downtown works if you want good Metro access, but it’s not as convenient for most attractions.

Metro access: Easy Red Line to Hollywood and Universal.
Walkable to: Grand Central Market, The Broad, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Little Tokyo.
Cautions: Some blocks feel unsafe late at night; not the best for first-timers.

Why Downtown works: Good transit, but not as central for beaches or WeHo.

4. Don’t Stay in Santa Monica or Venice Without a Car

While beautiful, these are not good transit bases for the rest of your list:

1+ hour to Hollywood by bus/train.
Long rideshares to attractions.
Better for beach-only vacations.

Best Transportation Plan for Your Trip

Use Metro Rail: For Hollywood, DTLA, and Universal Studios.
Use rideshare for: Griffith Observatory, The Abbey, Rodeo Drive, beaches.
Plan beach day separately: Getting to Santa Monica/Venice from Hollywood will take 60–90 minutes.

Example 3-Night Itinerary (If Staying in Hollywood)

Day 1: Walk the Walk of Fame → Chinese Theatre → Hollywood Museum → Sunset Blvd nightlife or The Abbey.
Day 2: Universal Studios by Metro → evening at Griffith Observatory (rideshare).
Day 3: Rodeo Drive → Santa Monica Pier → Venice Beach.

Bottom Line Recommendation

If you want the easiest trip without a car, choose: