Day tour of LA

Question

Hi there, I’m looking for help with planing a day in LA. I am staying in Del Mar for a couple of days at the end of October and really want to try to get to LA for a taster of what’s to see. I know a day is far too short but that’s all I have! Hopefully I’ll get back there again.

To get to LA I see that I can get the Pacific Surfliner from Solana Beach train station at 06:40 getting into Union train station at 09:13. There seems to be trains returning every two hours, when I have my day planned I’ll look at those times.

Should I prebook my train ticket from Solana Beach?

Usually when I go to a city that I only have a small amount of time I hop on an open top bus and get a little taster of what’s to see. Take note of what I’d like to see more of and go back to that the next time I visit. LA is on a much larger scale to cover!!

I see there are a number of tour buses advertised here. They all seem to do the same kind of routes.

Would one of these be my best option?

I see a lot start from around Santa Monica Pier or West Hollywood areas.

Would the metro out of Union Station be my best option?

When using the Metro or buses in LA can you tap on/off with your phone/bank card, do you have to prebook tickets or do you pay in cash?

Thank you.

Answer

For a one-day visit to Los Angeles from Del Mar, your plan to take the Pacific Surfliner is a good idea. The train offers a relaxing and scenic ride up the coast without the stress of driving in LA traffic.

Booking the train:

Yes, it is recommended to prebook your ticket from Solana Beach, especially for a morning departure like 06:40. Trains can fill up, particularly on weekends or during popular travel periods.
Advance booking ensures you have a guaranteed seat and can avoid waiting in line at the station.

Getting around LA for a day:

Given that you only have a day, using a tour bus is likely the most efficient way to get a quick overview of the city, especially if your goal is to identify areas you might want to explore on a future visit.

Open-top hop-on/hop-off buses cover key areas such as Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and downtown. This is convenient since it saves time navigating LA’s large and spread-out layout.
Many tours start from Santa Monica Pier, Hollywood, or West Hollywood. Check which route aligns best with the sites you most want to see.
This method lets you see multiple areas without worrying about parking, traffic, or figuring out transfers between public transit lines.

Using LA Metro and buses:

The Metro system covers parts of downtown, Hollywood, and some other neighborhoods but is limited compared to the coverage of tour buses.
Metro fare can be paid using a TAP card, which you can top up at stations. Contactless payment via certain bank cards and mobile wallets (like Apple Pay or Google Pay) is also possible at TAP vending machines.
Bus and Metro tickets generally cannot be paid in cash on board, so having a preloaded TAP card or mobile payment is recommended.

Recommendation for a short visit:

For a one-day taster, a hop-on/hop-off bus tour is your best bet. It will allow you to maximize the number of sites you see, provide commentary, and let you hop off for quick photos.
If you prefer a more local experience and have a good grasp of time, you could combine a Metro ride downtown with targeted rideshares to Hollywood or Santa Monica, but this requires more planning and time awareness.
Since you are coming in by train, plan your route so that your start or end point of the bus tour is convenient to Union Station for your return journey.

Overall, prebook your train, choose a hop-on/hop-off tour that starts near Union Station or along your preferred route, and use the day to enjoy scenic drives and key LA landmarks. Focus on quality over quantity given the limited time.

Day tour of LA

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