Looking for the best things to do in the morning in LA? Mornings are a great time to explore Los Angeles. Beaches are empty, the light is perfect for photos, and you can actually find parking. The crowds haven’t arrived yet, and the city feels like it belongs to you.
The challenge? Many museums, theme parks, and boutiques don’t open until around 10am, so some indoor attractions are off-limits first thing.
This guide covers the 10 best ways to spend your morning in Los Angeles. You’ll find free activities, early-opening spots, and the smartest way to see multiple neighborhoods without wasting half your day in traffic.
Want to see the highlights without the hassle? Our 9am Hollywood, Beverly Hills, & Celebrity Homes Open Air Tour covers top outdoor sights early in the day, when streets are less hectic than midday. You’ll hit the Hollywood Sign, celebrity homes, Rodeo Drive, and the Sunset Strip while LA is still waking up.
1. Walk on The Beach in Malibu or Santa Monica
Morning at the beach means cooler temperatures, softer light for photos, and lighter crowds. Many state beaches have looser parking rules or emptier lots early in the morning, but always check posted signs.
Santa Monica Pier stays open all night. Walk out over the water before the sun comes up, grab coffee from a nearby cafe, and take in the view. The historic Santa Monica pier photographs well in morning light when crowds are lighter. You’ll have the ocean on one side and views of the Santa Monica Mountains behind you.
Malibu beaches offer even more space. El Matador State Beach typically opens early in the morning, but check posted hours. It features dramatic rock formations that photograph beautifully in early light. Zuma Beach works if you want a longer stretch of sand.
If you’re building a perfect day in LA, the beach makes a solid starting point before exploring other day trips from Santa Monica.
2. Hike Runyon Canyon (Best Views Near Downtown LA)
Runyon Canyon opens at 5am and costs nothing. On a clear day, you see the Hollywood Sign, downtown L.A., and straight out to the Pacific Ocean. It’s one of the best views in Los Angeles where you capture multiple parts of the city in one frame.
The main loop takes 30 minutes to an hour. It’s less technical than it looks – mostly wide dirt paths with a few steeper sections. You’ll pass locals walking their dogs off-leash and other early risers. The parking lot and trails are noticeably quieter before 9am.
The trailhead sits about 30-45 minutes from DTLA off Mulholland Drive. Street parking can fill up later in the morning, so earlier arrival helps.
You knock out one of LA’s bucket list hikes and see multiple parts of the city from one spot.
3. Walk the Hollywood Walk of Fame (Before Peak Hours)
The Hollywood Walk of Fame runs along public sidewalks that are generally accessible at all hours. The 2,700+ embedded stars stretch along Hollywood Boulevard. Early morning usually means lighter foot traffic and easier navigation.
Start at the TCL Chinese Theatre where celebrities left their handprints in concrete. The building itself is a landmark from the early days of Hollywood. Walk west on Hollywood Boulevard and you’ll hit the Dolby Theatre (where the Oscars happen), the El Capitan Theatre, and star after star stretching down the block.
Before 9am, you get clearer photos and more room to move. Fewer street performers and lighter tourist traffic.
4. Take a Morning Tour of Hollywood, Beverly Hills & Celebrity Homes
Our Hollywood, Beverly Hills, & Celebrity Homes Open Air Tour is perfect for early risers who want to cover the highlights in one trip. The tour departs at 9am from Hollywood (or 10am from Santa Monica) and runs 2 hours (3.5 hours if you’re departing from Santa Monica.) You’ll see the Hollywood Sign, celebrity homes in Beverly Hills and Hollywood, Rodeo Drive, the Sunset Strip, and Beverly Hills residential streets.
You travel in our 10-13 seat open-air vans with a driver-guide who points out celebrity homes, shares stories about the neighborhoods, and stops at key photo spots including the Beverly Hills Sign.
The route takes you through the Hollywood Hills for views of the Hollywood Sign, down the Sunset Strip, through Beverly Hills residential areas where celebrities live, and along Rodeo Drive.
Book your Hollywood, Beverly Hills, & Celebrity Homes Open Air Tour here.
5. Explore Downtown Los Angeles
Downtown LA wakes up early. Grand Central Market opens at 8am with breakfast vendors, coffee stands, and the kind of food scene that makes DTLA worth the trip.
The market sits inside a 1917 building with high ceilings and natural light. You’ll find everything from pupusas to ramen to fresh juice bars. It’s one of the more authentic food experiences in the city of Los Angeles and less crowded in the morning.
Walk a few blocks and you hit the Arts District. Murals cover entire building sides. The neighborhood has an industrial feel with converted warehouses, coffee shops, and art galleries. Morning light makes the street art photograph well.
The Last Bookstore opens at 10am (11am on Sundays), but you can plan your timing to explore the area first. The bookstore sits in an old bank building downtown and features floor-to-ceiling stacks, an upstairs art gallery, and book tunnels made from stacked paperbacks. It’s a popular stop for book lovers visiting LA.
Bradbury Building (304 S Broadway) is worth seeing from the outside. The 1893 art deco building appeared in Blade Runner and features ornate ironwork.
Angel’s Flight, the short funicular railway, usually operates daily (hours 6:45am–10pm), but check for closures as they happen often.
Downtown LA gives you breakfast options, street art, historic architecture, and a different side of Los Angeles than the beach neighborhoods.
6. Things to Do in Beverly Hills: Window Shop Rodeo Drive
Rodeo Drive is Beverly Hills’ upscale shopping district. Most boutiques open around 10am, but the street is accessible earlier for walking and photos.
The three-block stretch features luxury storefronts – Gucci, Chanel, Prada, and other high-end brands line the palm-tree-lined sidewalk. The architecture and window displays photograph well even when stores are closed.
The Beverly Hills Sign sits just a few blocks away at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Beverly Drive. It’s one of the most photographed landmarks in the area and pairs naturally with a Rodeo Drive walk.
Early morning often means lighter foot traffic for photos and exploring the neighborhood.
Our Hollywood, Beverly Hills, & Celebrity Homes Open Air Tour includes a photo stop at the Beverly Hills Sign and takes you through the Rodeo Drive area as part of the route.
7. Visit Griffith Observatory Grounds (Day Trip Classic)
The Griffith Observatory building opens at 10am, but the grounds and surrounding trails open early (Griffith Park hours: 5am–10:30pm), so you can visit before the building opens. You get some of the best views of L.A. without waiting for the museum to unlock.
From the lawn outside the observatory, you see downtown Los Angeles, the Hollywood Sign, and on a clear day, straight out to the Pacific Ocean. It’s one of the few spots where you capture multiple parts of the city in one frame.
The trails around Griffith Park open early. You can hike up to the observatory or drive. Either way, morning means easier parking and cooler temperatures for walking the grounds.
The area attracts photographers at sunrise. The observatory’s art deco architecture photographs well against the morning sky, and you’re positioned above the city for wide views of L.A. before haze builds up later in the day.
The building itself houses planetarium shows, exhibits, and telescopes, but those require waiting until 10am. The outdoor experience alone makes the trip worthwhile if you’re already up early.
Our Half Day Best of LA tour includes a stop at Griffith Observatory (with time to explore the grounds and take photos) as part of the route. It’s one of several stops on the tour that covers multiple LA neighborhoods in one morning.
Griffith Observatory is often about 20–30 minutes by car from downtown L.A. in light traffic and works well as an early morning stop before moving on to other plans.
8. See the Best of LA in One Morning (Half Day Tour)
Our Half Day Best of LA tour departs daily at 10am and 11:30am from Hollywood or Santa Monica and runs 5.5 hours. It’s designed for travelers who want to cover the major highlights in one trip without committing a full day.
The tour includes three stops where you get off and explore:
- Hollywood Walk of Fame or Santa Monica Pier (45 minutes) – Depending on your departure point, you explore either the Walk of Fame and TCL Chinese Theatre or walk the pier with Pacific Ocean views
- The Farmers Market & The Grove (75 minutes) – Time for lunch at LA’s historic food marketplace and shopping at The Grove
- Griffith Observatory & Hollywood Sign (45 minutes) – Views of the city and photo opportunities with the Hollywood Sign
Between stops, you cover multiple neighborhoods: Hollywood Boulevard, Sunset Strip, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, Bel Air, Santa Monica Beach, Museum Row (LACMA, La Brea Tar Pits), and Melrose Avenue.
You travel in climate-controlled buses with large windows and a local driver-guide who provides context about each neighborhood. We handle the logistics so you can enjoy LA without dealing with parking or navigating traffic between neighborhoods.
Book your Half Day Best of LA tour here.
9. Stroll Venice Beach Boardwalk
Venice Beach Boardwalk is accessible early, though the area typically comes alive between 9-10am when vendors set up and performers start arriving. Morning gives you a quieter version of one of LA’s most iconic beach walks.
The boardwalk runs along the sand with murals, the famous Muscle Beach outdoor gym, and skate parks. Street art covers building walls throughout the neighborhood. The vibe is eclectic – a mix of beach culture, art, and longtime Venice character.
Marvin Braude Bike Trail runs along the coast and connects Venice to Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach, and Marina del Rey. You can rent bikes nearby and ride north or south along the Pacific Ocean. The paved path stays close to the water and offers one of the better ways to see multiple beach communities in one go.
Breakfast spots near the boardwalk include Gjusta (opens 7am) and The Butcher’s Daughter. Both attract locals and have shorter waits in the morning.
Venice works well if you want to go to the beach and experience a neighborhood that feels different from the rest of LA. Morning hours usually mean easier parking and cooler temperatures for walking.
The area sits about 20-30 minutes from downtown L.A. in light traffic and makes a solid pairing with Santa Monica if you’re covering beach neighborhoods in one morning.
10. Browse a Morning Farmers Market
LA’s farmers markets open early and give you a look at how locals shop for produce, grab breakfast, and start their weekends.
Hollywood Farmers Market runs Sundays from 8am-1pm along Ivar Avenue between Sunset and Hollywood Boulevard (rain or shine). You’ll find fresh California produce, prepared food vendors, coffee stands, and locals stocking up for the week. It’s one of the fun things locals do on Sunday mornings that most tourists miss.
Santa Monica’s Wednesday Farmers Market operates from 8:30am-1:30pm along Arizona Avenue. It’s larger than the Hollywood market and attracts both locals and visitors. Vendors sell everything from strawberries to artisan bread to ready-to-eat breakfast options.
Both markets operate year-round and accept cash and cards at most stalls. You can grab breakfast, walk through with coffee, or pick up snacks for later in the day.
If neither market fits your schedule, the Original Farmers Market at 3rd and Fairfax opens at 9am daily. It’s a permanent food hall rather than a traditional farmers market, but offers a similar browsing experience with breakfast vendors, coffee, and fresh food options. It’s featured in our Half Day Best of LA Tour, but works as a standalone morning stop too.
Planning Your Day in Los Angeles (Insider Tips)
If you’re looking for things to do in LA before 10am, outdoor activities and food spots are your best options. Most museums, theme parks, and indoor attractions open later in the morning.
Start before 9am if you’re driving yourself. Traffic builds quickly in Los Angeles, and popular spots like Runyon Canyon and beach parking lots fill up fast.
What opens late: Universal Studios Hollywood, Walt Disney Concert Hall tours, and most art museums open at 10am or later (La Brea Tar Pits at 9:30am). If these are on your list, plan them for midday or afternoon.
Sample morning itinerary: Beach sunrise (6:30am) → breakfast at Grand Central Market or a beachside cafe (8am) → tour or hike (9-10am) → you’re done before lunch and can move on to other plans. Check out our 3-day Los Angeles itinerary to see how mornings fit into a complete trip.
Do you need a rental car? It depends. If you’re staying near Hollywood or Santa Monica and taking our tours, you can cover major sights without one. If you want to explore multiple beach areas, hiking trails, or neighborhoods on your own, a car helps. Rideshares and the Metro work for some routes but add time.
Getting back to the airport: Morning activities near the beach (Santa Monica, Venice, Manhattan Beach) can put you closer to LAX than Downtown LA or Hollywood, which may add 30–60 minutes or more in traffic.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mornings in LA
What time does the Hollywood Walk of Fame open?
The Hollywood Walk of Fame runs along public sidewalks that are generally accessible at all hours. The stars are embedded in the pavement along Hollywood Boulevard, so you can visit anytime. Early morning (before 9am) means lighter crowds for photos.
Can you see the Hollywood Sign in the morning?
Yes. Griffith Observatory grounds and Runyon Canyon offer Hollywood Sign views in the morning. The observatory grounds and Runyon Canyon both open at 5am.
What’s the best beach to visit in the morning near LA?
Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach are both accessible early and offer different experiences. Santa Monica has the historic pier and calmer family vibe. Venice has the boardwalk, street art, and the Marvin Braude Bike Trail. El Matador State Beach in Malibu has posted hours (often starting around 8am—check signs or site) and offers dramatic rock formations with fewer crowds.
Are free things to do in Los Angeles available in the morning?
Yes. Beaches, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Runyon Canyon, Griffith Observatory grounds, and farmers markets are all free or low-cost options. Many of LA’s best outdoor experiences don’t require tickets.
How early should I arrive at popular hiking spots?
Runyon Canyon and Griffith Park trails are noticeably quieter before 7:30am. Parking lots and trailheads fill up quickly after 9am, especially on weekends. Earlier arrival usually means easier parking and cooler temperatures.
Do I need tickets or reservations for morning activities?
Most outdoor activities (beaches, hikes, the Walk of Fame) don’t require tickets. Our tours can be booked online in advance, and we recommend booking early as morning departure times can fill up.
What’s the earliest tour departure time in LA?
Our Hollywood, Beverly Hills, & Celebrity Homes Open Air Tour departs at 9am from Hollywood (10am from Santa Monica). It’s designed for early risers who want to cover multiple neighborhoods before midday.
Can you visit Griffith Observatory before it opens?
Yes. The building opens at 10am, but the grounds and surrounding trails open early (Griffith Park hours: 5am–10:30pm). You can walk the grounds, take photos, and enjoy views of downtown Los Angeles and the Hollywood Sign before the building unlocks.
Make the Most of Your Morning in Los Angeles with Hollywood Bus Tours
LA mornings offer a different side of the city. Quieter beaches, open hiking trails, and neighborhoods before the rush. Whether you’re up for sunrise at the beach or ready to check the Hollywood Sign off your list, LA mornings give you options.
Our morning tours are designed for travelers who want to cover ground efficiently. The 9am Hollywood, Beverly Hills, & Celebrity Homes Open Air Tour runs about two hours and hits the outdoor highlights – the Hollywood Sign, celebrity homes, Rodeo Drive, and the Sunset Strip. The 10am Half Day Best of LA tour goes bigger: Santa Monica Pier, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Griffith Observatory, and The Grove, with three stops to explore.
Ready to see LA in one morning? Book your tour today.
