All City Guides

🌴 Getting Around Los Angeles

Yes, you can explore LA without a car. A rapidly expanding Metro, coastal bike paths, and the cheapest fares of any major US city make car-free LA surprisingly doable.

Main Transport Options

LA Metro Rail

Six rail lines connecting downtown LA to Hollywood, Santa Monica, Long Beach, Pasadena and LAX

  • •6 lines: A (Blue), B (Red), C (Green), D (Purple), E (Expo), K (Crenshaw)
  • •B/D Lines: Subway through Hollywood, Koreatown & downtown
  • •E Line: Downtown to Santa Monica in 50 minutes
  • •New K Line connects to LAX via free shuttle

Pro Tip: The E Line to Santa Monica beats driving on the 10 freeway every time!

Metro Buses & Rapid

Extensive bus network with rapid services on major boulevards

  • •170+ routes across LA County
  • •Metro Rapid (red buses): Limited stops, faster service
  • •Orange & Silver Lines: Bus Rapid Transit in dedicated lanes
  • •All buses have bike racks

Pro Tip: Metro Rapid buses on Wilshire Blvd are the best way across town!

Metrolink & Amtrak

Regional commuter rail connecting LA to surrounding counties and beyond

  • •7 Metrolink lines to Ventura, San Bernardino, Orange County
  • •Amtrak Pacific Surfliner: Stunning coastal route to San Diego & Santa Barbara
  • •All depart from historic Union Station
  • •Weekend day passes offer great value for day trips

Pro Tip: Take the Pacific Surfliner to San Diego — the coastal views are world-class!

Bike Share & Scooters

Metro Bike Share plus numerous e-scooter companies for last-mile connections

  • •Metro Bike Share: Stations across downtown, Hollywood, Venice & Pasadena
  • •E-scooters (Lime, Bird): Available on most sidewalks
  • •Beach bike paths: Venice to Santa Monica and beyond
  • •Growing protected bike lane network

Pro Tip: Rent a bike on the Marvin Braude path — 22 miles of car-free coastal riding!

Passes & Tickets

TAP Card

LA's reloadable transit card for Metro Rail, Bus, and many municipal operators

Best for: Everyone using LA public transit
  • ✓Works on Metro + 25 municipal operators
  • ✓$1.75 per ride, $5 day cap
  • ✓Free transfers within 2 hours

7-Day Pass

Unlimited Metro rides for 7 consecutive days

Best for: Tourists and heavy users
  • ✓$18 for 7 days unlimited
  • ✓Metro Rail + Metro Bus included
  • ✓Load onto TAP card

Day Pass

Unlimited Metro rides for one calendar day

Best for: Day-trippers and sightseers
  • ✓$5 day cap (auto-applied)
  • ✓All Metro Rail & Bus
  • ✓No need to pre-purchase

Navigation Apps & Tools

Transit App

Best real-time tracking for Metro Rail and buses

Google Maps

Reliable multi-modal directions across the sprawling LA region

Metro App (Go Metro)

Official trip planner with TAP card management

Lime/Bird

E-scooter apps for last-mile connections from Metro stations

Most Instagrammable Transport Spots

Metro E Line to Santa Monica Pier

Step off the train straight onto the iconic pier at sunset

Union Station Downtown LA

Stunning 1939 Art Deco–Mission Revival masterpiece

Metro B Line Hollywood/Highland

Emerge from the subway to the Hollywood sign

Angels Flight Railway

World's shortest railway — a funicular in downtown's Bunker Hill

LA River Bike Path

Urban oasis greenway with downtown skyline views

Insider Tips

  • 1LA's $1.75 flat fare and $5 daily cap make it one of America's cheapest major transit systems
  • 2Metro is expanding rapidly — the Purple Line to Westwood/VA Hospital opens soon
  • 3Avoid driving to the beach on weekends — take the E Line to Santa Monica
  • 4Union Station has great restaurants and a beautiful garden — arrive early and explore
  • 5The DASH buses are free/25¢ and cover downtown, Hollywood, and many neighbourhoods