One Day in Los Angeles — The Perfect Itinerary

7am — Venice Beach and the boardwalk

Walk the Venice Beach Boardwalk before the crowds: bodybuilders at Venice Beach Muscles, the Venice Skate Park (the most famous skate park in the world), the canals of Venice (built 1904 by Abbot Kinney as a "Venice of America" — the canals are real, and lovely in the morning light). Intelligentsia Coffee on Abbot Kinney has the best espresso in Venice. Walk south along the beach to Marina del Rey for the coastal bike path.

10am — Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood Sign

Griffith J. Griffith Observatory (opened 1935) is the landmark building on Mount Hollywood with the best view of the Hollywood Sign. The walk from the Griffith Observatory to the sign is 2.5km each way (one hour). Alternatively, drive to the Griffith Observatory parking lot and take the shuttle to the sign. Inside the observatory: the Foucault Pendulum, the Planetarium (shows every 45 minutes, S$8), and the free telescope decks (open evenings, clear nights only).

12pm — Grand Central Market and Downtown LA

Grand Central Market (1917, 317 S. Hill Street): 100 years of food history under one roof. Eggs 'n Things (Hawaiian): the Loco Moco is a breakfast institution. Belcampo Meat Co.: the best burger in the market. McConnell's Fine Ice Creams: the vanilla is made with local cream. Walk east through the Historic Core and Broadway: the old movie theatres (Orpheum, Palace, Los Angeles) from LA's 1920s golden age. The Broadway Theater District is the largest collection of historic theaters in the US.

3pm — LACMA and the Miracle Mile

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is the largest art museum in the western US. The Urban Light installation (202 restored street lamps from 1920s–30s LA, Chris Burden, 2008) is the free outdoor entry to the museum. The Petersen Automotive Museum (next door, S$19): the best automotive collection in the world, four floors of cars from every era. The La Brea Tar Pits (free, next door to LACMA): active asphalt seeps from the La Brea Tar Pits that have produced 3.5 million fossils over 50,000 years.

6pm — Sunset at the Hollywood Bowl or Runyon Canyon

Runyon Canyon (entrance on Fuller Avenue): a 160-acre park in the Hollywood Hills, free, open dawn to dusk. The 2.5km loop hike to the top of the canyon gives you 360-degree views: the Hollywood Sign, the San Fernando Valley, and the entire LA basin. Go at sunset. Alternatively: The Hollywood Bowl (1930, 17,500 seats, the summer home of the LA Philharmonic): attend a concert and watch the Hollywood Sign light up behind the stage.

9pm — Hollywood or Silver Lake

For the Hollywood experience: Musso and Frank's (Hollywood, since 1919): the oldest restaurant in Hollywood, the margarita and the char-broiled steak are the classics. For something more interesting: Silver Lake has LA's best bar scene: Sunset Tavern (beer garden, weekend live music), The bootlegger (craft cocktails, hidden entrance), and Coffee and 4am (yes, exactly that).