Downtown Los Angeles: History and Architecture Tour
5.0
26 Ratings
Los Angeles
Discover the rich history and stunning architecture of downtown Los Angeles on this engaging and informative tour. Explore the Historic Core, Little Tokyo, the Civic Center, and Bunker Hill, and indulge in traditional Japanese sweets from a legendary confectioner. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to truly understand and appreciate the heart of LA!
Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Angels Flight Railway - Start the tour by learning about the shortest train in the world! We will discuss Angels Flight and its connection to Bunker Hill. The tour will end by riding Angels Flight down to our meeting point.
  • Pershing Square - The architecture deep dive begins at Pershing Square. The historic core in DTLA is home to some of the best art deco, beaux arts, and modern architecture in the world!
  • The Last Bookstore - Go inside one of LA’s coolest hangouts! The Last Bookstore is a readers paradise, but it is also full of great spots to take an amazing photo. You’ll head upstairs and discover that the building used to be a bank for the wealthy in downtown.
  • Bradbury Building - The Bradbury is one of the most magnificent buildings in the world. Discover the incredible story behind this 1893 masterpiece!
  • Little Tokyo - The Japanese communities have shaped California in an incredible way, and LA especially. One of the oldest bakeries still open today is a Japanese candy store from 1903! The tour includes mochi from this one of a kind stop. The tour will break here for about 20 minutes for the bathrooms and snacks.
  • City Hall - Back to architecture and civic history! The tour is beginning to wind down with a visit to the political heart of LA. You’ll walk right through Grand Park and discover how LA morphed from a town of just 44 into a city of millions.
  • Walt Disney Concert Hall - Discover some of LA’s incredible modern architecture and the struggles to develop one of LA’s most striking buildings.
  • Grand Central Market - This foodie destination is a treat for locals and visitors alike. This historic food hall has been operating for over 100 years now and shows no signs of slowing down!
What's Included
  • Complimentary snacks
Additional Information

For a comprehensive understanding of Los Angeles, a visit to the city’s downtown is a must. This is where the city originated! Within a span of three hours, you’ll gain a wealth of knowledge about LA and its downtown district. Our lively discussion includes historical facts, architectural styles, local cuisine, urban planning, shopping experiences, artistic scenes, and so much more! Many of our tour attendees are often taken aback by how much more there is to downtown LA than they initially thought.

The tour includes thorough exploration of some key parts of Downtown LA. We’ll explore the Historic Core, Little Tokyo, the Civic Center, and Bunker Hill. The variety within each of these areas demonstrates the rich diversity that is present downtown. Each block you’ll visit offers a distinctive ambiance.

When in Little Tokyo, we’ll savor traditional Japanese desserts from a family-run sweetshop in operation since 1903! This is the only tour in LA where you get to visit this historic establishment.

‘See LA in a Day’ delivers the finest walking tours in LA, each one meticulously planned and conducted by passionate guides who take pride in sharing the city they love. We look forward to your company on the tour!

Location
341 S Hill St
South Hill Street
We meet at the BOTTOM of the Angels Flight trolley. This is right across from Grand Central Market. Your guide will be standing off to the side, near the stairs.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(26 Ratings)
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Patrick_w
Jun 3, 2024
Exceeding expectations - Incredible insights with our impressive, knowledgeable, and fun guide, Chris! Hope to book another tour before too long.
Review provided by Viator
Helenc2015xxx
May 23, 2024
I really enjoyed this tour! - Our guide, Chris, was very friendly and knowledgeable and kept a good pace. I wondered if 3 hours would seem too long but the time went quickly and we were able to see a lot. I worked in downtown LA for 6 years back in the 90’s and never thought of it as a place to tour but it is. I would recommend this tour to locals, not just tourists.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Chloebc7741uw
May 19, 2024
Funny and Engrossing! - Such an interesting tour that turned my perception of DTLA on its head, and showed that Los Angeles truly does have walkable pockets that are worth exploring. Chris’s stories about the buildings, their architects, workers, inhabitants and the land that they’re built on, made them come alive. Great way to see DTLA and spend a few hours learning about the city, whether you’re a tourist or a local!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Laura_m
May 6, 2024
Amazing!!! Highly recommended. Lots of walking - Fantastic tour. Just the right length of time and sightseeing. Highly recommend if you want a quick glance of downtown LA (DTLA) highlighting the most beautiful buildings and eclectic areas. I do caution people that there are lots of stairs. Maybe not the most convenient for strollers or wheelchairs, but could be done.
Review provided by Viator
Rachel_b
Apr 19, 2024
Chris was an outstanding... - Chris was an outstanding guide!! Chris was very personable and has a wealth of knowledge. He was able to adapt his talk to meet the interests of the group. HIs delivery of facts mingled with humor made for a very interesting and fun walk! Highly recommend this walk.
Review provided by Viator
Chris_r
Apr 18, 2024
Fantastic tour through LA history. - Loved the narration and history. Not just an architecture discussion. Fantastic tour. Amazing buildings.
Review provided by Viator
Grant_b
Mar 20, 2024
Chris is an A+ tour guide - highly recommend! - We have taken dozens of tours around the world and Chris might be the best tour guide we ever have experienced. He took a somewhat challenging subject matter - Downtown LA - and made it extremely interesting to anyone who loves history, people, urban development, and culture. We highly highly recommend Chris and this tour to anyone remotely interested, I cannot imagine there is anyone better.
Review provided by Viator
Katie_s
Feb 19, 2024
A deeper appreciation of downtown LA’s many layers - This was a fantastic tour. We learned so much about the history and architecture of this fascinating place. Chris has encyclopedic knowledge and was very engaging. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Viator
Nina_g
Feb 10, 2024
Fantastic Tour with Chris! - Chris was a fantastic tour guide. He is obviously passionate about the history and architecture of DTLA. He shared lots of great stories and made the past 'come alive' with his narration as we walked.
Review provided by Viator
Loretta_r
Feb 3, 2024
Fun, informative interesting tour - Chris was probably one of the better, most knowledgeable guides we’ve had. We take a lot of tours when we are visiting a new city. He would be at the top of our list in every way. He is knowledgeable. He was flexible. Fun and interesting. He was helpful when we ran into a problem with another tour. And finally, he was a nice guy. Highly recommend this tour & this guide.
Review provided by Viator
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
June 2024
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