Downtown Los Angeles: History and Architecture Tour
5.0
25 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
(25 Ratings)
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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
Trevor_b
Jan 21, 2024
Great walking tour for history lovers - My wife and I really enjoyed this scenic tour of downtown LA, despite going on a rare rainy day. Our tour guide, Chris, was full of information on all the sights and kept things moving at a brisk pace. Highly recommended to anyone who wants to get to know this city better!
Review provided by Viator
Dulce_c
Jan 5, 2024
Very knowledgeable - This tour was wonderful. Our guide, Chris, was knowledgeable about the history, architecture and hidden gems of Downtown LA, and he even recommended places to eat after the tour.
Review provided by Viator
Barbara_d
Dec 31, 2023
Fantastic history, culture and architecture tour of LA - Very knowledgeable guide!! Tour packed with city history and fun facts. Would recommend to anyone on an LA trip. Walking tour and the guide keeps the pace moving well. We all loved it!
Review provided by Viator
Solotraveller100
Dec 11, 2023
Learn About LA and Have Fun - Had an awesome tour of downtown with Chris. He is an encyclopedia with lots of great info. We went inside buildings, admired architecture from outside, saw hidden locations and great view points. I highly recommend if coming to LA.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Garrett_g
Nov 27, 2023
Wonderful guide. - This is a truly wonderful guide. He knows tons about Los Angeles history and architectural history. He has a very helpful attitude and is full of energy. A perfect guide.
Review provided by Viator
Mary_f
Nov 19, 2023
Superb History & Architecture Tour of LA - Fabulous tour focused on LA’s architecture & history. Our guide, Chris, kept up a perfect pace (verbally & walking) & kept us engaged the entire time. Would highly recommend this tour to visitors & locals alike. Thanks, Chris, for an educational & entertaining tour!
Review provided by Viator
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
May 2024
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