A Free (or Nearly Free) Day in LA: Testing Out Public Transit and Chasing the City's Best No-Cost Stops
After a decade of living in Southern California, you'd think we'd have LA all figured out. But this trip was something new for us… instead of driving all over the city and hunting for parking at every stop, we decided to park once, hop on public transportation, and see how much of LA we could experience without spending much money at all.
Spoiler: it worked out better than we expected, and it might be one of my favorite LA days yet.
The Plan: Park Once, Explore All Day
We drove into the city and parked at LA Union Station, which cost us just $8 for the entire day. Honestly, this was the best decision of the whole trip. Instead of white-knuckling it through downtown traffic looking for street parking, we left the car in a safe, simple garage and used the Metro to get everywhere else. No stress, no parking meters, no circling the block for the tenth time - just park, tap on, and go.
If you're used to driving everywhere in LA (guilty), doing a day this way feels like a completely different city.
First Stop: Little Tokyo
Our first stop was Little Tokyo, and somehow, after 10 years in SoCal, we had never been. I didn't realize until we got there that there are only a handful of Little Tokyos left in the entire country, which made the whole visit feel more special than I expected.
We wandered through the shops, popped into a full Japanese grocery store, and browsed adorable souvenir shops along the way. It's a small but charming pocket of the city, and the atmosphere is just cute - the kind of place you slow down in without meaning to.
Tip: Give yourself at least 30-45 minutes here just to wander. It's compact, but there's a lot packed into a few blocks.
Lunch at Grand Central Market
From there, we walked over to the Grand Central Market, the historic open-air food hall that locals rave about, with dozens of different eateries all under one roof.
Here's my honest take: we visited in late July, and between the summer heat and all the stoves and grills running at once, it was hot inside. Like, borderline-too-hot-to-enjoy-it hot. The food was genuinely delicious and worth the visit, but if you're planning this same itinerary in the peak of summer, just know what you're walking into. Visiting in spring, fall, or even earlier in the day would probably make for a much more comfortable experience.
Tip: If you're doing this in summer, try to go earlier in the day before it gets packed and the heat really sets in.
The Last Bookstore
Next up was The Last Bookstore, which gets a ton of attention on social media for good reason. Upstairs, you'll find a literal labyrinth of bookshelves, a tunnel made entirely of books, and book-inspired art installations around every corner. It's free to enter and browse, and even if you're not there to buy anything, it's a genuinely fun stop for photos and just soaking in the atmosphere.
The LA Central Library
Still riding the book-lover high, we walked over to the LA Central Library, and I was not prepared for how beautiful it was. The enormous rotunda, the different themed sections spread across multiple levels, the care put into the architecture and details… it's stunning. I was genuinely surprised at how much love went into a public library. It's free, it's quiet, and it's air-conditioned (a small miracle in the summer heat), making it a lovely mid-day stop.
The Grand Finale: The Broad Museum
We ended our day at The Broad, and it turned out to be the highlight of the entire trip.
A few things going in:
Reserve your free timed entry online ahead of time. We booked a time slot in advance and were able to walk right past the standby line and go straight inside. I cannot stress this tip enough, do this before you go.
We were genuinely shocked that a museum this massive, with such a significant contemporary art collection, was completely free to the public.
One piece in particular stuck with me: an exhibit called "Under the Table." It instantly transports you back to being a kid hiding under the dining room table listening to the grown-ups talk (or just playing down there while the adults chatted above). It's such a simple concept, but it executed exactly what the artist intended - we both felt that same nostalgic, almost giddy feeling of being little again. It was easily my favorite moment of the whole day.
Ending our free day at The Broad felt like the perfect finale.
The Final Tally
By the end of the day, the only things we actually paid for were:
$8 parking at Union Station
Lunch at Grand Central Market
Metro fare to get around
That's it. An entire day exploring some of LA's most talked-about spots, and we walked away having spent almost nothing.
A Few Tips If You Want to Do This Yourself
Park at Union Station and use the Metro. It's cheap, safe, and takes the stress out of downtown parking entirely.
Reserve your free Broad Museum ticket online in advance. Skip the standby line completely.
Avoid Grand Central Market in the peak of summer if you can, or go early in the day to beat the heat.
Pace yourself. This was an ambitious list, but we kept it enjoyable by not overpacking the schedule - each stop got the time it deserved without feeling rushed.
Wear comfortable shoes. Between the walking and the Metro, you'll be on your feet more than you think.
LA has so many free and low-cost things to do that it's honestly hard to narrow down a list. This particular combination gave us a great mix of culture, art, books, and food, all in one very doable, very affordable day. Highly recommend giving it a try - even if, like us, you think you've already "done" LA.
