What to Do During a Layover in LAX
Do you have a short or long layover at LAX Airport and are anxious about spending your spare time there? There’s absolutely no reason to worry about it! During a short layover in LAX, you can exploit the airport’s top-notch facilities and services, whereas long layovers in LAX are the ideal excuse to go meet the City of Angels!
Things to Do in LAX Airport During Layover
If you have only a couple of hours free at Los Angeles Airport, you should spend your spare time making the most of the airport’s premises and facilities. The vast LAX Airport -one of the busiest in the world- consists of 9 different terminals. While each one has its own layout, and the provided facilities tend to differ from one to the other, all terminals offer adequate and quality services to their passengers. So, how are you going to spend your layover in LAX?
Our Tip: Los Angeles International Airport is undergoing a massive renovation related to the Olympic Games 2028, which will be held in LA. The landside and airside connection of all terminals is part of this project so that LAX passengers can freely move around the terminal complex. What’s more, once it starts running, the automated people mover will also link the terminals.
Shopping is Always a Good Idea
Each terminal offers decent shopping options, yet Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) is undoubtedly the number one shopping destination. Housing the Rodeo-Drive-resembling Great Hall (it actually hosts the same stores), passengers at TBIT have access to more than 70 retail shops as well as many Duty-free options. In general terms, terminals 1-4 have fewer shopping options, whereas T5-T8 offer a wider variety of brands and products.
Have a Drink or Savor a Meal at LAX Airport
Whatever you may crave, you’ll find it at Los Angeles Airport. From fast-food chains to local eateries, LAX terminals house countless dining options along with highly appealing drinking alternatives. Once again, TBIT has a wider variety of bars and restaurants, while passengers opting for fancier choices should definitely set Tom Bradley International Airport as their destination.
The Airport’s Wi-Fi is Free
Your layover in LAX can become productive by using free Wi-Fi throughout all the airport’s public areas. You can work on undone projects, organize your work, or even participate in calls. Alternatively, if you are a leisure traveler and business is not part of your trip, you can still exploit the LAX free service to chat with your loved ones, check your social, or even binge-watch.
Do you Have a LAX Layover While Traveling with Children?
Unfortunately, Los Angeles International Airport isn’t the most kids-friendly airport. Still, you’ll find a play area in TBIT (on the 4th floor, in the Departures area), guaranteeing the perfect layover for the children and peace of mind for their parents! Moreover, LAX has all the necessary facilities to make families feel at home. For instance, all terminals house nursing rooms. Explicitly, nursing rooms are to be found at:
- T1: near Gate 3
- T2: between Gates 21B and 23A
- T3: near The Parlor
- T4: near Sunglass Hut
- T5: across the Food Court
- T6: near Gate 64B
- T7-8: near Ashland Hill
- TBIT: near Gate 150
Feel Relaxed During your LAX Layover
…by visiting one of the spa facilities, located in TBIT and T5. There, you can relish beauty treatments or let the stress of the upcoming flight melt away during a rejuvenating massage session. If you are looking for the most relaxed way to spend your layover in LAX, this is it!
Are you Still Stressed about Your Air Travel?
Do you have a fear of flights? Los Angeles Airport has introduced the PUP program to make its passengers overcome their fear or at least feel more comfortable. Verily, the Pets Unstressing Passengers Program (PUP) has posted an undeniable success. The interaction of anxious passengers with puppies and dogs seems to take all the stress away and make them more relaxed in the prospect of their upcoming flight.
Do you travel with your furry friend? There are pet-relief areas in all terminals.
How About Celebrity-Spotting?
Does LA’s spectacle industry excite you? Many travelers longing to spot a celebrity during their layover in LAX stand close to the famous American Airlines Flagship Lounge, lying in T4. The private lounge is known for accommodating many stars while waiting for their flights. It’s surely a long shot, but you never know!
Fill your LAX Layover with Culture
Los Angeles Airport aims to provide top cultural experiences to its passengers. To that end, it has come out with the LAX Art Program. Hence, several art exhibitions and various cultural events are organized from time to time. As a matter of fact, LAX houses 11 exhibition areas (in T1, T2, T3, T6, T7, and TBIT), where a wide variety of art collections are being displayed.
The Theme Building is a 60-year-old masterpiece lying right in the center of the horseshoe-like terminal complex. Resembling a giant spider or a landing spaceship (depending on the observer’s eye), it housed a restaurant and an observation desk. Nevertheless, nowadays, it is closed. Hence, passengers can only walk around it.
The Ideal Option for Aviation Lovers
Lying just outside the airport’s complex (a 6-minute ride away), on the end of the runway, the Flight Path Museum LAX is considered one of the top aviation museums in California. Housed in an actual ex-terminal building, the museum is highly interesting, while a Douglas DC-3 is to be found on its exterior area. Please note that it is open from Thursday to Saturday, from 10:00 am to 02:00 pm. One ticket costs 5$/4.70€ for adults and 3$/2.80€ for children.
The ideal location for plane spotting is situated just outside the airport. Verily, “In-N-Out Burger” is widely preferred by travelers wishing to spot the flight traffic.
Rest During your Layover in LAX
Unfortunately, there are no designated sleeping areas. Even more so, most of the LAX seating consists of chairs with armrests. Moreover, Los Angeles Airport doesn’t have shower facilities. Nevertheless, numerous lounges are located in all the 9 terminal buildings. As a matter of fact, many of them are accessible even to passengers traveling economy class (for a fee). Moreover, various hotels lie within a close distance. Still, there is no inside-the-terminal accommodation facility. Thus, if you have the time and want to check in to a hotel, you’ll have to pick one that provides airport transfers and take the hotel shuttle departing from your terminal.
Smoking is prohibited inside the LAX Airport. However, there are smoking areas outside the terminal buildings.
Things to Do in LA
If time is on your side, you shouldn’t even think about it! Downtown LA is just 18 miles/30km away from Los Angeles International Airport. That being said, you should have an at least 6-8-hour layover and schedule your visit wisely. Verily, LA is so extended that you’ll spend a significant amount of your time traveling from one sightseeing to the other. In any case, you should bear in mind that during off-peak hours, the taxi ride from LAX to downtown lasts around 30 minutes (nevertheless, it can be up to 85 minutes when roads are congested), whereas the LAX FlyAway Bus heads to Union Station in about 30 minutes (under normal traffic conditions) and the duration of a cheap but indirect LA metro journey is 70 minutes. On the other hand, if luxury is a top priority for you, a LAX airport transfer would be the ideal way to reach the city center, while if you are planning on exploring other nearby areas, you should think about renting a car from LAX Airport.
So, what are the best things to do in LA?
Our Tip: You should definitely avoid carrying your luggage during your layover. Unfortunately, LAX doesn’t offer storage lockers. However, you should call the LAX luggage storage service. You’re going to meet curbside, outside your terminal, and you’ll collect your personal items when returning to the airport.
Is Shopping your Thing?
Then you’ll have some serious decisions to make. From the iconic Rodeo Drive to the budget Santee Alley and from the “alternative” Abbot Kinney Boulevard to the touristic Hollywood and Highland, LA is a real shopping mecca. On the other hand, if fancy shopping is the goal, Melrose Avenue should be the destination!
The Beach is Always a Good Idea
… and LA has numerous of them to offer! For instance, Venice Beach is famous for its street performers and outdoor stands, while a ride from LAX to Santa Monica will bring you to one of LA’s most popular destinations. Santa Monica Pier is a unique LA landmark, after all. Pacific Park, the well-known carousel, and the marine education center are some of the most popular area attractions. You’ll find several available activities, while the provided dining options are also worthy of your interest. Furthermore, if you want to further explore Santa Monica Beach and avoid wasting time, you should opt for a rental bike!
Our Tip: Do you want to spend your layover “the Angelenos way”? Why don’t you participate in a group surfing lesson during your visit to one of LA’s beaches?
What About Whale-Watching?
To begin with, please be sure that you’ll have plenty of time on your hands to participate in this activity, as it usually lasts around 2 hours. If that is indeed the case, prepare yourself for an amazing experience. Hence, you’ll have to reach Newport Beach, and it is always recommended to book your tour in advance. What will happen then? Who knows? You never know exactly what you’ll run into. Each whale-watching tour is different, but they always remain simply unforgettable.
The Famous Hollywood Sign
You simply can’t leave LA without taking the “killer “insta pic: the one featuring the Hollywood Sign. Thus, you can book a tour up to the famous sign. In that way, not only will you take the most amazing pictures, but you’ll also enjoy breathtaking city views up to the Pacific Ocean. In the meantime, your comedian guide will entertain you while introducing you to the history and fun facts about the famous LA landmark.
Opt for an “Artistic” Bike Tour
You can reserve a spot in one of the bike tours organized to explore the Arts District. You should expect a 7-mile/11-km route throughout which you’ll spot amazing murals, discover art in little alleys that even locals ignore, visit the Hauser and Wirth’s museum housed in an old flour mill, and learn everything about the neighborhood. From the street artists to the fancy restaurants run by famous chefs, you’ll get to know one of the most interesting and diverse LA areas.
The Getty Center and the Griffith Observatory
A tour that combines everything: science, nature, art, history, and city views. Verily, the Getty Center houses pre-20th century European paintings, a wide collection of photographs dating from 1830 till the present time, and various periodical exhibitions. Moreover, its guests enjoy a peaceful time visiting its serene gardens with the various sculptures scattered all over the place. On the other hand, the Griffith Observatory offers a seamless view of the Hollywood Sign, while its planetarium is a city’s must-visit attraction.
Explore LA in the Most Hassle-Free Way
As already mentioned, LA is a widespread city, and distances between the various attractions can be long. Hence, it is advisable to book a tour so as to see as much sightseeing as possible while enjoying a stress-free layover. In that way, you won’t have to worry about getting back to LAX on time for your upcoming flight. Alternatively, you can settle on an open-air bus tour or -why not- explore LA by air, that is by reserving a spot on a helicopter tour!