Select Airport
BUR Hollywood Burbank
45 min to city
LAX Los Angeles International
35 min to city · 9 terminals

Los Angeles

Sun, stars, and stories - welcome to La La Land

How much time do you have?
Our recommendations take into account your actual arrival and departure times, airport processing, and transit friction.
From BUR
🏢
Under 3h
Stay airside
🚕
3–6 hours
Quick city stop
🗽
6–10 hours
Full exploration
🌃
10+ hours
Multi-neighborhood
IMMIGRATION45m
TRANSIT45m
EXPLORE1h 40m
RETURN45m
BUFFER35m

Your layover plan

Arrive & Immigration
~45 min · BUR
  • Follow signs to passport control immediately on landing
  • Have onward boarding pass and hotel/address ready for questions
  • Burbank has very limited international service, so most travelers will not deal with a major immigration process here. On the rare occasions when customs processing is relevant, volumes are far lighter than at LAX. That makes BUR generally much easier for quick arrivals and departures, but you should still confirm your specific flight setup in advance.
Transit into the city
45 min

Hollywood Burbank Airport is one of the easier Southern California airports for a quick city transfer, with direct rail access via the airport-area stations for Metrolink and Amtrak plus local bus links. For many visitors, rideshare is the simplest option because Burbank, Hollywood, and parts of downtown are relatively reachable when traffic is moderate. If you want the most predictable public option, rail can work well depending on your final stop and schedule.

Explore Los Angeles
~1h 40m of free time
Very tight. Use the FlyAway bus to Union Station (35 min, $14) if you must - but only if immigration was fast and you're comfortable with a rushed trip. Santa Monica beach is too far; stick to Downtown if anything.
Return to BUR
45 min back to airport
  • Leave enough buffer - trains run to a schedule and can be delayed
  • Buy your return ticket in advance if possible
  • Set an alarm 80 min before your departure gate closes
Back through security
~35 min buffer before gate
  • Re-entry security at BUR typically takes 10-20 min
  • Check your gate - it may have changed while you were out
  • Liquids bought in the city cannot pass security - finish or bin them

Best eats for a layover

🍴
Los Angeles Food Walking Tour
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Top sights for your time window

What you need to know

Currency
US Dollar ($). Cards accepted everywhere, including small shops and taxis. ATMs widely available; avoid airport currency exchange counters for poor rates.
Language
English. Spanish is widely spoken throughout the city and in LAX signage.
Visa
ESTA required for Visa Waiver Program countries (40+ nations including UK, EU, Australia, Japan) for stays up to 90 days. Most other nationalities need a B-1/B-2 visa. Verify before travel, visa rules change.
Transit
FlyAway bus from LAX to Union Station in about 45 min, every 30 min, $9.75. LAX/Metro C Line via free shuttle from terminals reaches downtown in about 50 min for $1.75. Uber or Lyft from the LAX-it lot runs $35–60 depending on traffic.
Weather
Mediterranean, warm dry summers (avg 84°F / 29°C) and mild winters (avg 66°F / 19°C). March through June and October are ideal for layovers; the mid-summer marine layer (June Gloom) can mute coastal views.
Tipping
Expected. 18–20% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 per drink at bars, $2–5 for rideshare drivers on longer trips. Many counter-service spots now prompt for tips on card readers; 10% is fine there.
Emergency
911 (US universal, police, fire, ambulance). Non-emergency LAPD: 1-877-275-5273.
Time Zone
PST (UTC-8). Clocks move to PDT (UTC-7) from mid-March through early November.
Stay connected with an eSIM
Data from arrival, no roaming fees. Instant activation via Airalo.
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