Beyond the Beach: A Seamless Journey from Santa Monica to Downtown LA for International Visitors

When you get to Los Angeles, you should be looking forward to sunshine, culture, and views of the coast, not traffic and confusion. For a lot of people from other countries, the first step into the Golden State is to make a good travel plan. Whether you booked a seasonal flight or one of the special Toronto to LA charters, your trip usually ends with a landing at LAX, which is only a short drive from the famous Santa Monica beaches. The best part of visiting this huge metropolitan area is how easy it is to go from the calm beach to the busy city center, thanks to a new public transportation system.

The Perfect Place to Land: Santa Monica

Santa Monica is the perfect seaside neighbor for Los Angeles and a great place for first-time visitors to stay. It has a walkable, pedestrian-friendly area around major attractions like the historic Santa Monica Pier (the official end point of Route 66), the busy Third Street Promenade, and the peaceful Palisades Park. The city’s well-known Big Blue Bus system is easy to use and can take you all over the coastal neighborhoods, including the Venice Beach boardwalk, which is next door and has a lot of different things to do.

If you move to Santa Monica first, you can get used to the California pace of life while watching beautiful sunsets over the Pacific. But once you’re done with the beach and the sand, Los Angeles has a lot of different cultures to offer, and it’s easier than ever to get there.

The Metro E Line Advantage: Bridging the Gap

For many years, the city’s famous traffic was the main reason people didn’t want to visit Los Angeles. The story has changed thanks to the Metro E Line (formerly the Expo Line). This modern light rail connects the last station in Downtown Santa Monica to the center of Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA) in about 45 to 50 minutes. It’s a stress-free and cheap way to get there instead of driving or taking an expensive ride-share.

The E Line is a journey in and of itself for travelers, connecting different neighborhoods and providing a full day’s worth of activities.

A Two-Day Plan for LA

If you want to get the most out of your trip to Southern California, you might want to spend some time on the west side and some time in the city center, using the E Line as your main route:

Part 1: The trip from the West Coast to the East Coast

Get on the E Line in Santa Monica and head east, stopping along the way to learn about the culture and history that connect the two cities:

Culver City Station: Get off here to check out a newly revitalized arts and dining district that feels like a small, separate city, complete with the historic Sony Pictures Studios.

Expo Park/USC Station: This stop lets you get to Exposition Park, which has the California Science Center (and the Space Shuttle Endeavour), the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, and the beautiful Rose Garden.

Part 2: The Urban Core Experience (DTLA)

Continue to the last stop, the 7th Street/Metro Center, to fully experience the revival of Downtown LA:

Arts and Architecture: The station is close to the beautiful Walt Disney Concert Hall, the modern art at The Broad museum, and the old Angel’s Flight railway.

Historic Dining: You can’t miss the Grand Central Market, a lively food hall where you can try dozens of different types of food. After that, go to Olvera Street, the birthplace of Los Angeles and a colorful Mexican market.

In the end, Santa Monica and Los Angeles are one destination, whether you arrive on a quick connecting flight or a planned charter from Toronto to LA. The ocean and the city are no longer separated by a highway, but by a convenient rail line, making it easy for visitors to enjoy all of Southern California.