Los Angeles is spread out, but Metro Rail now links most places a visitor needs: the B and D Line subways run from Union Station through Downtown to Koreatown, Hollywood and Universal City, and since May 2026 along Wilshire Blvd to the Miracle Mile (Wilshire/La Cienega). Light rail runs to Pasadena, Long Beach, Santa Monica, Inglewood and the LAX/Metro Transit Center. Buses fill the gaps (Metro Bus, LADOT DASH, Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus, Long Beach Transit), and one tap of a contactless bank card, phone or TAP card pays on almost all of them. Distances are long: Downtown to Santa Monica is 45 minutes by E Line, Downtown to Long Beach about an hour. Combine rail for the long hops with a walk, a bus or a short app ride at either end.
Paying: TAP (card, TAP app, Apple Wallet) or any contactless bank card / phone
How to buy
Easiest: tap a contactless Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB or UnionPay card, or Apple Pay / Google Pay, on the validator on the bus or at the station; one card can pay for you and up to four more riders who travel together. A plastic TAP card costs $2 at TAP vending machines in Metro Rail, J Line and G Line stations and at TAP vendors; load money (Stored Value) at the machine, in the TAP app, online at taptogo.net or on the bus. You can also add a TAP card to Apple Wallet or use the TAP app. The same TAP or bank card works on Metro and 26 other LA County agencies (Big Blue Bus, Long Beach Transit, DASH ...). Cash is accepted only on buses, exact fare, and cannot be used to enter Metro Rail.
Fares
Metro: $1.75 a ride, with free transfers for 2 hours (round trips excluded) when you tap a TAP, credit or debit card. Fare capping: after 3 rides in a day ($5) the rest of the day is free, and you never pay more than $18 in 7 days; it applies to TAP and to credit/debit cards, not to cash. Children under 6 ride free with a paying adult; seniors 62+ cap at $2.50 a day / $5 a week (reduced-fare TAP card). Other agencies have their own fares: Big Blue Bus $1.25 with contactless or TAP ($1.50 cash), Long Beach Transit $1.25, DASH 50 cents (35 cents with TAP), Metro Micro $2.50, Angels Flight $1.50 ($0.75 with TAP). Metrolink tickets are separate but are valid on Metro Rail and buses (metro.net, 2026).
Lines and services
- MetroMetro Rail subway: B Line and D Line
B Line: Union Station - Civic Center - Pershing Square - 7th St/Metro Center - Westlake/MacArthur Park - Wilshire/Vermont - Hollywood (Vermont/Sunset for Griffith Park, Hollywood/Western, Hollywood/Vine, Hollywood/Highland) - Universal/Studio City - North Hollywood. D Line: Union Station to Koreatown and, since 8 May 2026 (D Line Extension Section 1), on under Wilshire Blvd to Wilshire/La Brea, Wilshire/Fairfax (LACMA, Academy Museum) and Wilshire/La Cienega. Sections 2 and 3 to Beverly Hills, Century City and Westwood are still under construction. The two lines share track Downtown, so trains come every 5 minutes there at midday and every 10 minutes on each branch (June 2026 timetable). Wilshire/La Brea, Wilshire/Fairfax and Wilshire/La Cienega close for maintenance 23 Oct - 1 Nov 2026 and reopen 2 Nov. At North Hollywood and Union Station you must also tap your card to exit (TAP-to-Exit).
- TramMetro Rail light rail: A, C, E and K Lines
A Line (48 stations, Pomona North - Pasadena - Union Station - Downtown - Long Beach): the longest line, extended east to Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne and Pomona North on 19 Sep 2025; the next section to Claremont is still in construction. Since the Regional Connector opened on 16 Jun 2023, A and E trains run straight through Downtown via three new underground stations (Little Tokyo/Arts District, Historic Broadway, Grand Av Arts/Bunker Hill), so Pasadena-Long Beach and Santa Monica-East LA are one-seat rides. E Line: East Los Angeles - Little Tokyo - 7th St/Metro Center - Expo Park/USC - Culver City - Downtown Santa Monica. K Line: Expo/Crenshaw - Leimert Park - Inglewood - LAX/Metro Transit Center - Redondo Beach. C Line: Norwalk - Willowbrook/Rosa Parks (change for the A Line) - LAX/Metro Transit Center. The LAX/Metro Transit Center (opened 6 Jun 2025) is where the C and K Lines meet the free airport shuttle. Downtown Santa Monica has TAP-to-Exit.
- BusMetro Bus, G Line and J Line busways, Metro Micro
The busiest lines run every 15 minutes or better (Frequent Service Network map on metro.net). Useful lines: 4 (Santa Monica Blvd to Downtown), 20 and 720 (Wilshire Blvd to Santa Monica), 180 (Hollywood - Pasadena via Los Feliz Blvd and Colorado Blvd), 761 (E Line Expo/Sepulveda - Westwood - Getty Center - Van Nuys - Sylmar). The G Line busway crosses the San Fernando Valley from North Hollywood; the J Line runs El Monte - Downtown - Harbor Gateway/San Pedro. Board at the front and tap; exact cash only. Metro Micro is an on-demand shared van ($2.50, includes 2 hours of Metro transfers) booked in the LA Metro Micro app, in eight zones including LAX/Inglewood (5am-9pm daily), Highland Park/Eagle Rock/Glendale and Altadena/Pasadena/Sierra Madre (5:30am-10pm); pick-ups are at set points, not your door.
- BusLADOT DASH
City of LA neighbourhood buses: Downtown routes A, B, E and F, plus neighbourhood lines such as Observatory/Los Feliz and Crenshaw. Fare 50 cents, 35 cents paid with TAP stored value; exact change for cash (fares returned in January 2025 after five free years). The DASH Observatory/Los Feliz line runs from the Vermont/Sunset B Line station via Los Feliz Village and the Greek Theatre to Griffith Observatory every 20-25 minutes, 10am-10pm daily.
- BusBig Blue Bus (Santa Monica)
Santa Monica's city buses, meeting the E Line at its Westside stations; Route 3 runs along Lincoln Blvd from Downtown Santa Monica to the LAX/Metro Transit Center (then the free airport shuttle from Bays 1-2). $1.25 with a contactless bank card, TAP or mobile ticket (includes one BBB-to-BBB transfer within 2 hours), $1.50 exact cash; Day Pass $4.50 and 7-Day Pass $16 on TAP or mobile ticket only. Mobile tickets work in the Transit app.
- BusLong Beach Transit
Buses in Long Beach, meeting the A Line downtown. $1.25 a ride, paid by tapping a credit/debit card or phone, TAP card or TAP app, or exact cash.
- TrainMetrolink
Regional trains from Union Station, for example the Ventura County Line (Burbank Airport-South) and the Antelope Valley Line (Burbank Airport-North). SoCal Day Pass gives unlimited systemwide travel (also on Amtrak Pacific Surfliner codeshare trains): $19 weekdays, $12 Saturdays and Sundays; an L.A. Zone Day Pass is $5. On weekends up to three children 18 and under ride free with an adult holding a weekend pass. Metrolink tickets are accepted on Metro Rail (scan at the fare gate) and Metro buses.
- FunicularAngels Flight
Historic 1901 funicular (the 'world's shortest railway') between Hill St, opposite Grand Central Market, and California Plaza on Grand Ave in Bunker Hill. $1.50 each way, $0.75 with a TAP card loaded with Stored Value; $3 souvenir round trip.
- BikeMetro Bike Share
Docked classic and electric bikes at stations near Metro stops and in busy areas. $1.75 per 30 minutes; 24-Hour Access $5 (rides up to 30 minutes free, then $1.75 per 30 minutes); 30-Day Pass $17. Rent and find docks in the Metro Bike app (also shown in the LA Metro app).
- BikeDockless e-scooters and e-bikes (Lime, Bird, Veo and others)
Rented in each company's app. LADOT rules: riders must be 18+ with a valid driver's licence (LADOT says California licence), one rider per scooter, 15 mph limit, ride in the street or bike lanes: sidewalk riding is illegal under California law. Helmets are not required for adults but recommended.
- TaxiTaxis (City of LA franchised cabs)
Find them at taxi stands, such as LAX-it at the airport and level P1 of the Getty Center garage. LADOT's rate card (2023, the latest one published) sets $3.10 flag drop, $2.97 a mile, $32.11 an hour waiting; trips from LAX add a $4 surcharge with a $16.50 minimum; LAX to or from Downtown (Alameda St - Santa Monica Fwy - Harbor Fwy - Cesar Chavez Ave, plus Union Station and Chinatown) is a $51.15 flat fare plus the $4 surcharge from LAX. Drivers accept credit cards at no extra cost, and all passengers ride for the price of one.
- Ride-hailingUber / Lyft
Useful for short hops, late nights and places rail does not reach. At LAX, Uber, Lyft and taxi pickups are at the LAX-it lot east of Terminal 1 (free shuttle or walk).
Common trips
Downtown (7th St/Metro Center)Santa Monica (pier, Third Street Promenade)47 min
E Line to Downtown Santa Monica, the end of the line (45-47 min), then walk 5-10 minutes to the pier
- Metro bus 20 (Wilshire Blvd) or 4 (Santa Monica Blvd), slower
- Uber/Lyft
Hollywood (Hollywood/Highland)Universal Studios Hollywood4 min
B Line one stop to Universal/Studio City (4 min); the theme park is up the hill across Lankershim Blvd
- Uber/Lyft over the Cahuenga Pass
Union StationLAX45 min
FlyAway bus from Patsaouras Transit Plaza (bay 1), every 30 min at peak times; travel time depends on traffic
- B/D Line to 7th St/Metro Center, E Line to Expo/Crenshaw, K Line to LAX/Metro Transit Center, then the free shuttle (about 48 min on trains plus changes; $1.75)
- Taxi: $51.15 flat fare Downtown-LAX (+$4 from LAX, LADOT 2023 rate card)
Union StationOld Pasadena (Memorial Park)24 min
A Line toward Pomona North to Memorial Park (24 min); Old Pasadena's Colorado Blvd is one block south
- Metro bus 180 from Hollywood via Los Feliz Blvd and Colorado Blvd to Pasadena
- From 7th St/Metro Center the same A Line train (about 33 min)
HollywoodGriffith Observatory
B Line to Vermont/Sunset (6 min from Hollywood/Highland), then DASH Observatory/Los Feliz up the hill (every 20-25 min, 10am-10pm, 50 cents / 35 cents with TAP)
- Hike up from Fern Dell or from the Greek Theatre (the Observatory recommends these trails)
- Uber/Lyft to the drop-off area; parking near the Observatory is paid
DowntownGetty Center
E Line to Expo/Sepulveda, then Metro bus 761 north to the Getty Center entrance at Sepulveda Blvd & Getty Center Dr, then the Getty's tram up the hill
- Uber/Lyft (drop-off at the turnaround by the parking structure)
- Driving: parking $25 per car, $15 after 3pm, $10 after 6pm, free Saturdays after 6pm (Getty, 2026); entry is free with a timed reservation
Santa Monica PierVenice Beach Boardwalk
Walk or ride a Metro Bike / e-scooter south along the beach (about 3 km)
- Uber/Lyft
Koreatown (Wilshire/Western)Downtown (7th St/Metro Center)8 min
D Line, 8 minutes (16 to Union Station)
- Metro bus 20 along Wilshire Blvd
- B Line from Wilshire/Vermont
Union StationDodger Stadium (UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium)
Dodger Stadium Express from Union Station West (in front of Fred Harvey, off Alameda St): free with a game ticket, every 5-10 minutes from three hours before the first pitch to the end of the 2nd inning
- Express also from J Line stations (Harbor Gateway, Rosecrans, Harbor Freeway, Manchester, Slauson) every 30 min
- Metro bus 4 to Vin Scully/Sunset and walk
- A Line to Chinatown and a 1.2-mile uphill walk
Downtown (7th St/Metro Center)Downtown Long Beach59 min
A Line south to Downtown Long Beach, the end of the line (about 59 min)
- Long Beach Transit buses within Long Beach
- Wardlow station for Long Beach Airport
Downtown (7th St/Metro Center)Exposition Park (Natural History Museum, California Science Center, LA Memorial Coliseum)12 min
E Line toward Santa Monica to Expo Park/USC (12 min)
- Uber/Lyft
DowntownHollywood Bowl
B Line to Hollywood/Highland (17 min from 7th St/Metro Center), then the free Bowl shuttle from Ovation Hollywood on concert nights (show your Metro TAP card)
- Hollywood Bowl Park & Ride buses from lots across the city (book on hollywoodbowl.com)
- Rideshare to Lot C, 6655 Odin St; arrive 90 minutes early
LAXSanta Monica
Free shuttle to the LAX/Metro Transit Center, then Big Blue Bus Route 3 along Lincoln Blvd to Downtown Santa Monica ($1.25)
- K Line to Expo/Crenshaw (19 min) and E Line to Downtown Santa Monica (26 min)
- Uber/Lyft from LAX-it
Downtown (7th St/Metro Center)Culver City30 min
E Line toward Santa Monica to Culver City (30 min)
- Uber/Lyft
Union StationSoFi Stadium (Rams and Chargers games)
A, B or D Line to 7th St/Metro Center, E Line to Expo/Crenshaw, K Line to the LAX/Metro Transit Center, then the free SoFi Stadium Express shuttle (every 10 min or less from three hours before kickoff)
- C Line to the LAX/Metro Transit Center from the A Line at Willowbrook/Rosa Parks
Hollywood (Hollywood/Highland)Union Station / Little Tokyo25 min
B Line, 25 minutes to Union Station; change to the A or E Line for Little Tokyo/Arts District (one stop)
- Uber/Lyft via the 101 (slow at rush hour)
To and from the airport
LAX
- BusFare not verified on LAX's own site (it blocks automated access); Metrolink's FlyAway page prices a one-way FlyAway trip added to a Metrolink ticket at $15. Metrolink Monthly Pass holders with a same-day boarding pass ride the Union Station FlyAway free. No cash on board (Metrolink; Wikipedia, 2026).
LAX FlyAway nonstop coaches stop at every LAX terminal (lower/arrivals level, blue FlyAway columns) and run to Union Station (Patsaouras Transit Plaza, bus bay 1, east side of the station) or to the Van Nuys FlyAway terminal. Union Station buses run seven days a week, every 30 minutes at peak times; Van Nuys buses run 24 hours (every 20 minutes 5am-midnight). Pay by credit/debit card or TAP; Union Station tickets are also sold at Metrolink machines. Buses use the freeway HOV/ExpressLanes, but travel time depends on traffic.
- Metro$1.75 Metro fare with free 2-hour transfers; the airport shuttle is free
Free LAX Shuttle Route M from the terminals to the LAX/Metro Transit Center (Bus Bays 1-2), about 1.5 miles away, then the K Line (to Expo/Crenshaw, 19 min, change to the E Line for Downtown or Santa Monica) or the C Line (to Willowbrook/Rosa Parks, 19 min, change to the A Line for Downtown or Long Beach). Union Station - 7th St/Metro Center - Expo/Crenshaw - LAX/Metro Transit Center is about 48 minutes of scheduled train time plus two changes and the shuttle (Metro timetables, June 2026); duration is an estimate. Also Metro bus lines 102, 111, 117, 120 and 232 and Big Blue Bus Route 3 (Santa Monica) stop at the Transit Center. The SkyLink people mover (2.25 miles, six stations), which will link the terminals with the Transit Center, the rental car center and parking, was still in testing and not open to travellers in October 2026; LAWA has announced no firm opening date and the contract longstop date was moved to 8 Dec 2026 (Wikipedia, Sept 2026).
- TaxiLAX - Downtown flat fare $51.15 plus $4 LAX surcharge (LADOT rate card 2023; not verified for 2026); elsewhere metered at $2.97 a mile, minimum $16.50 plus surcharge from LAX
Taxis leaving LAX are picked up at the LAX-it waiting area east of Terminal 1, reached by a free shuttle or on foot; nine city-authorized taxi companies queue there. Travel time depends on traffic (not verified).
- Ride-hailingVaries with demand
Uber and Lyft pickups are at the LAX-it lot east of Terminal 1, the same place as taxis: take the free shuttle or walk from the arrivals level.
BUR
- TrainMetrolink fare by distance; SoCal Day Pass $19 weekdays, $12 weekends
Hollywood Burbank Airport has two Metrolink stations: Burbank Airport-South (Ventura County Line), linked to the terminal area by a walkway from the Regional Intermodal Transportation Center, and Burbank Airport-North (Antelope Valley Line); the airport runs free on-demand shuttles to both. Metro buses and BurbankBus stop at the RITC transit center. The airport's new $1.3 billion replacement terminal was scheduled to start serving travellers on 13 Oct 2026 (AviationPros, Oct 2026), so walkways and pickup points may differ from older descriptions: follow the signs.
- Ride-hailingVaries
Ridesharing and taxis serve the airport (see the airport's Ridesharing and Shuttles & Taxis pages); handy for Burbank and the San Fernando Valley.
LGB
- BusLong Beach Transit $1.25
Long Beach Transit buses link the airport with the city; the nearest Metro Rail station is Wardlow on the A Line (Long Beach Airport, which quotes about $13.35 by cab from Wardlow, 'subject to change').
- TaxiMetered
Taxi stand outside the terminal next to Parking Structure A; Uber, Lyft and other app rides pick up at the outer curb.
Good to know
- Just tap your contactless bank card or phone on Metro: the $5 daily and $18 weekly fare caps and the free 2-hour transfers apply, and one card can pay for up to five people travelling together.
- Cash works only on buses (exact fare, no change given) and gets no transfers or fare caps; Metro Rail gates need a card.
- At North Hollywood, Union Station (B/D Lines), Downtown Santa Monica and Pomona North you must tap again to exit: keep your card or phone handy.
- Rail service after 8pm (and some early weekend mornings) can be slowed by maintenance; check alerts in the LA Metro app, especially before the last train around midnight.
- For safety on Metro, text 213.788.2777 or use the Transit Watch app to report problems (it works underground); call 911 in an emergency. Metro Ambassadors and transit security officers patrol the system.
- Leaving LAX by taxi, Uber or Lyft means going to the LAX-it lot east of Terminal 1, by free shuttle or on foot from the arrivals level.
- The LAX SkyLink people mover is still not open (in testing, no firm date as of October 2026): use the free LAX Shuttle (Route M) between the terminals and the LAX/Metro Transit Center for the C and K Lines.
- DASH costs 50 cents (35 cents with TAP); DASH Observatory from Vermont/Sunset station is the easy way up to Griffith Observatory without fighting for parking.
- Big events have free Metro shuttles with your ticket: the Dodger Stadium Express from Union Station and the SoFi Stadium Express from the LAX/Metro Transit Center; the Hollywood Bowl shuttle from Hollywood/Highland is free with a Metro TAP card.
- E-scooters must be ridden in the street or bike lane, never on the sidewalk, one person per scooter, and you must be 18+ with a driver's licence.
- Parking costs add up at the big sights (Getty Center $25 per car; Hollywood Bowl parking is stacked and can sell out): rail plus a short app ride is often cheaper and faster.
- Metrolink's weekend SoCal Day Pass ($12, up to three kids 18 and under free) covers the whole regional network for a day trip from Union Station.
Useful apps
- LA Metro - Official app (trip planner, real-time arrivals, alerts, Metro Bike)
- TAP LA app (virtual TAP card, load fare)
- Transit app (real-time; Big Blue Bus mobile tickets)
- LA Metro Micro app (on-demand Metro Micro rides)
- Transit Watch (report safety issues on Metro, works underground)
- FlyAway app (LAX FlyAway tickets)
- Metrolink app (tickets)
- Metro Bike Share app
- Google Maps (multi-mode routing)
- Uber / Lyft