Public transport within Los Angeles does exist! The city is very spread out, so be prepared to spend a long time getting from one location to another and don’t forget that traffic is always a factor. The city does have local and express buses, light rail and subway lines, and the inter-city Amtrak rail lines, but many services are commuter-oriented and can be limited on nights and weekends.
Even if you have a car, it is sometimes more convenient to take public transport to avoid dealing with the traffic and finding a parking space. Metro Bus, Metro Rail, and other public transit providers serve all the major airports.
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Local Buses |
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The Metro Rail System |
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Note that all local buses require exact change for bus fares. Bus drivers cannot make change.
There are three bus companies in Los Angeles:
The Big Blue Bus
- Serves the Santa Monica area and parts of the Westside.
- The #14 Blue Bus stops in front of the Angeleno Hotel (near the Getty Center's South Gate) on Church Lane, just North of Sunset Blvd.
- One ride costs under $1, and one transfer to another Blue Bus is available for a small additional fee.
- A top-up card can be purchased, which reduces the per ride.
The Culver City "Green" Bus
- Serves Culver City and adjoining parts of the Westside.
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(note: the Culver City bus does not come to the Getty Center)
- One ride costs under $1.
- One transfer to another Culver City bus is included. A small transfer fee is payable to transfer to another bus system.
The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA)
- Serves the wider Los Angeles area.
- The MTA Rapid bus #761 stops at the Getty Center's North Gate on Sepulveda Boulevard.
- MTA's red "Rapid" buses follow major avenues across town and make fewer stops.
- One ride costs just over $1 but please note that not all transfers are included in this price.
- A one day pass is available for a few dollars.
The Metro Rail system (also provided by MTA) includes four rail lines. This system is mostly useful for travel in the eastern, northern, and southern parts of Los Angeles and does not provide access to the Westside.
- The Metro Blue Line runs north–south between the downtown areas of Long Beach and Los Angeles. This is a great way to get to Long Beach.
- The Metro Green Line crosses the Blue Line, running east-west between Norwalk and Redondo Beach. It provides access to the Los Angeles International Airport.
- The Metro Red Line subway meets the Blue Line in Los Angeles and provides service through Downtown, and between Union Station, the Mid-Wilshire area, Hollywood, and the San Fernando Valley.
- The Metro Gold Line connects with the Red Line at Union Station, and runs northeast to Pasadena.
By Car
The best way to travel outside of Los Angeles is by car. There are many areas in Southern California worthy of visiting that aren’t accessible any other way. To rent a car, search various travel and car rental Web sites. For more information about car rentals, go to the Cars section of this Web site.
By Train
The national Amtrak train system offers services from Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles to locations along the West Coast, and east to the rest of the U.S. Trains south to San Diego and north to San Francisco are convenient and reasonably priced. Train fares for longer distances can be as expensive as airfares.
By Bus
The Greyhound bus is an inexpensive way to travel beyond Los Angeles.
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