Downtown LA
Downtown Los Angeles is the city's high-rise core and its oldest part, where the 1781 pueblo grew into the towers of Bunker Hill, the movie palaces of Broadway and the museums and concert halls of Grand Avenue. Here's what to know whether you're visiting or thinking of moving, with full drives so you can see the streets for yourself.
Last updated November 2026 · Sources
At a glance
- Part of
- City of Los Angeles, LA County
- Population
- About 80,000 (DTLA Alliance 2023 estimate)
- Founded
- 1781, as the Pueblo de Los Angeles
- ZIP codes
- 90012, 90013, 90014, 90015, 90017, 90021, 90071
- Districts
- Bunker Hill, Historic Core, Financial District, Little Tokyo, Arts District, Fashion District and more
- Main streets
- Broadway, Spring Street, Grand Avenue, Figueroa Street
- Freeways
- Ringed by the 110, 101 and 10, with the LA River to the east
A short history
- A pueblo by the river
Los Angeles was founded on September 4, 1781, by settlers who came north from present-day Mexico. The town grew around a central plaza facing its first church, and passed to American control in 1847.
- Boom years
Land speculation in the late 1880s and 1890s pushed the city to nearly 100,000 residents by 1896. After 1900, bigger buildings rose along Broadway and Spring Street between Third and Ninth streets.
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- Movie palaces and banks
Broadway gained more than a dozen theaters and movie palaces before 1932, and banks lined Spring Street, which became known as the Wall Street of the West. The Los Angeles Stock Exchange stood there from 1929 to 1986.
- Decline and a comeback
After World War II, freeways and the suburbs pulled investment away. A 1999 city ordinance made it easier to turn empty office buildings into lofts and apartments, and people started moving back in.
- A new skyline
The Broad opened in 2015 and the Wilshire Grand Center, at 1,100 feet the tallest building west of the Mississippi, in 2017. The new Sixth Street Viaduct opened in 2022 and the Regional Connector rail tunnel in 2023.
Downtown LA today
- Bunker Hill is the tower district, with Walt Disney Concert Hall, The Broad and MOCA along Grand Avenue and Grand Park running down to City Hall.
- The Historic Core holds the Broadway Theater District, the old Spring Street banks and Grand Central Market.
- Little Tokyo and the Arts District sit on the east side, with Japanese Village Plaza in one and converted warehouses and murals in the other.
- South Park, around Crypto.com Arena and L.A. Live, is the sports and concert end of Downtown.
- Downtown will host events for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
From the driver's seat
Our sunset drive takes in Walt Disney Concert Hall, the new 6th Street Viaduct and the theater marquees on Broadway. For a moodier look, our rainy-day drive weaves between the towers with the wipers going.
If you're visiting
- Walt Disney Concert Hall
Frank Gehry's curving steel hall on Grand Avenue, home of the LA Phil. The rooftop garden is free to walk.
- The Broad
A contemporary art museum next door to Disney Hall, with free general admission. Reserve ahead on busy days.
- Grand Central Market and Angels Flight
A food hall open since 1917, and the tiny funicular railway that climbs Bunker Hill across the street.
- The Broadway Theater District
Block after block of historic movie palaces and marquees between Third and Ninth streets.
- Olvera Street and Union Station
The old pueblo's Mexican marketplace, across from the grand 1939 train station.
- Little Tokyo
Japanese Village Plaza, ramen and dessert shops, and the Japanese American National Museum.
- The Arts District
Converted warehouses, murals, breweries and restaurants near the river.
- Downtown is spread out, so pair nearby stops: Grand Avenue with Grand Central Market, or Union Station with Olvera Street and Little Tokyo.
- Weekday lunch at Grand Central Market gets busy; mid-afternoon is calmer.
Getting there: Take Metro rail to Union Station, Grand Av Arts/Bunker Hill or 7th St/Metro Center, or drive and use a garage near where you start.
Preview it: Downtown LA at SunsetHours, prices and seasons change, so check before you go.
Tours and tickets
- Downtown LA walking toursGetYourGuideViator
Guided walks through the Historic Core, Broadway's theaters and Bunker Hill.
- Food toursGetYourGuideViator
Tastings around Grand Central Market, Little Tokyo and the Arts District.
- Arts District street artGetYourGuideViator
Murals and galleries in the converted warehouse blocks.
These are affiliate links: if you book, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep the drives coming. Both sites let you compare prices and reviews, and many listings offer free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead. Planning a whole trip? See Plan your trip.
If you're moving here
Cost snapshot
Figures are area-wide estimates from listing sites and change monthly. Check current listings before you decide.
Getting around
Downtown is the easiest part of LA to see without a car. Union Station is the region's rail hub for Metro, Metrolink and Amtrak, and the Regional Connector links the A and E lines straight through Downtown. Parking garages are plentiful but can be pricey.
Need Downtown LA on film for work?
Realtors, relocation consultants and brands can license our footage or commission a drive of a specific street, route or time of day.
Watch it: drives through Downtown LA
3 drives
No. 01418:37Downtown LA at Sunset
No. 04621:51Downtown LA on a Rainy Day
No. 04819:48Rainy Day: Downtown to the Lucas Museum
Jump straight to it
Find a landmark- 0:27101 Freeway, heading toward Downtown LA in Rainy Day: Downtown to the Lucas MuseumPlay
- 1:09110 Freeway through Downtown LA in Rainy Day: Downtown to the Lucas MuseumPlay
- 0:20Stadium Way at Dodger Stadium Downtown Gate in Dodger Stadium to Angelino Heights: The Thriller and Charmed HousesPlay
- 4:35Downtown Los Angeles skyline view in Silver Lake at SunsetPlay
Short drives nearby
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Quick answers
Where is Downtown LA?
Downtown Los Angeles is the city's high-rise core and its oldest part, where the 1781 pueblo grew into the towers of Bunker Hill, the movie palaces of Broadway and the museums and concert halls of Grand Avenue.
What is the population of Downtown LA?
Downtown LA has a population of about 80,000 (DTLA Alliance 2023 estimate).
What is there to do in Downtown LA?
Top things to see include Walt Disney Concert Hall, The Broad, Grand Central Market and Angels Flight, The Broadway Theater District and Olvera Street and Union Station.
How do you get around Downtown LA?
Downtown is the easiest part of LA to see without a car. Union Station is the region's rail hub for Metro, Metrolink and Amtrak, and the Regional Connector links the A and E lines straight through Downtown. Parking garages are plentiful but can be pricey.
How much does it cost to live in Downtown LA?
Median sale price: $535K (Redfin, November 2025). Average 1-bedroom rent: $2,646/mo (Apartments.com, June 2026).
Can I see what Downtown LA looks like before I visit or move?
Yes. Somewhere Drive has 3 full 4K drives through Downtown LA with no narration, including Downtown LA at Sunset.
Sources
- Downtown Los Angeles (Wikipedia)
- DTLA Residential Report 2023 (DTLA Alliance)
- Downtown LA housing market (Redfin)
- Downtown LA rent trends (Apartments.com)
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