The Most Walkable Neighborhood In Los Angeles

Get out walking in Los Angeles. As the second largest city in the nation, its vast mountain valley landscape consists of over 400 neighborhoods within Los Angeles County alone (via Pods). Each section offers diverse art, culture, restaurants, shopping, nightlife, and entertainment, including plenty of green spaces and hiking trails to explore. From popular coastal regions like Santa Monica and Venice Beach to the constant bustle on the streets of Hollywood, there's a variety of sections that receive year-round foot traffic by locals and tourists within the City of Angels.

So, which L.A. neighborhood has the best streets to roam? Although it's a notoriously spread-out city, many of La La Land's regions provide ample sidewalks and businesses to discover, whether you're seeking a quick trip to run errands, want to garment shop, or pick up some street grub.

Pasadena, which is technically a separate town, offers its historic 22-block Old Town district with a variety of boutiques, cafes, and shops to peruse, per the Las Vegas Review Journal. Within minutes of Downtown L.A., Westlake (MacArthur Park) is also a contender with its transformation from old 19th-century mansions to new, upscale apartments. From the touristy Hollywood Walk of Fame and Third Street Promenade to the hidden gems of the Venice Canals and Palisades Village, Los Angeles presents plenty of neighborhoods to meander through; but one stands out for its exceptional public transportation and variety of businesses.

No need to get stuck in traffic while moving through Downtown Los Angeles, as it remains one of the best areas to get around on foot. Amidst the San Gabriel Mountains, DTLA is a thriving mecca with eclectic sections, including the Arts, Fashion, and Toy Districts, plus Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Skid Row, and South Park. Though other neighborhoods like MacArthur Park and West Hollywood may come close, they can't beat the downtown streets as host of the main transit hub of Union Station. Established in 1939, USLA reigns as the largest railroad passenger terminal in the western part of the country. If traveling from a distant neighborhood or another outside location, you can arrive conveniently at Union Station and immediately take to the streets.

You can also stay mobile on foot or by public transit with the numerous bus stops and bike rentals available for walkers. With all that Los Angeles has to offer, there's nothing to skimp on within the area. You can reach Chinatown and back through Little Tokyo in one day, then on through downtown and the Fashion District. There's also a variety of green spaces to saunter through, like Grand Park, including a dog park and the Arthur J. Miller Memorial Fountain, Grand Hope Park, and Pershing Square.

Though there's plenty of ways to get around, there's no need to leave downtown. By day, shop the flea markets and outlet malls like The Santee Alley within the many umbrella-lined pathways of the Fashion District, including a flower lover's paradise among the six-block center of the Los Angeles Flower District. Explore DTLA's renowned art museums like the Grammy Museum at L.A. Live, Japanese American National, and the original location of MOCA (The Museum of Contemporary Art). And the vibrantly colorful Olvera Street is located adjacent to Union Station, a slightly hidden historic market alleyway filled with authentic Mexican food and products (via De Su Mama).

At night, do an invigorating club crawl through Downtown L.A.'s nightclub scene by starting at The Conga Room on the southwest end and moving on to the more luxe with The Continental Club, The Lash, or The Varnish on the northeast side. With many young professionals taking a liking to the area, DTLA can be a safe place to live, although pedestrians should always be aware of obscure surroundings in a dense urban environment. Additionally, refuel yourself at restaurants like the popular Badmaash (Indian) or Bestia (Italian), among a multitude of others, to indulge in while out and about (via The Infatuation).