LA Metro Map & Guide: Simple, Practical & Tourist‑Friendly

Your quick guide to navigating LA's Metro Rail without confusion — what it does, what it doesn't, and when to use it.

Updated for 2026. Works offline.

Official LA Metro SourceUpdated January 2026

How to Read the Map

Best Lines for Tourists

Metro Tips for Solo Travelers

Using Google Maps & TAP App

How to Read the Map

1
Colors represent Metro Rail lines, not neighborhoods.
2
Letters (A, B, D, E) indicate specific rail lines and services.
3
Solid dots show stations; interchange symbols show transfer points between lines.
4
7th Street/Metro Center and Union Station are the main downtown transfer hubs.
5
Single fare is $1.75 — always tap in and out with a TAP card.
6
Trains run roughly 4:30am–12:30am daily; check the Transit app for live arrivals.

Quick, practical line snapshots you can screenshot and follow on the go.

The most useful line for tourists.
Runs from Union Station through DTLA up to Hollywood/Highland (Walk of Fame, TCL Theatre), Hollywood/Vine, and Universal City.
Single fare $1.75.
Takes 25 min from DTLA to Hollywood.

Runs parallel to the B Line underground from Union Station through DTLA and west to Koreatown.
Extension to Westwood/UCLA opened 2025.
Single fare $1.75.
Useful for reaching Koreatown and the Wilshire corridor.

The single most tourist‑useful Metro line.
Runs from 7th Street/Metro Center in DTLA to Santa Monica (3 blocks from the pier).
Takes about 45 min and runs frequently.
$1.75 each way — far cheaper than parking.

Single fare: $1.75. Day pass: $7 (unlimited rides).
TAP card (reloadable): $2 one‑time fee, available at any Metro station vending machine.
Download the TAP app to use your phone instead of a card.
Always tap in and out — inspectors issue $75–$250 fines.

✓Use Metro for DTLA to Santa Monica (E Line) and DTLA to Hollywood (B Line) — it beats parking costs.
✓Use Uber for anything off these corridors, or if you're carrying bags.
✓Trains get emptier after 9pm — prefer Uber for late nights.
✓Use Google Maps transit mode for real‑time alerts and the right line.
✓Stand near other riders and well‑lit station areas after dark.
✓Avoid empty cars, even if they look convenient.
✓Metro cannot replace a car for most of LA's tourist sights — plan accordingly.