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Budget Olympics: Best Cheap Eats & Free Things To Do Between Events

Watching the Olympics in Los Angeles doesn’t have to wreck your wallet. With a little planning you can feast between sessions, soak up culture, and dodge tourist traps—all while keeping cash for marquee events.

Budget playbook at a glance#

• Load a TAP card with day passes instead of buying single fares—$5.25 covers unlimited Metro rides after 9 a.m.
• Anchor your lodging in a neighborhood with bundled breakfast; our best areas to stay guide highlights value pick pockets.
• Bring a reusable water bottle and snacks; outside food is permitted at many fan zones when sealed.
• Track happy hour windows—LA’s weekday deals often run 3–6 p.m., perfect between afternoon and evening sessions.

Cheap eats by venue cluster#

Downtown & Coliseum Corridor#

• Tacos 1986 (South Park): $4 asada tacos, open late post-ceremony.
• Smorgasburg LA pop-ups: Olympic edition brings $2 dumplings and budget-friendly boba.
• Students’ Choice Deli (USC Village): Sandwich combo under $10; ideal if you’re heading back to the Coliseum.

Inglewood & SoFi Stadium#

• Dulan’s Soul Food: Split the $18 plate for a comforting pre-game meal.
• Stuff I Eat: Vegan platters ($16–$20) that easily feed two hungry fans.
• Market at Hollywood Park: Grab-and-go bowls and salads for under $12.

Santa Monica & Long Beach#

• Bay Cities Deli picnic: Legendary Godmother sandwich feeds two for $14; walk it to the beach.
• Sidecar Doughnuts happy hour: Afternoon promotions align with beach volleyball breaks.
• Long Beach Waterfront food trucks: Rotating lineup with $8 poke bowls and aguas frescas.

Looking for sit-down options near crypto.com Arena? Pair this with our DTLA food & nightlife guide.

Free (or nearly free) experiences between sessions#

• Exposition Park museums: Natural History Museum and California Science Center operate on donation entry during LA28 morning hours.
• Grand Park concerts: Daily programming with live DJs and cooling stations.
• Venice Boardwalk & Muscle Beach exhibitions: LA28 will host pop-up sport clinics—spectator-friendly and free to join.
• Griffith Observatory hikes: Car-free? Ride the DASH Observatory bus for $1.25 and take in sunset views.

Relaxing day needed? Check our Venice & Santa Monica itinerary for beachy, cost-conscious ideas.

Transit hacks to save cash#

• Metro’s 7-Day pass ($25) pays for itself after eight rides; perfect for fans bouncing between SoFi, the Coliseum, and Long Beach.
• LADOT is offering free DASH service along Olympic corridors—download the Transit app for live tracking.
• Metrolink weekend pass ($15) covers Santa Clarita, San Bernardino, and Orange County trips for surf or hillside getaways.
• Bike share unlocks drop to $1 with Olympic code “LA28RIDE”—ideal for short hops from stations to venues.

FAQs#

Q: Can I bring my own food into venues?
A: Most venues allow sealed snacks and empty water bottles. Check the LA28 spectator guide for size limits—clear bags only.

Q: How do I keep rideshare prices down?
A: Walk a block or two away from official pickup zones, share rides with other fans, or wait 20 minutes after the final whistle for surge pricing to drop.