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It’s a city where you can sleep at a landmark hotel of the stars, where Emmys, Grammys and countless other awards have been handed out: the freshly revamped , located within walking distance of well-heeled Beverly Hills.

I did all of the above on a recent press trip to explore L.A.’s creative culture. But beyond the luxe, I also found something less expected: a more budget-friendly side to California’s most populous city. Here, just a few ways to take in a little more affordably.

Art for art’s sake

L.A. lays claim to having more museums than any other city in the U.S. Even more notable: Many of its most prominent venues offer access for $0. For instance, the only cost to see , a trove of European��art and landscaped gardens, is the cab you’ll likely take to its suburban Brentwood neighbourhood.

Downtown, on the Grand Avenue arts corridor, two museums sit mere steps from each other, both offering free general admission: the long-running (MOCA), and (rhymes with “road”), opened in 2015 by philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad to house their impressive, blue-chip contemporary art collection.

On the other side of DTLA, the outpost is another beautiful, free-to-visit contemporary art centre. This one transformed the site of a former flour mill, injecting new buzz into the Arts District when it opened here in 2016. View exhibitions in buildings that date back to the 1890s and early 1900s; browse the boutique, and take a breather in the courtyard and urban garden, where greens are grown for the on-site restaurant, . Treat yourself to ice cream at the nearby (my pick: the strawberry honey balsamic with black pepper) before window-shopping the nearby hip boutiques, which include the fashionable, new retail enclave.

Another one of the city’s newer attractions, the ������’t gratis for all — adult general admission is $25 U.S. — but cinephiles aged 17 and under can visit for free, making a family trip a bit gentler on the budget. Museum highlights include the “Inventing Worlds & Characters” galleries, replete with fascinating movie artifacts, like a Lord of the Rings orc mask, a Batman Returns mini-model manor, and Edward Scissorhands’ sharp, stitched-together costume. Head to the glass-domed rooftop terrace for views of the Hollywood Hills before you go.��

Boutique browsing

Shopping in L.A. can quickly get spendy, but there’s no harm in just looking. Especially great for leisurely browsing and patio perching is (no relation to the Olsen sisters’ fashion label). Officially described as Downtown L.A.’s “creative city within a city,” the district has turned a historic industrial complex into an airy hub of chic independent shops, cafés and restaurants.

Find natural wines, craft spirits, home goods and gifts at ; trendy iced almond-macadamia milk lattes at ; and world-famous slices at . If your idea of “budget” is vintage/consignment designer fashion, there’s the expertly curated and well-organized , where you might spot (as I did) a Valentino bow jacket for $178 U.S., or a 1980s Dior silk floral dress for $328 U.S.

The Row DTLA district is also home to the five-acre, open-air , and hosts a weekly street-food market (Smorgasburg on Sundays), as well as a monthly vintage-fashion market (the , featuring sellers from across California).

Market fare

Los Angeles has two iconic, historic food markets, and both are worth your time. The opened in 1934 and still houses the first vendor to move in: Magee’s Kitchen, founded in 1917, and serving up beloved corned beef sandwiches ever since. Newer stalls include Gone Bananas Bread, baker of banana bread in a half-dozen flavours, and Kaylin + Kaylin, a quirky pickle-tasting bar. Stop by Monsieur Marcel Gourmet Market for snackable souvenirs or gifts. (The Original Farmers Market is also right next door to , an open-air shopping mall, if your trip ������’t bound by a budget.)

�ٴǷɲԳٴǷɲ�’s has been around since 1917, but the European-style food hall is ever evolving. One notable addition this year is the latest location of , lauded as one of the city’s best taquerias. The handmade, pressed-to-order blue-corn queso tacos — crispy-cheese-edged and generously heaped with toppings like ranchera asada and guacamole — are a deal at $5.50 U.S. each.

The writer travelled as a guest of Los Angeles Tourism, which did not review or approve this article.