15 Best Hollywood Tours

Written by Jan Meeuwesen
Updated on
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Mention Hollywood and the first thing that springs to mind for most people is the glamour of the TV and film industry.

Indeed, you don’t have to venture too far during your trip to notice these influences. Most of the top activities in this Los Angeles neighborhood revolve around TV, film and celebrity culture.

But while parts of it have been neglected (the Hollywood the world doesn’t get to see), Tinseltown, for the most part, sparkles with bright lights that illuminate the myriad celebrity hangouts, old glitzy hotels, a vibrant production scene, and an emerging urban cityscape.

Stroll along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, tour a studio back lot, and much more with this list of 15 best Hollywood tours.

1. Half Day Hollywood and Beverly Hills Tour

Hollywood BoulevardSource: Sean Pavone / shutterstock
Hollywood Boulevard

If you want to acquaint yourself with Hollywood, this is just the tour for you.

It takes you on a sightseeing mission of Tinseltown aboard an electric-powered Cadillac Escalade limousine, gliding through iconic streets such as the Sunset Strip and Hollywood Boulevard.

The limo will take you to visit celeb neighborhoods such as West Hollywood and Beverly Hills – but this guided outing is not all about sightseeing in the car.

You will have an hour-and-a-half to yourself to breathe in the glitz and charm as you enjoy a stroll around the world-famous shops and restaurants located on Rodeo Drive.

2. Los Angeles Celebrity Homes Helicopter Flight

Los Angeles Celebrity Homes Helicopter FlightSource: viator.com
Los Angeles Celebrity Homes Helicopter Flight

Hollywood is not Hollywood without a taste of celebrity lifestyle.

While there are myriad reminders of that at every corner, it is not until you catch a glimpse of the glamorous pads that you know it’s real.

This 35-minute helicopter tour gives you an aerial view of LA, soaring over celebrity neighborhoods like Bel Air and Brentwood.

Fly over notable landmarks such as the Dodger Stadium and the Hollywood Sign as you soak in the majesty of Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Venice Beach and other iconic sights from above.

Upgrade your package and get a taste of the celebrity lifestyle – literally speaking – with snacks and champagne servings.


3. Private Hollywood and Los Angeles in a Day Tour

Los AngelesSource: Sean Pavone / shutterstock
Los Angeles

Want a private tour of LA just for you and your family or group of friends? This tour gives you the wiggle room to customize it as you wish.

Irrespective of how you plan your itinerary, the beauty of this tour package is that it allows you to explore Hollywood and Los Angeles on your own terms.

The eight-hour private sightseeing tour provides you with a driver to take you around the most famous sights in the City of Angels, including Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Griffith Observatory, and the Chinese Theatre.

You will see the Hollywood Sign in as close a range as it gets, as well as sample landmarks like the Sunset Strip and Hollywood Boulevard.

4. Full-Day Los Angeles Tour with Cupcake Tasting and Museum Trip

Ferris wheel on Santa Monica Pier, Los AngelesSource: Jo Ann Snover / shutterstock
Ferris wheel on Santa Monica Pier, Los Angeles

It is not every day you get to search for Hollywood stars on a guided walk. This tour allows you to do just that and then some.

Limited to a dozen people for the best experience, the Full-Day Los Angeles Tour gives you a comprehensive cover of LA, with a little taste of everything the city has to offer – figuratively and literally speaking.

Board a public bus to the Farmers Market and Beverly Hills, then hitch a ride on a bike from Santa Monica to Venice Beach.

Gain free entry to the Paley Center for Media, and taste cupcakes sprinkled with stardust at a Beverly Hills bakery before taking a stroll along Rodeo Drive – America’s most exclusive shopping district.

There will be plenty of time to visit the city’s other illustrious landmarks and the lesser-known gems.


5. Hollywood Bike Tour

Hollywood Bike TourSource: viator.com
Hollywood Bike Tour

Who said you need to shelve your fitness plans when touring Tinseltown?

Take in the city’s most splendid views and break a sweat at the same time with this three-hour bike tour that takes you around the top attractions in historic Hollywood.

Cycle back in time by gliding through the Hollywood Forever Cemetery and pedal past Paramount Studio’s front gate, before venturing farther to explore other Hollywood classics, like the original Farmers Market, the hip Melrose Avenue, LACMA, the largest art museum in the western US, and more.

Of course, a good bike tour of Hollywood isn’t complete without biking past the Walk of Fame and other famous spots such as the Capitol Records Building.

You will get a souvenir water bottle to take home with you.

6. Los Angeles: Movie Stars’ Homes Tour

Movie Stars Homes TourSource: getyourguide.com
Movie Stars Homes Tour

This is a tour that lifts the veil on the most exclusive neighborhoods in LA.

The two-hour, open-top, small passenger bus tour passes the homes of A-listers such as Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, and Nicolas Cage.

Don’t be surprised if you have close encounters with the Hollywood types along Mulholland Drive as you head into the hills for the best views of celeb town.

The tour will navigate through the most exclusive streets of Beverly Hills and Bel-Air, passing by other mansions that include the likes of power couples Jay-Z and Beyoncé.

It will then wind down Rodeo Drive before heading back to Hollywood via Sunset Strip.


7. Go on a Hike in Hollywood Hills

Hollywood Hills HikeSource: getyourguide.com
Hollywood Hills Hike

This tour is a brief reminder that while you are still in the middle of the glitz and glamour of celebrity capital, this is still Los Angeles, California.

That means beautiful natural scenery and the famous West Coast sunsets, and there is no better way to experience them than by climbing Mount Hollywood – an excursion that provides a completely different perspective on this sprawling concrete jungle.

It takes you to the highest point in the Hollywood Hills, where you can enjoy sweeping views of the city, from the skyscrapers to the trendy mansions.

A good camera on this 2.5-hour outing is a must – not just to snap the iconic Hollywood Sign, but because it promises pictures to last a lifetime.

8. Los Angeles Small Group Sightseeing Tour in German

Small Group Sightseeing TourSource: getyourguide.com
Small Group Sightseeing Tour

One of the most popular tours in German on offer, this eight-hour tour gives you an exhaustive view of LA, mixing up sightseeing with the city’s film locations and best hangouts.

Starting at the heart of Downtown, the journey takes you on a historic discovery of Los Angeles that covers, among others, The Plaza Church – one of the oldest churches in LA – and the renowned Union Train Station – often christened the Last of the Great Railway Stations.

Next, check out some notable filming locations and drop by the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Concert Center, then sample the fashion district and its over 1,000 stores.

Then head over to Griffith Park to catch a glimpse of the Hollywood Sign as you revel in unparalleled views of the city.

The tour is not complete without stopping at the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Chinese Theatre, with myriad other attractions also on the cards.


9. Los Angeles: 1-Hour Flight for 2 Persons

Hollywood SignSource: logoboom / shutterstock
Hollywood Sign

Los Angeles is one of the most scenic cities from up above; that’s partly because it packs too much posh into a single area than you will probably get anywhere.

This one-hour aerial tour for two lets you soak in the breathtaking wonders of LA, including the Hollywood Sign, Beverly Hills, Dodger Stadium, Sunset Boulevard, and Griffith Observatory.

The flight also promises million-dollar views of Santa Monica and the exquisite beaches of southern California.

What’s more, enjoy a brief stint as a pilot by getting the chance to take the controls.

10. Go Sightseeing in LA with a Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Ticket

Hop-on-Hop-off Los AngelesSource: getyourguide.com
Hop-on-Hop-off Los Angeles

If you are planning a couple of days in LA, this tour aboard an open-air, double-decker bus is an excellent option.

The tour – narrated in nine languages – will take you on a jump-on-jump-off sightseeing adventure of the Greater Los Angeles area with 100 stops to make.

From Downtown Los Angeles to LAX, Rodeo Drive to Hollywood, Beverly Hills to Santa Monica, Marina Del Rey to Venice Beach, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre to Universal City, you are sure to learn a lot about this West Coast city.

With the option to choose between a 24-, 48-, or 72-hour pass, you will have plenty of time to shop in Beverly Hills, hit a couple of stunning beaches, and enjoy some time at famous landmarks such as the Hollywood Sign.


11. Hollywood Sign and Griffith Park 2-Hour Hiking Tour

View from Griffith ParkSource: Sean Pavone / shutterstock
View from Griffith Park

Just because Los Angeles is a rambling urban landscape doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the natural side of the city, the beach notwithstanding.

This two-hour tour with a live guide takes you to the most tranquil part of the city for views of the famed LA skyline.

The trip starts at the Roosevelt Café in Los Feliz; don’t be surprised if you come across a celebrity or two around these parts.

You will then head off into the LA wilderness, where you will hike to the Griffith Observatory as you learn about the history and fables of Hollywood greats.

Entry to the Griffith Observatory is free should you opt to visit after the excursion.

12. Los Angeles at Night 30-Minute Helicopter Flight

Los Angeles at NightSource: Sarah Fields Photography / shutterstock
Los Angeles at Night

Enjoy a bird’s eye view of Los Angeles with a 30-minute flight over the city center.

This is a great way to get a different perspective of LA at night. The flight sets off just north of the Santa Monica Mountains at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank.

It takes you on an aerial treat that offers panoramic views of southern California’s landmarks, including the Staples Center, Kodak Theatre (aka the Dolby Theatre), Universal Studios, Dodger Stadium, the Hollywood sign, among others.

This is a tour for everyone, swooping over those iconic landmarks in Hollywood, delivering a splendid experience that’s well worth the price of this package.


13. Los Angeles Romantic Helicopter Tour with Mountain Landing

Los Angeles Romantic Helicopter Tour With Mountain LandingSource: getyourguide.com
Los Angeles Romantic Helicopter Tour With Mountain Landing

Want to treat your romantic partner to an experience that will linger long in the memory? Maybe savor a classic date experience just the two of you or remind yourselves how real, proper dates used to be? Maybe a proposal is on the cards…

Whatever the case, this package is carefully designed with two in mind.

Take a 45-minute helicopter tour that whisks you over Hollywood’s top attractions such as the Hollywood Sign, Universal Studios, the Santa Monica Pier, and celebrity homes in Beverly Hills and Bel Air.

Then land on your own private mountaintop in Malibu that promises breathtaking views of Malibu beach, where you will have 30 minutes to relish in a complimentary toast and sumptuous dessert, complete with a rose to add gloss to your romantic getaway. Memories are made of this.

14. LA Grand Tour

Los Angeles Farmers MarketSource: Alex Millauer / shutterstock
Los Angeles Farmers Market

As the name suggests, this package takes you on a grand tour of Los Angeles that stretches for seven hours, with four well-picked locations to experience the city’s highlights.

You will be picked up from your hotel and head over to Santa Monica Pier, where you will have an hour to admire the views of the Pacific Ocean, take a stroll down the pier and visit 3rd Street Promenade.

The open-top tour bus will then drive you to an outdoor farmer’s market for a one-hour lunch stop. See and taste the best LA has to offer, shop at the Grove in Beverly Hills and enjoy other family-friendly activities in the area.

The third stop will be at the Griffith Observatory, before wrapping it up at the Hollywood Walk of Fame where you can take a pic (or two) with your favorite celeb’s star.


15. Take a Small Group Tour of Hollywood Sign in Luxury Van

Hollywood Sign Small Group Tour In Luxury VanSource: getyourguide.com
Hollywood Sign Small Group Tour In Luxury Van

For many of us, finding ourselves at the Symbol of Dreams Come True is an item we want to cross off our bucket lists.

This one-hour tour will take you right to the top of the Hollywood Sign – the archetypal symbol of Hollywood, or Los Angeles for that matter. You can request to be picked up by the next van if you feel you haven’t had enough of the spectacular views in the time allotted.

Swing by the TCL Chinese Theatre – the famed spot that boasts over 200 Hollywood celebrity handprints and autographs – before stopping briefly at the Dolby Theatre, the home of the Oscars.



15 Best Hollywood Tours:

  • Half Day Hollywood and Beverly Hills Tour
  • Los Angeles Celebrity Homes Helicopter Flight
  • Private Hollywood and Los Angeles in a Day Tour
  • Full-Day Los Angeles Tour with Cupcake Tasting and Museum Trip
  • Hollywood Bike Tour
  • Los Angeles: Movie Stars' Homes Tour
  • Go on a Hike in Hollywood Hills
  • Los Angeles Small Group Sightseeing Tour in German
  • Los Angeles: 1-Hour Flight for 2 Persons
  • Go Sightseeing in LA with a Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Ticket
  • Hollywood Sign and Griffith Park 2-Hour Hiking Tour
  • Los Angeles at Night 30-Minute Helicopter Flight
  • Los Angeles Romantic Helicopter Tour with Mountain Landing
  • LA Grand Tour
  • Take a Small Group Tour of Hollywood Sign in Luxury Van