The best movie studios tours in Los Angeles take you onto a real working lot, and four studios offer them. Warner Bros. in Burbank is the best all-round pick for most visitors. Universal Studios Hollywood suits families who also want rides, Paramount suits film-history fans, and Sony is the budget pick at $55 per person. If you want a studio lot folded into a wider guided day, Another Side Tours can do that too.
Tours look alike on paper, but they differ in length, age limits, price, and how much of a working studio you actually see. Choose badly and you spend half a day in traffic for a tram ride you did not want.
Below, each of the five options gets the same treatment: what you get, what it costs, and who should book it. We guide visitors around Los Angeles every day, so the advice comes from planning real itineraries. Prices change often, so confirm the current rate on the official booking page before you commit.
1. Another Side Tours studio lot combinations
Another Side Tours is the right pick when you want a studio lot as one stop in a guided day, not a standalone ticket. Our studio lot combinations pair a lot visit with Hollywood sightseeing, so one guide and one pickup cover the plan. That matters for movie studios tours in Los Angeles, because the lots sit in different parts of the region.
A studio visit works best when someone else handles the driving and the timing.
What you get and what it costs
Every tour is led by a local, certified guide who explains the landmarks between stops, not only the lot itself. You can choose the size of the group and the vehicle.
- Format: private, semi-private, or small group, using private vehicles on many tours.
- Pickup and transport from your location are included on applicable tours.
- Length: our tours run from 90 minutes to 7 hours.
- Price: $75 to $1,996, depending on tour type and group size, with discounts for parties of 3 or more.
Who it suits
First-time visitors without a rental car, families, and small groups who want Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and a studio in one day will get the most from it. Browse our daily small-group Los Angeles tours or our private tours to see formats and prices.
The trade-off is time. A combination tour gives you less time on the lot than a dedicated studio tour. If the backlot is your main reason for coming, book one of the four studios below. Either way, ask which lot a combination includes before you pay.
2. Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood
Warner Bros. is the best all-round choice among movie studios tours in Los Angeles. It has the widest range of tour levels and a strong mix of history and working-studio access. The lot is at 3400 W. Riverside Dr. in Burbank, not in Hollywood proper.
If you only book one studio tour, make it Warner Bros.
What you get and what it costs
Standard tours start at $70, and the studio now offers a Storytelling Showcase alongside the lot visit. Two upgrades are worth knowing about.
- Deluxe Tour: a three-hour guided tour, a visit to the Property Department, lunch at the Commissary Fine Dining Room, and a drink and snack at the Central Perk Café from Friends.
- Classics Tour: films and TV series shot on the backlot from the early days of the studio through the 1970s.
- Price: from $70 for the standard tour. The Deluxe costs more, so check the booking page for the current rate.
Who it suits
Warner Bros. suits first-time studio visitors, TV fans, and anyone who wants a full, well-organized visit with food and props included in the higher tiers. It handles mixed groups well.
Film buffs should look at the Classics Tour. Budget travelers should stay with the standard tour, which already covers the essentials. Plan for Burbank traffic and allow extra travel time from the Westside.
3. Paramount Pictures Studio Tour
Paramount is the pick for history, and it is the one lot on this list in Hollywood itself. The studio at 5515 Melrose Ave. was founded in May 1912 and is the longest-operating studio in Hollywood. For many visitors the tour is worth it for that reason alone.
Paramount trades Warner Bros.’ polish for deeper Hollywood history.
What you get and what it costs
The main tour is a two-hour guided cart ride, so you cover more ground than on a walking tour. The lot also holds a New York Street backlot that can stand in for many different neighborhoods.
- Studio Tour: two hours by guided cart, with filming locations and the Prop Warehouse.
- VIP Tour: 4.5 hours with access to the archives, backlots, and production facilities. Morning tours include lunch and afternoon tours include champagne and hors d’oeuvres. Parking and a souvenir photo are also included.
- Price: check the current ticket price on Paramount’s official site before you plan around it.
Who it suits
History lovers, classic film fans, and visitors already staying in Hollywood will enjoy Paramount most. The VIP Tour fits serious enthusiasts who want archive and production access.
If you want theme-park energy, skip it. Paramount is a calm, guide-driven tour that rewards people who already know a few films from the lot.
4. Sony Pictures Studio Tour
Sony is the cheapest of the four dedicated studio tours at $55 per person. Its two-hour walking format is also the most hands-on. The lot is at 10202 W. Washington Blvd. in Culver City.
Sony is the best value among movie studios tours in Los Angeles, if you can meet its rules.
What you get and what it costs
You walk the soundstages where The Wizard of Oz, Men in Black, and Spider-Man were filmed. Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune are taped on the lot, and the Breaking Bad RV lives here.
- Schedule: Monday through Friday, with reservations required.
- Age limit: children 12 and up only.
- Price: $55 per person, with free parking in the Overland Parking structure.
- VIP Tour: three hours with museum access and lunch, listed in recent guides at $200.
Who it suits
Sony suits adults, teens, couples, and game show fans on weekday trips. The Art Deco buildings date back to when the lot belonged to MGM, which adds real Golden Age atmosphere.
It does not suit families with younger children or weekend-only visitors. Those travelers should look at Universal or Warner Bros. instead.
5. Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour
Universal’s Studio Tour is the easiest to combine with other attractions, because it is included with park admission. It runs 60 minutes by tram through a working backlot and is the best fit for families.
Universal makes sense when you want the backlot and a full theme park day together.
What you get and what it costs
Jimmy Fallon hosts the tour on video as the tram rolls past sets, and the park also includes rides and Super Nintendo World. It is the shortest option here, but the backlot highlights are well known.
- Sets: the Psycho House and Bates Motel, the Jupiter’s Claim set from Nope, and the War of the Worlds crash site.
- Jaws: an up-close encounter with the shark from the film.
- VIP Experience: a special trolley that lets you step off and explore areas closed to the public, plus front-of-line ride access and a gourmet lunch.
- Price: included with park admission, so check the current ticket price.
Who it suits
Families, thrill-ride fans, and mixed-age groups will enjoy it most. You get a studio ride and a full park day for one ticket.
Pure film buffs may find the tram format less intimate than a walking or cart tour. If studio history is the point, choose Warner Bros. or Paramount.
Which studio tour to book
Book Warner Bros. if you want one reliable choice, Universal if kids are along, Paramount for Hollywood history, and Sony for the lowest price on a weekday. Check age limits and days of operation first, because Sony in particular will turn you away if you do not match its rules.
Every one of these movie studios tours in Los Angeles sells out on busy days, so reserve ahead. If you would rather pair a lot visit with sightseeing and pickup, ask our team which studio combination fits your dates.
