The best Hollywood city tours Los Angeles has to offer come down to three things: how much time you have, how much context you want, and how much you mind a crowd. Hollywood City Tours wins on price and simplicity, with a 2-hour open-air bus ride at $45 per adult. Another Side Tours suits you if you want a small group and a guide who explains what you are looking at. Starline suits celebrity homes fans, and the studio tours suit anyone who wants to see how movies get made.
Choosing is harder than it should be. Every operator promises celebrity homes, the Hollywood Sign and Rodeo Drive, yet the tours differ a lot in length, group size and how much time you spend off the bus. Listed prices run from $45 to several hundred dollars, and a star rating tells you very little about which tour fits your day.
This guide compares seven options on price, duration, reviews and ticket details. We run Another Side Tours, so we list ourselves first and say plainly where a competitor is the better buy. Every price below comes from the operator’s published listings and can change, so confirm it at checkout.
1. Another Side Tours: small-group guided sightseeing
Another Side Tours is the pick if you want to understand Los Angeles, not just drive past it. It runs small-group tours with local guides, and it covers Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Venice Beach.
How the tour works
Another Side Tours runs daily small-group sightseeing tours of Los Angeles with professional local guides and comfortable transportation. You choose from a shorter Hollywood and Beverly Hills tour, a full-day Los Angeles highlights tour, a Santa Monica and Venice Beach coastal tour, or an express tour that strings the coast, Hollywood and Beverly Hills together. Of all the Hollywood city tours in Los Angeles compared here, this is the one built around explanation rather than a fast loop past landmarks.
The guides are certified locals, and the goal is context, not trivia. You learn why a boulevard looks the way it does, who built a landmark and what happened there. On applicable tours, pickup from your location is included, so you skip the parking hunt and the rideshare surge. The company has completed more than 1 million tours, runs fully licensed operations and holds awards from TripAdvisor and Viator.
A small group and a guide who explains the city beats a bigger bus when you want to understand what you are seeing.
Price, length and tickets
Tours run from 90 minutes to 7 hours, and prices across the full catalog range from $75 to $1,996. The low end is a basic tour. The high end is a private limousine experience for a larger group. Parties of three or more get group pricing discounts, so the per-person cost falls quickly for families and friends traveling together.
The four daily small-group formats cover different needs:
- Shorter Hollywood and Beverly Hills sightseeing: best when you only have a morning or an afternoon.
- Full-day Los Angeles highlights: the widest coverage in one booking.
- Santa Monica and Venice Beach: a coastal day without the Hollywood traffic.
- Express coast, Hollywood and Beverly Hills: all three areas in less time.
You can compare routes, durations and current prices on the daily small-group Los Angeles tours page before you book.
Who it suits and what to know
First-time visitors get the most from it, especially travelers who dislike crowds or who are short on time and want several neighborhoods without driving. Families do well too, because group discounts start at three people and a small group is easy to keep together.
The honest trade-off is price. A small-group tour costs more than a $45 bus ticket, and you are paying for the guide’s attention and a smaller group. If you want your own guide and vehicle, look at the private Los Angeles tours, which cover Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Malibu and the Getty Center.
2. Hollywood City Tours: open-air bus tours
Hollywood City Tours is the budget-friendly way to get an overview. It sells open-air bus tours from two departure points, with ticket prices that are easy to read and a very large review base.
How the tour works
Hollywood City Tours departs from 6609 W Sunset Blvd, near the Hollywood Walk of Fame, or from 1541 Ocean Ave in Santa Monica. Its Original Hollywood Tour is a 2-hour open-air ride through Hollywood and Beverly Hills, with celebrity homes, movie locations, famous landmarks and a stop at the Beverly Hills sign. The Grand LA Tour lasts 7 hours and includes four 1-hour stops: Santa Monica Pier, Rodeo Drive, the Farmers Market for lunch, and Griffith Observatory.
Live guides narrate every tour. Private versions of the 2-hour route are available for groups of up to 14.
Price, length and tickets
These are the listed prices for each Hollywood City Tours product. Children under 2 ride free on the public tours.
| Tour | Departs | Length | Adult | Child (2-11) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original Hollywood Tour | Hollywood, hourly 9 AM to 6 PM | 2 hours | $45 | $35 |
| Grand LA Tour | Hollywood at 10, 11 and 12 | 7 hours | $95 | $75 |
| Santa Monica, Hollywood and Beverly Hills | Santa Monica at 9:30, 11:30, 1:30 and 3:30 | 3.5 hours | $59 | $49 |
| Private tour (Hollywood) | Hourly 9 AM to 6 PM | 2 hours | $449 per group of up to 14 | Extra hour $199 |
| Private tour (Santa Monica) | 10 AM and 2 PM | 3.5 hours | $699 per group of up to 14 | Extra hour $199 |
Tours run seven days a week, and the operator asks you to arrive 15 minutes early. All-day parking near the Hollywood departure point costs $15.
Who it suits and what to know
This is the best fit for first-timers on a budget who want an easy, open-air overview and do not need deep commentary. The review record backs it up. Tripadvisor shows a 4.8 rating from more than 5,700 reviews, with 5,195 rated Excellent (about 91%) and 208 rated Poor or Terrible (about 4%). Many reviewers name their guide, which tells you that the quality of your tour depends heavily on who is driving your bus.
Expect a fixed route and short stops. One reviewer liked the places but wished for more time. Travelers have also asked whether the 7-hour tour passes celebrity homes. The listed highlights are the four stops above, so confirm before you book if homes matter to you.
Hollywood City Tours is hard to beat for price and simplicity, and your experience rides on the guide you get.
3. Starline Tours: the celebrity homes specialist
Starline Tours is the oldest name on this list and the pick for celebrity homes. It also sells a long day that takes in Hollywood, the observatory and the beach.
How the tour works
Starline pioneered the Movie Stars Homes Tour in 1935 and has run it ever since. Its ticket office sits at 6801 Hollywood Blvd. Besides the Celebrity Homes Tour, it offers a Hop-On, Hop-Off tour, private tours and group charters.
Its full-day option covers Hollywood, Griffith Observatory and a Los Angeles city and beach loop. Plan for 6 to 6.5 hours, with photo stops at several well-known spots. If you are weighing Hollywood city tours in Los Angeles by how long they have been running, Starline has the longest record here.
Price, length and tickets
Prices were not published in the listing we reviewed, so check the current fare before you compare. The useful comparison is length against price. The full-day Starline tour runs 6 to 6.5 hours, while the Hollywood City Tours Grand LA Tour is listed at 7 hours and $95 per adult. Hold Starline’s fare up against that figure.
For a shorter outing, look at the celebrity homes tour on its own. Ask the booking desk how long it runs, where it departs and whether children’s fares apply. Departures start from the Hollywood Boulevard area, which makes this convenient if you are staying near the Walk of Fame.
Who it suits and what to know
Starline suits celebrity homes enthusiasts and travelers who like booking with an established name. It also works for groups that need a charter, since private tours and group charters are part of the menu.
Expect a scheduled route, not a custom one. If you want to choose the neighborhoods, a private booking is the better route. Ask whether the specific tour you pick includes homes, because a full-day city tour and a dedicated homes tour are different products.
If celebrity homes are the whole point of your trip, book a tour that is built around them and confirm that the route includes them.
4. City Sightseeing Los Angeles: hop-on, hop-off buses
City Sightseeing Los Angeles is the flexible choice. You ride a looped route and get off wherever you want to linger, then catch the next bus.
How the tour works
This operator runs a hop-on, hop-off service that lets you discover sites and attractions throughout Los Angeles and Hollywood at your own pace. Commentary is recorded, not live, and it is offered in 9 different languages. That makes it one of the few Hollywood city tours in Los Angeles that works well for international groups with different first languages.
You ride the loop once to get your bearings, or hop off at any stop and board a later bus. There is no guide to ask questions, so the tour rewards people who like to read signs and explore on foot.
Price, length and tickets
Fares depend on the pass length you choose, and we could not verify a current price for this operator, so check it at booking. Because the tour is self-paced, "length" depends on you. A quick loop is a few hours. A full day with several stops takes longer.
The question to ask is whether the pass covers the stops you care about. Look at the route map, the first and last bus times and how often buses run. A hop-on, hop-off pass only pays off when buses are frequent enough that waiting does not eat your day.
Who it suits and what to know
It suits independent travelers who want freedom and do not mind recorded commentary. Families with restless children also like the flexibility, because you can leave a stop when everyone has had enough.
The weak point is depth. Recorded highlights cannot answer your question about a building, and the hop-off rhythm means you will spend time waiting. If you want stories and answers, pick a live-guided tour instead.
A hop-on, hop-off pass buys you freedom, not explanation, so plan your own stops before you board.
5. A Day in LA Tours: full-day city sightseeing
A Day in LA Tours sells a full-day city tour with a strong beach element. It is a different kind of day from the Hollywood bus loops.
How the tour works
The LA City Tours product is a full-day sightseeing trip across Los Angeles and nearby areas. Highlights listed include Muscle Beach, skate parks and surfing spots, so a big share of the day sits on the coast. If your idea of Los Angeles is more Venice than Hollywood Boulevard, this tour is built for you.
The listing we reviewed did not spell out the complete stop list, so ask which Hollywood and celebrity areas are included. That matters because among Hollywood city tours in Los Angeles, the beach-heavy ones often skip the Sunset Strip.
Price, length and tickets
Prices start at $99 per adult and $89 for children 12 or younger. That sits close to the Hollywood City Tours Grand LA Tour at $95 per adult and $75 for children aged 2 to 11. The child age bands differ. A 12-year-old pays the child fare here but the adult fare on the Hollywood City Tours Grand LA Tour.
It is a full-day commitment, so check departure time, meeting point and return time before you book. Ask about pickup, because a full-day tour that starts across town can cost you an hour on each end.
Who it suits and what to know
This works for families with older kids and travelers who want a long, beach-friendly day. It is less suited to anyone whose priority is celebrity homes or the Walk of Fame.
Compare the stop list against what you want to see. Two full-day tours at similar prices can spend their hours very differently. One might give you three hours on a beach, another might give you a studio drive-through and a lunch stop.
At roughly $100 a head for a full day, the stop list matters more than the price.
6. Studio tours: Universal and Warner Bros.
Studio tours show you how Hollywood works, not just where it lives. They sit outside Hollywood Boulevard, so they work best as a second outing.
How the tour works
The Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood, at 100 Universal City Plaza, is a tram ride through a working backlot. It is narrated by Jimmy Fallon, passes sets from films such as War of the Worlds, Psycho and Jaws, and includes Peter Jackson’s King Kong 360 experience.
The Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood, at 3400 Warner Blvd in Burbank, offers a Studio Tour Plus in groups of 12 over two hours. You see backlot streets, soundstages, sets and craft shops. Visits can include a hit television set, Foley artists creating sound effects and the prop department.
Price, length and tickets
The studios set their own ticket prices, so check each official site. Length differs sharply. The Warner Bros. Studio Tour Plus lasts two hours with a small group, while a Universal visit usually fills a large part of a day because the tram is one piece of a theme park. Confirm whether your ticket covers the tram.
If you are comparing Hollywood city tours in Los Angeles with studio visits, remember they answer different questions. A bus tour shows you where things are, while a studio tour shows you how a film gets made. Another Side Tours also offers studio lot combinations if you want one booking that pairs a lot with sightseeing.
Who it suits and what to know
Studio tours are the right call for movie and television fans, and they work well in rain or heat because much of the time is indoors or under cover.
Allow for travel. Universal City and Burbank are not on the Hollywood Boulevard route, so you will need a car or a ride. Do not expect to cover celebrity homes or the coast in the same day. A studio tour is a destination in itself.
A studio tour shows you how a film gets made, and a bus tour shows you where the stars live.
7. Segway and e-bike tours: active sightseeing
Segway and e-bike tours cover ground quickly and keep you outdoors, which a bus cannot do. They are the best option for people who hate sitting still.
How the tour works
Another Side Tours runs guided Segway tours in Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Miracle Mile, Wilshire Boulevard, the La Brea Tar Pits, Downtown Los Angeles, Pacific Palisades and celebrity home neighborhoods. Regular and private tours are both available.
The guided electric bike tours cover Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Venice Beach, West Hollywood, the Sunset Strip, Rodeo Drive and celebrity home areas, plus combination routes that link several areas. Of all the Hollywood city tours in Los Angeles in this comparison, these are the ones that put you right on the street.
Price, length and tickets
Prices and durations depend on the route and whether it is private, so compare options on each page. Others in this category give you useful reference points. Handlebar Bike Tours lists its Downtown LA tours at $45, including a bike, helmet and guided tour. Bikes and Hikes LA offers a 32-mile, 5-hour "LA in a Day" ride from West Hollywood through Beverly Hills, the beach cities and Culver City.
The e-bike motor is the equalizer. It lets you cover a long route without the effort of a traditional bike ride, which is why combination routes work.
Who it suits and what to know
These tours suit active travelers and couples who want a story to tell afterward. They also suit groups, and our team building activities include Segway and e-bike formats for company outings.
Dress for the weather and ask about minimum age and any requirements when you book. Riding is not for everyone, and a tour that includes a long ride is a poor match for anyone with mobility issues.
If a bus feels too passive, a Segway or e-bike tour is the most direct way to feel the city.
Hollywood and LA tours compared side by side
The cheapest ticket is not always the best value. Put the seven options next to each other on price, length and format, and then check what each number leaves out.
Prices and durations at a glance
All listed prices are per adult unless noted. Where we could not verify a fare, the table says so.
| Tour | Format | Length | Listed price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Another Side Tours small-group | Guided, small group | 90 minutes to 7 hours | From $75 across the catalog |
| Hollywood City Tours, Original | Open-air bus | 2 hours | $45 |
| Hollywood City Tours, Santa Monica | Open-air bus | 3.5 hours | $59 |
| Hollywood City Tours, Grand LA | Open-air bus | 7 hours | $95 |
| Starline full-day | Guided bus | 6 to 6.5 hours | Confirm at booking |
| City Sightseeing LA | Hop-on, hop-off | Self-paced | Confirm at booking |
| A Day in LA Tours | Full-day city tour | Full day | From $99 |
| Studio tours | Tram or walking | About 2 hours for Warner Bros. Plus | Set by the studio |
| Segway and e-bike | Active, guided | Varies by route | Varies by route |
What the numbers hide
Price per hour tells a different story from price per ticket. The Hollywood City Tours Original costs $22.50 per hour. The Santa Monica tour comes to about $16.86 per hour, and the Grand LA Tour is about $13.57 per hour.
The Grand LA Tour looks cheapest, but its four 1-hour stops mean roughly three of the seven hours are spent driving. A private booking can also beat the public fare: $449 for 14 people comes to about $32 each for two hours, below the $45 public ticket. The catch is filling the bus.
Tickets, cancellation and arrival
Check the age bands first. Hollywood City Tours charges the child fare for ages 2 to 11 and lets under-2s ride free, while A Day in LA Tours uses 12 or younger.
Arrive early. Hollywood City Tours asks for 15 minutes, and parking near its Hollywood departure costs $15 for the day. Tripadvisor listings for its Santa Monica, 7-hour and private products show free cancellation. Confirm terms for the date you choose, and call the operator if you are unsure which departure fits your hotel.
Compare tours by what you get per hour and per stop, not by the headline ticket price.
How to choose the right tour
Choose by time first, group second and interests third. That order removes most of the confusion.
Pick by the time you have
Time narrows the field faster than any other factor.
- Up to 2 hours: the Hollywood City Tours Original at $45, or a Segway or e-bike ride.
- Half day: the 3.5-hour Santa Monica, Hollywood and Beverly Hills bus tour, a shorter Another Side Tours option, or a studio tour.
- Full day: a full-day Los Angeles highlights tour, the Hollywood City Tours Grand LA Tour, Starline’s 6 to 6.5 hour tour or A Day in LA Tours.
- Flexible: a hop-on, hop-off pass if you would rather set your own pace.
Pick by your group
Solo travelers and couples are well served by small-group tours or Segway and e-bike rides. Families should compare child age bands and group discounts, since fares change with age and party size.
Large groups need a private or custom booking. Corporate groups can look at team building in Los Angeles for scavenger hunts, challenges and hikes. If you want to ask about a custom route or a private booking, get in touch and we will help you choose.
Mistakes to avoid
The most common error is assuming every tour passes celebrity homes. Check the stop list. The second is booking a 7-hour tour for a short trip, when a shorter tour would leave you energy for dinner.
Also check your departure point. Hollywood and Santa Monica departures differ in start times and prices, and a tour that begins an hour away from your hotel eats into your day. Finally, read recent reviews for the guide’s name and for repeated comments on timing or crowding.
Match the tour to your time and your group, and the right option usually becomes obvious.
Which Los Angeles tour should you book?
For the lowest price and an easy overview, Hollywood City Tours’ 2-hour bus at $45 is hard to beat, and its 4.8 Tripadvisor rating shows that most riders are happy. If you want context, a small group and pickup from your door, Another Side Tours is the better fit. Starline is the specialist for celebrity homes, hop-on, hop-off passes reward independent explorers, and studio, Segway and e-bike tours add something a bus cannot.
Decide how many hours you have, who is coming and what you most want to see. Then check the stop list and the departure point before you pay.
When you are ready to compare routes and prices, browse our small-group Los Angeles tours and pick the one that fits your day.
