The best Los Angeles city tour packages fall into a few clear types. A small-group guided tour suits first-timers who want stories and no logistics. A private tour suits families, couples and anyone who wants their own schedule. A hop-on, hop-off bus suits budget travelers who like to roam. Full-day shared tours and short celebrity-homes buses suit tight schedules. Segway and e-bike tours suit people who would rather move than sit.
The problem is that every package looks alike online. Prices start near $39 for a two-hour bus ride and climb to almost $2,000 for a limousine day. Listings rarely say what is left out, such as hotel pickup, attraction tickets or how many strangers share your vehicle. Pick wrong and you spend a long day in traffic seeing LA through a window.
This guide compares seven package types by what they include, who they fit and what they cost. Another Side Tours has completed over 1 million tours in Los Angeles, so we list our own options first and say so. The other formats are the ones you will find across the city, with typical price ranges so you can judge any listing fairly.
1. Small-group city tours with Another Side
What’s included
Another Side’s daily small-group tours are the package to pick when you want a guide who explains what you are looking at. The small-group Los Angeles tours page lists shorter Hollywood and Beverly Hills sightseeing, a full-day Los Angeles highlights tour, and Santa Monica and Venice Beach coastal sightseeing. It also lists express tours that combine the coast, Hollywood and Beverly Hills. Of all the Los Angeles city tour packages on this list, these are the most built around context rather than a checklist of photo stops.
- Professional, certified local guides
- Comfortable transportation, with pickup included on applicable tours
- Lengths from 90 minutes to a full 7-hour day across the company’s tours
Who it suits and what it costs
This format suits first-time visitors who want the major landmarks without handling traffic, parking or a map. Small groups let you ask questions and hear the history behind Hollywood Boulevard, Rodeo Drive and the Santa Monica Pier. It also works for families and friends, because parties of 3 or more get group pricing.
A small group turns a drive past landmarks into an explanation of them.
Price depends on the route and group size. The company’s tours range from $75 to $1,996 overall, so check the tour page for current rates. The team is fully licensed and has run over 1 million tours, which matters when you trust someone with your vacation day.
2. Private Los Angeles city tours
What’s included
A private tour gives your party a dedicated professional guide and a private vehicle. The private tours page covers Hollywood, Beverly Hills, celebrity homes, Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Malibu, Downtown Los Angeles and the Getty Center. It also lists family-friendly outings, luxury limo tours and full-day routes that join Hollywood, Beverly Hills and the Southern California coast. You set the pace and the stops, which no shared Los Angeles city tour package can offer.
- Your own guide and vehicle, with pickup on applicable tours
- Custom itineraries and corporate options on request
- Limousine service for celebrations and VIP guests
Who it suits and what it costs
Families with young children, multigenerational groups and couples marking an occasion get the most from a private tour. So does anyone who wants to skip a stop or linger at another. The vehicle stays with you all day, which helps if anyone tires easily.
Private costs more per booking, but you control the route and the clock.
Cost sits at the top of the range, with limousine tours reaching $1,996. Tour type and group size set the price. Split between four to six people, a private day can compare well with buying individual seats on shared tours, so run the numbers before you rule it out.
3. Hop-on, hop-off bus passes
What’s included
A hop-on, hop-off pass gives you unlimited rides on open-top double-decker buses for one to three days. One major Los Angeles operator runs about 31 stops across three routes: Hollywood, Santa Monica and the beach, and Downtown. Each loop takes about two hours. Recorded commentary plays through an app. Many Hollywood stops cluster around Hollywood Boulevard, ZIP code 90028, so if you search for sightseeing tours near Los Angeles, CA 90028, this is where many of these buses and shorter tours start.
- Open-top double-decker buses with recorded commentary in several languages
- Passes of 1, 2 or 3 days, plus Hollywood-only options
- No hotel pickup, so you board at a stop
Who it suits and what it costs
Budget travelers and independent types get the most from a bus pass. Starting prices run about $50 for a Hollywood-only pass and roughly $58, $73 and $86 for one, two and three days. Operators change prices, so verify before you book.
A bus pass sells you transport and freedom, not a guide.
The tradeoff is time. Three routes at about two hours each means six hours of riding before you step off once. Commentary is recorded, and popular stops can be crowded. Plan on two days at minimum if you want to cover every route and still get off to explore.
4. Full-day shared tours with hotel pickup
What’s included
A full-day shared tour runs roughly 7 to 8 hours on a small bus or minibus, with a guide narrating between stops. A typical itinerary covers Venice Beach, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, Sunset Strip, Griffith Park and Hollywood. You get about 30 to 45 minutes at each stop. Among Los Angeles city tour packages, this one fits the most landmarks into a single day.
- Hotel pickup and drop-off on many versions, so confirm your hotel is covered
- Guide narration between stops
- Versions from Anaheim, with an early start and a return around 6 p.m.
Who it suits and what it costs
This format suits visitors with one free day who want a broad overview and accept a fixed itinerary. Disneyland guests often choose the Anaheim versions for a day away from the parks.
Shared full-day tours trade depth for coverage.
Expect about $99 to $119 per person, with the higher figure buying hotel pickup. Stops are short, so you get a look, a photo and a restroom break, not much more. If you want depth at the landmarks, a small-group tour with fewer stops gives you more per stop.
5. Celebrity homes and Hollywood bus tours
What’s included
Celebrity homes tours are short, themed bus rides, usually about two hours, through Hollywood, Beverly Hills and the hills above. The format dates back to 1935. A live guide narrates film history and star gossip along the way. Evening versions add a stop at Griffith Observatory for skyline views and the Hollywood Sign, usually running 1.5 to 2 hours depending on traffic.
- Live guide commentary on celebrity and film history
- Lengths of about 1.5 to 2 hours
- Night versions with Griffith Observatory views (the observatory museum is closed Mondays)
Who it suits and what it costs
Choose this as a low-commitment add-on, or for a first evening when you land tired but curious. Prices run about $39 to $50 per person, which makes it the cheapest guided option here.
Treat a celebrity homes tour as entertainment, with a guide’s stories doing the heavy lifting.
Be realistic about what you will see. Most celebrity homes sit behind gates and hedges, and houses change hands often. The value comes from the guide’s storytelling. Another Side runs celebrity homes experiences too, including private and neighborhood routes, if you want a smaller group.
6. Segway city tours
What’s included
A Segway tour lets you glide through a neighborhood instead of passing it at bus speed. The Segway tour page lists routes in Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Miracle Mile, Wilshire Boulevard, La Brea Tar Pits, Downtown Los Angeles, Pacific Palisades and celebrity home neighborhoods. There are regular and private versions, plus specialty and combination experiences. It is the most memorable of the Los Angeles city tour packages here.
- Guided routes in several LA neighborhoods
- Regular group and private options
- Combination tours that join more than one area
Who it suits and what it costs
Active travelers, couples and friends who are tired of buses get the most from Segway tours. You stay in the open air, so you notice architecture, street art and ocean views that a bus window flattens. Routes are neighborhood-sized, so pick the area you most want to see first.
Choose the neighborhood first, then the vehicle.
Prices depend on the route and whether the tour is private. Another Side’s tours start at $75 across the company, and the tour page shows each Segway route’s price and duration so you can compare before booking.
7. Electric bike city tours
What’s included
An electric bike tour covers more ground than walking or a Segway without the effort of pedaling a traditional bike. The electric bike tour page offers routes through Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Venice Beach, West Hollywood, Sunset Strip, Rodeo Drive and celebrity home neighborhoods. Combination routes string several of these areas together, which suits the sprawl of any Los Angeles city tour.
- Guided e-bike routes with different areas and durations
- Combination rides covering several iconic neighborhoods
- Assisted pedaling, so hills and distance stay comfortable
Who it suits and what it costs
E-bike tours suit fit and not-so-fit riders alike, since the motor evens out hills and distance. They work well for visitors who want exercise, fresh air and a route that links the coast with Hollywood areas in one outing.
An e-bike stretches your sightseeing radius without stretching your legs.
Each ride has its own route, price and duration, so the page works as a menu. Choose by area and time available. Shorter rides pair with a free afternoon, and longer combinations fill a half day.
How to compare packages before you book
Price and inclusions side by side
The table below sets typical figures for each Los Angeles city tour package next to each other. Prices for non-Another Side formats are common starting prices and shift with season and operator, so confirm before you pay.
| Package | Typical length | Price guide | Hotel pickup | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small-group guided tour (Another Side) | 90 minutes to 7 hours | Varies by route, group pricing for 3+ | On applicable tours | First-timers wanting stories |
| Private tour | Half to full day | Highest, limo tours up to $1,996 | On applicable tours | Families, VIPs, custom routes |
| Hop-on, hop-off bus | 2-hour loops, 1 to 3 day pass | About $50 to $86 | No | Budget, self-paced days |
| Full-day shared tour | 7 to 8 hours | About $99 to $119 | Often | One free day |
| Celebrity homes bus | 1.5 to 2 hours | About $39 to $50 | Usually a meeting point | Short add-on |
| Segway tour | Route-dependent | See tour page | Check your route | Active, fun sightseeing |
| E-bike tour | Route-dependent | See tour page | Check your route | Covering more ground |
Five questions to ask before you pay
Inclusions decide whether a cheap ticket stays cheap. Ask each operator the same questions before you work out the best value for your tour package:
- Is hotel pickup included, and is my hotel covered?
- How many people share the vehicle?
- How long do we stay at each stop, and which stops are drive-bys only?
- Are attraction tickets or entry fees included?
- What is the cancellation policy if my plans or the traffic change?
Is a package cheaper than going alone?
For one or two people on a single day, often yes. A package bundles transport, routing and commentary, and it removes parking, which can add up at each stop. Rideshare between Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica also adds up fast in LA traffic. Where you travel alone, you save only if you skip the guide.
Company outings are a different job. If you are planning a group event, the team building activities page covers scavenger hunts, Segway and e-bike activities and custom group adventures. For individual travelers, match the package to your day: small-group for stories, hop-on, hop-off for budget, full-day shared for one free day.
Pick the package that matches your day
The right Los Angeles city tour package depends on how much time you have, how much you want to learn and who is traveling with you. Small-group and private tours give you a guide and a plan. Bus passes give you freedom for the lowest price. Full-day shared tours stretch one day across many landmarks, and celebrity homes buses fill an evening. Segway and e-bike tours turn sightseeing into the activity itself.
Check hotel pickup, group size and stop length before you pay, and the price will tell you what you are actually buying. If you are still unsure which format fits your dates and group, ask the Another Side team to help you choose a tour.
