The Best Hollywood Tours for Movie Buffs
Latifah Muhammad
The travel industry hasn’t totally bounced back yet, but the glitz and glamour of Hollywood still can offer some intrigue for visitors. And if a global pandemic couldn’t shut down Tinsel Town, nothing will. Whether you’re a certified movie lover or a casual film buff, visiting Los Angeles can sometimes feel like stepping onto a set, so we rounded up a few of the cooler tourists options to try out.
The great thing about LA is that you can enjoy just about any kind of tour. From private tours, to the popular Big Bus Tour, walking tours, hiking tours, helicopter tours, and even bike tours, there’s something for everyone. (Just make sure to wear your mask, as most companies still require facial coverings.) Summer is usually the perfect time to tap into your inner wanderlust, but LA weather is, for the most part, nice enough to visit any time of year.
Check below for four fun Hollywood tours to embark on during your next trip. For travel gear, check out our lists of must-have gadgets to bring on a road trip and best digital cameras.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour
The Warner Bros. Studio Tour reopened in June with an all-new DC Comics attraction. As movie fans probably already know, Warner Bros. has produced some of the biggest blockbusters and beloved film franchises. Here’s your chance to go behind the lens and explore the secrets of the studio’s moviemaking magic. This three-hour studio tour brings you closer than ever to the entertainment you love, including iconic backlot sets and sound stages, and life at “Stage 48: Script to Screen,” where you get to see where the magic happens, from classic Hollywood Costumes to green-screen technology. The tour’s all-new “Grand Finale” lets you step into recreated sets from the DC Universe to explore iconic superheroes and supervillains. Tickets start at just $69 and you can purchase them on travel sites such as Viator, Expedia, and Trip Advisor. If movie studios are your thing, add the Paramount Pictures tour to your list.
Four-Hour Private Tour of Hollywood, Los Angeles, and Beverly Hills
When your post-pandemic traveling involves a large group, private tours are the safest way to go. This four-hour tour of Los Angeles, Hollywood, and Beverly Hills stops at landmarks and tourist attractions like the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Rodeo Drive, the Hollywood Sign, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Staples Center, and the Angelino Heights historic area, where you’ll see Victorian-style homes from movies and TV shows like “Charmed” and “Fast and Furious.”
You can choose morning or afternoon tours, and there’s even an option to get picked up from your hotel. Pricing starts at $690 per group for up to 12 people. For longer visits, try the private full-day tour (seven to eight hours) that starts at $220 per person (the price varies depending on group size), and stops at most of the same locations as the four-hour tour, in addition to the Santa Monica Pier, a filming location for “Beverly Hills Cop 3,” “A Night at the Roxbury,” and many more movies. For an even longer excursion (about 14 hours), the Los Angeles & Hollywood Small Group Tour starts at $250 per person for up to seven people and includes snacks, beverages, and lunch.
Griffith Observatory, Hollywood Hills Hike
The Griffith Observatory has been a go-to location for films including “La La Land,” “The Terminator,” “Jurassic Park,” “Transformers,” “The Rocketeer,” and the James Dean classic “Rebel Without a Cause.” Needless to say, this is a great tour idea for movie buffs, but also for anyone who enjoys spectacular scenery. The two-hour-30-minute trek through the Hollywood Hills gets you that much closer to the cosmos, as well as amazing views of Downtown Los Angeles, the Hollywood Hills, Beverly Hills, and that iconic Hollywood sign. Hiking tours are pretty much tailor-made for snapping photos for your social media timeline, but you’ll also get to visit some of the exact filming locations of Hollywood blockbusters, and summit the highest peak around. The tour’s daily departures are at 10 a.m. and sunset.
Disneyland California Adventure: Avengers Campus
They don’t call it the “Happiest Place on Earth” for nothing! Located in Anaheim, Disneyland is a little further south than Hollywood, but the park has reopened with fan favorites attractions, and new activities adults and kids love. There’s so much to do at the Disneyland Resort that you might not be able to pack it into one vacation. No harm in trying though. If you love Marvel, the Avengers Campus is the place to be. Located at Disneyland’s California Adventure Park, this newly opened campus features the fast-paced adventure ride “Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout,” and “Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure,” where you wrangle rogue Spider-Bots as the run amok on campus. Disneyland also has “Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance,” “Star Wars: Galaxy Edge,” and more for “Star Wars” fans. And of course, there are lots of other classic Disney attractions. Most visitors tour Disneyland on their own, but the park also offers private VIP tours.
