Whether you're in LA for a short while or a couple of weeks finalising your itinerary can be such a drag, especially if it's your first visit and you're trying to avoid serious FOMO. Luckly there is way to escape that feeling: guided tours.
Tours are one the best ways to explore as many neighborhoods as possible in a short time, while also gaining some local tips along the way. Choose a sightseeing tour if you must hit all the big Los Angeles attractions or opt for a food tour to sample the best tacos in Los Angeles. Movie buffs will want to go behind the scenes at film studios, and who doesn’t want to feel the sand between your toes on the best beaches in L.A.?
Whatever Los Angeles experience you're banking on during your trip, this list of the best Los Angeles tours has something for everyone.
Wondering how long is long enough to spend in LA? You should aim four at least four days in LA if you want to cover enough ground.
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📍See things to do in Los Angeles
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🏨Stay at the best hotels in LA
E-bike your way up to the Hollywood sign, passing the homes of A-listers and iconic film locations. on your way up with this private tour. Ideal for couples or small groups, your guide will lead you along hidden routes in the Hills, while you take in the beautiful scenery of Lake Hollywood Park and Griffith Park. A huge bonus: you'll have professional photos shot of you while you ride off into the sunset, so no need to scramble for your iPhone, just saddle up.
Ticking off all the main attractions across Hollywood and Beverly Hills is all in a day's work with this five-hour minibus tour. your first stop will be Downtown LA, from there, you'll continue onto Griffith Park, the Hollywood Sign, before firmly placing your feet on the Walk of Fame. Along each stop, you get the opportunity to take a few snaps before hopping back on the bus. As you're bound to work up quite an appetite along the way, you'll stop to enjoy lunch at The Original Farmers Market where there'll be a variety of food options including American classics from Du-Pars.
The craft beer scene in Los Angeles has exploded in recent years, and nowhere is that more apparent than the South Bay. El Segundo, Torrance and Redondo Beach each boast a bevy of popular craft breweries like Smog City Brewing Co., Three Weavers Brewing Co. and Phantom Carriage Brewery. Visit three of the best and enjoy a flight of four testers at each location on a guided LA Beer Hop tour of the area. The best part? Your tour guide serves as an automatic designated driver.
Forget the star tours and flashy tourist traps: This tour of Hollywood looks past all the superficial attractions to get to the heart of the entertainment industry. Local historian Philip Mershon describes the origin stories of all the major film studios, record companies and television networks with such gusto that you might feel like you’ve stepped back in time. It’s a fascinating journey for anyone interested in the business of Hollywood. $40
Craft breweries, hip restaurants, art galleries and vibrant murals abound in the Arts District, a neighborhood on the eastern edge of Downtown that’s known for its cool vibe. Spend two hours walking the streets of this trendy nabe to experience the art that made it so famous for yourself. The tour also includes a visit to ArtShare LA, the city’s largest private art warehouse. $22
Photograph: Courtesy CC/Flickr/Passion Leica
If Los Angeles had an official dish, it would be the taco. Locals know that some of the best come from sidewalk stands or taco truck parked outside strip malls. Navigate the streets of Downtown to sample some of the most beloved al pastor and carne asada tacos on this two-hour bike tour. $100
Photograph: Courtesy CC/Flickr/T.Tseng
See how movie magic happens with a behind-the-scenes tour at Warner Bros. Studios. Film geeks will love the chance to get an inside look at the production process, from the sound stages to the prop department. The tour ends with your chance to try on the Sorting Hat from J.K. Rowling’s beloved Harry Potter franchise and sit on the Central Perk couch where the Friends gang drank so many cups of coffee.
It’s no wonder why buzzy chefs like Roy Choi have been setting up shop in Koreatown: The nabe already has a thriving food culture thanks to the authentic Korean BBQ spots lining the streets. Join a Six Taste food tour to try five family-style tastings of authentic dishes including abalone rice porridge, bibimbap, Korean fried chicken wings and, of course, authentic Korean BBQ. You’ll finish the meal with something sweet—think shaved green tea snow with mochi, red bean and condensed milk. $75
This five-hour tour might very well be the most efficient way to see all the top L.A. attractions. Kick things off in Downtown with a visit to the Walt Disney Concert Hall before heading west to check out the Griffith Park Observatory and catch your first glimpse of the Hollywood Sign. Next, it’s off to Hollywood Boulevard to experience the Walk of Fame, Dolby Theatre and TCL Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. You’ll drive through Beverly Hills and loop back to the Original Farmers Market, where you’ll have time for lunch before heading back to your hotel. $75
Instead of meeting for drinks or seeing a forgettable movie, take someone special on one of these L.A. tours worth going on with a date.
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