Top 5 Los Angeles Full-Day Tours: See the Very Best of LA
Los Angeles, with its sprawling cityscape and iconic attractions, seems like a tough place to take it all in, especially if you’re short on time. The solution could very well be a full-day tour that lets you sample a wide array of experiences, without, you know, the bother of driving yourself or figuring out public transportation. These tours come in all shapes and sizes, so you get a chance to find something that fits, like your budget, what you want to see, and how you want to travel.
1. The Classic Hollywood and Beaches Tour
Want to hit the hot spots? Well, this tour is for you, alright. It kicks off, basically, with a deep look at Hollywood, including the Walk of Fame and TCL Chinese Theatre. After that, the bus will usually scoot you over to Beverly Hills so you can get a look at the grand houses. Then, it’s on to the coastline, where you might get a tan at Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach. Many options usually offer photo opportunities at iconic spots and free time for exploring or eating.
You might also find some that add in a trip to a movie studio. Tours sometimes have narrators giving facts, trivia, and historical details. Keep an eye on your specific trip details to be prepared and have fun!
2. The Grand City Tour of Los Angeles
This tour is set to be the big picture experience, usually it hits many different parts of LA, like your cultural hubs and historic areas, so you can feel like you know your way around when you’re done. It might start, really, in Downtown LA, home to architectural spots and landmarks like Union Station, an eye-catching beauty featured in a number of films. Many routes tend to snake on through Olvera Street, that old part of town that showcases LA’s Mexican beginnings, so you get a sense of that early vibe.
The tour could swing, in fact, by cultural landmarks and concert halls, giving you some photo ops. Also on deck could very well be spots like Exposition Park and museums for the culture fan. Also included, that’s for sure, are stops at Griffith Observatory, just a chance to snap some pictures and soak up that sprawling view. The goal here is a broad brushstroke, a way of seeing a whole heap of LA landmarks in one go. You may even experience famous museums.
3. Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood
This, too, isn’t really so much a “tour” of LA as it is an immersion into the cinema. Okay, so get ready, because here, fans of film and TV can find spots from their favorite shows and films, and possibly even get to explore backlots. Usually, you can walk through spots like the sets from “Friends” and superhero spots from DC films, and take your camera. These studios use real working spots, giving them the look and vibe of where stories are made. You will find the real movie studio environment.
There’s usually a backlot bit, maybe, where soundstages are open, and you get a good peek at all the moviemaking magic. Often, you will be given chances to participate through interactive exhibits, such as greenscreen things, really getting a feel for those sets and techniques. If you are interested in moviemaking, you might just go bonkers. These often run shorter than the other tours so, if you buy this one, combine it, might be, with something else.
4. Universal Studios Hollywood VIP Experience
Rather, this is more than just walking around Universal Studios; it’s very much the VIP experience, offering those bonuses that make for a real standout trip. Expect access, of course, to all the main theme park attractions. More important are benefits that save on lines for things, letting you onto stuff quickly. Some packages probably come with a studio tour, usually letting you poke around soundstages, backlots, and sets. These can provide inside tales and movie-making insight from guides, usually people linked to some film project.
Meals and refreshments may very well be included as part of your visit, keeping you fed while you are going all over. Plus, in general, perks might be offered, and you might get access to certain areas. Overall, expect treatment, that gives those things only typically gotten at events, making for an overall better theme park experience. Be advised, very, very carefully, that this runs pricey. Look at tickets and inclusions before choosing.
5. The “Starline Tours” Hop-On Hop-Off Bus
Unlike regular tours, you see, this is all about custom plans, where you just get to create a bespoke route for your specific points. Buy a ticket that allows rides on specified bus routes throughout Los Angeles. Aboard the bus, too, you get background from pre-recorded audio in many languages, explaining sites that the bus swings past. You may get a seat on the bus for views all around as it goes to various LA landmarks.
Hop off wherever the sites and experiences grab you most, allowing the exploration. When you are done at that spot, come to a bus stop, of course, wait for the next one, and then get going to whatever’s next on your plan. These bus systems give much travel, just making it good for all-day touring around those sites. This bus allows seeing a lot of places.