Best of Los Angeles Guided City Tour with 4 Stops and Free Time
Traveler rating
4.9/5
Based on 2,258 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Best of Los Angeles Guided City Tour with 4 Stops and Free Time worth booking?
Best of Los Angeles Guided City Tour with 4 Stops and Free Time is a 5.5-hour experience in Santa Monica, United States, from $59 per person. It scores 94 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “90+ Club”, based on a 4.9/5 rating across 2,258 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing. It sits in the Outty 90+ Club, the top tier of everything we rank.
- Outty Ranking
- 94 / 100
- Rating
- 4.9/5 (2,258)
- Duration
- 5.5 hours
- From
- $59 per person
Check out the BEST Los Angeles has to offer on this half-day interactive sightseeing experience! Take a seat on one of our Climate-Controlled Buses as your fun and entertaining driver-guide gives you an insider look at LA culture, history, landmarks, and hot spots. This tour is an excellent mix of time spent on the bus, sightseeing, and exploring different stops yourself! (NEW) You can now choose to begin your tour in Hollywood or Santa Monica! (Your first stop will either be Santa Monica or Hollywood, depending on where your tour begins) 1st Stop: Beverly Hills & Rodeo Drive (30 Minutes) 2nd stop: Santa Monica Pier or Hollywood (45 minutes) 3rd Stop: The Grove & Farmer's Market (60 Minutes) 4th Stop: The Griffith Observatory (30 Minutes) The ONLY Half-Day Tour in LA! Unlike competitor tours, which last 7-9 hours (or longer with hotel pick-ups), we're proud to offer a streamlined, half-day option that gives you all the highlights without taking up your entire day!
What you get
About this experience
Check out the BEST Los Angeles has to offer on this half-day interactive sightseeing experience! Take a seat on one of our Climate-Controlled Buses as your fun and entertaining driver-guide gives you an insider look at LA culture, history, landmarks, and hot spots. This tour is an excellent mix of time spent on the bus, sightseeing, and exploring different stops yourself! (NEW) You can now choose to begin your tour in Hollywood or Santa Monica! (Your first stop will either be Santa Monica or Hollywood, depending on where your tour begins) 1st Stop: Beverly Hills & Rodeo Drive (30 Minutes) 2nd stop: Santa Monica Pier or Hollywood (45 minutes) 3rd Stop: The Grove & Farmer's Market (60 Minutes) 4th Stop: The Griffith Observatory (30 Minutes) The ONLY Half-Day Tour in LA! Unlike competitor tours, which last 7-9 hours (or longer with hotel pick-ups), we're proud to offer a streamlined, half-day option that gives you all the highlights without taking up your entire day!
What's included
Included
- Car seat for children under 8 years old or shorter than 4’9”
- Start From Hollywood or Santa Monica
- Audio Guide in 11 Languages
- New Climate Controlled Luxury Buses with Expert Driver Guides
- Self Guided Hollywood Walk of Fame Walking Tour in 11 Languages
Not included
- Gratuities
- Lunch
- Parking fees
- On-board restrooms
What you'll see and do
Hollywood
The tour begins and ends on either the world-famous Hollywood Walk of Fame or the Santa Monica Pier, depending on your selected departure location, giving you ample time to explore Hollywood or Santa Monica before or after your tour.
Pass by without stopping
Sunset Strip
The Sunset Strip extends from West Hollywood's eastern border with the city of Los Angeles near Marmont Lane to its western border with Beverly Hills at Phyllis Street. The Sunset Strip is known for its boutiques, restaurants, rock clubs, nightclubs, and its array of huge, colorful billboards.
Pass by without stopping
West Hollywood
West Hollywood is a trendy area known for its high-energy nightlife. The fabled Sunset Strip features the Chateau Marmont, a swanky celebrity hideaway, plus comedy clubs and live music venues like the legendary Whiskey a Go-Go. Santa Monica Boulevard, awash in rainbow flags, is home to a number of gay bars, dance clubs, and shops. WeHo also offers some of the city’s most buzzworthy restaurants.
Pass by without stopping
Beverly Hills
Guests will enjoy 30 minutes at the Beverly Hills Sign, a perfect spot for photos at one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. From here, experience the heart of Beverly Hills & Rodeo Drive, just steps away, where luxury boutiques, palm-lined streets, exotic cars, and classic Hollywood glamour come together in one of Los Angeles’ most famous districts.
30 minutes here
Rodeo Drive
Guests will enjoy 30 minutes at the Beverly Hills Sign, a perfect spot for photos at one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. From here, experience the heart of Beverly Hills & Rodeo Drive, just steps away, where luxury boutiques, palm-lined streets, exotic cars, and classic Hollywood glamour come together in one of Los Angeles’ most famous districts.
Pass by without stopping
Hollywood Walk of Fame
Tours starting in Santa Monica include a 45-minute stop at the Hollywood Walk of Fame, giving guests time to walk Hollywood Boulevard, see the famous stars, visit iconic theaters like the TCL Chinese Theatre, spot handprints of legendary celebrities, and experience the energy of Hollywood.
45 minutes here
Santa Monica Pier
Tours starting in Hollywood include a 45-minute stop at the Santa Monica Pier, where guests can explore the historic pier, take in ocean views, enjoy the beach and boardwalk, watch street performers, grab a snack, and take photos at the end of Route 66.
45 minutes here
Santa Monica
Santa Monica is a coastal city west of downtown Los Angeles. Santa Monica Beach is fringed by Palisades Park, with views over the Pacific Ocean. Santa Monica Pier is home to the Pacific Park amusement park, historic Looff Hippodrome Carousel, and Santa Monica Pier Aquarium. Next to the pier is Muscle Beach, an outdoor gym established in the 1930s. In the city center, Bergamot Station houses several art galleries
Pass by without stopping
Petersen Automotive Museum
The Petersen Automotive Museum is located on Wilshire Boulevard along Museum Row in the Miracle Mile neighborhood of Los Angeles. One of the world's largest automotive museums, the Petersen Automotive Museum is a nonprofit organization specializing in automobile history and related educational programs.
Pass by without stopping
La Brea Tar Pits & Museum
La Brea Tar Pits are a group of tar pits around which Hancock Park was formed in urban Los Angeles, US. Natural asphalt has seeped up from the ground in this area for tens of thousands of years. The tar is often covered over with dust, leaves, or water.
Pass by without stopping
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is an art museum located on Wilshire Boulevard in the Miracle Mile vicinity of Los Angeles. LACMA is on Museum Row, adjacent to the La Brea Tar Pits. LACMA was founded in 1961, splitting from the Los Angeles Museum of History, Science, and Art.
Pass by without stopping
Fairfax District
Retail and restaurants draw a diverse crowd to the lively Fairfax District. The Grove outdoor mall features upscale shops, a fountain, and a trolley car, while the historic Original Farmer’s Market offers casual eats. Along trendy Fairfax Avenue, long-standing Jewish businesses like Canter’s Deli share space with a number of cutting-edge streetwear designers. CBS Television City offers regular TV show tapings
Pass by without stopping
The Original Farmers Market
The Grove & The Original Famers Market - The sprawling historic market features a range of trendy shops, restaurants & gourmet grocery purveyors. - Lunch Stop
60 minutes here
Melrose Avenue
Melrose Avenue is a shopping, dining, and entertainment destination in Los Angeles that starts at Santa Monica Boulevard, at the border between Beverly Hills and West Hollywood. It ends at Lucile Avenue in Silver Lake. Melrose runs north of Beverly Boulevard and south of Santa Monica Boulevard.
Pass by without stopping
Griffith Park
Griffith Park is a large municipal park at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains, in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. The park covers 4,310 acres of land, making it one of the largest urban parks in North America.
Pass by without stopping
The Greek Theatre
Greek Theatre is an amphitheater located in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California. It is owned by the city of Los Angeles and is operated by ASM Global.
Pass by without stopping
Griffith Observatory
Griffith Observatory is a facility in Los Angeles, California, situated on the south-facing slope of Mount Hollywood in Los Angeles' Griffith Park. It commands a view of the Los Angeles Basin, including Downtown Los Angeles to the southeast, Hollywood to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest.
30 minutes here
The Hollywood Visitor Center
Return to Start: At the end of the tour, guests will be dropped off at the same location where they began — Hollywood departures return to Hollywood, and Santa Monica departures return to Santa Monica.
60 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Santa Monica
If your tour begins in Santa Monica, please meet in front of The Ocean View Hotel @ 1447 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA, 90401.
Meeting point
Santa Monica
If your tour begins in Hollywood, please meet at the Hollywood Visitor Center, 7044 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 90028.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
If your tour begins in Santa Monica, please meet in front of The Ocean View Hotel @ 1447 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA, 90401.
Ends at
If your tour begins in Hollywood, please meet at the Hollywood Visitor Center, 7044 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 90028.
Options you can book
Tour Begins From Hollywood
Tour begins from Hollywood: Stops at Santa Monica Pier, Grove/Farmers Market, and Griffith Observatory—optional Audio Guide in 11 languages. Starting point: Hollywood Visitor Center, 7044 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028, USA
Tour begins from Santa Monica
This tour will begin and end in Santa Monica and include a 45-minute Stop in Hollywood, optional Audio Guide in 11 languages. Starting point: 1447 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401, USA
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- de, ru, ko, pt, cmn, ja, en, it, fr, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 14 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Hollywood Bus Tours
Know before you go
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- (ONLY AVAILABLE WHEN DEPARTING FROM HOLLYWOOD) We now offer this tour in 11 languages through a free multilingual app with pre-recorded audio commentary (not a live guide). You can follow along in your preferred language: English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Russian, Italian, Catalan, Korean, Japanese, or Chinese. Our team will help you download the app to your smartphone and log in during check-in.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 2,249 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
9 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
6 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Photo opportunities
2 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Traveler reviews
2,249 verified traveler reviews for Best of Los Angeles Guided City Tour with 4 Stops and Free Time. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Fantastic tour, well worth the money
Great way to see best parts of Hollywood, Santa Monica and Beverley Hills. Also includes trip up to Griffith Observatory which has fantastic views of the city and Hollywood sign. Well worth the money as you see so much of the city in 5.5 hours with stops that give ample time for photos. Stopped at the Farmers Market for 1hr for lunch which has 50 food outlets to suit all tastes. Our guide, Shawn, was very knowledgeable and light hearted with a good sense of humour, highly recommend this tour which is in an air conditioned bus which was welcome in 104f temperatures. Only recommendation to operator is to have free water on the bus.
via Tripadvisor
Must do Tour for the sights and information
We only had one day in L.A so wanted to see as much as we could. This tour was perfect for that. Our guide/driver Talib from Alabama, think that’s where he said he was from 🤣, was awesome 🙌 and so informative. He has a fantastic knowledge of the area and the people of La La Land. Talib is an asset to the company 😀
via Tripadvisor
6 hours hollywood movie 😀
It is a perfect tour if you are only for a day in LA. Guide cum driver is too good in explaining about Hollywood city
via Viator
LA in 5 hours
Great experience with Jeff as the guide. Funny , lively and informative throughout the entire journey!! Well done! Highly recommended for those who wants to get a glimpse of LA in 5 hours.
via Tripadvisor
Brilliant tour and would recommend
Excellent tour. We got to see all the sites without the hassle of the traffic. Our guide Talib was brilliant. Told us all about what we were seeing and kept us amused with his jokes. He knows the city inside out and had great anecdotes. We would’ve liked a bit longer in one or two of the stops, but get that to avoid the rush hr traffic it would be difficult to fit it in.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 5.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $59 to $69
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 790
- Verdict
- 90+ Club
Who runs this experience
Operated by Hollywood Bus Tours, who run 7 experiences we rank across 2 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 82.9 and 3 in the 90+ Club.
See everything Hollywood Bus Tours runsWhy this scores 94
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Best of Los Angeles Guided City Tour with 4 Stops and Free Time: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Santa Monica.
How much does Best of Los Angeles Guided City Tour with 4 Stops and Free Time cost?
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Prices start at $59 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Santa Monica usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Best of Los Angeles Guided City Tour with 4 Stops and Free Time take?
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Plan for about 5.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Santa Monica is not rushed.
Is Best of Los Angeles Guided City Tour with 4 Stops and Free Time worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 94 out of 100, which we label "90+ Club". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.9/5 across 2,258 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most popular in Santa Monica, and how flexible the cancellation terms are. Scoring 90 or above puts it in the Outty 90+ Club, the top tier of everything we rank.
Can I cancel or reschedule Best of Los Angeles Guided City Tour with 4 Stops and Free Time?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Best of Los Angeles Guided City Tour with 4 Stops and Free Time suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 5.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Best of Los Angeles Guided City Tour with 4 Stops and Free Time?
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Around 790 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Santa Monica can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Santa Monica and add a light layer if any part of the 5.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Best of Los Angeles Guided City Tour with 4 Stops and Free Time start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Santa Monica within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Santa Monica?
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Santa Monica is where most LA coast tours start: beach bike and e-bike rides to Venice, surf lessons, food walks on Third Street and open-top runs up Pacific Coast Highway. On Outty we rank every Santa Monica experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Hollywood, Beverly Hills & Celebrity Homes Tour by Open Air Bus, Half Day Best of Los Angeles City Tour from Santa Monica, Santa Monica Hollywood and Beverly Hills Open Bus Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Santa Monica?
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March to May and September to November, dodging the June marine layer. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Santa Monica?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Best of Los Angeles Guided City Tour with 4 Stops and Free Time?
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Included: Car seat for children under 8 years old or shorter than 4’9”; Start From Hollywood or Santa Monica; Audio Guide in 11 Languages; New Climate Controlled Luxury Buses with Expert Driver Guides; and Self Guided Hollywood Walk of Fame Walking Tour in 11 Languages. Not included: Gratuities; Lunch; Parking fees; and On-board restrooms. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Where is the meeting point for Best of Los Angeles Guided City Tour with 4 Stops and Free Time?
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If your tour begins in Santa Monica, please meet in front of The Ocean View Hotel @ 1447 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA, 90401. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.
What languages is Best of Los Angeles Guided City Tour with 4 Stops and Free Time offered in?
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It is offered in German, Russian, Korean, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, English, Italian, French and Spanish. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Best of Los Angeles Guided City Tour with 4 Stops and Free Time?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Best of Los Angeles Guided City Tour with 4 Stops and Free Time wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Specialized infant seats are available. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Best of Los Angeles Guided City Tour with 4 Stops and Free Time if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Santa Monica. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
What do travelers say about Best of Los Angeles Guided City Tour with 4 Stops and Free Time?
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Across 2,258 reviews averaging 4.9 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling, photo opportunities. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
What booking options are available for Best of Los Angeles Guided City Tour with 4 Stops and Free Time?
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There are 2 options to choose from, including Tour Begins From Hollywood, Tour begins from Santa Monica. Prices and start times differ by option, so compare them on the booking screen.
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