Los Angeles's Best Guided Tours (Even For Locals)
Visitors in any city usually like to get a lay of the land first thing upon arrival. The County of Los Angeles spans over 4,000 miles with an enormous amount of neighborhoods, museums and landmarks, so, book a tour if you want to really see what LA is about. By bus, van, Segway, horse or helicopter, tourists and locals can see L.A.'s sights in a single day from Hollywood to the beach. Pacific ocean views, mansions of favorite celebrities, iconic street signs and more are on the tour. These five companies offer unique experiences while touring the most popular Los Angeles areas. Get your camera ready for a Los Angeles selfie.
A Day In LA
(818) 538-6287
www.adayinlatours.com
By van or by Segway, visitors to L.A. get to know the City of Angels and all its landmarks and famed streets through guided tours by A Day In LA. The city tour takes guests through Beverly Hills and all its glory including Rodeo Drive with its beautifully lined streets and famous mansions, Hollywood, which highlights the (Sunset) Strip and picture perfect views of the Hollywood sign. You'll also get to see the famed Hollywood Boulevard Walk of Fame, as well as tidbits of Los Angeles history. For beach lovers, a Santa Monica/Venice Segway tour might be your thing. A Day In LA will take tourists (LA residents love the beach Segway tours for parties and hosting out-of-towners) along the Pacific Ocean through the seaside neighborhoods. The small tour company tours offer free hotel pickup for the city tours on their designated hotel list. Tours range from $69 to $99 per person.
Sunset Ranch Hollywood
(323) 469-5450
www.sunsetranchhollywood.com
Locals seek out Sunset Ranch Hollywood guided tours for a variety of reasons including for parties, birthdays, anniversaries and proposals. The general one- to two-hour tour on horseback takes you through the 5,000-acre Griffith Park, where guests can take in iconic sights including the Hollywood sign, Griffith Observatory and Downtown L.A. Tourists are given the option to take a four-hour round-trip dinner ride which covers more than five miles of trails and makes a stop at Viva Fresh Mexican Restaurant in Burbank. The BBQ tour is offered on the third Saturday each month and brings riders to Mount Hollywood for magnificent 360-degree views of Los Angeles, a BBQ meal, music and fun. All riders must be at least 16 years old. Prices begin at $40 per person.
Los Angeles Helicopter Tours
(818) 859-5500
www.los-angeles-helicopter-tours.com
Helicopter Tours of Los Angeles gives tourists and locals one of the most memorable opportunities to experience the city from the coastline to Hollywood. The bird's eye views allows tourists to check out the skyscrapers of Downtown Los Angeles, Dodger Stadium, USC and UCLA, the Playboy Mansion, Universal Studios, the Rose Bowl and the Getty Center. In addition, you can see Catalina Island, Marina Del Rey's boats and yachts, famous landmarks such as the Hollywood sign, the Hollywood Bowl and the Griffith Observatory. Locals love the helicopter rides for special celebrations and Valentine's Day. Luxury aircrafts R44 and Jetranger helicopters are used, and each passenger enjoys a window seat. Prices range from $199 per person to $360 per person.
Starline Tours
(323) 463-3333
www.starlinetours.com
Out-of-towners are most often starry-eyed, wanting just a glimpse into the lives of the rich and famous. Starline Tours' Movie Stars' Home Tour is the perfect choice for them, and don't be surprised to find locals riding on the buses, too. Visitors take a ride through the tree-lined streets of Beverly Hills and hush hush roads in Hollywood Hills to check out the homes of Halle Berry, Sandra Bullock, Al Pacino, Tom Cruise and many more. The tour will also drive by the former homes to Lucille Ball, Elvis Presley, Jack Benny, Michael Jackson and Jackie Chan. The open-air van will drive passengers on Rodeo Drive through the shopping district of Beverly Hills, and on Sunset Boulevard by infamous clubs including The Viper Room, The Whisky-A-Go-Go and the exclusive celeb hangout, Chateau Marmont. The two-hour tour ranges from $37 to $47 per person.
Thai Town Tour
(323) 306-0131
www.meltingpottours.com
Thai Culinary Ambassador and Food Network chef/personality Jet Tila offers a popular L.A. Thai Town tour, which takes place throughout the year (check website for available dates). Foodies are given the distinctive tastes of Thai Town at restaurants thoughtfully curated by Chef Jet. Taking into consideration the unique experience of a food tour, Chef Tila, who grew up in Thai Town, seeks out the best dishes including a papaya salad, jade noodles and coconut banana fritter for his tourists. This tour was originally available only to food journalists and visiting chefs. It is now open to the public at $125 per person.
Related: Best Thai Food In Los Angeles