Los Angeles: Hollywood & Beverly Hills Open Air Bus Tour

The Hollywood Sign Gets Closer on Mulholland Drive Than You'd Think

You board an open-air bus in Hollywood and spend 2 to 3.5 hours passing the Walk of Fame, climbing Mulholland Drive for clear views of the Hollywood Sign, stopping 10 minutes at the Beverly Hills Sign for photos, cruising Rodeo Drive and the Sunset Strip, and hearing the story of each spot through an audio guide on your phone in your choice of 11 languages. No need to arrange your own transport or figure out which streets matter. The route is set, the stops are timed, and you're done by early afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hollywood and Beverly Hills sightseeing

• See Hollywood Walk of Fame
• View Dolby Theatre
• Pass Laugh Factory and Whisky a Go Go
• Drive through Sunset Strip
• See Hollywood Hills and Celebrity Homes
• View Hollywood Sign
• Stop at Beverly Hills Sign for photos and restroom
• See Beverly Hills Hotel
• Drive Rodeo Drive shopping district
• Pass West Hollywood celebrity locations
• See TCL Chinese Theatre

The experience

The bus pulls up and you realize it has no roof. That's the first thing that hits you. You're about to spend the next couple hours exposed to the LA sun, wind in your face, camera in hand. The driver gets on the mic and starts pointing out the Hollywood Walk of Fame as you roll through, and you're already snapping photos of the brass stars embedded in the sidewalk. The audio guide loads on your phone in whatever language you need (they've got eleven), so you're not just hearing the driver's commentary. You're getting the full story of each spot as you pass it.

The real moment comes when you head up Mulholland Drive toward the Hollywood Hills. The Hollywood Sign sits up there, and from the bus you actually see it clearly, not tiny and distant like you'd imagined. You cruise past the celebrity homes tucked into the hillside, the kind of houses you recognize from movies or Instagram, and the driver points out which ones belong to which actors. Then you hit the Beverly Hills Sign, and the bus stops for a solid 10 to 15 minutes so everyone can get out, take the photo, use the restroom. It's the only real pause in the tour, so you actually have time to breathe and not just snap and move.

After that it's Rodeo Drive, the actual shopping street where they filmed Pretty Woman, lined with the kind of stores where a single bag costs more than most people's rent. You roll past the Dolby Theatre, the TCL Chinese Theatre with its handprints in the concrete, then down the Sunset Strip where the comedy clubs and rock venues are still there, still operating, still the same places that launched careers decades ago. West Hollywood slides by with its reality TV filming locations (Sur, Pump, all of it), and then you're heading back toward Hollywood to wrap up. The whole thing takes between two and three and a half hours depending on traffic, which in LA is always a factor.

The bus itself is the point. You're not stuck behind glass, and the open-air setup means you can actually hear the street sounds, smell the eucalyptus in the hills, feel like you're moving through the city instead of watching it from inside a box. If it rains, they hand you a complimentary poncho. If you've got kids under eight, there are car seats. The audio guide in 11 languages means you're not dependent on understanding the driver's accent or missing half the story because you're focused on the road.

What’s included

• Your tour includes the custom open-air sightseeing bus with no roof, an audio guide in 11 languages loaded on your phone (the tour operator helps you download it), a 10 to 15-minute photo stop at the Beverly Hills Sign with a restroom break, views of the Hollywood Sign from Mulholland Drive, passes by celebrity homes and filming locations, stops at or passes the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Dolby Theatre, TCL Chinese Theatre, Laugh Factory, Whisky a Go Go, Sunset Strip, Rodeo Drive, and West Hollywood.
• Car seats for children under eight or shorter than 4'9" are provided, and complimentary rain ponchos if needed.
• A self-guided Hollywood walking tour in 11 languages is also included so you can explore on foot separately.

Options for this experience

2 options

The tour departs from Hollywood.Guide in English · 9 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 17:30Length: 2 hours. Departure point: Hollywood Visitor Center, 7044 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028, USA

The tour departs from Santa Monica.Guide in English · 09:30 and 13:30Length: 3 hours 30 minutes. Starts and ends in Santa Monica: departs from Santa Monica, with stops at Beverly Hills, the Hollywood Sign Viewpoint, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (3.5 hours) Departure point: 1447 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401, USA

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day10 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 17:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Russian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Hollywood Bus Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the main Hollywood and Beverly Hills landmarks in one sitting without renting a car or figuring out parking: the open-air bus and fixed route mean you're seeing the city from the best vantage point, and the audio guide in 11 languages keeps you informed without depending on the driver's mic.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the Hollywood & Beverly Hills bus tour?

Two hours with light traffic, up to three and a half hours depending on LA traffic conditions. The Beverly Hills Sign stop is 10 to 15 minutes. The rest is driving and narration.

Do I need to book a separate ticket to see the Hollywood Sign?

No. The tour passes the Hollywood Sign from Mulholland Drive as part of the route. You see it from the bus. There's no separate entry fee or hike involved.

Is there a stop where I can get out and take photos?

Yes, one main stop at the Beverly Hills Sign for 10 to 15 minutes. You can take photos and use the restroom. The rest of the tour is viewed from the bus.

What languages is the audio guide available in?

Eleven languages. The guide loads on your phone via an app, and the tour operator helps you download it before you start.

Is the bus covered or open-air?

It's open-air, so you're exposed to the sun and weather. If it rains, complimentary rain ponchos are provided.

Does the tour include a stop at Rodeo Drive for shopping?

The bus passes Rodeo Drive and stops briefly so you can see it, but it's not a dedicated shopping stop. You see the street and the stores from the bus.

Is there a departure from Santa Monica?

Yes. A Santa Monica departure is now available, with stops in Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

What if I want to walk the Hollywood Walk of Fame?

A complimentary self-guided walking tour in 11 languages is included, so you can explore the Walk of Fame on foot before or after the bus tour if you choose.

Are there restroom breaks on the tour?

Yes, at the Beverly Hills Sign stop. That's the main restroom break built into the itinerary.