Los Angeles & Hollywood: Small-Group Day Tour from Anaheim

Summary

Hollywood stars, Venice Beach boardwalk, Santa Monica sun and city stories

You’ll start your day with pickup from your Anaheim hotel and dive straight into Los Angeles life—snapping photos downtown, tracing stars on Hollywood Boulevard, tasting global food at the Farmers Market, then finishing with sea air at Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach. Expect laughter with your guide and moments that stick with you long after you’re home.

What’s the experience like?

First thing I noticed was how the van smelled faintly like sunscreen and coffee when we piled in outside our Anaheim hotel — maybe that’s just LA mornings. Our guide, Marcus, had this dry sense of humor and seemed to know every shortcut through traffic (which honestly felt like a superpower). We zipped past the Walt Disney Concert Hall’s shiny curves and paused for photos by Crypto.com Arena, but it was the little things I remember — like a woman selling tamales near the sidewalk, or the way the light bounced off those glass towers downtown.

Hollywood was... well, louder than I expected. The Walk of Fame is kind of sticky underfoot (gum? spilled soda? who knows), but there’s something weirdly fun about hunting for names you recognize. Marcus pointed out the Dolby Theatre staircase (“Oscar night chaos happens right here,” he said) and let us wander around the Chinese Theater. I tried to fit my hands into some old movie star’s prints — way too small. There were street performers everywhere; one dressed as Spider-Man did a backflip right in front of me, which made me laugh harder than it probably deserved.

Lunch at the Original Farmers Market was a whole other vibe. It smelled like grilled onions and sweet pastries, all mixed up with chatter in three different languages. I went for tacos (couldn’t resist), but you could get anything from falafel to doughnuts if you wanted. We had an hour to eat and poke around The Grove next door — honestly, I could’ve spent more time people-watching there. Afterward we cruised down Rodeo Drive; it felt surreal seeing all those designer shops up close, though my wallet stayed firmly zipped.

The best part? Standing on Santa Monica Pier with ocean wind tangling my hair and salt sticking to my lips. Kids ran circles around us while someone played guitar nearby. Venice Beach was pure chaos — skaters, artists, muscle guys lifting weights in the open air — but somehow it all fits together. By the time we headed back toward Anaheim, I was sun-tired in that good way you only get after a real day out. Sometimes LA feels like a movie set, but this tour made it feel almost familiar.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Los Angeles highlights and beaches

• Pickup from Anaheim hotel
• Photo stop at Crypto.com Arena
• Photo stop at Walt Disney Concert Hall
• Visit Hollywood Walk of Fame
• See TCL Chinese Theatre
• Visit Dolby Theatre
• Photo-op at Hollywood Sign
• Visit El Capitan Theatre
• Stop at Hard Rock Café Hollywood
• Lunch at Los Angeles Original Farmers Market
• Explore Rodeo Drive shops
• Visit Santa Monica Pier and Beach
• Explore Venice Beach boardwalk
• Return to Anaheim resort area

Top questions

How long is the small-group day tour from Anaheim to Los Angeles?

The tour lasts a full day with morning pickup from Anaheim hotels and returns in the evening.

Does this Los Angeles & Hollywood tour include hotel pickup?

Yes, pickup is included for hotels in the Anaheim Resort area near Disneyland.

What are the main stops on this LA day trip?

You’ll visit Downtown LA landmarks, Hollywood Boulevard (Walk of Fame), Farmers Market for lunch, Rodeo Drive, Santa Monica Pier, and Venice Beach.

How much time do we spend at each stop?

You’ll have about 45 minutes in Hollywood, an hour for lunch at Farmers Market & The Grove, 30 minutes on Rodeo Drive, plus time at both beaches.

Is lunch included on this small-group LA tour?

No, lunch isn’t included but you’ll have an hour to buy what you like at the Farmers Market.

How many people are on each tour group?

The group size is capped at 12 guests per tour for a more personal experience.

Are car seats or booster seats available for children?

Yes—just mention your child’s age when booking so they can provide what’s needed.

If I’m not staying near Disneyland can I join?

If your hotel isn’t in Anaheim Resort Area choose “staying locally” when booking—they’ll tell you where to meet up instead.

What’s included

Your day includes comfortable climate-controlled transport with pickup from your Anaheim hotel (or local meeting point if needed), a friendly professional guide leading every stop from downtown LA to Hollywood Boulevard and out to Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach—plus all photo stops along the way. Car seats or boosters are available if traveling with kids; just let them know when booking.