Los Angeles: Hop-on Hop-off Bus & Santa Monica Beach

Two Routes, Your Own Pace: Hollywood & the Beach from an Open-top Bus

You board an open-top bus with a digital ticket on your phone, choose between the Hollywood Loop (TCL Chinese Theatre, Sunset Plaza, Paramount Studios, Melrose) or the Beach Shuttle to Santa Monica Pier and Venice, hop off and on as many times as you want over 24, 48, or 72 hours, and listen to recorded commentary in your own language. The app shows you where the next bus is, and you skip the 30-minute theatre tour if you'd rather keep moving.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Hollywood and Santa Monica

• Start at Big Bus Welcome Center
• Visit TCL Chinese Theatre
• See Guitar Center Rock Walk
• Stop at The Comedy Store
• Explore Sunset Plaza and West Hollywood
• Visit Beverly Gardens Park
• Shop at Beverly Center
• Explore Museum Row
• Visit Farmers Market and The Grove
• See Melrose District
• Stop at Paramount Studios
• Visit Hollywood and Vine
• Take Beach Shuttle from Beverly Gardens Park
• Arrive at Santa Monica Pier
• Visit Santa Monica Beach and Pier
• Explore Venice Boardwalk and Main Street

The experience

Earbuds go in, and the bus pulls away from the curb. That's when you realize you're not locked into a schedule. The open-top double-decker lets you see the whole sprawl of Los Angeles at once: the Hollywood Walk of Fame stretching out below, the hills rising behind it, the light hitting the street in that particular California way. You've got a 24, 48, or 72-hour pass, which means you hop off at TCL Chinese Theatre or Sunset Plaza whenever something catches your eye, then catch the next bus when you're ready to move on. The recorded commentary comes through in multiple languages, so you're not dependent on a guide's mood or a fixed narrative. You control what you listen to and when.

The Hollywood Loop hits the places people actually want to see: the Comedy Store, Guitar Center's Rock Walk, Beverly Gardens Park, Museum Row, Farmers Market and The Grove, Melrose District, Paramount Studios. Then there's the Beach Shuttle, a separate route that peels off toward Santa Monica Pier and Venice Boardwalk, so you're not choosing between the hills and the ocean. You do both. The app tracks buses in real time, which sounds small until you're standing on a corner in West Hollywood trying to figure out if you just missed one or if it's two minutes away. Download it before you board, activate your ticket on your phone, and you're done with paper vouchers.

The TCL Chinese Theatre walking tour is optional: 30 minutes if you want it, skippable if you don't. Wheelchair access is built in, and the bus company asks for 24 hours' notice if you need specific arrangements. Infants can stay in a stroller or sit on a lap. Service animals ride free. The whole thing is designed so you're not herding a group or keeping pace with anyone else's energy level.

What’s included

• 24, 48, or 72-hour hop-on hop-off bus pass.
• open-top double-decker bus on 2 routes (Hollywood Loop and Beach Shuttle).
• digital recorded commentary in multiple languages with earbuds provided.
• Big Bus Tours app for live bus tracking, ticket storage, and mobile activation.
• optional 30-minute TCL Chinese Theatre walking tour.

Options for this experience

4 options

24-Hour PassNo fixed timeLasts 1 day: ride on and off at handy stops across LA and listen to digital audio commentary during the trip. Hollywood Loop and Beach Loop: see LA, Hollywood, Santa Monica, and other spots

48-Hour PassNo fixed timeLasts 2 days: ride on and off at handy stops across LA and listen to digital audio commentary during the trip. Hollywood Loop and Beach Loop

72-Hour PassNo fixed timeLasts 3 days: ride on and off at handy stops across LA and listen to digital audio commentary during the trip. Hollywood Loop and Beach Loops

24-Hour Pass and Celebrity Tour11:00, 13:30 and 16:0024-hour hop-on hop-off ride: explore LA through 19 distinctive city stops. 2-hour Hollywood Celebrity Tour: see the finest homes and hot spots of Hollywood and Beverly Hills with a live guide

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 11:00, 13:30 and 16:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish and Chinese

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Big Bus Tours - USA

Is this one for you?Right for anyone who wants to see the main Los Angeles landmarks without renting a car or committing to a fixed itinerary: the two routes and flexible pass let you spend as much time as you want at each stop, and the app removes the guesswork about when the next bus arrives.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years). Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

Can I use the same ticket on both the Hollywood Loop and Beach Shuttle?

Yes. Your 24, 48, or 72-hour pass covers both routes, so you can switch between them as many times as you want during your ticket window.

What's included in the ticket price?

The hop-on hop-off bus pass, digital commentary with earbuds, access to the Big Bus Tours app for live tracking and ticket activation, and the optional 30-minute TCL Chinese Theatre walking tour if you choose it.

Is the bus accessible for wheelchairs?

Yes, the bus is wheelchair accessible. You'll need to call 24 hours ahead to arrange specific accommodations.

Can I bring a stroller or pram?

Yes. Infants and small children can ride in a stroller or pram, or sit on an adult's lap.

How do I redeem my ticket?

Download the Big Bus Tours app, activate your ticket on your phone, and show your mobile ticket to a Big Bus staff member at any stop to board.