Los Angeles: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour 3 Routes & Audio Guide

Three Bus Routes, 40+ Stops, and You Control the Pace

You board an open-top double-decker and ride three separate routes covering Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Venice Beach, and Downtown LA. Get off at any of 40+ stops to explore museums, beaches, shopping districts, and landmarks, then catch the next bus when you're ready. The app tracks buses in real time, audio commentary plays in nine languages, and your pass works for 1, 2, or 3 consecutive days.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Hollywood and Beverly Hills

• Board bus at Dolby Theatre
• See Hollywood Walk of Fame
• Visit TCL Chinese Theatre
• Stop at Guitar Center Rockwalk
• Explore Chateau Marmont and Laugh Factory
• Visit The Comedy Store and Sunset Strip
• See London Hotel and Whisky A Go Go
• Stop at Santa Monica Blvd and Chase Bank
• Explore Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive
• Visit Four Seasons Hotel Beverly Hills
• Shop at Beverly Center
• See Academy Museum and La Brea Tar Pits
• Visit Farmers Market and The Grove
• Shop on Melrose Avenue
• Stop at Pink’s Hot Dogs and Golden Apple Comics
• See Vine Street and Paramount Studios
• Visit Hollywood & Vine and Pantages Theatre

Day 2 — Visit Santa Monica and Venice Beach

• Board bus at Santa Monica Pier
• Explore Santa Monica Pier and Beach
• Shop at Third Street Promenade
• Stop at Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel
• Visit South Beach Park
• Explore Venice Beach
• Visit Santa Monica Visitor Center

Day 3 — Tour Downtown Los Angeles

• Board bus at Dolby Theatre
• See Echo Park
• Visit Dodger Stadium
• Stop at Union Station
• Explore Little Tokyo
• Visit Grand Central Market
• See Crypto.com Arena

The Experience

The app said the Red Route bus was two minutes away, but it turned out to be seven—which, honestly, is when I realized this whole thing was actually going to work. You're not locked into a schedule or a guide's pace; you get on the open-top double-decker, ride past the Hollywood Sign and Sunset Strip, then jump off whenever something catches your eye. The Los Angeles hop-on hop-off bus tour gives you three separate routes—Hollywood & Beverly Hills (Red), Santa Monica & Venice Beach (Yellow), and Downtown LA (Purple)—so you're not retracing the same streets all day.

The Red Route takes you through the Walk of Fame, past the TCL Chinese Theatre and Dolby Theatre, then swings through Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive before hitting the Farmers Market and Melrose Avenue for shopping. The Yellow Route heads west to Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach, with a stop at the 3rd Street Promenade in between. Downtown's Purple Route covers The Broad Museum, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and Grand Central Market—the kind of stops you'd skip if you had to drive and park yourself. The audio guide works in nine languages, and you can download the CitySightseeing LA app to see exactly where each bus is in real time, which beats standing on a corner wondering if you missed it.

What makes this different from just renting a car is that you're not hunting for parking or navigating LA traffic. You ride the top deck, feel the actual breeze, and the commentary tells you what you're looking at without you having to Google it. Free Wi-Fi on most buses means you can look up whether you actually want to get off at Pink's Hot Dogs or keep riding. Your ticket works for 1, 2, or 3 days—so if you're in LA for a weekend, you can spread it out instead of cramming everything into one exhausting loop.

Mobile tickets mean no printing; just show your phone at the stop. Strollers and wheelchairs fit on the buses, and all the stops themselves are accessible. If you're traveling with kids or older family members, the flexibility to hop off, spend an hour somewhere, then catch the next bus without worrying about a return time is the whole point.

What’s included

• Mobile tickets (no printing needed).
• real-time bus tracking via the CitySightseeing LA app.
• access to all three scenic routes (Hollywood & Beverly Hills Red Route, Santa Monica & Venice Beach Yellow Route, Downtown LA Purple Route).
• free Wi-Fi on most buses.
• audio guide in nine languages with free earbuds.
• and your choice of a 1-day, 2-day, or 3-day hop-on hop-off bus pass.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Starline Tours of Hollywood

Is this one for you?Best for travelers who want to see LA's main attractions without renting a car or navigating traffic—the flexibility to hop off, explore, and catch the next bus removes the pressure to stick to a fixed itinerary or worry about parking.

Traveler reviews

3.18★★★★★★★★★★

1,121 verified traveler reviews

5 ★302

4 ★244

3 ★172

2 ★155

1 ★248

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Do I need to book the bus in advance or can I just show up?

Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can book online and show your phone at any stop. No printing required.

How often do the buses come?

Frequency varies by route and time of day, but the CitySightseeing LA app shows real-time bus locations so you know exactly when the next one arrives.

Can I switch between the three routes?

Yes. The Red Route (Hollywood & Beverly Hills) connects to the Yellow Route at Beverly Hills, and the Red Route connects to the Purple Route at the Dolby Theatre, so you can transfer between them with a single ticket.

Is the audio guide included?

Yes, the audio guide in nine languages is included with your ticket, and free earbuds are provided.

Can I bring a stroller or wheelchair?

Yes, strollers and wheelchairs are welcome on the buses, and all stops are wheelchair accessible.

What if I want to spend more than a few hours on the tour?

You can buy a 1-day, 2-day, or 3-day pass, so you can explore at your own pace over multiple days.

Do the buses have air conditioning?

The buses are open-top, so you'll feel the breeze. Most buses offer free Wi-Fi, but there's no enclosed cabin.

Are there stops near major attractions like the Hollywood Sign?

The Red Route passes near the Hollywood Sign, Walk of Fame, TCL Chinese Theatre, and Rodeo Drive. The Yellow Route covers Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach. The Purple Route includes The Broad Museum and Grand Central Market.