Santa Monica, Hollywood & Beverly Hills Open Bus Tour: 3.5 hours
See the Walk of Fame, Rodeo Drive, and Mulholland Drive without planning the route yourself
An open-air bus tour departing from Santa Monica that covers 3.5 hours of Los Angeles landmarks (Century City, Rodeo Drive, the Beverly Hills Sign, Hollywood Hills, Mulholland Drive, the Walk of Fame, and the Sunset Strip) with a live English-speaking guide and two 30-minute stops where you get out to explore. No entrance fees or separate tickets required. The route and timing are set so you move through all the major sights in one afternoon without arranging transport between them.
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore LA's iconic sights by bus
- Depart from Santa Monica Ocean Avenue
- Cruise past Century City skyline
- Drive along Santa Monica scenic streets
- Pass Rodeo Drive luxury boutiques
- Stop at Beverly Hills Sign for photos
- Cruise past Beverly Hills Hotel
- Explore Hollywood Walk of Fame on foot
- See TCL Chinese Theatre handprints
- View Dolby Theatre exterior
- Drive through Hollywood Hills
- Ride along Mulholland Drive
- Cruise Sunset Strip music venues
- Pass Whisky a Go Go venue
- Pass The Comedy Store
- Return via San Vicente Boulevard
- Pass Montana Avenue boutiques
- Return to Santa Monica
The experience
The bus leaves from Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica and heads straight into Century City, where you'll see the gleaming skyline of studios and agencies that run the entertainment industry. From there, you cruise past Rodeo Drive (the corridor of designer boutiques and luxury storefronts that defines high-end LA shopping) before rolling into Beverly Hills for your first 30-minute stop. You'll have time to photograph the iconic Beverly Hills Sign in its park setting and walk the legendary shops along Rodeo Drive, then pass the "Pink Palace" Beverly Hills Hotel on the way out, a Hollywood institution since 1912.
The route winds through the Hollywood Hills on Mulholland Drive, where you'll see celebrity mansions and filming locations from the bus, then drops you on Hollywood Boulevard for your second 30-minute stop at the Walk of Fame. You can find your favorite stars embedded in the sidewalk, see the handprints and footprints at the TCL Chinese Theatre, and take in the Dolby Theatre, home of the Academy Awards ceremony. The guide points out the major venues as you pass (The Comedy Store and Whisky a Go Go on the Sunset Strip, where rock history was made) before the bus heads back toward the coast down San Vicente Boulevard and through Montana Avenue, returning to Santa Monica.
The open-air format means you're exposed to the weather, but it also gives you unobstructed views and the ability to stand up and photograph as the bus moves. A live guide narrates the whole route in English, so you're not relying on an app or a recording. All entrance fees are covered (there's nothing to buy at the stops or on the bus itself), which simplifies the day when you're moving between neighborhoods quickly.
What’s included
- The tour includes the open-air bus ride for the full 3.5 hours.
- a live English-speaking guide narrating the route.
- two 30-minute stops where you get off the bus to explore (Beverly Hills Sign and Walk of Fame).
- and all the scenic drives through Century City, Rodeo Drive, Hollywood Hills, Mulholland Drive, and the Sunset Strip, with no entrance fees or additional purchases required at any point.
Information
Lasts 3h 30m, runs every day, 6 start times, from US$ 59 per person, with a live guide in English and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.
Prices and times updated 16 days ago
Operated by Hollywood City Tours
Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see the major LA landmarks in a single afternoon without renting a car or figuring out the route yourself. The fixed schedule and open-air format work best for travelers who prefer a guided overview and don't mind standing or sitting in the elements for the full 3.5 hours.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years); Infant (under 2): free.
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.
What exactly is the Beverly Hills Sign stop like?
The Beverly Hills Sign stop gives you 30 minutes to get out, photograph the landmark in its park setting, and walk the nearby boutiques on Rodeo Drive before the bus picks you back up.
Do I have time to explore the Walk of Fame during the Hollywood stop?
Yes, the Hollywood stop lasts 30 minutes, which is enough time to walk the Walk of Fame, see the handprints at the TCL Chinese Theatre, and take photos at the Dolby Theatre before reboarding.
What's included in the ticket price?
The ticket covers the entire 3.5-hour tour, the live English-speaking guide, and all the stops. No entrance fees or additional purchases are required during the tour.
Is the bus really open-air, or does it have a roof?
The bus is open-air, which means you're exposed to the weather but have unobstructed views and can stand to photograph landmarks as you pass them.
How much time do we actually spend driving versus stopped?
You have two 30-minute stops (one at the Beverly Hills Sign and one at the Walk of Fame), and the rest of the 3.5 hours is spent on the bus cruising through Century City, Beverly Hills, Hollywood Hills, Mulholland Drive, and the Sunset Strip.
Santa Monica, Hollywood & Beverly Hills Open Bus Tour: 3.5 hours
3h 30m · EN
from US$ 59 per person