Santa Monica to Hollywood: Open Bus Tour with Beverly Hills Stop

Summary

LA icons in 3.5 hours—Beverly Hills, Hollywood & Sunset Strip

You’ll ride an open-air bus from Santa Monica through Beverly Hills and Hollywood, stopping for photos at the famous sign and wandering among celebrity handprints on the Walk of Fame. Hear real stories from your local guide as you cruise Mulholland Drive and Sunset Strip. Expect surprises—and a few laughs—you’ll remember long after you’re back home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — LA open bus tour highlights

• Depart from Santa Monica Ocean Avenue
• Cruise past Century City skyline
• Drive along Avenue of the Stars
• Pass historic architecture and museums
• Drive through Beverly Hills luxury street
• Stop at Beverly Hills Sign park
• Window-shop Rodeo Drive boutiques
• Cruise past Beverly Hills Hotel Pink Palace
• Explore Hollywood Walk of Fame
• 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 club
• Return via San Vicente Boulevard
• Pass Montana Avenue shops and cafes
• Return to Santa Monica

Top questions

How long is the Santa Monica Hollywood & Beverly Hills open bus tour?

The tour lasts approximately 3.5 hours from departure to return.

Where does the open bus tour start?

The tour departs from Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica.

Do you get off the bus during the tour?

Yes, there are two main stops: one at the Beverly Hills Sign park area and another near Hollywood Boulevard for exploring on foot.

Is pickup included for this LA open bus tour?

No hotel pickup is listed; departure is from Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica.

Are entrance fees or extra purchases required?

No further purchases or entrance fees are required during this tour.

What attractions are included on this LA open bus route?

You’ll see Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills Hotel (“Pink Palace”), Hollywood Walk of Fame, TCL Chinese Theatre, Dolby Theatre, Mulholland Drive, Sunset Strip, Whisky a Go Go, The Comedy Store, and more.

Is this tour suitable for children or infants?

Yes; infants can ride in prams or strollers and specialized infant seats are available.

Are service animals allowed on this LA open bus tour?

Yes; service animals are permitted on board.

What’s included

Your day includes an open-air bus ride with a local guide narrating live as you pass through Santa Monica, Century City, Beverly Hills (with a stop at the iconic sign), Rodeo Drive window-shopping time, plus plenty of time to explore Hollywood Boulevard’s Walk of Fame and theatres—all entry fees covered so you won’t need your wallet except maybe for coffee along the way before returning to Santa Monica by sunset.

What’s the experience like?

"You see that pink hotel?" our driver, Marco, shouted over his shoulder as we rolled down Sunset. "That’s where Marilyn used to hide out—don’t ask me how I know." He had this way of making every street corner feel like a movie set. We started in Santa Monica, salty air still clinging to my jacket, and the city just sort of unfolded from there—Century City’s glass towers first, then Rodeo Drive glinting like it was showing off for us. I tried to snap a photo of the Beverly Hills sign but got mostly my own thumb. Happens.

The stop at the Beverly Hills park was longer than I expected—enough time to watch a couple taking wedding photos under the palms and smell someone’s iced coffee drifting by. On Rodeo Drive I felt wildly out of place (in a good way?)—window shopping with zero intention of buying anything except maybe a postcard. Marco pointed out the “Pink Palace” and told us about rock stars sneaking in through back doors; he swore he once saw Mick Jagger at the valet stand but wouldn’t swear on it in court.

Hollywood was loud and messy and kind of perfect. The Walk of Fame is shinier than I thought, even with all those scuffed-up stars underfoot. We wandered past the TCL Chinese Theatre—some tourists crouched down matching their hands to old cement prints. There was this weird hush inside the Dolby Theatre lobby, like everyone’s waiting for something big to happen. Then back on the bus for Mulholland Drive—the hills smelled faintly of eucalyptus after last night’s rain, which surprised me for some reason.

The last stretch down Sunset Strip was just neon signs and stories—Marco rattled off names: The Doors played here, Led Zeppelin there. It all felt slightly unreal but also totally ordinary at the same time. I still think about that view over LA from Mulholland, light bouncing off everything in that late afternoon haze… you know?