The Best Studio Tours in Los Angeles: A Complete Guide

The Best Studio Tours in Los Angeles (And How to Choose the Right One)

— June 26, 2026

Warner Bros. is the best overall studio tour in Los Angeles for most first-time visitors, with three hours of content on a working backlot. Paramount suits classic Hollywood fans and small groups. Sony is the best value and the most authentic working lot feel. Universal Studios is a theme park with a one-hour tram tour included, not a traditional studio tour.

You’ve heard studio tours are a must in Hollywood. What nobody tells you is that the four options are at four different price points in four different parts of the city, and picking the wrong one can cost you half a day you didn’t have to spare.

We pass Paramount’s gates on Melrose every single day on our tours. As LA’s top-rated sightseeing experts with 20,000+ five-star reviews, we know these neighborhoods inside and out. Here’s everything you need to know to decide which studio tour is right for your trip, including what each one covers, how long each takes, and who each one suits best.

Want to make the most of your time in LA? Our Half Day Best of LA Tour was built for travelers who want to see the highlights without spending a day in traffic. Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, Santa Monica Pier, Griffith Observatory, and more, with a local expert guide who knows every stop, every story, and every shortcut. See what’s included.

Table of Contents

What Makes a Great Hollywood Studio Tour (And What to Watch Out For)

Not every studio tour in Los Angeles is the same thing. They share a name and a general idea, but the format, the feel, and what you walk away having seen are different enough that going in with the wrong expectations can leave you flat. The most important distinction to understand before you book is this one.

Theme Park vs. Working Studio

Warner Bros., Paramount, and Sony are all working studios. The backlot streets have crews on them, the prop warehouse has items pulled from productions in post, and the route can shift day to day because the lot is in use, and that’s part of the appeal.

Universal Studios Hollywood is something different. The tram tour is one hour on a scripted path through a lot that also has roller coasters, Harry Potter World, and Super Nintendo World. If you want a theme park day, it delivers. If you want to walk a working lot, one of the other three is your answer.

What to Look for in a Tour Guide

This is something we know well at Hollywood Bus Tours, and it applies to studio tours just as much as it does to our own LA tours. A good guide tells you why a set was built a certain way, what it cost to dress a particular street for a single scene, and what working on a lot day to day feels like. The best ones have worked in the industry or spent years absorbing everything about it, and you can tell within five minutes.

Small group size matters here too. Warner Bros. caps their small-group tours at 14 people, and Paramount runs groups of no more than 7 in a golf cart with audio earpieces so every guest can hear the guide clearly. The smaller the group, the more the commentary can flex around what your group is interested in. Worth checking before you book.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood — Best Overall

Warner Bros. is the studio tour most visitors default to, and for good reason. The 110-acre lot in Burbank is one of the most active production facilities in the world, and three hours on it gives you more content than most people expect. It’s the right choice for anyone who wants a mix of hands-on exhibits, recognizable sets, and genuine working-studio energy.

What You’ll See on the Warner Bros. Backlot

The first hour is a guided tour through the backlot streets and soundstages, and the route changes day to day based on what’s filming. Midwest Street has appeared in nearly 400 productions since the 1930s and is home to the Stars Hollow town square from Gilmore Girls. New York Street has been dressed for everything from Casablanca to Blade Runner.

Your guide walks you through what’s been filmed where, and if crews are on set, you’ll see a working production in real time. The second half is self-guided through Stage 48: Script to Screen, the interactive soundstage that covers the full filmmaking process from casting to post.

Highlights include the original Central Perk set from Friends, apartment 4A from The Big Bang Theory, the DC Universe exhibit with original costumes and props, and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts grand finale. The Prop Warehouse, one of the largest in Los Angeles, is also part of the experience. If you want to go deeper on the romantic movie locations filmed at Warner Bros., several are scattered across the backlot.

Warner Bros. Tour Options and Pricing

The standard tour is three hours and the most popular option. There’s also a Classic Films Tour for those more interested in the Golden Age of Hollywood, a Studio Tour Plus that adds lunch at Central Perk Café and a welcome reception, and a Deluxe Tour that extends to six hours and includes a visit to the Property Department and fine dining at the Commissary.

Check the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood website for current pricing and availability, as it varies by date and season. Book well in advance — tours sell out, especially on weekends.

Who Should Book Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. suits the widest range of visitors of the four studios. Book it if:

You’re a fan of Friends, Harry Potter, DC, The Big Bang Theory, or Gilmore Girls and want to see those sets up close
You’re travelling with kids aged 5 and over
You want a mix of guided and self-guided time so you can linger on what matters most to your group
You want to see a genuinely active production lot with working crews, not a curated theme park version of one

Paramount Pictures Studio Tour — Best for Classic Hollywood

Paramount is the only major studio still located in Hollywood proper, sitting on Melrose Avenue less than two miles from the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Founded in 1912, it’s one of the oldest continuously operating studios in the US, and that history runs through every part of the tour.

Where Warner Bros. leans into immersive exhibits and fan-favorite TV sets, Paramount leans into the craft and legacy of over a century of filmmaking. For the right visitor, it’s the most memorable of the four.

What You’ll See on the Paramount Backlot

The standard tour is two hours in a golf cart with a maximum of 7 guests per guide, and everyone gets audio earpieces so nothing gets lost. You’ll visit the Bronson Gate, the New York Street Backlot with facades dressable as ten different NYC neighbourhoods, the Prop Warehouse, active soundstages, and the blue sky water tank used across countless productions.

Guides carry iPads with footage of scenes filmed at each location, so you can stand on the exact spot where a scene was shot and watch it play back. Every guest gets to hold a real Academy Award.

Paramount also offers a Premier Tour at three hours and a VIP Tour at four and a half hours on weekdays, with the VIP option adding access to the studio archives and exclusive areas of the backlot. Reviewers consistently rate Paramount guides among the best of any studio in Los Angeles.

The One Thing Paramount Has That No Other Studio Does

It’s the only major studio tour where you’re walking the same Melrose Avenue lot that Cecil B. DeMille, Audrey Hepburn, and Elvis Presley worked on. The Bronson Gate appeared in Sunset Boulevard in 1950 and has barely changed since.

Productions that have filmed here include The Godfather, Forrest Gump, Titanic, Mission Impossible, and Grease, and current TV shows are still shooting on the lot today. If you want to explore more of the iconic filming locations connected to Paramount’s history around Hollywood, several are accessible without a studio ticket.

Who Should Book Paramount

Paramount rewards film history enthusiasts and visitors who want a more intimate experience than a larger operator delivers. Book it if:

You’re a classic Hollywood fan and want to walk a lot that feels connected to the Golden Age of cinema
You prefer a small group — maximum 7 guests — with a guide who can take questions throughout
You’re 10 or older (minimum age requirement; all tours in English only)
You want the personal feel of a golf cart tour over a large-group tram or walking experience
Interactive franchise exhibits aren’t your priority — Paramount is more about history than photo ops

Sony Pictures Studio Tour — Best Value

Sony is the most overlooked of the three working studio tours, and geography is a big part of why. The lot is in Culver City, not Hollywood, which puts it off the path for most visitors staying near the Walk of Fame. But for film and television history, few lots in the world come close.

This was originally MGM Studios, where The Wizard of Oz, Singin’ in the Rain, and dozens of other classics were made, and the Art Deco architecture from that era is still standing throughout the lot today.

What You’ll See at Sony Pictures in Culver City

Sony runs a two-hour guided walking tour, Monday through Friday only, with free parking at the Overland structure. It’s entirely on foot with no tram, which keeps the experience personal and the group sizes manageable.

You’ll visit soundstages where The Wizard of Oz, Men in Black, and Spider-Man were filmed, and swing by the sets of Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune, where you can walk into the audience seating area if neither show is taping that day. The Foley studio is one of the standout stops — a working sound effects room where guides demonstrate how everyday objects create the sounds you hear on screen.

You may also catch a glimpse of the Barbra Streisand Scoring Stage and Walter White’s RV from Breaking Bad. One honest note: if Jeopardy! or Wheel of Fortune is taping on the day you visit, those sets will be off limits. Reviewers who miss them are often disappointed, so it’s worth checking the taping schedule before you book. For more iconic movie locations connected to Sony’s history, several are worth adding to your LA itinerary around the visit.

Who Should Book Sony

Sony works best for visitors who want history-first storytelling and a walkable, authentic lot experience. Book it if:

You want the most affordable working studio tour of the three
You’re a fan of classic Hollywood from the MGM era — Wizard of Oz, Singin’ in the Rain, and their contemporaries
Game shows are your thing, and the Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune sets are genuinely fun to walk through
You’re based near Santa Monica or Culver City and want to avoid the drive to Burbank
Children in your group are 12 or older (minimum age requirement; weekdays only)

Universal Studios Hollywood — Best for Families (But Not a Studio Tour)

Universal is worth understanding clearly before you book, because what it offers and what most people picture when they hear “studio tour” are two different things. The tram ride is genuinely impressive and the lot is real — Universal has been filming on this 400-acre site since 1915 — but the experience is built around theme park entertainment, not the working-lot access you get at Warner Bros., Paramount, or Sony.

What the Universal Studios Tram Tour Actually Is

The world-famous Studio Tour is a 60-minute tram ride through the backlot, included with every park ticket at no extra charge. You’ll pass the Bates Motel from Psycho, the War of the Worlds Boeing 747 crash set, a flash flood sequence, and King Kong 360 3-D, the world’s largest 3D experience. Jimmy Fallon hosts the video narration throughout.

It’s a tram ride with real sets and scripted special effects sequences — some of which are genuinely spectacular — and the same route runs every time. You stay seated for the full hour. The backlot is a working studio and crews are sometimes visible, but the tour itself is produced and consistent, not flexible the way a guide-led walking or cart tour would be.

Universal is also a full theme park, and the studio tour is one of many attractions alongside Harry Potter World, Super Nintendo World, and multiple thrill rides. That’s a different day entirely from three hours walking a working lot with a small group and a guide who can take your questions. Both are worth doing on a trip to LA — they’re just not the same thing. For more on what the broader Universal experience offers, our complete Universal CityWalk guide covers everything around the park.

Who Should Book Universal

Universal is the right call for families with young children and visitors who want a full theme park day alongside a behind-the-scenes experience. Book it if:

You’re travelling with kids of any age — there’s no height requirement on the Studio Tour and the wider park has rides for every level
You want a full day of entertainment rather than a focused studio lot experience
Harry Potter World or Super Nintendo World are on your list
You want the Studio Tour included at no extra cost rather than as a standalone booking
A scripted, special-effects-driven tram ride appeals more than a small-group walking or cart tour

Studio Tours in Los Angeles Compared — Quick Reference

Not sure which one lands for your trip? Here’s everything side by side.

Studio	Format	Duration	Group Size	Location	Best For	Children
Warner Bros.	Guided + self-guided	~3 hours	Up to 14	Burbank	TV/film fans, engaging experiences	Ages 5+
Paramount	Golf cart, guided	~2 hours	Up to 7	Hollywood (Melrose Ave)	Classic Hollywood history, intimate groups	Ages 10+
Sony	Walking, guided	~2 hours	Small groups	Culver City	Film history, game show fans, best value	Ages 12+
Universal	Tram ride	~1 hour	~150 per tram	Universal City	Families, theme park days	All ages

Prices vary by season and tour tier — check each studio’s official website before booking. Warner Bros. and Paramount both offer multiple upgrade options beyond the standard tour.

How to Fit a Studio Tour Into Your LA Trip

The single most important thing to know before you plan a studio tour day is that none of these studios are near each other. Warner Bros. is in Burbank, Sony is in Culver City, Universal is in Universal City, and Paramount is the only one in Hollywood itself, sitting on Melrose Avenue two miles from the Walk of Fame. Combining two studios in one day is possible on paper, but between travel time and tour duration, it tends to make for a rushed day.

The cleaner approach is to pick one and build the day around it. Warner Bros. and Universal each run three-plus hours when you factor in self-guided portions and park attractions, so either fills a morning and afternoon comfortably. Paramount and Sony are two-hour tours and leave room for other things to do in Hollywood on either side.

Paramount especially puts you in a strong position for the rest of the day. Its location on Melrose puts you within easy reach of the Walk of Fame, the TCL Chinese Theatre, and Hollywood and Highland. If you’re sequencing your wider LA itinerary around the studio tour, our first-time visitor guide covers how to structure the city’s main attractions without spending your trip in traffic.

If you want to see the outside of Paramount’s gates on Melrose and the broader Hollywood neighbourhood in the same morning, our Half Day Best of LA Tour passes the studio on both the Hollywood and Santa Monica departures. For a deeper look at what to expect on each lot before you book, our full Hollywood studio tour guide covers the insider details.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best studio tour experience in Los Angeles?

Warner Bros. is the best overall choice for most first-time visitors, with three hours of content across a 110-acre working lot. It suits the widest range of interests and ages and offers the most content per visit. Paramount is the best for classic Hollywood history and small-group intimacy. Sony is the best value, and Universal is the best choice if you want a full theme park day.

Is the Warner Bros. studio tour worth it?

For anyone who’s a fan of Friends, Harry Potter, DC, The Big Bang Theory, or Gilmore Girls, yes. The combination of real working backlot, interactive exhibits, and the self-guided Stage 48 soundstage gives you more to see and do than most visitors expect. Book in advance — it sells out regularly, especially on weekends.

How long does the Paramount Pictures studio tour take?

The standard tour is two hours. Paramount also offers a Premier Tour at three hours and a VIP Tour at four and a half hours, both available on weekdays only. All tours depart from the Paramount studio lot at 5515 Melrose Ave in Hollywood.

Is Universal Studios Hollywood a real studio tour?

Universal’s backlot is a real, active production lot that has been filming continuously since 1915, and you’ll pass working soundstages on the tram. The experience itself is a 60-minute scripted tram ride with special effects sequences built in, included with theme park admission. If you want a flexible, guide-led walking or cart tour of a working lot, Warner Bros., Paramount, or Sony are better suited.

Can I do two studio tours in one day?

Technically yes, but it’s not recommended. Warner Bros. in Burbank and Paramount on Melrose are about 30 minutes apart without traffic, and both tours run two to three hours each. If you want to do two, Paramount and Sony are the more manageable pairing — both are two-hour tours and neither requires a full day commitment.

What is the difference between the Warner Bros. standard tour and the Deluxe Tour?

The standard tour is three hours and covers the backlot, a soundstage, and the self-guided Stage 48 exhibits. The Deluxe Tour extends to six hours and adds a visit to the Property Department, a screening in the private lounge, and fine dining at the Commissary. Check the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood website for current pricing and availability.