Los Angeles is known as the center of the entertainment industry, and for good reason: the most famous television and movie studios in the world are located here. These five studio tours are the best the area has to offer—read: the opportunity to tour sets (Friends, Psycho and The Wizard of Oz), learn behind-the-scenes info and see stars in action!—and are great not only for visitors to Los Angeles but also for natives. Come on, who wouldn’t love the chance to come face to face with Jaws or wave a wand alongside Harry, Ron and Hermione? Native or not, you’re going to want to add these five studio tours in Los Angeles to your bucket list.
Where: , Burbank, CA
Warner Brothers Studio tour guides take visitors behind-the-scenes at this iconic TV and motion picture studio. Tour the backlots, which have been the exterior sets for films and TV shows like Casablanca, Batman, Gilmore Girls and Friends. You can even “experience” the sets of famous Warner Bros. entities like Friends‘ Central Perk, Big Bang Theory‘s Apt 4A, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and a very special DC Universe: The Exhibit! You’ll also get to see soundstages where current shows like Young Sheldon and Ellen are filming—and if you’re lucky, you might see one of the stars.
Cost: Adults $72, children (ages 8-12) $62
2. Sony Pictures Entertainment
Where: 10000 W Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA
Guests on the Sony Pictures Tour get a behind-the-scenes look at a studio that’s been around for nearly 100 years. The walking tour makes stops at soundstages where iconic films like The Wizard of Oz and Spiderman were filmed, plus stages where current game shows like Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune are still filming. You might get a peek at the set from The Goldbergs, and everyone will get a glimpse of Sony’s many Best Picture Oscars. Finally, the tour wouldn’t be complete without walking under the studio’s 94-foot tall rainbow.
Cost: $50 per person, ages 12 and up
Where: 5555 Melrose Ave, LA, CA
Paramount Pictures began in 1912 and has been responsible for films like The Ten Commandments, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Titanic. Visitors will ride around the lot in a cart driven by their tour guide, and they’ll visit sound stages, the backlot and iconic Hollywood landmarks (including the famous “New York street” set). Paramount is also the home of current TV shows, so keep your eyes open for stars. The tour begins and ends in the Studio store, allowing guests to buy snacks at the beginning and souvenirs at the end. Smart.
Cost: $60 for the studio tour (ages 10 and up), $99 for the After Dark tour (ages 16 and up), $189 for the VIP tour (aged 10 and up)
4. Universal Studios Hollywood
Where: 100 Universal City Plaza, Los Angeles, CA
Universal Studios’ “world-famous” studio tour is one of the main attractions inside the Universal Studios Hollywood Theme Park. And for good reason: this tour delivers. Universal Studios is the largest working movie studio in the country, and there’s always something being filmed there. Jimmy Fallon introduces tour-related clips on the tram’s HD monitors, while a live tour guide narrates the tour and answers any questions the group has. Tour highlights include experiencing the plane crash from War of the Worlds, catching up with Norman Bates at the Bates Hotel, coming face to face with Jaws and a grand finale of living Fast and Furious: Supercharged! The best part? After the tour, your family can enjoy the rest of the park!
Cost: $109-139 for a one-day ticket, $179-279 for a Universal Express ticket, from $349 for a VIP Experience ticket
5. Adventures by Disney Hollywood and Disneyland Tour
The granddaddy of all the studio tours, this six-day/five-night tour is literally a vacation! Guests on the Backstage Magic Tour will get an experience like no other, with private tours of the El Capitan Theatre, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Jim Henson Company Studios, and Walt Disney Imagineering. The package also includes VIP Experience tickets to Disneyland and California Adventure, where guests will get behind-the-scenes tours.
Cost: From $3,199. Includes accommodations, ground transportation, theme park tickets, and most meals. No children under 4 permitted.
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