The Best Studio Tours in LA (Ranked By A Local)

Los Angeles is the capital of the entertainment industry, and there’s no better way to get a glimpse of “Hollywood magic” than going behind the scenes on a tour of one of the major film studios. In this guide, I’ve ranked the best studio tours in LA — I would know; I’ve toured all of them! (I’ve also lived in LA for over a decade and worked at one of the studios, so this isn’t just another random listicle.)

But let’s be honest, LA isn’t cheap. And I want to make sure you get your money’s worth, which is why I included the pros and cons of each studio tour. You’ll also find hotel recommendations and how you can save on tickets to the best studio tours in LA.

Jump to:
4 Best Studio Tours in LA
Where to Stay in LA
Best Studio Tours in LA FAQs
How to Save on the Best Studio Tours in LA

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4 Best Studio Tours in LA

Ready to go behind the scenes of where your favorite films and TV shows were made? Here’s a breakdown on the best studio tours in LA.

1. Warner Bros. Studio Tour | Burbank, California

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Best For: Film buffs; classic film lovers; Friends, Gilmore Girls, Harry Potter and DC Comic fans
🎟️ Cost: Tickets start at $76

If you asked any LA local which is the best studio tour in Los Angeles, they’d say the Warner Bros. Studio Tour. And I agree! From start to finish, this studio tour is like a well-produced film and worth the $76 ticket price.

The most popular studio tour is a 1 hour guided cart tour, plus 2 hours unguided. You can use that time to wander through the “Big Bang Theory” and “Friends” sets, grab a drink at Central Perk and take photos at the DC Superheroes and Supervillains and Harry Potter intereactive experience.

Want to know exactly what you’ll see on this tour? Check out my complete Warner Bros. Studio Tour review here.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Pros

✅ A working backlot with a rich history
✅ Really good value for the price
✅ Lots of photo opportunities
✅ Southern California residents get a discount

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Cons

❌ More popular = more crowds

2. Walt Disney Studios Tour | Burbank, California

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Best For: Disney fans, animation lovers
🎟️ Cost: Tickets are $150 (membership required)

The Walt Disney Studios Tour is the dark horse of studio tours in LA. Compared to the other studio tours, it’s not really advertised. And unless you’re deep in the Disney trenches, most people don’t know about it.

While this studio tour is more niche, the Walt Disney Studio Tour is just like Mary Poppins: “Practically perfect in every way.” As soon as you step onto the lot, you can feel the Disney magic radiating from every corner. It’s one of those tours you leave and know you experienced something special.

What makes this the second best studio tour in LA and not the best? The $150 ticket price. That being said, for this kind of tour and the fact that it’s Disney, the price makes sense.

In order to purchase tickets for this tour you have to be a D23 Member. The basic membership is free, but you’re limited to the amount of times you can take the tour.

Want to know more? Read my complete review of the Walt Disney Studios Tour here.

Walt Disney Studios Tour Pros

✅ A visit to Walt Disney’s historic office suite
✅ Access to the Walt Disney archives
✅ Disney magic

Walt Disney Studio Cons

❌ Tickets are $150 each and must be purchased in advance (plan ahead!)
❌ Tours are only available on select days
❌ You can only purchase tickets for one tour per calendar year

3. Paramount Pictures Studio Tour | Hollywood, California

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Best for: Old Hollywood fans, people interested in film and TV production
🎟️ Cost: Tickets start at $69

For being one of the smaller studios on the list, the Paramount Studio Tour is big on history. This studio tour takes you behind the iconic Bronson gates for a “close-up” of where “Sunset Blvd”, “Star Trek” (the film and TV show) and other iconic productions were filmed.

While not as highly produced as the Warner Bros Studio Tour, Paramount is the only other studio tour where you can walk through an actual backlot and facades. You also get to see the former home of Desilu Productions and visit stages where current TV shows are being filmed.

For a complete rundown of the Paramount Studio Tour, read my review.

Paramount Pictures Studio Tour Pros
✅ The most centrally-located studio tour
✅ You visit sets of current TV shows
✅ You can hold an actual Academy Award

Paramount Pictures Studio Tour Cons
❌ Lower production quality than other studio tours
❌ Smaller backlot
❌ The basic tour doesn’t include access to the archives (which is one of the best parts)

4. Sony Pictures Studio Tour | Culver City, California

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Best for: Wizard of Oz, Ghostbusters and Breaking Bad fans, gameshow lovers
🎟️ Cost: Tickets start at $55

Rounding out my list of the best studio tours in LA is the Sony Pictures Studio Tour. It earns itself the #4 spot for a couple of reasons, but mostly because it’s far (by LA standards) from the other studios. It would be best to visit this studio on a day you’re going to be what we Angelenos call “the west side.” Think Santa Monica, Marina del Rey or Venice Beach.

The Sony Pictures Studio Tour definitely earns points for its price and freebies. You also get to visit the Foley Stage, which none of the other studios offer. This is where Foley Artists create sound effects for TVs and film. It was a highlight for me!

Read my honest review of the Sony Pictures Studio Tour here.

Sony Pictures Studio Tour Pros
✅ Basic tour is the cheapest of all Los Angeles studio tours
✅ Free parking and souvenir photo

Sony Pictures Studio Tour Cons
❌ Larger group size makes it hard to hear
❌ Only visits gameshow sets
❌ Not close to the other studios

Where to Stay in LA

One thing people are planning a trip to LA don’t realize is how big of a city it is. Also, distance means absolutely nothing here. Depending on the time of day, 10 miles could either be 30 minutes or over an hour. That’s why it’s really important to stay close to what you’ll be doing. Because the last thing you want to do on vacation is sit in traffic all day.

Below are a selection of hotels that are located in Hollywood or West Hollywood. Staying in either of these cities will keep you close to the best studio tours in LA, as well as other popular attractions.

📍Hollywood Historic Hotel ($)
Why you should book it: This budget-friendly, Hollywood-adjacent hotel is close to all the studios and attractions.

📍Magic Castle Hotel ($$)
Why you should book it: Located right in the heart of Hollywood, booking a stay here also gets you access to the famous Magic Castle. (Tickets aren’t available for purchase and you typically have to get invited by a member. This perk alone is reason enough to book!)

📍The West Hollywood EDITION ($$$$)
Why you should book it: If boutique, luxury hotels are your thing, you’ll love this option that’s positioned on the border of West Hollywood and Beverly Hills.

Best Studio Tours in LA FAQs

If you’ve made it this far, you probably have some questions. Here are some answers to the most popular questions about studio tours in LA.

Does Universal Studios have a studio tour?

You probably noticed Universal Studios Hollywood isn’t on my list of best studio tours in LA. That’s because it’s a theme park that happens to be attached to a working film studio. The Universal Studios Tour, also known as the World Famous Studio Tour, is a ride and admission is included with your ticket.

In my opinion, the Universal Studios Tour is the best ride at the park. And while it does take you behind the scenes of the backlot, I wouldn’t call it a “studio tour.”

The theme park does offer the Universal Studios VIP tour. This VIP experience includes entry to the park, plus a private guide and exclusive access to areas of the backlot not open to the general public. You also get additional perks, like express entry to the ride and a chef-prepared meal.

Which Studio Tour is better, Paramount or Warner Brothers?

Warner Bros is a better studio tour and a better value than Paramount. The Warner Bros. Studio Tour is a classic backlot tour that’s more interactive. And you can tell Warner Bros. but a lot of money and thought to create a high-quality studio tour.

The Paramount Studio Tour is less of a production. At times it feels like they put a bunch of props in an empty room so they could call it an archive. This tour is better suited for those who want to visit a smaller studio and are interested in how films are made.

Are tours in LA worth it?

As someone who has done all of the best studio tours in LA, as well as other LA tours, I think LA tours are totally worth it. I’ve walked away from every tour feeling like I learned something new and I saw some really cool things that a lot of people probably never will.

If you’re the type that likes history, you want to learn how the studios work or you want to see where your favorite movie or TV show was made, you’ll enjoy any of the best studio tours in LA.

That’s a Wrap on the Best Studio Tours in LA!

Now that you know the best studio tours in LA, which one will you visit? No matter which studio tour you choose, each one will leave you feeling like a Hollywood insider and a better understanding of how the cinematic sausage gets made.

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