Best Tours and Daytrips from Los Angeles

Los Angeles is one of those cities you think you've always known, even if you've never set foot there before, having been the setting for so many films and series. Read on to find out how to discover the city and its surroundings.

If this is your first taste of the dream factory and you're not sure where to go or what to do as it's such a huge city, taking the Hollywood tour is the best way to make the most of your trip and see the highlights of Los Angeles in a group of no more than 23 people.

Many of these sites are separated from each other by long distances, so if you don't have a car, want to avoid the traffic or don't want to use public transport, my advice is to get on board this bus for a complete tour of the Hollywood area in just 2 hours in the company of a guide, who will reveal all the secrets and anecdotes you've always wondered about the city of stars.

It is available in English and Spanish. This short Hollywood Tour will leave you part of the day free for other activities around Los Angeles that you can enjoy at your own pace.

Itinerary

This tour will take you by bus to the must-see sights of Los Angeles, making several stops along the way to see the famous Hollywood Boulevard Walk of Fame, with over 2000 stars, and pay tribute to your favourite artists. This tour also includes landmarks such as the Chinese Theatre and the Hollywood & Highland complex, known as the home of the Oscars.

You will then arrive at the Hollywood Sign, the gigantic nine-letter white sign atop Mount Lee Hill, which has become one of the emblems of Los Angeles since it was installed in 1923 for an advertising campaign. During the tour you will learn about its fascinating history from a guide and why it became a symbol of popular culture.

The next stop on the Hollywood Tour is Mulholland Drive, the home of celebrities, where you can admire the exclusive mansions and fabulous views from the observation decks scattered along the route along this road built in 1924.

To round off this tour, there's nothing better than going to the most exclusive shopping street in Los Angeles: Rodeo Drive. It is world famous for being one of the most expensive and luxurious areas in the United States. Although its prices are not suitable for all budgets, it is worth visiting this glamorous corner of the city.

Recommendation

If you are visiting Los Angeles as a family you will be interested in this tour as it allows you to see several places of interest on board a bus with child seats available and is accessible for pushchairs, so that children can rest between journeys.

Duration

The tour lasts approximately 2 hours.

If you already know the city of Los Angeles and this time you want to make a different plan, I propose a 3 days and 2 nights tour by van or coach along the West Coast with stops in Santa Barbara, San Francisco and Carmel, including 2 nights accommodation and a guide for the driver. This is a great opportunity to see some of California's coolest coastal towns and beautiful scenery.

Day 1: Los Angeles to Santa Barbara

The starting point for this tour is Los Angeles. On the first day you head north and the first stop is Santa Barbara. Here you can visit a Spanish colonial mission to see how important these enclaves were in the social development of the region.

Then it's on to Solvang, a small Danish-founded town with typical Northern European architecture including some restaurants, breweries and bakeries.

Back in the car to drive along the famous 17 Miles Drive (part of Route 1) along the California coastline while taking in some beautiful scenery. It's well worth the scenic drive before arriving in the town of Carmel, where you'll have some free time to explore before heading to your hotel for a rest after a long day.

• Accommodation: San Francisco - La Quinta Inn & Suites
• Meals: Not included

Day 2: San Francisco

San Francisco is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the United States and on Day 2 you will understand why. The tour starts with a short cruise from Fisherman's Wharf along the famous bay, under the Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcatraz Island.

You will then return to the pier for a drink and a city tour that includes Chinatown, Downtown Sausalito and the top of Twin Peaks, where you will find the best views of San Francisco.

• Accommodation: Modesto - Best Western Palm Court Inn (at the Winter Monterey Hotel / Holiday Inn)
• Meals: Breakfast

Day 3: Yosemite or Monterey

Depending on the season in which you visit California, Day 3 of this tour takes you on a different route.

In summer you will start the day visiting the farms of the San Joaquin Valley until you reach Yosemite National Park. Get your camera ready to photograph this 1,200 square mile natural wonder of lakes, giant sequoia forests, crystal clear rivers and waterfalls.

Stop at El Capitan, Bridal-Veil Falls and Half Dome, Yosemite's iconic landmark and a great challenge for hikers. Finally you will continue with a pleasant walk from the Yosemite Tourist Centre to the highest waterfalls in North America: Yosemite Falls at 730 metres high.

In winter the day starts with a tour of Monterey including the pier and Cannery Row and then on to the famous Hearst Castle built for newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst by California's first female architect, Julia Morgan.

Hearst Castle is a temple of opulence and excess whose rooms house spectacular works of art. Seeing this palatial mansion during November or December is special because you'll have the opportunity to see it decked out in American-style Christmas decorations. The tour ends with an evening return to Los Angeles with a suitcase full of souvenirs.

• Accommodation: Not included
• Meals: Breakfast

Recommendation

When it comes to accommodation, this tour only allows a maximum of three people per room, so if you are travelling with a group of 4 or more or want to have separate rooms, my recommendation is to make separate reservations.

Why I like this tour

It is a short tour that in only 3 days allows you to see some of the most outstanding tourist attractions in California and also the evolution of the state over time since its origins. It also mixes ecotourism with sightseeing, giving you a pretty complete experience as a traveller on your trip to California.

If you would like to experience the true Hollywood lifestyle, the half day tour of Hollywood and Beverly Hills is the tour for you. Feel like a celebrity as you travel aboard a limousine while visiting the city's most iconic landmarks such as West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, the Sunset Strip and more.

A guide will accompany you aboard the limousine to introduce you in English or Spanish to the culture of Hollywood's stars and its main sights during a 2 hour and 30 minute itinerary. In fact, during the tour of the Hollywood and Beverly Hills areas you will be able to stop for a drink, shopping or to see a specific site of interest within the tour.

Itinerary

This limousine tour will allow you to see iconic places in Los Angeles without the crowds, such as those related to the entertainment industry, for example the Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard, and to enjoy the movie-loving atmosphere. Also the Chinese Theatre where the most important films are premiered, the Dolby Theatre where the Oscar ceremony is held and the Capitol Records Tower, an icon of modern architecture.

Other stops on the tour are Rodeo Drive, Melrose Place and Sunset Trip, three areas full of shops, restaurants, nightclubs, live music events and shopping centres where you can buy some souvenirs of your stay in Los Angeles and savour the best of its gastronomy.

During the limousine tour you can also visit the Hollywood Sign, the famous white Hollywood sign that you've seen in countless movies and series, and take pictures for your social media.

Recommendation

The half day tour of Hollywood and Beverly Hills is wheelchair friendly, both in terms of transport and surfaces, so it is an activity that is suitable for most travellers, including children up to a maximum of 14.

Duration

The approximate duration of the tour is 2 hours and 30 minutes.

If you are looking for a more intimate experience visiting Los Angeles, where you and your group of up to 7 people are the ones who decide when to start the tour, what to see and how long to stay at each tourist attraction, my recommendation is to choose the private tour of Los Angeles so you can get to know the city at the pace that suits you best and with all the comforts, like an Angeleno.

With this 3-hour private tour you will learn the history of the most iconic places in Los Angeles and also those that are not in the guidebooks. A perfect mix of the most touristy and less frequented places where there will be no other tourists in your picture.

Itinerary

The vehicle will pick you up for free from anywhere within a 4 mile radius of Hollywood Boulevard. Settle in and turn on your camera to immortalize the best views of Mulholland Drive or Universal City Overlook, to capture the hustle and bustle of the Walk of Fame, and to take some pictures with two of the most popular signs in Los Angeles: the Beverly Hills Sign or the Hollywood Sign.

This private tour of Los Angeles is the only one of its kind with a stop at the Hollywood Sign on a secret walking route!

Then you can head to the Sunset Strip and Rodeo Drive for a stroll in two of the most atmospheric areas of the city of stars. Here you'll find some of the best restaurants and most exclusive shops in L.A. Who knows if you might bump into one of your idols and ask for an autograph?

If your passion for movies is what brings you here, this private tour of Los Angeles will also give you the chance to see scenes such as Greystone Mansion and Park, which has been featured in several films and music videos, or Spadena House, the little house from Hansel and Gretel that children will love to see.

If music is the reason for your trip to Los Angeles, you'll love a visit to Laurel Canyon. From 1965 onwards, this Hollywood Hills neighbourhood was home to a multitude of young musicians who are now true legends: Jim Morrison, Eric Clapton, Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor and The Mamas & The Papas are just some of them. Follow in their footsteps through Laurel Canyon!

Recommendation

This private tour of Los Angeles is perfect for those who want to get to know the city at their own pace with their own group, with all the comforts of home and without the crowds, and is offered in English, Spanish, French, Russian and Armenian!

Duration

The approximate duration of the tour is 3 hours.

If you're in Los Angeles and spending several days in the city, you can take advantage of your stay to explore other sights and locations. This 12-hour tour by van or bus from Los Angeles with a professional guide will take you through Santa Barbara, the Danish-rooted town of Solvang and the sumptuous castle of the famous 20th century publisher William Randolph Hearst.

Itinerary

You will start the day leaving behind the glamour of Hollywood to embark on an adventure to Santa Barbara to visit its beautiful beaches, harbour and the historic Spanish colonial mission that was established there to evangelise the Chumash Indians.

Then you will go to Solvang, a town with Danish origins close to Santa Barbara and located in the Santa Ynez Valley, a popular wine growing area in California. Here you will find a reproduction of Copenhagen's Little Mermaid monument. Before heading to Hearst Castle, wander around the Danish-themed shops and sample the delicious food.

The last stop on this tour is a visit to the home of William Randolph Hearst, a spectacular palace filled with artwork where you can also learn some of the more curious stories of the area's upper class who frequented the premises in the last century.

On the way back to Los Angeles you will have the opportunity to remember the best moments of the excursion and review all the pictures on your camera. An unforgettable experience.

Why I like this tour

It's a quick way to visit several interesting places in California while staying in Los Angeles. If you are passionate about architecture it is a great way to enjoy the style and history of different periods: from Spanish colonial architecture at the Franciscan mission to the Danish court architecture in Solvang to the Spanish architecture of the Andalusian cathedrals that inspired the construction of the Casa Grande at Hearst Castle.

San Diego is one of the most important cities in the United States, bordering Mexico, and best represents the Californian spirit. Its history, beaches, parks and climate make it a highly recommended place to visit with this day trip to San Diego by van or bus from Los Angeles accompanied by a professional guide.

Explore the main historical and scenic attractions of San Diego in just 13 hours. See the elegant seaside community of La Jolla, investigate the beautiful surroundings of Coronado Island, stroll through Old Town San Diego and experience the opportunity to board the aircraft carrier USS Midway, a museum ship that until 1955 was the largest in the world - feel like a real Marine!

Itinerary

The tour starts by heading south to La Jolla Inlet, known as the new Beverly Hills, where there are wonderful views of the California coastline. We then depart for San Diego to continue the tour at the Seaport Village, one of the must-see sites of the USS Midway aircraft carrier.

The tour of San Diego continues to Coronado Island, home to the renowned Coronado Hotel, the largest wooden building in the United States, which has been used as a film set on several occasions.

Before ending the tour of San Diego and returning to Los Angeles you will have 2 hours to visit the old town where the first Spanish town on the west coast was founded in the 18th century. This historic district has several original buildings that you can see during a stroll as well as the Bazaar Del Mundo market, considered one of the best places to buy a souvenir of your visit to San Diego.

Why I like this tour

San Diego has everything you would expect from a big city along with spectacular beaches lapped by the Pacific Ocean. Its mild climate and laid-back atmosphere make it an ideal place to spend some time relaxing and having fun. This tour is the perfect way to complete a trip to Los Angeles.

Isabel's Traveller Tip

Looking for the best views of San Diego? At the Coronado Island overlook overlooking San Diego Bay you can enjoy the extraordinary skyline of the city and take a selfie!

Located in the heart of the Sonoran Desert in Southern California, Palm Springs is a city known for its spas and hot springs, luxury hotels, golf courses and for having been home to legendary artists such as Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley.

On this 12-hour tour from Los Angeles by bus or van accompanied by a professional guide you will have the opportunity to discover all that Palm Springs has to offer, including its stunning desert landscape, luxury celebrity homes, Living Desert Zoo and the high-end shopping of Palm Desert's "Rodeo Drive". You'll find the best bargains at the brand-name shops of Desert Hills Premium Outlets.

Itinerary

The Palm Springs tour starts in Los Angeles and heads out into the desert with a guided sightseeing tour upon arrival that includes sights such as golf courses, celebrity mansions and the Palm Springs Cable Car for breathtaking aerial views of the city and the near-vertical cliffs of Chino Canyon.

If you're travelling to Los Angeles with your family, the next stop on the tour is a must for the kids: the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, a zoo and botanical garden with a great diversity of wildlife where you'll be able to see a multitude of animals.

Then hop on board the vehicle to see Palm Desert's "Rodeo Drive" and the Desert Hills Premium Outlets where you can go shopping before returning to Los Angeles.

Why I like this tour

This day trip to Palm Springs is a great opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles and explore the slower pace of life in this affluent California desert town that charmed the likes of Elvis Presley, Barbra Streisand and Marilyn Monroe.

And there are some real bargains to be found at the luxury brand outlets of Desert Hills Premium Outlets such as Prada, Versace, Gucci, Polo Ralph Lauren and Dolce & Gabbana - a shopper's paradise in California!