Los Angeles is too spread out to see on foot, and renting a car just to fight Hollywood traffic defeats the point of a vacation. Hollywood Bus Tours alone has logged nearly 9,750 Google reviews at a 4.9 average, and these Los Angeles operators together carry more than 27,000 Google reviews, ranging from open-air celebrity-home routes to a full-day Malibu coastal run, so the real decision is which itinerary matches how much time you actually have.
Short answer: Hollywood Bus Tours leads with a 4.9 rating across nearly 9,750 reviews, the most of any Los Angeles bus tour operator, followed closely by A Day in LA Tours (4.9, 1,784 reviews) and Surf City Tours (4.8, 2,529 reviews) for coastal routes. Most 2-hour open-bus tours run in the $35 to $45 range per adult, while full-day tours from Hollywood or Santa Monica start around $99.
#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews
Hollywood Bus Tours
4.9★★★★★9,749 Google reviews
Hollywood Bus Tours runs open-air sightseeing tours out of Hollywood Boulevard, focused on celebrity homes, movie locations and Hollywood landmarks. The company is a sightseeing tour agency and tour operator with drivers who double as narrators, weaving in local history and celebrity trivia along the route. It is one of the most established names on this list by review volume alone.
What people praise
- Guides described as knowledgeable and well-prepared with local history
- Comfortable open-air buses with good sightlines
- Guides recommend nearby restaurants after the tour
- Consistently praised for humor and storytelling
Worth knowing
- Traffic and LA's spread-out layout can make some stops feel rushed
Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles
Review volume9,749 · 98th
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown97% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: The most-reviewed bus tour operator in Los Angeles by a wide margin, and the reviews back up the reputation for knowledgeable guides. A safe first call for anyone who wants the classic Hollywood celebrity-homes route.
📍7044 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
#2🕑 Open 7 days
Hollywood City Tours
4.8★★★★★8,308 Google reviews
Hollywood City Tours operates open-air bus tours departing from both Hollywood and Santa Monica, covering Hollywood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills and celebrity homes. It runs shorter 2-hour trips as well as a 7-hour Grand LA Tour that adds Rodeo Drive, the Farmers Market and Griffith Observatory. The company markets itself as a TripAdvisor award winner with hourly departures.
What people praise
- Departs hourly, so it is easy to slot into a travel day
- Full-day option covers four major LA landmarks in one trip
- Drivers described as entertaining and informative
Worth knowing
- One reviewer felt rushed off the bus near the end of a shorter tour
- Tipping is suggested at $10 to $20 per person, which surprised a few riders
Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles
Review volume8,308 · 93rd
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown91% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: A strong choice if you want flexibility on departure time and the option to scale up from a 2-hour tour to a full day. Ask about the tipping expectation before you book so it isn't a surprise.
📍6609 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
#3↩ Responds to reviews
Big Bus Tours Los Angeles
4.7★★★★★5,326 Google reviews
Big Bus Tours Los Angeles operates the local branch of the global Big Bus hop-on hop-off network, running open-top double-decker buses through Hollywood, Beverly Hills and celebrity-home neighborhoods. As a bus tour agency rather than an independent local operator, it has the scale to run frequent departures throughout the day.
What people praise
- Hop-on hop-off format lets you explore individual stops at your own pace
- Guides praised for humor and photography help
- Ticket booth located conveniently near the Chinese Theatre
Worth knowing
- A few riders found ticket-purchase timing rushed given bus departure schedules
- Reviews mention it can be pricier once add-on tours are included
Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles
Review volume5,326 · 88th
Rating breakdown86% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: Best for visitors who want to build their own itinerary rather than follow a fixed route. The hop-on hop-off flexibility is the draw here, not the guided narration.
📍6763 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
#4🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews
Surf City Tours
4.8★★★★★2,529 Google reviews
Surf City Tours runs sightseeing and bus tours out of Santa Monica focused on the LA coastline, including a dedicated Malibu tour, a Venice Beach tour and a Hollywood Hopper route. The company brands itself as the area's beach experts and books smaller, more intimate groups than the big Hollywood-based operators.
What people praise
- Guides go at an unhurried pace with plenty of time at stops
- Small-group, open-roof vehicles feel less like a mass tour bus
- Guides offer genuine local lunch recommendations along the route
- Drivers wait for late arrivals rather than leaving them behind
Worth knowing
- Some reviews on file are from a year or more ago, so recent service quality has less recent feedback
Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles
Review volume2,529 · 78th
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown91% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: The pick for anyone who wants Malibu and the Pacific Coast Highway rather than another lap of Hollywood. The smaller-group feel comes through clearly in the reviews.
📍1447 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401
#5🕑 Open 7 days
A Day in LA Tours - Los Angeles Tours
4.9★★★★★1,784 Google reviews
A Day in LA Tours runs a full-day city tour departing from Santa Monica or with hotel pickup across roughly 200 Los Angeles hotels, covering Venice Beach, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood Walk of Fame in one trip. The company operates on an upscale small tour bus with a live narrating guide and 30 to 45 minutes at each stop.
What people praise
- Hotel pickup across a wide range of LA locations
- Covers most major LA landmarks in a single well-organized day
- Guides praised repeatedly for humor, music selection and local knowledge
- Comfortable time allotted at each stop rather than a rushed drive-by
Worth knowing
- It is a long day, roughly 7.5 hours, so it suits visitors with limited time more than a leisurely pace
Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles
Review volume1,784 · 73rd
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown97% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: The strongest option if you only have one day in LA and want to see the most ground with hotel pickup included. Nearly every review calls out a specific guide by name, which says something about consistency.
📍1537 2nd St, Santa Monica, CA 90401
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Claim this spot › How we rank these tours
Every number here comes from public Google data pulled on the date shown, not from opinion or payment. Rating is the operator’s live Google star average. Review volume measures how many riders have rated them, compared against other LA bus tour operators. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, so a 4.9 from thousands of riders counts for more than a 5.0 from a handful. Recency reflects how recently people are still reviewing. No operator can pay to change these numbers.
How much does a bus tour cost in Los Angeles? (2026)
Prices vary by tour length and route, but a few real figures surfaced in the operators’ own listings and reviews below.
| Job | Typical price |
|---|
| 2-hour open-bus celebrity homes tour (adult) | $45 |
| 2-hour open-bus tour (child, 2-11) | $35 |
| Full-day LA city tour | From $99 |
Prices as published on Hollywood City Tours’ and A Day in LA Tours’ own websites, verified August 2026. Always confirm current pricing directly with the operator before booking, as seasonal rates and add-ons vary.
Serving all of Los Angeles
These tours depart from Hollywood, Santa Monica and Downtown LA, with several offering hotel pickup across the broader metro including Beverly Hills, West Hollywood and Anaheim. Searching for a bus tour near me? Every listing below shows a live phone number and website so you can check current departure times.
What to ask before you book a bus tour
- Does the tour include hotel pickup, or do I need to meet at a fixed location?
- Is this a hop-on hop-off ticket or a fixed guided route?
- How long is each stop, and can I skip a stop if I want more time elsewhere?
- Is tipping expected, and if so, how much is customary?
- What happens if I’m running late to the departure point?
Frequently asked questions
How did you choose these bus tour operators?
We started from every bus tour company in Los Angeles with a public Google presence, then ranked by rating, review volume, consistency and recency. See How we rank these tours above.
Are these rankings paid?
No. Rankings come from public Google data. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner, which adds a badge and top placement, but that never changes another business’s score or position.
How often is this updated?
The data carries a verified date (August 2026 on this page). We refresh listings periodically so ratings and review counts stay current.
Do these tours cover Malibu as well as Hollywood?
Most operators here focus on Hollywood and celebrity homes, but Surf City Tours specializes in the Malibu coastline and Pacific Coast Highway, and several Hollywood-based operators also run a Santa Monica departure.
How much does a Los Angeles bus tour cost?
A standard 2-hour open-bus tour runs around $35 to $45 per adult, while a full-day tour covering multiple neighborhoods starts around $99. Confirm current pricing with the operator directly.
The bottom line
Hollywood Bus Tours is the safe default given its sheer review volume and consistent 4.9 rating, while A Day in LA Tours is the better call if you want one long day that covers Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Griffith Observatory. Whichever you pick, confirm the departure point and whether hotel pickup is included.
