The 15 Best Griffith Observatory Tours

1.Griffith Observatory Hike: Guided Tour through Griffith Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,020 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $34Our pick

Hike 3.5 miles through Griffith Park with a first-aid-certified local guide, hearing Hollywood stories and viewing the Sign, Mount Lee, Downtown LA, and the San Fernando Valley before reaching Griffith Observatory. Choose a 10 a.m. or sunset departure. Guides include Michael, Josh, Chris, Sarah, and Mark.

“Our guide Erik, is very knowledgeable about the trekking route and he told us many stories and history. He is also very helpful and friendly.. he is very good tour guide ! View is fantastic from this trekking.”

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2.Hollywood Night Tour with Griffith Observatory

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 531 reviews · 1h 30m · from $49

Ride an open-air bus through Hollywood with guides such as Brian, Craig, Darren, and Daren, passing the Dolby Theatre, TCL Chinese Theatre, Pantages, and Sunset Boulevard. You get 30 minutes at Griffith Observatory, with outdoor views available on Mondays when the building is closed.

“Enjoyed it but no window buses let a stiff wind inside which made it cold”

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3.Griffith Observatory Insider Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 306 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $52

Spend 90 minutes with an expert guide at Griffith Observatory, starting at the Astronomers Monument and moving through key exhibits, film lore, astronomy, and Hollywood Sign viewpoints. Guides such as Estevan, Barry, and Angelica bring the building to life. A Samuel Oschin Planetarium ticket is included.

“Great insight and understanding of what you are looking at and not walking around aimlessly in the facility.”

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4.Griffith Observatory Insider Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 287 reviews · 1h 30m · from $52

Spend 90 minutes exploring Griffith Observatory with an observatory-trained guide such as Barry, Angelica, or Estevan. You’ll visit key exhibits across 67,000 square feet, hear stories about astronomy, architecture, films, and Los Angeles, then use your included ticket for a 40-minute Samuel Oschin Planetarium show.

“Berry was an excellent tour guide. He was very friendly, professional and knowledgeable. This was an outstanding tour to get all the information about the Griffith Observatory. Without this tour you would be viewing all the exhibits without really understanding them. After understanding everything from this tour you can then see everything up close and really take in all the exhibits.”

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5.Private Getty Center to Griffith Observatory Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 185 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $172

Spend six hours exploring Los Angeles with a private guide, from the Original Farmers Market and Getty Center to Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Griffith Park, and Griffith Observatory. Guides such as Brian, Matt, Gregory, and Estevan bring local stories, art, film lore, and city views to life.

“The tour was amazing and the tour guide Matt was awesome! Great experience, I do wish the Getty Museum tour was longer. Thank you for an amazing experience :)”

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6.Hollywood Sign Hiking Tour to Griffith Observatory

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 106 reviews · 2 hours · from $613

Walk from Franklin’s Cafe in Los Feliz to Griffith Observatory with an English-speaking private guide. Expect a slow, steep half-hour climb, Ennis House, Hollywood Sign views, LA history, and the choice to explore the observatory or walk back.

“Chris was a wonderful tour guide I also enjoyed the co tour guide and Odin. Chris was very knowledgeable about the park and it’s history and later gave us great places to visit throughout the city. This is something I would definitely recommend all newcomers to do. Not only do you get the history you’re also getting a good work out in. The earlier the better as it gets hotter throughout the day.”

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7.Hollywood Sign Hiking Tour to Griffith Observatory

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 99 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $39

This three-hour guided hike starts in Griffith Park and climbs toward Griffith Observatory, with distant Hollywood Sign views, Los Feliz streets, Ennis House, skyline photo stops, and local history. Guides have included Paul, Lisa, Chris, Matt, and others. Expect steep sections and about 20 flights of stairs.

“Experience and knowledge of the guide and the time spent with us. Learned history, stories, and facts.”

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8.Hollywood Night Tour with Griffith Observatory

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 67 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $49

Ride through Hollywood with a guide, pass landmarks such as the Chinese Theatre and Sunset Gower Studios, then spend about 30 to 45 minutes at Griffith Observatory. Expect city views, Hollywood sign photos, and lively commentary, but bring a jacket for the open-sided bus.

“The only thing worth seeing was the top of Mulholland Dr. Definitely not worth the money.”

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9.Private Tour of Griffith Observatory

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 58 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $349

Meet your private guide at the Astronomers Monument for a three-hour tour of Griffith Observatory. Guides such as Estevan, James, Matt, and Angelica explain the science, history, exhibits, and views for your group of up to 10, with an optional 40-minute planetarium show.

“Awesome tour…very informative—would recommend. Only complaint: tour guide spoke so quickly, it was hard to grasp what was being said.”

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10.G’day LA by Luxury E-Bike: Griffith Park, Observatory to LA River

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 57 reviews · 3 hours to 3 hours 20 minutes (approx.) · from $175

Join Gavin or Shelli-Anne for a small-group e-bike ride from Atwater Village through the LA River and Griffith Park. You’ll see the Hollywood Sign, Greek Theatre, Griffith Observatory, Autry Museum, and local-only viewpoints on a premium bike built for hills and trails.

“Gavin our tour guide was awesome! He is extremely knowledgeable of the local area and full of great information. The route was beautiful, with lots to see and we just had a great time! It was so nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The bikes were easy to learn and very easy to ride. I highly recommend!”

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11.Griffith Observatory: Scott E-Bike Tours LA Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $124

Scott leads a private 3 to 4-hour e-bike tour from the Hollywood Walk of Fame through film sites, music landmarks, city parks, and Hollywood Hills roads. You’ll get strong bikes, local stories, safety guidance, and prime Hollywood Sign views, with photos along the way.

“This tour exceeded my expectations. Amazing Tour. Scott’s in depth knowledge intuition made a fantastic tour guide. He customized the tour to my needs. It was my first time to LA and Hollywood, ever. Little did I know or until the end of the tour, other tour guides told me has the most in depth knowledge of any tour guide. He’s been doing it for almost 20 years. His bikes are top notch and best in class I felt very safe and in control the whole time. But, Scott really makes the tour. He took unbelievably “epic” photos for me the whole time, lots of stories and picturesque views with…”

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12.Private Getty Center to Griffith Observatory Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 23 reviews · from $480

Spend six hours with a private English-speaking guide at the Getty Center and Griffith Observatory, linked by a narrated drive through Beverly Hills, the Sunset Strip, and Hollywood. Guides such as Gregory and Bryan add local stories, while free time lets you explore at your own pace.

“Our tour guide Gregory was knowledgeable, entertaining, and funny! He made the tour so enjoyable. Our bus driver Tony got us to each destination safely and he was friendly as well. Wonderful sights at Getty and Griffith. Loved it!”

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13.From Hollywood: Griffith Observatory Sunset Tour with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 20 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)

You’ll ride from Hollywood to Griffith Observatory in an open-top luxury minibus, with a live English-speaking guide adding local context along the way. At the observatory, you get about 30 minutes to see exhibits, telescopes, and the city below before returning to Hollywood.

“Billed as sunset cruise. Was advertised as sunset cruise. Was dark when we left. Could not see sites along the way. No sunset at planetarium. Sun had set 1 hr before. Did not see Hollywood sign as promised. Our guide was overbearing and loud. $59 ea . We want a refund!”

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14.Griffith Park & Hollywood Sign Sunset Hike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 11 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $60

Walk about 3.5 miles through Griffith Park with guides such as Benny, Chris, or Damian, learning Los Angeles history along the way. You’ll see the Greek Theatre, bird sanctuary, Hollywood Sign, Dante’s View, Hollywood Hills, and Griffith Observatory, with sunset views and a reusable bottle included.

“Benny was maxing and has extensive historical knowledge of LA! We hiked with him for 3 hours. Thank you Benny!”

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15.Griffith Observatory Open-top Sunset Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 6 reviews · from $56

You’ll ride from Hollywood Boulevard through Hollywood Hills and Los Feliz in an open-top Mercedes minibus, then spend 30 minutes at Griffith Observatory. An English-speaking guide shares LA stories while you view the Hollywood Sign, Downtown LA, the Pacific Ocean, and astronomy exhibits.

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