Bus Tours

Bus tours from Santa Monica are the most popular way to see Los Angeles without driving. With 68 options—38% of all tours sold in the city—these range from quick celebrity home routes to full-day city explorations. The most-booked tours have thousands of reviews and cover Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and the coast in a single trip.

Most travelers choose these tours for convenience, especially first-time visitors or those with limited time. The median price is $313, but most group tours run $31–$99 per person. Only 7% of Santa Monica bus tours are rated below 4 stars, so the majority deliver what they promise.

Bus tours make up a large share of Santa Monica’s tour market, with 68 products out of 177 citywide. This is the widest selection of any single category. While the overall median price is $313, that figure is skewed by luxury and private options—most group tours cost between $31 and $99 per person. Five tours are under $30, but these are rare; most affordable options are $30–$60, and the best-selling full-day tours are $69–$99.

Compared to the city’s overall tour median of $125, bus tours offer a wide price spread, from budget sightseeing to high-end private vehicles. Private and luxury options start around $365 and climb to nearly $1,400, but these are not typical. For most travelers, the real choice is between open-air group tours and longer, multi-stop city routes.

The best-reviewed tours in this category have thousands of ratings and average above 4.8 stars. These typically include stops at the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica Pier, with some adding Malibu or Griffith Park.

For travelers who want to see as much of Los Angeles as possible in one day, the $69–$99 full-day or half-day tours are the best fit. These cover Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and often Venice or Griffith Park, with multiple photo stops and time to explore on foot. Tours like 'Full-Day Iconic Sights of LA' and 'Best of Los Angeles Guided City Tour' are consistently rated above 4.8 stars and praised for knowledgeable guides and well-paced itineraries. These are ideal for first-time visitors or anyone without a car.

If your priority is celebrity homes and a quick overview, the $31–$44 open-air bus tours focus on Hollywood and Beverly Hills. These are shorter (2–3.5 hours) and suit those with limited time or a specific interest in celebrity culture. The 'Hollywood, Beverly Hills & Celebrity Homes Tour by Open Air Bus' is the most popular in this range, though reviews note that the emphasis is more on celebrity homes than Hollywood landmarks. Some guests found the actual homes difficult to see or too far away, and a few felt the commentary could be more informative.

For a scenic experience, the Malibu Open-Air Tour from Santa Monica ($39) stands out for its Pacific Coast Highway drive and focus on Malibu’s beaches and celebrity homes. Reviewers highlight the guide’s enthusiasm and flexibility, though a few were disappointed when specific homes or advertised stops were missed. Cancellations on short notice have also occurred, according to reviews.

Across all group tours, the best-rated guides are described as friendly, knowledgeable, and entertaining. However, some tours fall short when guides stick to a script, rush the route, or provide little historical context. Vehicle comfort is generally good, but a few reviews mention issues like noisy buses or difficulty hearing the guide. Most complaints are about unmet expectations—either not enough time at stops, missing advertised sights, or guides who did not engage. Still, with only 7% of bus tours rated below 4 stars, most travelers find these tours a worthwhile way to see LA from Santa Monica.