The 6 Best Historical Tours in Los Angeles

1.Natural History Museum of LA Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 457 reviews · 1 day · from $18Our pick

Spend a day at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, from its T. rex growth series and fossil lab to the Becoming Los Angeles exhibit, Gem and Mineral Hall, and 3.5-acre Nature Gardens. General admission covers permanent exhibits; rotating special exhibits require a separate ticket option.

“I loved it !! It’s very fun especially if you have kids I have teens and they loved it I didn’t think they would but they did especially the butterfly pavilion I recommend!!”

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2.Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Admission

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 111 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $18

Spend about three hours at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, exploring dinosaur fossils, animal dioramas, the Gem and Mineral Hall, native gardens, and live local creatures. Admission includes the main exhibits. Dinosaur Encounters and the Fierce! cat exhibition require separate tickets.

“I used public transportation to go to the museum because parking is quite expensive. The museum was not too crowded and a nice cool temperature on a hot Saturday morning.!”

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3.The History and Architecture of Downtown Los Angeles

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 94 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $39Top rated

Join local guide Chris for a three-hour, small-group walk through Downtown LA’s Historic Core, Bunker Hill, the Civic Center, and Little Tokyo. Ride Angels Flight, hear how the city changed, step inside The Last Bookstore, and sample mochi from Fugetsu-Do. The tour costs $39.20 per person, is offered in English, and has a maximum of 15 people.

“Chris is an excellent guide. You can tell he's passionate about history and that he enjoys sharing all the interesting facts about the most important buildings in Downtown LA, often using pictures to explain. He's not only knowledgeable but also funny, and he's definitely the best company you could have to discover Downtown LA.”

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4.Downtown Los Angeles History and Architecture Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 93 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $35

Explore Downtown Los Angeles on a 2.5-hour walk with a Belgian-born local guide who has lived in DTLA for four years and hosts a podcast about the neighborhood. Expect movie palaces, early skyscrapers, historic interiors when accessible, and lively discussion about how architecture, film and urban change shaped the city.

“I thoroughly enjoyed Eloi’s tour - he has a love for LA and a critical eye at the same time, making for a much more engaging tour than someone just rattling off facts about historical sites. He’s interested in the contradictions and the story-behind-the-story in Downtown L.A.’s architecture, and it was a lot of fun talking through these ideas together. This was easily the best walking tour I’ve taken in the U.S. and one of the better I’ve taken anywhere.”

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5.Celebrity Homes, Beaches & History Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 86 reviews · 5h 30m · from $90

Ride an open-air van with guide Dave or David along the Malibu coast, stopping at Point Dume, the Malibu sign, the pier, the Country Mart and Adamson House. Expect local history, filming locations and celebrity-home drive-bys, plus time for photos, beach air and shopping. The group is limited to 13.

“Fabulous trip , Dave was an outstanding guide . Great photo stops and lots of great information . Lovely lunch stop . Great that small group who all got to know each other . Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend .”

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6.The History and Architecture of Downtown Los Angeles

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 66 reviews · 3 hours · from $39

Join Chris for a three-hour walk through downtown Los Angeles, from a ride on Angels Flight and Frank Gehry’s Disney Concert Hall to Little Tokyo, the Bradbury Building and Grand Central Market. You’ll hear how LA grew, spot film locations, taste mochi from Fugetsu-Do and get practical tips for exploring downtown on your own.

“Chris was a great guide, who has a wealth of knowledge and is so interesting to listen to on this tour. It was great to hear about and understand how LA has become what it is today - a real all-round treat that I would highly recommend to anyone. He is also full of recommendations and happy to answer any questions to make your visit in LA the best it can be.”

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