When you think of a Los Angeles travel, the main attractions that immediately come to mind are Universal Studios, Disneyland, and the Walk of Fame. However, film and entertainment lovers know that there you can visit multiple filming studios and will certainly want to go to Warner Bros. Studios, which has made and continues to make productions that make Hollywood history.
Famous actors and entertainers are seen here on a daily basis working on movies, TV series, and shows. If you’re lucky, you may even meet some of the stars who are taking a break between one production and another. So let’s go and find out what to expect on a tour of Warner Bros. Studios in Los Angeles.
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How to Get to Warner Bros. Studios
If you want to use public transportation to get to Warner Bros. Studios, one important detail to remember is that there is no subway stop that will take you directly there, not even in the immediate vicinity. One solution is to take a combination of the metro and buses. Depending on the frequency of the buses, the best solution could be to reach North Hollywood Station, which is on the Metro Red Line, and then take the 501 bus that leaves on average every 15 minutes.
Whether or not you take this advice depends mainly on the location you are departing from. In fact, there may be a better way to get there by bus. You can verify this by consulting the L.A. Metro official website, where you can enter your starting point and find out the most convenient solution for your needs.
Since it may be challenging to reach Warner Bros. Studios by bus or metro, when you are booking a tour, consider purchasing a ticket that includes transportation to and from the hotel included in the price.
Parking
If you prefer to drive (In fact, we recommend it. You can read more about this in our article on how to get around Los Angeles), Warner Bros. Studios has a large parking lot where you can park your car for $12 per vehicle. The address is 3400 Warner Blvd. Burbank.
Points of Interest
As we also said in our article dedicated to attractions in Hollywood, Warner Bros. Studios is not the classic movie theme park. Rather, it is an actual film studio that is constantly changing according to the shows and TV series that are being shot there at the moment.
The tours will take you not only to the backlots (buildings or constructions for a particular shoot) of popular productions, such as Casablanca and Batman, and TV series like Friends and Big Bang Theory, but they will also allow you to explore behind-the-scenes of a successful production currently being filmed in the studios.
When visiting Stage 48 Script to Screen, you will also be guided through an interactive path to discover the various stages of making a successful film or series. You’ll then have the possibility to observe up close the greatest variety of costumes and props used during filming at the Prop Department, which can be considered a museum of Warner Bros. Studios.
As you can see, the tours do not stay the same and vary often, even from month to month, depending on which facilities can be accessed on tours and especially on what is happening at the moment. For this reason, I highly recommend that you visit the official website to find out what you can see around the dates you want to book a tour.
There are some areas in which it is not possible to take pictures, but you will always be told where you can use your camera. Videos, on the other hand, are never allowed.
Exhibits at Warner Bros. Studios
The section of Warner Bros. Studios where the exhibits are on display may prove to be particularly interesting. Superhero enthusiasts will enjoy visiting the DC Universe interactive exhibit where you can admire, among other things, the legendary first issues of comics (Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman) that have made the publisher famous. In addition, the exhibit about Batmobiles used for the filming of the famous superhero is quite remarkable.
Just as in the previous case, I advise you to check the official website to see which temporary exhibit will be open during the period of your visit.
Will there be a chance to meet some celebrities?
Given that at Warner Bros. Studios there are shows and television series that are currently in production, there is a possibility, but obviously, there is no guarantee, that you will also meet some celebrities.
Warner Bros. Studios: Tours and Ticket Info
At Warner Bros. Studios, there are two types of tours. The prices of the tours are not the same and the schedules do not always coincide. Before going on a tour, I wish to remind you that Warner Bros. Studios is only closed on Christmas Day.
In general, it is best to arrive at least 15 minutes before the tour begins. Please note: Children under the age of eight are not allowed to enter.
Studio Tour: What to Expect
When I last did the Studio Tour, I saw the most important movie sets used in Warner Bros. productions, the backlots where the shows are recorded, and the exhibits on Batmobiles and DC Universe. A visit to the Prop Department, a museum of props in its own right, was included.
You can also visit Stage 48 Script to Screen on your own. Therefore, you’ll need at least three hours to fully enjoy your experience.
Ticket Prices and Tour Schedule
- Adults: $65
- Children (8 to 12 years old): $55
- Hours: Studio Tours take place between 8:30 am and 4:00 pm every day of the week
These reflect the prices of tickets purchased online. If you buy your ticket on-site (in addition to the risk tours being sold out), you will have to pay an extra $3.
Check the tour schedule and reserve your ticket
Tickets that Include Hotel Pickup
If you don’t want to waste too much time trying to find the best way to get to Warner Bros. Studios by using public transportation, or if you want to avoid driving for a day, you should consider buying tickets that also include transportation from major hotels in Los Angeles.
Book your tour of Warner Bros. Studios with hotel pickup
VIP House Tours
If you want to add an extra special touch to your visit to Warner Bros. Studios, you may be interested to choose the tour that will also take you to the areas where the most famous celebrities live. Once you’ve finished visiting Warner Bros. Studios, you’ll begin a two-hour tour through the streets of Hollywood where many American celebrities’ homes are located. Of course, you can only look at them from a distance, but you will still have an idea of how a celebrity lives!
As you walk through the Sunset Strip, you can see the Hollywood Sign. You will also pass by the famous Hollywood Boulevard where the Walk of Fame, one of the most photographed attractions in the city, is located.
This tour includes transportation to and from all major hotels in Los Angeles.
Check the availability of the Studios and Celebrity Houses Tour
Deluxe Tour
This tour is more demanding, because it will take you at least 5 or 6 hours (so practically the whole day). The tour always starts at 10:00 am (Monday to Friday) and you will be offered both breakfast at Starbucks and lunch at the Warner Bros. Studios’ restaurant.
It will be a very thorough tour of the backstage, post-production studios, special effects studios, and stage costumes. You will have more direct and complete access to the secrets of Warner Bros. Studios and all the successes they have produced throughout their history. On the other hand, the price is quite high. We’re talking about $295 per person.
Los Angeles Pass
If you want to visit Warner Bros. Studios in addition to the many other attractions in the city, it is definitely worth it to take advantage of the Los Angeles Pass. More specifically, the Go Los Angeles Card includes the Warner Bros. Studios tour.
Warner Bros. Studios vs. Universal Studios
Inside Warner Bros. Studios, there are no real spectacular attractions (rides, shows, etc. …) but, as I already mentioned, the main part of your visit will be spent touring the real sets used for filming movies and TV series. Unlike Universal’s Studio Tours, you will not always be on board a minibus. Instead, in some areas, you will have the opportunity to get off and explore the sets more closely.
At Universal Studios, you will listen to an audio guide at the various stops on a minibus, whereas at Warner Bros. Studios, you will be accompanied by a guide. This will allow you to ask any question you wish. Another difference is the size of the tour groups. While on a tour at Universal Studios, you will be with hundreds of people. Instead, at Warner Bros. Studios, you will be divided into groups of 12-13 people.
Another important factor to consider is the length of the tour. The tour of Universal Studios takes all day, whereas Warner Bros. Studios can be easily visited in the morning so that you can devote the second part of the day to other activities.
In conclusion, if you’re really interested in understanding how filming works and all the work that goes into making a Hollywood hit, whether it’s a movie or a TV series, you should seriously consider a visit to Warner Bros. Studios. If the action is what’s most important to you, and you prefer to experience something more like a spectacular theme park, then Universal Studios is the place to go.
Where to Stay in the Area
I recommend that you look for accommodations in West Hollywood and in Pasadena (the same areas where you would stay if you were visiting Universal Studios due to the proximity of these areas to the two film studios). If you are interested in an overview of the hotels in the surrounding area, click on the link below.
