Los Angeles’ urban landscape is characterised by several distinctive architectural styles – all of which can be discovered by booking onto a guided architecture tour of the city.
(Photo: LA Walking Tours)
The sprawling South Californian city has always been a place of whimsy and experimentation – in no realm more true when it comes to its architecture. Indeed, Los Angeles has attracted many famous architects here down the years, including the likes of Richard Meier, Frank Gehry and Richard Neutra, whose creative vision remains indelibly imprinted on the city skyline. Here are 5 of the best LA architecture tours currently available.
Downtown Los Angeles Architecture Walking Tour
This 2-hour walking tour of Downtown LA takes in the city’s finest architectural monuments and their varying styles that span beaux arts, Renaissance Revival, art deco, modernism, and more. Among the landmarks you’ll get to see will be the Wilshire Grand Center (LA’s tallest building), the Broadway Theater District, Central Library, the Fine Arts Building, the NoMadHotel, and more. As you explore, your expert guide will regale you with fascinating facts and tales about the architecture of this iconic city. From $35 per person.
Downtown Los Angeles: Food, Arts and Culture Walking Tour
(Photo: ExperienceFirst California / Courtesy GetYourGuide)
Covering architecture, culture and cuisine, this 2-hour tour includes a visit to one of LA’s finest food halls, and the chance to sample some of the local produce they sell. Other notable highlights include trips to some of the city’s most treasured museums and architectural jewels, such as Union Station, The Walt Disney Concert Hall, The Bradbury, and The US Bank Tower, while you learn all about downtown’s history and culture courtesy of your highly informative guide. There’ll also be insights into the history of public transportation in LA, and how gentrification has changed the urban landscape in recent years. From $39 per person.
Customisable Private Tour with Transfer
For a more exclusive and intimate tour experience, this all-day private tour invites you and your select group of family or friends to hand-pick your itinerary with the help of your guide. On offer will be the chance to take in some of the city’s popular districts, such as Hollywood and Beverly Hills, and their distinctive architecture. Along the way, you’ll be able to take as many breaks as you wish to eat, shop, and explore at your own pace. The tour price includes hotel pick-up and drop-off in a private, air-conditioned vehicle. From $1,131 per groups of 2 (larger group options available).
City Highlights Tour with Cruise Terminal Transfer
(Photo: SUNSEEKER TOURS LONG BEACH / Courtesy GetYourGuide)
If you’re arriving in to LA by cruise liner and want to hit the ground running, then this full-day tour could be just the ticket. After boarding a comfortable van from your chosen cruise terminal, sit back and relax as you’re shown around some of the city’s most famed landmarks and architectural highlights. Marvel at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum which hosted the Olympics twice, enjoy the laid-back ambience and bohemian aesthetic at Venice Beach, and be starstruck as you pass the iconic Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard – all accompanied by live onboard commentary. From $149 per person.
Los Angeles Beginnings Walking Tour
Explore Los Angeles’ vibrant past and glamorous downtown on this 2-hour walking tour through the heart of the city. See the murals and vaulted ceiling at Union Station, browse souvenirs as you stroll historic Olvera Street, then visit the concert halls, cathedral, and park that have helped re-energise the downtown district over the last couple of decades. Other highlights include the chance to ride the shortest railway in the world, the Angels’ Flight funicular, which once ferried Los Angeles’ elite into the city’s most sought-after neighbourhood. From $35 per person.