Los Angeles · HISTORICAL TOURS
A shortlist you could hand a friend landing tomorrow: 15 historical tours worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
Explore Palm Springs mid-century architecture by bike, from Deepwell Estates to Indian Canyons, with guide Brennan and a relaxed flat ride.
“The Palm Springs architecture bike tour was wonderful! The tour guide is adorable and knows so much about the history of the area.”
Explore Solvang after dark with ghost stories, local history, EMF tools, spirit boxes, and a lively guide on this 1-hour-45-minute walking tour.
“The Solvang ghost tour was such a fun experience! Casey was a great guide and knew how to go about the stories of the town and throw some jokes in there too to keep it lighthearted. If you’re wanting to learn about the town in a different light this is definitely a great way to do so! Casey was very informative and knowledgeable about anything we questioned. Highly recommend this tour!”
Explore Lititz’s Moravian roots, 25 historic buildings, and Main Street stories on a private 45-minute walking tour for $12.
“It was a very informative and fun experience. First time that we have had the tour. We appreciated learning about the history of Lititz.”
Explore dinosaur fossils, LA wildlife, gems, minerals, and hands-on exhibits at this family-friendly museum with $18 mobile admission.
“Everything is so exciting ,, the past is so educational and fantastic show in the museum wonderful collection of the past ,, very nice for students and kids ..”
Explore Downtown Los Angeles history, architecture, Little Tokyo, Angels Flight, Broadway, and Grand Central Market on a three-hour walking tour.
“Great walking tour: Chris is extremely knowledgeable and indefatigable- he is a fountain of information about architecture and history. He also is caring, patient and thoughtful (always stopping in the shade!), while ensuring he includes everyone while sharing.”
Explore DTLA’s movie palaces, Art Deco towers, food halls, and urban stories on a small-group architecture walk led by Eloi Mark.
“An excellent tour! Our guide had really done his research thoroughly. We loved learning interesting and obscure facts about the city and the buildings that we visited. We got to discuss thoughtful and intuitive insights and connections from our guide about how LA grew, morphed and changed into what it is now. We felt very comfortable asking questions and being allowed to pursue subjects of interest for more discussion. We had a wonderful time and highly recommend this tour!”
Explore Malibu beaches, celebrity homes, Point Dume, the pier, Adamson House, and local shops on a small-group coastal tour.
“The tour Is very nice and we ha e the possibility to visit Malibu a Amazing Place close tò Los Angeles. We visited a panoramica Place and mall. Dave Is a fantastic guide. I suggest this tour”
Walk through downtown LA with Chris, riding Angels Flight, sampling mochi, and exploring movie sites, landmark buildings, Little Tokyo, and the Historic Core.
“Loved the tour - Chris was enthusiastic and extremely knowledgeable! Was a super hot day so made sure we were always shaded and hydrated! Would recommend him!”
Explore Santa Barbara’s adobes, courtyards, theaters, and Spanish Colonial Revival landmarks on a flexible private walking tour.
“Sullivan Israel is passionate about the history of Santa Barbara and his tour brings the past to life! He is personable, engaging and endlessly knowledgeable and the tour is a must for visitors to Santa Barbara!”
Explore Lancaster’s past on a guided city walk, then sample local craft beer at two pubs for a relaxed 2.5-hour outing.
“I bought this experience as a gift for my boyfriend’s birthday. He absolutely loved it! A great deep dive of the local history. Thanks, Mike!”
Explore Santa Barbara after dark on a two-hour ghost walk through historic buildings, Presidio sites, Chumash stories, and possible paranormal encounters.
“Our guide was very knowledgeable, but we spent way too much time standing in haunted parking lots. I would have preferred standing in front of haunted buildings or actually in the buildings. Maybe there is a shortage of ghosts in Santa Barbara?”
Explore haunted Hollywood and dark LA history by coach, from the Black Dahlia to the Cecil Hotel, with evening stops and live storytelling.
“Jennifer was a great tour guide! She was very knowledgeable and entertaining. We did get out in an area with *quite a few* homeless people which made my heart race as it's not something I'm used to coming from the area I do, but Jennifer confidently walked us right on by and ensured there were no one missing (or extras) getting back on the bus. The bus was super comfortable and the driver did not drive like a lunatic (which was incredibly impressive after doing several other tours with others through the same areas LOL). Would recommend this tour for anyone looking for a mixture of cool but darker history,…”
Cruise Newport Harbor by private Duffy boat, seeing historic islands, yacht clubs, luxury homes, and the oceanfront piers with a local captain.
“It was very relaxing. We had a seventh grader and a third grader on the boat. They both had a great time. As we were going to be going to dinner, we didn’t bring any food on. However, we did bring some beverages. It would be a nice way to have a light meal.”
Taste Santa Barbara favorites, local wine, and artisan food while exploring historic landmarks with a small-group guide.
“Bob was very knowledgeable and entertaining. We have visited Santa Barbara many times, but now we have learned so much about its history. The food stops were wonderful and we plan on returning to all of them.”
Explore DTLA architecture, movie palaces, Bunker Hill, the Bradbury Building, and Last Bookstore with a lively local guide.
“I was very blessed to be the sole guest. My host was fabulous. His knowledge of architecture & history of the area was amazing. It was excellent and for a snapshot of LAs history I couldn't recommend it higher.”
Pick a coastline, a canyon or a back lot.
