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Which Hollywood studio tour should you pick? | Warner Bros., Universal, Paramount and Sony, explained

One of the questions Taiwanese friends ask me most: 'Which studio tour should I do?' The big four differ in route, what you see and who they're for. One studio per page: price, age limits, ID, photo rules and parking, all spelled out.

Translated from Jasmine’s original Chinese. The illustrated slides are on the interactive reader.

Key points

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  1. 00 | Which studio tour should you do?

    LA has four big studio tours, each with different routes, content and audiences. Pick the wrong one and it's not that it won't be fun; you might drive all the way there and not get in because of age or ID rules.

  2. 01 | First, there are three kinds of tours

    WB and Paramount are small-group tram tours with lots of behind-the-scenes stories; Sony is entirely on foot, like visiting a company that's still at work; Universal is a tram ride inside a theme park, more like an attraction.

  3. 02 | Where the four studios are in LA

    WB is in Burbank and Universal is in Universal City, close enough to do on the same day; Paramount is the last major studio still headquartered in Hollywood; Sony is in Culver City.

  4. 03 | Know these words and the tour's more fun

    A backlot is outdoor street sets, where one New York street can play many cities; a soundstage is an indoor studio; a hot set is one being filmed, so no photos and no talking.

  5. 04 | Warner Bros. ①: the best for film fans, a whole morning

    The tram rolls through the backlot streets, where door handles and light fixtures change after every production, so it's a little different every time. Adults $79; classic film fans can choose the TCM Classic Films Tour.

  6. 05 | Warner Bros. ②: Central Perk's orange couch

    Stage 48 has the Central Perk set from Friends, and there's a real, working Central Perk Café next to it. There's a line for the couch, so head over right when the tram ends.

  7. 06 | Warner Bros. ③: getting sorted into a House in Burbank

    The Harry Potter and DC exhibits are included in the standard tour; the Superman Experience, new in April 2026, is a separate ticket; the Deluxe Tour, at $330, includes lunch.

  8. 07 | Universal ①: a studio with a whole day of rides attached

    The tram ride is about 60 minutes, past the Bates Motel, Back to the Future's Courthouse Square, the 747 crash site and Jaws. The tram closes earlier than the park, so don't wait for the last one.

  9. 08 | Universal ②: what's new in 2026

    The Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift roller coaster opened September 16, 2026, with a 51-inch height requirement; the old Supercharged was pulled from the tram tour back in March 2025.

  10. 09 | Paramount: inside actual Hollywood

    See the props warehouse, the New York Backlot, and the Bronson Gate, where lots of people stop for a photo. Ages 10+, photos allowed, no video.

  11. 10 | Sony: walking where The Wizard of Oz was filmed

    About 2 hours entirely on foot, and when they're not taping, you may get into the Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune studios. Ages 12+, no exceptions, no walk-up tickets.

  12. 11 | When you can't get a studio slot

    Disney only has occasional D23 Walking Tours; The Hollywood Museum is in the old Max Factor building, where Marilyn Monroe went blonde; the Academy Museum is great too.

  13. 12 | One table, all of it

    Standard tours: WB $79, Universal included in park tickets from $109, Paramount $71, Sony $55. Ages: WB 5+, Universal any age, Paramount 10+, Sony 12+.

  14. 13 | Which one's for whom?

    Friends and Harry Potter fans → WB; a full day with little kids → Universal; old Hollywood, only half a day → Paramount; like walking, love game shows → Sony.

  15. 14 | Tips

    Weekday morning tours are less crowded; areas where crews are filming can close on short notice; no photos on hot sets, and when the guide says phones away, put them away. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a jacket.

  16. 15 | Before you go: ID, age, parking

    WB and Paramount require government photo ID for 18+, so visitors should bring a passport. 'Keep your passport in your bag, or you'll drive all the way to Burbank and not get in.'

  17. 16 | A studio day route

    Valley version: the first WB tour in the morning → Central Perk Café at noon → Universal in the afternoon. Hollywood version: Paramount → the Hollywood Museum. Westside version: Sony → Culver City.

  18. 17 | Two faces of filmmaking

    I've lined up for premieres, waiting for the moment a movie is 'done'; streets near my place have been closed off for shoots. A studio tour is everything in between those two scenes.

  19. 18 | Two-city mirror

    In Taipei, after finishing a show, you go to the café from the show and shoot from the same angle. 'In Taipei, we go where the show went; in LA, we walk into where shows are made.'

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An original JSLALALAND field guide by Jasmine Chang (@jslalaland).