Los Angeles Tourist Cards

Los Angeles is one of the most expensive cities in the United States and it pays to look for ways to save money during your trip. In general, the city has three digital passes that offer convenience and flexibility. They also allow you to enjoy the most popular and lesser-known attractions, as well as customise your itinerary.

If you want to take advantage of the best things to do in Los Angeles, you can opt for the All Inclusive Pass, a suitable option for those who want to enjoy unlimited attractions in a few hours or days. Meanwhile, the Explorer Pass is ideal for those who want to choose the number of attractions and have access for up to 60 days. The Sightseeing FLEX Pass, on the other hand, gives access to lesser-known gems for up to 30 days. Here are all the details about each one.

In the city of Angels you can:

• Book the Angeles All-Inclusive Pass: a comprehensive option that allows you to discover LA at your own pace. It offers 60 attractions that you can take advantage of in 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7 days.
• Buy the Los Angeles Explorer Pass: an alternative that allows you to choose the attractions of your choice to customise your itinerary. You can select 2, 3, 4, 4, 5 or 7 attractions from a list of 25 options and the pass is valid for 60 days after activation.
• Book Los Angeles Sightseeing FLEX Pass: an option to visit 3, 4, 5 or 7 attractions that are characterised by being fun and less exploited by tourists. You can choose from 20 alternatives and the pass is valid for 30 days.

If you are looking for flexibility and to explore Los Angeles at your own pace, the best option may be to buy the Los Angeles All-Inclusive Pass This pass offers around 60 attractions and attractions that you can enjoy in 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7 days. You can get it from €210 per person and take advantage of special prices for the kids, so it's ideal if you're going to Los Angeles with children Plus, you can enjoy the city at significant savings and even skip the queues at certain attractions.

This pass also usually offers a tour on one of LA' s best sightseeing buses to enjoy the free stops for 1 day, allowing you to combine the different attractions without worrying about transfers.

Benefits

• Access to over 60 attractions and tourist attractions.
• Flexibility to activate it whenever you want and use it for 2, 3, 4, 4, 5 or 7 days (depending on your choice).
• Includes among its options a ride on the Los Angeles Big Bus with audio guide, two routes and approximately 12 free stops. You will have a 1-day pass, and if you decide to ride a second time, you will have to pay for the ticket, although discounts are often offered for the second day on board.
• It includes a map and guide in a downloadable app that allows you to manage the pass.

Attractions and highlights

There are plenty of attractions and attractions to take advantage of, but here are the most popular with tourists:

• Knott's Berry Farm, enjoy roller coasters, interactive 4D experiences and water rides.
• Guided tour of the Hollywood sign, climb up to the California hills and enjoy the views of Los Angeles. Of course, take the opportunity to immortalise your visit and take a photo with the sign in the background. But don't forget that this plan requires a reservation.
• Aquarium of the Pacific, access 19 themed habitats, educational experiences and a theatre with multi-sensory projections. You must also book in advance.
• Knott's Soak City Water Park, if you plan to visit Los Angeles in summer you can take advantage of the water slides, water rides and wave pools.
• Madame Tussauds Hollywood, enjoy wax exhibits of pop icons, actors, movie characters and sports legends.

Remember that there are activities that require advance booking and seasonal attractions (only available during certain months of the year). They usually have a notice in the app guide.

Premium Attractions

This digital card offers a premium attraction to those who choose a 3, 4, 5 or 7 day pass. You can choose from:

• Universal Studios Hollywood, enjoy roller coasters and shows, as well as tours of the Hollywood studios and sets. Must be booked the same day of the visit in the morning.
• Tour Warner Bross Studios Los Angeles, discover the magic of filmmaking and how scripts and special effects are made. Visit Central Perk and join the Friends group or find out which house you belong to at Hogwarts. Reservation required.
• Big Bus Celebrity House Tour, you can access a bus tour that includes a tour of celebrity houses in Los Angeles. This activity is only available by reservation.
• LEGOLAND California, enjoy more than 60 attractions and shows inspired by the franchise. Reservations may be required.
• Whale and Dolphin Watching Cruise, take advantage of one of the best cruises in Los Angeles and marvel at blue whales, humpbacks and different types of dolphins. Advance reservations are required.

You'll be able to identify premium attractions on the app because they usually have a diamond at the top.

Cost comparison

The best way to find out if a Tourist Card is worthwhile is to compare the individual prices of each attraction to be visited. Of course, it all depends on how you organise your itinerary and how many attractions you are willing to visit per day.

• Buy tickets for Universal Studios Hollywood: typically €109 per person or €329 if you book the VIP experience.
• Tickets to Knott's Berry Farm: around €100 per person.
• Book a tour of Warner Bros Studios Hollywood: normally €72 per person.
• Book a Hollywood sign climb: from €22.
• Join a bus tour of Hollywood and celebrity homes: around €37 per person.
• Aquarium of the Pacific: about €53 per person.
• LEGOLAND California tickets: about €72 per person.
• Go on a whale and dolphin watching cruise: about €60 per person.
• Buy tickets for Knott's Soak City water park: from €70 per person.
• Buy tickets for Madame Tussauds Hollywood: typically €34 per person.
• Book the Los Angeles Big Bus sightseeing bus: around €56.

How to use it

It is a very easy to use pass that activates after the first use. You select the number of days that best suits your needs and, once activated, you have 14 calendar days to redeem each one. This means you don't need to use the pass consecutively, which is ideal for making the most of your time and incorporating breaks between visits. For example, if you buy a 5-day pass, you can use it at your convenience in the period indicated.

Another great advantage is that you can use it at any time up to 2 years after purchase (as long as you don't activate it). You will need to download an app to manage your pass and access a city guide with timetables, relevant information and tips. This card does not offer a physical ticket, you will only have a code that is scanned at the entrance of each attraction.

Interesting details

• Price: from €210 per adult and €190 per child.
• Duration: you can choose between 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7 day passes.
• Advantages of this option: you can save up to 50% on the best tickets in Los Angeles.
• Disadvantages of this option: you only have one use per attraction, if you want to repeat you will have to pay for the ticket separately. Also, you can only access one of the premium experiences and this option is only available for 3-7 day passes, but not for 1 or 2 day passes.

Buying the Los Angeles Explorer Pass gives you access to around 25 attractions and is available from €87 per adult. The best thing is that you have the freedom to choose which ones to visit and when to visit them.

The usage time is flexible, as you have a window of up to 60 days after activation. However, the number of attractions is limited and you have options of 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7.

Benefits

• Select from 25 city attractions to save on your holiday and visit 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7 options.
• Enjoy recreational activities such as yoga classes.
• Take advantage of access to the best museums in Los Angeles.
• Join a hop-on, hop-off tour aboard LA's Big Bus.
• Don't miss out on booking tours of Hollywood.
• Use the guide and maps from the e-pass app.

Attraction highlights

The pass offers 25 attractions, but you should choose the ones that catch your eye. It includes options that are also on the All Inclusive Pass, such as the celebrity house tour, the Hollywood tour, the sign climb and the whale watching. Here are some others that I also find interesting:

• Aquarium of the Pacific.
• La Brea Tar Pits and museum, discover paleontological finds and visit a fossil lab.
• Bike ride, cycle and see the most authentic parts of LA.
• Yoga in Huntington Beach, enjoy an oceanfront class combining yoga, pilates and the innovative qigong technique. Please note that reservations are required.
• SoFi Stadium Tour, go behind the scenes of this major stadium and access remote areas such as the locker rooms, player tunnels and the field of play.
• Guided fishing experience, catch fish to improve your skills and then return them to the wild.

Plus, you have activities that are only included in this pass such as a ghost hunt through Chinatown, night tours and walking tours of Haunted Hollywood.

Cost comparison

To get the most out of your pass you need to choose wisely and opt for the ones that you are most excited about or that will save you the most. Here is a list for you to compare the usual prices of some of the attractions available.

• Buy tickets for the Aquarium of the Pacific: approximately €53 per person.
• La Brea Tar Pits and museum: from €15 per person.
• Book a bike tour in LA: around €105 per person, but may vary depending on the number of hours.
• Yoga in Huntington Beach: from €10 per person.
• SoFi Stadium tour: usually €55 per person.
• Guided fishing experience: around €90 per person.

How to use

First you need to select the number of attractions; think carefully because the number cannot be changed later, but don't worry! The type of attractions can be chosen on the fly. The digital pass will arrive in your mailbox and you can manage it on a free app with information about opening times and practical tips. You can activate it for up to two years after purchase and, once activated, you will have a maximum of 60 days to use it.

To enter the attractions you only need to scan the QR code on the app, there is no need to print a physical card.

Interesting details

• Price: from €87 per adult and €73 per child.
• Duration: once activated, it is valid for 60 days.
• Advantages of this option: ideal if you want to visit a specific number of attractions and you will be in the city for more than 7 days.
• Disadvantages of this option: you cannot repeat any of the attractions, as it offers a single use for each selected activity.

Another alternative to save money during your trip is to buy the Los Angeles Sightseeing FLEX Pass. It is an electronic pass that allows you to enjoy 3, 4, 5 or 6 attractions and tourist attractions from 117 € per adult. After activation, you will have 30 working days to use it.

Benefits

• Queue-free access to 3, 4, 5 or 6 attractions (depending on your choice). Choose from 20 different options to create a tailor-made itinerary.
• One-day ticket for the Hop-On Hop-Off sightseeing bus.
• Special discounts at other attractions, restaurants, bars and entertainment venues.
• Free app with maps and guides to help you plan your trip.
• Digital pass for easy scanning.

Attraction Highlights

This pass offers a list of 20 attractions from which you can choose 3, 4, 5 or 6 depending on the type of pass selected. Here are the highlights.

• Madame Tussauds Museum.
• Los Angeles Maritime Museum: discover ship exhibits and the history of the port.
• One hour cruise.
• Los Angeles Treasure Hunt: complete challenges and puzzles, fight zombies and survive to reach the city centre.
• Chinese Theatre Tour: Walk through the Courtyard of Stars and discover the most popular casts that took place in this venue.
• Mystery in Los Angeles: Solve a mystery inspired by Hollywood in the 1920s.
• The Fantastic Race: an experience that combines a sightseeing tour and an interactive mystery novel.
• Dolby Theatre Tour: Discover the home of The Oscars and some of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Shows.

Cost comparison

It offers different options to the other attraction passes and you can compare prices to see if it's worth it.

• Madame Tussauds Museum: normally €34 per person.
• Los Angeles Maritime Museum: from €5 per person.
• One-hour cruise: approximately €40 per person.
• Los Angeles Treasure Hunt: around €20 per person.
• Book a guided tour of the Chinese Theatre: from €55 per person.
• Los Angeles Mystery: the experience is priced at €20 per person.
• The Fantastic Race: approximately €80 per person.
• Book a tour of the Dolby Theatre: from €32 per person.

How to use

This pass is also very convenient as you don't need a physical card. It works in a similar way to the others, but differs in that you have to select a date and activate it on the same day. You then have 30 working days to visit the selected attractions.

Interesting details

• Price: from €117 per adult and €94 per child.
• Duration: the pass is valid for 30 days after activation.
• Benefits of this option: An excellent choice for short visits, business trips or for those who want to see the city's main attractions.
• Disadvantages of this option: It is a bit limited compared to other passes and generally offers little-known gems of Los Angeles. If you're looking for popular attractions like Universal Studios Hollywood, this may not be the pass for you.

Buying a sightseeing pass is a cheaper alternative that can work for as long as you're in the city. It's convenient for short stays, business visits or to get a glimpse of the city's highlights. Plus, it's perfect for accessing the most coveted attractions at great prices and even without the lines.

If you're going to Los Angeles at Christmas or any holiday season, consider that it's high season and the lines at the ticket office are overwhelming. To save time you can use the pass and enjoy the city without limits.

If you are only going to be in Los Angeles for a couple of hours or if you prefer to explore the city on foot in a more spontaneous way, this may not be the best option for you. Also, you should check if the options included are of interest to you.

• Plan your itinerary and choose the attractions of most interest that can save you considerable money.
• Check reservations as some attractions require advance bookings, especially during peak season.
• Explore the pass app and take advantage of valuable tips and information.