Why do a tour of Los Angeles?
To answer that let me explain why I created The Real Los Angeles Tours. The inspiration for it came when I was traveling around Europe in 2012 and stumbled (via an internet search) on a guided walking tour in Sofia. In the past I would wander around on my own, but I realized that a walking tour is a much better way get to know a city. I got a quick history lesson, saw most of the best sights and was able to ask all the important questions I had (like where’s the best place for lunch) from a local expert. I got so much more from my trip – so much so that I began doing walking tours in every new city I visited.
I looked for a tour of L.A. like that, but all I could find were bus tours of Beverly Hills mansions (most of which have never had a star living in them) and Rodeo Drive, which is just a tiny part of Los Angeles. So as an Angeleno who loves to travel and loves L.A., I felt compelled to start a new company, offering visitors totally different tours, ones that would reveal a whole other, much more interesting, side of the city.
I want to show you the L.A. that I know, which many tourists never experience, where different cultures meet, history’s made and there’s beauty around every corner, both natural and architectural. I want to show you the real Los Angeles.
Damien, founder of The Real Los Angeles Tours
The Real Los Angeles Tours has a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for receiving over 325 5-star reviews.
We have Los Angeles tours for all budgets: free self guided tours, group tours from just $25 pp & private tours from just $150 per group.
Our expert guides create entertaining & engaging tours, which will transform your understanding & appreciation of L.A.
We get off the beaten track to reveal the hidden beauty of Los Angeles, making your visit a truly memorable & enjoyable experience.
Our Los Angeles Tours Calendar
Our Story
Since we launched The Real Los Angeles Tours in 2013 more than 10,000 guests, from over 100 countries, have joined us on a tour. LA has a huge amount of history, culture, art, beautiful architecture and great food and our mission has always been to give our guests an authentic experience of that – what we call the real Los Angeles. That’s why we don’t use tour buses, because you can’t experience the city from a moving vehicle, you need to walk the streets, take the Metro, hike the hills or bicycle down the beach. As well as being the best kinds of tours anyway they’re the most eco-friendly too. That’s something we’re very concerned about, which is why we give 5% of ALL revenue to Climate Cents, a local climate change organization. To help you make the most of your trip we also have a section called L.A. Info, with advice on topics such as where to stay in L.A., things to do in California and tipping in the U.S.
We have a bike tour of Santa Monica and Venice, both Hollywood and downtown L.A. walking tours, an all day metro and walking tour of L.A., LAX layover tours, a Griffith Park hike, a mystery ghost tour in DTLA, private tours and self-guided Los Angeles tours. We’ll take you into the most beautiful and historic buildings here (like Union Station, the Bradbury and the Fine Arts Building), we’ll introduce you to some of the best food in the U.S. and we’ll reveal L.A.’s fascinating history, letting you know exactly how and why this tiny farming town on the edge of the vast Spanish Empire became the world famous city that it is now. So what are you waiting for? Join us and discover the real Los Angeles.
Our Guides
Silvie
I was raised trilingual (English, Danish and German) in Denmark, leaving when I was just 19 years old, curious to discover the world and wanting to build multicultural bridges, and my first destination was Los Angeles. I spent five super fun years here, before leaving on more globetrotting adventures, living in Australia, Singapore and several European countries. But the lure of L.A. drew me back in 2011 and now I'm finally ready to hang up my boots. I'm always eager to share my passion for the secret spots of the city I love and call home.
Terry
I've done many things in my time, including being a stand-up comedian, a musician and a financial advisor, but one thing I've always loved to do in my time off is travel. I've visited every US state and over 25 countries. My last big trip was a month in New Zealand. What do my vacations have in common? Well, I've taken a tour in almost every place I've been. I strongly feel that experiencing a city on a guided walking tour, with someone who has a passion for it, is the best ways to connect with the heart of that place and its people.
Damien
I'm from the UK and I majored in History at the University of London. Travel has always been one of my biggest passions and I lived in Germany, Spain and Australia, before moving to L.A. in 2008. Since then I really feel like Los Angeles has become my home. I love its dynamism and multiculturalism, the many cultural offerings it has, the friendly nature of most people here and, of course, the weather. In many ways the reason for founding The Real Los Angeles Tours was to give visitors the chance to fall in love with L.A. like I did.
Vicky
Hi! Like many people you meet here I'm a transplant, arriving here from the great state of Iowa in 2015. I got the travel bug when I was 19 years old, traveling to Italy with my best friend. Since that first excursion I've returned to Europe twice and backpacked around most of the continent, in addition to traveling extensively around the United States, Central and South America. Next on my list is Asia and Japan. I enjoy sharing my passion for travel and my love for Los Angeles with all who come on my tours.
Stuart
One thing I really love about L.A. is the sheer variety of its various neighborhoods. I live in DTLA in an old hotel that's been converted into apartments, so I'm always reminded of the city's fascinating history. That's made me passionate about uncovering its hidden treasures; two areas of particular interest are gangsters and the Golden Age of Hollywood - which have more in common than you may think! I moved here from the UK, where I was a successful composer, in 2013, but my heart now belongs to the city of angels.