Studio Tours you can book when you’re staying at Hollywood & Highland (Ovation Hollywood)

You’re on Hollywood Boulevard, looking at the stars in the sidewalk and wondering which studio tour to book and how to get there without losing half your day in traffic. From the Hollywood & Highland complex, now branded as Ovation Hollywood, you can reach four different, real working-studio experiences in about 10 to 45 minutes depending on which one you choose and whether you ride Metro or call a car.

Start with two basics at your doorstep. Ovation Hollywood’s garage at 6801 Hollywood Blvd posts $2.50 every 20 minutes with a $25 daily max, plus validation deals like $3 for up to 2 hours from participating shops and $3 for up to 4 hours with validation from TCL Chinese Theatre and a short list of venues in the center. The Metro B Line (Red) station named Hollywood/Highland sits directly under the complex, and a standard Metro fare is $1.75 with 2 hours of free transfers and daily fare capping at $5 when you use TAP or a contactless card.

Begin at the hub: what “Hollywood & Highland” offers before you go

You can wait inside, grab coffee, validate parking, and step straight onto the subway without crossing a street. The garage entrances are on Highland Avenue (in front of the hotel) and on Orange Court; the posted daily max is $25, valet tops at $35, and select tenants validate to bring the first block of time down to $3. Center hours run 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. Sunday–Thursday and 10:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. Friday–Saturday; individual restaurants and the theaters keep later hours. If you are heading out by rail, you will board the B Line downstairs and can be at Universal City one stop away or Downtown in about 20 minutes when trains are running normally.

If you plan to leave your car here while you tour elsewhere, validate before you go to lock in the $3 first block, then expect regular rates to apply after the validated window.

Pick your studio: price points, age rules, and what you actually see

Four legitimate, behind-the-scenes options are within easy reach of Ovation Hollywood. Only one of them sits inside a theme park; the others are working lots where productions film on weekdays, and rules are firmer as a result.

Booking patterns differ. Warner Bros. publishes multiple tiers and sells out busy weekends; same-day slots exist but are not a safe bet. Paramount runs tours most days, with departures every 15–30 minutes in many seasons, but still advises advance purchase and has firm age and ID rules. Sony operates Monday through Friday on a smaller campus and caps groups, which is why you will see $55 flat pricing and a higher minimum age. Universal’s Studio Tour is a ride inside the park; you reserve a day ticket, not a tour ticket.

The easiest ways to reach each studio from Hollywood & Highland

Universal Studios Hollywood (most direct by rail)

From the Hollywood/Highland B Line station under Ovation Hollywood, ride one stop to Universal City/Studio City. At street level, follow signs over the pedestrian bridge to the official Universal shuttle and ride up to the park gates. The shuttle is complimentary and runs throughout the day. Your Metro fare is $1.75 with free transfers for two hours; daily capping hits $5 if you make several rides in one day.

Time your day so the Studio Tour sits earlier or mid-day. The tram ride itself runs about 45–60 minutes and is included with any dated park ticket; there is no separate Studio Tour ticket to purchase.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood (fastest by short rideshare, workable by transit)

Door to door from Ovation Hollywood to Burbank is a short hop by car over Cahuenga and Barham. Many guests choose a rideshare for the 4–5 mile trip, then park back under Ovation later for dinner. If you prefer transit, take the B Line to North Hollywood and connect to Metro Express 501 toward Burbank’s Media District, then walk a few blocks to the Tour Center at 3400 Warner Blvd. Tour operating hours are typically 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. with the Studio Store open later.

Warner Bros. requires a government-issued photo ID for all visitors 18+ and does not admit children under 5. Parking at the Tour Center is a posted $15 per vehicle in the covered guest lot if you choose to drive.

Paramount Pictures Studio Tour (closest by surface bus or short car hop)

Paramount’s Tour Center sits in Hollywood proper at 5515 Melrose Ave, about two miles south of Ovation Hollywood. If you want to keep it on transit, board Metro Bus 217 from the stops near Hollywood/Highland and ride south toward Fairfax and Melrose; the route serves the Melrose corridor near the studio. Tours depart most days with options at $69 (Studio Tour), $150 (Premier), and $220 (VIP). Paramount asks guests to arrive 30 minutes early and to bring ID for adults.

Driving is simple if you prefer: Studio Tour parking is in Visitor Lot A at 643 N Windsor Blvd and is $20 for the Studio and Premier Tours. VIP Tour parking is complimentary with your VIP confirmation. Rideshare pickup and drop-off is at the Melrose Gate, 5555 Melrose Ave.

Sony Pictures Studio Tour (best by car or a longer rail-bus combo)

Sony’s tours operate Monday through Friday in Culver City at 10202 W Washington Blvd. From Hollywood & Highland, most visitors opt for a rideshare to keep it under an hour door to door. If you prefer transit, you can take the B Line and connect to east-west buses toward Culver City, but budget more time and walking. The two-hour walking tour posts a flat $55 per person, welcomes guests age 12+, and includes free parking in the Overland structure at 3990 Overland Ave with validation inside the tour office.

Tickets, ID checks, and timing that can trip people up

One rule applies at all working lots: bring valid ID for adults and leave large bags at home. Warner Bros. explicitly requires government photo ID for all guests 18+, does not admit children under 5, and screens bags at the Tour Center. Paramount welcomes guests 10+, asks adults to show ID at check-in, and offers tours rain or shine. Sony welcomes guests 12+ and runs weekdays only. Photography is allowed in designated areas on the working-lot tours; staff will tell you when and where. Video recording is generally not permitted on backlot portions.

Booking windows are straightforward. Warner Bros. and Paramount both advise buying in advance because daily capacity is limited; same-day walk-ups exist at Paramount when space allows. Sony requires reservations for weekday slots. Universal requires only a park ticket dated for the day you plan to go; the Studio Tour is included and you simply queue for the next tram.

Driving and rideshare basics for each studio

Parking and pick-up points vary by studio and are rigidly enforced. If you plan to drive from Ovation Hollywood, set the destination to the actual tour address, not a corporate office.

• Warner Bros. Park at the Tour Welcome Center garage, 3400 Warner Blvd, Burbank. Posted fee is $15 per vehicle. RVs and trailers are not permitted in the guest lot.
• Paramount Studio Tour and Premier Tour parking is in Visitor Lot A, 643 N Windsor Blvd, for $20. VIP Tour parking is complimentary with your VIP confirmation. Rideshare uses the Melrose Gate at 5555 Melrose Ave.
• Sony Tours validate free parking at 3990 Overland Ave on weekdays; the tour office is at 10202 W Washington Blvd.
• Universal If you come by Metro, cross to the pedestrian bridge at Universal City/Studio City and take the complimentary shuttle to the park. If you drive, follow Universal’s signs for General or Preferred parking and enter the theme park to access the Studio Tour.

If you would rather not move your car once it is parked under Ovation Hollywood, do not overlook the simple pairings: B Line one stop to Universal; short rideshare to Warner Bros. or Paramount; or a quick hop on Metro 217 down to Melrose for Paramount when traffic is heavy.

Key things to know at a glance

• Ovation Hollywood parking:$2.50/20 minutes, $25 daily max, with validations that bring the first 2–4 hours to $3 depending on the tenant. Entrances on Highland and Orange Court.
• Metro fare:$1.75 includes 2 hours of free transfers on Metro and fare-caps at $5/day when you use TAP or a contactless card.
• Universal Studio Tour: Included with theme park admission. Rail is fastest from Hollywood/Highland, then the free shuttle up the hill.
• Warner Bros. Studio Tour: Base adult ticket $79, minimum age 5, ID required for 18+, posted parking $15, operating window commonly 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
• Paramount Studio Tours:$69 Studio Tour, $150 Premier, $220 VIP; Studio/Premier parking $20, VIP parking included; minimum age 10.
• Sony Pictures Studio Tour:$55, minimum age 12, weekdays only, and free parking at 3990 Overland Ave.

Reader Q&A

Can I just walk to a studio tour from Hollywood & Highland?

Not realistically, except for Universal which sits one B Line stop away with a free shuttle to the gate. Warner Bros. is about 4–5 miles in Burbank, Paramount is about 2 miles south on Melrose, and Sony is in Culver City. Short rideshares or a simple Metro hop make more sense from Ovation Hollywood.

Which tour works best if I’m traveling with kids?

Universal’s Studio Tour is inside the theme park and does not have a special minimum age beyond the park’s general rules, so families ride together. Working-lot tours have firm minimums: Warner Bros. is age 5+, Paramount is 10+, and Sony is 12+.

Is the Universal Studio Tour a separate ticket?

No. At Universal, the Studio Tour is a ride included with any valid day ticket. You do not book a time slot; you enter the park and queue for the next tram. The other three studios sell dated tour tickets separately from any other attraction.

Where do I park for Paramount and is it included?

Use Paramount’s Visitor Lot A at 643 N Windsor Blvd across from the Tour Center at 5515 Melrose Ave. Parking is posted at $20 for the Studio and Premier Tours, while VIP Tour parking is complimentary with a VIP confirmation email.

If you want the shortest total travel, pair your choice with the easiest connection: Universal with the B Line, Warner Bros. by a quick car hop, Paramount by Metro 217 or car, and Sony by car on a weekday. That one pairing trims more time than any other single decision you will make.

Published: September 7, 2026