Griffith Observatory Tour: Insider's Guide

Embark on a small-group guided tour of the iconic Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles. Explore the exhibition space, observatory, and planetarium while learning about science, history, architecture, and movie trivia. Don’t miss the opportunity to watch an immersive show in the planetarium theater. Book now!

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Astronomers Monument - See the Astronomers Monument — a large, outdoor concrete sculpture on the front lawn that pays homage to six of the greatest astronomers of all time.
  • Griffith Observatory - This world-class observatory features one of the largest Foucault Pendulums, a 50,000-volt Tesla Coil, an interactive periodic table of elements,…
What's Included
  • Optional upgrade on-site for your ticket to see a 40-minute show in the Samuel Oschin Planetarium
  • Local guide and expert on the Griffith Observatory
  • Glimpse of the night sky as seen from the Samuel Oschin Telescope at Palomar Observatory
  • Curated itinerary design by former Griffith Observatory employees
  • Panoramic views of the Hollywood Sign
  • Photo op with a statue of Albert Einstein
What's Not Included
  • Parking
  • Gratuities
  • Samuel Oschin Planetarium Tickets (available on-site to purchase)
Additional Information

Guided by knowledgeable observatory staff who are intimately familiar with this landmark, participants will enjoy an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience as part of our Insider Collection.
This small-group tour, designed by observatory experts, offers a carefully curated exploration through space and time, combining elements of science, history,…

Location
Griffith Observatory
East Observatory Road
Meet your guide on the front lawn at Astronomers Monument. NOTE: We are an independent tour company and are not affiliated with the City of LA or their employees. If you ask Observatory staff about the tour they won’t be able to help. You MUST check in with your guide at the Astronomer’s Monument.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.7
(243 Ratings)
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Johnny_g
Mar 29, 2025
Great day at Griffith - Estevan shared a world of knowledge on the solar system as well as the history of the observatory and movies filmed on site.
Review provided by Viator
Codywg329cw
Mar 29, 2025
Fun amazing sights - Great views of LA and the Hollywood sign no reception tho with AT&T Bus costed a $1 cheap as saved me walking up the mountain
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Joby_s
Mar 21, 2025
Travel time is long.... - Travel time is long. There is more to see and do than you can absorb in two hours. Best observatory experience I have visited
Review provided by Viator
Maggie_c
Mar 10, 2025
Informative tour & awesome guide! - Angelica was an amazing guide, super knowledgeable about the Griffith Observatory, its history, architecture and astronomy in general. Angelica also answered all of our questions and gave us tips on other aspects of the observatory that weren’t in the tour. I ended up sticking around until 8:30, went to the IMAX and saw Jupiter and four of its moons in the telescope. The tour is absolutely the way to go, I learned so much more than I would have just walking around (and might have missed sections too). I had an amazing time and would definitely recommend this tour in the future. Thank you so much!
Review provided by Viator
Kari_p
Feb 21, 2025
Very Knowledgable and Good Tour! - Tour is 1.5 hours. Estavan was very knowledgable about Griffith and shared some funny stories. Made it very interactive and engaging!
Review provided by Viator
Inez_d
May 4, 2025
At times, it was hard to... - At times, it was hard to hear, parking directions could have been better, and tour seemed too long but felt rushed through the experience, I can't explain it.
Review provided by Viator
G_y
Mar 29, 2025
Griffith Observatory - Worth the visit. Plan on spending the day for the entire experience; exploring and learning. Suitable for 3rd Grade and up. Not for toddlers. Our guided tour felt a little rushed considering the amount of information given.
Review provided by Viator
Peggy_w
Mar 5, 2025
A nice tour full of a lot of Trivia - Estevan was a really nice guy and full of very interesting bits of trivia and other information. In fairness to him I didn’t know it was a tour of just listening to him talk the majority of the time. There were somethings we wanted to read along the way but we were hurried on. I think the tour guides need to know their audience. But Estevan did his job well…I just should have researched the tour a bit more.
Review provided by Viator
Suekennedycelebrant
May 1, 2025
Rushed tour - The observatory was free admission. We paid for a rushed look at the main features in a crowded building. We would have liked to read and learn about the exhibits but there was no time through this rushed tour.
Review provided by Viator
Amy_b
Apr 19, 2025
No show guide and Viator nonresponsive about a refund - Arrived early, waited past meeting time and guide was a no show. Viator has been unresponsive to requests for refund. DO NOT BOOK.
Review provided by Viator
From $42
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).