The 11 Film Studio Tours in the USA Fans Book First

1.Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 7,191 reviews · 3 hours · from $76Our pick

Spend three hours at a working Hollywood studio, starting with a one-hour guided backlot tour before exploring Friends, The Big Bang Theory, DC, and Harry Potter exhibits at your own pace. Guides such as Jared, Sarah, Nick, and Dan are praised for lively storytelling, though filming may limit which areas you can see.

“it was very interesting. The guide made it light and interactive bringing all of the visitors into the experience on a personal level.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5,246 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $76

Explore Warner Bros. Studio Hollywood with a guide and a group of up to 14. See the Friends fountain, Central Perk, Sheldon’s apartment, backlot streets, DC and Harry Potter displays, and hands-on green-screen effects. Plan about three hours, plus $15 parking if you drive.

“Learned how they insert the various sounds into a movie. Also, how they edit the sound. Incredible experience.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Walking Dead Walking Tour on Private Filming Backlot

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 272 reviews · 45 minutes (approx.)

Walk a third of a mile across a private Walking Dead filming backlot in Haralson with a professional guide, replica weapon, and scene clips on an iPad. You’ll enter the Governor’s meeting barn, see Merle’s final scene location, and hear behind-the-scenes stories, often from guide Pam.

“It was a bortsurprise for my fiancé and it was awesome. The looks on his face and the smiles made my day. The tour guide was very good.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Warner Bros. Studio Tour & Celebrity Homes Tour Package

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 225 reviews · 2 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $116

Start in Hollywood with an open-air tour through the Hollywood Hills and Beverly Hills, then visit Warner Bros. Studio for a guided look at DC, Friends, and Harry Potter displays. Guides have included Michael, Meg, Stan, Drew, and Phil. A complimentary 9:30 AM shuttle links Hollywood with the studio.

“The celebrity homes that we saw from distance were mostly for old actors. We don’t see any of the new actors houses like Tom cruise or J.Lo, etc. The tour was not worth it at all. It was a waste of time and money.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Muscle Shoals Sound Studio Tour in Sheffield Alabama

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 180 reviews · 40 minutes (approx.) · from $25Best value

Spend about 40 minutes to an hour inside Muscle Shoals Sound Studio with guides such as Terrell or Chase. Hear personal stories about the Rolling Stones, Bob Seger, Cher, and the Swampers, see the working studio, browse its shop, and support its nonprofit preservation work.

“Seeing where great music was recorded. The guide was very informative and shared terrific stories.. Everyone was interested”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Warner Bros Studio Hollywood & Bus Tour Package

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 150 reviews · 1 day · from $101

Spend the morning at Warner Bros. Studio Hollywood, with its 110-acre backlot, Friends set, Stage 48, DC Universe, and Harry Potter exhibits. In the afternoon, choose an open-air celebrity homes tour or a 24-hour Hollywood hop-on hop-off bus ticket.

“we enjoyed it very much the views the information was not quite up to date but still was interesting to hear”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Frank Lloyd Wright’s Home & Studio Tour Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 133 reviews · 1 hour (approx.)

Spend about an hour inside Frank Lloyd Wright’s Oak Park home and studio with a small guided group. Guides such as Karl, Polly, Diane, Mary, and Paul explain Wright’s early work, family life, furnishings, and design ideas. Printed materials and ASL interpretation may be available.

“A great experience seeing all the unique designs in the home. Very interesting learning the history of both the home, Frank and the entire family.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Chicago Fire TV Show Set Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 68 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

Follow Chicago Fire filming locations with guide Deen on a roughly two-hour driving tour. See Molly’s exterior at Lottie’s Pub, the Fire Academy, Firehouse 51 when filming and station duties allow, plus the Bean, Museum Campus, and Chicago Cultural Center.

“Deen is an amazing tour guide and he has so much education and was so knowledgeable with all places that he shared with us on the tour! This tour went beyond our expectations and I would highly recommend it!”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Warner Bros. Studio Tour & Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour Package

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 55 reviews · 5 hours to 1 day (approx.) · from $112

Combine a three-hour Warner Bros. Studio Tour with a CitySightseeing Hollywood bus pass. See Friends, Harry Potter, DC Universe props, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, the Walk of Fame, and the Dolby Theatre. You arrange your own transport to Warner Bros., and the package is offered in English.

“I think you would be better booking through Warner Bros directly. We were picked up in one bus then waited around for the next to take us to the studio. The trip involved a lot of waiting for the transport. Decided to make our own way back to hotel rather than waiting around longer. It would be better to organise your own transport to the studio. The guide that we had at the studio was also not very interested. He seemed to just keep rattling off a lot of shows many of whom we were not familiar with.”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.2- Hour Pottery Workshop and Studio Tour in Ojai

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 51 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $65

At Firestick Pottery in Ojai, you tour the studio and gallery, watch a throwing demonstration, then work at your own electric wheel with patient instruction. The private two-hour session includes clay and equipment. Make four or five pieces, then return to glaze them or pay $15 each for studio finishing.

“I shared a weekend away with my three daughters and this was one of the surprises I’d planned. The girls were excited when we showed up for the class. We had a great time, learned a lot, and can’t wait to pick up our finished pieces. We also gained a new appreciation for pottery and the artists who create it. Thanks for some great memories!”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Chicago Fire TV Show Set Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 43 reviews · 2 hours

Join Deen on a private two-hour Chicago Fire tour for up to three people. Visit Firehouse 51, the Chicago Fire Academy, Molly’s real-life pub, White Palace Grill, Millennium Park, and the Chicago Cultural Center, with pickup within five miles of downtown.

“The tour was great. He showed us not only the things related to One Chicago, but also many other sights. They were filming at the station so we couldn’t get inside, but we saw the actors shooting a scene. We got to go inside the fire academy though, which was also really interesting.”

Check availability →Read our full review