Downtown Los Angeles Bike Tour
Description
No other DTLA tour covers this much in under 3 hours. Tours are round trip from the iconic Grand Central Market and feature the highlights of Downtown L.A. We narrate the history of Los Angeles as we ride to Crypto Arena, Grand Park, Broadway’s classic theaters, The Broad and MOCA Art Museums, Bradbury Building, Music Center, Disney Concert Hall, Union Station, and City Hall. We take a break at Olvera Street, with time to wander L.A.’s oldest neighborhood. This tour visits the top 10 tourist destinations, and hidden gems, of DTLA. Our guides focus on history and cultural narration, with a little true crime and movie industry lore on an easy, 2.5 hour bike ride. Handlebar Bike Tours, in business since 2017, is the best way to see the historic and cultural heart of Los Angeles. The bike ride is designed for casual bike riders, with much of the tour in bike lanes. If you want to see bucket list icons and filming locations in a few hours this is the tour for you.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Just across the street from our meeting place, this 1901 funicular book ends the Historic Core and More Tour, we start at the base, and finish the tour at the top. Your guide will explain the history and how to ride this icon of DTLA.
Our home base is DTLA's most popular destination, filled with over 40 food and beverage vendors. It is the perfect place to enjoy breakfast or lunch pre/post tour.
Built in 1893 this beautiful Victorian Era building is best known for its filming, The Artist, 500 Days of Summer and Bladerunner were all filmed here. We park the bikes and go inside to admire the iron work and birdcage elevator! You won't get that opportunity on a bus tour.
We'll visit Crypto Arena, home of the LA Lakers, Sparks, and LA Kings. Located right next door to LA Live Sports and Entertainment Complex it is where LA comes to watch professional sports, and also home to the Grammy Museum. Star Plaza features larger than life bronze statues of stars like Kobe, Magic and Shaq among others. Right next door LA's Graffiti Towers at Ocean Wide Plaza are viewable for the near future.
Seat of City government and a popular filming location you'll recognize it from TV and film. Plus it is right next store to the courthouse where OJ Simpson's trial of the century took place among others.
California's largest book store with book sculpture inside it anchors the Historic Core neighborhood, once home to the west coast's banking industry, now these stately former banks are being converted into unique lofts.
The founding site of Los Angeles, with many of it's buildings dating to the early 1800's. We take a break here for an opportunity to pick up some souvenirs in the market place, or enjoy and Aguas Frescas.
Walk through this fully restored, gorgeous, 1939 classic train station. Catch the Pacific Surfliner for a day trip to Santa Barbara or San Diego, local lines to Hollywood and Pasadena plus the bus plaza, your guide will explain it all.
Frank Gehry's masterpiece concert hall, your guide will describe the building quirks, secrets and current uses of this magnificent performing arts venue.
LA's green space and event destination, we ride the length of the park, while narrating park events and surrounding municipal buildings.
One of several vintage theaters of Broadway, this is where stars like Charlie Chaplin came to open a picture during the heyday of Hollywood. Now they're being used for filming, special events, or being converted to retail palaces.
Who is Eli Broad and what is everyone waiting for in that perpetual line out front? One of two free art museums on Grand Avenue, the center for LA's icons of Arts and Culture.
Hear the macabre history of LA's haunted hotel that has garnered not one, but two, Netflix true crime documentaries.
Part of the Civic Center neighborhood, we'll ride by icons of film and history like City Hall, LAPD Headquarters and the criminal courthouse.
Our home base is the perfect place for pre/post ride meal and our guides are going to give you the tips and tricks to navigate the busy Grand Central Market.
LA's central green space where we do our celebrating, New years Eve, fourth of July Etc. We'll ride through the park, on car free foot paths.
Vintage theaters of Broadway built for the Vaudeville era and repurposed as movie palaces for the heyday of Hollywood.
Anchor to the Music center and home of the L.A. Opera. Learn who Dorothy was, and her impact on the performing Arts in Los Angeles. Former home of the Oscars for 29 years.
Part of Crypto Arena and L.A. Live sports and entertainment complex. If you're in town visiting one of the United States largest convention centers definitely take a ride with Handlebar Bike Tours and get the lay of the land in DTLA.
Part of Grand Avenue Arts and Entertainment center, it is one of two free museums located across from one another, and within walking distance of Angel's Flight and Grand Central Market. You will hear about the founding, and how to access this wonderful public resource possible to visit after the tour.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Dress code is smart casual/flexible garments
- A maximum of 8 people per booking
- Minimum age is 8 years old
Reviews(80)
Wonderful bike/city experience! Thoroughly enjoyed the journey. Jen was a fantastic guide with great knowledge around the history of the downtown area. Found the history of early Hollywood particularly interesting, and also loved the art deco architecture of Union Station. Highly recommend this experience!
I really liked this experience! Even though I had already visited Los Angeles, I loved that the guide explained those hidden gems in depth that I had overlooked.
Gracias por venir, mucho gusto!
Awesome bike tour of downtown LA and LA history; Blade Runner filming; Chaplin-ers theaters; founding families of LA.
Thanks so much for taking the time to leave us a review. Happy to hear you enjoyed movie lore.
I really enjoyed my tour of downtown LA with Jennifer. The bike was in very good condition. Jenn gave very clear directions while we were riding so I always knew where to go. We saw many interesting places and buildings during the ride. Jenn made sure to point out things she knew I was interested in and also gave suggestions about places to go for dinner or drinks. I highly recommend this tour!!
Thanks so much for trying out a Handlebar Bike Tour-I'm so glad you enjoyed DTLA as much as I do. It was a pleasure riding with you.
This bike tour is incredible! The tour involves touring the wonderful sights of the city, while riding your bike around downtown. Everyone should take this tour as it provides an insight to the history of Los Angeles.
We biked 8 miles! Our guide Jennifer was a teacher and boy was she good. We did a tour of downtown and learnt a lot about LAs hx. It was amazing!
The tour was a great introduction to the main sights in downtown LA. The guide was knowledgeable and patient with the group. Highly recommended.
Thanks so much for the compliment, we designed this tour to do exactly that, intro downtown. Appreciate the review.
When planning this trip everyone said skip downtown, but it was my favorite day in LA. Checked off all our wish list site seeing: Grand Central Market, Disney Hall, Bradbury Bldg, Angel's Flight, Crypto Arena, and a lot more I wasn't aware of. My kids were whining about going in the morning, but ended up loving it. If you're doing downtown the guide/bike tour is a must for navigating, and honestly the best way to get around. Nice to get out of the car, and not have to think about driving for a few hours. Had a fun lunch in Grand Central Market after where everyone could get what they want. Well run tour with good bikes.
It was a pleasure riding with your family, and happy to hear DTLA was your favorite day.
We ended up being the only two for the tour and had a private tour experience! Jen was an amazing guide and super knowledgeable. Would definitely recommend and will attend another bike tour next time in LA!
Thanks for coming out on a ride, and taking the time to leave feedback. I really appreciate it.
We had a great time. I went with my son who’s not that experienced a rider but he was able to keep up. It helped that we were the only ones on the tour besides the guide so we didn’t hold anyone up. The guide was very patient. It was 2.5 hours & we didn’t hold anyone 6 miles. I think it’s normally 8 but we cut it short since my son was tired. We got to see a lot - lots of famous buildings including the “haunted hotel”, iconic theaters, the intercontinental, ritz Carlton the Mexican market, the Crypto arena (formerly Staples Center) and the municipal buildings. It was almost all flat & about half of it was on protected bike lanes.
