Griffith Observatory Insider Tour
Description
Led by observatory employees who know this monument inside and out, you’ll get a true behind-the-scenes on this guided tour part of our Insider Collection. Our small-group tour, crafted by observatory insiders, takes you on a curated journey through space and time, blending science, history, architecture, and movie trivia. You'll get the perspective of a local pro who knows the observatory's secrets firsthand. You’ll also catch a show in the world-famous Samuel Oschin Planetarium with your included ticket. This 40-minute show is open to ages 5 and up. Ready to discover the wonders of Griffith Observatory? We can't wait to show you the real stars of LA!
Tour Options
Itinerary
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.
This world-class observatory features one of the largest Foucault Pendulums, a 50,000-volt Tesla Coil, an interactive periodic table of elements, and more. View the night sky as seen from the Samuel Oschin Telescope at Palomar Observatory.
One of the best views of the sign!
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- 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.
Reviews(329)
This is a great tour (and we loved our tour guide…I think it was Jose). Without the tour, we would have missed a lot, and honestly the whole trip to Griffith Park would have been too overwhelming to get much out of the experience. The guide was great at sharing more information about exhibits and was super friendly and entertaining. Definitely recommend this one!!
Hi, Thank you for the wonderful feedback! We’re so happy to hear that the tour helped make your visit to Griffith Observatory more enjoyable and easier to explore. Thank you for your recommendation. We hope to see you again on another adventure soon!
This was a fantastic tour. Estevan was an exceptional guide: extremely knowledgeable, considered, humorous. The amount of time was just perfect. Overall, we highly recommend this tour.
Hi, Thank you for your kind words. We’re thrilled to hear you had such a great time with Estevan. It’s wonderful to know the timing felt just right and that the tour left such a positive impression. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again on a future adventure.
Thanks to our tour guide for sharing his wealth of knowledge!
Esteban gave a great tour. He is very knowledgeable and has a passion for the things he tells you about.
Hi Anne, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re really glad to hear that you enjoyed the tour with Estevan. We truly appreciate your support and hope we’ll have the chance to welcome you again on another tour soon.
Great experience. Gets you to the most important points in 1.5h and gives you priority tickets to the 30min planetary show.
Our guide Estevan was amazing! He was entertaining and really knew about the history of the building as well as the area and how the Observatory fits into greater LA.
Hi Lisa, Thank you for your kind words! We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the tour and that Estevan made the experience fun and informative. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Very engaging and knowledgeable guide. Great way to learn about the exhibits at the observatory and leaves you wanting to explore more.
Estevan was delightful, but he spoke so fast, it was very difficult to hear and understand what he was saying. Not sure of what we learned or if it was worth the money. He seemed very rushed.
Hi Kitty, Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We're sorry that the pace of the tour made it difficult to fully follow and enjoy. Your feedback is very helpful, and we’ll be sure to address this so we can provide a more comfortable and engaging tour moving forward. We appreciate you taking the time to let us know, and hope we can offer you a better experience in the future.
Is an excellent tour and Barry was great guide.
Guide was knowledgeable and the observatory is amazing. The acoustics sometimes make it difficult to hear the guide.
