Book Now
Aerial sunset view of Griffith Observatory during Private Griffith Observatory tour
People walking up stairs at Griffith Observatory Griffith Observatory sign
4 reviews

Private Guided Tour of Griffith Observatory

Your close-up with the real stars in LA
When
Flexible
Duration
3 hours
Meeting Point
Los Feliz (In front of the Astronomers Monument)
Private Guided Tour of Griffith Observatory

Highlights

check
Get an insider’s look at this famous landmark on a private tour designed by former Griffith Observatory employees.
check
See the 500,000-volt Tesla Coil and understand how it works.
check
Explore 67,000 square feet of science exhibits with an expert guide who will show you highlights you don’t want to miss.
check
Glimpse outer space through telescopes by day or night.
check
Learn about modern architecture, science, movie trivia, LA history, and more.
check
Enjoy panoramic views of the LA Basin and the Hollywood Sign from the top of Griffith Park.
check
Watch a show on the high-tech Zeiss Mark IX Planetarium Projector.
check
Hear the history of the Griffith Observatory, a 20th-century legacy from philanthropist Griffith J. Griffith.

What you’ll do

Griffith Observatory, famously known as “the hood ornament of Los Angeles,” is one of the largest observatories in the world. Beyond its iconic status, it includes a planetarium and 67,000 square feet of exhibition space, with much about it still unknown even to many

Itinerary

  • Astronomers Monument
    Honoring the world’s six most famous astronomers
  • Central Rotunda
    With overhead murals inspired by Greek mythology
  • Tesla Coil
    Nikola Tesla’s 50,000-volt invention
  • West Hall
    Including glimpses of sunspots through telescopes (weather and schedule dependent)
  • Samuel Oschin Planetarium
    An immersive theater featuring a high-tech star projector
  • Depths of Space
    A view of the night sky as seen from the Samuel Oschin Telescope at Palomar Observatory
  • Albert Einstein Statue
    Photo op with one of the greatest minds in history
  • Night sky viewing (weather and schedule dependent)
    Using the state-of-the-art Zeiss 12-inch telescope

Reviews

Sure, you could go to Griffith Observatory without this experience, but I guarantee you will not enjoy it or even know what all it offers without taking this tour. For example, it is well worth your time to attend the orientation film, but 99% of the people there failed to do this. I would have skipped it if I came on my own, but thanks to this tour, I went. It was very informative, and was narrated by Leonard Nimoy acting as a regular guy. Afterward I came out and it gave me an entirely different perspective on the place. Can't wait to go back and visit the observatory again. Beautiful venue, great tour.
— Hugh
Private Tour Griffith Observatory — great tour and guide, learned a great deal about the history of the observatory and astronomy. It was topped off with a wonderful planetarium show. The whole experience was fascinating and enjoyable, and I highly recommend the tour.
— Paul
My husband and I had a great time on this tour! Lisa was very knowledgeable and entertaining about the different sights (man-made and natural) we saw. The hike wasn’t too difficult (we are both 70+) and Lisa made sure we went at a pace we could all enjoy. I would recommend this tour to both visitors and Angelenos; we live in LA but learned lots of information from Lisa!
— Laurie

FAQs

Can we stay in Griffith Observatory after the tour?
What is the cancellation policy?
What if it rains?
What about gratuities?

$49

€45

£38

C$69

A$75

check
Local experts
Personal stories and insider travel tips
check
Top-rated
Thousands of reviews averaging 4.9 stars
check
Worry-free booking
Flexible scheduling and refunds
Book Now

$49

€45

£38

C$69

A$75

Book Now
arrow-to