Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood: A Behind-the-Scenes Look Every Movie Fan Will Love

If you’re planning a trip to Los Angeles, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood deserves a spot on your itinerary. Technically located in Burbank, this is a real working studio—and after my third visit, I can tell you that no two tours are the same.

This visit was part of our CityPASS Southern California adventure, which bundled several attractions into one ticket and saved us a nice chunk of money. If you’re hitting several big-ticket attractions around Los Angeles, it’s definitely worth pricing out.

Arrive Early for the Warner Bros. Museum

One of the biggest changes since my last visit was waiting for us before the tour even started.

The welcome center now has a fantastic museum filled with Warner Bros. history, including Academy Awards, Emmys, original scripts, costumes, and memorabilia from more than a century of movies and television.

Get there early. There’s plenty to see before your scheduled tour, and you don’t want to rush through it.

Touring a Real Hollywood Studio

The guided portion of the Warner Bros. Studio Tour lasts about an hour and winds through portions of the 110-acre studio lot.

This isn’t a theme park recreation. Movies, television shows, and commercials are actually being made here, so where you go depends partly on what’s filming that day. That’s one of my favorite things about the tour—you really don’t know what you’re going to see.

Our guide shared movie trivia and behind-the-scenes stories as we passed sound stages, famous streets, neighborhoods, and sets I’ve seen on TV more times than I can count.

And then we hit Stars Hollow.

Calling All Gilmore Girls Fans

We had several serious Gilmore Girls fans in our group, myself included, and our guide happily fed our obsession.

We saw Lorelai and Rory’s house, Doose’s Market, the town gazebo, Miss Patty’s School of Ballet, and Rory’s tree. Myself and a few other people on our tour were thrilled at seeing all the things.

Unfortunately, Luke’s Diner was mostly off-limits because part of the backlot was being used for a commercial. And yes, I was a little crushed. I was ready for my Luke’s coffee moment.

Maybe visit number four.

Afterward, you can shop themed pop-ups resembling the Stars Hollow Bookstore and Kim’s Antiques, along with the main Warner Bros. Studio Store.

And now I’ve added Holidays Made Here to my wish list. The seasonal event transforms Stars Hollow for the holidays, and that sounds right up my alley.

Famous Warner Bros. Backlots

Even if you’ve never watched an episode of Gilmore Girls, touring the backlot is fascinating.

We passed areas including New York Street, Brownstone Street, French Street, Midwest Street, Warner Village, and Jungle Lagoon. These same streets and buildings can become completely different places depending on the production.

We also spotted exterior filming locations used for Abbott Elementary, a reminder that you’re touring a studio that’s still very much in business.

The Tram Tour Is Only Half the Fun

Here’s something I wouldn’t have known before my first visit: don’t think you’re finished when the guided tour ends.

There’s a whole lot more.

The self-guided portion of this California icon is packed with original costumes, props, vehicles, interactive exhibits, and recreated sets from some seriously famous Warner Bros. productions.

Among the highlights are Batmobiles, Superman costumes, Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts memorabilia, the Great Hall, Potions Classroom, and Dobby.

TV fans get some especially fun photo ops.

You can sit in Sheldon Cooper’s spot in Apartment 4A from The Big Bang Theory or plop down on that famous orange couch at Central Perk from Friends.

Those are the kinds of things that make this place so much fun.

You Might Even Enter a Sound Stage

Since this is a working studio, your guide may be able to take you inside a sound stage depending on what’s filming.

We got to walk through the Shrinking sound stage while production was on break, and Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, which I was currently watching. Sets may be covered when shows are actively filming, but even seeing the sheer size of these stages gives you a completely different perspective on how television is made.

Again, you never know what you’re going to get.

Why I’ve Taken the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Three Times

Here’s probably the best endorsement I can give it: I’ve been three times and would happily go again.

And I’ve had some pretty darned good luck over the years.

On previous visits, I attended the final taping of The Drew Carey Show, spotted Jon Cryer and Ryan Stiles outside a sound stage, and tried the Harry Potter Sorting Hat shortly after it debuted.

This time, I was also thrilled to learn that photography is now allowed throughout much more of the tour. That was a big improvement for someone like me who wants pictures of everything.

Is the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Worth It?

For me, absolutely.

If you love movies or television—or you’re simply fascinated by how they are made—the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood is one of my favorite attractions in Southern California.

The working studio makes the experience different every time, while the museums, props, recreated sets, backlots, and interactive exhibits give you plenty to see regardless of what’s filming that day.

After three visits, I’d go back tomorrow.

Especially if somebody promises me that Luke’s Diner will be open.

Want more California posts? Check out these awesome things to do in Oakland and Valentine’s Day Travel Ideas.