Downtown Los Angeles Architecture Walking Tour
5
Downtown Los Angeles Architecture Walking Tour
By LA Walking Tours
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About
Though most Angelinos get around by car, to enjoy the historic architecture of Downtown Los Angeles, you need to slow down, and explore on foot. See the diverse buildings of Downtown LA on this guided walking tour, where you can enjoy examples of beaux arts, Renaissance Revival, and art deco design. Along the way, learn about the city's development from your guide, and see several landmark buildings.
from per adult
$38.00
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-99, max of 20 per group
Duration: 2h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More
Highlights
- Discover LA's architectural history on this guided downtown walking tour
- Visit the Financial District, Historic Core, and Broadway Theater District
- First-time visitors get a great LA overview, and see more of downtown
- Meet-up in Downtown LA, at the centrally-located Los Angeles Central Library
- Local guide
What's not included- Entry/Admission - Los Angeles
- Entry/Admission - The NoMad Hotel
- Entry/Admission - Oviatt Building
- Start:
- 630 W 5th St, Los Angeles, CA 90071, USAWe meet at the Flower street entrance of the LA Central Library (630 W. 5th Street 90071) within the Maguire Gardens courtyard. Nearest Metro Rail station - 7th Street / Metro Center. Nearest Parking – There are private garages between 4th and 8th on Flower Street. Rates will vary.
End:- 617 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA 90017, USAThe tour ends at the James Oviatt Building (617 S. Olive Street 90014), which is a 10 minute walk back to the starting point. The guide can point you in the direction.
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 7304P3- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Most travelers can participate
- The tour ends at the James Oviatt Building (617 S. Olive Street 90014), which is a 10 minute walk back to the starting point. The guide can point you in the direction.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 7304P3
Reserve your spot
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- 630 W 5th St, Los Angeles, CA 90071, USAWe meet at the Flower street entrance of the LA Central Library (630 W. 5th Street 90071) within the Maguire Gardens courtyard. Nearest Metro Rail station - 7th Street / Metro Center. Nearest Parking – There are private garages between 4th and 8th on Flower Street. Rates will vary.
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- 617 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA 90017, USAThe tour ends at the James Oviatt Building (617 S. Olive Street 90014), which is a 10 minute walk back to the starting point. The guide can point you in the direction.
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- 377helenw0 contributionsGreat and interesting tourGreat tour. Phil was very knowledgable and gave us lots of interesting information about the city and the stops. Would totally recommend the tourWritten August 13, 2024
- Helen G0 contributionsMust Do in Los AngelesFirst, Phil is the man with the facts. Great tour for Old Los Angeles, get there early and do Angels Flight and give yourself 10-30 minutes to see Bunker Hill and surrounding before descending to Hill St. Don't forget your LA LA Land spirit for that one minute. Enjoy!!Written July 30, 2024
- 491michaelab0 contributionsExcellent tourPhil was a great tour guide. We learned so much about the area. He took the time to answer our questions, and if he didn’t know the answer, he was honest. Money well spent!Written July 8, 2024
- Internationaljames0 contributionsChinatown -- A Cultural ExperienceVery good educational and cultural experience. Many shopping and dining options. There a many parking areas throughout Chinatown. Easy safe walk on Broadway. Great day activity for the family.Written June 14, 2024
- Rebudance0 contributions10 out of 10 Stars!10 out of 10 Stars! The walking tour was informative, insightful and provided a context for the deep and rich history of LA. Phil our tour guide was beyond fantastic. He is a font knowledge and very personable. This private walking tour is a perfect way to learn the history and culture that Los Angeles was founded on. Thank you.Written June 11, 2024
- samsonw1990 contributionsGreat tour guideThe tour guide was wonderful. He had great knowledge and an enthusiastic personality. We felt that he was fully engaged and made great recommendations for after the tour.Written May 26, 2024
- 158garyn0 contributionsExploring the side streets and alleys of the Arts DistrictFun and informative walking tour in a vibrant artistic section of Los Angeles and grabbing a meal too Out tour guide was Richard who was very attentive and provided history regarding the area and art worksWritten May 26, 2024
- MK2009Manhattan0 contributionsGreat tour with PhilipMy partner and I recently did this tour with Philip, who was great. He was very friendly and knowledgeable. He had a polished presentation and was open to answering our questions. We learned a lot about LA and would recommend this tour.Written March 24, 2024
- Vacation162510408360 contributionsHelpful and friendly guidePhil was a super nice guide, had a lot of stories to tell and was great to chat with. Would definitely recommend this tour.Written March 3, 2024
- 822amyn0 contributionsGreat Overview of The City Past and PresentThis is a great tour to get some background information and history of the city. We took the tour so that we could get a good overview at the start of our trip and it was definitely worthwhile.Written February 10, 2024
- deannawL1221UF0 contributionsHighly recommend!My dear friend was visiting from out of town and I decided to book this walking tour to kill a few hours in DTLA before his flight home. I’m so happy I did that, as we ended up having a great time! I have already recommended this walking tour to several friends and am happy to do so with anyone else thinking about checking it out. My one suggestion is this: Ask for Brandon! Our guide, Brandon, was simply fabulous. He was knowledgeable and passionate about the macabre, as well as the general, history of Los Angeles. I was surprised to hear that he had only done about 20 tours … anyone would believe he’s been doing this for decades! Brandon was very organized, told us interesting stories and shared personal anecdotes and photos throughout the tour. He was laid back and was able to answer all questions … it was like exploring downtown with an old friend. Thanks for a great experience!Written January 31, 2024
- Flyer266666121300 contributionsAmazing Tour!This was such an amazing tour. So interesting and informative. It is really a good way to learn more about L.A.Written January 5, 2024
- anthwong0 contributionscity tournice overall tour of the downtown area which has a mix of old and new buildings. Guide was very knowledgeable.Written January 4, 2024
- Wayne_Carveth0 contributions2 hours well spent learning how LA developed into what it isPhil gave an interesting commentary on the way LA was developed & reasons why LA looks as it does. He had a wealth of stories about individuals involved with some of the developments. It was a Monday in late November & we were lucky that only 2 other people were on the tour so there were plenty of chances to question Phil & find out what we wanted to know. Phil knows the city well & suggested that we go to the observation floor of City Hall & that is something we didn't know we could do. It also gave us a chance to see some of the spaces in City Hall, all for free. We could have gone on for another 2 hours.Written November 23, 2023
- mariamX2326KF0 contributionsHighly RecommendLoved it! Our tour guide, Brandon, was amazing. He's very knowledgeable and entertaining. He shared photos and interesting facts about each site . He's also very attentive. He made sure we made it back to our location safely. Can't praise him enough. Thank you for making our tour fun and entertaining!Written October 29, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
37 reviews
Excellent
36
Very good
0
Average
0
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Starbucks22
1 contribution
Feb 2020 • Friends
Loved this tour! Phil was a great guide. He gave us much more than just the intricate design features of the buildings. He gave us history, humor, and fun little tidbits of information regarding the architects, owners, and other things that made the journey that much more interesting. Again, LOVED it! Would love taking the tour again!
Written February 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
menhb
Huntington Beach, CA871 contributions
Went on the Downtown LA Architecture Walking Tour with guide Phil. What an educational and delightful experience. Met tour group at LA Central Library and preceded to walk the adjacent areas to learn and soak in the history of Los Angeles through its architectural design. Despite being a native of Los Angeles, I had never been to the Central Library. I was so impressed of his history and beauty tucked between the tall buildings. Also enjoyed the theater district with its nod to the past studios and their theaters. Increased my knowledge of Los Angeles architecture design and its early designers. Phil lead us through the streets with ease. Allowed time for pictures, questions and conversation. Phil also relayed current information on several sites. Highly recommend your to tourists and locals.
Written May 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elena B
Los Gatos, CA14 contributions
Dec 2022 • Couples
Our guide, Phil, is very knowledgeable and passionate about his job. He told us many facts and interesting stories about the objects we saw, and answered all our questions with enthusiasm. What are goals of any tour guide? My answer is: to share knowledge about the objects that tourists see, create an interest, and make us, visitors, wish to learn more and return to the place again. Phil achieved all of these goals! Without a guidance, I would just pass those buildings. Well, maybe I would think: “hmm, this is a nice building”, but nothing more. After this tour, not only I know more about history of downtown LA and particular buildings, but I wish to visit it again. Also, now I know more about the architecture in my city. Very interesting tour; my husband and I really enjoyed the time. Thank you very much, Phil!
Written December 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John G
Reston, VA2 contributions
My expectation for a tour is that we will be taken places we could not otherwise go on our own, or shown things we would not otherwise find on our own. In the absence of either, I would have expected in-depth information which this tour guide lacked. This "tour" was merely a several block "look-at-that" tour, an unremarkable experience at best.
Written June 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cawchi
Chicago, IL1 contribution
Jan 2020 • Couples
Phil great tour guide, highlighted variety of types from 1920s to recent. Shared some hidden gems wouldn’t found on own. Loved learning abt LA history and architecture. Don’t overlook downtown — lots to do and see
Written January 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Excursion817540
2 contributions
Feb 2024 • Friends
Phil was a fantastic guide in our walking tour of downtown LA! I’ve lived in the area for years, as well as one other guest, but the third was from NY. We all learned a lot and we got to go in the lobby of my two favorite buildings - the Fine Arts and Oviatt buildings. Fun way to spend the morning before we had a tasty lunch at Little Sister!
Written February 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KBmenai
Sydney, Australia21 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Such an interesting tour around downtown LA. Got a real feel for the old Hollywood. Our guide was very well informed and obviously loved city’s heritage
Written February 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brenda H
McLean, VA9 contributions
The tour is fun and informative. Guide Chris is warm, upbeat and knowledgeable, guide Ing is through many architecture gems and beautiful details.
Written December 27, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alex F
2 contributions
Aug 2018 • Solo
For $22 you literally cannot go wrong. Neel was very engaging and entertaining and super upbeat. I come to downtown semi-regularly but actually learning about some of the buildings and their history put things into a different perspective. I felt like I was seeing DTLA for the first time from some new angle. I 100% recommend this and I am going to be looking into doing some of the other downtown tours these guys offer.
Written August 5, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bilazira Knitwear
Seattle, WA54 contributions
Jun 2018 • Solo
I would highly recommend Downtown Los Angeles architecture tour and this company in general. I absolutely enjoyed these 2-hour walking adventure with so knowledgeable and smart guide Neel. When I arrived by 10:20 to the meeting point, I figured out, that this morning only I booked a tour! And it was NOT cancelled. So, to be honest, I have a PRIVATE tour for the same amount of money. I think, this is pretty serious attitude to the job and I appreciate it.
Neel has been answering to my questions during the tour, helped to make a lot of pictures, explained, how to get to another part of LA, where the LACMA museum is located, and even recommended a lot of activities, which you must do in Los Angeles.
I really enjoyed this tour and my trip to Los Angeles.
P.S. Neel, thank you so much for your restaurant advice. We visited "Bottega Louie" and were completely happy! I am sure, you should get some bonuses this month from your company for your great work:-))
#dtlatours
Neel has been answering to my questions during the tour, helped to make a lot of pictures, explained, how to get to another part of LA, where the LACMA museum is located, and even recommended a lot of activities, which you must do in Los Angeles.
I really enjoyed this tour and my trip to Los Angeles.
P.S. Neel, thank you so much for your restaurant advice. We visited "Bottega Louie" and were completely happy! I am sure, you should get some bonuses this month from your company for your great work:-))
#dtlatours
Written June 27, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What about parking. Is there something available close by the pick up and drop off point?
Written May 4, 2019
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