Griffith Observatory and Griffith Park
The best of Griffith Observatory in LA
Free entry, opening hours, the bus up the hill, Griffith Park hikes and the guided tours: here is how to visit Griffith Observatory in LA, with honest advice on parking and getting there, the crowds at sunset, and whether a paid tour is worth it for a free place.
See our 4 picks
Short answer Griffith Observatory in LA is free to enter and open Tuesday to Sunday; it is closed on Mondays. It stays open until 10 p.m., so you can come for the sunset and the city lights. You can drive, take the 50-cent DASH bus or hike up through Griffith Park. A guided hike from €30 or a Hollywood night tour from €44 adds the stories and saves you the planning.
Our 4 picks for Griffith Observatory
A night bus tour, then three guided hikes that end at the observatory.
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from €44 per person Our top pick 1.5 hours 4.2 (752) reviews on GetYourGuide
Hollywood night tour with a stop at Griffith Observatory
A 1.5-hour evening bus tour past the Dolby, Chinese and El Capitan theatres and Sunset Boulevard, with 30 minutes at the observatory. On Mondays the observatory is closed, so that stop is skipped.
Best for Visitors without a car who want the night view
Check availability: Hollywood night tour with a stop at Griffith Observatory on GetYourGuide -
from €30 per person 2.5 hours 4.8 (210) reviews on GetYourGuide
Guided hike to Griffith Observatory
A 2.5-hour hike with a first-aid-trained local guide, past film locations, with Hollywood Sign photos and a visit inside the observatory. Free parking near the observatory is included.
Best for Walkers who want the hike and the stories
Check availability: Guided hike to Griffith Observatory on GetYourGuide -
from €53 per person 3 hours 0
Griffith Park sunset hike to Mount Hollywood
A 3-hour guided hike from the Greek Theatre to the top of Mount Hollywood, with Hollywood Sign photo stops and a visit to the observatory. A water bottle is included.
Best for Fit hikers who want the summit at sunset
Check availability: Griffith Park sunset hike to Mount Hollywood on GetYourGuide -
from €40 per person 2.5 hours 0
Frank Lloyd Wright and Griffith Observatory hike
A 2.5-hour walk from Hollywood Boulevard past the outside of Hollyhock House, a Frank Lloyd Wright building, up to the observatory.
Best for Architecture fans
Check availability: Frank Lloyd Wright and Griffith Observatory hike on GetYourGuide
Griffith Observatory tours and hikes compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Group size | Pickup | Free cancellation | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollywood night tour with a stop at Griffith Observatory | €44 per person | 1.5 hours | Not stated | Meet on site | Yes, up to 24 hours in advance | Visitors without a car who want the night view | The most-reviewed pick: 4.2 from over 750 reviews, from €44. |
| Guided hike to Griffith Observatory | €30 per person | 2.5 hours | Private option available | Meet on site | Yes, up to 24 hours in advance | Walkers who want the hike and the stories | The best-rated pick: 4.8 from 210 reviews, from €30. |
| Griffith Park sunset hike to Mount Hollywood 0 | €53 per person | 3 hours | Standard group: Up to 20 people | Meet on site | Yes, up to 24 hours in advance | Fit hikers who want the summit at sunset | A new tour with no reviews yet; it is the only pick that goes to the summit. |
| Frank Lloyd Wright and Griffith Observatory hike 0 | €40 per person | 2.5 hours | Standard group: Up to 15 people | Meet on site | Yes, up to 24 hours in advance | Architecture fans | A new tour with no reviews yet; it adds the architecture you would miss on your own. |
Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 22 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Visit Griffith Observatory: hours, cost and what to see
Griffith Observatory is free to visit. It is open Tuesday to Friday from noon to 10 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. It is closed on Mondays.
Entry is free, but the planetarium show is not: it costs $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and students and $8 for children aged 5 to 12. Free entry also makes the observatory one of the best things to do in los angeles free.
What to do at Griffith Observatory
Walk the terraces for the views of the city and the Hollywood Sign. Inside, the daily programs include live Tesla coil demonstrations and telescope viewing. Once a month there is a public star party with local telescope groups.
Where it is: 2800 East Observatory Road, Los Angeles, CA
Griffith Observatory is at 2800 East Observatory Road, Los Angeles, CA 90027, on a hill in Griffith Park. You can drive, take the bus or walk up.
- Bus: the DASH Observatory/Los Feliz bus starts at the Vermont/Sunset Metro station. It runs daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and costs 50 cents (35 cents with a TAP card). Bring exact change.
- Car: the parking next to the observatory is paid, with no time limit. The pay stations take only credit cards. Put the receipt on your dashboard. There is free parking further down the hill.
- On foot: trails start near the Greek Theatre and at Fern Dell, both with public parking.
Griffith Park: hikes and views around the observatory
Griffith Park is the big hilly park around the observatory, and hiking up is the nicest way to arrive. Trails start near the Greek Theatre and at Fern Dell.
How to hike to Griffith Observatory
Park near the Greek Theatre or Fern Dell and follow the signed trails uphill. The official Hollywood Sign site lists the Mt. Hollywood Trail at 5.3 miles and about 2.5 hours. A guided hike takes about 2.5 hours and handles the route for you.
Griffith Park hiking with a guide
Three of our picks are guided hikes. They add stories about Hollywood and film sets, and one goes to the top of Mount Hollywood. Bring water and good shoes: the trails are dusty and have little shade.
Is a Griffith Observatory tour worth it?
A Griffith Observatory tour is worth it if you have no car or want the hike with a guide. If you have a car and like to explore alone, go on your own: entry is free.
The night tour is the easy option: a bus takes you from Hollywood up the hill and back. For a longer ride past Beverly Hills and the celebrity homes, see our tour bus Hollywood guide.
Where to take the best Griffith Observatory photos
For photos of the observatory itself, walk the trails just below it in the late afternoon. For photos from it, use the terraces: the Hollywood Sign is on one side and the city on the other.
Tips for Griffith Observatory
Skip Mondays
The observatory is closed on Mondays. Tours still run, but you only see it from the outside.
Come by bus for the sunset
The 50-cent DASH bus runs until 10 p.m., so you can stay for the city lights without paying for parking.
Bring a credit card for parking
The pay stations near the observatory take only credit cards. Keep the receipt on your dashboard.
Check the cancellation line
Most picks show free cancellation on their booking page. Check the exact cut-off there before you pay.
Griffith Observatory: questions and answers
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Facts checked on 22 October 2026 against: Griffith Observatory: visit · Griffith Observatory: getting here · Griffith Observatory: planetarium · Griffith Observatory: home · Hollywood Sign, official site: hiking.
Written by the Things to Do in Los Angeles editorial team.