What can you see in one chauffeured day in Los Angeles?
In about 9 hours you can cover the five stops most first-time visitors want: Hollywood, Griffith Observatory, Beverly Hills, the Getty Center and Santa Monica. The stops sit about 30 miles apart end to end, and the order below runs east to west so you finish at the beach for sunset instead of fighting traffic back across town.
| Time | Stop | Time on site |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30 a.m. | Hollywood Walk of Fame and TCL Chinese Theatre | 60–75 minutes |
| 11:00 a.m. | Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood Sign view | 60–90 minutes |
| 1:15 p.m. | Lunch and Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills | 90 minutes |
| 3:15 p.m. | Getty Center | 90–120 minutes |
| 5:30 p.m. | Santa Monica Pier and the beach | 60–90 minutes |
| 6:30 p.m. | Drop-off at your hotel or home | End of day |
Avoid Mondays. Both the Griffith Observatory building and the Getty Center are closed that day.
Morning: Hollywood Boulevard and the TCL Chinese Theatre
Start in Hollywood before 10 a.m., when the sidewalks are still walkable and the costumed characters have not set up in force. The Walk of Fame runs along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street, and the forecourt of the TCL Chinese Theatre holds the famous hand and footprints.
An hour is plenty. The chauffeur drops you at the curb and stays close by, so there is no garage to find and pay for.
Late morning: Griffith Observatory
Griffith Observatory gives you the best free view of the Hollywood Sign and the LA basin, about 4 miles from Hollywood Boulevard. As of 2026, the Observatory lists building hours of noon to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends, with the grounds and terraces generally open daily. Check its calendar before you go.
Two practical points. Per the Observatory’s own rules, limousines and car services drop off in a designated area past the horseshoe driveway and may not park there, so the chauffeur leaves and returns at an agreed time. Roads up the hill can also close when traffic backs up on busy weekends, so arriving before noon on a Saturday is worth the effort.
Afternoon: Beverly Hills and the Getty Center
Drop down to Beverly Hills for lunch and a walk along Rodeo Drive. The three blocks between Wilshire and Santa Monica Boulevards take about 30 minutes on foot without shopping.
From there it is roughly 7 miles to the Getty Center in Brentwood. As of October 2026, the Getty lists hours of 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. most days and until 9 p.m. on Saturdays, admission is free with a timed reservation, and parking is $25 per car before 3 p.m. A car service drop-off skips the parking fee; the Getty’s parking page lists the current drop-off areas, and dispatch will confirm the spot.
Plan ahead for 2027. The Getty has announced the Center will close to the public beginning March 15, 2027, with reopening planned for spring 2028. During that window, the Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades is the alternative; check getty.edu for hours.
Sunset: Santa Monica Pier and the coast
End the day at the Santa Monica Pier, about 8 miles from the Getty. Time your arrival for an hour before sunset, which in Los Angeles ranges from about 4:45 p.m. in December to about 8 p.m. in late June. The pier itself is free to walk; the rides cost extra.
If the group has energy left, the beach path runs about 2 miles south to Venice, roughly a 40-minute walk. The chauffeur can meet you at the other end.
How long do the drives take between stops?
Most legs are 10 to 30 minutes outside rush hour. LA geography is the catch: the route runs along Sunset Boulevard and the 405, both of which slow sharply on weekday afternoons.
- Valley to Hollywood: about 25–40 minutes via the 101 through the Cahuenga Pass.
- Hollywood to Griffith Observatory: about 15 minutes, longer if the hill road is backed up.
- Griffith to Beverly Hills: about 30–45 minutes across Hollywood and West Hollywood.
- Beverly Hills to the Getty: about 20–30 minutes via Sunset or Santa Monica Boulevard and the 405.
- Getty to Santa Monica: about 20–30 minutes.
- Santa Monica back to the Valley: 45 to 75 minutes on the 405 through the Sepulveda Pass. On weekdays, waiting until after 7 p.m. often saves 20 minutes.
What does a chauffeured sightseeing day cost?
Sightseeing is booked hourly, so the total is the hourly rate times the hours. These are typical LA market ranges as of October 2026:
| Vehicle | Typical hourly range | 9-hour day |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan (1–3 guests) | $90–$140 | $810–$1,260 |
| SUV (up to 6–7 guests) | $110–$170 | $990–$1,530 |
| Sprinter (up to 14 guests) | $130–$250 | $1,170–$2,250 |
Add gratuity, any venue parking and meals. Split across a full SUV of 6, the day comes to roughly $165–$255 per person for the vehicle.
How 1st Choice handles a sightseeing day
Book it as Los Angeles sightseeing service, which runs hourly. Hourly rates apply within 25 miles in LA County, and the minimum depends on the vehicle and day; your quote confirms it. Stops farther out, such as Malibu or Orange County, are worth confirming with dispatch when you book.
Pick the vehicle on the fleet page: a Mercedes E 350 for up to 3, a Cadillac Escalade for 6, a Chevy Suburban for 7 or a Mercedes Sprinter for 14. Want to keep going after sunset? Extend into a night out with dinner and a show. Gratuity is not included and is entirely at your discretion, and cancellations need 24 hours’ notice.
Meet the 1st Choice fleet
Mercedes E 350 sedan for up to 3, Cadillac Escalade for 6, Chevy Suburban for 7, and Mercedes Sprinter for up to 14. Every booking gets a reserved vehicle and a professional chauffeur, dispatched from Sun Valley.
Want to see LA without driving or parking once?
Dispatch runs 24 hours from Sun Valley, serving the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, and Orange County.
Get an instant quoteCall 747-201-2610LA Sightseeing FAQs
How many hours do I need for a chauffeured sightseeing tour of Los Angeles?
Plan on 8 to 10 hours to see Hollywood, Griffith Observatory, Beverly Hills, the Getty Center and Santa Monica without rushing. A 4- to 5-hour half day covers Hollywood, Griffith Observatory and Beverly Hills.
Can the chauffeur wait at Griffith Observatory?
Not at the building. Per the Observatory’s rules, car services drop off in a designated area and may not park, so the chauffeur drops you off, leaves and returns at an agreed time.
Is the Getty Center open?
As of October 2026, the Getty Center is open Tuesday through Sunday with free timed-entry reservations. The Getty has announced it will close to the public beginning March 15, 2027, with reopening planned for spring 2028. Check getty.edu before you go.
What is the worst day for LA sightseeing?
Monday. Both the Griffith Observatory building and the Getty Center are closed on Mondays.
How much does a chauffeured sightseeing day cost in Los Angeles?
Typical LA hourly rates as of October 2026 run about $90–$140 for a sedan and $110–$170 for an SUV, so a 9-hour day lands around $810–$1,260 in a sedan before gratuity and parking. The online instant quote gives the exact fare.
Can we change stops during the day?
Yes. On hourly service the car and chauffeur stay with you for the booked time, so you can add, skip or reorder stops within the service area.
Related guides
Prices are typical Los Angeles market ranges as of October 2026 and vary by vehicle, date, time, and wait. An instant quote is the only firm price.