If you’re planning a trip to Los Angeles, you might be wondering whether Universal Studios Hollywood and Warner Bros. are the same thing — they’re not! They are two completely different studio experiences in two different locations, and as a movie lover, you really should try to do both.
The good news is that even if you’re only visiting Los Angeles for a long weekend, you can absolutely do both tours. They’re only about 10 minutes apart by car, and with a little planning, you can fit them into the same trip or even the same day.
Visiting Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood is one of the most popular attractions in Los Angeles. Most people associate the name with the theme park, but it’s also a working studio that has been offering studio tours since 1964.
Since then, Universal Studios Hollywood has added rides, shows, and entire themed lands based on its most popular franchises, from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ to Jurassic World to the newer Super Nintendo World, which opened in 2023 and features the incredibly fun Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge ride.
The World-Famous Studio Tour is the park’s hour-long backlot tram ride with a live narrator who guides you through iconic sets including the Jaws lake, Psycho’s Bates Motel, Courthouse Square from Back to the Future, and immersive experiences like King Kong 360 3-D. You can absolutely fit it into a day that includes plenty of rides and character sightings, especially if you buy the Universal Express pass that lets you skip the line (well worth the added cost on peak days).
One thing you need to know before you go is that even if you’re only really interested in Universal’s World-Famous Studio Tour, you still have to purchase admission to the theme park — you can’t buy a separate studio tour–only ticket. That’s why getting discounted Universal Studios Hollywood tickets is worth it.
Universal also offers a 5-hour VIP Experience that includes an expert-guided tour of parts of the studio closed to the public, a visit to the prop warehouse, a gourmet lunch, and front-of-line access to all rides and attractions for the rest of the day.
A day is really all you need at Universal Studios Hollywood unless you’re traveling with a die-hard Harry Potter or Mario fan who you can’t quite pry away from their favorite land (it happens). If you have two days, though, you’ll have a much more relaxed experience — and two-day tickets are a great value.
Visiting Warner Bros. and Taking the Studio Tour
For a really great behind-the-scenes look at the art of making movies and TV shows, you can’t beat the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood in Burbank.
The standard Studio Tour is about three hours long: a one-hour guided portion where you’ll ride through the 110-acre backlot and visit real sets and soundstages, followed by about two hours of self-guided exploration through Stage 48: Script to Screen (an interactive exhibit that walks you through every step of filmmaking) and the grand finale area featuring props and costumes from DC Universe films, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and rotating special exhibits.
You’ll get to walk around actual working sets and see what the cameras see (and don’t see), and on the guided portion, there’s plenty of time to ask questions.
Important: Children under 5 are not permitted on any Warner Bros. tour, and advance reservations are required — walk-up tickets are limited and not guaranteed. Get your tickets ahead of time and arrive at least 20 minutes early for parking and the security check.
Standard tour tickets are $70 for adults and $60 for children ages 5–10, but you can save on tickets through our partner link below.
Warner Bros. also offers upgraded experiences: the Studio Tour Plus ($150) adds an extra hour of guided time, and the Deluxe Tour ($300) is a six-hour deep dive that includes visits to the costume and property departments plus lunch in the Warner Bros. Commissary Fine Dining Room.
Touring Universal Studios and Warner Bros. in the Same Trip
Taking both tours in the same trip is no problem at all. The two studios are only about three miles apart which is roughly a 10-minute drive without traffic. You can take the Warner Bros. studio tour in one morning or afternoon, leaving the rest of the day free to explore other L.A. attractions, and hit Universal Studios Hollywood the next day.
Even if you plan on taking the VIP tour at Universal Studios Hollywood, you’ll still have plenty of time for the rides, especially since the VIP tour tickets include front-of-line passes to all the rides and shows, including the World-Famous Studio Tour.
Can You Tour Universal Studios and Warner Bros. in the Same Day?
A lot of people ask me if it’s possible to do both studio tours in the same day, and the quick answer is yes — but it does take planning, and I’d only recommend it if you’re short on time.
Universal Studios Hollywood has grown a lot in recent years with the addition of Super Nintendo World and the upcoming Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift roller coaster (the park’s first high-speed outdoor coaster, opening summer 2026). There’s genuinely a full day’s worth of things to do there now, so cramming both parks into one day means you’ll be rushing.
That said, if you’re determined to do it: book the earliest Warner Bros. tour slot (8:30 a.m.), finish up by around noon, then drive 10 minutes to Universal Studios Hollywood and stay until closing time, which can be as late as 10 p.m. during the summer.
Tips for Touring Both Universal Studios and Warner Bros. Studios
Here are some tips for making the most of your visits to both studios:
Know What Makes Each Tour Unique
If you’re not sure if you really want to do both tours, here’s a breakdown of what they look like.
Touring Universal Studios Hollywood
The World-Famous Studio Tour at Universal is about an hour long with a live narrator. You’ll ride a tram through the working backlot, passing famous sets and experiencing immersive scenes from blockbuster films. About half of the tour feels more like a theme park ride with impressive special effects.
Beyond the tour, Universal Studios Hollywood is a full theme park with major attractions including Super Nintendo World, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Jurassic World — The Ride, and the Revenge of the Mummy coaster. You can’t visit the theme park without experiencing the Studio Tour because it’s fantastic for all ages.
The VIP Experience is very different. It’s about five hours long with an expert tour guide who takes you into parts of the studio closed to the public, including backlot locations and the prop warehouse, before a gourmet lunch. You then get front-of-line access to all rides for the rest of the day.
Touring Warner Bros. Studios
The Warner Bros. Studio Tour is a more intimate, behind-the-scenes experience. The standard tour runs about three hours total: one hour of guided touring through the backlot where you’ll visit real sets and soundstages (including the Friends set with Central Perk), followed by two hours to explore the self-guided exhibits at your own pace.
The self-guided portion includes Stage 48: Script to Screen, where you can learn about every step of filmmaking, plus the interactive finale area with props and costumes from Batman, Wonder Woman, Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts, and more. Warner Bros. regularly rotates special exhibits tied to new releases.
Choose an Experience
If you’re looking for excitement, prioritize Universal’s tour. It has more themed elements, feels more like a ride, and even has explosions plus you can spend the rest of your day enjoying the park’s thrill rides and themed lands like Super Nintendo World.
But if you want to visit a working studio to see where the magic happens, or you’re a serious film buff, make Warner Bros. your first stop.
Plan a Second Day at Universal Studios Hollywood
With Super Nintendo World, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and all the rides, serious fans will be happiest if they have more than one day at Universal Studios Hollywood.
If you’re staying at one of the hotels near Universal Studios Hollywood (like the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City or Sheraton Universal Hotel), it’s easy to walk or shuttle to the park at leisure.
Time Your Drives
It’s easy to get from the Warner Bros. Studio to Universal Studios — they’re only about three miles apart. Without traffic, the drive takes about 10 minutes. Just remember that L.A. traffic can be brutal. To miss peak traffic times, plan to be on the road between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. If you don’t have a car, Uber and Lyft work well in Los Angeles, and the ride is usually under $15.
Prioritize What You Really Want to Do at Universal Studios Hollywood
If you’re visiting both parks in one day and want to spend time on rides and watching shows at Universal Studios Hollywood, plan your day in advance. Don’t try to wing it.
A Universal Express pass is a smart investment here — it gets you into an expedited line for popular attractions, including the World-Famous Studio Tour, so you can make the most of your limited time.
Read up on what there is to do and see, decide what you absolutely can’t miss, and check out those things first. Depending on the time of year, you may find you have extra time to roam after hitting those must-dos. For more tips and all the ways to save, check out our complete guide to buying discount Universal Studios Hollywood tickets.
Split Your Day Strategically
Here’s one more option for checking out both tours in one day. If you’re willing to do more driving, you can split your day at Universal Studios Hollywood by arriving at park opening. Spend the first 4–5 hours taking the World-Famous Studio Tour and going on rides. Then drive to Warner Bros. for a 2:30 p.m. tour (which you’ve already reserved in advance).
You’ll be able to get back to Universal with enough time to grab a bite to eat, check out the shows, and go on any of the rides you missed in the morning. Or, if you’re staying at one of the hotels near Universal Studios Hollywood, head back for an early dinner and a stroll around CityWalk.
With a little planning, it’s easy to do both studio tours in one trip. Plus, it’s even possible to do both in a single day if you prioritize well.
That said, if your goal is to relax and not have to rush around L.A., plan on visiting Warner Bros. on one day and Universal Studios Hollywood the next day. That way, you’ll get more enjoyment out of both.
Save on Tickets to Both Parks
There’s no official combo ticket for Universal Studios Hollywood and Warner Bros., but you can save on both through our discounted ticket links below. You can also bundle Warner Bros. with other L.A. attractions through the Los Angeles CityPASS.
For even more ways to save on Universal Studios Hollywood, including Express passes, VIP Experience tickets, and multi-day deals, check out our complete guide: How to Buy Universal Studios Hollywood Discount Tickets: 15 Cheapest Ways.
Katie Dillon
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