"California" spreads these tours across the whole state, from a Hollywood Sign comedy walk and an LA photo tour to Monterey's 17-Mile Drive by e-bike, a San Francisco VW-bus classic, San Diego sailing and pedal boats, and a Palm Springs architecture ride. They're all rated 5.0, so the choice comes down to which region you're in and what pace you want. Prices are gentle by California standards, from $17 up to $119.
The standout on trust is the Hollywood Sign comedy tour, with a huge 932 reviews at just $17, the cheapest option here by far. Beyond that, sort by geography: Monterey and Palm Springs mean cycling, San Diego means the water, and San Francisco's VW bus is the quirky local classic. Match the tour to your city first, then to whether you'd rather ride, sail, or walk.
#1Best Value
Hollywood Sign 2.5-Hour Tour with Comedians and Their Dogs
Cheapest here, most reviewed, and genuinely funny.
★★★★★ 5.0 (932 reviews)·from $17·Flexible·
This Hollywood Sign tour led by comedians (and their dogs) costs just $17 and carries a massive 932 reviews at 5.0, the deepest track record in the California set. It hits the Hollywood Sign, Griffith Observatory and Griffith Park over 2.5 hours. For the price and the proof, it's the easy first recommendation in LA.
★★★★★“Jon was the best! He took great pix of our family and he’s very funny. Perfect experience. 👍👍 He had cold bottled water for us as well!”
— Verified traveller
What's included
- Bottled water
- Free Street Parking Monday - Thursday
- I provide a Wifi Hotspot if you need assistance calling a Uber or Lyft.
- The Best Dogs on the Planet!
Where you'll go: Hollywood Sign · Griffith Observatory · Griffith Park · Hollywood
What's good
- Just $17, the cheapest tour here
- 932 reviews at 5.0, by far the most
- Comedy angle makes it genuinely entertaining
What to know
- Comedy format won't suit history purists
- LA-only
Best for: Anyone in LA wanting a fun, cheap, well-loved Hollywood outing.
Skip it if: You want a serious, in-depth historical tour.
#2Best Ride
Monterey's 17 Mile Drive Guided Electric Bike Tour, 3 hr
The iconic 17-Mile Drive by electric bike.
★★★★★ 5.0 (455 reviews)·from $59·3h 00m·
This three-hour guided e-bike tour of Monterey's 17-Mile Drive passes Asilomar State Beach and the Links at Spanish Bay, at $59 with 455 reviews at 5.0. The e-bikes make the famous coastal route accessible without a hard workout. Strong second-most-reviewed option in the set.
★★★★★“Our tour was such a blast! Victor, our guide, taught us so much about the plants, animals, geography, and history of the Monterey coastline! Three out of four in our family had never ridden an electric bike. The whole staff was so patient teaching us and giving us time to feel confident on the bikes. They are zippy and so much fun! I would recommend this tour to anyone. The views were amazing and ”
— Verified traveller
What's included
- Bottled water
- Gloves
- E-bike
- Helmet
Where you'll go: Asilomar State Beach · 17-Mile Drive · 17-Mile Drive · The Links at Spanish Bay
What's good
- Covers the scenic 17-Mile Drive on easy e-bikes
- 455 reviews at 5.0
- Reasonable $59 for 3 hours
What to know
- Monterey-specific
- Still requires riding a bike
Best for: Monterey visitors wanting the coast without a car or hard pedaling.
Skip it if: You're not near Monterey or don't want to cycle.
#3Most Iconic
Vantigo - The Original San Francisco VW Bus Tour
San Francisco in a vintage VW bus.
★★★★★ 5.0 (300 reviews)·from $103·3h 00m·
The original SF VW-bus tour runs three hours through Union Square, Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown and Coit Tower, reaching spots big buses can't, at $103.20 with 300 reviews at 5.0. It's a beloved, characterful way to see the city. Priced toward the top of the set, but the retro angle is the draw.
★★★★★“I loved seeing the different parts of the city I love. Price was perfect for the experience. I would have loved to stay a little longer at Coit Tower.”
— Verified traveller
What's included
- Photo opportunities at major landmarks
- Vintage Volkswagen bus transportation
- Access to districts the large buses cannot go
- Bottled water
Where you'll go: Union Square · Fisherman's Wharf · Chinatown · Coit Tower
What's good
- Charming vintage VW-bus experience
- Reaches districts large tour buses can't
- 300 reviews at 5.0
What to know
- One of the pricier options at $103.20
- San Francisco-only
Best for: SF visitors who want personality with their sightseeing.
Skip it if: You want the cheapest way around or aren't in San Francisco.
#4Best on the Water
Deluxe Sunset & Day Sail Small Group
A small-group San Diego sunset or day sail.
★★★★★ 5.0 (208 reviews)·from $119·2h 30m·Small group
This small-group deluxe sail on San Diego Bay passes the Maritime Museum and Convention Center over 2.5 hours, at $119 with 208 reviews at 5.0. As the most expensive tour in the set, it's a splurge, but the small-group sailing format is a genuinely relaxing way to see the bay. Sunset timing is the highlight.
★★★★★“The views were amazing, Captain Collin was awesome, and the drinks were complimentary! This was my fiance and I's favorite activity in San Diego, cannot recommend it enough!”
— Verified traveller
What's included
- Soda/Pop
- Bottled water
- Alcoholic Beverages
Where you'll go: San Diego · Maritime Museum of San Diego · San Diego Convention Center · San Diego Bay Walk
What's good
- Small-group sailing, not a crowded boat
- Sunset option over San Diego Bay
- Perfect 5.0 across 208 reviews
What to know
- Priciest option here at $119
- San Diego-only
Best for: San Diego visitors wanting a calm, scenic time on the water.
Skip it if: You get seasick or want a budget option.
#5Most Playful
Glow Nightime Pedal Boat Rental in San Diego Bay
A glowing nighttime pedal boat on San Diego Bay.
★★★★★ 5.0 (184 reviews)·from $99·1h 00m·
An hour-long glow pedal-boat rental on San Diego Bay, at $99 with 184 reviews at 5.0. It's self-powered fun rather than a guided tour, and clearly a hit at night on the water. Short and novel, best as an evening add-on.
★★★★★“The boat was super cool. It was glowing and had a speaker so we could listen to music. The staff was amazing and very friendly. They gave us a blanket and allowed my pup to come along. I highly recommend them.”
— Verified traveller
What's included
- Adults, kids and dogs life jackets
- 1 hour Glow pedal boat ride
- Bluetooth speaker
What's good
- Fun, self-paced nighttime activity
- Glowing boats make for a memorable evening
- 5.0 across 184 reviews
What to know
- Only an hour and self-powered
- No guide or sightseeing narration
Best for: Couples and groups wanting a playful San Diego evening on the bay.
Skip it if: You want a guided tour or a longer experience.
#6Best for Design Fans
Palm Springs Modernism Architecture & History Bike Tour
Palm Springs mid-century modernism by bike.
★★★★★ 5.0 (176 reviews)·from $115·Flexible·
This Palm Springs architecture and history bike tour focuses on the city's famous mid-century modernism, at $115 with 176 reviews at 5.0. It's a niche, design-led ride for a specific interest, and it delivers for that audience. Pricey and narrow, but distinctive.
★★★★★“This was a fabulous time with a fabulous guide, Brennan. The content is a mix of architectural history, city planning, Golden Age of Hollywood, and insider gossip. Honestly the 2.5 hours passed so quickly and we could have kept going.
The bike riding part is very easy as the area covered is basically flat. We were on broken down bikes from our hotel and we managed fine. The heat is an issue thou”
— Verified traveller
What's included
- Bottled water
- Expert Tour Guide
- Perfect Weather
Where you'll go: Indian Canyons Golf Resort
What's good
- Focused on Palm Springs' celebrated modernist architecture
- Bike format covers a lot of the city
- Perfect 5.0 rating
What to know
- Niche architectural focus
- Among the pricier options ($115) with fewest reviews (176)
Best for: Design and architecture lovers in Palm Springs.
Skip it if: Mid-century architecture doesn't excite you.
#7Best for Photos
The Ultimate LA and Hollywood Photo Tour
A 4.5-hour LA and Hollywood photo tour.
★★★★★ 5.0 (148 reviews)·from $75·4h 30m·
This 270-minute photo tour covers the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Hollywood Sign, Melrose Avenue and the Original Farmers Market, at $75 with 148 reviews at 5.0. It's built around getting great shots across LA's iconic spots. Fewest reviews in the set, but a solid, photo-focused option.
★★★★★“Daniel is a great tour guide and takes great photos of us too! We really enjoyed our tour and recommend it to everyone.”
— Verified traveller
What's included
- Drinking Water - bring your own reusable bottle, but I will have bottles of water for people also.
- Skilled Photographer (me!) - for fantastic photos of you at the best spots with your phone or camera
- Private transportation in air-conditioned vehicle from start to finish of the tour
Where you'll go: Hollywood Walk of Fame · Hollywood Sign · Melrose Avenue · The Original Farmers Market
What's good
- Covers multiple LA icons in one long outing
- Photo-focused for shareable shots
- 4.5 hours of content for $75
What to know
- Fewest reviews (148) here
- Long duration may tire casual sightseers
Best for: Photo-minded travelers wanting LA's greatest hits in one trip.
Skip it if: You want something short or aren't chasing photos.
Before you go
- Cluster by region: Southern California (LA, San Diego, Palm Springs) or Bay Area/Central Coast (SF, Monterey) — the state is too big to combine in one short trip.
- For the Hollywood Sign tour, wear trail shoes and bring water and sunscreen — it's an outdoor walk in Griffith Park with little shade.
- Do the Palm Springs architecture bike tour in fall, winter or spring; summer desert heat makes cycling dangerous.
- Pack a windproof layer for coastal tours (Monterey's 17-Mile Drive, San Diego sails) — Pacific fog and wind hit even on warm days.
- Book the low-priced, high-review tours early (the $17 Hollywood tour, Monterey e-bike) — cheap and popular means they sell out fast.
- San Diego sunset sails and the bay pedal boats are weather-dependent; check the forecast and book a backup day if your trip is short.
How I ranked these
For California tours I weighted three things: what you actually get for the money (group size, what's included, special access), the rating balanced against how many reviews back it up — a 4.9 from 200 people isn't the same as a 4.6 from 15,000 — and price for what's on offer. Ratings, review counts and prices shift over time, so always check the live booking page before you pay.
Good to know
These tours are all over the state — how spread out are they?
Enormously. You've got LA and Hollywood in the south, San Diego further south still, Palm Springs in the desert, Monterey on the central coast, and San Francisco in the north. LA to San Francisco is about 6 hours by car. Base yourself in one region per trip — Southern California (LA/San Diego/Palm Springs) or the Bay Area/Central Coast are natural clusters.
Is the Hollywood Sign comedians-and-dogs tour actually a hike?
Yes — it's a roughly 2.5-hour walking tour up in Griffith Park with the best Hollywood Sign viewpoints, led by working comedians who bring their dogs. It's more entertainment-and-views than a strenuous summit, but you're outdoors on trails, so wear proper shoes and bring water and sun protection.
What's the 17-Mile Drive e-bike tour like?
It follows the famous private toll road along the Monterey Peninsula past Asilomar State Beach, Spanish Bay and the golf links, with the Lone Cypress and coastal wildlife along the way. The e-bikes handle the hills, so it's accessible to most fitness levels. Coastal fog and wind are common even in summer, so bring a layer.
When should I visit Palm Springs?
For the Modernism architecture bike tour, aim for fall through spring. Summer desert temperatures regularly top 40C/105F, which is brutal for a bike tour. The mid-century modern architecture (the reason for the tour) is best appreciated in the cooler months when you can linger.
Is the San Francisco VW bus tour just a photo tour?
It's a small-group city orientation in a vintage Volkswagen bus that reaches spots big coaches can't — Coit Tower, the crooked parts of the city, Chinatown, North Beach — with plenty of photo stops. It's a fun, characterful intro to SF's neighborhoods rather than a deep-dive into any one site.
Prices are "from" prices in USD and change with date and availability. Last updated August 2026.