Organized Tours

Bus/Van Tours

L.A. Tours (tel. 323/460-6490; www.latours.net) operates regularly scheduled tours of the city. Plush shuttle buses pick up riders from major hotels for morning or afternoon tours of Sunset Strip, the movie studios, the Farmers Market, Hollywood, homes of the stars, and other attractions. Different itineraries are available, from Downtown and the Music Center to Disneyland, Universal Studios, or Six Flags Magic Mountain. Tours vary in length from a half-day Beaches & Shopping tour to a full-day Grand City tour. Advance reservations are required.

The other major tour company in L.A. is Starline Tours (tel. 800/959-3131; www.starlinetours.com) -- you'll see their air-conditioned minibuses, double-decker Big Red buses, and open-air trolleys all over the city. Since 1935, Starline has been offering a wide selection of L.A. tours, including the first-ever Movie Stars' Homes tour. Its most popular tour, the 2-hour neighborhood jaunt, departs every half-hour from the front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre between 9:30am and 5:30pm (you'll see the Starline kiosk to the right of the theater entrance at 6925 Hollywood Blvd.). If you really like driving tours, sign up for the piece d' resistance: the 5 1/2-hour Grand Tour of L.A. Check out their website for more tour information.

Walking Tours

If you want the classic Hollywood walking tour, Red Line Tours (tel. 323/402-1074; www.redlinetours.com) offers daily sightseeing expeditions to all the famous (and infamous) landmarks in Hollywood. Its unique "live-audio" system allows customers to hear the tour guide even over the city noise. Customers wear an audio headset receiver while the tour guide wears a headset microphone transmitter (pretty clever, actually). Trips depart from the Stella Adler Academy & Theatres (6773 Hollywood Blvd.) at 10am, noon, 2pm, and 4pm, 7 days a week. Rates are $20 for adults, $18 for students and seniors, and $15 for children ages 9 to 15. Tours of Downtown L.A. are offered as well. Log on to the Red Line Tour website for more information.

The L.A. Conservancy (tel. 213/623-2489; www.laconservancy.org) conducts about a dozen entertaining walking tours of historic Downtown L.A. In Pasadena, Pasadena Heritage (tel. 626/441-6333; www.pasadenaheritage.org) offers a walking tour of Old Pasadena.

Bicycle Tours

Perry's Beach Café & Rentals in Santa Monica offers 1 1/2-hour bicycle tours of the Santa Monica and Venice beach communities. It's a great way to explore the area while learning about its history and landmark architecture. The package costs $30 per person and includes a tour guide, a 3-hour bike rental with protective gear, water, a bike lock, and goody bag. Note: A minimum of three people are required for the tour. For more information or to make a reservation call tel. 310/372-3138.

Helicopter Tours

Touring L.A. from above is certainly a unique perspective. Just the thrill of riding in a helicopter is worth the price. Celebrity Helicopters (tel. 877/999-2099; www.celebheli.com) offers a wide array of themed trips, ranging from a 35-minute Celebrity Home Tour ($169) to a 25-minute fly-by of the L.A. coastline ($99). Other tour packages are available as well: Check their website for more information.

Jogging Tour

Off 'N Running Tours (tel. 310/246-1418; www.offnrunningtours.com) combines sporting with sightseeing, taking joggers on guided runs through Los Angeles. The themed tours are customized to take in the most entertaining areas around the city and can accommodate any skill level for 4 to 12 miles. One of the most popular routes is up to Holmby Hills, past the Playboy Mansion and other massive estates. It's a fun way to get the most out of your morning jog. Tours cost about $60 and include a T-shirt, bottled water and a post-tour cupcake.

Beverly Hills Trolley Tours

The city of Beverly Hills offers inexpensive trolley tours that detail the city's history as well as little-known facts and celebrity tidbits. The tour takes visitors on a 40-minute docent-led tour through the tony avenues of Beverly Hills, including Rodeo Avenue and the Golden Triangle. It runs every Saturday on the hour from 11am to 4pm. The fare is a mere $5, and the trolley departs at the "Trolley Stop" at the intersection of Rodeo Drive and Dayton Way. For more information, call tel. 310/285-2438 or log on to www.beverlyhills.org.