The Studio Tour is the tram ride that started it all at Universal Studios Hollywood. Since 1964, open-air trams have carried visitors from the park’s Upper Lot in Universal City onto one of the world’s largest working film and television backlots. Movie fans line up for a rare look at real soundstages and sets, and many guests see the tour as the defining reason to visit the park.
The roughly hour-long ride covers far more ground than a typical attraction. Jimmy Fallon appears on video screens as host, while a live guide narrates production history. Trams roll past the Bates Motel and Psycho house, Wisteria Lane from Desperate Housewives, Courthouse Square from Back to the Future, and the wreckage of the jumbo-jet crash set from War of the Worlds. Effects sequences include a flash flood, the shark at Amity, a subway earthquake, Peter Jackson’s 3-D King Kong 360 battle, and the Fast & Furious: Supercharged finale. Because the backlot remains active, crews sometimes film along the route.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
Ride first thing after opening or in the late afternoon, when lines usually move faster. Summer, weekends, and holiday weeks bring the heaviest crowds. Universal Express covers one front-of-line ride on the tour. Sit on the left side of the tram for the closest views of many effects scenes. Live filming can change the route on any given day. The Metro B Line’s Universal City/Studio City station connects to the park by a free shuttle. CityWalk sits at the main entrance.
