studio tour plus warner bros

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Book Your Studio Tour

The signature Studio Tour includes the Storytellers Showcase, the backlot, Stage 48: Script To Screen, and the Action and Magic Made Here finale. Allow three hours: 1 hour for the guided studio tour, and 2 hours for self-guided. Studio Tour tickets are priced at $69 per adult (ages 11 and up), $59 for children (ages 5-10), and $57 for SoCal residents (ages 5+).

Additional tour options include:

• Classics Tour - A must for fans of Golden Age Hollywood, this themed tour focuses on award-winning movies and TV shows that were shot on the iconic backlot from the studio's early days through the 1970s. (3 hours inclusive of guided + self-guided)
• Studio Tour Plus - Includes an expanded 2 hour guided tour + 2 hour self-guided, welcome reception, and lunch at Central Perk Café.
• Deluxe Tour - The ultimate Warner Bros. experience spans six hours (3 hours guided, 1 hour fine dining lunch, 2 hours self-guided & shopping) and includes a visit to the famed Property Department.

Online tickets are highly recommended and available at wbstudiotour.com/tickets . Walk-up tickets are limited and not guaranteed.

Visitor Info

The Studio Tour is open daily from 8:30am to 3:30pm. Closed June 13-14.

The Warner Bros. Studio Store is open to the public (no ticket needed) and offers exclusives from Hollywood classics to DC and wonderful kids toys, plushies and apparel. The store is open daily 10am to 7pm, closed June 13-14.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood 3400 Warner Blvd, Burbank 91505 (818) 977-8687 www.wbstudiotour.com

Discover LA Newsletter

Warner Bros Studio Tour Hollywood: Honest Review (2024)

Iconic TV and movie sets. Working Hollywood actors roaming past your tour group. New York, San Francisco, and small town America all in one place.

In this Warner Brothers studio tour review, we’re sharing exactly what it’s like stepping foot into Warner Brothers Studio in Hollywood and embarking on one of their incredible studio and backlot experiences.

Unlike other tours around the world, this is a current working film and TV studios.

The people you pass aren’t actors (well, they are actors, but they aren’t acting as if they’re real movie and TV crew when they’re not – you know what I mean!)

And while you will see sets that have been frozen in time on the WB Studio Tour (Friends set, we’re looking at you!), you’ll also experience the constantly changing backlot.

It’s a dream come true for movie and TV fans to get to explore one of the oldest studios in the entire world, and after reading this Warner Bros tour review, you’ll know exactly what to expect and how to make the most of your time here.

Please note this is about the Warner Brothers Hollywood Studio Tour in Los Angeles, not the Warner Brothers Studio Tour in London, England.

💰 Top tip: want the cheapest Warner Brothers Studio tour tickets ?

We always book them on this site for the best deals!

What to Expect at the Warner Brothers Studio Tour in Los Angeles

From the iconic Friends fountain and orange couch to facades of the exterior of houses that you’ll recognize from everything from Growing Pains (1980s) to Fuller House (2020s), there’s something memorable literally around every corner on the Warner Bros tour.

We couldn’t possibly cover everything you’ll see, and we wouldn’t want to because part of the fun is the element of surprise.

Instead, we’ll touch on some highlights to get you excited and give you some of the best tips for making the most of your day.

Practical Tips for Visiting the Warner Bros Tour

Buying tickets to the wb studio tour.

Buying tickets to the studio tour needs to be done before your visit, but it’s very easy to buy them online here.

Prices are $69 per adult and $59 per child, and you’ll just keep your confirmation e-mail with you as you go through the experience and arrival process.

Discounts and Cheap Tickets for Warner Bros Studio Tour

Sometimes, you can find discounted tickets for the tour using a couple of different methods.

Firstly, if you’re a SoCal resident, you get discounted tickets anyway as long as you have proof of residency.

If you’re not from the area, sign up for the mailing list through the official website for the chance to keep an eye on any promo codes (they aren’t frequent, but there is a space on the booking site for promo codes so it is possible).

Alternatively, check out the Warner Brother Studios Tour on Undercover Tourist here , as they often have discounted tickets available for about $5-10 off the regular price.

Opening Days and Times

Currently, the Warner Bros Studio Tour is open five days a week, excluding Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

On days they are open, the first tour usually begins at 9am and the last tour begins at 3:30pm (again, you have unguided time to walk through afterwards).

How Long is the Warner Bros Studio Tour?

The guided portion of the tour is about 1 hour, and you should leave about 2 to 3 hours total as the rest will be unguided at your own pace.

Parking at Warner Bros Studio LA

Los Angeles is a driving city, which means your main options to get to the tour are either driving yourself or taking an Uber or Lyft.

If driving yourself, parking is $15 and is located in a dedicated, security-guarded parking lot adjacent to the Warner Bros main visitor building ( 3400 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91505 ).

If you get an Uber, they are allowed to drop you off and pick you up right outside the visitor building in a dedicated rideshare landing zone.

The Warner Bros Tour website also makes mentions of buses and trains that can “get you” to the tour, but these are convoluted and long processes and they’re only going to drop you off a quarter mile away from the tour.

Stick to the Uber or driving yourself.

Arrival and Movie

When you first get to the visitor center, you’ll show your tour confirmation and go through an airport-style security section.

Then, before you know it, you’re in!

You can check out the café and shop, or you can save that until afterwards and head straight to the first part of the tour, the Storytelling Showcase.

This is a look-in-your-own-time room with plenty of artifacts from movie studio history, including letters to and from famous studio execs, address books that include Walt Disney’s information, and a year-by-year rundown of how the Warner Brothers started the studio in the first place.

When you’re ready, you make your way to the start of the official guided tour, the backlot tour, where you’ll get in a line similar to a theme park ride line and wait until it’s time for the next tour to depart.

Note: Despite the tour entry time on your confirmation page, tours do run continually and they will get you on the next one. Aim to arrive at the Studios so that you are entering the main visitor center 10-15 minutes before the time on your confirmation if you want to make sure you’re on that tour, or arrive at the visitor center at the time it says on your confirmation and then just know you’ll get on the next tour when you’ve made your way back to the starting area – they really do run frequently.

Warner Brother Studios Backlot Tour

The Backlot tour, for many people, is the best part of the Warner Brother Studios tour.

This is the main, guided, section, where you hop on the iconic little trams with your tour guide and driver and wind your way around the real, working Warner Brothers backlot.

Not only will you pass by the buildings that house the interior sets, but you’ll get to see many of the exterior sets that have been used for so many of your favorite movies and TV shows (and you may be surprised how easily they are to recycle and use again and again!)

One of the most fascinating sets is Warner Village, which is actually a collection of offices within houses that replicates a typical American street.

These are exterior sets only, in case you need a front yard or standard American street to film in.

Then you’ve got the Midwest Residential Street, which is where you’ll find the famous Gilmore Girls sets like the chapel, “Luke’s Diner” and that gazebo in the middle of the park.

You’ll also see the brownstones, a classic New York style area, as well as the exterior of a school, a bank, and more industrial areas.

Along the way, your guide will point out many of the most important productions that have been filmed using these locations and, better yet, they’ll ask you ahead of time what your favorite Warner Brothers productions are so they can be sure to point out filming locations that you might be interested in.

You’ll pass by actor’s trailers, often see real productions taking place (and in that case, you may be rerouted as they need all to be quiet on set!), and you will get down a couple of times from the vehicle and get to explore with your guide on foot.

We saw production designers working on a set for a new scene for an upcoming Warner Brothers movie, as well as plenty of movie and TV crew who were milling around, eating their lunches and going from set to set.

The energy here is electric.

Even when there isn’t filming taking place, you can feel that this is truly a place where magic is created and history is made.

One of the most famous outdoor sets includes the fountain from the Friends intro.

This is the real fountain – it was filmed here, on the studio, not on location in New York.

When you pass by the soundstages, where interior sets are built, you can take pictures unless the doors are up.

If the doors are up, there may be sets inside that you can see on the tour, but cannot be shared via photo with anyone else as it may be a spoiler for an upcoming episode or movie.

Oh, and did I mention celebrities?

Yes, those working actors show up to the Warner Brother Studios for work, and they have to walk around like the rest of the crew!

If you see someone you recognize, the etiquette is simply to keep your mouth shut and enjoy a spotting.

Don’t yell at them, run towards them, or do anything besides a kind wave if they happen to make eye contact.

It’s not because the actors themselves are stuck up or don’t want to meet fans, but with tours running continuously, it’s easy to make them feel like they’re an animal in a zoo and at the end of the day, they’re a professional who is at work, not roaming the streets of Beverly Hills, so let them get on with their day.

Self-Guided Warner Brothers Studio Tour

After your backlot tour is over, you’ll be taken by your driver to the self-guided portion of the tour, which takes you through more movie and TV history as well as some of the world’s most famous soundstages.

Some of the first exhibits you pass by include information on the actual movie-making process, from the writing to the casting to the costume design.

Friends Set and Café at Warner Brother Studios

Friends fans, listen up.

This is it.

The moment you’ve been waiting for.

Friends is one of the most-watched shows in the world, particularly in syndication and has been beloved by fans since it was on air from 1994 to 2004.

While it was set in New York City, it was mostly filmed in Los Angeles at the studios, and the interior Central Perk set is now available for fans to see in-person.

Yes, the original Friends cafe set, almost as it was during filming, is there in Studio 48 in all of its glory, waiting for you to discover it.

You won’t be allowed to roam around the real set too much because they don’t want it to be damaged, but you can get your picture taken on the famous couch!

If you want to spend more time in the Friends world, the Friends café at the end of the self-guided part of the tour is the perfect place to do that.

Grab a coffee, sit on the replica orange couch, and enjoy the replica sets including Monica’s apartment, Monica’s kitchen, and Chandler and Joey’s place!

Big Bang Theory

Big Bang Theory is another popular show that has retained its sets for fans to view, and if you want, you can also get some of your pictures taken here pretending that you live in the same world as these characters.

Other Exhibits at the Warner Brothers Studio Tour

From the real Batmobile to a Harry Potter exhibit featuring some props to iconic superhero costumes, there really is something for everyone on this tour no matter your movie tastes.

Again, so much has been filmed here, from superhero movies to La La Land to Pretty Little Liars to Gilmore Girls to Fuller House to Growing Pains to some older movies that used the original exterior soundstages.

Warner Brothers Studio Tour Gift Shop and Exit

When you exit into the main visitor area, you’ll get to experience the incredible gift shop, which is one of the best gift shops I’ve ever been in.

There’s a big emphasis on merch that you can only buy here (there is also Friends store connected to the Friends café for exclusive items).

I purchased some Gilmore Girls memorabilia, as well as some Warner Brothers studio merch including a T-shirt and coaster.

It’s hard to get out of there without buying something, so budget some money to make sure you can get a souvenir from one of your favorite movies or shows.

Is the Warner Brothers Studio Tour Hollywood Worth it?

The Warner Brothers Studio tour isn’t a cheap investment.

It can run a family of four into the hundreds of dollars, and the experience is about 2-3 hours long (though you can spend as much as you want after you exit the backlot tour and go to the self-guided interior section).

There are a lot of options of things to do with that money in LA, but this is the one studio tour that is an absolute must-do.

It’s the most iconic one, even better than Universal or Paramount, and the fact that it’s a working studio and you’re constantly looking for actors or being rerouted so you don’t get in the way of active filming brings an energy and excitement to the experience that makes it well worth the money involved.

Where to Eat Near Warner Bros Studio Tour: Dine with the Stars

If you’re finished at the tour and looking for somewhere to eat, head across the road to the Smoke House Restaurant .

With plush red booths and an old-timey Americana feel, this restaurant has been a favorite with celebrities over the years, including George Clooney who named his production company “Smokehouse Pictures” after the restaurant!

Prices are decent for LA and the pulled pork sandwich is one for the ages.

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Which Is The Best Hollywood Studio Tour For You?

Posted on Published: June 29, 2019  - Last updated: July 31, 2024

Categories North America , California , Travel

There are four major Hollywood studio tours that you can go on in and around Los Angeles : Warners Bros., Sony, Paramount, and Universal Studio Tours.

It’s really not necessary to do all of them , especially on the same trip. There’s quite a bit of overlap between each studio tour, and the ticket prices can really add up.

Throughout my visits to California, I’ve managed to visit all 4 Hollywood studio tours in Los Angeles (and some more than once!).

Here’s my in-depth reviews of all the major Hollywood studio tours in Los Angeles. This is what to expect from each one so you can decide which is the best studio tour in los Angeles for you!

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

Why Should You Go On A Hollywood Studio Tour?

Hollywood Studio Tours in Los Angeles are a great way to gain an “ all-access” pass to the biggest backstage lots in California .

They give you a chance to go behind the scenes on some of your favourite movies and TV shows.

You’ll get to see the sets and props, and learn about the magic of making movies. And, if you’re lucky, you might get the chance to either see a live film set or a celebrity at work . 

Let’s just say, visit a movie set is a quintessential Los Angeles activity … p.s. see my L.A. guide here .

Which Is The Best Hollywood Studio Tour For You ?

The best Hollywood studio tour for you will depend on three main factors :

• Your favourite films and TV shows

The studio tours vary in budget and tour length. The price ranges between $55 to $110 / ticket . And the tour can last anywhere between one to three hours .

But your favourite movies and TV shows are the most important factor when deciding which studio tour in Los Angeles to go to. If you haven’t watched anything the studio has produced, you’ll be less interested in what you’re seeing and learning about.

Best Studio Tours In LA: Overview

Plan the ultimate vacation

My  digital travel planner template  has everything you need to plan your vacation: research templates, travel planner itinerary, travel budget templates…etc. . You can print it out or use it digitally on your phone, tablet, or computer.

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Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour

Universal Studios is a bit of a unique studio tour in Los Angeles. The studio tour can only be accessed if you buy a ticket to the entire theme park .

This also puts the studio tour at a much higher price point compared to the others around Los Angles. But, on the other hand, it is an ENTIRE day of activities instead of a few hours.

The tour itself is only 60 minutes but there are no shortage of other rides and shows to see once you’re in the park.

Quick Information & Links

Total Time : 1 hour (not including wait time in line) Admission : $109 -$119* (includes access to the entire park, price varies depending on the season) Book Tickets for Universal Studios Hollywood . Parking : Starts at $32* (General Parking)

*Updated January 2024

Movies Referred To/ Filmed Here:

You should check out this Hollywood studio tour if you’re a fan of…

• Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas
• Jurassic Park
• Fast and the Furious
• Jordan Peele’s horror epic, NOPE

Pros Of The Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour

You are on the LARGEST film and TV studio in Hollywood and the world! You get to drive by some of the most iconic sets in all movie history.

You drive-by the sound stages, new and old sets.

But this is still a ride in a theme park so they’ve added some more ride-like adventure elements to make things more exciting, unlike any other Hollywood studio tours in Los Angeles.

At times you feel like you’re in the movie rather than just seeing where one was filmed!

And it’s not all for show either, they do still use these sets to film. In fact, this was the only Hollywood studio tour where I caught a live taping , so it’s still possible to see!

One thing’s certain though, you won’t be bored for a second on this tour even if you don’t happen to see an active film set during your tour. 

P.S. Make the most of your time at Universal Studios and book an Express Line ticket through Viator here . It gives you one-time express access to each ride, show, and attraction at the park !

Cons Of The Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour

It’s the least personal studio tour in Los Angeles. You’re on a tram the entire time for 60 minutes straight, with about 30 other people!

As I said, this tour is sometimes more of a ride than a studio tour (so it’s both a pro and a con!).

At times, the tour felt very streamlined , because most of it is. You still have a guide, but he’s following a script on a set path so it’s the same tour every time (unlike the others which have a bit more variance based on your guide).

The tram is on a set course and there are timed animatronics and effects throughout the tour.

Value For Money – Movie Location Los Angeles

I will admit, you get pretty good value for your money with your tickets to Universal studios. But that’s only if you wanted to visit the theme park.

If you were already planning on visiting Universal Studios Hollywood, then the studio tour is a must-do ride! 

But if you don’t like theme parks, and your only interest is the Hollywood studio tour, I wouldn’t recommend paying for the entire theme park just for the tour.

You might also be interested in reading…

• How To Plan Your Los Angeles Vacation

Logistics: What To Know Before You Go

A tram leaves about every 30 minutes for the Universal Studios Hollywood studio tour so the line builds up pretty quickly. I’d prioritize this as one of your first rides of the day.

As I said, don’t expect reality with this one, they do show you real sets but it’s also still a ride. So you’ll get a lot of gimmicky routines created specifically for this tour. 

Also, some advance warning, you might get wet at certain points during the ride. If you’d prefer to not get wet, try to sit in the middle of the row.

Book Universal Studio Tours Tickets In Advance Through Viator

Book General Admission tickets →

Book Skip the Line Express Tickets →

Book the VIP Experience on Viator (giving your exclusive access to off-limits areas of the park) →

For more Los Angeles organized tours from Viator, click here .

Warner Bros. Studio Tour

Warner Bros. Studio is actually in Burbank California , but it’s close enough to Los Angeles.

Warner Bros. studio tour takes you on a tram around different parts of the studio, with only around 12 guests at a time on the tour.

So unlike Universal Studios Hollywood studio tour, it’s a lot more personal and you’re only on the tram to get from place to place (because their lot is HUGE!).

You drive by sound stages and countless outdoor sets. But you’ll get off and walk around a bit, even walking in some sets if you’re lucky. So you should be prepared for some walking on this studio tour in Los Angeles!

Total Time : ~3 hours (1 hour guided, 2 hours unguided). Leaves every 30 minutes from 9:30 to 3:30 Admission : 70$* Parking : 15$* Website

What Was Filmed Here (Sets You Might See!)

Check out this Hollywood studio tour if you’re a fan of…

• Harry Potter
• Gilmore Girls
• Back to the Future
• The Big Bang Theory
• Pretty Little Liars

So Much More Than A Studio Tour

Over the years, the Warner Bros. studio tour has grown. It’s no longer just a backlot tour, now, that’s just one part of it…

Museums, Props, Sets, & Photo Ops At Warner Bros. Studio

Tickets to the Warner Bros. studio tour also includes interactive museums where you’ll want to take all the pictures you can!

You can interact with different sets from your favourite movies and TV sets, like Friends, the Big Bang Theory and Harry Potter! on the magic of movies, costume

There’s also an entire exhibit on the DC universe with all superheroe and villain props. They have Aquaman’s lair, Wonder Woman’s study, Superman’s office, and the Batman’s bat cave.

And finally they have an in-depth exhibit on all things filmmaking. Staring with the writing process and finishing with the special effects of movie making.

Book Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tickets With Viator

General Admission tickets →

Pros Of The Warner Bros. Studio Tour

They are constantly updating the Warner Bros. studio tour – that means you can even go back the next time you’re in Los Angeles, I’ve already gone back twice!

There was some over lap with the sets and information, but very little. A lot had been updated and added to the tour. And I’ve already noticed that they’ve added a lot more content since I’ve gone!

Also, the guided portion of the tour will rarely be the same. For starters, where you go will all depend on what they’re filming at the time. So not only can it change over the years, but it can change within the hour!

It’s also a very personal tour with only being 12 people on the tram. You can also all your questions about movie magic!

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Cons Of The Warner Bros. Studio Tour

With all the new additions to the tour every year, I’ve noticed the guided portion has become less and less…

The guided tour portion is only hour , and then two hours are a self guided tour through the museums.

But it’s the guided portion of the tour that’s always fresh and what brings me back! I’m a bit disappointed that the museums seem to have taken over the tour now, making the tour a bit more gimmicky and less about touring real sets and sound stages…

How to See San Diego in One Day

Bring government I.D. when you visit, and make sure to arrive early!

You have to go through security and there might be a lineup. They suggest arriving 30 minutes in advance.

Don’t worry about getting lost on your way to the studios (if you’re driving there)! I followed the instructions we were given on how to get to the visitor’s centre, but my GPS brought me to the wrong gate. No need to panic if this happens to you too! The patrol was very understanding (I’m sure this happens all the time) and told us exactly where to go.

If you’re driving, there’s a parking lot across the street from the visitor’s centre (paid, of course). The studio is in a pretty secluded area, but there’s a Starbucks in the visitor’s centre .

You can book Warner Brothers Studio tour tickets in advance on Viator here .

Paramount Pictures Hollywood Studio Tour

Paramount Pictures is really interesting because it’s the last Hollywood studio still in Hollywood (well in Los Angeles). 

So it’s only about a 15-minute drive from Hollywood Blvd. FYI, Warner is in Burbank, and Sony is in Culver City.

It was very similar to Warner Bros. Hollywood studio tour in terms of the scale of the studio. They have several sound stages, a water tank, and a totally customizable New York set.

Like the other Hollywood studio tours in Los Angeles, there’s a museum portion of the tour with props. Paramount Pictures one had a lot of “ unwanted ” props (those that could only be used once for the film they were designed for).

There was A LOT of props from the Transformers franchise, but there were also Star Trek, Gladiator, and Dream Girls props.

Time : 2 hours * They leave every 30 minutes from 9:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. Admission : 65$* Parking : $22 – (used to be cash only)* Website

What Was/ Is Filmed Here

• The Godfather
• OG King Kong (In Set 19)
• Breakfast at Tiffanys
• Forrest Gump

Pros Of Paramount Pictures Studio Tour In Los Angeles

The best part about the Paramount Pictures Hollywood studio tour tour was the small size of the group. There’s a max of 7 people on the tour (you’re in an 8 seater golf cart).

The tour also provided earphones to be able to perfectly hear your tour guide at all times, so they didn’t have to shout at you! There can be a lot going on on sets with a lot of noises, so the earphones were definitely appreciated.

I also liked that they provided visuals for what you were looking at during the tour. Our tour guide carried around an iPad showing examples of what a specific set was used for over the years. So instead of looking at a giant green screen, they showed us how that green screen was used in different films.

Cons Of Paramount Pictures Studio Tour

Paramount Pictures studio tour taught me a few things about Hollywood studio tours in Los Angeles…

First, the quality of the tour really depends on your tour guide – they can make or break your visit. And unfortunately, you won’t really know who you’re going to get beforehand.

Unfortunately for me, my tour guide at Paramount Pictures wasn’t the best. There’s so much history to this Hollywood studio that I ended up lost most of the time because I didn’t know who or what he was referring to, I guess the references were also a bit ahead of my time…

Paramount Studio tour also really showed me how important it is to have seen (or at least heard of) the films or shows the studio produced. 

So if you’re a fan of classics like I Love Lucy, Alfred Hitchcock, or the original King Kong then Paramount Pictures studio tour is a must for you!

For me, Paramount Pictures studio tour was a bit of a mixed bag. I really see the potential of this tour though, but I think you have to be a really big movie buff to enjoy Paramount Pictures studio tour.

The visitor parking is across the street from the main gates. Be wary of the address on Google Maps, it brought me to the wrong gate.

When I visited, parking was cash only, so it’s always good to be prepared. There’s an ATM you can use at the end of the tour if you need (apparently no one does cash back in the area…).

Like the other tours, you have to show I.D. and go through security, so they ask you to arrive 30 minutes before your tour . But, in case there’s no wait at all, there’s a mini-exhibit you can visit to pass the time before your tour starts. 

Make sure to bring water and food, there’s really not much in the area. But drinks aren’t allowed on the tour itself, so leave it in the car!

SONY Studio Hollywood Tour

SONY Hollywood studio tour ended up being my favourite studio tour . We were only about 5 people on this tour, so it was very personal. But I don’t know if this was the max, or that fewer people happened to sign up for it.  

I know online there are 25 spots per time slot. I don’t know if that’s the typical tour size on a busier day, or if they would always split you up into smaller groups once you get there.

There are famous cars on display from movies and shows (like Breaking Bad and Ghostbusters). They also have a prop museum at the start of the tour. There’s even an Oscar and an Emmy award you can see (and even hold!). 

Time : 2 hours * Leaves 4 times a day: 9:30, 10:30, 1:30 and 2:30. Admission : 55$* Parking : Free Valet Website

What Was Filmed Here

• Breaking Bad
• Wheel of Fortune
• Ghostbusters
• The Goldbergs

Pros Of The SONY Studio Tour

SONY is a MUCH smaller studio than the other three Hollywood studio tours in Los Angeles. That means you don’t even need a tram to get around, we walked everywhere (so you should also be prepared to walk!). This made it easier to take appreciate it all and take pictures!

I also absolutely loved our tour guide, he was by far my favourite out of all the ones we had on any tour. It didn’t seem like he simply memorized a script. It was as if he lived and breathed SONY and films in general. I would’ve believed it if he’d told us he grew up on set.

We also got the chance to walk on to a sound stage from one of my favourite TV Shows – The Goldbergs. And our guide brought us onto a working foley stage (where they create extra sounds for movies). 

If a sound or foley stage isn’t available to see, you are guaranteed to see either the Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy set . They film on opposite days, so you’ll always be able to see one of them.

But the best perk of all is… You get your picture taken on the set of either Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune, which they’ll print out and give to you as a souvenir… FREE OF CHARGE! ! Seriously when is anything ever free these days…

Cons Of The SONY Hollywood Studio Tour

As I mentioned, there’s no tram for the SONY Hollywood studio tour. Although the studio isn’t as large as the others, you have to be prepared to walk quite a bit.

Another sort of pro and con is that it’s 80 % outdoors . So you really want to go when it’s decent weather. And be prepared to be in the sun!

How to Make the Most of Your Time in Long Beach California

Value For Money – Hollywood Studio Tours In Los Angeles

I think you get a lot of value for your money at SONY studio tour. It’s the cheapest out of any of the Hollywood studio tours in Los Angeles and they give you some nice freebies (like parking and a photo souvenir!).

The scale of the studio might be smaller than the other three major studios, but there’s still a lot to see. And despite the lack of big blockbuster sets, they make up for it in different ways (like seeing the inside of a game show set, and a foley stage).

Like Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures studio tours, they ask that you arrive 30 minutes early to go through security. 

If you drive there, they offer FREE valet parking in the Overland lot. 

The studio is very much out of the way, so plan your meals and snacks in advance. All they had at the studio was a vending machine .

Don’t expect to see large outdoor sets like from Warner Bros. or Paramount, SONY is a lot smaller, so most of their sets are on sound stages. So if you’re interested in the big New York outdoor sets, SONY isn’t for you!

Overview, What’s The Best Studio Tour In Los Angeles?

Like I said before, Universal Studios is the most expensive, but you do get an entire days worth of activities. But if your intent is to learn about movie magic, the other three are better choices. 

If you have time for more than one, you don’t need to see both Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures. There’s quite a bit of overlap between the two. Instead, choose one of those, and then either Universal or SONY as your second option.

P.S. Need A Place To Stay In L.A.? Hotel Recommendations

Finding a place to stay in Los Angeles can be quite overwhelming – it’s HUGE!

I stayed at the Sofitel and would highly recommend it. It was in a safe area, and across the street from the Beverly Hills mall (which proved to be very convenient). It was also within walking distance to some local restaurants you need to try – like the Kings Road Cafe! See room rates & availability here .

If you want to stay on the beach outside of the city life instead, we stayed at The Georgian in Santa Monica and couldn’t recommend it enough! It’s only about a 25 minute drive from the city. This was a beautiful art deco hotel that is begging you to go there! It’s a minutes walk to the beach, Santa Monica Pier, and the Third Street Promenade. See room rates & availability here .

For more accommodation options in Los Angeles, click here . Interested in longer stays in L.A. check out Plum Guide here .

My California Amazon Must Haves

Related Posts

• How To Spend One Day In San Diego: What To See, Eat & Do
• How To Plan The Ultimate Vacation To Santa Monica

Last update on 2024-09-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Tuesday 26th of September 2023

You've gotten me excited about my next trip to Los Angeles. I've done the Universal tour and the Warner Bros tour, so I may do what you suggested and do Paramount and Sony next.

You're right about Universal's tour being more of a ride from what I remember. However, it was cool to see sets from The Good Place, Jaws, and Psycho. Being on the tram the whole time was a little different, and my experience was a bit thrown off because I hadn't expected Universal, CA to have such similar rides to Universal, FL, and I loved how Universal, FL made it really seem like you were on a set walking through various cities. Definitely not the same as CA. I think I was there for about 2 hours and was done. The weather was weird where it was kindof warm at first, but then turned super cold while I was in line for a ride, so I was done sooner than I expected.

I absolutely loved the Warner Bros tour. The guide was super nice and knowledgeable. I almost died when I saw the Gilmore Girl house and Luke's Diner. Of course I took pictures at the Central Perk. To me, the prop museum was a tad boring, but still overall decent. The tour was partially walking and partially riding. There were so many moments where I was like...."this looks familiar" and had to think of where the set had been used. Super cool. I highly recommend it.

Wednesday 27th of September 2023

That's awesome!! Definitely I enjoyed that the Warners brothers was mixed with walking and a tram ride you were able to get so much further that way - and the lot is HUGE! It really is cool seeing sets from your favourite TV shows and movies! I really liked the SONY tour but it was definitely a lot smaller than Warner bros!

Sunday 19th of February 2023

Hi Meghan, great article. Easy to read and allowed me to choose the studio we should visit in the short time we will be in L.A. Thanks you.

Monday 20th of February 2023

That's awesome to hear! Glad I could help :D :D

How To Plan Your Los Angeles Vacation | Afternoon Tea Reads

Thursday 1st of October 2020

[…] sure which one to visit? Read my overall review of each studio tour to help you […]

Monday 1st of July 2019

Wow what a great list of tours to choose from! I personally don't like these types of things however I think your post will be super useful for those who do!

Thanks! I hope it will be :)

I’ve done the Universal tour but it was like 20 yrs ago! I really want to go back and do all these studio tours. I’m film mad me 😃💕

Oh wow, you really should I'm sure a lot has changed since then. It's a movie geeks dream :)

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Warner bros. studio tour hollywood brings back friendsgiving event for 30th anniversary.

The One Where You Go Behind the Scenes of Your Favorite Friends Episodes

BURBANK, Calif. , Sept. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- To commemorate the 30 th anniversary of the comedy series Friends , Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood announces the return of Friendsgiving with a Studio Tour focused on the beloved television show.  Beginning November 8 , guests can enjoy a 90-minute Friends -themed Studio Tour, a holiday Friendsgiving meal next to the iconic Friends Fountain, and see authentic props and costumes from the show.

"We're thrilled to bring back Friendsgiving for fans to celebrate," said Danny Kahn , Vice President & General Manager of Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood.  "The show continues to touch the hearts of audiences worldwide, and we are excited to join in celebrating its 30 th anniversary with this themed tour."

Arriving guests will be greeted by a curated 30 th anniversary lobby display showcasing authentic costumes from Friends , perfect for photo opportunities.  The guided tour will last 90 minutes, and expert Tour Guides will take guests across the historic Warner Bros. Studio backlot, highlighting key filming sites from memorable Friends episodes, including Stage 24, the famed Friends stage.  Friendsgiving tours will include engaging trivia and custom media clips featuring characters from the television show.

Following the tour, guests will delight in a festive holiday meal served at the iconic fountain from the show's opening scene (weather permitting), featuring traditional holiday dishes with vegetarian and gluten-free options.  Following the meal is a self-guided tour of Stage 48: Script to Screen , featuring Central Perk Café and the Friends Boutique.  Central Perk Café offers signature beverages inspired by each of the six characters.  The Friends Boutique offers recreated sets from the show, authentic costumes, and merchandise exclusive to the boutique.

Tickets for Friendsgiving are now available for purchase at wbstudiotour.com .  Event dates are November 8-10 , 15-17, 21-24, 29-30, 2024.  Friendsgiving tours will depart at 10:30 AM , 1:00 PM , and 3:00 PM .

About Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood gets you closer to the entertainment you love by taking you on the lot of a real working studio.  As a recipient of Trip Advisor's Travelers' Choice Awards and recognized as one of the Top 25 Attractions in the United States , the Studio Tour gives guests a revealing look behind the camera at how Hollywood magic is made.  From TV shows like Friends, Abbott Elementary , The Big Bang Theory, and ER to beloved films like Casablanca , Rebel Without a Cause, Batman, and Harry Potter , fans get to explore a studio over 100 years old as they touch, tour, and visit the real sets and soundstages on the iconic 110-acre backlot where the greatest names in entertainment made history.  Also, the Warner Bros. Studio Store, offering exclusive merchandise, is open to the public and does not require a tour ticket to shop.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood is open Monday through Sunday, 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM , with Studio Tours departing every 30 minutes.  Advanced bookings are recommended, and children five years or older are welcome.  For the best value, book your tickets online at wbstudiotour.com  or by calling +1 818-977-8687.

View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/warner-bros-studio-tour-hollywood-brings-back-friendsgiving-event-for-30th-anniversary-302257828.html

SOURCE Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood

The Tatarstan Table : A visit with a California Tatar cook who is trying to keep the cuisine of his ancestors a living tradition.

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The house, surrounded by California live oaks and cooled by a Santa Barbara sea breeze, is full of crafts from halfway around the world. Central Asian carpets. Brilliant Uzbek silks. Chased copper trays and carved wooden soup bowls. An antique woman’s headdress, something between a cap and a tiara, stitched with masses of pearls.

And more serious crafts, reflecting central Asia’s stormy history. Ancient scimitars and chain mail. A Tatar shield of watered steel, circled by floral patterns worked in gold. Armor from the Caucasus, with gilt inscriptions in Georgian and Chechen.

The owner, Turan-Mirza Kamal, belongs to one of the smallest and least-known ethnic groups in the country, the Tatars. But his family aren’t recent immigrants--on his father’s side, they’ve lived here for more than 120 years, which is a story in itself. Tonight, he’s made the sort of meal that might be served on the Muslim festival of Kurban Bayram in what is now officially known as Tatarstan, an area 500 miles east of Moscow.

Kurban Bayram, which marks the high point of the Mecca pilgrimage, this year falls on Friday, May 12. An essential element of the festival is the sacrifice of an animal (usually a lamb) in memory of Abraham’s faithful readiness to sacrifice his son at God’s command. Muslims believe that the son was Ismail (Ishmael), rather than Isaac.

The lamb for Kurban Bayram is traditionally marinated overnight in garlic and lemon juice and made into shish kebab, Kamal explains. Tonight’s table is loaded with more distinctively Tatar dishes that might accompany the roasted meat, including a couple of the large, rectangular savory pies ( belish ) the Tatars are known for, and Tatar sweets such as kosh tili and chekchek (see “Chekchek? Check” H19).

“Can we go straight to the chekchek ?” asks guest Salisha Abdool with an infectious giggle.

At a Tatar banquet, you certainly can. “Traditionally everything is set on the table at once,” says Kamal, “except for sumsa and peremech , which come out from the kitchen when they’re hot.”

Sumsa is an egg-shaped dumpling, the Tatar cousin of the Indian samosa , often made with a puffy leavened wrapping like the Russian piroshki. At this meal some of the sumsas are stuffed with beef, some with a mellow mixture of cabbage and egg.

Peremeches are unique little meat pies, distinguished by a round hole in the dough that forms a sort of window on the filling. The dough, whether leavened or unleavened, is attractively pleated around this little porthole. To serve a peremech , you garnish it with some thick onion soup ( shurpa ) and then spoon tart yogurt on top. The hot peremeches disappear as fast as they are served.

There are two belishes on this table, one filled with beef and the other with fish. “ Belish is made differently in the various Tatar areas,” says Kamal. “In the area of Kazan (the capital of Tatarstan), they put potato in it instead of noodles. In some places they put onions with the meat, in some places they make it without onion. And in some places, it’s just onions and noodles.”

The noodles he’s referring to are, a little surprisingly, the Chinese-style transparent vermicelli, made from mung beans, often called cellophane noodles or bean threads (the Tatars call them fintior or fintioza , from the Chinese name fen tiao ). They were introduced into Central Asia about 120 years ago by Muslim refugees from China and have become an integral part of the local cuisines. They add a welcome elegance and delicacy to these substantial meat pies.

The table also holds fresh cucumber pickles and some dishes more characteristic of areas farther to the south than the Kazan area: a salad of cucumbers in yogurt, an impressively garlicky dish of fried eggplant dressed with yogurt, and ayran , a yogurt drink like the Indian lassi or the Armenian tahn , but flavored with herbs and red pepper. Melons and grapes round out the meal.

Kamal hastens to mention that he checked his recipes with a woman named Naile living in Burlingame, Calif., who also made the chekchek for him. Burlingame has the country’s chief Tatar community.

The name Tatar has been applied to many central Asian peoples throughout history, and even today ethnologists recognize groups such as Siberian Tatars and Crimean Tatars as well as the Kazan Tatars. Kamal tends to refer to all Central Asians as Tatars on the ground that the distinction between Kazakhs, Kirgizes, Bashkirs and so forth was really a Soviet tactic for dividing and conquering people who didn’t consider themselves separate nationalities. His father’s side of the family is predominantly Nogai Tatar, a group that has lived mostly in the northern Caucasus, but his cookery basically reflects his mother’s side of the family, a Kazan merchant dynasty.

With its kebabs and pilafs, Kazan Tatar cuisine has clear affinities with Near Eastern food, but it also reflects the severe climate of Tatarstan, the northernmost Muslim nation. It is heavier and meatier than many Muslim cuisines, and the meat is often beef or goose, rather than lamb or chicken. With its use of dill, buckwheat and horseradish, Tatar food sometimes recalls Russian food.

That should be no surprise. The Russians and the Tatars have known each other a long time. For centuries, the princes of Russia were basically tax collection agents for the Tatar khans , whom the Russians called czars --technically, the first Russian czar was Ivan the Terrible, who won the title by conquering Kazan in 1552. After the defeat, the Kazan Tatar aristocracy retained many of its privileges. Part of it even converted to Christianity and intermarried with the Russian aristocracy.

But not all Tatars acquiesced to Russian rule. In 1794, Kamal’s father’s family was involved in a plan to restore another former Tatar khanate, this one located at Astrakhan on the Black Sea. The Russian government got wind of the plan and the family fled to Hungary, where they lived for 80 years. Turan-Mirza’s grandfather moved to the United States in 1874. The unusual consequence is that his father, Ahmad Kamal, was raised on Indian reservations, where the grandparents, both anthropologists, were studying Native American languages.

The family has kept to its program of fighting for Tatar independence. The anthropologist grandfather went back to Russia and participated in the 1905 rebellion against the Czar. Ahmad Kamal spent much of his life working for Tatar causes and recorded his adventures in several books. “It is unfortunate that my father died when he did,” says Turan-Mirza Kamal. “He didn’t live to see the arrival of independence.”

In later life, Ahmad Kamal also devoted much of his effort to the cause of Islamic unity. In 1951 he wrote a book about the Mecca pilgrimage, “The Sacred Journey,” which endeavored to overcome the conflict between Sunnites and Shiites. It was translated into Arabic and made available to the pilgrims in Mecca.

This year, someone in Mecca may be reading it while the tiny Tatar community of California roasts its lambs and makes its pilafs and belishes .

FRITTERS (KOSH TILI)

3 1/4 to 3 1/2 cups sifted flour

6 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons yogurt

1/2 cup milk

Vanilla or rosewater, optional

Oil for deep-frying

Powdered sugar

Kosh tili means “birds’ tongues,” though in this case the birds would have to be pretty big.

Sift together flour, granulated sugar and salt. Add eggs, yogurt, milk and optional dash of vanilla or rosewater. Mix well with spoon, then pour out onto work surface and knead until smooth.

Divide dough into 4 parts. Place 1 piece of dough on floured board and roll out 1/8 thick. Using knife or crimp-edged cutter, cut into strips about 1 1/2 or 2 inches wide and 6 to 8 inches long.

Using knife, cut 1 1/2-inch slit in middle of each strip. Take 1 end of each strip, fold it through slit and pull out on other side. Repeat with remaining dough strips.

Heat oil for deep frying. Fry 1 or 2 dough strips at time, holding under surface of oil with slotted spoon until puffed and golden brown. Drain finished fritters in colander, then place on paper towels and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Makes 8 to 12 servings. Each of 8 servings contains about:

247 calories; 324 mg sodium; 55 mg cholesterol; 3 grams fat; 46 grams carbohydrates; 7 grams protein; 0.14 gram fiber.

FRIED DUMPLINGS (PEREMECH)

2 cups yogurt

3 1/2 tablespoons oil or butter

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon sugar

4 1/2 to 5 cups flour

2 large onions

1 1/2 cups chicken stock

1 pound ground beef

Oil for cooking, about 1 cup

Combine 1/2 cup yogurt, 1/2 cup water, oil, salt, sugar and eggs in food processor or mixing bowl. Add enough flour to make workable, slightly stiff dough. Knead 7 to 8 minutes. Cover and let rest 1 hour.

Peel and dice 1 onion. Put onion and chicken stock in saucepan and simmer until onion is soft. Set aside.

Peel remaining 1 onion and mince fine. Mix onion with ground beef, salt, pepper and 1/4 cup water.

Divide dough into about 24 golfball-sized lumps. Roll each lump out to circle about 1/8-inch thick.

Divide filling among dough circles. Place index finger of 1 hand in center of filling and use thumb, forefinger and middle finger of other hand to fold dough up to finger, and pinch together in tight pleats. (When peremech is finished, circular area under index finger will remain uncovered by dough.)

Heat oil in frying pan and fry peremeches, 3 or 4 at time, placing them face down in oil until golden and then turning over to finish frying.

Serve hot. To serve, spoon some onion and broth onto peremech, then 1 tablespoon yogurt.

517 calories; 682 mg sodium; 97 mg cholesterol; 23 grams fat; 56 grams carbohydrates; 20 grams protein; 0.36 gram fiber.

EGGPLANT AND YOGURT (PATLIJAN)

This simple, powerfully garlicky eggplant dish tastes fine as soon as it’s made but gets even better in a couple of hours. The eggplant slices absorb some of the whey from the yogurt, leaving it thicker and richer. The only sort of yogurt that works in this recipe is the plain, unflavored kind with no thickeners such as gelatin or tapioca (check ingredients list on carton).

3 eggplants

Oil for frying

3 cups plain yogurt

3 cloves garlic, minced fine

Slice eggplants horizontally and sprinkle slices generously with salt. Place slices in mixing bowl and set bowl of same size or slightly smaller on top of slices; put 2-to 3-pound weight in upper bowl and let eggplant sit 30 to 45 minutes.

Rinse salt from eggplant, drain and pat dry with paper towels. Dip slices in flour and fry in oil until golden. Drain slices on paper towels.

Mix yogurt and garlic. Spread some of yogurt mixture onto serving plate, cover with layer of eggplant slices, then layer of yogurt. Dust lightly with pepper and sprinkle with dill to taste. Repeat layering until eggplant is used up, ending with layer of yogurt. Let rest in cool place at least 2 hours before serving.

Makes 6 servings. Each serving contains about:

174 calories; 501 mg sodium; 14 mg cholesterol; 11 grams fat; 13 grams carbohydrates; 7 grams protein; 0.54 gram fiber.

MEAT PIE (IT BELISH)

It (pronounced “eat”) is the Tatar word for “meat.” A similar pie with a fish filling is called balyk belish.

2 cups flour

1/4 cup cold butter, cut into small pieces

3 ounces bean thread noodles

1/4 cup oil

3 onions, diced

1/2 to 1 leek, well washed, halved lengthwise and cut into thin slices

1 1/2 pounds ground beef

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon coriander

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1 cup beef broth

Salt, pepper

1/2 teaspoon dill

2 tablespoons milk

Put flour and butter in bowl of food processor and pulse until flour resembles coarse grain. Mix eggs and milk. With machine running, add milk and egg mixture and process just until dough holds together. Turn out and wrap in plastic wrap.

Bring 1 quart water to boil. Remove from heat and put bean thread noodles in to soak until soft and transparent, about 1/2 hour. When cool, drain bean threads in fine-mesh colander. Using knife or kitchen shears, cut noodles into 1/2-inch lengths in colander.

Put oil in frying pan over medium heat. Add onions and leek and fry until golden. Using slotted spoon, remove onions and leek from pan.

Add beef to pan and cook, stirring and mashing with fork so that meat breaks up very thoroughly, until redness is gone. Add garlic and return onions and leek to pan. Stir in coriander and cumin. Add broth and cut-up bean thread noodles. Raise heat, bring to boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and cook 15 to 20 minutes until no longer soupy but still moist. Season to taste with salt, pepper and dill. Remove from heat and let rest 1 hour.

Divide dough into 2 pieces, 1 slightly larger than other. On floured pastry board, roll out larger piece into roughly 16x13-inch rectangle about 1/8-inch thick. Line greased metal or glass 12x9-inch baking dish with dough. Pour in meat filling. Roll out remaining dough 1/8-inch thick and use to cover filling. Fold edges of bottom crust over edges of top crust and crimp to seal. Punch holes in surface with fork.

Beat egg with milk. Brush surface with mixture. Dish can be frozen at this point.

Bake at 400 degrees until golden brown, about 40 minutes. If using frozen belish, do not defrost but bake 1 hour at 375 degrees.

642 calories; 355 mg sodium; 157 mg cholesterol; 38 grams fat; 51 grams carbohydrates; 24

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Kazan, Russia

Tours, Attractions and Things To Do in Kazan

Kazan – “russia’s third capital”.

Kazan is the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan and major port on the left bank of the Volga. It is one of the largest political, economic, educational, industrial, commercial and tourist centers of Russia.

Like any other city, Kazan has its own rich history. The city was founded as an advanced post in the northern part of Volgian Bulgaria more than a thousand years ago. In the XIII-XIV centuries it became the main political and commercial center of the Golden Horde. It was a period of rise of Kazan, favored by its advantageous geographic position on the intersection of major trading roads connecting the West and the East. In 1438 Ulu-Muhammad-khan from Golden Horde occupied the Bulgar fortress and the city became the capital of the Kazan khanate. Kazan established commercial relations with Turkey, Moscow, Crimea and other regions, but a chain of wars with the Grand Duchy of Moscow (Muscovy) eventually ended by occupation of the city by the troops of Ivan the Terrible in 1552. It was the time when Kazan’s trans-cultural formation began, since the city was weaved from two cultures: Orthodox and Islam.

Modern Kazan, as before, is one of the Russia’s centers of multinational culture. The interpenetration of the western and eastern mentality in Kazan creates an original independent communicational culture, which can be met only here. More than 115 nationalities live in Kazan, though the Tatars and Russians account for the major part of the city’s population.

Nowadays Kazan inspires tourists (almost a million a year) from all over the world to seek new cultural discoveries. The Kazan Kremlin, the city’s “visiting card” stands out from the city’s numerous landmarks. This ancient architectural complex of historical, architectural and archeological monuments is under UNESCO protection. The construction of the Kazan Kremlin began in the XVI century by order of the Tsar Ivan the Terrible, while the formation of the architectural complex itself has been continued up to date. The territory of the Kazan Kremlin includes 8 towers, each of which is an original independent sight. Some of the towers are as high as 58 meters. The complex also includes the Cathedral of the Annunciation, built in the XVI century, Monastery of Transfiguration and the main Juma Mosque of the Republic of Tatarstan – Kul-Sharif which was opened in year 2005, timed to the thousandth anniversary of Kazan. It is an interesting fact that the mosque’s appearance and structure were reconstructed after an external architectural character of the legendary multi-minaret mosque of the Kazan Khanate’s capital, demolished by order of Ivan the Terrible in 1552. There is also the Islam Museum and world-known St. Petersburg Hermitage branch “Hermitage Kazan” in the territory of the Kazan Kremlin.

Another sights of Kazan is one of the most beautiful and crowded streets - Bauman street or as it is also called the “Kazan Arbat“. This ancient “four-century” long street is a concentration of a great number of various architectural sights and just interesting tourist places. There are a large quantity of cafes and restaurants, boutiques and entertainment centers and of course a lot of architectural sights beginning from the Russian Drama Theatre named after Kachalov and ending with the Theophany Church Bell Tower, and also the well-known Kazan Hotel which once sheltered numerous famous guests such as Maxim Gorky, Fyodor Chaliapin and so on.

The symbol of the city’s modern architecture is the entertainment complex “The Pyramid” which hosts Russia- and world-level official cultural, public and sports events. There, by existing tradition, KAZANSUMMIT, the annual Islam Business and Finance Summit is held, which brings together representatives of foreign financial institutions: top-managers, investors, businessmen, scientists, analytics and other experts of financial sector.

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Kazan: 6 reasons why you should visit this unique Russian city

Kazan is not the first city that comes to mind when you think of Russia. Most people can only think of Moscow or Saint Petersburg, the two well-known cities in Russia. But the world’s largest country has more beautiful cities to offer and one of them is Kazan. This city is often called the third capital of Russia. With a long history of more than 1,000 years, Kazan has a lot to offer for culture lovers. Moreover, Kazan is the capital of the Russian republic of Tatarstan. The name Kazan means ‘cooking pot’ in the Tatar language and it refers to the melting pot of cultures that you’ll see in this city. In this blog post, I will tell you why you need to visit Kazan, plus the best things to do while you’re there.

Read next :  Things to do in St. Petersburg: 4 highlights.

6 reasons why you should visit Kazan + things to do

1. kazan offers stunning architecture.

One of the reasons why I recommend visiting Kazan is because of the beautiful architecture. This city is stunning! Take for example the Ministry of Agriculture and Food . It is housed in a huge palace with a row of pillars in the front and a bronze tree in the middle of the entry. The construction cost 1 billion rubles and the result is a true eyecatcher, located at the banks of the Volga river. I recommend taking a walk there in the evening because the leaves of the tree are beautifully lit. Another architectural highlight is the Gostiny Dvor. Built from 1800 to 1803 on the spot where there used to be a caravanserai located (a courtyard where travelers could stay and rest). With a location at the Volga, medieval Kazan was an important stop on the traffic routes. Today, the National Museum of the Republic Tatarstan is located here.

2. It has a brightly colored promenade: Bouman Street

Right in the heart of Kazan, you will find Bouman Street.  A long pedestrian street with boutiques, restaurants, and souvenir shops. This street already exists since the 15th century and functioned as a local trade center. Throughout history, the street has had different names until it was called Bouman Street in 1930, named after the local Bolshevik hero Nikolay Bauman. Bouman Street is a nice place for lunch or coffee and offers lots of colorful buildings and churches. Even the local MacDonalds is beautiful!

Kazan really is made for walking. Of course, you can easily explore the city center by yourself, or you could take one of the many walking tours . This way you can learn so much more about Kazan.

3. Visit Kazan’s oriental Kremlin

When you think of the Kremlin you immediately think of Moscow, right? But did you know a lot of Russian cities have their own Kremlins? A Kremlin is basically an old fortified city center with palaces and churches. Also, Kazan has its very own Kremlin with an impressive location at the banks of the Volga. The white walls contain a colorful collection of buildings such as the official residence of the Tatar president, Kazan’s very own leaning tower the Söyembikä Tower, and the oriental gem Qol Sharif Mosque. This mosque was the pride of the medieval Khanate of Kazan, the Islamic republic which was conquered by the Russian empire in 1552. During the invasion tsar Ivan the Terrible demolished the mosque. What you see now is a replica that opened in 2005. The current Qol Sharif Mosque is seen as the largest mosque in Europe.

• Join this sightseeing tour to explore the Kazan Kremlin and to hear more about the city’s legends and tales. Looking for a tour that is fully focused on the beautiful Kazan Kremlin? This private tour is a good option.

4. Kazan is a very untypical Russian city

Russia has 22 autonomous republics. Kazan is the capital of one of these republics: Tatarstan. Tatarstan is one of the richest areas of Russia and has a lot of oil and gas reserves. More than half of the population is Islamic Tatar, followed by a large group of orthodox Russians. Who are these Tatars? Tatars are a Turkic population that came in the thirteenth century to Europe after Mongol ruler Genghis Khan expanded his empire into Russia. Today, there are millions of Tatars living in Russia and Asia.

Not just the Russian language

Because of this cultural background, Kazan is not your everyday Russian city. For instance, every street sign has two languages: Russian and Tatar. And there is also surprisingly a lot of English available in Kazan. In public transport, the stops are communicated in three languages: Tatar, Russian and English. Kazan feels much more progressive than Moscow where public transport is still a drama for foreign tourists.

5. the city has A good selection of cafes

Kazan is known as a Russian business city. There are expensive hotels and large banks in the city center. Even the restaurants offer a special business menu for visitors. Luckily, there are also cafes focusing on tourists. From a Flemish beer café called ‘Leuven’ to a Syrian hummus restaurant. My favorite was Koffein , a beautifully decorated café with big couches, good tea, and coffee and special cakes. Of course, there are also typical Tatar restaurants with dishes as Öçpoçmaq (triangle pastry with beef, onion, and potatoes) and Çäkçäk   (dough balls with honey). Definitely worth trying!

• Tip: eat with locals in Kazan. Join this unique excursion for a home-cooked dinner at the house of a local Tatarstan family.

6. Kazan has a fun quirky side

In Kazan, you will not only find beautiful churches and mosques. This city also has a quirky side. In the area of Staroye Arkchino, you will find the famous Temple of All Religions (take bus 2 from the city center). A building that literally represents the main religions of the world. The construction of the temple started in 1994 and is still under construction. The architect behind this temple, Ildar Khanov, wanted to show a peaceful combination of different cultures. This also reflects Tatarstan a bit, a place where Islamic Tatars and Orthodox Russians live together in one big republic.

Another quirky building in Kazan is the Kazan Family Center . This building has the shape of a pot, which represents the burning heart of the city center according to the architect. The unique feature of this building is that it can host up to 100 weddings at the same time. Looking from the outside I would not have guessed that.

Where to stay in Kazan

I stayed at the Geography Hostel and I can highly recommend it. Good price, close to the city center and train station, the staff is super friendly and the rooms are great. Moreover, it gets a 9,4 rating on Booking.com. Click here for an overview of the hotels in Kazan.

How to get to Kazan

• You can easily visit Kazan by overnight train from Moscow (travel time: 11 hours). Buy your train tickets on the Russian Railway Website . Traveling on the Trans Siberian Express? Include Kazan as a stop on your itinerary.
• The airport of Kazan is located 26 kilometers outside the city of Kazan. Fortunately, there is an Aeroexpress train that takes you to the city center within 20 minutes. A ticket cost 40 rubles.

Do you want to visit Kazan?

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"Don't let your dreams be dreams. Go live your dreams. Go travel".

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