Universal Studios Hollywood

Universal's Los Angeles studio lot dates to 1915, and the theme park opened in 1964. The park is on two levels, an Upper Lot and a Lower Lot, joined by escalators called the Starway. That split is the thing to plan around. Decide what you want on each level and do one before the other.

What's Worth Seeing

The Upper Lot has the Studio Tour, a narrated tram ride through the backlot of a working studio. It's the one attraction here that's about the working lot itself, so don't skip it for the rides. Also up top are The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, open since 2016, with Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Flight of the Hippogriff, plus the WaterWorld stunt show. Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, a launched coaster, opened on the Upper Lot in September 2026.

The Lower Lot has Super Nintendo World, which opened in February 2023 between the Jurassic World area and Transformers. Its main ride is Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge, and the interactive games need a Power-Up Band, sold separately. Jurassic World: The Ride ends in an 84-foot drop, so expect to get wet. Transformers: The Ride-3D and Revenge of the Mummy are down here too.

Check the park's site for hours and show times on the day you go.

How to Get There

The Metro B Line stops at Universal City/Studio City station, and a free shuttle tram runs from the station's front entrance at Universal Center Drive and Lankershim Boulevard to the park entrance. Metro local lines 150, 155, 224 and 240 stop at that same station entrance.

If you drive, the address is 100 Universal City Plaza. Universal sells general and preferred parking on site, with rates that change by time of day, and its directions and parking page keeps the current ones.

Nearby

• Universal CityWalk sits just outside the gates, with restaurants, shops and a cinema.
• The Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood in Burbank is the other big studio tour in the area, on a working lot.
• The Hollywood Bowl is the outdoor concert venue in the Hollywood Hills.
• Griffith Observatory sits just above Hollywood, with free admission.