Located in Universal City, California, near Hollywood in Los Angeles, Universal Studios Hollywood originated in 1915 when Carl Laemmle invited the public to view film production. NBCUniversal owns the destination, which is operated by Universal Destinations & Experiences under the banner 'The Entertainment Capital of LA'. MCA established the modern tour on July 15, 1964, combining studio commissary visits, backlot walk-throughs, and staged events that ultimately evolved into a full-scale movie theme park resort.
The park spans two distinct elevations—the Upper Lot and Lower Lot—connected by a series of escalators known as the Starway. The Upper Lot features an entrance pathway along Universal Boulevard, Universal Plaza, the Springfield dining complex, and family-focused attractions. Down below, the Lower Lot hosts action-packed experiences like Super Nintendo World. Nearby outside the park, guests can visit Universal CityWalk, an entertainment complex featuring shops, restaurants, an 18-screen Universal Cinema, and a seven-story IMAX theater.
Famous for its narrated Studio Tour tram ride through an active film backlot, the park blends real production history with special-effects attractions like King Kong 360 3-D and Flash Flood. Visitors can experience thrill rides, water attractions, dark rides, roller coasters like Revenge of the Mummy, and immersive themed zones. Welcoming 8.7 million guests in 2024, this legendary destination perfectly suits movie fans, families, and thrill-seekers looking to immerse themselves in Hollywood filmmaking.
01 Signature rides & attractions
The park’s headline rides across its themed areas. Confirm heights and any single-rider lines on the day.
Compiled from Wikipedia · a full ride-by-ride list per themed area is on the way.
Park map
The free OpenStreetMap layer below shows the park and its surroundings — entrances, themed areas, car parks and access roads. Zoom in for detail; the official ride-by-ride park plan is linked below.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL, free). Official park maps are copyrighted — we link to them.
02 Tickets & prices
Ticket prices for Universal Studios Hollywood change by date and season, and the park sells single-day, multi-day and annual passes — buying online in advance is almost always cheaper than at the gate, and popular dates can sell out. Check the official site for live pricing before you travel.
We deliberately don’t list prices that change daily — the ticket button leads to live, up-to-date pricing.
03 Where to stay
On-site and resort hotels put you right at the gates — often with early park access — turning the visit into an easy two- or three-day trip.
Located in Universal City adjacent to the theme park.
Situated within Universal City near Universal CityWalk and the studio lot.
04 Themed areas
Each area has its own theming — architecture, food and rides. Half the fun is simply walking through.
Good to know
- The park is divided into Upper and Lower lots connected by the Starway escalator system.
- Universal CityWalk offers dining, an 18-screen cinema, and a seven-story IMAX theater next to the park.
