Universal Studios Hollywood is one of the most famous attractions in Los Angeles. The actual film studios are complemented by an amusement park, and the entire complex proudly holds the title of “Entertainment Capital of L.A.” I personally visited the park to gather some tips for you to make your visit more enjoyable. The first tip: Set aside an entire day for your visit. Even then, you may not manage to see everything.
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Table of Contents
Attractions at Universal Studios Hollywood
All the attractions are based on movies and TV shows, as you would expect. Throughout the park, there are signs with attraction maps and estimated waiting times. As of February 2025, the following attractions were in operation:
1️⃣ The World-Famous Studio Tour
A must-see and the main highlight of the entire park. During the one-hour tram ride, you will pass through the studios where TV shows like Desperate Housewives, Dr. House, and The X-Files were filmed.
Along the way, you’ll experience two surprises. The first one features a giant King Kong in the world’s largest 3D projection. The second surprise happens at a subway station, where my phone nearly slipped from my hand. I won’t give away more, but be cautious. For the best view, sit on the right side of the tram.
2️⃣ The Simpsons Ride
A quick queue forms for this attraction, so I recommend visiting it first. The virtual reality tour through Springfield was one of the best attractions in the park. Nearby, you’ll find the Kwik-E-Mart selling souvenirs (unfortunately quite expensive), and Homer and Bart are often standing outside. Of course, you can take photos with them.
3️⃣ Revenge of the Mummy
A pleasant surprise and the most action-packed attraction in the park. A mix of a roller coaster and virtual effects, this ride features unexpected accelerations and sharp turns. It’s located underground, within a replica of a real pyramid.
4️⃣ Jurassic Park
An above-average attraction with an incredible finale, where, on a boat for about 12 people, you descend a water cascade surrounded by moving dinosaurs that occasionally “scare” you, so be cautious.
5️⃣ Transformers
Another virtual roller coaster, but for me, it was a huge disappointment. Perhaps it’s because I’m not a fan of the film or because the attraction broke down halfway through. However, fans of the film will be thrilled.
6️⃣ Fast & Furious – Supercharged
This attraction is an addition to the studio tour. At the very end, you’ll experience a virtual reality scene with actors from the Fast & Furious film series and a wild car chase through the city.
7️⃣ Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
An attraction for Harry Potter fans, where you can tour the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry through an interactive 3D simulator.
8️⃣ Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
A virtual roller coaster with glasses that transport you into the world of Super Mario.
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Tickets and Opening Hours at Universal Studios Hollywood
🧭 How to Get There
Getting to Universal Studios is straightforward. The Universal City / Studios metro station is located just a short walk from the park. You can take a free tram directly to Universal Studios, or it’s about a 1 km walk.
🕒 Opening Hours
Universal Studios Hollywood is open daily, but the opening hours vary throughout the year and on different days of the week. One day it might be open from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and the next from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Be sure to check the park’s schedule on the official website before visiting.
🎟️ Tickets
Buy your tickets in advance online. Ticket prices can vary daily depending on demand, similar to flight ticket prices. In February 2025, ticket prices ranged from $109 to $154.
The most common price for an adult ticket is $129. The earlier you buy your tickets, the more you can save. An adult is considered anyone over the age of 10, while children from 3 to 9 years old get a discounted ticket.
A more expensive option is the Universal Express ticket, which ranges from $199 to $299. The advantage of the more expensive ticket is that you can skip the regular lines at most attractions. It is most commonly sold for $229 to $309.
You can buy a ticket for Universal Studios Hollywood for the above price, which includes one day plus a second day for free, provided that you are outside the USA and Canada at the time of purchase. The advantage is that you can cancel the ticket up to 24 hours before your visit and receive a full refund.
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How to Make the Most of Your Visit to Universal Studios
📅 Best Day to Visit Universal Studios
During the week, the park is less crowded than on weekends, and more people visit during the summer and other holidays than during the off-season. If you want to avoid long wait times and don’t want to buy the expensive Universal Express ticket, consider visiting on a Tuesday. You can check the park’s average attendance on Google Maps.
⌚ When to Arrive at the Park
The best advice is to take full advantage of the park’s opening hours. Arriving only in the afternoon is not worth it in terms of ticket price and the number of attractions you will be able to visit.
I recommend arriving at least 15-20 minutes before opening, but even then, it will be hard to see everything. Start with the most popular attractions, which will have long lines as the day progresses.
⌛ Shorten Your Wait Times
For some attractions (The Mummy, Jurassic Park…), there are “Single Rider” lines for visitors who are alone. Staff will fill empty seats with these riders to maximize capacity.
The trick is that even if you’re in a group, you’ll likely sit in separate seats. We were lucky enough to experience this three times out of three. Wait times for these lines are about one-third of the regular wait, so for Jurassic Park, instead of waiting 45 minutes, we only waited 15 minutes.
🍔 Food and Drinks
Food at the park is generally low quality and expensive. To save money and eat something better, bring your own snacks in your backpack. Unlike Six Flags, no one minds if you bring food into the park.
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Photos from Universal Studios Hollywood
Discussion (1)
Had an amzing time at Universal Studios Hollywood! Studio Tour was a blast & loved the Harry Potter area. Can get crowded, so plan ahesd. Def. worth a visit!