Helicopter flights over Hollywood at a glance
A Hollywood helicopter tour gives you the city from above and a look at the sign from the air. Flights leave from airports outside Hollywood: Van Nuys, Long Beach and Santa Monica. Lengths run from about 30 to 50 minutes, and prices below are as of 2026.
Read the route before you book. A flight names the Hollywood Sign on its route, but it does not promise a direct pass over the letters, a set altitude or a landing at the sign. Routes vary, and flights can be cancelled for weather or restricted for events.
Our picks: helicopter flights
Our take: the twenty-minute flight focuses on celebrity areas; the thirty-minute flight includes a pass by the Hollywood Sign.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
20-minute celebrity helicopter flight
- 20-minute flight
- Celebrity commentary
- Free parking
A twenty-minute flight from Burbank with commentary on celebrity neighbourhoods and free parking.
Check availability →
Helicopter flight over Hollywood, Downtown and Beverly Hills
- About 30 minutes in the air
- Hollywood Sign flyover
- Griffith and Beverly Hills
About thirty minutes in the air, past the Hollywood Sign, Griffith, Universal and Beverly Hills.
Check availability →Helicopter tours over Los Angeles and Hollywood
Flights over Hollywood, the coast and downtown, with live prices and availability.
Flights compared
Departure airport, length and price as of 2026.
| Flight | Departs from | Length | Price (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hollywood flight | Van Nuys Airport | 35 minutes | $350 per person |
| Hollywood and beaches flight | Van Nuys Airport | 50 minutes | $450 (check whether the price is per person or per helicopter) |
| Hollywood flight | Long Beach Airport | 45 minutes | From $282 per person, taxes and fees extra |
| Hollywood and beyond flight | Santa Monica Airport | About 30 minutes | From $599 per person, all-inclusive |
For most visitors who want the sign on a short flight, compare the 35-minute Van Nuys flight and the 45-minute Long Beach flight. Both name the Hollywood Sign on the route and cost between $282 and $350 per person, but the Long Beach price has taxes and fees on top, so check what each price includes. Choose the 50-minute flight if you want the beaches as well, and confirm its price basis first.
The flights in detail
What each flight offers.
Van Nuys: 35 or 50 minutes
The 35-minute flight carries 2 to 3 guests per helicopter and returns to Van Nuys. The route includes a fly-by of the sign. A 50-minute flight with the beaches is also available for $450.
Long Beach: 45 minutes
The route names the Hollywood Sign. Flights can be cancelled for weather, and routes vary, including restrictions linked to events.
Santa Monica: about 30 minutes
Prices start from $599 per person, all-inclusive. It is the shortest flight and has the highest starting price. Check the current price before you plan around it.
What a flight cannot promise
Federal aviation rules require every flight to be operated safely, and helicopters may only go below the general minimum altitudes under set conditions and along prescribed routes and altitudes. This does not ban sightseeing flights, but it means no operator can guarantee a direct line over the letters, a certain distance or a landing at the sign. Expect to see the sign from a distance, as part of a larger route.
Before you book a helicopter tour
Four points to settle first.
Departure airport
Van Nuys, Long Beach and Santa Monica are not in Hollywood. Add the drive to your plan, and read the getting there guide for transport in the city.
Price basis
Check whether a price is per person, whether taxes and fees are included and what the final total is at checkout.
Weather
Cloud or haze can cut the view, and flights can be cancelled for weather. Pick a day with some flexibility. The best time to visit shows how the seasons differ.
Alternatives
If a flight does not fit your budget, free views are available from the viewpoints, and a guided hike or bus tour is covered on the tours page.
Hollywood helicopter tours: frequently asked questions
Does a helicopter fly directly over the Hollywood Sign?
Not by promise. The routes name the sign, but no operator guarantees a direct pass, a certain altitude or a landing. Routes vary and can change with weather and events.
How much does a Hollywood helicopter tour cost?
In 2026 helicopter flights cost about $282 to $599 per person, depending on length and departure airport: from $282 for 45 minutes at Long Beach, $350 for 35 minutes at Van Nuys and from $599 for about 30 minutes at Santa Monica. Check taxes and fees before you pay.
How long is the flight?
Flights run from about 30 to 50 minutes, depending on the airport and the route.
Where do the flights leave from?
From Van Nuys Airport, Long Beach Airport and Santa Monica Airport. None of them is in Hollywood, so plan the trip to the airport.
Can I fly on any day?
No. Flights can be cancelled for weather, and event-related flight restrictions can change a route. Leave some room in your schedule.
Is hollywood-sign.org a helicopter operator or an official site?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It does not operate flights and has no connection to any operator, airport or authority.