Major city · United States
Burbank
Base here 2 nights only if you are doing a studio tour or a TV taping; otherwise sleep in Los Angeles and come for one afternoon.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- avoid Jul–Aug (valley heat, 35 °C+), late Nov–early Jan holiday travel peaksavoid Jul–Aug (valley heat, 95 °F+), late Nov–early Jan holiday travel peaks
- Airports
- BUR · LAX
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
Burbank is a small city in the San Fernando Valley, 16.5 mi north of downtown Los Angeles, and the working home of Warner Bros. and Walt Disney studios. Almost everything a visitor does here is tied to film and television: a studio tour, a sitcom taping, or a walk through Downtown Burbank. It is a practical, quiet base with its own airport (BUR) and two Metrolink stations, not a sightseeing city in its own right.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Burbank, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetyBurbank is a low-crime city by Los Angeles standards; the real friction is traffic, thin late-night transit and studio-area parking rules.
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportBUR Hollywood Burbank Airport (Bob Hope Airport) (2627 N Hollywood Way; Burbank Airport–South Metrolink/Amtrak station is across Empire Ave from the…
- Getting aroundPublic transit is thin and Burbank Bus runs mainly weekday rush hours.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee$4–7
- BeerDraught beer in a bar$8–12
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 mi5 km rideshare3.1 mi rideshareSurge pricing at studio let-out times.$12–20
- Metro or bus rideMetro single ride$1.75 (check)
- Budget bedFamily room or suite (up to 4), a night, per roomUS$200
- Mid-range bedMid-range hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$190
- High-end bedMid-range hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$320
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$90 · Mid US$160 · High US$300
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- BUR Hollywood Burbank Airport (Bob Hope Airport) (2627 N Hollywood Way; Burbank Airport–South Metrolink/Amtrak station is across Empire Ave from the terminal) · LAX Los Angeles International (About 28 mi south; allow 45–90 min by car depending on traffic)
Weather and climate
Burbank: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
19°C66°F
7°C45°F
3 rd
Feb
19°C66°F
8°C46°F
4 rd
Mar
21°C70°F
9°C48°F
2 rd
Apr
23°C73°F
11°C52°F
1 rd
May
24°C75°F
14°C57°F
0 rd
Jun
27°C81°F
16°C61°F
0 rd
Jul
30°C86°F
18°C64°F
0 rd
Aug
32°C90°F
18°C64°F
0 rd
Sep
30°C86°F
17°C63°F
0 rd
Oct
26°C79°F
14°C57°F
1 rd
Nov
23°C73°F
9°C48°F
1 rd
Dec
19°C66°F
7°C45°F
2 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Public transit is thin and Burbank Bus runs mainly weekday rush hours. LA Metro routes 94/794 (San Fernando Blvd and Empire Ave), 164 (Victory Blvd), 165 (Empire Ave) and 155 (Olive Ave, to Universal City) cover the main corridors; 222 runs Hollywood Way to Hollywood. Most visitors drive or use rideshare. Metrolink and Amtrak serve Burbank–Downtown and Burbank Airport–South.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Universal City
goDoor to door: About 30–45 min
Metro 155 along Olive Ave, or 10–15 min by car via the 134
Theme park and CityWalk; buy dated tickets ahead.
Glendale
goDoor to door: About 20–30 min
Metrolink Antelope Valley Line from Burbank–Downtown, or 15 min by car
Brand Blvd dining and the Martial Arts History Museum (Th–Su 11:00–18:00).Brand Blvd dining and the Martial Arts History Museum (Th–Su 11:00 AM–6:00 PM).
Studio City
goDoor to door: About 20 min
Car or rideshare over the hill via Cahuenga Blvd
Ventura Blvd restaurants; pairs well with a Warner Bros. morning.
North Hollywood
goDoor to door: About 25–35 min
Metro 222 along Hollywood Way, or 15 min by car
NoHo Arts District theatres and the Greyhound/FlixBus stop on Magnolia Blvd.
Van Nuys
cautionDoor to door: About 30–40 min
Metrolink Ventura County Line from Burbank–Downtown, or 20 min by car via the 101
Mostly a transport and airport stop, not a sightseeing day.
Door to door: About 40–70 min
Metrolink from Burbank–Downtown to Union Station, or 25–60 min by car on the 5
Treat as a full day; rail beats the freeway at rush hour.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Downtown Burbank
San Fernando Blvd shops, cinemas and restaurants; Burbank–Downtown Metrolink station on Front St. Best for a car-free evening.
Airport / Empire Ave
Walkable to BUR terminal and the Airport–South rail station; chain hotels, few restaurants.
Riverside Dr / Toluca Lake edge
Closest to the Warner Bros. gate and the studios; quieter, needs a car or rideshare for food.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $70–110 excl. bed
- Mid
- $120–200 excl. bed
- High
- $220+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid-range hotel double room1 × 2 nights × US$190 | US$380 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$160 | US$640 |
| Warner Bros. Studio Tour, standard2 × US$54 · check; deluxe tour about $250 | US$108 |
| Studio tour parking1 × US$7 · check | US$7 |
| Metro day pass2 × US$5 · check | US$10 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15 | US$30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$118 |
| Trip total≈ US$323 per person per day, bed included | US$1,293 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | $4–7 |
| Diner burger and fries | $15–22 |
| Draught beer in a bar | $8–12 |
| 5 km rideshareSurge pricing at studio let-out times. | $12–20 |
| Metro single ride | $1.75 (check) |
| Studio tour ticket | $54–250 (check) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Studio tours and tapings need advance booking; walk-up space is not guaranteed.
- Walt Disney Studios does not offer public tours — do not buy a third-party 'Disney studio tour'.
- Burbank Bus is weekday rush-hour only; do not plan a weekend sightseeing loop on it.
- Summer valley heat: plan studio walking tours for the morning.
- Free taping tickets still mean a queue and a dress code; check the show's own site.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
BurbankBurbank
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Embassy
No embassies in Burbank; consulates-general are in Los Angeles (about 12 mi south).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- BUR terminal → Downtown Burbank: about $15–25 by rideshare, 10–15 min (check)
- Metrolink Burbank–Downtown → LA Union Station: about $7–10 one way, 25–35 min (check)
- Metro bus single ride: $1.75, exact change or TAP card (check)
Say or show
- Thank you — Thank you
- Where is the studio tour entrance? — Where is the studio tour entrance?
- Is this seat taken? — Is this seat taken?
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
- How long is the wait? — How long is the wait?
Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis and rideshare.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Burbank. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–May, Sep–Nov · avoid Jul–Aug (valley heat, 35 °C+), late Nov–early Jan holiday travel peaks · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for BUR: last Metrolink and Metro departures field-checked, rideshare fallback, overnight rung.
- Three walking clusters with rescue anchors: Downtown Burbank, the studio district on Riverside Dr, and the airport/Empire Ave strip.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Warner Bros. Studio Tour, Martial Arts History Museum, Dark Delicacies) and eat pages with last orders.
- Taping-day fixtures: ticket windows, queue times and dress-code checks so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
- officialCity of Burbank
- officialHollywood Burbank Airport
- officialMetrolink — Burbank stations
- officialLA Metro
- officialWarner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood
- secondaryWikivoyage: Burbank, revision 5303721 (CC BY-SA 4.0)