Where to Visit a Working Observatory: 15 Worldwide

1.Royal Observatory Greenwich & Prime Meridian Entrance Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,095 reviews · from $32Our pick

Visit the Royal Observatory Greenwich at your own pace with a one-day entry ticket and downloadable guide in eight languages. Stand on the Prime Meridian, see Flamsteed House and the Octagon Room, learn how John Harrison solved longitude, and enjoy views across Greenwich Park and London. Planetarium shows cost extra.

“Very informative and good place to be if you are one looking for time and longitude concept”

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2.Griffith Observatory Hike: Guided Tour through Griffith Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,020 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $34Top rated

Join a first-aid and CPR-certified local guide, such as Michael, Josh, Chris, or Sarah, for a 3.5-mile hike through Griffith Park. Expect uphill sections, Hollywood history, Hollywood Sign photo stops, views over Los Angeles, and entry to Griffith Observatory. Morning and sunset departures are offered.

“Uphill hike for about 30 min. Manageable but may be tough for some. It was all worth it for the view though! Our guide Michael was great! Shared some Hollywood stories along the way and helped me with my bags as well!”

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3.Mount Teide Observatory Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 818 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $25

Spend 1.5 hours inside Tenerife’s Mount Teide Observatory with a live guide in English, Spanish, German, or French. Learn how astronomers study the sun, view sunspots and solar flares through two solar telescopes, and visit a professional night telescope. Bring warm clothes, sun protection, and comfortable shoes.

“Amazing to visit and learn about the observatory from our guide. Got to look through two solar telescopes. Educational and a sight to see!”

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4.Royal Observatory Greenwich & Prime Meridian Entry Ticket London

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 367 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $33

Visit the Royal Observatory Greenwich for about two hours, stand on the Prime Meridian, explore Flamsteed House, see Harrison’s clocks and the Great Equatorial Telescope, and use a free audio guide. The hill is steep, but the London views and nearby free museums make Greenwich worth a full day.

“The views from the observatory over London are utterly uncomparable and well worth the walk up. An interesting museum even though I knew nothing about it before the visit apart from the meridian being there. Certainly a good place to spend a couple of hours.”

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5.Griffith Observatory Insider Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 306 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $52

Explore Griffith Observatory with a small group of up to 15 people and a guide such as Estevan, Barry, or Angelica. You’ll begin at the Astronomers Monument, see the Foucault Pendulum, Tesla Coil, Einstein statue, and Hollywood Sign views, then attend the Samuel Oschin Planetarium show when included in your booking. Allow extra time for parking.

“Estevan was great. He made the experience fun for the whole family. Kids were very engaged and the adults were getting some higher level information. The observatory was really cool as well but having a guide seemed to be critically important. Give yourself time for parking.”

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6.Griffith Observatory Insider Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 287 reviews · 1h 30m · from $52

Spend 90 minutes exploring Griffith Observatory with a live English-speaking guide and an itinerary designed by observatory employees. See the Hollywood Sign and LA beaches, learn about astronomy, architecture, history, and films, then use your included ticket for a 40-minute Samuel Oschin Planetarium show. Guides have included Barry, Angelica, Estevan, Oscar, and Matt.

“Estevan is an amazing guide, great mix of science and culture facts, great experience”

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7.Griffith Observatory Guided Hike/Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 199 reviews · 2h 30m · from $34

Join an English-speaking local guide such as Michael, Noelle, Katie, or Mark for a 2.5-hour Griffith Park hike to the Observatory. Expect film locations, Hollywood history, city views, Hollywood Sign photo stops, steady uphill walking, and entry into the Observatory building.

“Phenomenal views!! Our guide, Stephen T, was entertaining and very knowledgeable of the history of LA and Hollywood. This hike was the highlight of my four day trip to LA.”

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8.Private Getty Center to Griffith Observatory Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 185 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $172

Spend six hours exploring Los Angeles by private vehicle, from the Original Farmers Market to the Getty Center and Griffith Observatory. Guides such as Brian, Matt, Gregory, and Estevan are praised for lively local stories. Expect museum highlights, Hollywood views, and time to explore, but bring lunch and allow for traffic delays.

“Brian is so awesome,professional and nice!!! He is so enthusiastic and nice!! We are looking forward to seeing him again on our next trip!”

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9.Mount John Observatory Stargazing Experience, Tekapo

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 160 reviews · from $139

Meet the Dark Sky Project team in Lake Tekapo, then ride to Mount John’s 1,029-metre summit for 90 minutes of naked-eye stargazing and telescope viewing. Guides such as Kieran, Alice, and Olive may lead the evening, pointing out the Southern Cross, planets, star clusters, and distant galaxies. Warm extreme-weather coats are provided.

“I had a good experience to exploring stars. At first I requested an English tour, but they changed into Japanese tour quickely! Our guide was so nice, she has a lots of knowledge and I learned about southern sky stars.”

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10.Mount Teide Observatory Astronomical Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 126 reviews · 8 hours · from $121

Spend eight hours on Mount Teide with a small group, visiting the world’s largest solar observatory before sunset and night-time stargazing. Guides such as Lucas and Micaela explain telescopes, stars, and constellations in clear English or Spanish. Bring warm clothes, long trousers, and closed shoes.

“Great value for money, thank goodness we followed advice on warm clothing. 30 degrees at hotel, 7 degrees and strong winds at cable car station. Take food as nothing guaranteed up the mountain. There is a cafe but not well stocked as very busy. Brilliant experience and the Astrophysicist was an excellent guide.”

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11.Hollywood Sign Hiking Tour to Griffith Observatory

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 106 reviews · 2 hours · from $613

Walk from Franklin’s Cafe in Los Feliz through Griffith Park to the Griffith Observatory, with a private English-speaking guide. You’ll climb the equivalent of 12 flights of stairs at a slow pace, see the Hollywood sign and Ennis House, hear stories about old Hollywood, and choose between visiting the observatory or walking back with your guide.

“My best friend and I toured with Matt! He was so awesome, friendly, and very knowledgeable. From old time Hollywood to current - Matt knows his stuff! He also recommended different restaurants for my friend who was staying for the week! 10/10 would recommend! Thanks for making our LA experience wonderful =)”

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12.Hollywood Sign Hiking Tour to Griffith Observatory

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 99 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $39

Walk with a local guide such as Paul, Lisa, Matt, or Chris through Griffith Park and Los Feliz to Griffith Observatory. Expect a moderate-to-strenuous climb, city views, Hollywood Sign photo stops, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Ennis House from outside, and plenty of LA stories. The sign remains at a distance.

“Our guide was very informative and patient. Had a great time!”

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13.Royal Observatory Planetarium Show Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 89 reviews · from $16Best value

Spend 30 minutes inside Greenwich’s Peter Harrison Planetarium with a live Royal Observatory astronomer. The program may cover the night sky, satellites, the Solar System, or a star’s life, using spacecraft images and CGI. Showtimes are assigned from the day’s program, so check availability before booking.

“Incredible, eye opening and extremely fascinating I loved every minute of it”

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14.Stargazing Experience at Cowan’s Private Observatory

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 85 reviews · from $82

Begin at the Dark Sky Project in Lake Tekapo, then take a five-minute shuttle to Cowan’s Private Observatory. In sheltered craters, an astronomy guide uses lasers and powerful telescopes to show you planets, star clusters, constellations, and the Milky Way. The 90-minute experience suits first-time stargazers and families.

“The night sky was amazing even without the three telescopes. The astronomy guides were knowledgeable and made the experience fun. I learned a lot! Loved seeing the Southern Cross, Jupiter, Saturn, and different star clusters.”

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15.Royal Observatory & Prime Meridian and Cutty Sark

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 75 reviews · 3 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $53

Spend three to eight hours exploring Greenwich’s Royal Observatory, standing on the Prime Meridian, boarding the Cutty Sark, and visiting the Queen’s House and National Maritime Museum. This is a self-guided pass, not a guided tour. Transportation is not included, and the free museums may limit the pass’s value.

“You are on your own with this experience. All this does is get you advanced tickets to the attractions. However, easy to get there with the circle line to Blackfrairs & Blackfrairs train to Greenwich. The meridan was fun for photos, & the Cutty Sark was amazing. Totally worth going for just those two.”

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