Palm Springs has been Hollywood's desert hideout for a century: Sinatra, Elvis, and Gloria Swanson herself, whose former estate you're sleeping in. Celebrity home tours trace the studios' star colony street by street.
A Desert Stage for Hollywood Legends
For decades, Palm Springs has been Hollywood's desert playground, a place where stars escaped the spotlight to unwind beneath the sun. From Frank Sinatra's legendary soirées to Lucille Ball's iconic getaways, every street here holds a story of glamour, laughter, and timeless charm.
Here's your guide to the best celebrity and film tours in Palm Springs, where Old Hollywood meets desert cool, all just minutes from Gloria Palm Springs.
1. Celebrity Homes Tour: Discover the Legends' Hideaways
No trip to Palm Springs is complete without exploring the celebrity homes that shaped its glamorous reputation. Join a guided Palm Springs Celebrity Homes Tour or take a self-guided drive through Movie Colony and Old Las Palmas, neighborhoods that defined Hollywood's golden age.
Must-see stops:
• Frank Sinatra's Twin Palms Estate
• Elvis Presley's Honeymoon Hideaway
• Marilyn Monroe's former villa
• Lucille Ball's Palm Springs residence, famous for hosting legendary parties
Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz were among the earliest stars to build desert homes here, helping transform Palm Springs into the chic retreat it remains today.
2. Hollywood History Tours: Old Glamour in the Desert
Step back into the 1950s, when icons like Lucille Ball, Cary Grant, and Elizabeth Taylor turned Palm Springs into a second Hollywood. These guided history tours reveal behind-the-scenes stories, vintage film sets, and the nostalgic sparkle of the city's cinematic past.
Highlights:
• Classic film locations from Behind the Candelabra, Diamonds Are Forever, and Ocean's Eleven
• The historic Plaza Theatre (1936), where Lucille Ball occasionally performed
• The Palm Springs Walk of Stars, featuring Lucille Ball's own star among 400 others
Downtown glows at night with the same retro charm that Lucille herself adored.
3. Self-Guided Film Location Tour: On the Silver Screen
Prefer to explore on your own? Pick up a Palm Springs film locations map at the Visitor Center or download it online. You'll find famous spots where movies and TV shows have captured the desert's cinematic beauty.
Notable filming locations:
• Mission: Impossible III: Windmill Fields
• Ocean's Eleven: Downtown casino scenes
• A Star is Born (2018): Coachella-inspired sets
• Don't Worry Darling (2022): Canyon View Estates
Palm Springs has long drawn directors for its mid-century architecture, just as Lucille Ball once did while filming I Love Lucy specials here.
4. Modern Hollywood & Music Icons: The New Generation
Palm Springs continues to attract today's stars, serving as a creative retreat during events like Coachella, Stagecoach, and Modernism Week. You might just spot an A-lister sipping a martini or filming a music video against the desert's vibrant backdrop.
Modern hotspots:
• The Parker Palm Springs: Leonardo DiCaprio's favorite hideaway
• Colony Palms Hotel: vintage film set aesthetic
• The Saguaro: colorful backdrop for music videos and photoshoots