The 11 best rides at Universal Studios Hollywood, ranked, including Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge, plus current ticket prices and hours.
The best overall ride at Universal Studios Hollywood is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, an immersive robotic-arm dark ride that's been the park's signature attraction for over a decade. If you only add one ride this list used to miss, make it Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge in Super Nintendo World, it's arguably the single most in-demand attraction in the park right now. For thrills, Jurassic World, The Ride. For families with younger kids, start with The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash and Flight of the Hippogriff.
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The park has added a genuinely major attraction since this list last ran: Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge opened in Super Nintendo World in February 2023, an AR-headset racing ride that draws crowds big enough that Universal added it to the Express Pass lineup specifically because demand was so high. Leaving it off a current best-rides list would be like leaving Forbidden Journey off. We bumped this from 10 to 11 rides rather than force a round number that no longer matches the park.
Single-day tickets now run roughly $109 to $154 online in advance (higher at the gate, roughly $169 and up), with pricing based on the calendar date. Express Pass runs roughly $209 to $309, or $80 to $180 as an upgrade add-on. Hours are genuinely seasonal, generally 9am to 10pm in summer and around the winter holidays, and 10am to 6 or 7pm off-peak, check the specific date on Universal's site rather than assuming one set of hours year-round. Parking runs $30 general, $50 preferred, $70 front gate before 5pm, with lower rates after 5pm for a CityWalk-only evening.
A physical robotic-arm ride combined with 3D projection inside Hogwarts Castle, taking you through scenes and creatures from the films. It's the park's signature attraction and one of the best indoor options when the weather isn't cooperating.
The park's newest headline attraction, an augmented-reality racing ride using headsets layered over a physical kart track. It's become the single hardest ride to skip since it opened in February 2023, demand is high enough that Universal added it to the Express Pass lineup.
A peaceful dinosaur boat tour that turns into a genuine thrill ride when a few residents break loose. Turns, drops, and an 84-foot splashdown finale close things out, expect to get wet on the way out.
A motion-simulator ride within a ride, you're taken into Springfield to board Krustyland's newest coaster, until Sideshow Bob hijacks the whole thing. Keep an eye out for character cameos throughout.
One of the only backward, indoor coasters in the world, full of artifacts, creatures, and scenes pulled straight from the film. Still operating and unrelated to any refurbishment news out of Universal Orlando's separate Mummy coaster.
A classic tram tour stopping at iconic backlot sets, King Kong 360 3-D, the Bates Motel, War of the Worlds, and more. The Fast & Furious: Supercharged segment permanently closed in March 2025, so the tour you take today isn't identical to a few years ago, but it's still one of the park's must-do experiences.
More stunt show than ride, with pyrotechnics, stunts, and a genuine chance of getting soaked from your seat. Long-billed as Universal's top show, it runs on its usual schedule after its routine winter refurbishment.
A 3D thrill ride putting you in the middle of an escape from the Decepticons, no franchise knowledge required to enjoy it. It's located furthest from the parking lot, plan your route accordingly.
A short, mild family coaster with spirals and dips and views across the rest of the Wizarding World. Located closest to Universal's parking, a good first or last stop, and a solid mini-thrill for kids.
A high-definition motion-simulator ride through the chaotic, funny world of the Minions alongside familiar movie characters. A strong pick if you want laughs mixed in with the thrills.
The calmest ride in the park and a strong first-timer or youngest-rider pick, built around the comedic, vibrant energy of the film. Watch for character cameos as you make your way through this bite of NYC in LA.
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is the park's most acclaimed flagship attraction, but Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge in Super Nintendo World has become the single hardest-to-skip ride since it opened in 2023 thanks to its AR headset technology. If you can only do two, pair those.
Forbidden Journey is intense, it combines a moving robotic arm with 3D projection and includes sudden drops, close encounters with dementors, and a dragon chase, but it's not gory or horror-themed. Most kids who meet the 48-inch height requirement handle it fine.
Single-day general admission runs roughly $109 to $154 when bought online in advance, with gate prices running higher, around $169 and up. Prices are date-based, so weekends and holidays cost more than weekday off-peak visits.
If you're visiting on a weekend, holiday, or during summer, Express Pass (roughly $209 to $309, or $80 to $180 as an add-on upgrade) can save hours of standing in line, especially for Mario Kart and Forbidden Journey. On slower weekdays in the off-season, it's less necessary.
The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash has the lowest height requirement in the park and is a gentle, comedic dark ride. Flight of the Hippogriff is a short, mild family coaster with no big drops, and Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem is a crowd-pleasing motion simulator that skews younger too.
The park's first high-speed outdoor coaster, Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, has been in testing and was targeting a summer 2026 debut, a 72-mph ride with spinning vehicles themed to cars from the film franchise. Confirm live status before you plan a visit around it.