Overview
No trip to Los Angeles is complete without a visit to its most famous district: Hollywood, best known as the self-declared entertainment capital of the world. It is one of the greatest places in the world for film tourism and the backdrop of numerous blockbuster movies.
19 sights · 9 things to do · 11 places to eat · 4 bars & cafés · 5 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Hollywood
Hollywood Sign
Hollywood's most recognizable landmark is easy to spot high up on Mount Lee in nearby Griffith Park. You can drive part way up for a closer look, but you can't hike all the way to the sign. The best viewpoints of the sig…
Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of a series of stars embedded in the sidewalk to commemorate famous movie, radio, recording, theatre, and TV personalities. Since 1960, over two thousand stars have been immortalized; …
Capitol Records Building
One of the most iconic buildings in Los Angeles. The circular tower—which contrary to popular belief was not intentionally designed to resemble a stack of records—is home to Capitol Records' west coast operations. Contai…
Charlie Chaplin Studios
An interesting historical landmark, this complex was built in 1917 as the studios for Charlie Chaplin's film company. Constructed in Tudor-style architecture, it has the appearance of a small English village from the out…
Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Dating back to 1899, this beautiful cemetery is one of Los Angeles' oldest and is the final resting place for hundreds of film stars, directors, writers, and other influential figures from the entertainment industry. Joh…
The Dome Entertainment Centre
An upscale multiplex which offers various amenities, such as assigned seating, an on-site cafe, alcoholic beverages available for purchase, and occasional special event screenings with Q&As with noted filmmakers. Wit…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jan–Dec. Summer highs reach about 89°F; winter lows dip to about 44°F. Wettest: Feb and Jan. (climate data from nearby Burbank)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- BUR Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport, Burbank — 7 mi away (major hub). Directions
- LAX Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles — 12 mi away (major hub). Directions
Hollywood's location is central to most other popular attractions. Metro's Line subway service stops at Hollywood/Vine and Hollywood/Highland, and is the most direct transit connection to Downtown. Due to the traffic along the 101 freeway, it's usually quicker to take the Red Line to or from Downtown than it is to drive. It also continues north to its terminus in North Hollywood, with a stop in Universal City. Visitors from Orange County can get to Hollywood by taking Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner or Metrolink's Orange County Line to Los Angeles Union Station and then transferring to the Red Line.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $70–$280 a night (typical $190), from 4 listed prices.
- Typical meal: about $20 per person at listed restaurants.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$110, mid-range ~$260, comfortable ~$450.
Options are grouped as Budget, Mid-range, Splurge in the Sleep guide ↓.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Hollywood Walk of Fame, Madame Tussauds Hollywood, Grauman's Chinese Theatre
- Lunch Mel's Drive-In
- Afternoon Dolby Theatre, El Capitan Theatre
- Dinner Yamashiro
- Evening Roosevelt Hotel Lounge
Day 2
- Morning Capitol Records Building, Fonda Theatre, Hollywood Palladium
- Lunch Katsuya
- Afternoon The Dome Entertainment Centre, Los Angeles Fire Department Hollywood Museum
- Dinner Running Goose
- Evening The Well
Day 3
- Morning Hollywood Sign
- Lunch Beachwood Cafe
- Dinner Sushi Ike
- Evening Boardners
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
A business and residential district in the city of Los Angeles, the core of Hollywood for a tourist is its three fascinating boulevards: Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood Boulevard, and Melrose Avenue, all of which are worth seeing. Hollywood Blvd is known for its entertainment history, Sunset Blvd for its clubs and nightlife, and Melrose Ave for its shopping, nightlife, and eclecticism.
Hollywood was founded as an independent city in 1903 and voted to merge with the City of Los Angeles in 1910. That same year also saw the birth of the Southern California motion picture industry when D. W. Griffith relocated his Biograph Company, sparking a westward migration of East Coast filmmakers. As movies exploded in popularity in the 1910s and 20s, the name Hollywood became synonymous with the American film industry.
In the decades following World War II, Hollywood's glitz and glamour began to fade as most of the leading film studios moved to other places. By the 1980s, Hollywood was considered one of the worst neighborhoods in Los Angeles. The 1990s, however, saw the beginning of community redevelopment efforts, and today Hollywood is once again one of the region's most vibrant areas. Paramount is the only major film studio still headquartered in Hollywood, but the area nonetheless remains an important center of the entertainment industry with its myriad production and broadcast facilities. Smaller studios still in Hollywood include Sunset-Gower Studios, Hollywood Center Studios, Raleigh Studios, Jim Henson Studios, and Sunset Bronson Studios (housed on the original Warner Bros. lot).
The other major studios are located to the north in the San Fernando Valley, particularly in Universal City (Universal), Burbank (Disney, Warner Bros.), and Glendale (DreamWorks). Most of the rest are to the west: Century City (Fox, MGM), the Fairfax District (CBS), and Culver City (Sony). Many of the studios offer tours if you want to see where films are shot.
If you want to see celebrities, pack your patience or be prepared to play the role of boulevardier. The chances of bumping into a celebrity are very low (mainly because most of the celebrities who live in Hollywood usually do not go out in public) unless you're willing to do a lot of hanging out at expensive restaurants in West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, or in Malibu. You can easily see where they live by taking a tour or buying a star map.
Get in
By public transit
Hollywood's location is central to most other popular attractions. Metro's Line subway service stops at Hollywood/Vine and Hollywood/Highland, and is the most direct transit connection to Downtown. Due to the traffic along the 101 freeway, it's usually quicker to take the Red Line to or from Downtown than it is to drive. It also continues north to its terminus in North Hollywood, with a stop in Universal City. Visitors from Orange County can get to Hollywood by taking Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner or Metrolink's Orange County Line to Los Angeles Union Station and then transferring to the Red Line.
The stretch of Hollywood Blvd between Highland and Vine is served frequently by Metro bus lines 217 and Metro Rapid 780, while the 180 and 181 from the east terminate just before Hollywood/Vine. Sunset Boulevard is served frequently by bus lines 2 and 302, Santa Monica Boulevard by the 4 and Metro Rapid 704, and Melrose Avenue by the 10. For frequent north-south service, Vine Street is served by the 210 and La Brea Avenue by the 212 and 312.
Long-distance bus service is not available into Hollywood. If taking Greyhound, the best option is to take one to the station in North Hollywood, then walk to the Metro Red Line. Other intercity bus options can be found in Downtown LA.
By car
Hollywood is close enough to the Westside to make car trips there relatively easy. If you're beginning your trip in Downtown Los Angeles—the proverbial center of Southern California's intricate freeway network—you can head north on U.S. Highway 101 (Hollywood Freeway) and exit on Hollywood Blvd or Gower Street. If traffic is a problem (and it will be around the hours of 1PM-6PM), consider an alternate route such as one of the surface streets. From the west, Santa Monica Boulevard is a major thoroughfare that links Hollywood with Beverly Hills and Santa Monica. Sunset Boulevard links Hollywood with the Westside, Northwest LA and Downtown, and Fairfax, La Brea and Vine/Rossmore run north-south between Hollywood and the Wilshire area.
By plane
Hollywood is served by Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) or the closer Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) in Burbank. The Flyaway Bus, from LAX to Union Station runs every 30 minutes, with a transfer to the Red Line subway to Hollywood. BurbankBus offers a connecting route between Bob Hope Airport and the North Hollywood Metro Red Line station, where you can ride the metro into Hollywood.
Get around
Hollywood sits roughly between the 101 freeway on the east, Melrose Avenue on the south, West Hollywood on the west, and the Hollywood Hills on the north. The main east-west streets of central Hollywood are Hollywood Blvd and Sunset Blvd, intersected by the main north-south streets of La Brea Ave, Highland Ave, Cahuenga Blvd, Vine St, and Gower St. Night-time pedestrian activity in this area is focused on Hollywood Blvd.
The main areas of Hollywood are walkable, and you could walk all the way from Hollywood Blvd to Melrose Avenue, but the distance is far enough that most people would probably drive or take the bus.
See
Hollywood is the place for fiction tourism. If you're lucky, you can see a taping of a TV show; most of America's sitcoms, game shows, and quite a few of its talk shows are taped at any one of the major studios in the Hollywood area (quite a few dramas are filmed in these studios as well, but since they tend not to be filmed before a live studio audience, your chances of getting to see one of those live are virtually nil). Nearby Studio City, Burbank, Century City, Fairfax, and Culver City hold the most prominent studios, but in Hollywood proper, Paramount Studios is the filming location of many sitcoms and Dr. Phil, Hollywood Center Studios provides production facilities for Disney and Comedy Central, and Jimmy Kimmel Live! broadcasts from a complex adjacent to the El Capitan Theatre. In general, you'll have to call or go to the website of the show itself to get tickets.
See Hollywood Sign
Hollywood's most recognizable landmark is easy to spot high up on Mount Lee in nearby Griffith Park. You can drive part way up for a closer look, but you can't hike all the way to the sign. The best viewpoints of the sign are from the Griffith Observatory in Griffith Park, on Mulholland Drive above the Hollywood Bowl, and from the Hollywood and Highland Center. For a rare view of the Hollywood sign with lines of palms trees on the side, go to 650 S Windsor Blvd, or further north.
See Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of a series of stars embedded in the sidewalk to commemorate famous movie, radio, recording, theatre, and TV personalities. Since 1960, over two thousand stars have been immortalized; the schedule for upcoming star ceremonies is listed on the Walk of Fame's website.
See Capitol Records Building (Capitol Studios)
One of the most iconic buildings in Los Angeles. The circular tower—which contrary to popular belief was not intentionally designed to resemble a stack of records—is home to Capitol Records' west coast operations. Contained inside the building are the renowned Capitol Studios. Unfortunately, tours of the inside are no longer offered to the general public.
See Charlie Chaplin Studios
An interesting historical landmark, this complex was built in 1917 as the studios for Charlie Chaplin's film company. Constructed in Tudor-style architecture, it has the appearance of a small English village from the outside and was where many of Chaplin's most iconic films were shot, including The Gold Rush, City Lights, Modern Times, and The Great Dictator. In 2000, the studio was bought by the Jim Henson Company, which marked their presence with a statue of Kermit the Frog above the main gate. The studio is not open for tours, but you can admire the architecture from the outside.
See Paramount Pictures Studio Tour
The only major film studio still located in Hollywood, Paramount has been using this as a production facility since 1927 and has filmed many notable pictures here, including Sunset Boulevard, Rear Window, Cecil B. DeMille's The Ten Commandments, and Breakfast at Tiffany's. Today you can take a 2 hour guided tour of the backlot, which is still used for film and television production today. The former RKO Studio, one of the Big Five studios of the Golden Age of Hollywood, was purchased by Paramount in 1967 and is today part of the complex.
See Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Dating back to 1899, this beautiful cemetery is one of Los Angeles' oldest and is the final resting place for hundreds of film stars, directors, writers, and other influential figures from the entertainment industry. Johnny Ramone, Cecil B. DeMille, Mel Blanc, Peter Lorre, Mickey Rooney, Bugsy Siegel and Judy Garland are but a few of the famous names you'll see here. Interactive kiosks located throughout the cemetery play short documentaries about those interned here, making it a great place to learn about Hollywood's early history. The cemetery also often holds events, including regular movie screenings (see below under Do) in the summer.
Theaters
See The Dome Entertainment Centre
An upscale multiplex which offers various amenities, such as assigned seating, an on-site cafe, alcoholic beverages available for purchase, and occasional special event screenings with Q&As with noted filmmakers. Within the complex and very visible from the street is the Cinerama Dome, an eye-catching geodesic dome with a movie theater inside that is a noted example of Space Age architecture, with a 1960s-era marquee facing Sunset Boulevard.
See Grauman's Egyptian Theatre
An ancient Egyptian-themed theater that was built in 1922 and operated by Sid Grauman, of Grauman's Chinese Theatre fame, this was one of the first lavish movie palaces and was the venue for the first-ever Hollywood premiere. Today it screens many classic films and documentaries.
See Grauman's Chinese Theatre
The most famous movie theater in the world, Grauman's Chinese Theatre opened in 1927 and is home to the cement footprints, handprints, and (in some cases) otherprints of many of history's most famous movie stars. The theater is also a former home of the Oscars, and today hosts many movie premieres. The forecourt that showcases the star's prints is free to all visitors. Half-hour guided tours of the theater are available.
Museums
See Hollywood Heritage Museum
Housed in the Lasky-DeMille Barn, which was built in 1901 and served as one of Hollywood's first film studios (Cecil B. DeMille had an office in this building) before being moved to its current site, this museum has a collection of photographs and memorabilia from old Hollywood.
See Museum of Death
A museum that was founded, according to its website, to "fill the void in death education in the USA." The collection includes such items as serial killer artwork, crime scene photos, replicas of execution devices, and a coffin collection. The self-guided tour lasts approximately an hour, "but those who can stomach it may stay as long as they'd like." There is no age limit but the museum is recommended for mature audiences.
Do
Do Hollywood Bowl
America's most famous outdoor theatre hosts a summer concert series by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, a spectacular Fourth of July fireworks show set to classical music, as well as numerous other concert events. Traffic and parking can be a nightmare, so the $5 round-trip public shuttles are highly recommended.
Do Mulholland Drive
If you have a car, it is worth driving up to Mulholland Drive. The main attraction is the incredible views from the Hollywood Hills across Los Angeles and San Fernando Valley, with plenty of overlooks available to stop and enjoy, but it's also worth visiting to ogle the impressive (and expensive) residences that line the route.
Do Cemetery Movie Screenings
The Cinespia film society screens creepy older movies every Saturday during the summer on the Fairbanks Lawn in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Crowds can be huge, so arrive prior to gates opening if you want a good vantage point. Most people bring a picnic dinner, a drink (wine or beer allowed, no spirits), blanket, pillow (or low chair) and jacket. A DJ plays music prior to the showing to create a fun outdoor atmosphere. Tickets (including parking) often sell out and should therefore be purchased in advance through the Cinespia web site.
Do Saroyan Stairs
The most impressive of Hollywood's public stairs, connecting streets at different elevations for pedestrians. These hidden gems are worth exploring for an authentic local experience, and there are a few more in the neighborhood that allow you to make a nice walk out of it and get some serious exercise. You'll certainly see locals getting their exercise on the stairs.
Buy
Hollywood Blvd has countless urban clothing stores. Walk around and find stores with the latest LNG, Phat Farm, Timberland, Sean John, and many more. Melrose Avenue is the go-to place to feel like a star. Start by browsing through vintage clothing stores to maxing out the credit card at chic boutiques.
Shop Amoeba Music
The country's largest independent music store, Amoeba has three locations including Hollywood, Berkeley and San Francisco. Prices are slightly higher than at the discount stores, but the selection is enormous and just about any obscure record you could imagine is to be found somewhere on the shelves.
Shop IPED Foot Spa
If you are tired of walking a long day in Hollywood. Iped offers 1 hour foot massage for as little as $25.
Shopping centers
Shop Ovation Hollywood
Something of an attraction in its own right, this massive shopping complex is the home of the Dolby Theatre (where the Oscars are held) and adjacent to Grauman's Chinese Theatre. The streetfront facing Hollywood Blvd is lined with giant advertisements and LED signs, making it seem like a miniature Times Square. Its four levels hold a food court and numerous retail chains, and since its construction it has become the location of most tourist-oriented services in Hollywood, like bus tours and information centers.
Eat
Budget
Eat Palms Thai Restaurant
Home of the infamous Thai Elvis, who will serenade you through dinner. The decor is authentically cheesy and Elvis sings the hits. While plain dishes such as fried rice or pad Thai are nothing to write home about, the curries (duck and panang), pad prik king, and anything off the "wild things" menu are excellent choices.
Mid-range
Eat Cheebo
Everyone loves the Cheeb! A play on "cibo" (Italian for food), this place has great and creative food and a fun atmosphere. All-day breakfasts, excellent sandwiches, salads, pizzas by the foot and nice dinners to boot. Eat here for breakfast and you'll be back for lunch.
Eat The Griddle Café
The Griddle Café is the best breakfast experience in LA. It features pages of every type of pancake you can imagine, which also happen to be twice as large as any pancake you've ever had, and still manage to be fluffy-thick and light on the tummy. Coffee is fresh, in a French press, and the menu features more than just breakfast. Short story: Food is awesome, service is great, but it's always crowded. Don't worry though, they serve fast and you will feel the wait is worth it.
Eat Mel's Drive-In
Come here for traditional diner fare: cheeseburgers, French fries, and milkshakes. Part of the chain that opened in San Francisco in the late 1940s. There is another location on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood.
Eat Musso and Frank Grill
For a taste of old Hollywood, this is the place. It's been famous for generations.
Eat Sushi Ike
A small and moderately-priced authentic Japanese restaurant with a great sushi bar and friendly chefs--one of the best this side of the 101.
Eat Doomie's Home Cookin'
It looks like a low-key burger grill, with hamburgers, chicken, and fries — but every dish is vegan!
Eat Beachwood Cafe
The bright, whimsical colours evoke the laid-back vibe of "Hollywoodland", the 1920s real estate development in this canyon which left behind a famous hillside sign. The food is fresh, interesting California cosmopolitan, with plentiful vegetarian and vegan options. A popular brunch spot. Reservations only for groups of 6 or more.
Eat Running Goose
Creative, delightful food, international with a Central American heart. A range of vegetarian and vegan options. Their patio is a quiet oasis in the Hollywood bustle, with easy walking distance to Hollywood Blvd theatres. Reservations recommended before shows.
Splurge
Eat Yamashiro
This Japanese restaurant is perched above Hollywood, and on most nights provides an unbeatable view of the city, from downtown to Palos Verdes. The building and grounds, not the food, are the stars of the show. The gardens and architecture are elegant, and the restaurant has a fascinating history (the story's on the menu). Look for the small sign just west of the Magic Castle; valet parking only.
Eat Katsuya
Run by acclaimed chef Katsuya Uechi, designed by Philippe Starck. Mouth-watering Japanese menu of sushi and wagyu steak, but not much for vegetarians. His ten other restaurants around the LA area are rated as some of the best in the city. Parking costs $14, cash only.
Drink
Clubs and bars
Street life in Hollywood remains lively later than in most other areas, making the district a satisfying location to come home to. In fact, the best time to see Hollywood is in the evening, since the district serves along with the nearby Sunset Strip, as the regional center for clubs and nightlife. The Cahuenga Corridor (along Cahuenga between Sunset and Yucca) has several bars and lounges for bar-hopping.
Drink Roosevelt Hotel Lounge
The lounge in this historic hotel is an upscale hotspot where one is likely to find Hollywood elite enjoying cocktails on weekdays, and a hipster party scene on weekends. Plenty of leather couches, candles, and a classy staff provides a sense of how the "other half" lives. Expect Hollywood prices to go along with the Hollywood atmosphere.
Drink Power House
One of the most laid back and relaxed bars in town, head here for cheap beer, darts and classic rock. Come as you are, and you will be glad you're here.
Drink Boardners
Power through the packed crowds and grab yourself a spot at this bar, where the drinks are strong and there's good people watching to be had.
Drink The Well
Make out as if you're a local and head to this so trendy it has a secret entrance door (hint, the entrance is on Argyle, even though the address is on Sunset). While the crowd can be posey, it's one of the better clubs in the area, and still manages to remain intimate and cozy.
Sleep
Hollywood offers a wide range in price and quality of accommodations. The antique Roosevelt Hotel provides an upscale choice, though has a reputation for frequently closing its pool for private parties. There is a full range of standard motel chains including Motel 6 and Best Western. There are also a few well-located hostels.
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
Stay The Roosevelt Hotel
A boutique hotel right in the center of the action offering spacious, well-appointed rooms and suites with luxury bed and bath linens, bath products and state-of-the-art in-room technologies. It is a Hollywood legend, and was the location of the first Academy Awards ceremony.
Stay Kimpton Everly Hollywood
The bones of an old hotel, a couple of blocks back from the heart of Hollywood, and right next to the busy 101 freeway, has been given the characteristic Kimpton glossy makeover, and equipped with soft sheets and attentive service. Rooms with "Hollywood view" can indeed see the hills and the famous "Hollywood" sign — and also face the 101, through noise-insulated glass. Two bars, a cafe, plentiful lounge space, and free wifi make this a congenial place for guests to kill time.
Go next
- Downtown LA – Rapidly renovating, downtown LA is a great place for a meal or to catch a show at the Walt Disney Concert Hall and best of all, it's reachable by Metro Red Line's fast and frequent service.
- Wilshire District – Located to the south of Hollywood, the Wilshire district is home to Koreatown, as well as attractions that include the LA County Museum of Art (LACMA), the Peterson Auto Museum, and the world-famous La Brea Tar Pits.
- West Hollywood – This may be Hollywood's less-famous sibling, but it boasts a bustling nightlife and features excellent restaurants, clubs, and hotels.
- Beverly Hills – Home of 90210, and a few other zip codes. If you want to see how the rich and famous live, Beverly Hills is the place to go.
- West LA – The west side of the sprawling city of LA is Hollywood's northwestern neighbor, and is home to UCLA and the Getty Museum.
- Studio City – Located to the northwest of Hollywood, among other attractions Studio City offers perhaps the highest density of sushi restaurants in Los Angeles.
- Universal City – Home to Universal Studios and a short trip from Hollywood via US Highway 101 or the Metro Red Line.
- Burbank – Hollywood's northeastern neighbor is the "Media Capital of the World", home to the studios of Warner Bros. and Disney.
- Northwest LA – Located to the east of Hollywood, this area is home to Dodger Stadium and the massive Griffith Park and its world-famous observatory.
Nearby
West Hollywood
City / town · 40 listings · 2 mi away
Universal City
City / town · 3 mi away
Beverly Hills
City / town · 32 listings · 4 mi away
Studio City
City / town · 14 listings · 5 mi away
North Hollywood
City / town · 10 listings · 5 mi away
Burbank
City / town · 32 listings · 6 mi away
Sherman Oaks
City / town · 13 listings · 7 mi away
Culver City
City / town · 58 listings · 8 mi away
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