Things to Do in Hollywood
Stars on the sidewalk, studio backlots and the best views of the sign.
See top-rated activities »About Hollywood
Hollywood is a real neighborhood of Los Angeles, not just a nickname for the film industry, and its main street is still the most visited stretch in the city. The Hollywood Walk of Fame runs along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street with more than 2,700 brass-and-terrazzo stars. At its center, the TCL Chinese Theatre, opened in 1927, has the famous forecourt of hand and footprints in cement, and the Dolby Theatre next door hosts the Academy Awards each year. The boulevard can feel crowded and commercial, so many visitors see it in an hour or two and move on.
For the best view of the Hollywood sign, head to Griffith Park, one of the largest city parks in the country. Griffith Observatory, the white Art Deco building on the park's southern slope, has free admission to its exhibits and grounds, telescopes open to the public on clear evenings and a planetarium. Its terraces look across the city to the ocean on one side and to the sign on the other. Hiking trails lead higher into the hills, and the park also holds the Los Angeles Zoo, the Greek Theatre and the Autry Museum of the American West.
Over the hill in the San Fernando Valley, Universal Studios Hollywood combines a working studio with a theme park, and its tram tour still rolls through real backlot sets. The Warner Bros. Studio Tour in Burbank takes small groups through sound stages and costume and prop collections. Back in Hollywood, Paramount Pictures, the last major studio still based in the neighborhood, offers its own studio tours on Melrose Avenue.
Hollywood also has a strong music side. The Hollywood Bowl, an outdoor amphitheater in the hills, has been hosting summer concerts since the 1920s, and the Capitol Records Tower, shaped like a stack of records, stands just off Vine Street. Hollywood Forever Cemetery, resting place of many early film stars, also screens movies outdoors in summer.
Don’t Miss
More than 2,700 stars honoring stars of film, television, music, radio and live performance, along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street.
A 1927 movie palace still showing films, with celebrity hand and footprints in the forecourt.
Free exhibits, public telescopes and a planetarium, with the city's classic view of the Hollywood sign.
A theme park built around a working film studio, with a backlot tram tour and rides based on its films.
Guided tours through backlot streets, sound stages and a large collection of costumes and props.
An outdoor amphitheater with a summer season of classical, jazz and pop concerts; picnics are part of the tradition.
The resting place of many film pioneers, which also hosts summer movie screenings and a Day of the Dead festival.
Top-Rated Tours, Tickets & Activities in Hollywood
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TiqetsTours, tickets, prices and reviews from Viator (a Tripadvisor company) and Tiqets — prices are per person, from, and were checked November 8, 2026. Best of Los Angeles County may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.
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Get free trip quotes »Hollywood — FAQ
Is Griffith Observatory free?
Yes. Entry to the building, exhibits and grounds is free; planetarium shows have a small fee. Parking near the observatory is paid and fills up on weekends, so consider the DASH bus or a rideshare.
How long should I spend on Hollywood Boulevard?
One to two hours covers the Walk of Fame, the Chinese Theatre forecourt and the Dolby Theatre area. Add more time for a studio tour, Griffith Park or a show at the Hollywood Bowl.
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