From Betsy Malloy,
Your Guide to California Travel.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

Hollywood Boulevard is the stuff of legends. Attractions here include the Walk of Fame, footprints at Mann's Theatre and Hollywood at Highland complex.

Any time after mid-morning is exciting. During daylight hours, you get views and can enjoy the throngs of tourists. At night, the Boulevard is neon-lit.

See It Now: Photo Tour

A few years ago, I discouraged people from visiting Hollywood. Its dirty streets and endless string of tattoo shops, scanty clothing boutiques and tacky souvenir stores were so dreary that it was bound to disappoint. But now all that has changed. The "new" Hollywood was years in the making, but it seems as if it sprang up overnight, creating what is now one of my favorite Los Angeles stops. The cornerstone of remade Hollywood is the Hollywood at Highland Complex and the new Metro station, but changes abound on the Boulevard.

TIP: If you plan to visit several attractions in Hollywood, you may save money with a Hollywood Citypass. You can buy it at the entrance of any attraction it covers or order it in advance online from Viator.com.

Similar to Citypass, the Go Los Angeles Card offers a lot of attractions at a very reasonable price. It's likely you won't be able to do all of them before your card expires, so be sure you can do enough to make it a good deal for you.

Hollywood Boulevard: Where to Start

Because Hollywood at Highland offers the most convenient and affordable parking, this Hollywood Boulevard walking tour starts from there.

Hollywood at Highland: This shopping-and-entertainment complex is also a tribute to Hollywood history. Starting from Hollywood Boulevard, walk up the simulated "red carpet." Read the Hollywood stories set into the walk in mosaic. They're quotes from people who came to make their fortunes in Hollywood, from camera operators to mega-stars. Pillars topped with elephants tower over the main plaza, recreations from the set of D. W. Griffith's classic movie Intolerance. Walk to the back of the complex to lounge on the oversized casting couch and get a photo of the Hollywood sign.

Shopping is optional here, but do make a small purchase to get your parking ticket validated. A bottle of water at any of the food spots will do. If you want to take a tour of the Academy Awards' home, head for the Kodak Theatre box office first, to pick up tickets. Organize the rest of your day around your tour time.

Continue to the next page to read about what there is to see and do along Hollywood Boulevard. Our walking tour takes you to most of the famous Hollywood sights.

Review

We rate Hollywood Boulevard 4 stars out of 5. It's a fun place to spend a few hours, and Hollywood is a Los Angeles icon.

Others may disagree. You can see what other people just like you think about Hollywood Boulevard, then bookmark this page and after you've been there, come back and tell us what you think.

What do you think of Hollywood Boulevard???

• 0 = Yuck! Just say no to this flea-bitten hole of a tourist trap
• 1 = So-So More fun than a night in jail, but you might enjoy a good nap more
• 2 = OK Some people find it interesting, but I didn't
• 3 = Good Go if you have time, but it's not a big deal if you miss it
• 4 = Great I really liked it, and I think you will, too
• 5 = Awesome! It's a must-see sight that I recommend to everyone

Getting There

Hollywood Boulevard is s of downtown Los Angeles, and accessible from I-10, I-110 and US 101. The easiest access by automobile is to take the Highland Avenue exit from US 101. Park in the underground lot at the Hollywood and Highland complex, where you get a heavy discount with any purchase (even a cup of coffee). For a hassle-free approach, take the Metro Red line and get off at the Hollywood and Highland stop.