Hollywood, along with Beverly Hills, is not only one of the most famous neighborhoods in Los Angeles, but also in the United States; it is a place closely linked to the world of cinema (and it could not be otherwise) where the main attractions are concentrated.
Home of the famous Walk of Fame and stage of the Oscars, Hollywood is the favorite destination for those who love American cinema. In this article, you will discover the main things to do in Hollywood and find out where to look for accommodations in order to experience the excitement of Hollywood.
Things to Do in Hollywood
Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Walk of Fame is perhaps one of Hollywood’s best-known attractions; it is a section of the sidewalk that stretches for over a mile that is filled with commemorative star-shaped plaques of the most famous American and international entertainment stars. If you want to learn more about this part of Hollywood, I suggest you read our article dedicated to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The other attractions along the Walk of Fame are:
- Hollywood & Highland: A huge mall that has a terrace where you can enjoy one of the best views of the famous Hollywood Sign and take pictures.
- TCL Chinese Theatre: One of the oldest and most famous movie theatres in the city. Guided tours are available to explore the history and interior of this characteristic building.
- Dolby Theatre: The place that every year for one evening becomes the center of the world’s attention. It is here that the Oscars takes place.
Universal Studios
Even though Universal Studios is not technically in the Hollywood neighborhood (although it is practically attached) how can I not at least mention what is perhaps the most famous film studio in Los Angeles? It is a large theme park that will keep you busy practically all day long, where you can experience the atmosphere of a Hollywood movie through shows, set tours, and rides.
The shows that stand out are the ones based on WaterWorld, Simpson, Terminator, but there are many others that will surely interest you.
To avoid being overwhelmed by the infinite choices of things to do, we have written a very detailed article, which you can read to learn about the recommended attractions, which tickets to buy among the many choices available, and everything you need to know to better organize your day.
Warner Bros. Studios
Warner Bros. Studios is not really located in Hollywood, but I believe I should talk about it because it is very close to Universal Studios and secondly because it offers a very interesting opportunity to discover the behind-the-scenes of a great Hollywood success.
Unlike Universal Studios, you won’t visit a theme park, but an actual film studio full of activity and constantly changing according to the films, shows, and TV series that are being shot there at the moment. The tours are not always the same; rather, they vary according to the needs of the movies being filmed. Read our article about Warner Bros. Studios to find out how to get there and what to expect (exhibitions and studio tours), and look at the ticket options available.
Take a Picture of the Hollywood Sign
Most tourists who come to L.A. want to take a picture of the infamous Hollywood Sign. There are many ways and different places to take a picture. A lot depends on your taste and also on your spirit of adventure. Find all the ways to accomplish the task in our detailed guide: Hollywood Sign: where to see it.
Hollywood Wax Museum
The Hollywood Wax Museum (6767 Hollywood Blvd), whose sign says it is the most visited attraction since 1965, is one of two wax museums in the neighborhood. There are figures of many well-known faces from the entertainment world and you can have your picture taken in some of the most famous scenes from Hollywood’s hits that are reconstructed here.
Madame Tussauds Hollywood
One wax museum obviously wasn’t enough for the Hollywood neighborhood, so, of course, a Madame Tussauds museum had to be built here in Hollywood as well (6933 Hollywood Blvd). If you have already visited another Madame Tussauds while traveling around the world, you have an idea of what to expect. If you haven’t, you may consider visiting the one here in Hollywood, and in case you are undecided between this one and the Hollywood Wax Museum, I suggest you focus on Madame Tussauds, which has a bit more variety and is better maintained overall.
Hollywood Museum
For those who love the world of cinema, the Hollywood Museum (1660 Highland Ave) will be a must-see pilgrimage destination. Its curators claim it has the world’s largest collection of Hollywood-related memorabilia. There are more than 10,000 items including costumes, props, film objects, photographs, posters, and original scripts in the museum’s halls. If you are interested, you can check the official website to see what temporary exhibits there will be during the period of your visit.
Hollywood Forever Park Cemetery
The Hollywood Forever Park Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in Los Angeles; it was built on a very large plot of land near Paramount Pictures Studios. Many celebrities are buried here, including Rodolfo Valentino and Johnny Ramone. But this is not just a place of remembrance. Every summer, it turns into an open-air cinema where many people gather to watch popular Hollywood movies.
Paramount Pictures Studios
If after visiting Universal Studios and Warner Bros. Studios you want to go to another film studio, you should consider visiting Paramount Pictures Studios (5555 Melrose Ave). During the tours, guides will instruct small groups about the history of this film studio and show them the sheds where movies and TV series are currently being recorded. Of course, you will see the sets used for the most successful films filmed in these studios.
For more information and to book your tour, go to the official website, but don’t forget to read our article about Paramount Picture Studios in Los Angeles.
Hollywood Tours
One of the most unique ways to visit Los Angeles is to fly over the characteristic skyline of Los Angeles, the houses of celebrities, Hollywood, the famous Hollywood Sign that overlooks it, and all the most important attractions of the city. The VIP Tour offers many options depending on the kind of experience you want.
For example, you can choose pickup service from major Los Angeles hotels in a limousine, or upgrade the flight experience by enjoying sparkling wine and snacks, and having professional souvenir photos taken. If you are really interested in this type of tour, or you are interested in trying this type of experience for the first time, click on the link below to find out all the necessary information.
VIP Helicopter Tour of Los Angeles and Hollywood
The most characteristic places in Hollywood can also be visited comfortably on foot, and if you haven’t had enough time to research all the attractions, it may be a good idea to rely on a local guide. On this tour, you’ll also be able to visit some of the historic buildings, including the El Capitan Theatre, where previews of Disney films are shown, and Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre, where Robin Hood was shown at the first Hollywood premiere was held in 1922.
If walking the entire time is not really for you, or if you want to save your energy for visiting other places in Hollywood, you can consider a hop-on hop-off double-decker bus tour, which has always been a very successful way to see tourist cities. Another positive aspect of riding the hop-on hop-off bus is that this way you can explore all the most important points not only in Hollywood, but also all over Los Angeles.
Hop-on Hop-off Tours of Hollywood and Los Angeles
If you want to add a tour along the streets and neighborhoods of celebrities’ residences to your visit to Los Angeles and Hollywood, consider this solution. You can choose to start this tour at the TCL Chinese Theatre or by getting picked up from select hotels in Los Angeles.
Tour of Los Angeles and the homes of movie stars
CityPASS for Los Angeles
If you plan to stay in Los Angeles for a few days to take the time to visit all the attractions in the area, why not buy a CityPASSÂ that will save you money on admission to the various Hollywood facilities (and more)?
Hollywood Explorer Pass
This is a pass recommended only and exclusively for those who decide to visit only the Hollywood area and to forego visiting all the other attractions in Los Angeles. This pass will give you access to Madame Tussauds Hollywood and the Guinness World Records Museum. You can also add two out of these four attractions:
- Choose either the TCL Chinese Theatre or the Hollywood Behind-the-Scenes guided tour provided by Red Line Tours;
- Choose either the Starline Movie Stars’ Home Tours or the CitySightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour.
If you are also interested in going to see the many other attractions that the city of Los Angeles has to offer, I suggest you read the article in which we wrote about the other passes that may be useful when visiting L.A.
Learn more about the attraction passes of Los Angeles
Where to Stay in Hollywood
Finding accommodations in Hollywood has two advantages:
- You will stay within walking distance of movie stars!
- You would be in a convenient location to visit both Universal Studios and Beverly Hills.
Here are two recommended places:
- The historic The Hollywood Roosevelt (7000 Hollywood Blvd) is perhaps one of Hollywood’s most famous hotels. It opened its doors in 1927, making it one of the oldest hotels in Los Angeles. It owes its fame mainly to the fact that the first Academy Awards ceremony took place there. Four years later, the name of these awards was changed to Oscars.
- If you prefer staying in a hostel, or if you want to save some money while staying in Hollywood, you can consider USA Hostels Hollywood (1624 Schrader Boulevard), which has both dorms and private rooms.
If neither option interests you, have a look at our tips on where to stay in Los Angeles, or click on the link below, where you can see all the best solutions for staying overnight in Hollywood.
