Los Angles 4 Day Itinerary: Hollywood and Downtown

Welcome to Day 2! Today I hiked to the Hollywood sign, explored Hollywood Blvd., and went sight-seeing downtown, all accompanied by much fanfare and rivalry.

Enjoy!

Hollywood Sign

There are several locations to get a photo of the Hollywood sign from the street. The best photos will be from the hillside just below the sign (pictured here). This is the closest you can get to the sign unless you know somebody who lives here. To get here you will need to be prepared for a 1-2 hour hike, depending on where you find parking. It’s best to arrive early on a weekday as parking isn’t as restricted.

If you find yourself here on the weekend parking is restricted above the Beachwood Café. Do not try and park in the restricted zone unless you want a ticket. My recommendation is to find an easy parking spot near the Café, then call an Uber to take you to the top. This will cut ~1 hour off your trip and endless frustration trying to locate a parking spot.

To locate the trail head follow N. Beachwood Drive until it ends. At the gate follow the road to the Sunset Ranch Hollywood. The trailhead starts at the parking lot just before the Ranch. There are several paths on the way to the sign, you will want to stay left at the next 2 intersections. Click here for a link to Google Maps of your final destination below the sign.

Hollywood Boulevard

There are thousands of Hollywood Stars located along Hollywood Blvd and Vine Streets. The best website for locating your favorite star is from the LA Times here. Don’t forget to get a picture taken at the famous intersection of Hollywood and Vine!

For me Hollywood Blvd is more about people watching than actual entertainment. There are plenty of things to keep you busy such as Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, the TCL Chinese Theater, and the Hollywood Museum. For my money you can find endless entertainment by just watching the weirdos in costume in the front of the TCL Chinese Theater.