Hollywood
Hollywood is the Los Angeles neighborhood that gave the film industry its name, stretching from Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard up to the residential streets below the Hollywood Sign. Here's what to know whether you're visiting or thinking of moving, with full drives so you can see the streets for yourself.
Last updated November 2026 · Sources
At a glance
- Part of
- City of Los Angeles, LA County
- Population
- About 73,700 (2020 Census)
- ZIP codes
- 90028 and 90038, among others
- Main streets
- Hollywood Boulevard, Sunset Boulevard, Highland Avenue and Vine Street
- Freeways
- US-101 runs right through it
- Rail
- Metro B Line at Hollywood/Western, Hollywood/Vine and Hollywood/Highland
A short history
- A name on a map
Harvey and Daeida Wilcox filed a subdivision map named Hollywood with the county in 1887. Its first main street, Prospect Avenue, later became Hollywood Boulevard.
- A city for seven years
Hollywood incorporated as its own city in 1903, then voted to join Los Angeles in 1910 to get water and sewer service.
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- The first studio
In October 1911, the Nestor Company opened Hollywood's first film studio in an old roadhouse at Sunset Boulevard and Gower Street. Within a few years most major film companies had followed.
- Landmarks of the boom
The Hollywood Bowl opened in 1922, the Hollywoodland sign went up in 1923 as an ad for a housing development, and Grauman's Chinese Theatre opened in 1927. The last four letters of the sign came down in 1949.
- Stars on the sidewalk
The Hollywood Walk of Fame began installing stars in 1960. Metro Rail reached Hollywood in 1999.
Hollywood today
- Hollywood Boulevard is the tourist heart, with the Walk of Fame, the TCL Chinese Theatre and the Dolby Theatre, home of the Oscars.
- South of the boulevard, the flats are dense with apartment buildings, studios, offices and nightlife along Sunset and Vine.
- North of Franklin Avenue, the streets climb into the Hollywood Dell, Whitley Heights and the hillside neighborhoods below the sign.
- Runyon Canyon Park and the Hollywood Bowl are both within the neighborhood, so trails and outdoor concerts are close by.
From the driver's seat
Our drives show two Hollywoods: the stop-start traffic and crowds of the boulevard, and the quiet hillside streets a few minutes uphill. Start with the Runyon Canyon and Hollywood Dell drive, then compare a quiet Sunday morning on Hollywood Boulevard with the same area after a storm.
If you're visiting
- Hollywood Walk of Fame
Thousands of stars set into the sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street. The busiest stretch is around Hollywood and Highland.
- TCL Chinese Theatre
The 1927 movie palace, famous for the handprints and footprints of stars in its forecourt.
- Dolby Theatre and Ovation Hollywood
Home of the Oscars, inside a shopping and dining center with a terrace that looks toward the Hollywood Sign.
- Hollywood Bowl
The open-air amphitheater in the hills, best for summer concerts; many people bring a picnic.
- Capitol Records Building
The round tower near Hollywood and Vine, one of the city's best-known buildings.
- Hollywood Forever Cemetery
A historic cemetery where many early film stars are buried, known for its summer outdoor movie screenings.
- Runyon Canyon Park
A short, steep hike at the top of the neighborhood with wide views of the city.
- Views of the Hollywood Sign
For the classic photo, try Griffith Observatory, Lake Hollywood Park or the Ovation Hollywood terrace.
▶ Tap a highlighted name to watch that spot in one of our drives.
- Ride the Metro B Line to Hollywood/Highland or Hollywood/Vine to skip the traffic and parking on the boulevard.
- Go early. Hollywood Boulevard is calm and empty on weekend mornings, as in our Sunday morning drive, and crowded by afternoon.
- Costumed characters on the boulevard expect a tip if you take a photo with them.
Getting there: Three B Line stations run along Hollywood Boulevard, with direct trains from Downtown and Universal City. Parking garages around Hollywood and Highland are the easiest option if you drive.
Preview it: The Real Hollywood: Sunset, Runyon Canyon and the Hollywood DellHours, prices and seasons change, so check before you go.
Tours and tickets
- Warner Bros. Studio TourGetYourGuideViator
Backlot sets and soundstages, a short ride from Hollywood.
- Universal Studios HollywoodGetYourGuideViator
Theme park plus the classic studio tram tour.
- Walk of Fame and Hollywood history toursGetYourGuideViator
Guided walks past the stars, theaters and old studio sites.
- Hollywood and celebrity homes toursGetYourGuideViator
Open-top van loops through the hills and Beverly Hills.
These are affiliate links: if you book, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep the drives coming. Both sites let you compare prices and reviews, and many listings offer free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead. Planning a whole trip? See Plan your trip.
If you're moving here
Cost snapshot
Figures are area-wide estimates from listing sites and change monthly. Check current listings before you decide.
Getting around
Hollywood has some of the best transit in LA. Three B Line stations connect it to Downtown and Universal City/Studio City, and buses run along every major street. The US-101 cuts through the middle, which helps getting out of town and can slow things down at rush hour.
Need Hollywood on film for work?
Realtors, relocation consultants and brands can license our footage or commission a drive of a specific street, route or time of day.
Watch it: drives through Hollywood
9 drives
No. 00817:48The Real Hollywood: Sunset, Runyon Canyon and the Hollywood Dell
No. 00936:18Iconic LA Sights: Hollywood to Inglewood
No. 0078:36Hollywood Boulevard on a Quiet Sunday Morning
No. 02313:21Hollywood at Sunset
No. 02228:51Silver Lake to Frogtown at Sunset
No. 00231:17Along the LA Metro K Line Route
No. 04528:56Hollywood to Hancock Park: LACMA and the Miracle Mile
No. 03920:18Studio City to Hollywood: Laurel Canyon at Golden Hour
No. 05122:57Hollywood Evening After a Storm
Jump straight to it
Find a landmark- 6:50Hollywood Dell in Hollywood Evening After a StormPlay
- 9:15Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood Evening After a StormPlay
- 19:30Franklin Avenue in Hollywood Evening After a StormPlay
- 12:48Hollywood Boulevard in Los Feliz and Griffith Park, Sunset into NightPlay
- 3:30Hollywood Palladium in The Real Hollywood: Sunset, Runyon Canyon and the Hollywood DellPlay
- 3:44Sunset & Vine / Hollywood skyscraper corridor in The Real Hollywood: Sunset, Runyon Canyon and the Hollywood DellPlay
- 7:01La Brea & Hollywood Boulevard · Hollywood Walk of Fame in The Real Hollywood: Sunset, Runyon Canyon and the Hollywood DellPlay
- 9:50Franklin Ave · Magic Castle nearby in The Real Hollywood: Sunset, Runyon Canyon and the Hollywood DellPlay
See all 18 moments in Find a landmark
Short drives nearby
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Quick answers
Where is Hollywood?
Hollywood is the Los Angeles neighborhood that gave the film industry its name, stretching from Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard up to the residential streets below the Hollywood Sign.
What is the population of Hollywood?
Hollywood has a population of about 73,700 (2020 Census).
What is there to do in Hollywood?
Top things to see include Hollywood Walk of Fame, TCL Chinese Theatre, Dolby Theatre and Ovation Hollywood, Hollywood Bowl and Capitol Records Building.
How do you get around Hollywood?
Hollywood has some of the best transit in LA. Three B Line stations connect it to Downtown and Universal City/Studio City, and buses run along every major street. The US-101 cuts through the middle, which helps getting out of town and can slow things down at rush hour.
How much does it cost to live in Hollywood?
Typical home value: $889K (Zillow Home Value Index, June 2026). Average 1-bedroom rent: $2,618/mo (Apartments.com, January 2026).
Can I see what Hollywood looks like before I visit or move?
Yes. Somewhere Drive has 9 full 4K drives through Hollywood with no narration, including The Real Hollywood: Sunset, Runyon Canyon and the Hollywood Dell.
Sources
- Hollywood, Los Angeles (Wikipedia)
- Hollywood history (HISTORY.com)
- Hollywood home values (Zillow)
- Hollywood rent trends (Apartments.com)
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