Somewhere Drive
Destinations · City guide · Hollywood and the hills

West Hollywood

West Hollywood is a small, walkable city between Hollywood and Beverly Hills, home to the Sunset Strip, the Pacific Design Center and one of the busiest dining and nightlife scenes in Los Angeles. 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

Watch firstSunrise Drive to Beverly Hills29:18 · Sunrise · See all 3 drives

At a glance

Part of
Its own city in LA County, separate from Los Angeles
Incorporated
November 29, 1984
Size
About 1.9 square miles
Population
About 34,200 (2024 estimate)
ZIP codes
90069, 90046 and 90048
Main streets
Sunset Boulevard, Santa Monica Boulevard and Melrose Avenue

A short history

  1. An old road west

    By the 1780s, the route that became the Sunset Strip was a main road linking the Pueblo de Los Angeles to the ranchos further west and the ocean.

  2. Outside the city limits

    For most of the 1900s the area was unincorporated county land, which let the Sunset Strip grow into a nightlife district. Chateau Marmont opened in 1929, the Troubadour in 1957 and the Whisky a Go Go in 1964.

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  1. The Blue Whale

    The Pacific Design Center, designed by César Pelli, opened in 1975. Its blue glass building anchors the city's design district.

  2. A city of its own

    A coalition of renters, seniors and gay and lesbian activists campaigned for cityhood, and voters made West Hollywood an independent city on November 29, 1984.

West Hollywood today

  • The Sunset Strip is about a mile and a half of hotels, music venues, comedy clubs and billboards along Sunset Boulevard.
  • Santa Monica Boulevard is the main street, with restaurants, bars and the city's big annual events, including WeHo Pride and the Halloween Carnaval.
  • The Avenues of Art and Design, around Melrose Avenue and Robertson Boulevard, are lined with galleries and furniture showrooms.
  • Most homes are apartments and condos, and many older rentals fall under the city's rent stabilization rules.

From the driver's seat

Our drives show how compact West Hollywood is. You cross the whole city on Santa Monica Boulevard in minutes, and the Sunset Strip feels completely different at first light than it does in the afternoon. The sunrise drive to Beverly Hills is the best start, crossing West Hollywood and finishing on the Strip.

Watch Sunrise Drive to Beverly Hills

If you're visiting

  1. The Sunset Strip

    Rock history along Sunset Boulevard: the Whisky a Go Go, the Roxy, the Comedy Store and the 1929 Chateau Marmont.

  2. Santa Monica Boulevard

    The city's main street for restaurants, bars and nightlife.

  3. Pacific Design Center and the Design District

    The blue and green glass buildings, plus galleries and showrooms along Melrose and Robertson.

  4. Sunset Plaza

    A short stretch of sidewalk cafes and boutiques on the Strip.

  5. WeHo Pride and Halloween Carnaval

    Two of the city's biggest yearly street events, in June and on October 31.

▶ Tap a highlighted name to watch that spot in one of our drives.

Getting there: There's no rail station yet. Metro buses run along Santa Monica Boulevard and Sunset, and the city is compact enough to walk once you're there. Parking is mostly metered or in garages.

Preview it: Sunrise Drive to Beverly Hills

Hours, prices and seasons change, so check before you go.

Tours and tickets

  • Sunset Strip and rock history tours

    The clubs, hotels and stories that made the Strip famous.

    GetYourGuideViator
  • Comedy shows

    Tickets for stand-up nights in and around the Strip.

    GetYourGuideViator
  • Melrose and street art tours

    Walks past the murals, vintage shops and photo walls.

    GetYourGuideViator
  • West Hollywood food tours

    Small-group tastings around the city's restaurant rows.

    GetYourGuideViator

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

Typical home value$1.01MZillow Home Value Index, January 2026
Average 1-bedroom rent$2,525/moApartments.com, January 2026

Figures are area-wide estimates from listing sites and change monthly. Check current listings before you decide.

Getting around

West Hollywood is one of the most walkable places in LA County, and Metro buses run along Santa Monica Boulevard and Sunset. There is no rail station yet; Metro is planning a K Line extension through the city. There is no freeway inside the city, with the US-101 to the east and the I-10 to the south.

Need West 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.

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Watch it: drives through West Hollywood

3 drives

Jump straight to it

Find a landmark
  1. 7:55West Hollywood in Sunrise Drive to Beverly HillsPlay
  2. 8:33Santa Monica Boulevard in Sunrise Drive to Beverly HillsPlay
  3. 28:29The Sunset Strip in Sunrise Drive to Beverly HillsPlay
  4. 1:07The Sunset Strip in Sunset Boulevard to the Pacific OceanPlay

Short drives nearby

All shorts
West Hollywood | K Line subway Extension from Crenshaw to Hollywood via WeHoFull drive nearby
Santa Monica Blvd Morning Drive, West Hollywood | Los AngelesFull drive nearby
Marilyn Monroe Stayed Here. The Road Remembers | Beverly Hills, Los Angeles 4KFull drive nearby
Can You Spot the GTA Location? | Sunset Strip, LAFull drive nearby

Next door

Quick answers

Where is West Hollywood?

West Hollywood is a small, walkable city between Hollywood and Beverly Hills, home to the Sunset Strip, the Pacific Design Center and one of the busiest dining and nightlife scenes in Los Angeles.

What is the population of West Hollywood?

West Hollywood has a population of about 34,200 (2024 estimate).

What is there to do in West Hollywood?

Top things to see include The Sunset Strip, Santa Monica Boulevard, Pacific Design Center and the Design District, Sunset Plaza and WeHo Pride and Halloween Carnaval.

How do you get around West Hollywood?

West Hollywood is one of the most walkable places in LA County, and Metro buses run along Santa Monica Boulevard and Sunset. There is no rail station yet; Metro is planning a K Line extension through the city. There is no freeway inside the city, with the US-101 to the east and the I-10 to the south.

How much does it cost to live in West Hollywood?

Typical home value: $1.01M (Zillow Home Value Index, January 2026). Average 1-bedroom rent: $2,525/mo (Apartments.com, January 2026).

Can I see what West Hollywood looks like before I visit or move?

Yes. Somewhere Drive has 3 full 4K drives through West Hollywood with no narration, including Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive and Century City.

Sources

This guide describes places, streets and history, not who lives here. Spot an error? Email hello@somewheredrive.com.

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