Getting Around Hollywood: A Visitor's Guide
Hollywood sits in a central spot in Los Angeles, which makes it a convenient base for exploring the wider city. The neighborhood is roughly bounded by the 101 freeway on the east, Melrose Avenue on the south, West Hollywood on the west, and the Hollywood Hills on the north. Its main east–west streets are Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard, crossed by north–south streets including La Brea Avenue, Highland Avenue, Cahuenga Boulevard, Vine Street, and Gower Street. Traffic along Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard can be heavy, so it is worth knowing your transit options before you set out.
Rail: The Metro Subway
The backbone of public transit in Hollywood is the Metro Rail subway, operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). The Red Line runs directly beneath Hollywood Boulevard and is the most direct transit connection to Downtown Los Angeles. Because of traffic on the 101 freeway, it is usually quicker to take the subway to or from Downtown than to drive.
- Hollywood/Highland Station sits at the northwest corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue, with its entrance marked by a sign outside the stairway and escalators. It puts you within easy reach of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the TCL Chinese Theatre, and the Dolby Theatre.
- Hollywood/Vine Station is on the southeast side of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street, across from the Pantages Theatre.
- Heading north, the Red Line continues to Universal City and on to its terminus in North Hollywood, where you can transfer to the Orange Line, a dedicated busway across the San Fernando Valley.
- Heading south, it runs toward Downtown Los Angeles, passing through Koreatown. At 7th Street/Metro Center you can transfer to the Blue Line toward Long Beach, and at Union Station, at the end of the line, you can transfer to the Gold Line toward Pasadena as well as to Metrolink and Amtrak services for outlying areas.
The Purple Line also serves Hollywood and is being extended underground from Downtown Los Angeles through Koreatown, Miracle Mile, and Beverly Hills, eventually reaching Westwood. Trains run in both directions frequently throughout the day, with service starting early in the morning and continuing until around midnight. Tickets are available from self-service machines in the stations, and an all-day pass covers DASH, Metro buses, and the subway. Station maps showing distances and transfers are available at the stations themselves.
Buses and Shuttles
Metro's bus system complements the rail lines with local, Rapid, and Express routes. The stretch of Hollywood Boulevard between Highland and Vine is served frequently by bus lines 217 and Rapid 780, while the 180 and 181 from the east terminate just before Hollywood/Vine. Sunset Boulevard is served frequently by lines 2 and 302, Santa Monica Boulevard by the 4 and Rapid 704, and Melrose Avenue by the 10. For north–south travel, Vine Street is served by the 210 and La Brea Avenue by the 212 and 312. Rapid routes such as the 704 make fewer stops, and Express routes such as the 501 bypass many local stops for a more direct connection to other parts of Los Angeles County.
DASH shuttles run small, local circuits. The DASH Hollywood shuttle covers the area between Highland and Vermont Avenues and between Franklin and Santa Monica Boulevards, with buses arriving roughly every half hour. A separate DASH Beachwood Canyon route connects the Argyle and Hollywood subway station area north to Beachwood and Westshire. DASH is intended for shorter trips within Hollywood and does not connect to destinations outside the neighborhood. Fares are inexpensive, with discounts for seniors and for riders using a TAP card.
Long-distance bus service does not run into Hollywood itself. If you are arriving by Greyhound, the best option is to take it to the station in North Hollywood and then walk to the Metro Red Line. Other intercity bus options can be found in Downtown Los Angeles.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are generally expensive in sprawling Los Angeles but can be convenient for shorter trips. Several cab companies are authorized to serve the Hollywood area, including Bell Cab, Beverly Hills Cab, Checker Cab, City Cab, Independent Taxi, United Independent Taxi, and Yellow Cab. Ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft also operate throughout the area and are commonly used for first-mile and last-mile connections to Metro stations and bus stops.
Getting Around on Foot and by Bike
The main areas of Hollywood are walkable, and night-time pedestrian activity is focused on Hollywood Boulevard. You could walk from Hollywood Boulevard all the way to Melrose Avenue, though the distance is far enough that most people would probably drive or take the bus instead. Metro Bike Share operates rental stations throughout Hollywood, and bike lanes and dedicated paths exist in the area for those who prefer two wheels.
Accessibility
Metro buses and trains are equipped with ramps, wheelchair spaces, and priority seating, and they provide audio and visual announcements. Sidewalks, bus stops, and stations are designed to be wheelchair-friendly.
Getting There from the Airport
Hollywood is served by Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and by the closer Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) in Burbank.
- From LAX: The Flyaway Bus runs from the airport to Union Station, where you can transfer to the Red Line subway into Hollywood.
- From Burbank: BurbankBus offers a connecting route between the airport and the North Hollywood Metro Red Line station, where you can ride the subway into Hollywood.
Arriving from Further Afield
Visitors coming from Orange County can reach Hollywood by taking Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner or Metrolink's Orange County Line to Los Angeles Union Station and then transferring to the Red Line. From Union Station, the Gold Line continues to Pasadena, while the Blue and Green Lines head toward Long Beach and LAX respectively, and Metrolink trains serve destinations farther out.
Practical Tips
- Public transit is a practical alternative for reaching popular sights such as the Hollywood Sign, Griffith Observatory, Universal Studios, and the Hollywood Bowl.
- An all-day pass is a convenient option if you plan to combine subway, bus, and DASH trips in a single day.
- Keep in mind that traffic congestion is heavy along Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard, so allow extra time if you are driving.
- Maps and transfer information are available at Metro stations, and schedules and route details can be found through Metro's website.