Many of Hollywood's best experiences cost nothing. The Walk of Fame and the Chinese Theatre forecourt are public sidewalks, Griffith Observatory charges no admission, the Hollywood Sign can be seen from several free viewpoints, and hikes such as Runyon Canyon and the Bronson Caves are open to everyone. Add the murals, the grounds of Barnsdall Art Park and Hollywood Forever Cemetery, the free Hollywood Bowl Museum and the Sunday farmers' market, and you can fill two or three days while paying only for transit, food and the occasional parking meter.
Free highlights at a glance
| Activity | Best time | Hidden costs to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Walk of Fame and Chinese Theatre forecourt | Early morning | Transit or garage parking; tips if you pose with costumed characters |
| Griffith Observatory | Weekday afternoon | Paid parking near the building; planetarium tickets optional |
| Hollywood Sign viewpoints | Late morning to afternoon | None at Ovation Hollywood; parking near hillside spots |
| Runyon Canyon, Bronson Caves and other hikes | Early morning | None; street parking rules apply |
| Murals and street art | Morning | None |
| Hollywood Forever Cemetery grounds | Weekday morning | Map may cost a little |
| Barnsdall Art Park grounds | Late afternoon | Hollyhock House tours are ticketed |
| Hollywood Bowl Museum | Before a concert or on a quiet day | Parking if you drive |
| Hollywood Farmers' Market | Sunday morning | Only what you buy |
1. Walk the stars
The Walk of Fame runs about 1.7 miles along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street, with more than 2,800 stars. It is open around the clock. Look up specific names in the official online directory before you go. Our Walk of Fame guide explains how to find a star and when ceremonies happen; the unveilings themselves can be watched from the public sidewalk.
2. The Chinese Theatre forecourt
In front of the TCL Chinese Theatre, nearly 200 sets of celebrity handprints and footprints are pressed into cement. Looking at them is free. Go before 10 a.m. to avoid the crowds and the photo vendors.
3. Griffith Observatory
Admission to the building and grounds is free, and the terraces have some of the best views in the city, including the Hollywood Sign. The telescope on the roof is used for free public viewing on clear evenings when the building is open. Parking right by the building costs money, but the DASH bus from the Vermont/Sunset Metro station is cheap. See the Griffith Observatory visitor guide.
4. See the Hollywood Sign
There are no official tours and you do not need one. The upper levels of Ovation Hollywood and the Observatory terraces are the two viewing areas recommended by the Sign's caretakers. Lake Hollywood Park offers a closer, head-on view if you can park legally. The Hollywood Sign viewpoints guide covers the rules.
5. Hike a canyon
Runyon Canyon, a 160-acre city park a few blocks above the boulevard, has loops of varying difficulty and a large off-leash area for dogs. The short walk to the Bronson Caves, where a tunnel served as the Batcave entrance in the 1960s Batman series, suits families. The paved loop around the Hollywood Reservoir is flat and about 3.5 miles. Details are in the Hollywood hiking trails guide.
6. Mural spotting
Side streets near the boulevard hold dozens of murals, from "You Are the Star" on Wilcox Avenue to the jazz tribute beside the Capitol Records Building. A loop of the best-known walls is about two miles.
7. Barnsdall Art Park
On a hill in East Hollywood, Barnsdall Art Park surrounds Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The grounds are free and especially pleasant near sunset, with views across Hollywood. Tours of the house itself are ticketed.
8. Hollywood Forever Cemetery
A walk among palms, lakes and mausoleums, past the graves of Rudolph Valentino, Douglas Fairbanks, Judy Garland and others, costs nothing during visiting hours. Be respectful of funerals.
9. Hollywood Bowl Museum
At the bottom of Peppertree Lane on the Bowl grounds, the Edmund D. Edelman Hollywood Bowl Museum tells the story of the amphitheater, which opened in 1922. Admission is free. Check its hours before going, since they vary by season and around concerts.
10. Hollywood Farmers' Market
Every Sunday from about 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., stalls fill the streets around Ivar Avenue and Selma Avenue near Hollywood and Vine. Browsing is free, and it is a lively way to see the neighborhood as residents do. Hours can change for special events.
11. Fern Dell
This shaded, spring-fed glen at the southwest corner of Griffith Park stays pleasant even on hot afternoons. Like the rest of the park, it falls within a city Historic-Cultural Monument. Trails climb from the top of the dell to the Observatory.
12. Theater facades and old landmarks
The Egyptian, El Capitan, Pantages, the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, Crossroads of the World and the Capitol Records tower can all be admired from the sidewalk. Early morning, before the crowds, is the best time to study the details.
Keeping costs down
- Use the Metro. Fare capping limits a day of rides to $5.
- Pack water and snacks. Prices on the boulevard are high, and the hills have few places to buy anything.
- Avoid sidewalk sales pitches. Nobody needs to sell you access to the Walk of Fame, the Sign or the forecourt.
- Agree on tips up front if you want a photo with a costumed character.
- Check parking signs carefully. A single ticket can cost more than every paid attraction you skipped.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can you do in Hollywood for free?
Walk the Walk of Fame, see the Chinese Theatre forecourt, visit Griffith Observatory, view the Hollywood Sign, hike Runyon Canyon or the Bronson Caves, look at murals and walk the grounds of Hollywood Forever Cemetery and Barnsdall Art Park.
Is Griffith Observatory really free?
Yes. Entry to the building and grounds is free. Planetarium shows have a separate ticket, and parking near the building is paid.
Do I have to pay to see the handprints at the Chinese Theatre?
No. The forecourt is open to the public. You only pay if you buy a movie ticket or choose to pose with costumed characters who ask for tips.
When is the Hollywood Farmers' Market?
It runs on Sundays from about 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. around Ivar and Selma avenues near Hollywood and Vine. Hours can change for special events.
Is there a free museum in Hollywood?
The Hollywood Bowl Museum on the Bowl grounds offers free admission. Check its seasonal hours before visiting.