Hollywood is one of the easiest parts of Los Angeles to visit without a car. The Metro B Line subway stops right on the Walk of Fame at Hollywood/Highland and Hollywood/Vine, with a third station at Hollywood/Western, and connects to downtown and Union Station in one direction and to Universal City and North Hollywood in the other. A ride costs $1.75 with free transfers for two hours, and fare capping means you never pay more than $5 in a day. For the hills, the DASH Observatory bus, Bowl shuttles and your own feet cover most of what visitors want to see.
The Metro B Line
The B Line, long known as the Red Line, opened its Hollywood stations in 1999. It runs underground beneath Hollywood Boulevard and Vermont Avenue. The stops that matter most to visitors:
| Station | Nearby |
|---|---|
| Hollywood/Highland | TCL Chinese Theatre, Dolby Theatre, Ovation Hollywood, El Capitan, the busiest block of the Walk of Fame, Bowl shuttle stop |
| Hollywood/Vine | Pantages Theatre, Capitol Records Building, the Vine Street stars, Hollywood Farmers' Market on Sundays |
| Hollywood/Western | The eastern edge of Hollywood and Thai Town |
| Vermont/Sunset | Transfer to the DASH bus for Griffith Observatory; Barnsdall Art Park is a short walk away |
| Universal City/Studio City | One stop north of Hollywood/Highland, through the Cahuenga Pass |
Hollywood/Highland and Hollywood/Vine are about half a mile apart, so on a nice day it is often as quick to walk between them along the stars as it is to ride.
Fares and how to pay
Metro's regular fare is $1.75 per ride, and transfers are free within two hours when you tap to ride, though a round trip back to where you started is not included. There are no paper tickets for rail.
- Tap a TAP card or the TAP app. Load money onto a reusable card or the phone app and tap at the gate or on the bus.
- Tap a bank card or phone. Contactless credit and debit cards and digital wallets work at stations and on buses.
- Fare capping. After three paid rides in a day, the rest of the day is free, so you never pay more than $5 a day or $18 over seven days.
- Cash. Accepted on buses only, exact fare, and cash rides do not count toward the cap.
Reduced fares exist for seniors, people with disabilities, students and low-income riders. Check the official Metro fares page for current amounts, which can change.
Buses and shuttles that help visitors
DASH Observatory/Los Feliz
The city's DASH Observatory bus runs from the Vermont/Sunset station up through Los Feliz to Griffith Observatory, with stops at the Greek Theatre and Griffith Park trailheads. It runs daily from about 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., every 20 to 25 minutes, for a very low fare. Details are in the Griffith Observatory visitor guide.
Hollywood Bowl shuttles
On concert nights, a free shuttle runs from Ovation Hollywood to the Bowl for riders who show a valid TAP card or Metro pass, and Park and Ride buses come in from lots around the region. The Hollywood Bowl first-visit tips cover timing and what to bring.
Local buses
Metro buses run along Hollywood, Sunset, Santa Monica and Fairfax boulevards, among others. They are useful for reaching West Hollywood or Hollywood Forever Cemetery, which sits on Santa Monica Boulevard about a mile south of the boulevard. The DASH Hollywood route also loops through the neighborhood.
If you do drive
Driving gives you freedom for the hills, but Hollywood's flatland streets are congested and parking takes planning.
- Garages. Ovation Hollywood and other public garages near the boulevard are the simplest option. Prices rise on event nights and during premieres and the Oscars.
- Meters. Read the posted hours; many meters run into the evening, and rush-hour tow-away lanes apply on major streets.
- Permit districts. Hillside and residential streets near Runyon Canyon, Lake Hollywood and the Bowl are often permit-only. Tickets are expensive and tows are common.
- Street sweeping and red curbs. Check every sign on the block, not just the nearest one.
- Do not leave valuables visible. Car break-ins are a risk in any busy tourist area. Take bags with you or lock them in the trunk before you arrive.
Walking
The flat core of Hollywood is very walkable. The full Walk of Fame is about 1.7 miles, the boulevard theaters are within a mile of each other and most murals are on side streets a few minutes away. The hills are a different matter: sidewalks disappear on many hillside roads, so stick to trails and park paths rather than walking along narrow canyon streets. The self-guided Hollywood Boulevard walk gives a route with distances.
Rideshare and taxis
Rideshare pick-up is easy in the flats but slow around big events. At the Bowl and Griffith Observatory, drivers must use designated zones and cannot wait. After a concert, walking a few blocks away from the crowd before requesting a ride can save time and money.
Sample car-free day
- Morning: ride the B Line to Hollywood/Highland, see the Chinese Theatre forecourt and walk the stars east to Vine.
- Midday: look at the Capitol Records Building and nearby murals, then lunch near Hollywood and Vine.
- Afternoon: ride two stops east to Vermont/Sunset and take the DASH bus up to Griffith Observatory.
- Evening: watch sunset from the terraces and ride the bus and train back down.
The whole day costs no more than the $5 daily fare cap on Metro, plus the DASH fare.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Metro station is closest to the Walk of Fame?
Hollywood/Highland puts you on the busiest block, by the Chinese and Dolby theaters. Hollywood/Vine is closest to the Pantages, the Capitol Records Building and the Vine Street stars.
How much does the Metro cost in Los Angeles?
The regular fare is $1.75 with free transfers for two hours. Fare capping limits what you pay to $5 per day and $18 over seven days when you use a TAP card, the TAP app or contactless payment.
Can I pay for the Metro with my phone?
Yes. Contactless bank cards and digital wallets work at stations and on buses, and you can also store a TAP card in a phone wallet or use the TAP app.
How do I get from Hollywood to Griffith Observatory without a car?
Take the B Line to Vermont/Sunset and transfer to the DASH Observatory/Los Feliz bus, which runs daily about every 20 to 25 minutes.
Is parking difficult in Hollywood?
It can be, especially near the boulevard on weekends and event nights and in permit-only hillside neighborhoods. Public garages are the simplest choice, and the Metro avoids the problem entirely.