Hollywood is one of those places you do not want to miss on a trip to Los Angeles.
But you may be wondering,
“Can I visit Hollywood without renting a car?”
We decided to find out for ourselves.
Our group of three travelers in their 60s, 70s, and 30s explored Hollywood entirely by public transportation.
We visited the Hollywood Walk of Fame,
TCL Chinese Theatre,
In-N-Out Burger,
which is especially popular with Japanese fans of Shohei Ohtani,
and even the GRAMMY Museum.
Here is our firsthand half-day Hollywood itinerary without a rental car.
Getting to Hollywood by Metro from 7th St/Metro Center
Los Angeles is often thought of as a city where you need a car,
but Hollywood is actually easy to reach by LA Metro.
We used 7th St/Metro Center Station.
We were staying at Courtyard by Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE,
and the station was about a 10-minute walk from our hotel.
🏨 Check Courtyard Los Angeles L.A. LIVE rates on Expedia
The route was simple.
We took the B Line toward North Hollywood
and got off at Hollywood/Highland Station.
The journey took approximately 20 to 25 minutes.
At the time of our trip,
the fare was $1.75 per person.
LA Metro uses a TAP card system.
If you use an iPhone,
you can add a TAP card to Apple Wallet
and simply tap your phone at the gate.
As soon as we exited the station,
we were right in the middle of Hollywood.
We were able to enjoy sightseeing comfortably
without renting a car.
Hollywood Walk of Fame: Search for Your Favorite Stars
Immediately outside Hollywood/Highland Station,
you will see the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The sidewalk is filled with star-shaped plaques
featuring the names of movie stars,
musicians,
and other entertainers.
There are more than 2,700 stars,
so simply walking along the street becomes part of the experience.
Among the stars we found were
Godzilla, Michael Jackson, Tinker Bell, and Toshiro Mifune.
As travelers from Japan,
we were especially happy to find the star of legendary Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune.
Mamarin made sure to point directly at Godzilla's star for a souvenir photo.
Crouching down next to the stars
also makes for a fun photo.
⚠️ Tip for older travelers:
some sidewalks in Hollywood have uneven or damaged sections.
Watch your step carefully while walking.
Comfortable sneakers are much better than heels
or shoes that are difficult to walk in.
TCL Chinese Theatre: Celebrity Handprints and Footprints
After walking along the Walk of Fame,
you will reach TCL Chinese Theatre,
formerly known as Grauman's Chinese Theatre.
Opened in 1927,
the historic movie theater is famous for its dramatic Chinese-inspired architecture.
One of the main attractions is the collection of celebrity handprints, footprints, and signatures
in the forecourt.
More than 300 stars have left their marks here.
Mamarin found Donald Duck's footprints,
marked with the date “DONALD DUCK 5-21-84.”
She could not resist posing next to them.
Even if you do not read much English,
the atmosphere itself is fun to experience.
⚠️ Be careful with costumed characters.
You may see people dressed as characters such as Mickey Mouse
or superheroes around the tourist area.
If you take a photo with them,
you may be asked to pay a fee.
If you want a photo,
confirm the price beforehand.
One person tried to reach toward Mamarin,
so she simply kept walking.
If someone approaches you,
a polite “No, thank you” is enough.
Dolby Theatre: See the Hollywood Sign from the Academy Awards Venue
Right next to TCL Chinese Theatre is the Dolby Theatre.
This is the famous venue where the Academy Awards ceremony is held.
The beautiful staircase with red mosaic tiles
is also a popular photo spot.
We were also able to see the Hollywood Sign from the third-floor terrace area.
The famous white HOLLYWOOD letters
looked far away,
but they were still clearly visible from this location.
For us,
this was a great way to see the sign
without hiking closer to it.
There is also a HOLLYWOOD-themed photo display
inside the complex,
which makes another fun place for souvenir photos.
Dodgers Clubhouse: Worth Visiting for Dodgers Fans
Inside the same shopping complex as the Dolby Theatre,
you will find a Dodgers Clubhouse store.
The selection was different from the Dodgers stores we visited elsewhere.
We found plenty of character collaboration apparel,
including Looney Tunes x Dodgers,
Hello Kitty x Dodgers,
and Shohei Ohtani character T-shirts.
We also saw many Japanese customers during our visit.
If you are a Dodgers fan,
this store is definitely worth browsing.
$5 Souvenir Shop: Put Items in the Blue Basket for the Discount
Near the Dolby Theatre,
there is a fun photo area with large gold Oscar-style statues.
Next to it,
we found a souvenir shop called Premiere Souvenirs.
The sign said “Everything's $10,”
but during our visit,
items placed in the blue basket provided at the entrance were priced at $5.
This was something we were glad to discover.
The shop mainly sold souvenirs and clothing.
There was a particularly large selection of keychains,
including camera-shaped
and star-shaped Hollywood designs.
Oscar-style trophy replicas were also $5 during our visit.
Some had messages such as
“BEST GRANDPARENTS”
and “BEST PARENTS,”
making them fun gifts to take home.
We also found “I ❤ LA” T-shirts and hats for $5.
When we made a purchase,
we even received a refrigerator magnet as a small gift.
If you are looking for inexpensive Hollywood souvenirs,
this shop is worth checking.
In-N-Out Burger: An Easy Hollywood Location for Tourists
About a 10-minute walk from the Dolby Theatre,
we visited In-N-Out Burger.
The chain has become especially well known among Japanese travelers
because Shohei Ohtani has talked about enjoying it.
Some In-N-Out locations are easier to reach by car,
but the Hollywood location was convenient for us on foot.
The menu is simple.
Mamarin ordered a cheeseburger meal with fries and a drink for $9.45
during our visit.
Compared with many other meals we had in Los Angeles,
the price felt quite reasonable.
The fries were made from potatoes cut and cooked after ordering,
so they tasted very fresh.
The burger looked large,
but the size felt manageable
and not dramatically bigger than a typical burger in Japan.
Drinks were self-service,
with choices including cola
and the famous pink lemonade.
The restaurant became very crowded around lunchtime.
We waited about 15 minutes
between ordering and receiving our food,
so allow a little extra time.
Ross Dress for Less: A Fun Place to Hunt for Bargains
A short walk from In-N-Out Burger
is Ross Dress for Less.
This large American discount retailer
is known for selling clothing,
bags,
shoes,
and other items at reduced prices.
The store was huge,
with clothing,
bags,
and shoes packed throughout the sales floor.
We saw bags from brands such as
Kate Spade,
GUESS,
and Nautica
at relatively affordable prices.
There were many shoulder bags,
including some priced at around $18.90.
There were also many sandals and pumps.
We felt that some clothing and shoe sections had more larger sizes,
so petite Japanese travelers may have fewer options.
We did not buy anything this time,
but browsing the store felt a little like treasure hunting.
Trying to Buy a Powerball Ticket at 7-Eleven — and Failing 😂
At a 7-Eleven next to Ross,
we tried to buy a Powerball ticket
for a jackpot that was being advertised at an enormous amount.
Unfortunately,
we did not have cash with us and could not buy one.
Our American dream disappeared instantly 😂
Powerball is a lottery in the United States
known for extremely large jackpots.
Depending on the retailer,
cash may be required,
so if you plan to buy a ticket,
it may be useful to carry some cash.
GRAMMY Museum: A Bonus During Our Courtyard L.A. LIVE Stay
After finishing our Hollywood sightseeing,
we traveled back toward the Pico Station area
and visited the GRAMMY Museum.
During our stay,
our Courtyard by Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE hotel benefits included admission for two people to the GRAMMY Museum.
Benefits may vary depending on the room rate or hotel package,
so check the current terms when booking.
We were able to use the benefit
and enjoy the museum without paying an additional admission fee.
Inside,
you can see costumes,
instruments,
and music-related exhibits
connected to legendary artists from around the world.
Here are some of the highlights we enjoyed.
The Michael Jackson exhibit was especially impressive.
We saw sparkling jackets,
a glove,
gold boots,
and other stage costumes.
Seeing the pieces in person
felt much more glamorous than seeing them in photographs.
The GRAMMY HALL OF FAME area featured artists such as
The Doors,
Miles Davis,
Heart,
and Nirvana.
There were also instruments such as trumpets
and guitars on display.
We also saw colorful GRAMMY-inspired artwork,
costumes from more recent artists,
including Sabrina Carpenter,
and live photography featuring legendary musicians.
Music fans could easily spend hours here.
Even without reading every explanation,
we found the visual exhibits very enjoyable.
We especially recommend the museum to older travelers who love music.
Final Thoughts: Hollywood Is Easy to Explore by Metro
Los Angeles is often described as a city where having a car is almost essential,
but for Hollywood sightseeing, we found public transportation completely manageable.
We simply took the B Line
from 7th St/Metro Center Station
to Hollywood/Highland Station.
Our half-day route looked like this:
📍 7th St/Metro Center → B Line → Hollywood/Highland
⭐ Hollywood Walk of Fame
🎬 TCL Chinese Theatre
🏆 Dolby Theatre and Hollywood Sign viewpoint
⚾ Dodgers Clubhouse
🛍 Premiere Souvenirs
🍔 In-N-Out Burger
👗 Ross Dress for Less
🎰 7-Eleven
🎵 GRAMMY Museum
There was quite a bit of walking,
but by taking our time,
we were able to enjoy this itinerary comfortably in about half a day.
Wear comfortable shoes,
take breaks when needed,
and enjoy Hollywood at your own pace.
🏨 Check Courtyard Los Angeles L.A. LIVE rates on Expedia
For more details about our stay at Courtyard by Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE,
see our full hotel review.
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