The Hollywood Sign in a nutshell
The Hollywood Sign stands on Mount Lee in Griffith Park, in the eastern Santa Monica Mountains. You see it from public viewpoints and trails, and looking costs nothing. There is no public path to the letters. The area around them is off limits to visitors, and police, fire crews and park rangers watch it around the clock. A booked guide does not change that.
This guide covers how to see the sign, where to hike, which tours and helicopter flights exist, and the sights around Hollywood: Griffith Observatory, the Walk of Fame, Universal Studios Hollywood and the Warner Bros. Studio Tour. Prices are in US dollars as of 2026, and they change.
Our picks: Hollywood Sign tours
Our take: the small-group drive combines the sign with Beverly Hills; the front-and-back hike gets you closest on foot; the comedy walk is the light-hearted, lower-priced option.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Beverly Hills, Sunset Strip and Hollywood Sign tour
- Local guide
- Beverly Hills and Sunset Strip
- Hollywood Sign view
Three hours by vehicle with a local guide and at most nine guests, past Beverly Hills and the Sunset Strip to a view of the sign.
Check availability →
Hollywood Sign hike to the front and back views
- Local guide
- Front and back viewpoints
- Water
Two and a half hours on the trails with a local guide, to viewpoints in front of and behind the sign.
Check availability →Hollywood Sign walk with comedians and dogs
- Photos
- Comedy commentary
- Water
A light-hearted guided walk to the sign views, with photos taken for you and water.
Check availability →Hollywood Sign tours and Los Angeles day trips
Guided hikes, bus tours, helicopter flights and studio visits, with live prices and availability.
Plan your visit
Start with the viewpoints or the hike, then add the sights you want.
Hollywood Sign hike
Mt. Hollywood, Brush Canyon and Cahuenga Peak: lengths, times and where the legal trails end.
Hollywood Sign viewpoints
Griffith Observatory, Ovation Hollywood and Lake Hollywood Park, with parking rules.
Hollywood Sign tours
Guided hikes, short photo tours and bus tours compared.
Helicopter tours
Flights from Van Nuys, Long Beach and Santa Monica, with lengths and 2026 prices.
Griffith Observatory
Opening hours, planetarium prices, parking and the DASH bus.
Hollywood Walk of Fame
More than 2,800 stars, the Chinese Theatre forecourt and Dolby Theatre tours.
Celebrity homes tour
What a bus tour through Beverly Hills and the Hollywood Hills shows, and the rules it follows.
Universal Studios Hollywood
Ticket types, Express passes and how to get there.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour
Prices, age limits, parking and what the visit includes.
History of the sign
From the Hollywoodland ad of 1923 to the rebuild of 1978 and today.
Hollywood Sign facts
Letter height, length, Mount Lee and lighting.
Things to do in Hollywood
Sights near the sign, from the boulevard to day trips.
How to get there
Metro, DASH, the airport bus and parking rules.
Best time to visit
Monthly temperatures and rain, and what they mean for hiking.
Where to stay
Hollywood Boulevard, Los Feliz or West Hollywood: which area fits.
A few things to know before you go
The points that most often change a plan.
No path leads to the letters
Legal hikes end at viewpoints above or behind the fenced area. Approaching or touching the letters is prohibited and monitored day and night.
Hike guide →Tours give no special access
There are no official tours of the sign itself. Commercial tours take you to viewpoints and trails, and a guide does not open the restricted zone.
Hollywood Sign tours →Park hours are not hiking hours
The trails are open from sunrise to sunset. General park hours are 5:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., which does not mean you can hike at night.
Trails and times →Plan on paid parking at the Observatory
The public lot and marked street spaces are paid on weekdays from 12:00 to 22:00 and on weekends from 10:00 to 22:00, at card-only machines. Free spaces are available near the Greek Theatre with a walk uphill.
Observatory guide →The Observatory bus is not free
The DASH Observatory/Los Feliz line costs $0.50 in cash or $0.35 with TAP (2026). It runs daily, including holidays.
Getting there →The sign was repainted for its centenary
Work to clean, prime and repaint the letters began in September 2022, ahead of the 100th anniversary in 2023.
History →Hollywood Sign: frequently asked questions
Can I walk up to the Hollywood Sign?
No. There is no public access to the letters, and approaching or touching them is prohibited. Police, fire crews and park rangers monitor the area around the clock. You can hike to viewpoints above or behind the fence. See the hike guide.
How much does it cost to see the Hollywood Sign?
Viewing the sign from public viewpoints and trails is free in 2026. You pay for extras such as parking, a guided tour, a planetarium show or a flight. The tours page lists examples.
Where can I see it?
Three well-known options are Griffith Observatory, Ovation Hollywood at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue (earlier known as Hollywood & Highland) and Lake Hollywood Park. Each has its own parking rules. Compare them on the viewpoints page.
How do I get there without a car?
Take the Metro B Line to Hollywood/Highland or Hollywood/Vine. For the Observatory, change at Vermont/Sunset to the DASH Observatory/Los Feliz bus. No station is next to the letters. Details are on the getting there page.
Are there official Hollywood Sign tours?
No. Commercial operators run hikes, photo tours, bus tours and helicopter flights, but none of them gives access to the letters. Compare the tour types and the helicopter flights.
Is hollywood-sign.org the official site?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It has no connection to the Hollywood Sign Trust, the City of Los Angeles, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, any studio or any tour operator.