Hollywood Sign viewpoints at a glance
The sign stands on Mount Lee, and there is no public path to the letters. Every viewpoint below is a place to look from, and none of them lets you walk up to the sign. Looking is free, so the cost of a visit is mostly parking or transport.
Pick by what you want from the trip. Hollywood Boulevard is the easiest stop, Griffith Observatory gives a wide view across the city, and Lake Hollywood Park is a quiet place close to the hills. If you would rather get closer on foot, the Hollywood Sign hike routes lead to viewpoints above and behind the sign.
Where to see the Hollywood Sign compared
What each place offers and what to plan for.
| Viewpoint | Suits | Getting there | Parking and cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ovation Hollywood | A quick look from the Boulevard | Metro B Line to Hollywood/Highland | Looking is free, check garage fees on site |
| Griffith Observatory | Sign and city views, and the building | Observatory DASH from Vermont/Sunset | Paid parking, free building entry |
| Lake Hollywood Park | A calm park with the sign on the ridge | By car, on foot from the streets | Resident parking rules apply nearby |
| Mulholland overlook above the Hollywood Bowl | A wide view over Los Angeles | By car on Mulholland | Check posted signs on site |
For most first-time visitors, Ovation Hollywood and Griffith Observatory cover the sign well: one by train, one by DASH bus, and both without a hike. Add Lake Hollywood Park if you have a car and a morning to spare.
Our pick: views from Griffith
Our take: a guided hike to the observatory with photo stops facing the sign.
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.
Hollywood Sign tours with viewpoint stops
Guided trips, vans and buses that stop for the sign, with live prices and availability.
The viewpoints in detail
One by one.
Ovation Hollywood
The complex at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue is an established spot to see the sign. Many people still call it Hollywood & Highland, but it is the same place, not a second viewpoint. It sits on the Walk of Fame route, so you can pair the view with a stroll.
Walk of Fame guide →Griffith Observatory
The grounds are a good place to see the sign, with the building and the city behind you. Hours, parking and the bus are covered on a page of their own.
Griffith Observatory guide →Lake Hollywood Park
The park is open from sunrise to sunset and has a play area and a lawn where leashed dogs are welcome. The address is 3200 Canyon Lake Drive (some maps show 3160 N Canyon Dr), so type the park name into your map and follow the street signs. Canyon Lake Drive is not Canyon Drive, which is the Brush Canyon trailhead.
Mulholland overlook above the Hollywood Bowl
The Jerome C. Daniel Overlook looks over the Hollywood Bowl and Downtown, and out to the sea and Catalina on a clear day. It is a Mulholland viewpoint above the Bowl, not the Mulholland Highway road below the sign. Check hours and parking on site.
Parking near the Hollywood Hills viewpoints
Read the signs before you leave the car.
The city extended Preferential Parking District 320 in the Lake Hollywood area, with a final decision on 5 September 2025. Its map separates resident exemptions from time-limited parking bans. Do not count on free street parking on Canyon Lake Drive, and respect the residents who live on these streets.
At Griffith Observatory the public lot and marked street spaces are paid. Plan for paying and check the machines. For more on routes and car-free options, see getting to the Hollywood Sign.
Combining viewpoints in one day
Three stops that fit together, using the hours above.
Morning
Lake Hollywood Park opens at sunrise, so it works as an early stop before the heat. Come on foot or park legally and leave quietly, because residents live on the nearby streets.
Midday
Ovation Hollywood and the Boulevard fit the middle of the day. The Metro B Line brings you to Hollywood/Highland, and the Walk of Fame is a short walk along the street.
Afternoon and evening
Griffith Observatory is closed on Mondays and opens at 12 p.m. from Tuesday to Friday and at 10 a.m. on weekends. It stays open until 10 p.m., so it suits the end of the day.
On foot instead
The hiking routes end at viewpoints above and behind the sign. They use the same trail hours as the park, from sunrise to sunset, so they do not combine with a late stop.
Plan the rest of your visit
Related guides.
Hollywood Sign viewpoints: frequently asked questions
Which viewpoint is easiest for the Hollywood Sign?
For most visitors, Griffith Observatory and Ovation Hollywood are the easiest. Lake Hollywood Park suits people with a car who want a calmer view.
Can I get close to the Hollywood Sign?
No. There is no public path to the letters. Viewpoints and hike endpoints above and behind the sign are the closest legal places.
Is Hollywood & Highland a different viewpoint from Ovation Hollywood?
No. Hollywood & Highland is the older local name for the same complex at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue.
Is parking free at the viewpoints?
Not everywhere. Griffith Observatory has paid parking, and the streets around Lake Hollywood have resident rules. Always read the posted signs.
Is this the official Hollywood Sign website?
No. This is an independent travel guide, not connected to the Hollywood Sign Trust, the city or any tour operator.