15 Things To Do In Hollywood, Los Angeles, California - Updated 2024

Shivani
Shivani 
Updated
| 5 min read

The City of Los Angeles, fondly known as LA, is one of the most vibrant cities in Southern California. It is one of the most populous cities in the United States with a motley crowd belonging to various ethnicities. The city is the cultural as well as the commercial hub of California and is well known as the “Home of Hollywood”, the epicentre of the entertainment industry of the world. Some of the successful film studios of today that started their humble beginnings in Hollywood are Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Studios. This entertainment district offers plenty of exciting things to do until now. It entices tourists with landmarks such as Universal Studios Hollywood, the star-studded Walk of Fame and music venues such as Hollywood Bowl and Dolby Theatre. We won’t keep you on your toes any longer. Check out these top things to do in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. 

1. Check out the awesome Capitol Records Building

Capital Records Building
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user JCS used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Who hasn’t heard of this iconic building? Showcasing a variety of movies over the skyline of Los Angeles, Capitol Records is the world’s first circular building constructed in 1956. Being the home of Capitol Studios, this historic building has nurtured world-famous icons such as Frank Sinatra, Paul McCartney, Nat King Cole, and more. The rooftop spire is topped by a red light that blinks a special sign in Morse code, the word “Hollywood.” During Christmas, the whole spire is illuminated by beautiful lighting to resemble a Christmas tree. It is truly a marvel and a must-visit attraction to check out when you are in Hollywood.

Capitol Records Building

Address: 1750 Vine St, Los Angeles, CA 90028, United States

Website: Capitol Records Building

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm (closed on Sat & Sun)

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2. Explore celebrity homes on this sightseeing tour

Have you always wanted to see how world-famous celebrities live their daily lives, where they stay, and how they go about their day? Check out the incredible homes of your favorite stars on a sightseeing tour. It includes a professional tour guide who offers a live narration of the sights before you. Explore the famous neighbourhoods that you may have seen in movies including Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, and West Hollywood, with palm trees lining the streets and stunning mansions to witness. This tour involves a small group to ensure personal attention. Along with your tour guide, the group only consists of 12 guests.

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Hollywood Celebrity Homes Tour

Duration: 2 hours

12 reviews

3. Have a good laugh at Laugh Factory

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

We're kicking off Friday night right with Tom Dreesen!

Posted by The Laugh Factory on Friday, March 13, 2020

Spice up your Hollywood night with Laugh Factory. This sought-after club has a popular branch in Hollywood. Having been featured in the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest comedy show ever, this place is an amazing way to spend a fun-filled evening laughing at famous and up-and-coming comedians’ comical acts. Guests mention that the premises are filled with great amenities including food and drinks with vegan options.

Laugh Factory

Address: 8001 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046, United States

Website: Laugh Factory

Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 9:30am - 11:30pm; Fri - Sat: 9:30am - 1:30am; Sun: 9:30am - 11:30pm

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4. Browse through spooky exhibits at Museum of Death

Museum of Death in Hollywood
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Arienne McCracken used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Located on Hollywood Boulevard, Museum of Death is certainly not an attraction for the faint-hearted. The museum’s motto is to “make people happy that they are alive”. Its cavernous space showcases exhibits and artefacts related to death and dead people. Contrary to popular opinion, the exhibits aren’t scary but rather involve educational programs about death, dying, and its aftermath. Exhibits include devices such as guillotines, historical autopsy instruments, an extensive collection of coffin and body bags, taxidermy animals, and trivia facts about serial killers. This is sure to be one of the most unique museums you will ever visit in your life.

Museum of Death

Address: 6031 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028, United States

Website: Museum of Death

Opening hours: 10am - 6pm (daily)

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5. Pose in front of the Hollywood sign (from USD 29.0)

Standing tall on Mt Lee is the world-famous Hollywood Sign. And when you are visiting Los Angeles, getting clicked with the sign in the frame is nothing less than a ritual. HOLLYWOOD is written in 45 ft (13.7 m) tall white metal letters and overlooks the Hollywood movie industry. The sign came into being in 1923 mainly as an advertisement board but has now become a part of the landscape and in fact, a landmark. It is now managed and promoted by the Hollywood Sign Trust. There are guided tours that provide an opportunity for a good look and multiple chances for that perfect capture such as this Griffith Observatory hiking activity where you tour LA through Hollywood Hills and Griffith Park.

If you’re deeply invested in outdoor adventures, you can also visit Sunset Ranch Hollywood, which is just 10 minutes away from Holywood proper, to enjoy technicolor sunset views over Hollywood on horseback.

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LA Hollywood Hills and Griffith Observatory Hiking Tour

Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

874 reviews

6. Pay a visit to the Hollywood Walk of Fame (from USD 38.0)

Situated on Hollywood Boulevard, The Walk of Fame is a 1.3-mile (2.1-kilometre) iconic sidewalk stretching from Grower Street to La Brea Avenue that is embedded with over 2,700 five-pointed floor tiles and brass stars. Some of the prominent names that you can spot in this famous attraction are Michael Jackson, Charlie Chaplin, Rudolph Valentino and Judy Garland. The tour here is a two-hour long walking tour that takes the visitors through popular Hollywood landmarks including Hollywood Pantages Theatre, Egyptian Theatre, Capitol Records, and Hollywood Sign. Live commentary is provided by the guide for a more insightful tour.

After all the strolling, one of the best nearby establishments that can help you replenish your energy is Hollywood’s oldest eatery, Musso & Frank Grill.

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Hollywood History Tour

Duration: 2 hours

8 reviews

7. Catch a movie at TCL Chinese Theatre (from USD 13.0)

TCL Chinese Theatre is situated alongside the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard. Initially, it was known as the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre but was renamed TCL Chinese Theatre when TCL Corporation, a Chinese electronics manufacturer, purchased the facility’s naming rights. The theatre houses the handprints, footprints, and autographs of famous celebrities of Hollywood in addition to the props and costumes used in movies. It is also known to host some of the biggest movie premiers of the glamorous movie industry.

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Hollywood 30-Minute TCL Chinese Theatre VIP Tour

Duration: 30 minutes

41 reviews

8. Learn about Hollywood history in The Hollywood Museum

Happy birthday to the legendary #KimNovak, one of the last of the great Hollywood Studio stars. Miss Novak was born on February 13, 1933. #ClassicHollywood

Posted by The Hollywood Museum on Wednesday, 13 February 2019

The Hollywood Museum has memorabilia from Hollywood since its inception and is the official museum of Hollywood. Located in the historic Max Factor building on Highland Avenue, this museum boasts of the largest collection of costumes, props, posters and photographs from Hollywood’s classic films. The original four makeup rooms used by the legendary stylist Max Factor are also on exhibit.

The Hollywood Museum

Address: 1660 N. Highland Ave (at Hollywood Blvd) Hollywood, California 90028

Website: The Hollywood Museum

Opening hours: Wed - Sun: 10am - 5pm

Price: 15 USD

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9. Pose with stars at the Madame Tussauds Hollywood (from USD 32.0)

One of the main attractions in Hollywood is the three-storey Madam Tussauds Wax Museum. Located on Hollywood Boulevard and maintained by Merlin Entertainment, this museum is situated just west of the TCL Chinese Theatre. The museum houses 125 wax figures of famous personalities from around the world, with the biggest figure being that of King Kong. Apart from these life-size figures, other attractions in the museum include 3D illusions of horror and the Marvel superheroes.

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Madame Tussauds Hollywood Admission Ticket

Duration: 1 to 2 hours

186 reviews

10. Watch a live performance at Dolby Theatre (from USD 29.0)

The Dolby Theatre is situated in the Hollywood and Highland Centre on Hollywood Boulevard. It opened in 2001 and is a live performance auditorium, which has also been the venue of the annual Academy Awards ceremony and other award-giving body too. There are tours around the theatre that share insights about the theatre’s history and also about the award ceremonies.

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Dolby Theatre Admission Ticket and Tour

Duration: 30 minutes

39 reviews

11. Explore the Hollywood Wax Museum (from USD 25.0)

Check out the life-sized wax replicas of your favorite Hollywood A-list stars, classic entertainers and legendary singers at the Hollywood Wax Museum. Opened in 1965, this is the longest-running wax museum in the United States dedicated only to celebrities. Walking among celebrity wax figures gives a taste of the glamour of Hollywood. The attraction can be visited at your pleasure as it is open all year round.

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Hollywood Wax Museum Admission Ticket In Los Angeles

Duration: 1 to 3 hours

12. Discover shrunken human heads at the Ripley's Believe It or Not! (from USD 55.0)

discover shrunken human heads at the ripley's believe it or not!
Source: www.viator.com

Ripley’s Believe it or Not is a two-storey museum in Hollywood featuring about 300 exhibits that depict strange and bizarre items or events. The LA branch is one of the 32 such museums built worldwide and is situated across the Hollywood and Highland Mall complex. It is one of the most popular and must-visit attractions in Hollywood.

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Best of Los Angeles Tour from Anaheim

209 reviews

13. Visit the Guinness World Records Museum (from USD 25.0)

The Guinness World Records Museum is a family attraction situated along the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This iconic venue brings to life the record-breaking facts documented in the Guinness Book of World Records. You also get a chance to set a record of your own by indulging in the challenges there. This place is a must-visit and is sure to bring a smile to the faces of every member of your family.

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Guinness World Records Museum Admission Ticket in Hollywood

Duration: 1 to 2 hours

14. Shop your heart out at Hollywood & Highland (from USD 76.0)

Located on Hollywood Boulevard, The Hollywood and Highland Centre is a shopping mall and entertainment complex that is one of the most visited places in Hollywood. Spread over 387,000 square feet (approx 35,954 square metres) the complex includes TCL Chinese Theatre and Dolby Theatre. The food court offers a wide array of choices with over a dozen restaurants offering multiple cuisines. Retail shops, nightclubs, bowling alleys and more make this a perfect entertainment to enjoy fun activities with families and friends.

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Half-Day Tour of Los Angeles and Hollywood

Duration: 5 hours 30 minutes

3 reviews

15. Go on a tempting food tour (from USD 116.0)

Southern California’s food scene is to die for, and you simply can’t miss the gastronomical pleasures that await you here. This tour will take you through a variety of shops, cafes and restaurants serving delectable treats made only from fresh produce. Along the way, you can spot iconic Hollywood landmarks that you may have seen only in movies such as Melrose, Sunset Boulevard, Rodeo Drive, and more. This tour allows a maximum of seven guests, so you can be assured of personal attention throughout. 

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Best of Hollywood Food and Sightseeing Walking and Van Tour

Duration: 4 hours

10 reviews

Hollywood - travel through the dreamland

Hollywood in Los Angeles, known for its prominent film industry and wide range of entertainment venues, is one of the most famous tourist places in North America. It promises to give the visitors a flavour and glamour of Hollywood and takes them through memory lane via its various museums dedicated solely to films and celebrities. A few days in Hollywood to explore the many things you can do there will surely prove exciting for travellers.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
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Shivani is a marketer by profession and a writer by passion. She is a founding member at MeeHappy Wellness, an employee wellness initiative in India. Shivani has had the good fortune of working in...Read more

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