Where the Walk of Fame is and how it is laid out
The Hollywood Walk of Fame runs along Hollywood Boulevard from Gower Street to La Brea Avenue, then along Vine Street from Sunset Boulevard to Yucca Street. Stars sit on both sides of the sidewalks on both streets, so there’s more to see than a single row along one stretch of boulevard.
For a particular actor, musician or other honoree, use the official Walk of Fame website’s star directory to check the star’s location before you set out. The site also has an interactive star map, which can help you orient yourself across the two streets.
The Walk is a public sidewalk attraction, with no general admission charge or visitor opening hours listed. It’s about an eight-minute walk from Lexen Hotel - Hollywood Walk of Fame-Universal Studios, making it easy to fit into time spent around Hollywood Boulevard.
What to look for along the stars
Look closely at the stars as you walk: each one is made of terrazzo and brass. Some face different directions, giving pedestrians walking either way a view of the names.
A directory search is useful if you have a particular honoree in mind. Otherwise, take the Walk section by section, checking both sides of the street rather than expecting every star to face the same way.
The official site says star ceremonies are free and open to the public, subject to City restrictions; check the official site before you go for ceremony details.
The surrounding blocks also offer other stops to combine with a Walk of Fame visit. The Dolby Theatre and Madame Tussauds Hollywood are nearby attractions to consider when planning time in the area.
A short history of the landmark
The idea for the Walk of Fame came from E. M. Stuart, then volunteer president of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, who proposed it in 1953. The Chamber submitted plans to the Los Angeles City Council in January 1956. On August 15, 1958, the Chamber and City unveiled eight sample stars at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue.
Construction began on February 8, 1960. The first star laid was Stanley Kramer’s, on March 28, near Hollywood Boulevard and Gower Street. The Walk was dedicated on November 23, 1960, while construction continued until spring 1961. The completed project had 1,558 stars.
The City of Los Angeles designated the Walk of Fame Historic-Cultural Monument No. 194 in 1978. The original design provided for 2,518 stars. As space became harder to find in popular areas, a second row of alternating stars was added to sidewalks.
On February 1, 1994, the Walk extended one block west from Sycamore Avenue to La Brea Avenue on Hollywood Boulevard. Sophia Loren received the Walk’s 2,000th star at that time.
Getting there and planning a visit
For a straightforward visit, choose a section of Hollywood Boulevard or Vine Street, then use the official directory or map if you’re looking for a particular star. Since the stars line both sides of each street, leave time to walk both sides of the stretch you choose.
LA Metro’s B Line serves Hollywood-area stations including Hollywood/Highland, Hollywood/Vine and Hollywood/Western. Bus routes also serve the area: Line 210 runs between the South Bay/Redondo Beach Transit Center and Hollywood/Vine Station, while Line 212 runs between Hawthorne/Lennox Station and Hollywood/Highland Station.
The Walk itself does not have general visitor opening hours or an admission charge.