Hollywood & Film
Hollywood — a district of Los Angeles — has been the center of the global film industry since the 1910s. The major studios (Universal, Paramount, Warner Bros., Disney, 20th Century Fox/Studios) were established here, the Oscars are awarded here, and tourists walk on the Hollywood Walk of Fame over 2,700 stars on the sidewalk.
The honest truth: Hollywood itself is disappointing — Hollywood Boulevard is touristy, commercial, and not particularly glamorous. The real magic happens in the studios:
- Universal Studios Hollywood — Theme park + studio tour (the famous "Tram Tour" through active film sets, with King Kong, Jaws, and Fast & Furious attractions). From $109.
- Warner Bros. Studio Tour — Behind-the-scenes tour (2 hours, $69) through the sets of "Friends", "Harry Potter", Batman, and more. More intimate than Universal.
- Paramount Pictures Studio Tour — The only major studio still in Hollywood (not in the suburbs). 2-hour tour, $65.
The TCL Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard has the famous hand and footprints of stars in the concrete in front of the entrance — free to see. The Griffith Observatory (free) offers the best view of the Hollywood Sign and the LA skyline.
