Hollywood Walk of Fame

The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a sidewalk, not a museum. It runs 1.3 miles along Hollywood Boulevard between Gower Street and La Brea Avenue, and 0.4 miles on Vine Street between Yucca Street and Sunset Boulevard, with more than 2,860 stars. It's also a busy public street, and many visitors come away disappointed by its condition. The Chamber of Commerce that runs it puts trip hazards ahead of cosmetic repairs, so expect wear. It's a better walk when you go looking for something specific.

What's Worth Seeing

Start with a name. The official list lets you look up stars by category and year. Placement isn't random, either. Disney characters are often outside the El Capitan Theatre, Oscar winners near the Dolby Theatre, rock acts outside the Musicians Institute and other musicians outside the Capitol Records Building.

Muhammad Ali's star breaks the rule. It's the only one not in the ground. It's mounted on a wall at 6801 Hollywood Blvd, because Ali shared his name with the prophet Muhammad and asked that it not be walked on. It's in the live performance category, after the committee decided boxing counted.

At Hollywood and Vine, look for the four round Apollo 11 markers, one on each corner. They're silver and gray on pink and meant to look like the Moon.

Then look at the small brass emblem on any star, which tells you its category: a film camera, a TV set, a record, a radio microphone, comedy and tragedy masks, or a trophy for sports entertainment. Hundreds of stars are still blank, held for future honorees.

New stars go in at ceremonies on the boulevard, and the official site posts them first. Crowds at an unveiling can reach the thousands.

How to Get There

Metro's B Line is the easy way in. Step out of Hollywood/Highland station and you're on the Walk at Ovation Hollywood, and Hollywood/Vine serves the Vine Street blocks.

To drive, take the 101 to the Highland Avenue exit. The Ovation Hollywood garage is on Highland next to the Loews Hollywood Hotel, north of Hollywood Boulevard, with a second entrance on Orange Drive. That page has the current rates. Street parking nearby is metered in places, but many sections are no parking, tow away or bus zones, so read the signs.

Nearby

• Ovation Hollywood is the shopping center at Hollywood and Highland, with the Dolby Theatre inside it.
• The Dolby Theatre runs tours of the home of the Academy Awards.
• The Hollywood Pantages Theatre is on the boulevard, next door to Funko Hollywood.
• Funko Hollywood is a 40,000-square-foot toy store on the Walk, with oversized photo sets.