You can take the Metro to Hollywood to see the Walk of Fame (stars inlaid on Hollywood Blvd), the footprints in the courtyard of Grauman's Chinese Theatre, and more. Hollywood and Highland is an outdoor shopping center featuring stores, restaurants and the Kodak Theater. You can get a great view of the Hollywood sign from various points in the courtyard of Hollywood and Highland. You will need at least 2 or 3 hours to browse the tourist area of Hollywood.
Getting there: From LAX, a bus ride takes 60-90 minutes each way (including transfers).
MTA's route, costs $7.25 each way: Take the Flyaway Union Station service from Tom Bradley terminal at LAX to Union Station. Then take the Metro Red Line subway train to the Hollywood Highland Station. (Use MTA's Trip Planner to find the best route for your departure time.) See the money-saving alternate routes below.
MTA's Metro Trip Planner displays schedules and fare information for LA metro buses and trains. It's fast and easy to use. Simply visit the MTA's website at Metro.net and you'll find the Metro Trip Planner on the top right side of the home page.
MTA's Metro Trip Planner
TIP - Alternate Routes That Save Money
Metro Station at Hollywood/Highland
MTA's recommended route costs $7.25 each way, or $14.50 round trip. But if you take one of the following routes then you can get a Metro Day Pass for $5 and the fare will cost either $5 or $6.20 round trip, depending on the route you choose. Either of these routes takes the same length of time, which could be up to 15 minutes longer than if you take MTA's suggested route. But you will save more than $8 round trip.
FIRST: For either of the routes, take Lot G Shuttle (free) from LAX to the Metro Green Line Aviation Station terminal. Find a ticket machine and buy a Metro Day Pass for $5. Go upstairs to the train platform and get on the Green Line train headed toward Norwalk.
NEXT - Choose one of the following routes to 7th Street Metro station in downtown LA:
Recommended Route (60 cents extra each way): Get off the Green Line train at Harbor Freeway station and go downstairs to the freeway level. Get on either Metro Bus 444, 445, 446 or 447 northbound to downtown LA. Pay a 60 cents transfer fee. Tell the bus driver that you're headed to 7th Street Metro station and they will usually be happy to inform you when the stop is approaching. This route is recommended because it offers better views of places like Staples Center and areas in downtown Los Angeles that are of interest to tourists.
Another Route (no extra charge): Get off the Green Line at Imperial/Wilmington station and take the Blue Line train to 7th Street Metro station.
THEN: At 7th Street Metro Station, take the Red Line train to Hollywood and Highland. Don't get off at Hollywood and Vine because it's far less interesting. You can easily walk there after you check out all the main attractions at Highland.
Time estimate: If you want to stroll around Hollywood Blvd, plus visit some shops, view stars on the sidewalk, look at the footprints in the cement, and get something to eat, give yourself at least 2 hours, plus travel time. Don't forget to allow an additional hour to get through security and walking through the terminal at LAX. So you will realistically need at least a 6 hour layover for this excursion.
