Visiting the Walk of Fame: What to Expect

A visitor checking a map on a phone above a star in the sidewalk

The Walk of Fame is a public sidewalk, not a museum: more than 2,800 terrazzo-and-brass stars along 1.3 miles of Hollywood Boulevard, from Gower Street to La Brea Avenue, plus Vine Street between Sunset Boulevard and Yucca Street. The official site says it “is free to all”. The stars are the attraction; the historic theatres beside them and the free star ceremonies add context. This page sets out what is there and what is not, so the decision stays with the reader.

AdmissionNone, it is a public sidewalk

StarsMore than 2,800

CategoriesSix

New starsAbout two dozen to 30 a year

First permanent starStanley Kramer, 28 March 1960

Star ceremoniesFree and open to the public

What it is

The Walk was proposed in 1953 by E. M. Stuart, volunteer president of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. Eight demonstration stars were unveiled at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue on 15 August 1958; construction began in February 1960, the first star in the permanent Walk was Stanley Kramer’s on 28 March 1960, and the original build was completed in spring 1961 with 1,558 stars. The Chamber administers it on behalf of the City of Los Angeles, and the Hollywood Historic Trust helps maintain the stars. Each star is terrazzo and brass and carries an emblem for one of six categories: Motion Pictures, Television, Radio, Recording, Live Theatre/Live Performance and Sports Entertainment. The history page gives the full timeline.

What it is not

Not a museum or a ticketed site. It is a public city sidewalk with no gates or opening hours of its own; the shops, theatres and attractions along it keep their own hours.
Not a quiet street. Hollywood Boulevard is a busy commercial street, and costumed performers may ask for a tip for a photo.
Not a place to see celebrities on demand. A star ceremony is the scheduled public event where an honoree appears.
Not a list anyone can buy into. Someone nominates, a committee of Walk of Famers selects about two dozen to 30 names a year, a sponsor pays a fee on selection, and the honoree must agree to attend the ceremony within two years. Honorees cannot choose the spot. The how-to-get-a-star page sets out the process.
Not home to the Hollywood Sign. The Sign is in the hills; Ovation Hollywood has viewing areas for it.

Who it tends to suit

Film, television and music fans who look up names in the official directory before arriving can go straight to the right block, because each entry gives a street address. Visitors interested in the older Hollywood find Musso & Frank Grill (opened 1919), the Egyptian Theatre (1922), the Chinese Theatre (1927) and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel (1927), where the first Academy Awards dinner was held in 1929. For families, Mickey Mouse’s star outside the Chinese Theatre and the wax figures at Madame Tussauds Hollywood are next door to each other. Visitors on a tight budget pay nothing to walk it.

When a visit calls for more than the sidewalk

Some visitors want stories rather than names; the guided walking tour, 2 hours per its listing, includes the story behind the “blank star” and a Hearst–Chaplin murder-mystery story. Seema, from the US, mentioned its humour and the right amount of time. Others want views: the sunset walk climbs into Runyon Canyon Park, and the open-air bus drives into the Hollywood Hills. Others want to go indoors: the 30-minute Dolby Theatre tour, per its listing, visits the Dolby Lounge and an Oscar statuette. The which tour page matches the products to different visits.

Local tip

The block around Hollywood & Highland, above the B Line station, holds the Dolby Theatre, Ali’s wall star, the Chinese Theatre forecourt and Madame Tussauds Hollywood within a few doors, which gives a first-time visitor a quick sense of the Walk before deciding how much more to see.

Check availability & book

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit the Hollywood Walk of Fame?

Yes. It is a public city sidewalk with no gates or opening hours of its own, and the official site says it is free to all.

Does it cost anything to see the stars?

No ticket is needed for the sidewalk. The Dolby tour, Madame Tussauds Hollywood and the tours are booked separately; the free-or-not page explains.

Is a tour needed to see the Walk of Fame?

No. The self-guided walk gives a route east to west with addresses.

How much time does a visit take?

From a short stop at Hollywood & Highland to a full day with a tour. The time page breaks it down.