The Hollywood Sign: where to see it and photograph it

Aaah, you’re trying to figure it out too, right? We mean, figuring out where to spot the famous “Hollywood” sign overlooking the city of Los Angeles from atop Mount Lee. If you want to know where to photograph the Hollywood sign, we’ve gathered a few useful tips in this article.

How the Hollywood Sign came to be

Have you ever wondered how the Hollywood sign came to be on the well-known Los Angeles hillside, now a true symbol of the city? The Hollywood Sign was created as part of an advertising campaign in 1923 to promote a new residential neighborhood that was being built in those years on the hills near Hollywood. The large white capital letters are over 13 meters (43 feet) tall and stretch for more than 100 meters (330 feet).

Originally, the sign was longer (“Hollywoodland”), and it was only meant to stay up for a year and a half. But during Hollywood’s golden age, it became such an important icon that it naturally became part of the city’s most recognizable image. Over the years, the letters were damaged by time, vandalism, and several accidents. For this reason, the sign was repaired and rebuilt without the “land” suffix, giving rise to the Hollywood sign we know today.

Best viewpoints for photographing the Hollywood Sign

Knowing where to go to spot the Hollywood sign is important if you want to avoid wasting time in Los Angeles (which is huge) and already have an idea of where to head. Here’s a short list of the most interesting and scenic spots:

The Griffith Observatory

The Griffith Observatory is the large observatory overlooking the hills above Los Angeles. Because of its location, the Hollywood sign is a bit off to the side and farther away, but since the observatory is one of the must-see attractions in Los Angeles, it’s definitely worth considering, also thanks to all the interesting activities it offers.

Lake Hollywood Park

Lake Hollywood Park is the best viewpoint for photographing the Hollywood sign. It’s a stretch of public green space nestled among the hills and the narrow, winding roads lined with some of the city’s most exclusive homes.

Mulholland Drive

Mulholland Drive is one of the scenic roads running along the Los Angeles hills, and it has appeared in many Hollywood films. To spot the sign, you’ll need to drive along the eastern part of Mulholland Drive, near the 101 Freeway, and reach a scenic viewpoint called the “Hollywood Bowl Overlook”. From here, you’ll enjoy an absolutely privileged view over the entire city, as well as the Hollywood sign.

Hollywood & Highland Center

This is a large shopping center located at the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue, right where part of the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame runs. From the shopping center’s terraces, you can enjoy a lovely view of the hill and the sign.

Et voilà! What do you think? It’s definitely a good starting point if you want to get an idea of where to see the Hollywood sign and where to photograph it. And if you don’t feel like searching for the sign on your own, just know that we go there too. And you can come with us to see it on this California Trip, this USA and Great Parks Trip, and this USA Camper Road Trip. Take a look at the itineraries!