How Can You See The Hollywood Sign
The best way to see the Hollywood sign is from Griffith Park, but you must know how to navigate there first! If you are not sure if you know how, watch some of our YouTube videos or read one of our articles before trying to view it.
The scenery around the Hollywood sign is very beautiful and interesting. There are many hiking trails in the area, so even if you do not have time to visit the sign, then at least learn about the surrounding areas.
There are also many street entrances into Griffith park, so pick one that seems most accessible and go from there. To save money, stay in Los Angeles instead of traveling up north for the day. Many hotels offer free parking, which will make your trip more cost-effective as well.
Make sure your camera is in good shape
A well-paying career in photography depends heavily on how professional you are with your gear. If you’re not, it can negatively affect your image quality and cost you money to buy new equipment.
Most people start taking photos by using their smartphone as a tool to take pictures. While these smart phones come with pre-installed photo apps that help you edit and organize images, they do so quickly and easily.
There are some who begin developing their artistic side by editing an app like Photoshop or Gimp. Some even go pro and purchase expensive software such as Lightroom or Photoshop.
While this is great for those who have invested in the art form, most of us do not. It is important to know what tools are beginner friendly if you want to get into serious photoshopping.
There are many free resources available online where you can find out all about different softwares.
Dress appropriately
The best way to see the Hollywood sign is from Griffith Park, in Los Angeles. While most people view it as an iconic site, there are some who do not feel safe or comfortable going because of how expensive it can be. Even though it may cost money to go here, you should still check this out!
The cost depends on your budget and timing. Since the park is free to enter, traveling during non-peak times (or early morning/late night) will reduce costs. If visiting at dusk, then staying for sunset is also helpful since the surrounding area gets beautifully illuminated.
If possible, try to visit in July or August when the weather is warmer and the light is better. In May through September, due to heavy rain chances are high that the sign will remain closed.
Griffith Park is open every day of the year except Christmas. It is usually very busy so make sure to arrive well before sunset if walking is done outside of the tram system.
Get your own transportation
The best way to see the Hollywood sign is via car. There are many ways to get here, but none of them are cheap! Luckily, we have some great information about how to see the Hollywood sign for free.
Most people agree that taking public transport is not the easiest or most cost-effective way to visit the Hollywood sign. If you choose this option, you will need to find somewhere to stay close by so that you do not waste money on transportation costs.
There are also times when the bus does not run which can be expensive if you want to make a trip during peak tourist season. During winter months, it may even be closed completely! This would likewise prove costly as you would have to spend money on a hotel room nearby.
Taking a taxi is another good alternative. However, there is no guarantee that taxis from outside of LA area areas are familiar with in and out routes of the city. These additional fees could add up very quickly!
Opting to take your own vehicle is the best solution. Not only will this save you money, but it will give you more flexibility too! You can bring yourself or hire a driver and services such as Uber connect you with drivers who know the area well.
Try to take your time and get the best shots
The best way to see the Hollywood sign is by going during daylight hours around early morning or late evening. If you’re traveling from out of town, try to come at one of those times so you don’t have to spend extra money on transportation.
During the winter months, snow can make it very difficult to see the sign! While some may think that skiing under the Hollywood sign is a cool idea, most people agree that it isn’t.
There are many ways to see the Hollywood sign without taking expensive trips or spending lots of money. Given that the view costs nothing but a trip outside, why not give it a go?
If possible, bring an empty bag with you so you do not feel obligated to buy anything.
Use a zoom lens
The best way to see the Hollywood sign is with a good, wide-angle lens. Because it’s such a long shot, your camera needs to be pretty big to make it work!
The great thing about taking this picture is that you don’t have to go very far - just drive up to take it. If you do happen to live close by, then going closer might help, but shooting from farther away really does ‘the trick’ here.
It may sound crazy, but there are actually people who pay money to come out in the middle of the night and get a photo like this.
Capture it all
The best way to see the Hollywood sign is by visiting during winter or spring, when you can capture it in its glory!
Visiting at other times of year may make it difficult to get a clear picture because there are too many buildings and hills in the way. Capturing the view from below isn’t very pretty either as some parts of it aren’t visible due to foliage.
In warm weather, there’s an even bigger chance of rain cloud cover which wouldn’t look great under photogenic conditions. In fact, one photographer says that most days she doesn’t even go out with her camera because it just looks like a rainy day!
Spring and autumn are your best bets for seeing the full beauty of the Hollywood sign but don’t expect it to be totally free of clouds then either. If you do get lucky though, the shape of the hill will help hide any low-angle rainfall.
Visit during the right time of the year
The Hollywood sign is not visible every day. In fact, it can be completely obscured by weather for extended periods of time. This makes it difficult to truly appreciate how beautiful this iconic landmark is.
Fortunately, you do have several options when visiting the Hollywood sign in California!
You can visit at any time of the year but May through September is considered the best season to view the sign. During these months, there are typically clear skies with little or no precipitation which allows for better visibility of the monument.
There’s also an incredible sunset view from Griffith Observatory so don’t forget to make use of that while here. Plus, staying close to home takes less time than taking the bus or train so traveling via car isn’t as expensive if you’re looking to save some money.
If possible, try coming on a weekday instead of weekend since the area tends to get more traffic then.
Learn about the history of the sign
The Hollywood Sign is one of Los Angeles’s most well-known landmarks. It was designed by artist George Hurrell, and it took him six years to complete his design!
Hurll painted many versions of the sign before he settled on this version in 1932. This is the only fully completed painting that exists today.
He originally planned to call the work “The California Sunrise,” but later changed the title to simply "Hollywood."
In 1939, after learning of plans for an airport next to the sign, Hurll had the words “World's Most Famous View" added as a subtitle.
This gives us the more common name for the sign today.