WeHo Without Wheels

West Hollywood is known as “Walkable WeHo” for good reason. Walk Score has consistently rated West Hollywood the most walkable city in California since 2011.

You can come here on vacation, tuck your car away in your hotel garage and stroll to great restaurants, cafes, bars, nightclubs and shopping. Within the city’s 1.9 miles, you can people-watch on the Sunset Strip, sightsee on Santa Monica Boulevard, stop at a great cafe or restaurant on Melrose Ave. and shop at the gorgeous boutiques of the West Hollywood Design District. It’s easy to sightsee in West Hollywood…all on foot!

The city of West Hollywood has also created a new guidebook aimed at helping people get around WeHo without a car called WeHo to Go. It has information on Zip Car locations (car-sharing), an easy to read transit map, bike routes and stores, safety tips and even grocery store locations — super informative for any West Hollywood visitor!

Download WeHo to Go, an awesome new guidebook created by the city to help people get around West Hollywood without a car.

If you don’t feel like walking and don’t want to hop in your car, West Hollywood’s public transportation is efficient and clean—and more is on the way! It’s a great alternative to navigating traffic on Los Angeles’ busy streets and freeways by car. Despite Greater Los Angeles’ reputation as a car city, it’s easy to be happily car-free in West Hollywood. Because West Hollywood is located in the heart of Los Angeles, it’s also a great hub from which to reach almost any part of L.A. Here’s how to get around West Hollywood and the surrounding cities by bus, train and even bike.

Local Bus Routes

The City of West Hollywood operates two free bus systems, the Cityline and the PickUp Line.

Cityline:

The Cityline is West Hollywood’s main public transportation system. The bus route, from Beverly Blvd. and San Vicente Blvd. to Fountain Ave. and La Brea Ave., generally follows Santa Monica Blvd., deviating from the boulevard to serve the majority of the city’s neighborhoods. Shuttles run approximately every 30 minutes, Monday through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and are ADA compliant.

Cityline X, the newest expansion of West Hollywood’s metro services, runs directly along Santa Monica Blvd. from West Hollywood Library to Highland Ave., where it turns north to meet the Red Line Metro Rail station at Hollywood Blvd. and Highland Ave. The Cityline X line operates Monday through Friday from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. and 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

PickUp Line:

The PickUp Line runs from 8:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m on Friday and Saturday nights. Its route spans from Almont Dr. to La Brea Ave. along Santa Monica Blvd. Shuttles arrive roughly every 15 minutes and stop every two to three blocks. The PickUp Line, which is intended to prevent drunk driving and support West Hollywood nightlife, features music by DJ Derek Monteiro and offers a variety of perks, including VIP entry to The Abbey, one free appetizer with entrée at Hugo’s, 10% off at YogurtStop, a $1 drink at Fubar, and half off one drink at Here Lounge

Metro Bus and Rail Lines

Web site: http://www.metro.net/

Phone: (323) 466-3876

A single ride on a Metro bus or train costs $1.75. If you use a TAP card, transfers are free to other Metro lines. Unless you pay cash for the bus, then transfers are $0.50. Purchase a TAP Card for day and week passes, which offer better rates, at 8272 Santa Monica Blvd or 8969 Santa Monica Blvd. Find more TAP card outlets at the TAP website. Rapid Buses have fewer stops and are limited on the weekends. Local buses make more stops and run on a regular weekend schedule. Check for holiday schedules for all public transportation lines. Travel times were provided by the Los Angeles Metro and are intended only as approximations.

In West Hollywood: Since West Hollywood is centered around Santa Monica Blvd., it’s easy to get around the city just by taking the #4 bus or the #704 Rapid bus, which follow Santa Monica Blvd. from 5thStreet in Santa Monica (5 blocks from the beach) until the street merges with Sunset Blvd. in the Silver Lake neighborhood.

Because West Hollywood is so central, you can get to the surrounding cities easily with public transportation:

Universal Studios (100 Universal Plaza, Universal City): From any stop on Sunset Boulevard, take the #2 or #302 Rapid bus east. Get off at Vermont Ave. Then take the Metro Red Line north toward North Hollywood. Get off at Universal City. Take the free Universal Studios shuttle up the hill, or walk up the big hill yourself if you want a little exercise.

Approximate travel time: 1 hour

Hollywood’s Walk of Fame (7018 Hollywood Blvd.): Take the #2 or #302 Rapid east from Sunset Blvd. Get off at N. Orange Dr., and walk 3 blocks to Hollywood Blvd.

Approximate travel time: 15 minutes

Los Angeles Union Station (800 N. Alameda St.): Take the #2 or #302 Rapid east from Sunset Blvd. to Vermont Ave. Take the Metro Red Line north toward Union Station, and get off at the Union Station exit.

Approximate travel time: 1 hour 5 minutes.

Dodger Stadium (1000 Elysian Park Ave.): Dodger Stadium can be reached from West Hollywood via the #2 and #302 Rapid buses, which operate along Sunset Blvd., or the #4 and #704 Rapid buses, which operate along Santa Monica Blvd. Santa Monica Blvd. merges with Sunset Blvd. in the Silver Lake neighborhood. Continue southeast along Sunset Blvd. until you reach the Dodger Stadium stop at the intersection of Sunset Blvd. and Elysian Park Ave. From here, Dodger Stadium is just a short walk east along Elysian Park Ave.

Approximate travel time: 1 hour

Downtown Los Angeles: Ahmanson Theatre and Mark Taper Forum (601 W.Temple Street): From Santa Monica Blvd., take either the #4 Local or the #704 Rapid bus. Get off at Cesar Chavez Ave. and Grand Ave. Walk 1 block south.

Approximate travel time: 50 minutes.

Griffith Park: Griffith Park is a large, urban park with an area of 4,310 acres, much of it wilderness. Your route to Griffith Park will vary significantly based on the part of the park you wish to visit. These are some common destinations:

The Greek Theatre (2700 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles): Take the #2 or #302 Rapid east from Sunset Blvd. to Gower St. Walk .3 miles north to the intersection of Hollywood Blvd. and Gower St. Take the #180 or #181 bus toward Altadena until you reach the intersection of Los Feliz Blvd. and Hillhurst Ave. Walk north on Hillhurst Ave. until it merges with Vermont Ave. Walk north on Vermont Ave. into Griffith Park to reach the Greek Theatre (about .8 miles).

Approximate travel time: 1 hour 20 minutes.

Griffith Observatory (2800 E. Observatory Rd., Los Angeles): Follow the above instructions to the Greek Theatre. Continue past the theatre on N. Vermont Canyon Rd. until you reach E. Observatory Rd. Follow this road to Griffith Observatory (approximately an additional .8 miles from the Greek).

Approximate travel time: 1 hour 45 minutes.

On Saturdays and Sundays (except holidays) from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., you can take the DASH Weekend Observatory Shuttle directly to Griffith Observatory. Take the #2 or #302 bus east from Sunset Blvd. to the intersection of Sunset Blvd. and Virgil Ave. At this corner, Hollywood Blvd. becomes Sunset Blvd., Sunset Blvd. becomes Sunset Dr., and Virgil Ave. becomes Hillhurst Ave. Walk across the street to the DASH station at Hillhurst Ave. and Hollywood Blvd. (this is the other side of the same intersection). Take the DASH Weekend Observatory Shuttle north to Griffith Observatory.

Approximate travel time: 1 hour 10 minutes.

The Hollywood Sign: The Hollywood Sign can be seen clearly from many parts of the city, notably Griffith Observatory, but to reach the sign itself you’ll need to hike Mount Lee, where the sign is located. Without a car, the easiest trailhead to reach is the Wonder View trailhead to Cahuenga Peak (for more information about alternative routes to the Hollywood Sign, visit HollywoodSign.org).

From Sunset Blvd., take the #2 or #302 bus east to Highland Ave. Here, take the #156 or #656 bus north toward Van Nuys. Get off at the Cahuenga / Oakcrest stop. Walk northwest on Cahuenga Blvd., turn right onto Benda St., and turn left onto Hollycrest Dr. Veer right at the fork and take Primera Ave. to Lake Hollywood Dr., where Primera Ave. becomes La Suvida Dr. Continue ojn La Suvida Dr. until it rejoins Lake Hollywood Dr. Continue on Lake Hollywood Dr. until it meets Wonder View Dr. Take a left at the fork and continue along Wonder View Dr. until you reach the Wonder View Trailhead.

Hiking in Los Angeles can be dangerous, particularly during the summer. Do not attempt to hike any wilderness trails unless you are physically fit, are wearing the proper shoes and clothing, and have enough water. Never hike alone. If you are unsure whether you are capable of or equipped to hike a wilderness trail, do not attempt it.

This hike is 3.5 miles long round-trip, and ascends 925 feet. It may not be suitable for inexperienced hikers.

Hike along Wonder View Dr. until you reach the gate at the top. Continue along Wonder View Trail, turning right at the fork. At the second fork, you can turn left to reach a shade tree (popularly known as the Wisdom Tree) with a stunning view of Burbank and Hollywood, or turn right to continue directly along Cahuenga Ridge.

After you turn right at the fork, the trail climbs the ridge to reach the summit of Cahuenga Peak. This peak, 1,820 feet above sea level, is the twelfth-highest in the Santa Monica Mountains and offers beautiful views of Los Angeles.

From the summit, take the Aileen Getty Ridge Trail across the saddle between Cahengua Peak and Mount Lee. The trail will join with Mount Lee Rd., which is paved. Follow this road for a short stretch to the summit of Mount Lee, which will place you directly behind the Hollywood Sign.

Do not trespass beyond the chain-link fence surrounding the sign. The sign is monitored by closed-circuit camera and has an LAPD officer stationed near it at all times.

Approximate travel time (to Wonder View Trailhead): 1 hour.

Approximate travel time (from trailhead to Mount Lee summit): 1 hour 30 minutes.

The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens (5333 Zoo Dr., Los Angeles): From Santa Monica Blvd., take the #4 or #704 bus east to Sunset Blvd. and Park Ave. Walk one block south along Park Ave. to the intersection of Park Ave. and Glendale Blvd. Then, take the #92 bus north to the intersection of Riverside Dr. and Glendale Blvd. Transfer to the #96 north, which will take you directly to the zoo.

Approximate travel time: 1 hour 30 minutes.

Malibu: Start on Santa Monica Blvd. heading west. Take the #4 Local or #704 Rapid bus to 4th Street and Broadway in the city of Santa Monica. Walk 1 block west to the 3rd Street Promenade. Take the Metro #534 to Malibu, which serves several stops along the Malibu coast.

Approximate travel time: 1 hour 40 minutes.

City of Santa Monica: Take the #4 Local or #704 Rapid bus west from Santa Monica Blvd. Get off on Ocean Avenue in the city of Santa Monica, just across the street from the beach.

Approximate travel time: 50 minutes.

Venice Beach: From Santa Monica Blvd., head west on the #4 Local or #704 Rapid bus. Get off at 4th and Broadway St. in the city of Santa Monica. Take the Santa Monica municipal “Big Blue” Bus line #1 (stop is on northwest corner) heading west. Get off at Windward and Main St. in Venice.

Approximate travel time: 1 hour 5 minutes.

Santa Barbara: Take the #2 bus east from Sunset Blvd. to Union Station. Take the AMTRAK train north to Santa Barbara.

Approximate travel time: 3 hours 30 minutes.

Disneyland:

By Bus: Take the #30 bus south from San Vicente Ave. Get off at Pico Blvd. and Figueroa St. Take the #460 bus labeled “Disneyland”.

Approximate travel time: 2 hours and 50 minutes.

By Train: Take a cab or rideshare to Hollywood and Vine. Then take the Metro Red Line south to Union Station. From Union Station, take the Metrolink train south to the city of Fullerton. From the Fullerton Metrolink station, take the #543 Express (Monday through Friday, 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.) or the #43 Local bus south toward MacArthur Harbor to the Harbor-East Shuttle Area. Then take the Harbor East Shuttle to Disneyland Park.

Approximate travel time: 3 hours.

To map out the dates and times of your trip, visit the Los Angeles Metro website. Enter your travel information in the “Trip Planner Box” for specific bus and metro information. You can also download the METRO app to your phone or call (323) 466-3876. Be prepared to give your starting point, the address of your destination, and your ideal arrival or departure time.

City Tours

Bike Tours

If you want to get a little exercise while getting around West Hollywood, rent a bike or take a sightseeing tour with Bikes and Hikes. Their “LA in a Day” Tour—a 32 mile journey lasting approximately 5 hours 30 minutes—begins in West Hollywood, going through Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Santa Monica, Venice, Marina Del Rey, and Culver City.

Bus Tours

Another transportation option is to take a Starline Tours “Hop On Hop Off” bus. The company runs six different routes which serve the most notable parts of the Los Angeles area, including West Hollywood, Hollywood, North Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, downtown Los Angeles, Venice and Marina Del Rey.

Taxicabs and Ridesharing

Taxis

Cabs in West Hollywood are efficient, dependable, and inexpensive (the city, after all, is only 1.9 miles long), but you have to call for a ride. Don’t bother flagging one down—all you’ll get is a very tired arm! Companies answer the phone quickly, and cabs usually come within minutes. Check our website for a list of West Hollywood cab companies.

Ridesharing

Ridesharing apps such as Uber and Lyft arrange low-cost rides with members of the community. Use your smart phone or a computer to arrange a ride.