25 Iconic Movie Locations In Hollywood You Can Actually Visit In 2025

25 Iconic Movie Locations in Hollywood You Can Actually Visit in 2025

— February 16, 2025

Movie fans dream about visiting their favorite film scenes in person. The medieval city of Dubrovnik became the backdrop for Game of Thrones’ King’s Landing, while New Zealand’s countryside turned into the magical Hobbiton. These iconic movie locations now welcome visitors from around the world.

Katz Delicatessen in New York City, made famous by “When Harry Met Sally,” draws crowds of film enthusiasts daily. Ireland’s Skellig Michael, which appeared in recent Star Wars films, has become another popular destination. These real-life locations are a great way to get a deeper connection with beloved movies beyond just taking photos.

A complete guide to 25 must-visit Hollywood filming locations awaits movie lovers who want to step behind the scenes. These spots bring favorite movie moments to life perfectly for both casual fans and dedicated cinephiles.

Griffith Observatory from La La Land

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The iconic Griffith Observatory sits on Mount Hollywood and shows evidence of both astronomical wonder and cinematic history. Since opening its doors in 1935, this Art Deco masterpiece has welcomed more than 76 million visitors.

Famous Movie Scenes Shot Here

La La Land brought worldwide fame to the observatory when Sebastian and Mia danced their magical sequence in the Samuel Oschin Planetarium. This architectural gem has appeared in many films like Rebel Without a Cause (1955), The Terminator (1984), and Transformers (2007). A commemorative bust of James Dean now stands outside, marking the spot of the knife fight scene from Rebel Without a Cause.

Best Photo Spots

You’ll find excellent photography spots at these locations:

Eastern and Western Rotundas that showcase classic architecture
View Telescope area up on the roof
Outdoor ramps along the observatory’s sides
Archway with Los Angeles views
Western side where you can see the Hollywood Sign

Visitor Information

The observatory opens Tuesday through Sunday, and you can access the grounds and terraces every day. Entry to the building and grounds is free, but you’ll need to pay for parking from noon to 10 PM on weekdays and 10 AM to 10 PM on weekends. The Samuel Oschin Planetarium runs regular shows for a small fee.

Weekends, summers, and sunset hours bring the largest crowds. You’ll have a better experience if you visit on weekdays or early mornings. The observatory sits at 2800 East Observatory Road and gives you amazing views of Los Angeles and the Hollywood Sign.

Universal Studios Hollywood Backlot

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The Universal Studios Hollywood backlot serves as a living museum of cinematic history with 30 film sets and 35 working sound stages.

Iconic Film Sets

This sprawling backlot features sets from blockbuster films like Back to the Future, Jaws, Jurassic Park, and War of the Worlds. The Metropolitan Area brings New York Street, Brownstone Street, and Courthouse Square to life, though access depends on filming schedules. Sets from Desperate Housewives, The Good Place, and The Voice make this location both a working studio and tourist hotspot.

Tour Experience

You’ll discover Hollywood’s most iconic movie locations on the World-Famous Studio Tour. Trams depart every 15 to 30 minutes during operating hours. The tour features exciting attractions like Peter Jackson’s King Kong 360 3-D and Fast & Furious: Supercharged. Physical sets and special effects come alive at the Flash Flood and Earthquake attractions, while the Jaws encounter brings the classic film right before your eyes.

Photography Tips

The right-hand side of the tram gives you the best photo opportunities at the Jaws attraction. The LA skyline looks amazing from the escalator landing. Smaller crowds make weekdays ideal for photography, especially Tuesday through Thursday. The friendly park staff will help you capture group photos throughout your tour.

TCL Chinese Theater

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The TCL Chinese Theater opened its doors in 1927 and stands as one of Hollywood’s most iconic movie locations. This architectural masterpiece launched with Cecil B. DeMille’s “The King of Kings” and drew thousands of spectators along Hollywood Boulevard.

Movie Premieres History

The theater hosts more than 50 events each year, including film festivals and special ceremonies. It made history when it premiered “Star Wars” in 1977 and has hosted three Academy Awards ceremonies. The theater now boasts North America’s largest IMAX screen, which was installed in 2013 and measures 94 ft × 46 ft.

Celebrity Handprints

Nearly 200 Hollywood celebrity handprints, footprints, and autographs decorate the theater’s Forecourt of the Stars. These unique imprints include:

Harold Lloyd’s eyeglasses and Groucho Marx’s cigar
Betty Grable’s leg and Marilyn Monroe’s earring
Harry Potter stars’ wands
Hoofprints of famous horses: Tony, Champion, and Trigger

Visiting Hours

Tours run daily from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Movies screen Sunday through Thursday at 4 PM and 8 PM, with late shows at 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. A VIP tour lasts 30 minutes and costs $16 for adults and $10 for children. The theater closes occasionally for special events and premieres, so visitors should check the schedule before arriving.

Hollywood Sign Viewpoint

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Standing 45 feet tall and stretching 30 feet wide, each letter of the Hollywood Sign dominates the skyline from its spot on Mount Lee. This iconic movie location has become LA’s most photographed landmark.

Best Movie Appearances

Movies love to destroy the Sign in spectacular ways. We watched it get torn apart by a tornado in The Day After Tomorrow (2004). The Sign didn’t fare much better in Independence Day (1996), San Andreas (2015), and Sharknado (2013), where a falling letter crushed an aspiring actor’s dreams.

Photography Locations

These spots are a great way to get that perfect shot:

Lake Hollywood Park: You’ll find clear, unobstructed views here
Griffith Observatory: Head to the right-hand viewing platform
Hollywood & Highland Center: The fourth-floor deck gives amazing views
South Windsor Boulevard: You can frame the sign with classic palm trees

Access Information

The park welcomes visitors from sunrise to sunset. Early morning visits help you avoid crowds and heat. Lake Hollywood Park makes a great alternative, with street parking available along Canyon Lake Drive.

Important Note: The Sign stays off-limits to visitors, with security teams watching the area. The Los Angeles Fire Department marks Griffith Park as a high-risk fire zone. Safety rules limit parking in some residential areas, and northern Beachwood Canyon has 15-year old preferential parking districts.

Bradbury Building from Blade Runner

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The Bradbury Building, one of Los Angeles’ most cherished iconic movie locations, sits at 304 South Broadway. This architectural masterpiece opened its doors in 1893 and shot to worldwide fame after its appearance in Blade Runner (1982).

Film History

Blade Runner gave the building its most memorable screen time, featuring it as J.F. Sebastian’s apartment and the setting for the dramatic rooftop finale. Beyond its science fiction fame, this landmark shows up in many classic films like Chinatown (1974), The Artist (2011), and Double Indemnity (1944).

Architectural Features

This five-story Victorian masterpiece boasts several unique elements:

A magical central court that lights up from massive skylights above
“Bird-cage” elevators wrapped in ornate wrought-iron grillwork
Marble staircases with intricate iron railings
Plate-glass windows that were Los Angeles’ largest when built

Visitor Guidelines

A government worker greets visitors daily and shares the building’s history. Visitors can explore up to the first landing where they can see the restored ironwork. The building opens from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM on weekdays and 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekends. The building went through a complete restoration in the early 1990s that brought back its original splendor.

Beverly Wilshire Hotel from Pretty Woman

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The majestic Beverly Wilshire stands proudly at the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Rodeo Drive. This iconic movie location gained worldwide fame through Pretty Woman in 1990. Built in 1928, the Beaux Arts-style hotel continues to fascinate visitors with its blend of Hollywood glamor and luxury.

Movie Moments

Pretty Woman featured the hotel’s exterior and lobby as key filming locations, with just under three minutes of screen time. The memorable elevator scene and grand entrance sequences were shot on location. The penthouse suite scenes came from a set at Disney Studio in Burbank.

Hotel Experience

The Beverly Wilshire brings Pretty Woman to life through various experiences, from simple photo opportunities to lavish packages that cost up to $300,000. Guests can enjoy the Michelin-starred CUT by Wolfgang Puck restaurant, a Forbes Five-Star Spa, and the exclusive Lea Journo Salon.

Photo Opportunities

Visitors can create their own Hollywood moments at these popular spots:

The iconic hotel lobby with its classic chandelier
The grand entrance where Vivian made her memorable arrivals
The historic elevators featured in the film
The elegant THE Blvd Restaurant overlooking Rodeo Drive

The Beverly Wilshire stands as a premier luxury destination that welcomes guests from around the globe. Movie fans can immerse themselves in specialized experiences that recreate magical moments from the film, complete with personal shopping and exclusive dining arrangements.

Randy’s Donuts from Iron Man

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Randy’s Donuts has stood as one of Los Angeles’ most recognizable iconic movie locations since 1953. The shop’s claim to fame is its massive 32-foot rooftop donut crafted from steel and gunite.

Famous Scene Details

Iron Man 2 brought worldwide attention to this landmark. The memorable scene shows Robert Downey Jr. perched inside the giant donut in his Iron Man suit, nursing a hangover. Fans love the moment when Nick Fury tells Stark to “exit the donut.” The scene takes an interesting turn when Agent Natasha Romanoff reveals her true identity and helps curb Stark’s palladium poisoning by injecting him with lithium dioxide.

Visitor Experience

The shop never closes, serving 28 different varieties of donuts around the clock. Randy’s preserves its original 1950s drive-up restaurant design that showcases post-war Los Angeles architecture. Visitors can grab branded merchandise like t-shirts, hats, and bumper stickers proudly displaying “Don’t accept imitations!”.

Photo Spots

The best spots to capture this famous movie location are:

Classic front-view shots from the drive-in parking area
Iconic side angles from Manchester Avenue sidewalk
Full building views from Manchester & La Cienega corner

Richard Bradshaw, the structural engineer behind the LAX Theme Building, designed this iconic donut. The landmark has appeared in many films including Mars Attacks, Get Shorty, and 2012 – where audiences watched the famous donut roll down a collapsing street.

Millennium Biltmore Hotel

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The Millennium Biltmore Hotel has stood proudly since 1923 as Los Angeles’ grandest iconic movie location. This magnificent venue gave the Academy Awards ceremony its first home.

Film History

A legendary luncheon in the Crystal Ballroom marked the birth of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in May 1927. We hosted eight Academy Awards ceremonies from 1931 to 1942. The Biltmore Bowl, which people called the largest hotel ballroom worldwide, packed in over 2,000 guests during these prestigious events.

Notable Movie Scenes

The hotel’s elegant architecture has become a favorite backdrop for countless productions. These famous filming locations inside the hotel showcase:

Pretty in Pink‘s unforgettable prom scene in the South Galleria
Boxing sequences from Rocky III in the Crystal Ballroom
The Music Room where Ghostbusters caught Slimer

All the same, the hotel shows its versatility through appearances in modern shows like Mad Men, The Morning Show, and Scandal. As with many music artists, Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran picked its ornate halls for their videos.

Tour Information

The Los Angeles Conservancy runs guided tours of this historic landmark. Groups can visit rain or shine, and accessibility accommodations are ready when needed. Visitors can walk through the magnificent Beaux-Arts architecture and learn about its rich cinematic heritage. The property welcomes guided groups and individual guests who want to experience its grandeur firsthand.

Los Angeles City Hall

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LA City Hall stands majestically above downtown Los Angeles. This architectural marvel has been an iconic movie location for almost 100 years. Built in 1928, it reaches 454 feet into the California sky and holds the title of tallest base-isolated structure in the world.

Famous Movie Appearances

The building’s unique silhouette shows up in many famous productions. Here are some memorable appearances:

L.A. Confidential (1997) as the police headquarters
Dragnet TV series as itself
Adventures of Superman as the Daily Planet building
War of the Worlds (1953) featuring its dramatic destruction
Gangster Squad (2013) showcasing its iconic tower

Building History

John Parkinson, Albert C. Martin, Sr., and John C. Austin worked together to design this masterpiece. The building has a special connection to California – its concrete contains sand from all 58 counties and water from 21 historical missions. After the 1994 Northridge earthquake, the structure went through a complete USD 299 million restoration.

Visit Planning

Visitors can access the observation deck for free Monday through Friday during business hours. The building hosts around 50 film shoots each year while serving as both a working government facility and a famous filming location. Public tours are available at the City Hall’s Council Chambers at 200 N. Spring Street. Weekday mornings are ideal for visits since government activities are less busy then.

Union Station

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Union Station, Los Angeles’ grandest transportation hub and a cherished iconic movie location, emerged from the brilliant minds of renowned architects in 1939. This architectural masterpiece has graced hundreds of films throughout its history.

Iconic Film Scenes

Filmmakers have been drawn to the station’s timeless elegance for decades. Notable productions include:

Blade Runner (1982) showcasing its dystopian potential
The Dark Knight Rises (2012) revolutionized it into Gotham City
Catch Me If You Can (2002) utilized its period authenticity
Pearl Harbor (2001) captured its historical essence

Architecture Features

The structure’s austere Neoclassical exterior boasts a massive limestone-clad colonnade. Architect Daniel Burnham could foresee this masterpiece, which opened in 1925 after ten years of construction at a cost of USD 75 million. The Beaux Arts-style Great Hall’s interior dazzles visitors with colossal fluted Corinthian columns and their gilded capitals.

Tourist Information

The station welcomes visitors 4:00 AM to 1:00 AM daily throughout the year. Short-term and long-term parking facilities offer rates starting at USD 2.00 per 15 minutes. The station serves as Downtown’s vibrant symbol that connects historical architecture with modern culture through arts and transit. The station hosts roughly 100 filming days each year while serving its primary purpose as a transportation hub.

Venice Beach Boardwalk

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Venice Beach Boardwalk stretches over two miles along the Pacific coast and ranks as the second most filmed location worldwide. This vibrant strip between Santa Monica and Marina Del Rey has earned over 500 screen credits.

Movie Appearances

Filmmakers have been drawn to the boardwalk’s eclectic atmosphere for decades. The iconic movie location has appeared in White Men Can’t Jump, Jackie Brown, and Lords of Dogtown. Greta Gerwig’s Barbie featured it most recently, with Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling rollerblading down the boardwalk in neon Lycra. Their scenes highlight the stark contrast between Barbie Land’s perfection and Venice’s authentic character.

Filming Locations

Popular filming spots along the boardwalk include:

Venice Police Department, which evolved from Venice Town Hall for various productions
The historic Venice Pavilion, a backdrop for countless skating sequences
Ocean Front Walk, which became a Mexican border town under Orson Welles’s direction
Canal bridges that have set the stage for multiple chase scenes

Visitor Guide

The boardwalk draws approximately 28,000 visitors daily. Street performers like Harry Perry make the experience unique – you might catch him playing electric guitar on roller skates, just as he does in his film cameos. Summer and weekends bring peak crowds, so planning ahead helps. The area buzzes with vendors selling art, palm readers sharing fortunes, and henna tattoo artists creating temporary masterpieces. Jay’s Rental bikes are perfect for exploring the area, and you can pedal all the way to Santa Monica on the Marvin Braude Bike Trail.

Formosa Cafe

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The legendary Formosa Cafe is evidence of Hollywood’s golden age. Since 1939, this iconic movie location has stood across from the historic Samuel Goldwyn Studios. Stars, mobsters, and film enthusiasts have called it home for more than eight decades.

Hollywood History

The Red Post Cafe started it all in the 1910s. The venue soon changed into the Formosa Cafe and added something special – a Red Car trolley from 1904, now the oldest surviving one. Regular customers weren’t the only ones who loved this place. Mobsters made it their hangout, and Bugsy Siegal even kept his private safe under his favorite booth’s floor.

Movie Connections

L.A. Confidential put the cafe in the spotlight with one of its most memorable scenes. This famous filming location attracted legendary patrons like:

Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall
Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner
Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe
John Wayne, who cooked scrambled eggs in the kitchen after dozing off in a booth

Dining Experience

The 1933 Group completed a USD 2.40 million restoration. The cafe’s vintage charm lives on through its classic red leather booths and restored Red Car dining area. Arthur Dong’s curated exhibition adds a new dimension to the space. Visitors can now explore Chinese American contributions to Hollywood through vintage lobby cards and photographs. The establishment continues to be a premier dining spot that offers guests a genuine taste of Hollywood’s rich history.

Musso & Frank Grill

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Musso & Frank Grill stands as Hollywood’s oldest restaurant at 6667 Hollywood Boulevard since 1919. This legendary spot serves both culinary delights and cinematic moments, creating a unique space where Hollywood’s past meets present.

Film Appearances

Many productions have drawn their attention to the restaurant’s authentic ambiance. Notable appearances include Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) with Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Al Pacino. The restaurant also featured in Ocean’s Eleven (2001), Mad Men (2007-2015), Swingers (1996), and Ed Wood (1994).

Quentin Tarantino’s filming required the restaurant to close for five consecutive days. This marked an unprecedented event in its 100-year history.

Restaurant History

Frank Toulet started Frank’s François Café, which became Musso & Frank when Joseph Musso joined in 1923. Italian immigrants Joseph Carissimi and John Mosso bought the establishment in 1927. The restaurant managed to keep its original character through the years. High ceilings, dark wood paneling, and signature red booths remain unchanged.

Dining Information

Two unique dining spaces define the restaurant – the Old Room from 1934 and the New Room from 1955. Servers dressed in red jackets and bowties serve classic dishes from a menu that has barely changed in decades. Three new private dining rooms expanded the space in 2021, showcasing oak wood paneling and hand-painted murals. The restaurant’s Walk of Fame star, awarded on its 100th birthday in 2019, makes it unique as the only restaurant with this difference.

Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel

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The Spanish Colonial Revival masterpiece has graced Hollywood Boulevard since 1927. Hollywood legends including Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, and Louis B. Mayer brought their vision to life.

Movie History

The hotel’s Blossom Room made history when it hosted the first-ever Academy Awards ceremony on May 19, 1929. The ceremony lasted just five minutes. The hotel’s elegant spaces have appeared in many productions:

Catch Me If You Can with Leonardo DiCaprio
Beverly Hills Cop II starring Eddie Murphy
Internal Affairs featuring Richard Gere
Mighty Joe Young (1998 remake)
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Hotel Features

The Roosevelt now shines with restored Spanish Colonial architecture after a USD 35 million renovation. The designers worked from original blueprints to recreate authentic details. The hotel features:

320 rooms and 38 suites
A sunken Spanish lobby with rounded Moorish windows
A giant wrought-iron chandelier that was found in pieces and carefully restored
Shirley Temple’s tiled stairway that leads to the historic mezzanine

Visit Planning

Both overnight guests and history buffs can experience this landmark hotel. An exhibit on the mezzanine level celebrates Old Hollywood and houses the original camera that filmed Gone With The Wind. Visitors can explore historic photos, framed Tinseltown memorabilia, and glimpses of Hollywood landmarks while walking the same halls as Charlie Chaplin, Clara Bow, and Greta Garbo.

Paramount Pictures Studio

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Paramount Pictures spans 65 acres of cinematic history and stands as the last major studio in Hollywood. This iconic movie location has created over 12,425 movies and TV shows throughout its remarkable journey.

Historic Sets

The studio’s rich heritage lives on through its unique features, with the elegant Bronson Gate serving as Hollywood’s own Arc de Triomphe. The studio spent USD 1 million (USD 16.8 million in today’s money) to build four sound stages. The lot now features 30 sound stages and displays architecture of all styles, ranging from Mediterranean Revival to Streamline Moderne.

Tour Experience

Visitors aged 10 and above can enjoy the two-hour studio tour for USD 63 per person. A knowledgeable Studio Page takes you through famous spots including:

The New York Street Backlot
The historic Prop Warehouse
The legendary Bronson Gate
Lucy Park, which recreates Lucille Ball’s Beverly Hills backyard

Tours run daily with slots in the morning and afternoon. Unlike other working studios, Paramount lets visitors take photos during tours.

Photo Opportunities

The studio’s five-acre New York City backlot creates perfect settings for photos. The 145-foot-tall water tower with the Paramount logo makes an impressive backdrop. The massive 900,000-gallon water tank used for water scenes gives you unique photo chances. Weekday mornings tend to have fewer crowds and better access to the sets.

Warner Bros Studio

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Warner Bros. Studio spans 110 acres of entertainment history and serves as a bustling hub of movie magic. The studio produces over 300 productions annually. This iconic movie location shapes Hollywood’s future while preserving its rich heritage.

Famous Sets

The studio’s versatile backlots feature several timeless settings. Brownstone Street has appeared in countless classic shows and films. Midwest Street stands as a backdrop in nearly 400 productions since the 1930s. New York Street brings modern hits like The Big Bang Theory to life. Fans can visit the original Central Perk set from Friends. Stage 48 houses authentic props and costumes from vintage films.

Tour Highlights

A compelling introductory film kicks off each three-hour experience by showcasing Warner Bros.’ century-long legacy. Expert guides lead visitors through the working studio in custom-made tour carts and reveal the secrets of filmmaking. Stage 48: Script to Screen lets guests explore at their own pace. The exhibition showcases original props like Michael Jordan’s Tune Squad jersey from Space Jam and Michael Keaton’s Batman cowl.