Top 9 Things to do in Santa Monica and Venice Beach from my visit!
Visiting Los Angeles never gets old for me. I have been coming to LA from the San Francisco Bay Area for more than 20 years, sometimes for weekend getaways and other times on longer trips with family. On my most recent visit, I set aside a full day in our Los Angeles itinerary to explore two of LA’s most iconic beaches, Santa Monica and Venice Beach.
These two beach towns sit right next to each other along the coastline, and you can easily visit both in one day. They’re only a five-minute drive apart and are connected by a wide beachfront path that people walk, bike, and skate along from morning to sunset. We had our own car since we drove down from the Bay Area, but both beaches are just as easy to reach with rideshare.
We started our morning in Venice and ended the day in Santa Monica, but you can do either beach first. I loved how different the two places felt, even though they’re so close. Santa Monica has a more classic beach town feel, while Venice is colorful, artsy, and full of character. Together, they make a perfect beach day.
Apart from lounging at the beach, below are the top things to do in Santa Monica and Venice Beach, based on my day exploring both.
Below are some top Santa Monica recommendations!
1. Walk the Venice Canals
We started our morning at the Venice Canals, which was the perfect calm beginning to the day, before the boardwalk energy kicked in. From Venice Beach, it’s just a short walk to reach the canals. We walked down 25th Avenue to enter the neighborhood and then wandered along the walkways.
The canals feel completely tucked away from everything, lined with pretty homes, small pedestrian bridges, and quiet paths that make you forget you’re in the middle of LA. It’s such a peaceful contrast to the lively beach area.
We took our time strolling through and stopping for photos. The homes here are beautiful, and several have canoes tied up along the canal. It must be nice and peaceful to live here! It took us around an hour total to explore, which included the time to walk from the beach.
2. Explore the Venice Beach Boardwalk
From the canals, we walked back to the Venice Beach boardwalk, which has a completely different vibe. It’s lively, colorful, and a little chaotic. Street performers, artists, souvenir shops, murals, and food stands line the walkway, and there’s always something happening. As we visited earlier in the day, it wasn’t that busy.
We wandered for a while, checking out local vendors and people watching. If you go earlier in the day, the crowds are lighter, and it’s easier to explore at a slower pace.
3. Watch the action at Muscle Beach
Muscle Beach is one of those classic Venice spots that’s fun to see in person. We glanced at the outdoor workout area as we passed by the boardwalk and saw several athletes training on the equipment. It’s hard to miss with all the activity right next to the beach. There’s a similar Muscle Beach in Santa Monica as well.
4. Stop by the Venice Skate Park
Right next to the beach is the Venice Skate Park, another great place to pause for a bit. We watched skaters flying up the bowls and ramps with the ocean in the background. Even if you’re not into skating, it’s a fun scene to watch.
5. Walk or bike The Strand
The wide beachfront walkway that connects Venice and Santa Monica is part of The Strand, a scenic coastal path that runs for miles along the LA coastline. The distance between Venice Beach and the Santa Monica Pier is roughly 2.5 miles, which makes it easy to walk or bike between the two.
We walked a portion of it before driving over to Santa Monica, but this stretch is especially popular for biking, skating, and scootering. If you want to rent bikes, there are several rental shops along the boardwalk in Venice and near the pier in Santa Monica. Most offer hourly rentals, and you can return the bikes to the same or a different location, depending on the shop.
The path is flat, scenic, and stays close to the sand the entire way, making it one of the nicest ways to explore between these two beaches.
6. Relax on Santa Monica Beach
Santa Monica Beach is one of the most iconic and popular beaches in LA. It has a classic Southern California feel. I love how wide Southern California beaches are compared to the beaches in Northern California.
We reached there by early evening, and it was pretty lively. We hung out for a bit, watching surfers catch waves near the pier, before heading up to explore the pier itself.
7. Visit the Santa Monica Pier
The Santa Monica Pier is one of those places that feels happening and fun every time. We walked the length of the pier, checked out the small shops, watched a few street performers, and enjoyed the views of the beach and water.
The pier is also home to Pacific Park, a small amusement park with a Ferris wheel and rides, which is a hit with families.
You’ll also see the End of Route 66 sign here, which marks the western end of the historic highway. We stayed until sunset, which turned out to be one of my favorite moments of the day. I highly recommend watching the sunset over the Pacific Ocean from either Santa Monica or Venice Beach.
8. Explore downtown Santa Monica
After sunset, we wandered into downtown Santa Monica for a short walk. The area around the Third Street Promenade has plenty of restaurants, shops, and places to grab dinner after a day exploring the beaches.
9. Stroll through Palisades Park
Palisades Park sits on the bluff overlooking Santa Monica Beach and is an easy place to stroll after visiting the pier. The walkway runs along Ocean Avenue with ocean views, palm trees, and plenty of benches. It’s a nice stretch of greenery for a walk and for taking in views of the coastline and the pier.
Tips from our visit
Final Takeaways
Venice Beach and Santa Monica Beach are two of the easiest beach neighborhoods to combine on a single day in Los Angeles. With The Strand connecting them, plenty of sights to explore on foot, and a mix of classic coastal views and lively boardwalk energy, you can cover a lot without feeling rushed.
Start your morning at the Venice Canals or boardwalk, make your way toward Santa Monica for beach time, pier, and downtown, and stay to watch the sunset over the Pacific. It’s a fun way to experience some of the best of LA’s coastline in one day.
➡️Check out my other posts about LA:
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