Santa Monica Travel Guide

Tourist Guide
Santa Monica featuring street scenes, a city and general coastal views
An up-market city home to surfers, students, and celebrities, this is where to enjoy one of the famous beaches, a historic pier and great nightlife of the Los Angeles area.

Santa Monica has been one of LA’s most fashionable beach cities for decades. It’s easy to see why with its famous beaches, historic pier, balmy year-round weather and a trendy crowd that frequents the many cafés, boutiques and bars.

Grab a towel and head to the well-maintained beach, which stretches for 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers). The sand is raked daily and is shared by volleyball players, swimmers and sunbathers throughout the year.

For a bit of fun, check out the historic Santa Monica Pier where all the family will enjoy the Pacific Park amusement center. There’s also a small aquarium, shops and arcade.

Wander between the cafés, bookstores, and cinemas of the Third Street Promenade. Check out Main Street for more shops, or go celebrity watching on Montana Avenue. Admire quality top-notch art, visit the Bergamot Station Arts Center. You’ll find the Santa Monica Museum of Art as well as several other smaller galleries. In the evening, drop by the Santa Monica Playhouse for a show, then head out to choose from dozens of bars and restaurants.

From Third St Promenade head to Palisades Park. It stretches for 25 acres (10 hectares), and its treelined paths give a great view of the ocean. There are plenty of spots to picnic, read and watch the world go by.

If you feel like picking up the pace, rent a bike and go for a ride along the 22-mile (35-kilometer) Marvin Braude Bike Trail. This trail passes beneath the Santa Monica Pier and runs mostly along the Pacific Ocean.

Santa Monica is home to a sophisticated and fun crowd. You can hit the beach, party, go celebrity watching, or check out the well-developed art scene and eclectic shops.

Where to stay in Santa Monica

Santa Monica showing tropical scenes and general coastal views

Downtown Santa Monica

4.5/5(44 area reviews)

While you're in Downtown Santa Monica, take in top sights like Santa Monica Beach and jump on the metro at Downtown Santa Monica Station to see more of the city.

Downtown Santa Monica
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Ocean Park

4.5/5(18 area reviews)

Ocean Park is known for its stunning beaches, and you can see some sights area like Venice Beach and Santa Monica Beach.

Ocean Park
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Pico

While you're in Pico, take in top sights like Santa Monica Place or Third Street Promenade, and hop on the metro to see more of the city at 17th Street/SMC Station or 26th Street/Bergamot Station.

Pico
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North of Wilshire

4.5/5(7 area reviews)

While visiting North of Wilshire, you might make a stop by sights like Santa Monica Beach and Third Street Promenade.

North of Wilshire
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North of Montana

If you're spending some time in North of Montana, Santa Monica Beach and Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area are top sights worth seeing.

North of Montana
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Wilshire Montana

If you're spending some time in Wilshire Montana, Santa Monica Beach and Third Street Promenade are top sights worth seeing.

Wilshire Montana
Gateway Hotel Santa Monica
Gateway Hotel Santa Monica
3.5 out of 5
1920 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA
The price is AU$396 per night from 31 Mar to 1 Apr
AU$396
per night
31 Mar - 1 Apr
Stay at this 3.5-star business-friendly hotel in Santa Monica. Enjoy free WiFi, room service, and a fitness center. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,549 reviews)
"Very clean"

Reviewed on 26 Mar. 2024

Gateway Hotel Santa Monica
The Huntley Hotel
The Huntley Hotel
4.5 out of 5
1111 2nd St, Santa Monica, CA
The price is AU$518 per night from 31 Mar to 1 Apr
AU$518
per night
31 Mar - 1 Apr
Stay at this family-friendly hotel in Santa Monica. Enjoy breakfast, WiFi, and a free area shuttle. Our guests praise the restaurant and the helpful staff in ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,155 reviews)
"Great customer service. Great location. Lovely Rooms"

Reviewed on 25 Mar. 2024

The Huntley Hotel
Hilton Santa Monica Hotel & Suites
Hilton Santa Monica Hotel & Suites
4 out of 5
1707 4th St, Santa Monica, CA
The price is AU$488 per night from 3 Apr to 4 Apr
AU$488
per night
3 Apr - 4 Apr
Stay at this beach hotel in Santa Monica. Enjoy breakfast, WiFi, and a free beach shuttle. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our reviews. ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,005 reviews)
"Was welcomed right away by the front desk personnel."

Reviewed on 25 Mar. 2024

Hilton Santa Monica Hotel & Suites
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Large Room Available in a Beautiful Victorian Manor in Santa Monica
Large Room Available in a Beautiful Victorian Manor in Santa Monica
Santa Monica
Stay at this vacation home in Santa Monica. Enjoy free WiFi, onsite parking, and a garden. Our guests praise the clean rooms in our reviews. Popular attractions ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (129 reviews)
Great Stay
"Property is as described. Great location ~felt safe. Very well stocked with all the extras and then some."

Reviewed on 24 Feb. 2024

Large Room Available in a Beautiful Victorian Manor in Santa Monica
Santa Monica Beach House
Santa Monica Beach House
Santa Monica
Stay at this vacation home in Santa Monica. Enjoy WiFi, onsite parking, and an in-room DVD player. Popular attractions Santa Monica Pier and Santa Monica Beach ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (120 reviews)
Great location
"The Beach House was a great stay for us in Santa Monica. A fully equipped kitchen is perfect for short stays. Property was clean, private, and within 500m of the famous Santa Monica beach. Property owner was completely accessible but did not infringe. Would definitely recommend and may use ..."

Reviewed on 7 Mar. 2024

Santa Monica Beach House
WALKING DISTANCE FROM 5 STAR RESTURANTS!!
WALKING DISTANCE FROM 5 STAR RESTURANTS!!
Santa Monica
Stay at this vacation home in Santa Monica. Enjoy WiFi, onsite parking, and barbecue grills. Popular attractions Venice Beach and Santa Monica Beach are located ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (94 reviews)
Lovely stay
"Ideal location and comfortable stay for my husband and I. Close to shops, restaurants and for us most importantly our son and his family. We will stay again."

Reviewed on 6 Mar. 2024

WALKING DISTANCE FROM 5 STAR RESTURANTS!!
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Activities

Reviews of Santa Monica

4.4
Top destination
5 - Excellent
36
" "5 - Excellent 55.38461538461539%
4 - Good
23
" "4 - Good 35.38461538461539%
3 - Okay
4
" "3 - Okay 6.153846153846154%
2 - Disappointing
2
" "2 - Disappointing 3.076923076923077%
1 - Terrible
0
" "1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
19 Jan 2020

Feel very easy and plenty of shopping and places to dine out. Good for a jog, bike ride or walk.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
5 Jan 2020

Very chilled. Very friendly people.

2/5 - Disappointing

Verified traveller
17 Dec 2019

Although Santa Monica appears to be bright and beautiful it still has very shady, dirty little parts in between that make you feel uncomfortable and unsafe. This can be witnessed by the constantly high level of Police presence.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
6 Dec 2019

Love the city would move there tomorrow

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
29 Nov 2019

Santa Monica is awesome.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
16 Oct 2019

Great place to stay. The atmosphere is great and the people very friendly.

Cities near Santa Monica