Venice Beach Tours and Activities

Venice Beach featuring picnicking and a city as well as a large group of people
Venice Beach
Photo provided by Matt Marriott/LA Tourism Marketing
Venice Beach
Venice Beach


A popular beach with visitors to Los Angeles, Venice beach offers an eclectic mix of golden sands, pumped up bodybuilders, street entertainers and mime acts.

Venice Beach is renowned for its lively and entertaining sights. Walking along the Venice Beach Boardwalk you’ll see what can only be described as a human carnival. A heavy dose of vibrancy, colour and sheer life force is exuded by the people in this location. This most bohemian of areas will never leave you short people-watching opportunities, with street artists, musicians, poets, singers, skateboarders and jugglers all commonplace. There are some incredible sights to behold among the crowds here watch a cyclist breathing fire or an acrobat juggling chainsaws, anything’s possible here. This is LA at its inimitable, ostentatious, outrageous best.

The boardwalk stretches out for over 2.5 kilometres miles. Take a leisurely stroll and check out the stalls, shops and stands, which sell local fare, along with a selection of souvenirs, trinkets, cheap sunglasses, T-shirts and sandals.

Further along the boardwalk, you’ll encounter a different type of exhibitionism, in the form of Muscle Beach. This is the legendary outdoor gym at which some of the best beach bodies are put through their paces. This was where the likes of famous actors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno of Incredible Hulk fame both worked out during trips to Los Angeles. If you fancy pumping some iron and want to join in, you can buy a day pass for $10 at the Venice Beach Recreations and Parks Office on Ocean Front Walk.

Venice Beach itself is five kilometres of scrupulously maintained golden sand that feels like paradise on earth. If you fancy a dip in the sea to cool off, you can do so in the knowledge that the beach is patrolled throughout daylight hours. There are also both surf and body boards to hire if you want to try your hand at a spot of surfing. Venice Beach has a Mediterranean climate and is a wonderful destination for anyone who wishes to soak up a bit of sun.

There is plenty of parking available nearby. Venice Beach is located around 30 kilometres from downtown LA on the coast between Santa Monica and Marina Del Rey.

Plan a trip to see Venice Beach

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The LEEF Hotel
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Reviews of Venice Beach

3.8
Guest rating
5 - Excellent
54
5 - Excellent 25%
4 - Good
90
4 - Good 42%
3 - Okay
50
3 - Okay 23%
2 - Disappointing
9
2 - Disappointing 4%
1 - Terrible
12
1 - Terrible 6%

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

A room on the boardwalk is fantastic for views during the day but can be noisy at night and early morning!

1/5 - Terrible

Verified traveller

Dirty and full of homeless people.

1/5 - Terrible

Verified traveller

Lots of weird people on drugs. Beach ok. Not worth a visit.

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller

Hire bikes to ride along beach walk

2/5 - Disappointing

Verified traveller

Having visited Venice about 25 years ago I was so disappointed to return and find it run down and dirty.

1/5 - Terrible

Verified traveller

turned into a sleasy low life area with cheap shops selling touristy trinkets and supposedly sexy underwear on blow up dummies. Such a shame for what could otherwise be made into a lovely area considering the beach is lovely. The local Council needs to get their act together to raise the level of the area.

Popular places to visit


Top Venice Beach Hotel & Accommodation Deals

Hotel Erwin Venice Beach
Hotel Erwin Venice Beach
4 out of 5
1697 Pacific Avenue, Venice, CA
Hotel Erwin Venice Beach
Venice V Hotel
Venice V Hotel
3 out of 5
5 Westminster Avenue, Suite 118, Venice, CA
Venice V Hotel
Venice Breeze Suites
Venice Breeze Suites
3.5 out of 5
2 Breeze Avenue, Venice, CA
Venice Breeze Suites
Samesun Venice Beach - Hostel
Samesun Venice Beach - Hostel
2 out of 5
25 Windward Ave, Venice, CA
Samesun Venice Beach - Hostel
The Inn at Venice Beach
The Inn at Venice Beach
3 out of 5
327 Washington Blvd, Venice, CA
The Inn at Venice Beach
Air Venice on the Beach
Air Venice on the Beach
3 out of 5
5 Rose Avenue, Venice, CA
Air Venice on the Beach
Venice on the Beach Hotel
Venice on the Beach Hotel
3.5 out of 5
2819 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA
Venice on the Beach Hotel
South Venice Lodge
South Venice Lodge
2 out of 5
440 S Venice Blvd, Venice, CA
South Venice Lodge
Venice Suites
Venice Suites
3 out of 5
417 OceanFront Walk, Venice, CA
Venice 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.