Santa Monica combines an expansive Pacific beach with a historic pier, parks, and cultural destinations. This makes it easy to tailor your stay to different interests: time on the coast, architecture and city history, or art and markets. When planning your days, you can first decide which of these sides of Santa Monica you want to focus on.
Coast, Pier, and Waterfront Paths
Santa Monica State Beach stretches for more than three miles and covers 245 acres of sand. At the historic Santa Monica Pier, Ocean Avenue meets Colorado Avenue; from there, the pier extends out into the Pacific. Visitors can enjoy coastal views and ride the Ferris wheel at Pacific Park. Check before your trip whether the specific ride is available.
The stated distances also help put cycling routes into perspective. The paved Marvin Braude Bike Trail runs for 22 miles along the Los Angeles County coast, between Will Rogers State Beach and Torrance Beach. The bike path along Santa Monica Beach is listed as three miles long: it runs from Will Rogers State Beach in the north to Venice Beach in the south, with a parallel pedestrian path. The respective distances and stated endpoints describe different scales for finding your way around.
History and Architecture at the Pier
The pier is home to the Looff Hippodrome, its oldest and most architecturally significant building. Charles I. D. Looff designed and built it in 1916. Across from the pier, at 120 Colorado Avenue, is the Pierside Mural, a public artwork. The Shotgun House is designated a Santa Monica landmark. Together, these places are a reason to look beyond the pier itself during a visit, taking in its surroundings and the designated historic buildings as well.
Another way to explore the city’s history is the Santa Monica Conservancy’s Third Street Walk. This recurring tour covers the history of the first historic district and the city’s early development. It also explores how 27 bungalows and four other structures came to be designated as a historic district. Since this is a tour, it’s a good idea to check the dates before your visit.
Parks, Art, and Community Spaces
Tongva Park covers six acres and combines modern landscape design with art sculptures, sustainable planting, play structures, and walking paths through four areas. Free cultural performances take place there, which visitors can watch or take part in. The 26-acre Palisades Park runs along Ocean Avenue and offers views of Santa Monica Bay. The two parks have different focuses: Tongva Park’s offerings include its design and cultural performances, while Palisades Park is defined by its location along Ocean Avenue and its views of the bay.
The Annenberg Community Beach House brings together historic heritage, contemporary amenities, beach areas and courts, and community and cultural events. Visitors can tour Marion Davies’s Golden Age guesthouse year-round. The historic swimming pool is open in summer; seasonal availability may vary. A visit combines a glimpse into the site’s history with offerings centered on the beach and community.
Those interested in the wider history of the region can find exhibits on the history of the Santa Monica Bay Area at the Santa Monica History Museum. Bay Street Beach also has historical significance: in 2019, the beach was added to the National Register of Historic Places in recognition of its role as a rare coastal enclave of African American communities.
City Life, Galleries, and Markets
Third Street Promenade is a car-free shopping, dining, and entertainment destination in the heart of Downtown Santa Monica. The Santa Monica Farmers Markets take place there twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays; check the dates before your trip. A farmers market is also held on the grounds of the California Heritage Museum on Sundays. These market days offer a reason in their own right to explore what’s available locally during your stay.
Along Main Street, the architectural landscape ranges from classicism to Art Deco. Its streetscape includes independent boutiques and art galleries, as well as a high concentration of restaurants and cafés. The Bergamot Station Arts Center is another arts hub, home to more than 20 privately run art galleries, design offices, and nonprofit organizations.
When planning, the variety mainly means choosing a focus: would you prefer to spend your time by the water and at the pier, explore historic sites, or include art, dining, and markets? With that decision, you can tailor your stay in Santa Monica to your own interests.
Discover more destinations: Altadena, Hacienda Heights, Hidden Hills, Hawaiian Gardens, Vernon, Culver City, Pico Rivera, Baldwin Park.
Back to the main travel guide: Los Angeles.
