Santa Monica

Travel Guide

Santa Monica featuring street scenes, a city and general coastal views
Santa Monica which includes general coastal views
Santa Monica
Santa Monica featuring general coastal views and marine life
Santa Monica which includes a playground, a city and modern architecture

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 kilometres). 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 centre. 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 Centre. 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-kilometre) 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

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Downtown Santa Monica

4.5/5(45 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(23 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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Sunset Park

4/5(7 area reviews)

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Sunset Park and surrounding area, you can visit Bergamot Station Arts Center and Main Street Santa Monica.

Sunset Park
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Mid-City

4/5(10 area reviews)

Even though there aren't top sights in Mid-City, you can explore the larger area and take in top sights like Santa Monica Beach. Jump on the metro at 17th Street/SMC Station to see more of the city.

Mid-City
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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
The Huntley Hotel

The Huntley Hotel

4.5 out of 5
1111 2nd St, Santa Monica, CA
The price is RM1,220 per night from 19 Oct to 20 Oct
RM1,220
RM1,605 total
19 Oct - 20 Oct
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury hotel in Santa Monica. Enjoy breakfast (surcharge), a free area shuttle, and room service. Our guests praise the restaurant and ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (2,138 reviews)
"Just can’t say enough about how great this hotel is. From the check in to check out. Every single staff member was friendly and helpful. Room was gorgeous and we were lucky enough to get the Malibu view but all views are really special. The Penthouse restaurant and bar had impeccable service as well ..."

Reviewed on 9 Oct 2025

The Huntley Hotel
Hyatt Centric Delfina Santa Monica

Hyatt Centric Delfina Santa Monica

4 out of 5
530 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA
The price is RM813 per night from 2 Nov to 3 Nov
RM813
RM1,137 total
2 Nov - 3 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Santa Monica. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the bar ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (200 reviews)
"All good"

Reviewed on 6 Oct 2025

Hyatt Centric Delfina Santa Monica
Hilton Los Angeles Airport

Hilton Los Angeles Airport

4 out of 5
5711 W Century Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
The price is RM502 per night from 20 Oct to 21 Oct
RM502
RM584 total
20 Oct - 21 Oct
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Los Angeles. Enjoy 4 restaurants, breakfast (surcharge), and a free airport shuttle. Our guests praise the bar ...
8/10 Very Good! (4,874 reviews)
"Excellent place to stay"

Reviewed on 9 Oct 2025

Hilton Los Angeles Airport
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.
Kasa Sunset Los Angeles

Kasa Sunset Los Angeles

3 out of 5
5825 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA
Stay at this 3-star aparthotel in Los Angeles. Enjoy free WiFi, parking (surcharge), and air conditioning. Popular attractions Hollywood Walk of Fame and Hollywood ...
9/10 Wonderful! (217 reviews)
"Detailed information, quick service, easy check-in, reasonable prices, beautiful views, and cozy rooms that feel just like home."

Reviewed on 6 Oct 2025

Kasa Sunset Los Angeles
Fenix Hotel Hollywood

Fenix Hotel Hollywood

4 out of 5
7070 Franklin Ave, Los Angeles, CA
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Los Angeles. Enjoy free WiFi, a rooftop terrace, and parking (surcharge). Popular attractions Hollywood Boulevard and Hollywood ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (214 reviews)
"Overall it’s a good place to stay. Good location"

Reviewed on 10 Oct 2025

Fenix Hotel Hollywood
The Haas, Trademark Collection by Wyndham

The Haas, Trademark Collection by Wyndham

3 out of 5
219 W 7th St, Los Angeles, CA
Stay at this 3-star aparthotel in Los Angeles. Enjoy free WiFi, a 24-hour front desk, and daily housekeeping. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (730 reviews)
"The room was spacious and staff were so kind. Generally needed a deep clean though"

Reviewed on 2 Oct 2025

The Haas, Trademark Collection by Wyndham
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

Things to do

Reviews of Santa Monica

4.4
Top destination
5 - Excellent
45
5 - Excellent 50%
4 - Good
35
4 - Good 39%
3 - Okay
10
3 - Okay 11%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Pier and beach are excellent, city seemed very clean, didn’t not feel unsafe at all, people friendly, decent transport links. Quite a few homeless but that’s basically the same throughout LA from what we could tell.

5/5 - Excellent

Gill

A great location to stay for a visit to LA. We visited downtown LA and other attractions in the daytime and returned to Santa Monica to chill in the evening. The area is very safe to walk around with many excellent restaurants and good shopping

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Great atmosphere with plenty to see and do. Good beaches and great shopping. Always felt safe and everyone was friendly.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Excellent place to visit. Loved it will be back x

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Len & Jan are lovely hosts.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Apart from the large amount of homeless people in the area found Santa Monica to be a safe and friendly place, quite clean and would definitely stay there again.