Plan your trip to Santa Monica, California — handpicked tours and activities, the best time to visit, where to stay and eat, how to get there, and a sample itinerary.
Top things to do in Santa Monica
Santa Monica Pier. Opened in 1909, this iconic pier stretches over the Pacific and serves as the symbolic western terminus of Historic Route 66. Ride the solar-powered Pacific Wheel Ferris wheel, stroll past carnival games, and watch the sun drop into the ocean from the railing.
Pacific Park. The West Coast's only amusement park built on a pier, Pacific Park sits atop the Santa Monica Pier and offers 12 rides including the world's only solar-powered Ferris wheel and an oceanfront steel roller coaster that climbs 55 feet above the water. Entry to the park grounds is free; rides are ticketed individually.
Santa Monica State Beach and the Strand. Three and a half miles of wide, soft-sand shoreline anchored by volleyball courts, lifeguard towers, and the historic Original Muscle Beach fitness park. The Marvin Braude Bike Trail — known as the Strand — threads 22 miles of car-free coastal path from Pacific Palisades south through Venice to Torrance.
Third Street Promenade. A three-block pedestrian-only outdoor shopping district at the heart of Downtown Santa Monica, lined with national retailers, independent boutiques, restaurants, cinemas, and live street performers. A certified farmers market runs every Wednesday and Saturday morning along nearby Arizona Avenue.
Palisades Park. A 26.4-acre linear park perched atop sandstone bluffs along Ocean Avenue, offering unobstructed views of Santa Monica Bay and the coastal mountains. Originally donated to the city in 1892, the park features a rose garden, pétanque courts, the Camera Obscura Art Lab, and shaded benches perfect for watching the sunset.
Bergamot Station Arts Center. An internationally recognized creative complex at 2525 Michigan Avenue housing more than 20 fine art galleries and cultural businesses in converted rail-yard buildings. Admission to most galleries is free, and the center regularly hosts live performances, monumental installations, poetry, and music.
Heal the Bay Aquarium. Located beneath the Carousel at the end of the Santa Monica Pier, this nonprofit marine-education aquarium lets visitors touch tide-pool creatures and explore exhibits on Southern California's coastal ecosystems. Affordable admission (adults $12, kids 4–12 $5) makes it one of the pier's most rewarding stops.
Santa Monica Farmers Markets. Established in 1981, the Wednesday downtown market at Arizona Avenue and 2nd Street is one of the largest and most diverse certified farmers markets in the nation; the Saturday market — started in 1991 — carries the highest percentage of certified organic growers of all four city markets. Both run 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.,…
Best time to visit Santa Monica
September to early November. Warm temperatures persist (avg highs around 76°F in September) while summer crowds thin and accommodation prices drop. 'June Gloom' coastal fog is largely gone by September. Spring (March–May) is a strong alternative with mild weather and fewer crowds than summer
Santa Monica weather by month
Month
High (°F)
Low (°F)
Notes
Jan
67
45
mild & mostly dry
Feb
67
46
mild & mostly dry
Mar
69
49
mild & mostly dry
Apr
72
52
warm & sunny
May
74
55
warm & sunny
Jun
78
59
warm & sunny
Jul
83
64
warm & sunny
Aug
85
64
warm & sunny
Sep
84
63
warm & sunny
Oct
79
58
warm & sunny
Nov
73
51
warm & sunny
Dec
66
45
mild & mostly dry
Getting to Santa Monica
The Metro E Line (formerly Expo Line) connects Santa Monica's downtown station at 4th and Colorado to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles in under 50 minutes. The city's Big Blue Bus network (17 routes) covers local circulation, and a 50-cent transfer connects the two systems. Both use the TAP card, available at station vending machines. The 22-mile Marvin Braude Bike Trail (the Strand) is nearly car-free and runs along the coast through Santa Monica and Venice. Bike rentals are available at multiple shops near the pier. The city also operates a Breeze Bike Share program with stations throughout the city.
LAX Los Angeles International Airport — 20 min drive
BUR Hollywood Burbank Airport — 45 min drive
LGB Long Beach Airport — 40 min drive
Where to stay in Santa Monica
Where to base yourself, by neighborhood.
Downtown Santa Monica (Near the Pier and Third Street Promenade). The highest-density hotel district puts guests within walking distance of the Santa Monica Pier, Pacific Park, Palisades Park, and the Third Street Promenade. Ocean Avenue and Colorado Avenue form the core of this area, with easy access to the Metro E Line… Good for: First-time visitors, couples, city-break travelers, anyone relying on public transit.
Main Street and Ocean Park. The southern residential edge of Santa Monica, Main Street and Ocean Park offer a quieter, more local alternative one mile from downtown. Independent restaurants, the Sunday farmers market, the California Heritage Museum, and direct beach access define the… Good for: Food lovers, repeat visitors seeking a local feel, couples, cyclists using the Strand.
Montana Avenue (North of Wilshire). Santa Monica's upscale residential corridor runs from 7th Street to the Pacific, lined with tree-canopied streets, boutique shops, and neighborhood cafes far from tourist congestion. The area is within a short drive or bike ride of the beach and offers a… Good for: Families, long-stay visitors, boutique shoppers, travelers seeking a quieter residential base.
Mid-City Santa Monica (Wilshire Corridor). The stretch along Wilshire Boulevard between 11th and Lincoln holds a dense cluster of hotels at a range of price points and sits within reach of both the beach and inland Los Angeles. The Metro E Line Expo station is close by, and Milo and Olive, Rustic… Good for: Budget-conscious travelers, business visitors, guests who plan to split time between Santa Monica and central LA.
Where to eat in Santa Monica
A curated set of standout tables and local favorites.
Local favorites & classics
Crudo e Nudo. Main Street / Ocean Park · Sustainable seafood raw bar — Chef Brian Bornemann writes a hand-chalked daily menu of 20-plus species — dry-aged in-house — sourced directly from SoCal fishermen and…
Holy Basil. Downtown Santa Monica · Thai — This buzzy Thai spot is acclaimed for creative dishes like crispy calamari with salted egg yolk and green curry risotto, alongside classic curries and noodles. The…
Xuntos. Santa Monica · Northern Spanish — A well-regarded Spanish table earning consistent praise for grilled octopus with chorizo, saffron scallops, and an extensive sherry and Iberian wine list in a warm…
Din Tai Fung. Santa Monica Place · Taiwanese — The celebrated Taiwanese chain's Santa Monica outpost sits on the third floor of Santa Monica Place with Pacific Ocean views. Expertly pleated xiao long bao (soup…
1212 Santa Monica. 1212 3rd Street Promenade · 4.5★ (3,463 reviews)
BOA Steakhouse. 101 Santa Monica Blvd · 4.7★ (1,817 reviews)
Water Grill. 1401 Ocean Ave · 4.4★ (2,914 reviews)
Rustic Canyon Wine Bar and Seasonal Kitchen. Downtown / Wilshire · California seasonal — A critically acclaimed neighborhood anchor since 2006, Rustic Canyon changes its menu daily based on what local farmers and purveyors deliver. The…
Bay Cities Italian Deli and Bakery. Mid-City / Lincoln Boulevard · Italian deli — A Santa Monica institution since 1925, famous for the Godmother sandwich — Genoa salami, mortadella, coppacola, ham, and prosciutto on rolls baked fresh…
Father's Office. Montana Avenue · Gastropub — A pioneering gastropub on Montana Avenue since 1953, Father's Office is the birthplace of the 'Office Burger' — dry-aged beef, bacon compote, caramelized onions,…
Urth Caffe Santa Monica. 2327 Main St · 4.4★ (4,565 reviews)
Seline. Main Street / Ocean Park · Contemporary American tasting menu — Chef Dave Beran's intimate fine-dining room earned a Michelin star in 2026 and Beran received the James Beard Award for Best Chef:…
Pasjoli. Main Street · French bistro — Dave Beran's Michelin-starred French bistro on Main Street has evolved into a convivial, season-driven room. The à la carte menu balances playful riffs — cordon bleu…
Milo and Olive. Mid-City / Wilshire · Italian bakery and pizzeria — A Michelin Guide-listed neighborhood bakery-pizzeria open daily from 7 a.m., celebrated for wood-fired pizzas, housemade pastas, morning pastries,…
The Lobster. 1602 Ocean Ave · 4.3★ (2,939 reviews)
Élephante. 1332 2nd St Rooftop · 4.2★ (3,367 reviews)
Tar & Roses. 602 Santa Monica Blvd · 4.7★ (1,125 reviews)
The Little Door. 8164 W 3rd St · 4.5★ (1,383 reviews)
The Penthouse. 1111 2nd St · 4.4★ (1,027 reviews)
A 7-Day Santa Monica Plan
Day 1 — Pier, Park & Pacific Waves. Start your Santa Monica journey at the iconic Santa Monica Pier — walk its length, take in the Pacific views, and visit the Heal the Bay Aquarium tucked beneath the pier for a close look at local marine life. Spend the afternoon at Pacific Park on the pier, riding the solar-powered…
Day 2 — Bike the Strand & Beach Life. Rent a beach cruiser or e-bike and ride the Marvin Braude Bike Trail (The Strand) southward toward Venice Beach, soaking in the ocean air and passing colorful boardwalk culture along the way. Return to Santa Monica State Beach and book a surf lesson with one of the established…
Day 3 — Cliffs, Gardens & Sunset Views. Stroll through Palisades Park, the bluff-top linear park that runs above PCH with sweeping ocean panoramas — bring coffee and take your time on the benches as the morning marine layer lifts. Walk down to Tongva Park near City Hall, a beautifully designed urban green space with…
Day 4 — Art, Culture & Creative Districts. Spend the morning at Bergamot Station Arts Center, a former rail yard converted into one of LA's most important gallery clusters — over a dozen contemporary art galleries are free to enter and the quality is consistently high. Head to the Getty Center (a 15-minute drive into…
Day 5 — Farmers Market Morning & Local Flavor. Hit the famous Wednesday or Saturday Santa Monica Farmers Market on Arizona Avenue — one of California's best, with over 100 vendors selling local produce, artisan foods, and prepared bites; arrive early for peak selection. Explore Main Street Santa Monica's independent…
Day 6 — Ocean Day — Kayak, Swim & Shore. Rent a kayak or stand-up paddleboard from one of the outfitters near the pier and paddle out into Santa Monica Bay for a new perspective on the coastline and the pier from the water. Spend a long, unhurried afternoon on Santa Monica State Beach — swim, build sandcastles, or…
Day 7 — Neighborhood Walks & Departure Memories. Spend a final morning in the Montana Avenue neighborhood for upscale boutique shopping and excellent coffee at local cafes — it has a quieter, residential Santa Monica character that most visitors miss. Circle back to any favorite spots — perhaps a final loop on The…
Events & festivals in Santa Monica
Twilight on the Pier (Twilight Concert Series) (Wednesdays, July–August (typically 6 weeks mid-summer)). Free outdoor concert series on the Santa Monica Pier, first held in 1984–1985. Now known as Twilight on the Pier, the series features live music every Wednesday evening on the Pier stage.
Santa Monica 4th of July Parade (July 4). Annual Independence Day parade along Main Street, Santa Monica.
Montana Avenue Art Walk (September (annual, typically late September)). Annual pedestrian arts event on Montana Avenue featuring 150+ artists, live music, and community programming.
Santa Monica travel FAQ
When is the best time to visit Santa Monica?
September to early November.
What are the top things to do in Santa Monica?
Top experiences include Santa Monica Pier, Pacific Park, Santa Monica State Beach and the Strand, Third Street Promenade, Palisades Park.
Which airport is closest to Santa Monica?
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the nearest, about 20 minutes away.
Where should I stay in Santa Monica?
Popular areas to base yourself include Downtown Santa Monica (Near the Pier and Third Street Promenade), Main Street and Ocean Park, Montana Avenue (North of Wilshire), Mid-City Santa Monica (Wilshire Corridor).
How do I get around Santa Monica?
The Metro E Line (formerly Expo Line) connects Santa Monica's downtown station at 4th and Colorado to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles in under 50 minutes.