Overview
Just south of Santa Monica, Venice Beach has a bohemian vibe and is best known for its 3km boardwalk. Street artists, performers, and stalls line the walk, making it LA's most freewheeling stretch of coast. Muscle Beach (where bodybuilders pump iron in the open) and the Venice Skate Park (operating since 1976) are pilgrimage sites for street culture, and at sunset the BMX riders and skaters become a free show. Nearby Abbot Kinney Boulevard is packed with trendy boutiques and cafés. Free. About 30 minutes by bike from Santa Monica.
Opening Hours
Open 24 hours (boardwalk shops 10:00-20:00)
Travel Tips
Cycling from Santa Monica down the Marvin Braude Bike Trail is the most fun way to arrive. Sunset is the liveliest and most photogenic time.
Hotels near Venice Beach
Hotels and guesthouses in Los Angeles, Venice, Los Angeles
Other attractions in Los Angeles
Hollywood Sign
The American film industry's iconic landmark perched on a hill above Griffith Park.
Santa Monica Beach
The end of Route 66, with an iconic amusement pier and beautiful sunsets.
Getty Center
A world-class art museum atop the Brentwood hills, blending Impressionist paintings with sweeping LA views.
Griffith Observatory
The free observatory with the city's best views of the Hollywood Sign and LA skyline.
Hollywood Walk of Fame
A pedestrian boulevard inlaid with more than 2,700 celebrity stars.
Universal Studios Hollywood
Hollywood's film-themed amusement park with hit attractions like Harry Potter, Jurassic World, and Super Nintendo World.
Disneyland Park
The original Disneyland, opened in 1955 by Walt Disney himself, in Anaheim south of LA.