If you’re planning your next visit to Southern California, this article talks about ten of the best things to do in Santa Monica. Few places capture the Southern California lifestyle quite like the city of Santa Monica. Sitting along the Pacific Ocean on Los Angeles’ westside, the city blends iconic beaches, walkable shopping districts, outdoor recreation, world-famous attractions, and excellent dining into one destination that’s easy to enjoy for an afternoon or an entire weekend.
Millions of visitors make their way to Santa Monica every year, and for good reason. The city is home to the legendary Santa Monica Pier, miles of coastline connected by one of California’s most scenic bike paths, a thriving restaurant scene, and countless places to relax while watching surfers, skaters, musicians, and street performers bring the waterfront to life. It manages to feel like both a tourist destination and a neighborhood where locals genuinely spend their free time.
One of Santa Monica’s biggest strengths is how easy it is to experience on foot. You can grab breakfast, walk to the beach, rent a bike, spend hours exploring the pier, shop at Third Street Promenade, catch sunset over the Pacific, and finish the night with dinner without ever needing to drive again.
2026 Best Things to do in Santa Monica
Explore the Santa Monica Pier
No visit to Santa Monica is complete without spending time on the Santa Monica Pier. Originally opened in 1909, the historic landmark has become one of California’s most recognizable attractions and serves as the western endpoint of the historic Route 66.
The pier is home to Pacific Park, whose solar-powered Ferris wheel has become one of the most photographed attractions in Southern California. From the top of the ride you’ll get sweeping views of Santa Monica Beach, Malibu, Venice Beach, and, on especially clear days, Catalina Island stretching across the Pacific.
Beyond the rides, the pier is filled with arcade games, souvenir shops, fishing areas, musicians, artists, and family-friendly attractions. Even if you skip every ride, simply walking to the end of the pier while waves crash beneath the wooden planks is one of those classic Southern California experiences that never gets old.
If possible, plan your visit during the late afternoon. You’ll experience the pier during daylight before watching it completely transform after sunset when Pacific Park lights up the coastline.
Rent a Bike and Ride The Strand
One of the best ways to experience Santa Monica is on two wheels. The Marvin Braude Bike Trail—better known to most locals as The Strand—runs for more than 20 miles along the Pacific coastline, connecting Santa Monica with Venice Beach, Marina del Rey, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Redondo Beach.
Heading south brings you through the colorful energy of Venice Beach, where skateboarders, outdoor gyms, basketball courts, murals, and performers create one of California’s most unique neighborhoods. Riding north offers a quieter experience with views toward Pacific Palisades and Malibu.
The ride is mostly flat, making it accessible for riders of nearly every skill level. Along the way you’ll pass beach volleyball courts, surfers paddling into the lineup, lifeguard towers, outdoor fitness areas, and countless places to stop for photos.
Grab Lunch at Pier Burger
Tourist attractions aren’t usually known for reasonably priced food, but Pier Burger is one of the exceptions. The burger is actually DELICIOUS. Cheesy (if that’s your thing), juicy, hot, fresh, and not over priced.
Located directly on the Santa Monica Pier, the longtime local favorite consistently delivers quality burgers, crispy fries, and thick milkshakes without charging the inflated prices many visitors expect from a waterfront location.
The burgers are simple in the best possible way. Freshly prepared, satisfying, and exactly what you’re looking for after spending several hours walking the pier or riding bikes along the coast.
The milkshakes deserve just as much recognition. Rich, creamy, and made with real ice cream, they’re the perfect pairing with one of the restaurant’s classic cheeseburgers.
Having eaten here multiple times, it’s one of the easiest recommendations to make in Santa Monica. The food consistently exceeds expectations, the portions are generous, and considering the location, the value is hard to beat.
Watch the Street Performers
Some of the best entertainment in Santa Monica doesn’t require buying a ticket. Throughout the day, musicians, dancers, magicians, comedians, acrobats, painters, and other artists perform across the pier, creating an atmosphere that feels different every time you visit. If you film, or take photos, be sure to tip the artists.
Many performers gather surprisingly large crowds, and it’s common to find yourself stopping for twenty minutes watching a comedy act or live music set that you hadn’t planned on seeing.
One small tip makes a big difference: carry a little cash. Many performers now accept digital payments, but having a few dollars available makes it easy to support the artists who help create one of the pier’s most memorable traditions.
Relax on Santa Monica Beach
Santa Monica Beach remains one of Southern California’s most popular beaches, and the wide shoreline rarely feels cramped despite the steady flow of visitors.
The soft sand offers plenty of room for volleyball, beach games, picnics, reading, or simply spending an afternoon enjoying the Pacific Ocean.
Morning visits tend to be quieter, making sunrise walks especially peaceful before the larger crowds arrive. During the afternoon the beach becomes much livelier as locals and visitors spread out across the shoreline.
The beach is also exceptionally clean compared to many other urban beaches, with well-maintained restrooms, lifeguard stations, and easy access from Ocean Avenue and nearby parking structures.
Walk Through Third Street Promenade
Just a few blocks inland from the beach sits Third Street Promenade, one of Southern California’s premier outdoor shopping and dining destinations. Closed to vehicle traffic, the promenade features a mix of major retailers, local boutiques, restaurants, coffee shops, dessert spots, and frequent live entertainment.
Even visitors who aren’t interested in shopping usually find themselves spending an hour or two wandering the area. The atmosphere changes throughout the day, with families browsing stores during the afternoon before nightlife begins taking over during the evening.
The Promenade also connects directly to Santa Monica Place, making it easy to continue shopping or grab dinner before heading back toward the beach.
Try the Famous Pier Churros
The smell of cinnamon and sugar follows you almost everywhere along the pier. Several vendors sell fresh churros throughout the day, making them one of the most recognizable snacks in Santa Monica.
From personal experience, expectations should stay realistic. They’re not always served piping hot, and some can sit for a while before being purchased.
Even so, they’re still part of the classic Santa Monica experience. If you’re craving something sweet while walking the pier, grabbing a churro is still worth doing.
Watch Sunset Over the Pacific Ocean
Sunset is easily one of the most beautiful times to be in Santa Monica. As the sun sinks below the Pacific Ocean, the sky fills with deep shades of orange, pink, purple, and gold while Pacific Park begins illuminating the pier with thousands of colorful lights.
The view changes by the minute, making every sunset slightly different from the last.
Some of the best viewing spots include the end of the Santa Monica Pier, Palisades Park overlooking Ocean Avenue, or directly from the sand with the Ferris wheel in the background.
Visit Original Muscle Beach
Just south of the pier sits Original Muscle Beach, one of California’s most important outdoor fitness landmarks. Long before modern fitness influencers filled social media, gymnasts and athletes gathered here to practice rings, parallel bars, tumbling, and acrobatics overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Today you’ll still find athletes training alongside visitors watching from nearby benches. Basketball courts, playgrounds, beach volleyball, and open recreation areas surround the historic location, helping preserve Santa Monica’s reputation as one of Southern California’s most active communities.
Slow Down and Experience Santa Monica Like a Local
Not every memorable experience needs an itinerary. Some of the best moments happen while sitting on a bench in Palisades Park overlooking the ocean, grabbing coffee along Montana Avenue, walking Ocean Avenue during golden hour, or simply watching people enjoy another afternoon by the beach.
Santa Monica has a rhythm that encourages visitors to slow down. Surfers paddle into waves, cyclists cruise along the beach path, musicians perform for passing crowds, and locals gather outside cafés without feeling rushed.
That laid-back atmosphere is one of the biggest reasons so many visitors return year after year.
How to Spend the Perfect Day in Santa Monica
Arrive early to avoid traffic and secure easier parking near the beach. Start with breakfast before renting bikes and riding The Strand while temperatures are still comfortable.
Around lunchtime, head back toward the Santa Monica Pier and grab a burger and milkshake at Pier Burger before spending the afternoon exploring Pacific Park, browsing shops, and watching street performers.
Keep a little cash with you throughout the day so you can tip musicians, dancers, magicians, and other performers who help create the pier’s unique atmosphere.
Later in the afternoon, walk through Third Street Promenade, stop for coffee or dessert, then return to the beach for sunset. If you’re still hungry afterward, grab one of the famous pier churros before wrapping up your visit.
Santa Monica Continues to Be One of Southern California’s Best Beach Cities
Santa Monica offers far more than just a beautiful stretch of coastline. Within a few walkable blocks, visitors can experience a historic amusement pier, miles of scenic bike trails, excellent restaurants, outdoor fitness culture, shopping, live entertainment, and some of the best ocean sunsets anywhere on the West Coast.
The city strikes a balance that few beach destinations can match. It has enough iconic attractions for first-time visitors while still feeling authentic enough to keep locals coming back throughout the year. From riding the Ferris wheel over the Pacific and biking along The Strand to enjoying a burger at Pier Burger or simply watching the sunset from the sand, Santa Monica continues to deliver one of the most complete beach experiences in California.
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