The 16 best things to do in Santa Monica

For stunning views of the ocean and Santa Monica Mountains, this bluff-top park along Santa Monica’s northern coast is the spot. It’s the classic image of L.A.’s coastline that lives in most people’s heads. The park stretches for 26.4 acres, past pétanque courts, picnic areas, a rose garden and the (now-closed) Camera Obscura. 

Time Out tip: You’ll find thicker crowds of tourists in the section of the park by the Santa Monica Pier, so instead keep toward the northern end, past the stately concrete sculpture at Wilshire and the colorful totem pole at San Vicente.

Go on a Santa Monica and Venice Beach bicycle ride.

When you’re next sat in a local restaurant and feel tempted to ask the server where the incredibly fresh vegetables on your plate came from, don’t bother. We can save you the trouble and answer that for you: the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market, of course. This is our city’s largest and most popular farmers’ market—and where the top L.A. chefs go to grocery shop for fresh fruit and veggies.

Time Out tip: The market takes place on Saturdays and Sundays in other parts of Santa Monica, but the best day to pay a visit is Wednesday (8am–1pm) when it fills Arizona Avenue. Park in one of Santa Monica’s public parking structures (free for the first 90 minutes).

Find the rest of L.A.’s best farmers’ markets.

Running the length of Santa Monica itself, this huge beach is usually packed with people but has a festive, summer-holiday feel to it. The main attraction is the world-famous Pier, and the biggest crowds can be found clustered around it. If you’re looking for a more relaxed vibe, stray as far from the pier as you can in either direction, and you can find some quieter patches. There are bathrooms, bike paths and paid parking positioned along almost the entire stretch of sand.

Time Out tip: Rent a bike and hit the Marvin Braude Bike Trail, a 22-mile flat, paved path that traces nearly the entire extent of L.A.’s westward-facing coastline (it’s commonly referred to as “the Strand”). Biking from Santa Monica to Venice will only take you about 15 minutes.

Looking for more of L.A.’s best beaches?

Rent a bike and cruise Santa Monica.

The center and focal point of Santa Monica Beach, the Santa Monica Pier is home to a whole host of different attractions. Pacific Park is a mini amusement park with a roller coaster and the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel, plus plenty of fairground games, an arcade and a classic carousel housed in the historic Looff Hippodrome. There are also regular outdoor events hosted at the Pier, bringing a different, hipper crowd to the boardwalk.

Time Out tip: Tucked underneath the pier, you’ll find the Heal the Bay Aquarium, which houses over 100 local species and hands-on activities for kids.

See the Santa Monica Pier on a guided bike tour.

The Aero Theatre has been in operation since the 1940s—a history and legacy it flaunts with screenings of both classic films and contemporary independent cinema. This Streamline Moderne landmark also hosts special feature programs, plus director lectures and appearances. The Aero is operated by American Cinematheque, who also programs the Los Feliz Theatre and the famous Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood—another venue film buffs should take the time to visit.

Time Out tip: The Aero is located on idyllic Montana Avenue, where you can pair your movie with a bite at H&H Bagels or a burger at Father’s Office. Or shop at upscale boutiques like Clare V., Else Lingerie and Naked Cashmere.

Catch a film at some of our other favorite movie theaters.

Not to be confused with its showier Venice sibling, this workout playground for grown-ups has given Santa Monica’s biggest and burliest somewhere to sweat and strut their stuff for a century. On weekends, you’ll see some amazing gymnasts tackle the parallel bars, uneven bars and rings swings. Even with all that machismo, the vibe here stays friendly, and no one will mind if you choose to get involved—or just sit and take it all in.

Time Out tip: Little ones can get in on the fun, too, with a kids’ jungle gym plus a padded gymnastics area for tots to play on when Mom and Dad work out.

Stop by Muscle Beach on a bike tour.

A revered guitar store by day, stocked to the ceiling with rare and obscure guitars and other instruments, McCabe’s also has a cozy back room, where performances are held in an intimate environment. Gigs are usually held on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, but it’s a worth a visit any day of the week just to gawk at the dozens of beautiful guitars hanging from the walls.

Time Out tip: McCabe’s actually started as an instrument repair shop, and it will still fix your guitar—no appointment needed. It also has instructors who offer both group guitar lessons and private lessons in everything from autoharp to accordion.

Does your idea of a good time involve some serious aerobics and muscle burn? Well, get yourself over to these twin Santa Monica stairs that are a mecca for hard bodies and weekend fitness warriors who also jump rope, stretch, jog and power through pull-ups, push-ups and sit-ups in between climbing. You can choose to ascend via either 199 concrete steps or 170 (wider) wooden steps. 

Time Out tip: If the popular workout spot is too busy, jog over to Mesa Road and less well-known La Mesa stairs—their 201 narrow steps are just as tough (minus the crowd, and railing). Blink and you’ll miss the narrow entryway wedged between 404 and 410.

Feel the burn at these other free L.A. workouts.

A three-block pedestrianized stretch that runs down Third Street from Wilshire Boulevard to Broadway, Third Street Promenade is a pleasant but commonplace parade of mostly familiar names. Though the open-air plaza isn’t quite as buzzing as it once was, there are still some out-of-the-ordinary stops here: The excellent Wednesday-morning farmers’ market adjacent to it is worth a trip, as is an outpost of Silverlake Ramen and new grown-up mini-golf spot Holey Moley. During the week, consider grabbing a happy-hour drink just around the corner at the Misfit. (Fun fact: The promenade is where Pee-wee’s bike gets stolen from in the 1985 film Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.)

Time Out tip: An ordinance recently passed creating an “Outdoor Entertainment Zone” in the promenade, which means you can now stroll the street while enjoying to-go cocktails.

Book L.A. tours and attractions.

What was once just another concrete parking lot has been transformed into an oceanside oasis of green space at Santa Monica’s Tongva Park. This well-designed, drought-tolerant verdant space includes a playground, waterfalls, walking paths, meadows and a pair of conch-like, wire-frame lookouts to the Pacific. Sneak over to celebrity-frequented Chez Jay at the corner of the park for a drink.

Time Out tip: The park also has a kid-friendly splash pad that opens over Memorial Day weekend each year and offers a fun way to cool off through the summer.

Relax in more of the best parks in L.A.

Home to a slew of different contemporary and fine art galleries, this artsy enclave is the perfect destination for cheap dates and lazy days. If the art doesn’t do anything for you, the edgy architecture and fragrant stands of wild bergamot scattered about should amp up the atmosphere. You’ll also find a gallery store with unique home decor; local theater company City Garage; and inclusive comedy club the Crow.

Time Out tip: Though some of the galleries have shuttered in recent years, you’ll find fresh activity here, thanks to standout restaurant Birdie G’s—come for dinner and don’t skip dessert (the rose petal pie and chilled chocolate cake are musts).

Located at the southern end of the Third Street Promenade, this revamped shopping center is packed with upscale department stores and designer boutiques from brands like Coach and Louis Vuitton. There’s nothing particularly notable about Santa Monica Place (though it does now boast a Din Tai Fung with ocean views), but it’s a pleasant destination for some retail to-dos thanks to three floors of sophisticated shopping set around an open-air courtyard.

Time Out tip: On Level 3 of the mall, you’ll find the dynamic Cayton Children’s Museum, full of discovery-based exhibits—it’s one of the best places to take your kids in L.A.

Pool closed Oct–May, grounds open daily.

This modern community beach club was originally built by William Randolph Hearst in the 1920s as an opulent beachfront estate for Hollywood star Marion Davies. These days, it’s very much open to the public. The five-acre beach house boasts a swimming pool with a view of the ocean, as well as a cafe, paddle board rentals, beach volleyball courts and soccer fields. You can also take a sunset swim on select evenings during the summer.

Time Out tip: Even when the pool is closed for the season, you can take advantage of the rec room, which is stocked with board games and ping-pong tables, and offers classes and events.

Splash around in some other public pools throughout L.A.

Step out of the sun, and take in a bit of California history in a restored 1894 house. Though the house itself—which displays elements both of the Victorian and American Colonial periods—is worth a look, rotating exhibitions on topics related to the region are the real draw. The museum is at its busiest on Sundays, though only outside: It hosts the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market every Sunday morning.

Time Out tip: Next to the museum, you can visit another Victorian home, but instead of educational exhibits, you’ll find outdoor dining, cocktails and an elegant event space—not to mention underground revelry at the subterranean Basement Tavern.

It’s the oldest operating airfield in L.A. County (though it’s slated to be closed and turned into a park by the end of the decade) and the birthplace of the Douglas DC-3. Originally called Clover Field, the Santa Monica Airport has developed over time into an arts incubator and is home to a number of creative venues housed in converted airplane hangars, including the Ruskin Group Theatre Co., as well as events space the Barker Hangar.

Time Out tip: For aviation enthusiasts, the airport’s public observation deck is the best place in the city to watch planes land up-close and hear the roar of jet engines only feet from an active runway.

This small museum dedicated to the history of aviation moved into new premises at the Santa Monica Airport in February 2012. Inside, you can learn all about the history of Southern Californian aviation companies including Boeing, Lockheed, North American and Northrop with numerous exhibits and displays bringing the planes and their stories to life. Flight fans will love the carefully preserved static and flyable aircraft that call this place home.

Time Out tip: On select Sundays, you can step into the MaxFlight FS3000, a flight simulator that lets you live out your flying fantasies ($8, call ahead for availability). Pilot a pleasant flight over L.A. or opt for a combat mission—the simulator is equipped with 360-degree pitch and roll technology.