The vibrant city of Santa Monica, stretching 3.5 miles along the Pacific coastline in California, offers endless activities and experiences for beach lovers, foodies, and explorers. Indulge in the laid-back charm of the beach city over a three-day trip covering the top things to do here.
Start your morning like a local with a refreshing dip in the Pacific Ocean. Learn to catch a wave and hang 10 as you take a surf lesson with Aqua Surf School. Headquartered in Santa Monica, Aqua Surf provides surfing instruction services throughout Southern California.
After your hard work in the waves, it is time to be pampered for lunch. Enjoy uninterrupted ocean views with the sand beneath your feet as you enjoy lunch at the iconic Perry’s Beach Café and Rentals, serving for 40 years now. Representing “California’s beach lifestyle,” they offer a full menu of gourmet burgers, fresh sandwiches, and salads to satisfy your palate.
Take a short stroll to the historic Santa Monica Pier at Santa Monica’s westernmost point, a staple of this picturesque seaside community. Packed with family-friendly activities, restaurants, and shops, it also has stunning views and over a century’s worth of history.
Enjoy Pacific Park, an oceanfront amusement park home to the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel, taking in a panoramic view of the Southern California coastline from more than 130 ft above.
Do not leave without visiting the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, and the marine education facility at Heal the Bay—which inspires understanding and conservation of Southern California coastal waters, watersheds and marine life through education, interaction, and discovery.
Now it is time to explore Downtown Santa Monica, just steps from the ocean. Begin at the world-famous Third Street Promenade, an alfresco shopping experience that includes more than 200 shopping, dining and entertainment outlets, all in the heart of Downtown Santa Monica. The pedestrian-friendly shopping haven maintains a distinctly Southern California vibe where visitors can bask in the breezes from the nearby ocean while soaking up a colourful, upbeat scene filled with musicians and entertainers.
For your first sunset in Santa Monica, make sure you have a seaside view. Head to Terrazza at Hotel Casa del Mar for a cocktail with panoramic views as the sun sinks into the Pacific Ocean and colours of magic hour fill the sky. As darkness takes hold, stroll a few blocks to Chez Jay, a longtime local favourite dive bar with a retro, peanut-strewn vibe.
For day two, explore, get exercise, and soak up the fresh air as you pedal on a self-guided bike tour of Santa Monica. Many hotels offer complimentary bikes for guests, or you can pick up a set of wheels at Santa Monica Bike Center. Bike to The Strand, an iconic multi-use recreational path that stretches from Torrance in Los Angeles’ South Bay area up to Will Rogers State Park in Pacific Palisades, packing in 22 miles of inspiring coastal scenery. The bike path parallels the entire 3.5 miles of beach found in Santa Monica and connects the city with neighbouring Venice Beach. As you pedal along, soak up Southern California’s beach culture, famous for its surfers, body builders, exhibitors, street performers and spectacular ocean views.
If you happen to be in Santa Monica on a Sunday morning, there is no better place for a leisurely stroll than Montana Avenue, a tree-lined boulevard that is home to more than 150 restaurants and retailers. From unique home boutiques to high-end cosmetic stores, the area that stretches from 7th to 17th Street is a hotspot for the latest beauty trends, fashion, and healthy eateries. Stop in at Primo Passo Coffee for a quick pick-me-up before you stroll past time-honoured classics such as Andrew’s Cheese Shop and Larissa Love Cosmetics. Additionally, from pedicures and massages to laser skin treatments and hair salons, Montana Avenue has all your beauty needs covered.
Montana Avenue is the perfect place to grab dinner at a casual neighbourhood joint. Rub elbows with locals as you dive into a burger at Father’s Office, a popular American gastropub on Montana Avenue serving the much celebrated "Office Burger" and 36 craft beers on tap.
Get a soothing start to the day with yoga on the beach. Beach Yoga SoCal provides private lessons as well as group classes so you can get your flow on with locals.
In the afternoon, hit the shops at Santa Monica Place. With three levels of retail and dining, from Nordstrom to the city’s best shops—Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Nike, Hugo Boss, Uniqlo, Tory Burch, and more—it is the epicentre of celebrity-inspired style.
Cook up a scrumptious meal of your own with ingredients from Santa Monica’s four weekly farmers markets with a private cooking class at The Gourmandise School. This beloved institution offers hands-on cooking classes for beginners to professionals. The Gourmandise experience is designed to teach you how to develop your culinary intuition and create amazing meals and pastries out of locally sourced and sustainable ingredients.
For a different view of the sunset, take a stroll through Palisades Park. This 26.4-acre public space stretches along the bluffs of Santa Monica, offering uninterrupted vistas of the coastline. After dark, stop by JuneShine, a bright and airy atmosphere resembling a desert oasis, serving sustainable, transparent, and delicious hard kombucha.