Venice Beach

Venice Beach showing a city and picnicking as well as a large group of people
Venice Beach
Photo provided by Matt Marriott/LA Tourism Marketing
Venice Beach
Venice Beach


Tacky and wacky by turns, this sun-drenched strip of sand is a favourite playground for city-weary Angelenos.

If you’re looking for unspoilt views and tranquil ocean walks, Venice Beach is not the place for you. If, on the other hand, you crave some zany company and don’t mind being dazzled by outrageous outfits and flamboyant attention seekers, there’s no place on earth you’ll love more!The boardwalk along Venice Beach, 2.4 kilometres of beachfront hedonism, is a constant parade of muscle men, drag queens and botoxed starlets. Skateboarders narrowly miss head-on collisions with jugglers and fire-eaters, musicians and poets perform self-penned masterpieces to anyone that will stand still long enough to listen, and street entertainers try to catch the eye of passers-by in the hope of earning a tip.The human traffic competes for space on the boardwalk with stalls and shops selling a colourful cornucopia of trinkets, souvenirs, clothes and leather goods. Buy some quirky shades or a hand-printed t-shirt, get your hair braided or your body inked with a temporary tattoo, then check out the glistening bodies on Muscle Beach, where Arnie and “Incredible Hulk” Lou Ferrigno used to flex their pecs. If you fancy joining in with the acrobats and iron-pumpers, you can buy a day pass for around $10 (approximately €7.50) from the Venice Beach Recreations and Parks Office on Ocean Front Walk. Don’t forget you’ll be working out in full view of passers-by, so make sure you feel comfortable with this idea before parting with your cash.Swimming might seem like the last thing people come to Venice Beach for, but the stretch of sandy beach is well maintained and the water is patrolled during daylight hours. You can rent a surfboard or a bodyboard to ride the waves, but even the ocean gets crowded here, so keep a watchful eye out for other riders at all times.Summer is the busiest time at Venice Beach, but at other times of the year the Mediterranean climate makes it a popular place to shake off the city dust. It’s around 30 kilometres from central LA between Santa Monica and Marina Del Ray, and there is plenty of parking available all along the beach.

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Top Hotel Deals

Hotel Erwin Venice Beach

Hotel Erwin Venice Beach

4 out of 5
1697 Pacific Avenue, Venice, CA
Hotel Erwin Venice Beach
Venice Breeze Suites

Venice Breeze Suites

3.5 out of 5
2 Breeze Avenue, Venice, CA
Venice Breeze Suites
Venice V Hotel

Venice V Hotel

3 out of 5
5 Westminster Avenue, Suite 118, Venice, CA
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Samesun Venice Beach - Hostel

Samesun Venice Beach - Hostel

2 out of 5
25 Windward Ave, Venice, CA
Samesun Venice Beach - Hostel
The Inn at Venice Beach

The Inn at Venice Beach

3 out of 5
327 Washington Blvd, Venice, CA
The Inn at Venice Beach
Air Venice on the Beach

Air Venice on the Beach

3 out of 5
5 Rose Avenue, Venice, CA
Air Venice on the Beach
Venice Suites

Venice Suites

3 out of 5
417 OceanFront Walk, Venice, CA
Venice Suites
Venice on the Beach Hotel

Venice on the Beach Hotel

3.5 out of 5
2819 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA
Venice on the Beach Hotel
South Venice Lodge

South Venice Lodge

2 out of 5
440 S Venice Blvd, Venice, CA
South Venice Lodge
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.