Hotels near Santa Monica Pier

The Santa Monica Pier marks the western end of historic Route 66 and is the classic Southern California seaside scene, with the small Pacific Park amusement park, its solar-powered Ferris wheel and a vintage carousel out over the water. Below it, a wide sandy beach runs for miles with the famous lifeguard towers and the South Bay bike path.

The pier and the bluff-top Palisades Park above it are made for an easy afternoon, and the pedestrianised Third Street Promenade nearby adds shopping and street performers. It is touristy but genuinely fun, especially at sunset when the wheel lights up over the Pacific.

Pro Tip: Rent a bike or e-bike and ride the beachfront path south to Venice, a flat and scenic 5 km that links two of LA's best beach scenes. Park once in a Santa Monica structure rather than hunting for pricey pier-side spots.