Venice Beach is one of those LA neighborhoods that looks familiar before you ever set foot there, you’ve seen it in movies, music videos, and about a million Instagram posts. But there’s a gap between recognizing the boardwalk from a screen and actually knowing the best things to do at Venice Beach once you arrive. The area packs a surprising amount of variety into a relatively small stretch of coastline, from world-famous street art to quiet residential canals most visitors walk right past.
At Another Side Tours, we’ve spent years guiding people through LA’s most iconic spots, Venice Beach included. Our local guides know which corners are worth your time and which ones are just tourist traps. That firsthand experience is exactly what shaped this list. Below, you’ll find eight things worth doing in Venice Beach, covering the landmarks everyone talks about and the hidden gems that most visitors miss.
1. Take a guided Venice Beach tour
A guided tour takes the guesswork out of your visit. Instead of spending the first hour figuring out where to go, you start moving from the moment you arrive. Local guides bring context that maps and travel apps simply can’t match, like knowing which murals went up last month or where to find a quiet canal path that most visitors never notice. If you’re building a list of things to do at Venice Beach, starting with a guided tour sets up everything else on that list with actual context.
Choose the right tour style for your day
Your options range from walking tours to e-bike rides, depending on how much ground you want to cover and how much energy you want to spend. A walking tour keeps things slow and conversational, ideal if you want to linger at the art walls or spend time along the canals. An e-bike or Segway tour covers more distance without the fatigue, which makes it a better fit if you plan to keep exploring after the tour wraps up.
What you’ll see in Venice Beach and nearby
Guided tours typically cover Ocean Front Walk, the Venice Canals, Abbot Kinney Boulevard, and the skate park, all within a few hours. Some tours extend into nearby neighborhoods like Santa Monica or Marina del Rey, giving you a broader picture of the coastline. Your guide will explain the history behind each stop, including how developer Abbot Kinney originally modeled the neighborhood on Venice, Italy, canals and all.
A good guide turns a recognizable neighborhood into a place you actually understand.
Who this works best for
Tours work well for first-time visitors who want to make the most of a single day, but they also suit repeat visitors who have only seen the boardwalk and want to go deeper. Families, solo travelers, and small groups all fit comfortably into the format, especially with private tour options that let you shape the itinerary.
How to book with Another Side Tours and what it costs
Another Side Tours offers several Venice Beach and LA tours with Venice as a featured stop, starting around $75 per person. You book directly on the website, and private tours are available if your group wants a fully customized experience.
2. Walk the Venice Beach Boardwalk
Ocean Front Walk is the spine of Venice Beach, and it belongs near the top of your things to do at Venice Beach list. The roughly 2-mile stretch runs from Venice Pier north toward Santa Monica, lined with performers, food vendors, and some of the most recognizable street scenes in the country. You don’t need a plan to enjoy it, but knowing what to look for makes the walk much more rewarding.
What to see along Ocean Front Walk
The boardwalk packs a lot into a short distance. You’ll pass Muscle Beach Gym, the open-air weight training area where bodybuilders have trained since the 1950s, along with street performers doing everything from stand-up comedy to live music. Vendor stalls selling handmade art, sunglasses, and food stretch along most of the route and give the walk a market-like energy.
Best times to go for fewer crowds
Weekday mornings before 10 a.m. give you the clearest path and the most relaxed pace. Weekend afternoons draw the largest crowds, which adds energy but also means slower movement and more noise. If you want to catch performers at their most active, late morning on a weekend hits the sweet spot.
Arriving early on a weekday gives you the boardwalk nearly to yourself.
Safety basics and what to skip
Keep your phone and wallet secured, especially near dense sections around the drum circle. Avoid high-pressure vendors who block your path or push hard for your attention.
How long to budget and where to start
Plan 60 to 90 minutes for a full boardwalk walk. Starting at Venice Pier on the south end and heading north gives you a natural flow, with the Santa Monica Pier as a logical stopping point if you want to extend the day.
3. Watch skaters and see murals at Venice Art Walls
The Venice Skatepark and the adjacent Art Walls sit together near the south end of Ocean Front Walk, making this one of the most visually striking stops among all the things to do at Venice Beach. Skaters drop into a concrete bowl while graffiti murals cover every surface of the designated wall space nearby, creating a scene that feels genuinely alive rather than staged for tourists.
Where to find the skatepark and art walls
Both spots are located at 1800 Ocean Front Walk, just north of the Venice Pier. The skatepark runs along the beach path and is visible from the boardwalk, so you won’t need to search. The Art Walls sit directly adjacent, forming a long stretch of legal graffiti canvases that local artists repaint regularly.
How to visit respectfully while artists work
Stay behind the active painting area when someone is working on a wall. Watching is fine, but stepping in front of an artist mid-piece disrupts their work and isn’t welcomed. Keep conversation low-key and brief if you approach.
The Art Walls are a working creative space, not a static gallery.
Best light for photos and videos
Morning light from the east hits the walls cleanly before the crowds arrive. Late afternoon works well too, when the golden-hour color adds contrast to the murals.
What it costs and what to bring
Visiting is completely free. Bring sunscreen and water since there’s little shade near the walls or skatepark.
4. Stroll the Venice Canals Historic District
The Venice Canals are among the most overlooked things to do at Venice Beach, sitting just three blocks from the boardwalk but drawing a fraction of the crowds. Six short canals make up the district, lined with wooden footbridges, ducks, and residential homes that feel completely removed from Ocean Front Walk’s noise.
How the canals connect to Venice’s history
Developer Abbot Kinney built the canals in 1905, explicitly modeled after Venice, Italy, complete with gondoliers ferrying visitors around the waterways. The city filled in most of the system by 1929, but a small network survived and was restored in the 1990s, earning the area its current historic district status.
The best loop to walk and where to enter
Enter from Dell Avenue or Eastern Canal Court, both accessible off Washington Boulevard. A straightforward loop covers roughly half a mile and crosses several small footbridges, giving you clean sightlines across the water and back toward the homes lining each bank.
The canals reward a slow pace: move quickly and you’ll miss the details that make the neighborhood worth visiting.
Etiquette, quiet hours, and photo tips
This is an active residential neighborhood, so keep your voice down, especially before 9 a.m. and after 8 p.m. For photos, shoot from the footbridges to get clear water reflections without stepping onto private property.
How long it takes and what’s nearby
Budget 30 to 45 minutes for the full loop. Abbot Kinney Boulevard sits a short walk north, making the canals an easy first stop before spending time on the boulevard.
5. Bike the Strand to Santa Monica and Marina del Rey
Biking The Strand is one of the most enjoyable things to do at Venice Beach that also doubles as genuine exercise. The paved coastal path connects Venice Beach to both Santa Monica to the north and Marina del Rey to the south, giving you two solid route options from the same starting point without needing a car.
Pick a route that matches your fitness level
Heading north to Santa Monica Pier covers roughly 3 miles and stays flat the entire way, making it the easier choice. The southern route toward Marina del Rey adds slightly more distance but rewards you with quieter paths and marina views once you clear the main beach crowds. Both directions work well for casual riders with no prior cycling experience.
Bike rental options and what to check before you ride
Rental shops cluster near Venice Beach and typically charge by the hour or half-day. Before you roll out, confirm that brakes and tire pressure are solid on whichever bike you pick up. E-bikes are widely available if you want to cover more ground without the extra effort.
Renting near the start of The Strand keeps your route flexible and saves time backtracking.
Rules on paths and how to avoid busy choke points
Keep to the right side of the path and signal before passing slower riders or pedestrians. The stretch near Muscle Beach and the skatepark gets congested on weekends, so ride through slowly or walk your bike past the bottleneck rather than weaving around people.
How far to go and where to stop
A round trip to Santa Monica Pier takes about 60 to 90 minutes at a relaxed pace. Plan a short stop at Tongva Park in Santa Monica before turning back south toward Venice.
6. Shop and snack on Abbot Kinney Boulevard
Abbot Kinney Boulevard earns its spot among the best things to do at Venice Beach for visitors who want something beyond the boardwalk scene. The roughly one-mile strip runs through Venice’s residential core and packs in independent boutiques, galleries, and some of LA’s most respected restaurants within easy walking distance.
What to do beyond shopping
The boulevard rewards slow movement. Beyond the boutiques, you’ll find local art galleries and small design studios worth stepping into between stops. Weekends occasionally bring pop-up markets and street events that draw local artists and craftspeople selling directly from temporary stalls.
- Check gallery windows as you walk: several rotate new work regularly
- Look for small ceramics and print shops tucked between larger storefronts
Where to eat for breakfast, lunch, and treats
Gjusta handles baked goods, sandwiches, and coffee exceptionally well and works for any point in the day. For a sit-down lunch, Gjelina draws a consistent crowd with seasonal California plates. Several independent cafes along the strip let you grab a seat outside and plan the rest of your afternoon.
Arriving hungry gives you a real reason to slow down and explore the full length of the boulevard.
Best times to visit and how to park
Weekday mornings before 11 a.m. give you the easiest parking and the most relaxed shopping pace. Weekend afternoons get crowded quickly, and street spots fill fast, so arrive early or use a paid structure off Lincoln Boulevard nearby.
How to build this into a half-day plan
Start your morning at the Venice Canals for a quiet 30-minute loop, then walk north to Abbot Kinney for coffee and browsing. Add lunch somewhere along the strip and you’ve built a solid half-day without ever touching the boardwalk.
7. Find Venice’s hidden walk streets and Mosaic Tile House
Venice hides a quieter side just a few blocks from the boardwalk, and these pedestrian-only walk streets and the Mosaic Tile House rank among the most rewarding things to do at Venice Beach for visitors willing to explore off the main path.
How to spot and explore the walk streets
The walk streets run through a residential grid between Pacific Avenue and the beach, roughly from Brooks Avenue down to Windward Avenue. These narrow, car-free lanes are unmarked on most tourist maps, so your best approach is to walk west off Pacific and look for footpaths between homes rather than driveways.
What makes these streets worth the detour
Each lane feels genuinely different from anything else in Venice, with dense garden plantings, hand-painted fences, and small sculptures placed directly on the path. Residents have shaped these spaces over decades, which means every visit turns up something unexpected and personal.
The walk streets feel like a neighborhood secret that hasn’t made it onto anyone’s itinerary yet.
How to visit Mosaic Tile House and plan ahead
The Mosaic Tile House at 1116 Palms Boulevard is a private residence covered entirely in ceramic tile artwork created by owners Cheri Pann and Gonzalo Duran. Tours run on weekends and require advance reservations through their website, so check availability before you arrive to avoid a wasted trip.
What to pair nearby for a low-key afternoon
After the walk streets, Abbot Kinney Boulevard sits within easy walking distance to the east. Combine both stops for a relaxed afternoon that skips the crowds entirely.
8. Catch sunset and go out on Windward Avenue
Ending your day at Venice Beach with a sunset and a walk down Windward Avenue ties the whole visit together. This stretch connects the beach to the neighborhood’s core, and it gives you a natural transition from daylight sightseeing into a relaxed evening without needing to drive anywhere.
Where to watch sunset without fighting the crowd
Walk to the Venice Pier at the south end of the beach rather than planting yourself in front of the busy boardwalk. The pier puts you slightly above the shoreline and away from the thickest foot traffic, giving you a clean view west over the water. Plan to arrive 20 to 30 minutes before sunset so you can settle in without rushing.
Watching from the pier instead of the main beach cuts the crowd noise significantly and makes the whole experience feel more worth your time.
Easy night-out options from casual to lively
Windward Avenue offers a short walk from the beach into a stretch of bars and casual restaurants that fit most moods. Your options range from low-key wine bars to livelier spots with patio seating and street views.
Live music and classic Venice bar history
The Townhouse on Windward has been operating since the 1920s and still draws a consistent crowd most evenings. The Del Monte Speakeasy below it runs live music on select nights, making it one of the more distinctive things to do at Venice Beach after dark.
Getting back safely and rideshare tips
Rideshare pickup is straightforward from Windward Avenue. Set your pickup point one block east of the beach to avoid the congestion near the boardwalk, which shortens your wait time considerably.
Quick recap and next steps
Venice Beach offers more variety than most visitors expect from a single neighborhood. This list of things to do at Venice Beach covers the full range, from the energy of Ocean Front Walk and the Venice Art Walls to the quiet canal paths and walk streets that most people never find. You can build a solid full day by combining three or four of these stops, or spread them across multiple visits if you’re spending more time in LA.
If you want to get the most out of your time without the guesswork, a guided tour gives you the local context and routing that makes every stop more worthwhile. Another Side Tours offers expert-led options that cover Venice Beach and the broader coastline, including e-bike and Segway formats for riders of any experience level. Book a Los Angeles tour and let a local guide handle the planning while you focus on enjoying the city.
