Venice Beach is one of those places that hits different in person. The boardwalk energy, the murals, the smell of street food mixing with ocean air, it all adds up to something you can’t really replicate anywhere else in LA. But figuring out what to do in Venice Beach can be tricky when you’re working with limited time and an overwhelming number of options. Some spots are worth every minute, and others are tourist traps you’ll regret the second you walk in.
We’ve been guiding visitors through Los Angeles for over a million tours at Another Side Tours, and Venice Beach is one of the neighborhoods our local guides know inside and out. From the iconic canals to the hidden street art most people walk right past, we’ve spent years helping travelers experience Venice the way it deserves, with context, not just a checklist.
This guide breaks down 10 experiences that actually matter in Venice Beach. Whether you’re planning a full day or just a few hours between other LA stops, these picks will help you skip the filler and focus on what makes this neighborhood unforgettable.
1. Take a guided Venice Beach tour with Another Side Tours
If you’re trying to figure out what to do in Venice Beach without wasting half your day going in circles, a guided tour is the fastest way to lock in the highlights. Another Side Tours pairs you with local expert guides who know the neighborhood on a deep level, including the stories behind the murals, the history of the canals, and the spots that most visitors completely miss.
What you’ll experience
Your guide covers Venice Beach’s most iconic locations while layering in context most travelers never get on their own. You’ll move through the boardwalk, the Venice Canals, and the art walls with someone who can tell you why each place matters. Tours are kept small and personal, which means you can ask questions and adjust the pace without feeling rushed through a crowd.
A local guide changes how you see a place. You stop just looking at things and start actually understanding them.
Best time to go
Morning tours work best for Venice Beach. You get cooler temperatures, fewer crowds on the boardwalk, and better light for photos. Weekend afternoons can get busy fast, so starting early gives you a more relaxed experience at every stop.
Practical tips
Book your spot in advance, especially if you’re visiting during summer months or around major LA events like the LA Marathon or holiday weekends. Wear comfortable shoes since you’ll cover ground on foot at several points. Bring sunscreen and a water bottle regardless of the season since the sun reflects off the sand even on overcast days.
- Confirm your pickup location when you book
- Arrive a few minutes early so you don’t miss the start
- Let your guide know if there’s anything specific you want to see
Cost and time needed
Tours through Another Side Tours vary depending on the format and group size, with options that fit different budgets and schedules. Most Venice-area experiences run between 2 and 4 hours, giving you enough time to cover the key spots without burning out before you’ve explored the rest of your day. Check the current pricing and availability directly on the Another Side Tours website before your trip.
2. Walk the Venice Beach Boardwalk and Ocean Front Walk
The Venice Beach Boardwalk, officially called Ocean Front Walk, runs about 1.5 miles along the Pacific and gives you one of the most raw, unfiltered slices of Los Angeles you’ll find anywhere. If you’re still deciding what to do in Venice Beach, this stretch is non-negotiable. Street performers, vendors, fortune tellers, and skaters all share the same pavement, and the energy is unlike anything else in the city.
What you’ll experience
Ocean Front Walk delivers a constant stream of unexpected moments. You’ll pass murals, pop-up vendors selling handmade jewelry, musicians with full sound setups, and bodybuilders warming up near Muscle Beach. The crowd itself is part of the experience, pulling in locals, tourists, and performers from across LA.
This is one of those places where you actually want to slow down and let it come to you rather than rushing toward a destination.
Best time to go
Weekend mornings between 9 and 11 AM give you the best balance of activity and breathing room. By early afternoon, the crowds thicken significantly and finding space to walk becomes harder.
Practical tips
Keep your belongings close and stay aware of cyclists and skaters who share parts of the path. Wear shoes you don’t mind getting sandy since the boardwalk sits right next to the beach.
Cost and time needed
Walking Ocean Front Walk is completely free. Budget at least 45 to 60 minutes to cover it at a comfortable pace without feeling rushed.
3. Watch skaters at Venice Skatepark
Venice Skatepark sits right on the beach at the southern end of Ocean Front Walk, and it’s one of the best free shows in Los Angeles. Whether skateboarding interests you or you’ve never stepped on a board in your life, watching the skaters here is genuinely worth your time when sorting out what to do in Venice Beach.
What you’ll experience
The park is a 3-acre outdoor concrete facility that pulls serious talent from across LA and beyond. You’ll see everything from beginners finding their footing to professional-level riders pulling off tricks that look physically impossible. The layout includes bowls, banks, and rails designed to let skaters of every skill level use the space at the same time, which keeps the energy constant.
The skill level you’ll witness at Venice Skatepark on a busy afternoon will genuinely catch you off guard, even if you’ve watched skateboarding before.
Best time to go
Weekend afternoons between 1 and 4 PM bring out the most skilled riders and the largest crowds of spectators. Weekday mornings are quieter if you prefer a more relaxed viewing experience with less foot traffic around the perimeter.
Practical tips
Stay behind the designated spectator areas along the railings. Skaters move fast and the concrete is unforgiving, so keep kids close and respect the boundaries. Bring a camera since the ocean light in the afternoon makes for sharp, well-lit action shots.
Cost and time needed
Admission is completely free. Budget 30 to 45 minutes, though it’s easy to stay longer once the tricks start stacking up.
4. Hit Muscle Beach and the outdoor fitness area
Muscle Beach is one of the most recognized outdoor fitness landmarks in the world, sitting right on the Venice boardwalk. If you’re still building your list of what to do in Venice Beach, this stop delivers both history and genuine spectacle in the same stretch of sand.
What you’ll experience
The area includes the original Muscle Beach outdoor weight pen plus a sprawling fitness zone with pull-up bars, parallel bars, and rings spread across the sand. You’ll watch regulars put in serious work on equipment that has attracted dedicated athletes since the 1950s.
The fitness culture here didn’t start as a tourist attraction. It grew organically, and that authenticity still shows in the people who train here every day.
Best time to go
Late morning between 10 AM and noon draws the most dedicated regulars to the weight pen. You’ll get a genuine sense of the fitness culture that put this spot on the map.
Weekday visits tend to be quieter if you want space to move around. Weekend crowds can make it harder to find a good viewing spot near the equipment.
Practical tips
Bring water and sunscreen since the area sits fully exposed with no shade overhead. The weight pen charges a small fee if you want to lift, so carry a few dollars in cash.
- Don’t interrupt athletes mid-set for photos
- Respect the space if you use the open equipment
Cost and time needed
Spectating is completely free. Using the weight pen runs a small day-use fee of a few dollars. Budget 20 to 30 minutes unless you plan to train.
5. Explore the Venice Canals Historic District
Most visitors to Venice Beach walk straight past this neighborhood without realizing it exists. The Venice Canals Historic District sits just a few blocks inland from the boardwalk, and it’s one of the most genuinely surprising places you’ll find when figuring out what to do in Venice Beach. The canals were built in 1905 by developer Abbot Kinney, who envisioned a Southern California version of Venice, Italy, complete with gondolas and arched footbridges.
What you’ll experience
Walking the canals puts you in a quiet, residential stretch of Venice that feels completely removed from the boardwalk chaos. You’ll cross wooden footbridges over still water, pass well-kept homes with private docks, and spot ducks, herons, and the occasional resident paddling a kayak through the narrow channels.
This is one of the few places in Los Angeles where the architecture and the pace of the street actually slow you down.
Best time to go
Early morning or late afternoon gives you the best light for photos and the fewest people on the narrow paths. Midday sun can wash out the reflections on the water that make this area so photogenic.
Practical tips
The canals run through a working residential neighborhood, so keep your voice down and stay on the public footpaths. Bring a camera since the bridge-and-water compositions photograph beautifully in both directions.
Cost and time needed
The canals are completely free to walk. Budget 30 to 45 minutes to cover the main loop at a relaxed pace.
6. Bike the Marvin Braude Bike Trail, The Strand
The Marvin Braude Bike Trail, commonly called The Strand, stretches 22 miles along the California coast from Pacific Palisades down to Torrance. Renting a bike and riding this path is one of the most satisfying answers to what to do in Venice Beach, giving you ocean views, beach access, and an easy way to cover serious ground without touching a car.
What you’ll experience
The Strand runs flat and fully paved the entire length, making it accessible for most fitness levels. You’ll pass the skatepark, Muscle Beach, and the main boardwalk before the path opens up to quieter stretches of coastline toward Santa Monica or Playa del Rey, where the crowds thin out and the views get even better.
The perspective you get from a bike on The Strand is genuinely different from walking. You cover more ground and still catch every detail along the coast.
Best time to go
Weekend mornings before 10 AM keep the path manageable. Midday on weekends draws a thick mix of cyclists, joggers, and rollerbladers that slows your pace significantly and makes passing safely harder.
Practical tips
Rental shops near the boardwalk offer bikes, helmets, and e-bikes by the hour. Stay in the dedicated bike lane at all times and watch for pedestrians stepping onto the path without looking.
- Bring water and sunscreen in a small backpack
- Lock your bike securely if you stop to explore off the path
Cost and time needed
Bike rentals typically run $10 to $20 per hour. Budget 1.5 to 2 hours for a relaxed round trip covering the Venice stretch and nearby coastline.
7. See murals and street art at Venice Art Walls
The Venice Art Walls on Ocean Front Walk represent one of the most active and ever-changing legal graffiti destinations in the United States. If you’re still refining your list of what to do in Venice Beach, this stop delivers something genuinely rare: commissioned street art that shifts week to week, painted by local and international artists who treat the concrete panels as a rotating public gallery.
What you’ll experience
You’ll find a long stretch of painted concrete panels running near the boardwalk that artists legally work on with permits, meaning the quality and ambition of the work here goes well beyond typical street tagging. Large-scale murals sit next to intricate lettering and abstract compositions, and the variety keeps every visit visually interesting. New work covers old work constantly, so returning visitors rarely see the same wall twice.
The Venice Art Walls are a rare case where public art gets better over time because the artists hold each other to a high standard.
Best time to go
Saturday and Sunday mornings give you the best chance of watching artists actively working on new pieces. The natural light before noon also makes the colors and detail in the murals photograph cleanly without glare.
Practical tips
Respect any active artist at work by keeping a reasonable distance and not blocking their line of sight to the wall. Bring a wide-angle lens or step back far enough to capture full compositions rather than fragments.
Cost and time needed
Viewing the Art Walls is completely free. Budget 20 to 30 minutes to walk the full length and take photos.
8. Shop and snack along Abbot Kinney Boulevard
A short walk from the boardwalk sits Abbot Kinney Boulevard, a mile-long stretch that regularly lands on best street lists across the country. When you’re working out what to do in Venice Beach beyond the sand and skaters, this road delivers a completely different side of the neighborhood, focused on independent shops, local restaurants, and neighborhood character that you won’t find duplicated anywhere else in LA.
What you’ll experience
Abbot Kinney pulls together boutique clothing stores, vintage furniture shops, coffee roasters, and some of the best casual dining in Venice. You’ll find everything from handmade goods to well-curated vintage finds sitting alongside acclaimed taco spots and farm-to-table restaurants. The street moves at a relaxed pace, and the mix of locals and visitors keeps the atmosphere genuinely lively without the chaos of the boardwalk.
Abbot Kinney rewards slow exploration. The best finds are often the ones you stumble into rather than the ones you planned.
Best time to go
Late morning or early afternoon on a weekday gives you the most comfortable experience. The first Friday of every month brings vendors and extended shop hours to the street, which makes for a lively evening visit if your trip lines up.
Practical tips
Bring cash and a card since some smaller vendors only take one or the other. Wear comfortable shoes since the best way to cover the boulevard is on foot.
Cost and time needed
Browsing is free, but budget $15 to $40 if you plan to eat or pick up something from a shop. Plan for at least 60 to 90 minutes to cover the street properly.
9. Visit the Mosaic Tile House
The Mosaic Tile House is one of the most visually striking stops you’ll find when deciding what to do in Venice Beach, yet most visitors drive past it without a second glance. Located on Palms Boulevard, this private home has been covered entirely in hand-laid mosaic tile by artists Cheri Pann and her late husband Gonzalo Duran over more than two decades of continuous work.
What you’ll experience
Every surface of the house, including the exterior walls and garden sculptures, is blanketed in intricate mosaic work that took years to build and continues to evolve. Scheduled tours take you inside the property where the rooms and courtyard match the exterior in ambition and detail. Pann continues adding to the work, so no two visits look exactly the same.
This is the kind of place that genuinely changes what you think is possible when someone commits to a creative vision over a lifetime.
Best time to go
Tours run on select days and require advance booking through official channels. Morning slots offer better natural light for photography and cooler temperatures for walking the outdoor sections of the property.
Practical tips
Bring a camera capable of close-up shots to capture the fine detail in the tilework. Confirm tour availability well in advance since slots fill quickly, especially on weekends and during the summer travel season.
- Wear comfortable shoes since garden surfaces are uneven in spots
- Arrive a few minutes early since tours start on time
Cost and time needed
Tours run approximately $20 per person and last around 60 to 90 minutes, making this one of the more affordable and memorable stops in Venice.
10. Catch sunset and stay for Windward nightlife
Ending your day at Venice Beach with the sunset is one of those experiences that genuinely justifies the trip on its own. The stretch near Windward Avenue gives you an unobstructed view of the Pacific as the light drops, and the bars and restaurants along Windward keep the energy going well after dark. If you’re building out what to do in Venice Beach from morning to night, this is the ideal closer.
What you’ll experience
The sunset from the Venice Beach shoreline ranks among the best in all of Southern California. After the sun goes down, Windward Avenue pulls you into a compact strip of local bars, live music venues, and late-night restaurants that draw a mix of residents and visitors. The vibe shifts noticeably from boardwalk chaos to something more relaxed and neighborhood-focused once the day crowd thins out.
The transition from watching the sunset on the sand to walking into a packed bar on Windward Avenue takes about five minutes, which makes this one of the most satisfying finales to a full day in Venice.
Best time to go
Arrive at the beach about 30 minutes before sunset to get a good spot on the sand. Check a weather app for the exact sunset time on your visit since it shifts significantly across the year.
Practical tips
Bring a light jacket since ocean temperatures drop fast after dark, even in summer. Most bars on Windward are 21 and over after a certain hour, so plan accordingly if you’re traveling with younger guests.
Cost and time needed
The sunset costs nothing. Budget $20 to $50 per person if you plan to grab drinks and food along Windward. Set aside 2 to 3 hours for the full experience.
Plan your Venice Beach day
Venice Beach rewards visitors who show up with a plan. Start your morning at the Venice Canals before the boardwalk crowds arrive, then work your way toward the skatepark and Muscle Beach as the day heats up. Abbot Kinney fits naturally into a midday break, and the Art Walls photograph best in morning light before you pivot inland. End at the shoreline in time for sunset and dinner on Windward to close out the day properly.
Deciding what to do in Venice Beach gets easier when you have a local expert walking alongside you. A guided tour helps you connect the dots between neighborhoods and gives each stop real context instead of just a location pin. If you want to experience Venice and the broader Los Angeles area with someone who actually knows it, book a Los Angeles tour with Another Side Tours and let a local guide shape your day from the start.
