Santa Monica sits right where LA meets the Pacific, and most first-time visitors already have a mental picture of what it looks like, the pier, the beach, maybe that one stretch of road from a movie they can’t quite name. But the best santa monica tourist spots go well beyond the postcard shots. Some of the most memorable corners of this neighborhood are ones you’d walk right past without someone pointing them out.
That’s exactly why we built our LA tours at Another Side Tours, to help visitors cut through the obvious and actually connect with what makes each neighborhood worth exploring. We’ve guided over a million guests through Los Angeles, and Santa Monica remains one of the most requested stops.
Below, you’ll find six spots every first-timer should know about, from the landmarks you’d expect to a few you definitely wouldn’t. Whether you’re building a day itinerary or just want to know what’s actually worth your time, this list has you covered.
1. Another Side Tours Santa Monica sightseeing tour
If you want to see Santa Monica the right way on your first visit, a guided tour from Another Side Tours gives you the full picture without the guesswork. Local expert guides lead you through the neighborhood’s most compelling spots while sharing the stories and context that turn a standard sightseeing outing into something you’ll actually remember.
What it is
Another Side Tours offers a Santa Monica sightseeing experience built around small groups and private options, so you get real attention from your guide rather than a rushed shuffle through the most crowded corners. The tours cover a curated mix of landmarks, lesser-known streets, and viewpoints that most first-timers miss entirely on their own.
A guided tour doesn’t just save you time. It changes what you actually notice and take away from a place.
Why first timers love it
First-time visitors consistently highlight two things when they review the tour: the guide’s knowledge and the pace. You’re not racing from one photo stop to the next. Instead, you move through the neighborhood at a speed that lets everything sink in. The local storytelling is what separates this experience from looking things up on your phone, because context and history make even familiar spots feel completely new.
When you’re trying to find the best santa monica tourist spots on your own, you often end up wasting hours navigating crowds and second-guessing which streets are worth your limited time. A guided tour cuts that frustration out entirely.
How to visit and key tips
You can book directly through Another Side Tours. Private tour options give you flexibility on timing and itinerary, which works well if you’re traveling with a group or have specific stops in mind. Semi-private options keep costs lower while still delivering a personal experience.
Plan to wear comfortable walking shoes and arrive a few minutes early to meet your guide. Tours run year-round, but morning slots tend to offer cooler weather and smaller crowds along the waterfront.
2. Santa Monica Pier and Pacific Park
The Santa Monica Pier is one of those places that actually delivers what it promises. When you’re mapping out santa monica tourist spots for a first visit, this one earns its position at the top for concrete reasons.
What it is
The pier stretches over 1,600 feet into the Pacific Ocean at the foot of Colorado Avenue. It holds Pacific Park, a solar-powered Ferris wheel, carnival games, seafood restaurants, and a small aquarium tucked underneath the boardwalk. The structure dates back to 1909, which gives the whole area significantly more history than most visitors walking across it realize.
Why first timers love it
Standing at the end of the pier gives you a view of the LA coastline that you simply can’t replicate from the sand. The Ferris wheel has become one of the most photographed landmarks in the city, and the pier’s energy shifts noticeably from morning calm to full afternoon buzz.
The end of the pier at sunset hands you a perspective of Santa Monica that most visitors call the single best moment of their trip.
How to visit and key tips
Walking the pier is completely free and open daily. Pacific Park rides require tickets purchased separately. A few tips worth knowing before you go:
- Arrive before 10 AM on weekdays to avoid the worst crowd buildup
- Rideshare or public transit beats circling for street parking on busy days
- Budget at least 90 minutes to cover the pier and Pacific Park without feeling rushed
3. Third Street Promenade and downtown Santa Monica
Third Street Promenade gives you a pedestrian-only shopping and dining corridor that runs three blocks through the heart of downtown Santa Monica. This stretch combines retail stores, restaurants, street performers, and movie theaters in a way that makes it worth an hour or two even if you never open your wallet.
What it is
The Promenade runs along Third Street between Broadway and Wilshire Boulevard, completely closed to vehicle traffic. You’ll find everything from national retailers to independent restaurants, plus regular live performances from musicians and entertainers working the outdoor corridor. It connects directly to Santa Monica Place, a three-story open-air mall with rooftop dining and Pacific Ocean views on clear days.
Why first timers love it
Among all the santa monica tourist spots on this list, the Promenade stands out as the easiest place to slow down and soak in the local energy without a specific agenda. You can grab coffee, watch a street performer, browse a bookstore, and land at a rooftop table with ocean views all within a few blocks.
The rooftop dining level at Santa Monica Place gives you one of the most underrated daytime views in the entire city.
How to visit and key tips
The Promenade is open daily with no admission cost. A few things worth knowing before you head in:
- Visit on a weekday morning to move freely without navigating peak weekend crowds
- Parking structures on 2nd and 4th Streets are your best bets nearby
- Budget 60 to 90 minutes to cover the full stretch comfortably
4. Palisades Park and Ocean Avenue views
Palisades Park runs along Ocean Avenue directly above the beach bluffs, giving you one of the most scenic and underrated walks in all of Santa Monica. Most visitors head straight for the water and miss this strip entirely, but the park delivers elevated coastal views that no beach-level vantage point can match.
What it is
The park stretches 1.6 miles along Ocean Avenue from Colorado Avenue north to Adelaide Drive, sitting on top of the bluffs overlooking the Pacific. You’ll find wide pathways, mature trees, benches, and several open viewpoints where the coastline unfolds in both directions. The park has existed in some form since the 1870s, making it one of Santa Monica’s oldest public green spaces.
Why first timers love it
Among the santa monica tourist spots that require zero planning to enjoy, Palisades Park ranks near the top. The bluff-top perspective gives you a completely different read on the coastline compared to standing on the sand below.
Walking north along Ocean Avenue at golden hour puts the entire Santa Monica Bay in front of you in a way most visitors never experience.
How to visit and key tips
The park is free and open daily from sunrise to sunset. A few things worth knowing before you go:
- The bluff-top path runs clearly in one direction, so pick a starting point and walk the full stretch
- Street parking along Ocean Avenue fills quickly on weekends, so arriving early or using nearby structures saves you real time
- Bring water, especially in summer when the afternoon sun on the open bluff path hits harder than expected
5. Santa Monica State Beach and The Strand
Santa Monica State Beach is the centerpiece of the entire waterfront, and The Strand, the paved path running along its edge, gives you a way to experience it that goes well beyond just laying on the sand. Together, they form one of the most consistently enjoyable santa monica tourist spots on this list.
What it is
Santa Monica State Beach stretches roughly three miles along the Pacific, running from the pier north toward Pacific Palisades. The Strand is a dedicated paved path for cyclists and pedestrians that traces the shoreline, connecting the beach to a wider coastal trail network that extends miles in both directions.
Why first timers love it
The combination of open beach access and a clean, well-maintained walking path makes this spot genuinely low-effort to enjoy. Walking even a short stretch of The Strand puts the water on one side and the full beach scene on the other, which quickly becomes the most relaxing hour of most people’s entire LA trip.
The Strand on a weekday morning feels like a completely different city from the LA you hear about.
How to visit and key tips
The beach and path are free and open daily from sunrise to sunset. A few things to keep in mind before you go:
- Parking lots along Pacific Coast Highway fill fast on weekends, so arrive early
- Rent bikes near the pier to cover more of The Strand without wearing yourself out
- Bring sunscreen and water, since shade is scarce along the open stretch
6. Annenberg Community Beach House
The Annenberg Community Beach House is one of the santa monica tourist spots that most first-timers skip entirely because it sits slightly north of the main pier activity. That’s a real miss, and correcting it before you finalize your itinerary will add a genuinely distinct stop to your day.
What it is
The beach house sits at 415 Pacific Coast Highway and occupies the original site of the Marion Davies estate from the 1920s. The property includes a guest pool, beach club facilities, rotating art gallery spaces, and direct beach access, all set within architecture that still reflects its historic origins. It operates as a public community resource managed by the City of Santa Monica.
Why first timers love it
This stop delivers a quieter, more considered beach experience compared to the high-energy stretch near the pier. The combination of historic architecture, gallery programming, and a working pool makes this feel completely unlike any other point along the Santa Monica waterfront.
Visitors who include this stop consistently describe it as the most surprisingly interesting part of their entire Santa Monica day.
How to visit and key tips
Check the official City of Santa Monica website for current hours and pool reservation requirements before you go, since seasonal schedules affect access. A few practical things to keep in mind:
- Pool access requires advance reservations and a small fee
- The gallery spaces and beach areas are free to enter
- Plan roughly 60 to 90 minutes to move through the property without feeling rushed
Quick recap and next step
You now have six solid santa monica tourist spots to work with, ranging from the iconic pier to the quieter, history-rich Annenberg Beach House. Each stop brings something distinct to your itinerary, and together they cover the full range of what makes Santa Monica worth a dedicated day on your LA trip. Picking two or three spots in close proximity to each other and moving between them at your own pace is usually the approach that works best for first-timers.
If you want to see more of Los Angeles beyond Santa Monica, guided tours make the rest of the city just as manageable. Local expert guides handle the navigation and context so you can focus on actually experiencing the places you came to see. Check out the Los Angeles sightseeing tours from Another Side Tours to find an option that fits your schedule and group size.
