Santa Monica Venice Beach Tour: 3-Hour Guided Beach Loop

Ride the beaches from the Pier to the Boardwalk and back in a single morning

A 3-hour guided tour of Los Angeles beaches departing from the city, traveling by air-conditioned Mercedes van to Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach Boardwalk, Muscle Beach, the Venice Canals and Marina del Rey, with a professional guide narrating throughout. A minimum of two people per booking is required. Tours run rain or shine, and the route is suitable for all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Venice Canalspassing by
2. Santa Monica Beach and Pier45m

Explore Santa Monica and Venice Beaches

• Travel from Los Angeles to beaches
• Stroll Third Street Promenade
• Visit Santa Monica Pier and amusement park
• Explore Venice Beach Boardwalk and Muscle Beach
• See Venice Canal Historic District
• Pass by Marina del Rey harbor

The experience

The tour starts with transport from your point of origin in Los Angeles to the beaches of West LA in a comfortable Mercedes van. Your guide narrates the drive and the stops, so you're not navigating or deciding where to go next. The route is already set. You'll spend the morning hopping out to walk each destination on foot: the Third Street Promenade, the Santa Monica Pier (a 100-year-old amusement park and entertainment center on the water), and then the Venice Beach Boardwalk with its street performers, modern art and outdoor shops.

Muscle Beach, the outdoor weightlifting gym that started in 1934 and helped shape professional bodybuilding culture, sits right on the Venice Boardwalk. You'll see the weight pens and the athletes training there. The tour also takes in the Venice Canals, a historic residential district built in 1905 with man-made wetland canals, and Marina del Rey, an unincorporated seaside community with North America's largest man-made small-craft harbor, home to roughly 5,000 boats. Throughout the day you'll see beach homes and the purple hazy backdrop of the Malibu hills.

The whole loop takes three hours, which means you're done by early afternoon and have the rest of your day free. A professional guide travels with you the entire time. Bottled water and small snacks are included. Tours operate whether the weather is clear or rainy, and the itinerary suits all fitness levels since you're walking at your own pace at each stop, not hiking or climbing.

What’s included

• Professional guide narration throughout the route.
• transport in an air-conditioned Mercedes van.
• bottled water and small snacks.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to2h before

GroupUp to 9

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Another Side Of Los Angeles Tours

Is this one for you?Three hours is tight enough to fit into a morning or early afternoon without eating your whole day, but long enough to cover all five stops (the Pier, the Boardwalk, Muscle Beach, the Canals and Marina del Rey) without rushing through any of them.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What is Muscle Beach and why is it on this tour?

Muscle Beach is an outdoor weightlifting gym on Venice Beach that started in 1934 and evolved from gymnastics into the current strength-training facility. It's considered a key contributor to attracting professional bodybuilders and strength lifters, and the tour includes it because it's a landmark part of the Venice Beach Boardwalk experience.

How long does the tour actually take from start to finish?

The tour is 3 hours total, including transport between stops and time to walk each destination on foot with your guide.

Does this tour include a stop at the Venice Canals?

Yes, the Venice Canal Historic District is part of the route. It's a residential neighborhood with man-made wetland canals built in 1905 by developer Abbot Kinney as part of his Venice of America project.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes narration by a professional guide, transport in an air-conditioned Mercedes van, bottled water and small snacks. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, and gratuities are separate.

Can I bring young children or infants on this tour?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available. Service animals are also allowed.

What happens if the weather is bad?

Tours operate rain or shine, so the itinerary runs regardless of weather conditions.