Santa Monica & Venice: Electric Bike Tour Small Group Ride

Summary

Electric bikes along Santa Monica beach and Venice canals

You’ll ride an electric bike from Santa Monica to Venice Beach with a local guide leading your small group. Expect ocean views, lively boardwalks, quiet canals, and plenty of chances to laugh at yourself (or your pronunciation). Includes helmet rental, bottled water, and all the good California sunshine you can handle.

What’s the experience like?

Pulling on the helmet felt a little awkward at first — I hadn’t been on a bike in ages, let alone an electric one. Our guide, Jamie (who grew up here), grinned and promised we’d get the hang of it before we hit the Marvin Braude Bike Trail. She was right. The first push was wobbly but then that gentle hum kicked in under my feet, and suddenly I was gliding past palm trees with this salty air hitting my face. There’s something about seeing Santa Monica Pier from the bike path instead of stuck in traffic that just feels... lighter? Not sure how else to put it.

We zigzagged through bits of Santa Monica Beach, the sand almost blindingly white in midday sun. Jamie pointed out where they filmed some old movie scenes — she rattled off names I half-recognized. At Venice Beach, things got louder: skateboard wheels clacking against concrete, someone playing saxophone near Muscle Beach (he winked at us mid-solo). We paused to watch a kid land some wild trick at the skatepark — honestly I held my breath for a second there. The whole boardwalk smelled like sunscreen and churros, which sounds weird but it worked.

I didn’t expect to love the Venice Canals part so much. It’s quieter there; water reflects all these pastel houses and ducks paddle by like they own the place. Jamie told us stories about how this area almost disappeared decades ago — she seemed proud it survived. My hands were kind of shaky after trying to pronounce “Marvin Braude” (she laughed, said even locals mess it up). By the time we looped back toward Santa Monica, legs buzzing from half-pedaling/half-cruising, I realized I’d barely thought about traffic or city noise all afternoon. Just bikes and sun and people waving as we passed.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Electric bike tour of Santa Monica and Venice

• Start electric bike tour
• View Pacific and Santa Monica bay
• Ride along 26-Mile Bike Path
• Pass Santa Monica Pier
• Explore award-winning Santa Monica Beach
• See Pacific Park and Ferris wheel
• Ride through Venice Beach
• Visit Venice Canals
• Stop at Venice skatepark
• View colorful Venice murals
• Pass southern fishing pier in Venice
• End tour with local sights

Top questions

How long is the electric bike tour from Santa Monica?

The tour covers roughly 26 miles along the Marvin Braude Bike Trail between Santa Monica and Venice Beach.

Is lunch included on this Santa Monica & Venice bike tour?

No lunch is included, but bottled water is provided during the tour.

Do I need previous experience riding electric bikes?

No prior experience is needed but you must be comfortable riding a regular bicycle.

What age do you need to be for this electric bike tour?

The minimum age is 13 years old and riders must be at least 5 feet tall and 100 lbs.

Does this small-group bike tour include pickup from my hotel?

No hotel pickup is included; you meet at the starting point in Santa Monica.

Are helmets provided for this day trip from Santa Monica?

Yes, helmet rental is included for all participants.

Can children join the electric bike tour?

Children aged 17 or under can join if accompanied by an adult and meet height/weight requirements.

Will we ride on the Santa Monica Pier?

No biking is allowed on the pier itself; you'll view it from the nearby bike path.

What’s included

Your day includes an electric bicycle for each rider, bottled water to keep you cool along the way, helmet rental for safety (even if it feels funny at first), plus a local guide who knows every shortcut between Santa Monica Beach, Venice Boardwalk, and those surprisingly peaceful canals before heading back again.