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Top Things to Do in Santa Monica

We compared all 24 experiences in Santa Monica so you can choose in minutes — real prices, verified reviews and our editorial picks.

4.9 24 experiences from US$ 31 Free cancellation on most experiences
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Los Angeles: Hollywood, Beverly Hills & Beaches 7.5-Hour Tour
Los Angeles: Hollywood, Beverly Hills & Beaches 7.5-Hour Tour★★★★★★★★★★ 4.86 (6,638)7h 30mYou get a full-day loop through LA's main sights without arranging transport, parking or timing yourself between neighborhoods. The guide handles the route, the bus handles the driving, and you handle lunch at the Farmers Market. Hotel pickup saves you the first leg if your hotel qualifies, or you can start in Santa Monica and skip the pickup wait entirely.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see LA's main sights in one day without renting a car, figuring out parking, or planning the route yourself—the fixed schedule and local guide take those decisions off your hands, and the one-hour lunch break means you're not eating on the move.Free cancellationTravelers' pickMost bookedfromUS$ 99View ›
Los Angeles: Hollywood & Beverly Hills Open Air Bus Tour
Los Angeles: Hollywood & Beverly Hills Open Air Bus Tour★★★★★★★★★★ 4.81 (3,230)2hYou board an open-air bus in Hollywood and spend 2 to 3.5 hours passing the Walk of Fame, climbing Mulholland Drive for clear views of the Hollywood Sign, stopping 10 minutes at the Beverly Hills Sign for photos, cruising Rodeo Drive and the Sunset Strip, and hearing the story of each spot through an audio guide on your phone in your choice of 11 languages. No need to arrange your own transport or figure out which streets matter—the route is set, the stops are timed, and you're done by early afternoon.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the main Hollywood and Beverly Hills landmarks in one sitting without renting a car or figuring out parking—the open-air bus and fixed route mean you're seeing the city from the best vantage point, and the audio guide in 11 languages keeps you informed without depending on the driver's mic.Free cancellationTravelers' pickBest valuefromUS$ 31View ›
Los Angeles: Beverly Hills, Santa Monica & Griffith Observatory Half-Day
Los Angeles: Beverly Hills, Santa Monica & Griffith Observatory Half-Day★★★★★★★★★★ 4.88 (2,222)5h 30mYou board a climate-controlled bus and visit four LA landmarks—Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive, either Santa Monica Pier or Hollywood Walk of Fame (depending on your start), The Grove and Farmer's Market, and Griffith Observatory—with 30 to 60 minutes at each stop. An 11-language audio app guides you through the tour, and you return to your starting point when it ends. The whole experience runs four to five hours, leaving the rest of your day open.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see four major LA landmarks in a single morning or afternoon without losing your whole day to a tour—the half-day format and fixed four-stop route mean you get the highlights without the seven-hour commitment or hotel pickups that eat extra time.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfromUS$ 69View ›
Los Angeles: Hollywood, Santa Monica & Venice Day Tour
Los Angeles: Hollywood, Santa Monica & Venice Day Tour★★★★★★★★★★ 4.84 (821)7h–9hYou’ll ride through Los Angeles with a local guide who knows all the shortcuts—and stories—behind places like Venice Beach, Santa Monica Pier, Rodeo Drive, and Griffith Observatory. Expect salty air, street music, good food at the Farmers Market (lunch included), plus hotel pickup so you skip parking headaches. You might even find yourself laughing at your own touristy excitement.Free cancellationInfants freefromUS$ 98View ›
Malibu: Celebrity Homes & Beach Tour with Local Stops
Malibu: Celebrity Homes & Beach Tour with Local Stops★★★★★★★★★★ 4.89 (491)2hYou’ll ride along Malibu’s coast in an open-air van with a local guide, stopping for sandy walks at Point Dume and photos by the famous sign. Hear stories behind celebrity homes and filming spots before tasting local eats or browsing shops at Malibu Country Mart. This isn’t just sightseeing—it’s feeling like part of California for a day.Free cancellationKids −25%fromUS$ 39View ›
Santa Monica & Venice: Electric Bike Tour Small Group Ride
Santa Monica & Venice: Electric Bike Tour Small Group Ride★★★★★★★★★★ 4.93 (487)3hYou’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.Free cancellationfromUS$ 89View ›
Los Angeles: Hollywood Walk of Fame, Griffith & Farmers Market Tour
Los Angeles: Hollywood Walk of Fame, Griffith & Farmers Market Tour★★★★★★★★★★ 4.98 (352)5h 30mYou’ll start your Los Angeles day trip from Santa Monica Pier before cruising through legendary neighborhoods with a local guide. Walk among stars on Hollywood Boulevard, grab lunch at The Grove & Farmers Market, then take in sweeping city views at Griffith Observatory — all in just half a day.Free cancellationTravelers' pickTop ratedfromUS$ 69View ›
Hollywood & Celebrity Homes Tour from Santa Monica
Hollywood & Celebrity Homes Tour from Santa Monica★★★★★★★★★★ 4.92 (338)3h 30mYou’ll ride an open-air bus from Santa Monica Pier through Hollywood’s famous neighborhoods with a local guide sharing wild stories and facts. Expect stops at Rodeo Drive and the Walk of Fame for photos (and maybe people-watching), plus plenty of views over Los Angeles that feel straight out of a movie.Free cancellationTravelers' pick-25%fromUS$ 44View ›
Santa Monica to Hollywood: Open Bus Tour with Beverly Hills Stop
Santa Monica to Hollywood: Open Bus Tour with Beverly Hills Stop★★★★★★★★★★ 4.98 (225)3h 30mYou’ll ride an open-air bus from Santa Monica through Beverly Hills and Hollywood, stopping for photos at the famous sign and wandering among celebrity handprints on the Walk of Fame. Hear real stories from your local guide as you cruise Mulholland Drive and Sunset Strip. Expect surprises—and a few laughs—you’ll remember long after you’re back home.Free cancellationKids −16%fromUS$ 59View ›
LA Open Bus Tour: Hollywood, Beverly Hills & Griffith Observatory
LA Open Bus Tour: Hollywood, Beverly Hills & Griffith Observatory★★★★★★★★★★ 4.94 (193)7hYou ride an open-air bus for seven hours hitting four major LA landmarks—Hollywood Walk of Fame, Beverly Hills, the Original Farmers Market with lunch included, and Griffith Observatory. A live guide handles the commentary and timing, so you don't navigate, park, or plan. Each stop gives you a full hour to explore, and you return to Santa Monica in the late afternoon.Is it for me?Best for first-time visitors to LA who want to see the main landmarks without renting a car, planning a route, or figuring out parking—the fixed schedule and included transport mean you show up and the day unfolds without decisions.Free cancellationKids −21%fromUS$ 95View ›
Los Angeles: Hollywood, Beverly Hills & Beach Day Tour Pickup
Los Angeles: Hollywood, Beverly Hills & Beach Day Tour Pickup★★★★★★★★★★ 4.60 (184)7h 30mYou’ll feel LA’s pulse from downtown to Venice Beach—all in one smooth ride with hotel pickup included. Expect stories from your local guide, time for lunch at the Original Farmers Market, photo stops by Griffith Observatory and Hollywood Boulevard, plus enough beach air to last you weeks.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfromUS$ 95View ›
Los Angeles: Hollywood, Beverly Hills & Beach Tour with Pickup
Los Angeles: Hollywood, Beverly Hills & Beach Tour with Pickup★★★★★★★★★★ 4.69 (154)7h 30mYou’ll feel LA’s energy from Olvera Street’s music to Venice Beach’s wild boardwalk on this full-day tour with hotel pickup. Snap photos at Griffith Observatory and Hollywood Walk of Fame, taste your way through the Farmers Market, and end by watching sunset colors spill over Santa Monica Pier—all alongside a local guide who keeps things real.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfromUS$ 95View ›
Los Angeles: Private Full-Day Tour with Hollywood Sign & Beaches
Los Angeles: Private Full-Day Tour with Hollywood Sign & Beaches★★★★★★★★★★ 4.97 (146)6h–7hYou’ll ride through Los Angeles with a local guide who knows every shortcut—from Venice Beach’s wild boardwalk to Santa Monica Pier’s carnival buzz and those iconic views beneath the Hollywood Sign. Expect good stories, plenty of food options at the Farmers Market, and time to wander famous streets without worrying about parking or planning anything yourself.Free cancellationTravelers' pick-10%from · per groupUS$ 620View ›
Santa Monica Beginner Surf Lesson 1.5 Hr Experience
Santa Monica Beginner Surf Lesson 1.5 Hr Experience★★★★★★★★★★ 4.97 (146)1h 30mYou’ll get real surf lessons from locals who live and breathe the sport. It’s not just about standing up on a board—it’s about soaking in the vibe, learning from folks who know every wave here, and leaving with a story (and maybe some sore arms).Free cancellationfromUS$ 140View ›
Venice Beach: Small Group Surf Lesson & Board Rental
Venice Beach: Small Group Surf Lesson & Board Rental★★★★★★★★★★ 4.81 (144)2hYou’ll join a small group surf lesson right on Venice Beach—start with basics on the sand before heading into the Pacific with your instructor guiding every wobbly attempt. Wetsuits and surfboards are included, so you just show up ready to get wet (and probably laugh at yourself). There’s space to practice solo at the end—plus that feeling when you finally stand up stays with you.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfromUS$ 85View ›
Los Angeles: Private Full-Day City Tour with Iconic Sights
Los Angeles: Private Full-Day City Tour with Iconic Sights★★★★★★★★★★ 4.98 (138)7h–8hYou’ll see Los Angeles through local eyes—from close-up views of the Hollywood Sign to wandering Venice Beach and quiet canal paths. Taste your way through the Farmers Market, stroll Rodeo Drive, and end by watching sunset colors over Santa Monica Pier. It’s not just sightseeing—it feels like you’re part of it all for a day.Free cancellationfrom · per groupUS$ 999View ›
Marina del Rey: Brunch Cruise with Champagne & Buffet
Marina del Rey: Brunch Cruise with Champagne & Buffet★★★★★★★★★★ 4.73 (119)2hYou’ll step onto a yacht in Marina del Rey for a two-hour brunch cruise filled with bottomless mimosas, chef-made favorites, and live music as you glide past coastal views. Expect laughter, sea air, and moments that linger long after you’re back on land.Free cancellationTravelers' pickKids −19%fromUS$ 101View ›
Santa Monica: Donut Food Tour & Beach Walk with Local Stops
Santa Monica: Donut Food Tour & Beach Walk with Local Stops★★★★★★★★★★ 4.96 (113)2hYou’ll follow a real donut trail across Santa Monica—from famous Randy’s Donuts to fresh churros near the beach—with stories from your local guide and plenty of chances to taste California’s sweetest traditions. Expect laughter, unexpected flavors, and maybe even an ocean breeze tangled with cinnamon sugar.Free cancellationfromUS$ 70View ›
Santa Monica and Venice Beach Segway Tour: Cover More Ground
Santa Monica and Venice Beach Segway Tour: Cover More Ground★★★★★★★★★★ 4.88 (41)2hA 2-hour Segway tour of Santa Monica and Venice Beach that covers the Pier, Muscle Beach, the Heal the Bay Aquarium and the Venice Boardwalk with a professional guide, safety equipment and a 30-minute orientation. The tour runs morning or afternoon, rain or shine, and includes water and snacks. Minimum age is 8 years; riders under 16 must have a parent present.Is it for me?Morning and afternoon departures both work; choose the time that fits your schedule. The 30-minute orientation means you do not need to know how to ride beforehand, and the two-hour length fits between other plans without eating the whole day.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfromUS$ 199View ›
Marina del Rey: Private E-Boat Cruise with Wine & Sea Lions
Marina del Rey: Private E-Boat Cruise with Wine & Sea Lions★★★★★★★★★★ 4.83 (40)2hYou’ll glide quietly through Marina del Rey’s harbor on a private electric boat with friends or family, sipping wine and sharing a charcuterie board as you pass waterfront homes and spot sea lions up close. With a local guide steering and stories along the way, it’s an easygoing escape you’ll remember long after the sun sets.Free cancellationTravelers' pickKids −100%fromUS$ 275View ›
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