Venice Beach Bike Tour: Santa Monica Pier & Canals in 3 Hours

Ride the Venice Boardwalk to Santa Monica Pier and discover the canals most visitors miss

A 3-hour guided bike tour of Venice Beach, Santa Monica and Marina del Rey that covers eight stops including the Venice Canals, Venice Skate Park, Graffiti Art Walls, Santa Monica Pier and Abbot Kinney Blvd. You ride a beach cruiser along the Pacific coast and through the neighborhoods where the tour guide shares the history and culture of each spot. The small group format keeps the experience intimate, and a local guide fluent in English or French leads the ride.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Santa Monica Beach and Pier15m
2. Venice Canals30m

Venice and Santa Monica Bike Tour

• Start near Muscle Beach
• Visit Venice Graffiti Art Walls
• See Venice Skate Park
• Ride to Santa Monica Pier
• Explore Abbot Kinney Blvd.
• Tour Venice Canals
• Visit Marina del Rey
• Stop at Venice Fishing Pier

The experience

Venice Beach is where the tour starts, just steps from Muscle Beach. From there you pedal past the Venice Graffiti Art Walls (a legal art park where artists from around the world paint freely), and roll through the Venice Skate Park, the largest free skate park on the planet. The route then heads up the California coast for a 2-mile ride to Santa Monica Pier, where the guide explains the early 1900s rivalry between Venice's founder Abbot Kinney and the men building the pier.

The tour loops back through Abbot Kinney Blvd., a street GQ Magazine called "The coolest block in America," where you'll pass shops, restaurants and maybe spot a celebrity. Then comes the Venice Canals: a quiet, tree-lined neighborhood most tourists never find. The guide walks you through how the canals were built and why they matter to Venice's identity. The ride ends at the Venice Fishing Pier on the southern edge of Venice, where you can photograph the Southern California coast.

You get a beach cruiser bike with a basket, a safety helmet, bottled water throughout the ride and a local guide who doubles as a photographer. The guide speaks English or French depending on the tour departure you book.

What’s included

• Beach cruiser bike with basket.
• safety helmet.
• bottled water throughout the 3 hours.
• local tour guide who photographs the group.
• small group format with live guide in English or French.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 1 Apr 2027

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 to 54 years) · Senior (55 and older) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (1 to 2 years)

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish and French

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.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Venice Bike Tours

Is this one for you?The tour starts at Venice Beach steps from Muscle Beach, so you don't need a car to reach it: public transit gets you there, and the guide handles the rest of the route on bike. If you're staying in Santa Monica or Marina del Rey without a rental, this tour brings those neighborhoods to you on the coastal ride instead.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (1 to 2 years).

What is the Venice Canals and why does the guide take us there?

The Venice Canals are a residential neighborhood of tree-lined waterways in the heart of Venice that most visitors miss entirely. The guide takes you there to show how they were built and explain their importance to Venice's culture and identity.

How far is the ride to Santa Monica Pier and what do we see there?

Santa Monica Pier is a 2-mile ride up the coast from Venice Beach. At the pier, the guide shares the history of the rivalry between Venice founder Abbot Kinney and the men who built the pier in the early 1900s.

What is Abbot Kinney Blvd. and why does it matter?

Abbot Kinney Blvd. is one of the most fashionable streets in Los Angeles, called "The coolest block in America" by GQ Magazine. The guide explains what the street was previously called and its role as a racial dividing line during the Jim Crow era.

What does the bike tour include?

The tour includes a beach cruiser bike with a basket, a safety helmet, bottled water for the entire 3 hours, and a local guide who is also a photographer. The guide speaks English or French.

Is there a parking fee for this tour?

If you drive to the tour, there is a $15 parking fee payable at check-in. Public transportation options are available near the start point if you prefer not to drive.

What is the Venice Skate Park and what will we learn there?

The Venice Skate Park is the largest free skate park in the world, located right on Venice Beach. The guide teaches you about its history and you'll watch top skaters from around the world performing tricks.