Downtown Santa Monica Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Downtown Santa Monica
Downtown Santa Monica
Downtown Santa Monica
Downtown Santa Monica
Santa Monica showing tropical scenes and general coastal views

Popular places to visit

Santa Monica Beach

Santa Monica Beach

4.5/5(117 reviews)

Located just west of downtown Los Angeles, this iconic southern California beach is a haven for swimmers, surfers, beachcombers and fitness enthusiasts.

Santa Monica Beach
Santa Monica Pier showing rides

Santa Monica Pier

4.5/5(286 reviews)

Head to this century-old sun-baked attraction which has plenty of quirky beachside kitsch, a boardwalk ambience and a heady carnival atmosphere.

Santa Monica Pier
Third Street Promenade

Third Street Promenade

4/5(1 review)

During your trip to Santa Monica, you can do some window-shopping at Third Street Promenade. Stroll along the area's beaches or simply enjoy its restaurants.

Third Street Promenade
Pacific Park

Pacific Park

Bring the children to Pacific Park and have a fun-filled day at this theme park in Santa Monica. Attend a sporting event or simply enjoy the top-notch restaurants while you're in the area.

Pacific Park
Heal the Bay Aquarium

Heal the Bay Aquarium

Take the children to visit the sea life you'll find at Heal the Bay Aquarium during your trip to Santa Monica.

Heal the Bay Aquarium
Tongva Park

Tongva Park

Tongva Park is just one of the places to see in Santa Monica, so why not enjoy the other things to explore during your travels?

Tongva Park

Activities

LA with Starline Bus

City Sightseeing Los Angeles & Hollywood: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

NZ$90
per adult
74% of travellers recommend
City Sightseeing Los Angeles & Hollywood: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
Santa Monica: Ghosts and Phantoms of the Pier Walking Tour

Santa Monica Sinister Sins & Sorrow Ghost Tour

NZ$53
per adult
Santa Monica Sinister Sins & Sorrow Ghost Tour
All Day LA Tour: Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica

All Day LA Tour: Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica

NZ$158
per adult
100% of travellers recommend
All Day LA Tour: Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica
From San Francisco: Highway 1 Self-Drive Audio Tour

Pacific Coast Highway App-Based Driving Audio Tour Bundle

NZ$50
per traveller
88% of travellers recommend
Pacific Coast Highway App-Based Driving Audio Tour Bundle
Los Angeles: Heal The Bay Aquarium in Santa Monica

Los Angeles: Heal The Bay Aquarium in Santa Monica

NZ$20
per adult
Los Angeles: Heal The Bay Aquarium in Santa Monica
Classic Beach Picnic in Santa Monica

Classic Beach Picnic in Santa Monica

NZ$333
per adult
Classic Beach Picnic in Santa Monica
See all activities in Los Angeles

Our pick of the best Downtown Santa Monica Hotel Deals

The Pierside Santa Monica

The Pierside Santa Monica

4 out of 5
120 Colorado Avenue, Santa Monica, CA
The price is NZ$619 per night from 20 July to 21 July
NZ$619
20 July - 21 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star beach hotel in Santa Monica. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the restaurant and the helpful staff ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,310 reviews)
"Fantastic staff, the place was so fun. Great hospitality and within walking distance to interesting shops and restaurants."

Reviewed on 16 Jul. 2025

The Pierside Santa Monica
Hilton Santa Monica Hotel & Suites

Hilton Santa Monica Hotel & Suites

4 out of 5
1707 4th St, Santa Monica, CA
The price is NZ$536 per night from 27 July to 28 July
NZ$536
27 July - 28 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star beach hotel in Santa Monica. Enjoy breakfast (surcharge), a free beach shuttle, and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,115 reviews)
"Perfect location for walking to dining options and the pier/beaches."

Reviewed on 17 Jul. 2025

Hilton Santa Monica Hotel & Suites
citizenM Los Angeles Downtown

citizenM Los Angeles Downtown

4 out of 5
361 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA
The price is NZ$271 per night from 23 July to 24 July
NZ$271
23 July - 24 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Los Angeles. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the breakfast ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (3,449 reviews)
Great place to stay!
"This place was super unique! Modern and artsy with a comforting appeal. Service was excellent, there was a period of time where we didn’t have hot water but they rushed to have it fixed and had it working in no time. Would definitely come back here."

Reviewed on 16 Jul. 2025

citizenM Los Angeles Downtown
Hyatt Regency Los Angeles International Airport

Hyatt Regency Los Angeles International Airport

4 out of 5
6225 W Century Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
The price is NZ$297 per night from 11 Aug to 12 Aug
NZ$297
11 Aug - 12 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Los Angeles. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a free airport shuttle. Our guests praise the breakfast ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (3,970 reviews)
"Exceptional stay."

Reviewed on 18 Jul. 2025

Hyatt Regency Los Angeles International Airport
Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel

Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel

4 out of 5
6101 W Century Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
The price is NZ$281 per night from 23 July to 24 July
NZ$281
23 July - 24 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Los Angeles. Enjoy breakfast (surcharge), a free airport shuttle, and a health club. Our guests praise the pool ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (7,492 reviews)
"Great option for a stranded traveler"

Reviewed on 19 Jul. 2025

Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel
Sheraton Universal Hotel

Sheraton Universal Hotel

4 out of 5
333 Universal Hollywood Drive, Universal City, CA
The price is NZ$363 per night from 17 Aug to 18 Aug
NZ$363
17 Aug - 18 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Universal City. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the breakfast and ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (3,860 reviews)
"Ourstay was nice all in all but 2 things happened to us while checking in the lady was not friendly and didnt help us plus gave us false inforamtion, secondly it has been more than two weeks since out checking out date and still the deposite money amount didnt get back to our bank account female ..."

Reviewed on 17 Jul. 2025

Sheraton Universal Hotel
See all 8,791 properties in Downtown Santa Monica
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Downtown Santa Monica

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Ocean Park

4.5/5(18 area reviews)

Ocean Park is known for its stunning beaches, and you can see some sights area like Venice Beach and Santa Monica Beach.

Ocean Park
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West Los Angeles

4.5/5(2 area reviews)

Travellers choose West Los Angeles for its ample dining options. Hop aboard the metro at Expo/SepulvedStation or Expo/Bundy Station and check out top sights like Laemmle Theatres Royal.

West Los Angeles
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Mar Vista

Though Mar Vista may not have many top sights, you can venture to the surrounding area to see attractions like Ballona Wetlands and Walk Streets.

Mar Vista
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Westwood

4/5(12 area reviews)

Museums, bars and art galleries highlight some of the noteworthy features of Westwood. Make a stop by UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame or Westwood Village while you're exploring the neighbourhood.

Westwood
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Westchester

You might enjoy the shopping while in Westchester. Promenade at Howard Hughes Parkway Center is a notable sight, and you can get around town at Westchester/Veterans Station or Aviation/Century Station to see more of the city.

Westchester
Melrose Avenue which includes signage, fashion and shopping

West Hollywood

If you're spending some time in West Hollywood, Melrose Avenue and Sunset Strip are top sights worth seeing.

West Hollywood

Downtown Santa Monica Travel Guide

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