Forget the sun, surf and sand for a while and enjoy Los Angeles at its most ostentatious, loud and eccentric. Feast your eyes on the boisterous human carnival on parade along the Venice Beach Boardwalk. People-watching is a favourite sport in this sun-drenched bohemian enclave of artists, musicians, poets, singers, skateboarders and jugglers. The spectacle includes daring chain-sawing acrobats and fire-breathing cyclists. Just remember that performers expect to be tipped if you watch most of their show or take their photograph.If you need some time-out from this visual overload, make your way along the 2.4 kilometre stretch of boardwalk and do a bit of tourist shopping browse the stalls, shops and stands packed with souvenirs, cheap sunglasses, T-shirts and sandals. Find out what your future holds by visiting a fortune teller or get a non-committal temporary tattoo.Further along the boardwalk, you’ll find Muscle Beach, aptly named, as this is the place where Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno (of “Incredible Hulk” fame) once flexed theirs. This is an outdoor gym where you can watch the toned, honed and bronzed pump iron while acrobats contort their bodies into impossible positions and shapes that are enough to make your eyes water. If you want, you can join in the posing. Buy yourself a day pass for about $10 at the Venice Beach Recreations and Parks Office on Ocean Front Walk and then do your stuff in front of the passing crowds.For a brief respite from this flamboyant spectacle, head to the beach, a five kilometre stretch of clean, well-maintained and manicured sand. Life guards patrol the beach during daylight hours, so feel free to dive in to cool off if you’ve had enough of soaking up the rays. Hire a surf or body board and catch a few waves, taking care to look out for other riders.LA’s Mediterranean climate makes Venice Beach a good place to be for most of the year however, it gets incredibly crowded in the summer. It is around 30 kilometres from downtown LA on the coast between Santa Monica and Marina Del Rey. There’s plenty of parking right next to the beach.
Venice Beach Tours and Activities
Attractions
See all 7 activitiesOpens in new tabLos Angeles: Petersen Automotive Museum Admission Ticket
Tours & day trips
See all 136 activitiesOpens in new tabFull-Day Iconic Sights of LA, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Beaches & More!
Shopping & fashion
See all 3 activitiesOpens in new tabLos Angeles: City Sightseeing Hop-On, Hop-Off
Food, drink & nightlife
See all 29 activitiesOpens in new tabMarina del Rey Premier Champagne Brunch Cruise
Private & custom tours
See all 40 activitiesOpens in new tab4 Hour Private Luxury Boat Charter in Newport Beach - Emerald Bay
Reviews of Venice Beach
4/5 - Good
A room on the boardwalk is fantastic for views during the day but can be noisy at night and early morning!
1/5 - Terrible
Dirty and full of homeless people.
1/5 - Terrible
Lots of weird people on drugs. Beach ok. Not worth a visit.
3/5 - Okay
Hire bikes to ride along beach walk
2/5 - Disappointing
Having visited Venice about 25 years ago I was so disappointed to return and find it run down and dirty.
1/5 - Terrible
turned into a sleasy low life area with cheap shops selling touristy trinkets and supposedly sexy underwear on blow up dummies. Such a shame for what could otherwise be made into a lovely area considering the beach is lovely. The local Council needs to get their act together to raise the level of the area.
Popular places to visit
Venice Skate Park
Enjoy the beautiful sunsets and explore Venice Skate Park, a lovely green space in Venice. Experience the acclaimed art galleries or attend a sporting event in this walkable area.
Muscle Beach Venice
Why not spend a care-free afternoon at Muscle Beach Venice during your travels in Venice? Discover the beautiful sunsets in this walkable area or enjoy its cycling trails.
Venice Fishing Pier
Find out about the history of Los Angeles with a stop at Venice Fishing Pier. Attend a sporting event or simply enjoy the top-notch restaurants while you're in the area.
Abbot Kinney Boulevard
During your trip to Venice, you can browse for the perfect souvenirs at Abbot Kinney Boulevard. Discover the beautiful sunsets in this walkable area or enjoy its cycling trails.
Venice Beach Boardwalk
Why not spend a care-free afternoon at Venice Beach Boardwalk during your travels in Los Angeles? Stroll along the area's seaside or simply savour its top-notch restaurants.
Main Street Santa Monica
During your trip to Los Angeles, you can do some window-shopping at Main Street Santa Monica. Stroll along this family-friendly area's beaches or simply enjoy its restaurants.
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