Venice Beach things to do

Visit Venice Beach: The Best Attractions in the “Venice” of California

This site may contain affiliate links. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

After meeting Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and Bel Air, we continue our Los Angeles travel. Today we are in Westside in Venice, or Venice Beach, a city that has a strong personality and a distinct identity, or rather, a place where the motto “the stranger the better”.

Venice, with a population of about 40,000 inhabitants, was founded in 1905 near the Pacific Ocean with Santa Monica to the north and Playa del Rey to the south. It represents the realization of the dream of entrepreneur Abbot Kinney who, after winning the land with a coin toss, was able to create the much anticipated “Venice of America” with a system of artificial canals and a harmonious blend of residential areas and entertainment.

Venice is a lively tourist city where the main streets are always crowded and people love to enjoy outdoor activities, the beach, the sunsets, but also the canals and murals painted mainly by the famous artist Rip Cronk who has not spared himself in terms of the size of his works.

Walking along the Venice Beach Boardwalk

Venice Beach BoardwalkDuring our travels across the United States, we quickly get used to the fact that here people feel freer to be themselves and to express their talents, and there is no better example of this than the Venice Beach Boardwalk, also called Venice Ocean Front Walk. It is one of the landmarks of the city, because it is unlike any other boardwalk. This long pedestrian promenade overlooking the Pacific Ocean with palm trees and a bike path, which is very popular with tourists and locals alike, is full of restaurants, bars, stalls, and shops, some of which are touristy while others are of good quality.

Up to this point, “everything is as expected” until you realize that extravagance and eccentricity are the norm. Along the road and near the beach, where you can see musicians, jugglers, and artists of all kinds performing and showing off their talent or “skills”, the entertainment has no limits and passers-by gather around the performers during their act. We are in a very lively and eventful area of the city where you never get bored. This is one of the distinctive faces of Venice Beach.

Things to do in Venice Beach

Points of interest along the Boardwalk

We would like to point out some points of interest along the boardwalk.

  • The Gingerbread Court (517 Ocean Front Walk) is a delightful place worth visiting with picturesque brick buildings and a narrow street dotted with characteristic shops and restaurants.
  • Built on the soft sand in front of the ocean, the Venice Beach Skate Park (1800 Ocean Front Walk) is a large public area for skateboarding. Beginners and advanced skateboarders can practice in spaces dedicated to their own skill level. It can still be interesting even for those who don’t practice this sport, because it is a spectacular place to watch spinning, jumping, and stunts, and passers-by may have the chance to take a “signature picture”.
  • Still continuing on the subject of the beach, the Breakwater area is ideal for surfing. Occasionally lifeguards hoist the black flag and forbid surfers to go down into the water to make room for those who want to swim. Those interested in learning how to surf can take surfing lessons at Aloha Brothers (13211 W. Washington Blvd).

The Main Attractions of Venice Beach

Attractions Venice BeachThe most famous beach in Venice is Muscle Beach, which is not too far from the skate park. This beach is known as a place where bodybuilders train in the strangest and most different ways and even practice acrobatics. Here you can meet famous bodybuilders like Arnold Schwarzenegger. Not far away, on a long paved strip, there is the Walk of Fame, a series of commemorative plaques in honor of people who have contributed to the health and fitness industry. The “art” of bodybuilding takes the field during the Muscle Beach Championship on Memorial Day, then on the 4th of July, and finally on Labor Day.

It should come as no surprise that there are gyms in the area. We recommend Gold’s Gym (360 Hampton Dr), the most famous gym in the city and an ideal place to get fit and enhance your muscles. Many VIPs and bodybuilding champions train here. The gym is open from Monday to Friday from 4:00 am to midnight and on the weekends from 5:00 am to 11:00 pm.

At the Venice Fishing Pier (intersection of Ocean Front Walk and Washington Blvd), which is open daily, you can fish, watch surfers, and admire beautiful views of the beach and the ocean. Parking spaces are available next to the pier or along the street in the neighborhood.

The Oceanarium is an unusual institution that calls itself “a museum without walls”. It is located at 330 Market Street, but nothing can be visited in that location. Rather, it is a non-profit organization that aims at organizing events on the beach and on the pier in Venice to show the ocean and life in the deep ocean. Other activities include boat trips to study the sea and marine life, educational nature walks along the shore, and student programs. The initiative has met with great approval and we recommend that you visit the official website to inform yourself about the events.

Over the intersection of Windward and Pacific Avenue, there is a bright sign bearing the name VENICE has become a symbol of the city. It is the so-called Venice Sign, the modern version of what Abbot Kinney had designed in 1905 to demonstrate how much he cared about the city he founded.

Venice Beach Places to visitAt 340 Main Street, the Chiat Day Building undoubtedly deserves being photographed for its unique binocular shape. Naturally, it has been nicknamed Binocular Building. This postmodern building was built by Los Angeles architect Frank Gehry. It houses the commercial office of W.P. Carey & Co. and, personally, we are skeptical about the style choice… but not the effect! It’s certainly worth visiting it.

In addition to the Ocean Front Walk, another important street is Abbot Kinney Boulevard, which was named after the founder of Venice. This long avenue, lined with palm trees reaching towards the blue sky, is an ideal place for shopping. Among its modern and historic buildings, there are also restaurants and art galleries. While strolling along the sidewalks, you may come across actors, directors, and advertisers. In fact, we have seen this street in TV shows, films, and ads.

The boulevard comes alive even more on the first Friday of the month. Starting at 5:00 pm, food trucks sell food and shops stay open longer. There are benches on the nearby Palms Boulevard as well as restrooms. Nearby there is public parking, but there is also paid parking between Abbot Kinney Boulevard and Electric Avenue, or between Venice Boulevard and Santa Clara Avenue.

Venice Canal Historic DistrictThe Venice Canal Historic District (Eastern Court, Strong Dr, Carrol Ct, and Canal Ct) is the canal area designed by Abbot Kinney in 1905, and the reason that the city is named Venice. You can get around this lovely residential area that has lots of vegetation, palm trees, plants, and flowers on the canals, but also on walkways. Many houses have high costs and architectural styles. There are pretty bridges that cross the canals, mainly white and arched to allow small boats, even canoes to transit on the canals. Just like Ocean Front Walk and Abbot Kinney Boulevard, this district is a must-see destination in the city. The three sites are the places you should prioritize if you have little time when visiting the city.

Venice Beach canals

However, you should definitely visit Mosaic Tile House (1116 Palms Blvd), a unique house with a garden completely covered in colored mosaics. Cheri & Gonzalo, the artist couple who designed the house and garden, are extravagant, to say the least. The property from Friday to Sunday from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for children from 12 to 16 years old).

It might seem strange to mention the Post Office at 313 Grand Boulevard, but if you’re in the area, we invite you to take a look at the post office’s entrance, where artist Edward Biberman created a brightly colored mural depicting the foundation of the city including the image of Abbot Kinney, the founder. The building dates back to 1939 and was part of the New Deal development project. It is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and Saturday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Venice Beach Events

Venice Beach eventsIf you are in Venice during city events, you have the opportunity to delve into the culture of Venice and understand its free spirit. The first three events that we would like to point out are outdoor events at the Windward Plaza Park – 1 Windward Ave), a park with picnic tables and grilling areas located between the Boardwalk and the bike path. Let’s start with the Venice Spring Fling in May, an exciting event with music, dance, art, and literature performances by local talents, experts, as well as international artists. A similar event takes place in August and is called Venice Beach Music & Art Festival.

The Venice Beach Festival happens in July and is an occasion for enjoying food and shopping, so there are booths, food trucks, fashion items, and music. Meanwhile, the Festival of Chariots, which is held in August along the Boardwalk: this event is based on an ancient Indian tradition that celebrates the joy of life and glorifies God. During this festival, there is a parade of three large floats, and dancing and singing. In addition to this, there are performances on stage for young and old.

In September, Abbot Kinney Boulevard turns into a festive venue during Abbot Kinney Festival in September. There are booths, food trucks, children’s entertainment, and four stages for concerts. Yes, because there are so many musical performances here and every occasion is a good excuse to turn up the volume! In December, the Christmas festivities culminate with the holiday events, especially when Santa Claus comes to Venice and when real snow arrives along Abbot Kinney Boulevard and you can go ride on a sleigh.

Main Restaurants

Restaurants in the city can offer pleasant surprises. In the area near the beach, we recommend Perry’s at the Beach (300 Ocean Front Walk, at the end of Washington Blvd). To call it a restaurant is reductive, because, in addition to enjoying breakfast, lunch, and homemade pizza, sandwiches, burgers and omelets, you can rent bicycles, skates, surf equipment, chairs, and umbrellas for the beach. Perry’s at the Beach, which is open from Monday to Friday, from 9:00 am to 6:30 pm and on weekends from 8:30 am to 7:00 pm, is also ideal for organizing events. This is a successful venue has 12 locations in Santa Monica, Playa del Rey, and Venice.

26 Beach (3100 Washington Beach) is a family-run restaurant that serves American and Japanese cuisine with a wide selection of drinks. You have the possibility to eat either in a lovely garden with a retractable roof or indoors.

You will find American and Mediterranean cuisine at Gjelina (1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd), a minimalist restaurant where you can eat in the dining room, outdoor patio, or takeout. Prices are average and the pizza here is a crowd-pleaser. At lunch and brunch, reservations are required for groups of six people and more, while at dinner reservations are required for everyone.

High Rooftop Lounge (1697 Pacific Ave – Hotel Erwin), a bar with a small restaurant, is a pleasant open-air meeting space, with umbrellas, from which to enjoy a beautiful sunset. In the evening, there is a DJ in the club.

Where to Stay in Venice Beach?

where to stay in Venice BeachIf you want to also discover Venice by night, then it is better to stop in the city and in this regard we point out some accommodations. The Venice Beach Hostel (1515 Pacific Ave) is a cheap hostel with small cozy rooms with a private bathroom that can accommodate from four to six people. Single rooms are also available in fully furnished apartments. The property, which organizes a karaoke party on Fridays, has a kitchen for breakfast, free wi-fi, a shared room with some computers, laundry service, a pool, a pool table, and lockers.

Hotels Erwin (1697 Pacific Ave) was founded in 1975 and was named after the founder, whose philosophy was to make guests feel like family. And it still seems to be true today. The hotel is located near the beach, shops, and restaurants. The rooms and suites are modern and vibrant. The hotel has a restaurant and free wi-fi.

The Venice Beach House (15 30th Ave) since 1911 is a casual-chic B&B furnished with antiques. The nine rooms, some of which have the name of personalities related to the area, all have wi-fi and their own interior design. The bed and breakfast is not far from Abbot Kinney Boulevard and the beach.

Discover all hotels in Venice Beach

Venice Beach Tours

Venice Beach toursThe best way to enjoy Venice and the surrounding area is to take advantage of a bike tour so you can admire the beauty of the area and other places nearby like Santa Monica without having to worry about traffic and find a place to park your car.

More information about the bike tour

If, on the other hand, you prefer a unique means of transportation such as the Segway, which is becoming increasingly popular, you can consider a tour that with a guide will let you discover the secrets of this area of Los Angeles.

About the Segway tour along Venice Beach and Santa Monica

Those who want to try to optimize their time seeing the best beaches in Los Angeles can consider a full day trip with a guide along the most famous coastlines of the area including, of course, Venice Beach.

Day trip to the beaches around Los Angeles

If you are thinking of just touring the city, you can consider renting a car as an alternative. At the Ride Venice (1915 Ocean Front Walk) you can find bicycles and skateboards. The store is open from Monday to Friday from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm and on weekends from 9:00 am to 8:000 pm. Jay’s Rentals (1501 Ocean Front Walk) is similar to Ride Venice, but is not the same. This store – which rents water sports apparel, beach accessories, bicycles, skateboards, surfboards, boogie boards, paddleboards – is famous for always being featured in movies shot in Venice and for being regularly visited by celebrities.

 


Our Tip:
Looking for accommodations for your trip from California to other parts of the Southwest? Read our guide that contains reviews of hotels and strategic tips for finding accommodations near major attractions: Where to Stay: Our Tips for the SouthWest Area

Warning: Operating hours can change and closures for extraordinary events can occur, so we strongly suggest to check the venues official websites.

fam-bendandi
Marianna Licia e Paolo

There are two passions that we share: photography and traveling, especially in the United States.

Related posts

top gun filming locations

Discover the Main Filming Locations of Top Gun and Maverick!

Today we are going to explore the locations of one of Hollywood’s most popular movies. We are talking about Top Gun and its sequel Maverick. Find out how to plan ...
17-mile drive best stops

17-Mile Drive: Pebble Beach’s scenic road in California

The 17-Mile Drive is a paid scenic American road that will allow you to discover, among other things, some of California’s most beloved beaches. As you drive along it, you’ll ...
Pigeon Point lighthouse

Pigeon Point Light Station State Park, a fascinating lighthouse on the California Coast

Located along the northern California coast, Pigeon Point is a hidden gem that captivates its visitors with its iconic lighthouse perched on the cliffs overlooking the ocean. So, let’s explore ...
Point Arena Lighthouse California

How to Plan a Visit to the Historic Point Arena Lighthouse in Mendocino, California

On the stunning northern coast of California stands majestically the Point Arena Lighthouse, a historic beacon that once guided sailors and now captivates the imagination of visitors from around the ...

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.