Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Santa Monica?

Q: Is one day enough time in Santa Monica?

One day is usually not enough time to experience the active town of Santa Monica, so you may find yourself somewhat rushed. You don't want to miss the beaches, the cuisine, the nightlife, and the many shops. And you'll want even more time to just relax at the beach, too. So, you'll likely want more than one day, as many tourists set aside around one to three days for their visit. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations to make the most of your journey.

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Santa Monica?

Not sure how much time you'll need in Santa Monica, California? Most people spend one to three days in Santa Monica during their visit. After all, the active town will let you swim at the beach, enjoy a meal at a restaurant, take advantage of the local nightlife, and go shopping.

Santa Monica is a famous beach town near Los Angeles. The beach is a lively place with bike trails, parks, and spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. There's also the famous "Muscle Beach" which is an outdoor gym, and the amusement park on the iconic pier.

Do you have one or two days to visit Santa Monica? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.

Is one day enough time in Santa Monica?

One day is usually not enough time to experience the active town of Santa Monica, so you may find yourself somewhat rushed. You don't want to miss the beaches, the cuisine, the nightlife, and the many shops. And you'll want even more time to just relax at the beach, too. So, you'll likely want more than one day, as many tourists set aside around one to three days for their visit. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations to make the most of your journey.

How to spend a day in Santa Monica

When visiting Santa Monica, you absolutely can't miss the Santa Monica Pier as it's one of the most famous places in the world. Make sure you allow yourself enough time to fully experience it.

The restaurant and food scene here is top notch, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine. You'll find a diversity of restaurants in the area, many of which make use of the town's many farmer's markets. The restaurant scene has a beachy vibe with a lot of outdoor dining opportunities. There are also a range of cuisines to choose from such as Mexican, Italian, casual, and upscale.

A few tour suggestions include:

Private Vintage VW Hippie Tour to Malibu with wine tasting ($195)

Santa Monica is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the town, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. The city is very walkable, particularly in the more touristy areas.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Santa Monica?

Many visitors choose to spend around a weekend in Santa Monica. This would give you the chance to experience the city's most popular activities such as the beaches, the cuisine, and the nightlife. Also, you'd have some time to relax at the beach, too. Since many visitors prefer to spend around one to three days here, we have a few suggestions of things to do in the active town.

Santa Monica, California

How to spend 2 days in Santa Monica

Having a weekend (two to three days) in Santa Monica will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the town.

The beautiful beaches await you in Santa Monica, so spend the day (or several, if you can) relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water. Santa Monica Beach is large and lined with bike trails. It's also filled with activity and you'll find many water sports, beach volleyball, and surfing in the area. There's also the famous Santa Monica Pier, which has an amusement park aquarium, Ferris wheal, dining, and shopping.

A few tour suggestions include:

Surf Lesson 1.5 Hr Kapowui Santa Monica ($140)
5.5-Hour Exclusive Malibu Stars Homes & Beautiful Beach Tour ($89)
Private Surfing Lesson in Santa Monica ($125)

The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. There's a relaxed and laid back vibe to the nightlife scene. Many venues offer outdoor seating and live music in a casual setting. You can hang out on a patio and enjoy the California climate while you sip cold drinks and the beach town atmosphere.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Santa Monica, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.