How to Spend a Weekend in Santa Monica: The Ultimate Itinerary

As a California native who now calls Los Angeles her home, I love spending time exploring Santa Monica. The vibrant coastal city is the ideal spot to be outside and soak up the sun, and there’s definitely no shortage of things to do. If you’re planning a visit, I’ve put together the ultimate itinerary for spending a weekend in Santa Monica (with a stop in Venice!) so you can make the most of your short trip.

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The Perfect Itinerary for a Weekend in Santa Monica

Let’s dive into what to do in Santa Monica in one weekend. 

Friday Night

Start your trip off on the right foot with dinner and drinks in town. Here are two spots worth considering for dinner:

• Esters Wine Shop & Bar: Esters is a romantic, dimly lit spot set away from the center of Downtown Santa Monica. The bar and restaurant offers shareable snacks and an impressive charcuterie board selection, as well as larger plates if you’re feeling hungry. Of course, you’ll also want to enjoy a glass of wine or two while you’re there.  
• Tu Madre: The vibe at Tu Madre is reason alone to visit, but the food and drinks are also fantastic. The casual spot puts a playful spin on Mexican food, offering creative tacos, burritos, bowls, and more. I’m a huge fan of their fried avocado taco (one of their many vegan options!), and they have really great margaritas. If you get there early enough, join for their happy hour, which is from 3pm to 6pm on Fridays!

Saturday

On the first full day of your Santa Monica weekend getaway, you’ll enjoy a fun coastal hike before exploring downtown, the pier, and the beach.

Get Breakfast in Town

First up, fuel up for the day with breakfast at one of these spots: 

• Tartine Bakery: Tartine (pictured below) is hands down one of my favorite bakeries in LA, for both the food and drink and for the unique space. The eatery – which is located in a (beautiful!) former mortuary – offers tons of baked goods, as well as a small menu of breakfast dishes and amazing coffee and tea drinks. Keep in mind that Tartine is popular, and there is often a line on weekends.
• The Hive Cafe: If you’re looking for something a bit quicker, head to The Hive, where you can order breakfast burritos, avocado toast, acai bowls, smoothies, and more. 

Hike to Inspiration Point at Will Rogers State Park

February 2025 Update: Will Rogers State Park is unfortunately closed due to damage from the Palisades fire. Refer to the park website for the most up-to-date information before your visit.

Next up, make your way to Will Rogers State Park to hike the Inspiration Point Trail, which is one of my favorite low-key trails in LA. This easy 2.2 mile trail takes hikers to Inspiration Point, where you get stunning views of Santa Monica and the coastline from above. It’s also incredibly green, and if you’re visiting during the spring, you’ll likely see plenty of beautiful wildflowers! 

If you’d like more of a challenge, try the moderately rated Inspiration Loop Trail. The 4.4 mile trail goes to Inspiration Point, and also leads hikers through a beautiful canyon. 

Note: since it’s a state park, there is a fee to park at the lot. It’s currently $3 per hour – 2 hours will be plenty for Inspiration Point Trail. Those doing the Inspiration Loop Trail will want to pay for at least 3 hours. 

Stroll Third Street Promenade & Grab Lunch 

Make your way back into Downtown Santa Monica to stroll through Third Street Promenade. This lively outdoor pedestrian shopping mall is a great spot to do some window shopping (or real shopping!). There are also plenty of places to grab lunch on and right off of Third Street. This includes Sugarfish (a trendy sushi restaurant – just note you’ll probably have to wait for a table!), UOVO Pasta Bar, and Bruxie (a casual chicken restaurant). 

If you are craving something sweet, I also highly recommend making the short walk up the street to Sidecar Donuts. They have amazing freshly made donuts, and always have one vegan and one gluten-friendly flavor.

Explore Palisades Park and the Santa Monica Pier

Once you’re done at Third Street Promenade, it’s time to make your way to Palisades Park. This palm tree-lined park parallels Ocean Avenue and overlooks the beach and water.

As you walk through the park, you’ll make your way to the entrance of the Santa Monica Pier. If you’d like, you can walk down the pier to take in the views, and can even hop on a ride or two at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, an oceanfront amusement park. 

Full disclosure: I am not the biggest fan of visiting the pier, especially in the summer and on holiday weekends! It can get incredibly crowded and, yes, does feel like a tourist trap. If you don’t particularly care about visiting, I’d recommend skipping it. That all said, you can get pretty views of the coast, and the amusement park on the pier is pretty unique. If you do visit, don’t spend your money at the restaurants – they are very overpriced!

Check Out Muscle Beach

Next up, swing by another one of the most iconic Santa Monica attractions: Muscle Beach (which is located just south of the pier). Established in the 1930s, this iconic oceanside workout space is a popular spot to get a good workout in. It features bars, swings, ropes, and more. If you’re visiting during a busier time, there’s a good chance you’ll see some gymnasts and athletes showing off their skills. Even if there isn’t much happening when you’re visiting, it’s a beautiful spot to take in the ocean and pier views while watching the sun go down. 

Get Dinner in Town

Finish off your first full day in Santa Monica with dinner. Here are two spots within walking distance of Muscle Beach: 

• Élephante: For a bougie, quintessential LA dining experience, head to Élephante. The restaurant offers elevated coastal Italian dishes in a beautifully designed space that overlooks the coast. 
• Cobi’s: This Southeast Asian restaurant has a varied menu with amazing, shareable dishes inspired by Indonesian, Thai, and Indian cuisines. The maximalist space boasts a dining room complete with pink floral wallpaper and kitschy (but fun!) decor, as well as a nice outdoor patio. 

Sunday

On your second full day, you’ll bike the strand (one of the most iconic Santa Monica activities!) and make your way down to Venice Beach. 

Grab Breakfast and Coffee on Montana Avenue

Visit Santa Monica State Beach and Bike (or Walk) the Strand to Venice

After breakfast, it’s time to make your way towards Santa Monica State Beach. From here, you’ll be able to rent a bike to ride along The Strand (also known as Ocean Front Walk). This paved beach path takes you along the coast, passing underneath the pier and right by Muscle Beach. After about 2.5 miles, you’ll end up on the Venice Boardwalk, and will eventually stop at Windward Plaza. The ride will take around 15 to 20 minutes without stops. 

You can rent a bike at Perry’s Cafe and Beach Rentals – there are 9 locations along the bike path. I’d recommend renting from the 1200 Pacific Coast Highway location. If you’re walking over from Downtown Santa Monica, there’s a pedestrian bridge off Ocean Avenue that will drop you off right near the shop. 

If you’d prefer to skip the bike, you can still walk along Ocean Front Walk. It’s a 2.7-mile journey from the pedestrian bridge to Windward Plaza, and is a beautiful spot to get your steps in! Just be sure to wear some good walking shoes (I’m a huge fan of the On Cloud 5 Sneakers). Of course, just keep in mind that you’ll probably want to take a rideshare back to Santa Monica when you’re done in Venice.

For those that would prefer more of a guided experience, consider booking a small group electric bike tour. On this guided tour, you’ll bike The Strand and visit many of the iconic sights in Venice, including the canals and the Venice Beach Boardwalk. Note that this tour will end back in Santa Monica, so instead of getting lunch in Venice (as you would in this itinerary), you’ll grab lunch back in town after your tour. 

Explore the Venice Boardwalk and Grab Lunch

After you’ve biked (or walked) down to Venice, it’s time to explore the area. You can choose to drop your bike off in Venice (there’s a location at 2100-1 Ocean Front Walk, which borders the parking lot), or keep it to ride it back to Santa Monica later. 

First up, explore what’s happening on the Venice Boardwalk around Windward Plaza. You’ll find an eclectic mix of people in the area, from street performers to vendors selling their goods. You can also watch the skaters at the Venice Beach Skatepark, and take a look at the public art walls.

From here, you can walk up Windward Avenue to get a look at the iconic Venice Sign before making your way to lunch. 

One lunch option is Great White, which is located right by the Venice Sign. This popular restaurant has a great selection of breakfast and lunch items, including smoothie bowls, breakfast burritos, a chickpea scramble, tacos, sandwiches, pizzas, and more. It’s also very vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free friendly. 

Alternatively, make your way over to Abbot Kinney Boulevard (the next stop in the itinerary) and grab a bite to eat at The Butcher’s Daughter (pictured below – it is one of my favorite vegan-friendly restaurants in LA!). The restaurant is 100% vegetarian, and has plenty of great vegan options, as well. Their weekend brunch menu – which changes each season – includes both sweet and savory dishes. If it’s on the menu, I highly recommend the crispy “chicken” sandwich, or their seasonal waffle.

Stroll Down Abbot Kinney Boulevard

Next, take some time to stroll through Abbot Kinney Boulevard, which has rightfully earned the title of coolest block in America. Here, you’ll find a vibrant and eclectic mix of shops and galleries, as well as some cafes and other eateries. I recommend stopping in Goodies, a store selling unique, carefully curated home goods, all of which are under $25. If you need a caffeine boost, you can get a great cup of coffee at Intelligentsia.

Even if you aren’t in a shopping mood, it’s worth exploring the area to check out some of the cool, ever-evolving street art. You’ll find something on the side of nearly every building!

Stop in Ocean Park for Drinks

Once you’ve explored the canals, it’s time to make your way back towards Santa Monica – either on bike or via rideshare. If you’re in the mood for drinks, I highly recommend stopping in Ocean Park, a neighborhood on the southern edge of Santa Monica. There are plenty of excellent bars in the area, including:

• JuneShine: For a more unique drinking experience (in a bright and airy bohemian space, pictured below), head to JuneShine to try their hard kombucha. I recommend getting a flight, and definitely be sure to get the blood orange mint kombucha. 
• Chulita: Tequila and mezcal fans will want to stop by Chulita. Try one of their many cocktails, or order something to sip from their extensive spirits menu. You can also stay for dinner – they serve delicious Mexican cuisine!

End Your Trip with Dinner in Santa Monica

Round out your visit to Santa Monica with dinner at one of these amazing local eateries:

• Library Alehouse (Ocean Park): If you want to stay in Ocean Park, head over to Library Alehouse, a cozy spot that specializes in delicious burgers and tap beers. 
• Birdie G’s (Greater Santa Monica): Birdie G’s offers homey, elevated dishes and amazing cocktails in a cool industrial space. 
• Blue Plate Oysterette (Downtown Santa Monica): If you’re craving freshly prepared seafood, make your way to Blue Plate Oysterette, which is located right on Ocean Avenue.