How to Spend a Weekend in Santa Monica: 2-Day 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. My itinerary includes classic activities like biking The Strand, exploring Third Street Promenade, and checking out the Santa Monica Pier. It also has a stop in Venice Beach!
You’ll also find my local restaurant recommendations (there are so many great places to eat in the area!), as well as helpful travel tips so that 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.
Note that the Saturday and Sunday itineraries can easily be swapped, depending on how you want to organize your trip! If you have extra time or want to customize this itinerary, I’ve also included recommendations on additional things to do in the area at the end of this guide.
Friday Night: Dinner & Drinks in Town
Start your Santa Monica trip off on the right foot with dinner and drinks in town. Here are a few spots worth considering for dinner:
- Calabra: Located in the Santa Monica Proper, this rooftop restaurant has become one of my favorite spots for a fun dinner out! Be sure to order the muhammara dip for the table. I also love their mushroom kebab, as well as their cocktails.
- Sogno Toscano Cafe & Wine Bar: This cute wine bar and restaurant is a great spot to kick off your weekend! They have an excellent fresh pasta menu, and also serve charcuterie boards, pizzas, appetizers, and other dishes.
- 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: Hike & See the Main Attractions in Santa Monica
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.
Grab Breakfast and Coffee on Montana Avenue
Montana Avenue is one of my favorite spots in Santa Monica. Compared to Third Street Promenade (which you’ll visit later today), this street has a much more local feel, and is a lot less chaotic.
There are tons of great places to grab breakfast or a coffee and a quick bite to eat, including:
- The Courtyard Kitchen: Set in a picturesque outdoor courtyard, this restaurant serves classic (but elevated) breakfast dishes, including omelets, pancakes, breakfast sandwiches and burritos, acai bowls, and more.
- Primo Passo Coffee: For a coffee and a quick bite, head over to Primo Passo. In addition to your classic (and high-quality) coffee and tea drinks, the cafe has a variety of pastries (including both vegan and gluten-free options), as well as bagels.
Enjoy a Scenic Hike Overlooking the Ocean
Next, it’s time for a hike. I have a couple different hiking trail recommendations in the area.
One option is the Los Leones Trail, a moderately rated 4.2-mile trail in Topanga State Park, which borders the Pacific Palisades. This trail offers stunning views of Santa Monica and the ocean.
Another option is to hike in Will Rogers State Park, which is a touch closer to Santa Monica. This park is home to the Inspiration Point Trail, which is one of my favorite low-key trails in LA. The easy 2.2-mile trail takes hikers to Inspiration Point, where you get stunning views of Santa Monica and the coastline from above.
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.
Keep in mind that you do need to pay a fee to park at Will Rogers State Park. 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.
Important Note: Will Rogers State Park has reopened after the Palisades fires. That said, they do occasionally close certain trailheads, as they are still working to restore the park after fire damage. Refer to the state park website before you go to ensure the trail you’re interested in hiking is open!
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.
View from the Inspiration Point Trail | Third Street Promenade | Sidecar Donuts
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. You can even hop on the ferris wheel or another ride 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 (AKA the busy tourism seasons in Los Angeles)! 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 (it’s 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.
Explore Ocean Park & Stop for Drinks
After checking out Muscle Beach, you can walk (or do a quick Uber ride) over to Ocean Park, a neighborhood on the southern edge of Santa Monica.
This charming neighborhood is home to some cute shops and galleries. When I’m in the area, I always love stopping by Ten Women Gallery, a cool artist collective.
If you want to stop for drinks, I highly recommend JuneShine, a bar serving hard kombucha in a bright and airy bohemian space. I recommend getting a flight, and definitely get the blood orange mint kombucha.
Get Dinner in Town
Finish off your first full day in Santa Monica with dinner. Here are a few of my favorite spots in town:
- 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.
- Marelle: Located inside the Sandbourne Santa Monica, this gorgeous restaurant serves coastal California cuisine made with local ingredients. They also have amazing cocktails!
Sunday: Bike the Strand & Explore Venice
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.
Get Breakfast in Town
First up, fuel up for the day with breakfast at one of these spots:
- Tartine Bakery: Tartine 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.
Bike the Strand to Venice
After breakfast, it’s time to make your way towards Santa Monica State Beach to do one of the most famous Santa Monica activities: biking The Strand (also known as Ocean Front Walk, or the Marvin Braude Bike Trail) down to Venice Beach!
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. The ride will take around 15 to 20 minutes without stops. If you’d like a longer ride, you can take the bike north up towards Will Rogers State Beach, and then turn around and ride down to Venice.
You can rent a bike at Perry’s Cafe and Beach Rentals – there are 10 locations along the bike path. I recommend renting from the 1200 Pacific Coast Highway location.
Depending on your preferences, you can rent the bike for an hour and take it one way (and just take a rideshare back to Santa Monica), or keep it for the afternoon and ride it back to Santa Monica when you’re done in Venice.
If you choose to rent for the afternoon, just be sure to be mindful of when Perry’s closes. You’ll also want to rent a bike lock so you can safely park your bike when you’re exploring Venice.
If you choose to just rent for an hour, you can drop off your bike at one of the Venice Perry’s locations (at 2100-1 Ocean Front Walk or 3100 Ocean Front Walk). Just note that there is a small one-way bike drop-off fee.
Not much of a biker? No problem – you can just drive down to Venice Beach for the afternoon. Another option is to walk along Ocean Front Walk down to Venice Beach (a great idea if you want to get your steps in!). Just be sure to wear some good walking shoes. Keep in mind that you’ll probably want to take a ride share 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.
Explore the Venice Boardwalk and Grab Lunch
Once you’ve made your way to Venice, it’s time to explore the area.
First, check out 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. Here are a couple lunch spots worth checking out:
- Great White: 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.
- Ggiata Delicatessen: Also located by the Venice Sign, this popular casual eatery has excellent classic sandwiches, wraps, and salads. They also always have a vegan and a vegetarian sandwich option!
- The Butcher’s Daughter: One of my favorite vegan-friendly restaurants in LA! Located on Abbot Kinney Boulevard (the next stop in the itinerary), this fully vegetarian restaurant has a great weekend brunch menu, which changes seasonally. 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. I’m also a big fan of Burro, an artsy shop that sells books, stationery, home goods, apparel, and more.
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!
Explore the Venice Canals
After shopping your way through Abbot Kinney, walk over to the famous Venice Canals (you can enter on Carroll Avenue). These unique, man made canals date back to the early 1900s, and it’s a beautiful area to stroll through. Be sure to take a photo on one of the iconic bridges, as well!
Note that this is a neighborhood, so be sure to be respectful of the residents.
End Your Trip with Dinner in Santa Monica or Venice
Once you are done in Venice, it’s time to return your bike (if needed!). If you’ll be staying in town for dinner, end your quick Santa Monica vacation with a meal at one of these local eateries:
- Chulita: This Venice restaurant serves delicious Mexican cuisine in a fun, beautifully designed space. They also have amazing tequila and mezcal drinks!
- Library Alehouse: Located in Ocean Park, this cozy spot specializes in delicious burgers and tap beers.
Additional Things to Do In and Around Santa Monica
If you have more than 2 days in Santa Monica (or want to switch out any of the activities in the itinerary above), here are some additional things you can do in and around the area:
- Shop at the Downtown Santa Monica Farmers Market (Wednesdays and Saturdays)
- Book a small group surf lesson to learn how to catch waves (or book a private session if you want more guidance!)
- Tour The Getty Villa Museum or The Getty Center
- Try a donut tour through Santa Monica, or a Venice Beach food tour
- Spend a day in Malibu, where you can visit local beaches, go on a hike, and tour Adamson House
- Get out on the water with a shared boat cruise (or a private sailing experience!) that departs from Marina del Rey
Where to Stay in Santa Monica
There are a lot of hotels in Santa Monica, so you have plenty of options to choose from. Here are a few I’d recommend checking out:
- Santa Monica Proper: This luxury 5-star hotel is truly in the perfect spot. It’s tucked away on a quiet street, but still within walking distance of Downtown Santa Monica and Montana Avenue. The hotel design is also next level.
- Viceroy Santa Monica: This modern 4-star hotel is conveniently located just a block from the beach, and a short walk away from downtown. I’ve stayed here and had a great experience!
- Gateway Hotel: For a more budget-friendly option, check out Gateway Hotel. The 3-star hotel is just under a 10-minute drive inland from Downtown Santa Monica. Bonus: it’s within walking distance of Tartine Bakery!
If you’d prefer more space, there are plenty of vacation rentals in Santa Monica available on Vrbo. Here are a few highly-rated options:
- Santa Monica Beach Luxury Suite (1 Bed, 1 Bath, Sleeps 2)
- Modern Cottage – 4 Blocks to the Beach (1 Bed, 1 Bath, Sleeps 4)
- Santa Monica/Venice Beach House (3 Bed, 1.5 Bath, Sleeps 5)
- Bright, Charming & Spacious Beach Home by Santa Monica Pier (3 Bed, 3 Bath, Sleeps 6)
Ready to explore even more of the greater Los Angeles area? Check out these Southern California travel guides:
- Where to Stay in Los Angeles: Best Areas + Hotels
- The Best Time to Visit Los Angeles: Season-by-Season Guide
- Unique Things to do in Los Angeles (A Local’s Guide!)
- The Best Los Angeles Fall Activities
- The Ultimate 3 Day Los Angeles Itinerary
- How To Spend One Day In Los Angeles (Two Itinerary Options!)
- A Quintessential Malibu Day Trip Itinerary: How To Spend A Day Along The PCH
- How to Spend a Weekend in Malibu
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