Things to do in Venice Beach

Venice Beach is built around a wide boardwalk lined with street vendors, mural-covered walls and the outdoor gym at Muscle Beach, with the quieter, residential Venice Canals just a few streets inland.

It sits roughly 15 minutes by car from Santa Monica in light traffic, longer at weekends, and there is no direct metro line to the boardwalk itself, so most visitors arrive by car or rideshare. Parking near the beach is limited and metered, and fills up fast on summer weekends; side streets fill up too.

No booking is needed to walk the boardwalk or canals, but bike rental, kayak trips on the canals and other guided activities should be reserved ahead, especially in peak season (roughly May to September).