Venice Beach
Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA)[1.3 miles]
LA’s most vibrant neighbourhood, beachside Venice is a unique blend of boho and kitsch. Surf lessons too.
Best for ages: 6+ | Free
Best places to stay:
If your California dream is a vision of thong-wearing skaters and muscle-bound men doing their thing by the beach, then you’d do well to check into the Hotel Erwin.
The 119-room surfside property embodies all the funky charm of Venice Beach – the quirky, slightly gritty beach community where it’s located, right down to the graffitied bedroom doors.
Set in an amazing location just steps from the Pacific Ocean, the hotel is right in the heart of the neighbourhood close to Venice’s top sights.
After a day playing in the sand, there’s a rooftop bar (The High Rooftop Lounge) to retire to for catching the ocean sunset.
You’re in the heart of this character-filled neighbourhood here. The streets around the hotel bustle with the area’s good and bad, from wandering performers and gym nuts on their way to Muscle Beach, to overly zealous panhandlers and ‘prophets’ with various apocalyptic predictions.
All of Venice’s top sights are close by – Muscle Beach, the Skate Park, the Surf Break the Venice sign, the thrift shops and the canals.
Pacific Avenue is one of the area’s main drags and gets pretty busy on warm weekends when locals and visitors make a beeline for the sand.
Want more recommendations in this destination?
Destination Guide >Please note - we hope to one day have live prices for you, but for now, here are some useful links for you to compare prices...
Bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA)[1.3 miles]
LA’s most vibrant neighbourhood, beachside Venice is a unique blend of boho and kitsch. Surf lessons too.
Best for ages: 6+ | Free
Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA)[3.4 miles]
An iconic, old-school amusement park and a two-mile stretch of golden beach offer the perfect day at the beach. Great surfing & cycling too.
Best for ages: 4+ | Free
Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA)[10.1 miles]
A marble-clad modernist complex, opened in 1997, houses the late billionaire oil tycoon J. Paul Getty’s art collection. Highlights include works by Titian and Van Gogh, illuminated manuscripts from the Middle Ages, Louis XIV-era furniture and decorative arts.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA)[13.3 miles]
The world’s largest museum dedicated solely to the art of film, home to a collection of movie treasures, a rotating roster of exhibitions featuring industry creators and an experience where you can hold a coveted Oscars statuette.
Best for ages: 8+ | £22
Other worthwhile experiences in this destination if you have the time or the interest, closest first
Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA)[9.5 miles]
A 22-mile bike path called the Strand runs from Southern LA’s Manhattan Beach up to Pacific Palisades, just north of Santa Monica. It’s a fun ride if you’re feeling fit. Hire bikes from Hermosa Cyclery – there’s a detailed map of the Strand on their website.
Best for ages: 6+ | Free | 2-3 hours
Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA)[10.8 miles]
John Paul Getty’s homage to ancient Rome and Greece is a Malibu gem, filled with ancient art, beautifully landscaped gardens offering up sparkling ocean views and a 500-seat amphitheatre that hosts some of the city’s finest outdoor classical productions.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA)[12.1 miles]
For a fascinating insider look at a period mansion and estate in Beverley Hills, call ahead to reserve a tour of the Virginia Robinson Gardens. The Beaux Arts mansion from 1911 is surrounded by stunning botanical gardens in a range of styles.
Best for ages: 13+ | £12
Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA)[13.4 miles]
If this Tudor Revival mansion in Beverly Hills looks more than a little familiar it’s due to its stellar Hollywood lineage, having appeared in films including The Big Lebowski and X-Men. Come to explore its formal English gardens and elegant grounds.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Destination guides including or relevant to this place to stay
California, United States of America (USA)
The bright lights of Tinseltown are home to surfer-filled beaches, glorious mountain hikes, glitz and glamour in spades and year-round sunshine.