A One Day in Santa Monica Itinerary You’ll Want to Steal
Last Updated on 12th October 2023 by Sophie Nadeau
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You’ve seen the pier and the beach in pictures, Third Street Promenade and beachfront properties, and you’ve decided to go to Santa Monica, California. You’re ready to soak up the sun, dive into the water, and have some fun, even if you only have one day in Santa Monica.
But how can you make the most of just a short time in this lovely coastal city? Don’t fret; our one- day Santa Monica itinerary will tell you all the best places to eat, shop, and have fun.
Santa Monica is in Los Angeles County, less than 20 minutes away from downtown LA (if there’s not too much traffic). This coastal Southern Californian city is known for its great weather and beaches, along with its lively nightlife and unparalleled shopping.
Here’s our guide to visiting Santa Monica.
Contents
When to Visit Santa Monica
Santa Monica is most popular in the summer, but if you can, you may want to consider going in spring or fall. Santa Monica’s beaches can get crowded in the summer, and I mean crowded.
If you get to the beach at the wrong time, you’ll have trouble finding a spot to spread out your beach towel, and when you do, you’ll be right next to the people around you.
Since it’s in sunny California, the weather is still nice in spring and fall. Average highs in September and October are still in the 70s F (21-26 °C).
The weather on the beach can even be pleasant in the winter, though I wouldn’t go in the water or stay too late into the evening, because it can get cold. You can still lay out on a sunny day though.
How to Get There
As mentioned, Santa Monica is right next to LA, making it easily accessible through many different means of transportation.
It’s only 8 miles from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). You can drive there taking the 10 (as the locals call I-10) west from LA; the 10 connects to lots of other freeways, so you’ll likely be connecting to it from most directions.
Depending on where you stay, Santa Monica is walkable, so you don’t necessarily need a car. You can also take the Big Blue Bus or the Metro Expo Line. If you are looking to rent a car, check out car rental comparison prices here.
Where to Stay in Santa Monica
Santa Monica has tons of options, and there are also lots of options technically outside of Santa Monica as well that are still close by. Some good options in Santa Monica include Shutters on the Beach and Palihouse Santa Monica.
Shutters on the Beach is a 5-star hotel with an outdoor pool, hot tub, spa, and a location right by the beach. If you’re looking for luxury, this is a great option.
If you need a more mid-range option, Palihouse Santa Monica is a 3-star hotel just a few blocks from the beach.
The Hampton Inn & Suites Santa Monica is a great budget-friendly hotel that’s also just a few blocks from the beach.
Is one day enough time in Santa Monica?
Yes, one day is more than enough time in Santa Monica. If you only have a few hours, then it might be too short so a full day in the area is the perfect span of time to stroll along the pier, relax on the beaches, and do a little bit of shopping!
One Day in Santa Monica suggested itinerary
With only one day in Santa Monica, you’ll want to plan carefully so you can see and do everything—and have plenty of time to relax on the sand. Here’s what I recommend:
Morning
Start out your morning with a nice cup of coffee from Espresso Cielo, a little shop in downtown Santa Monica with delicious coffee and tea and locally made breakfast pastries and sandwiches.
After your coffee and breakfast, it’s time to get moving. You can talk a walk through Tongva Park, a 6.2-acre park named after the Tongva people who are an Indigenous people of California.
The park features beautiful plants native to the area; as you walk through it, you’ll wonder if you’re really in a city. Tongva Park has an amphitheater, playground, garden, fountains, picnic areas, and scenic views of the Pacific Ocean and Santa Monica Pier.
You can also walk along Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica’s main street. However, you won’t see any cars on this street. It’s been converted into a pedestrian-only area.
The promenade has tons of stores, restaurants, and entertainment. You can find well-known favorites like Sephora, Lululemon, Patagonia, and H&M, along with local boutiques and shops.
If you haven’t had your fill of shopping, you can also visit Santa Monica Place, which is at the end of Third Street Promenade. This shopping mall has tons of stores, and since it’s an outdoor shopping mall, you can still get that sunshine as you go between stores.
If you’re not into shopping, you can get your exercise in a different way with a morning bike ride. There are lots of places to bike in Santa Monica, including the bike path along the beach.
There are a few different places to rent bikes. Check out Santa Monica Beach Bicycle Rentals, Santa Monica Public Bike Rental, or Joyride – Bike Rentals & Tours.
Lunch
As with everything else, there are tons of places to choose from when deciding where to eat. Whatever you’re craving, chances are Santa Monica has it. Here are some suggestions.
Lady & Larder may not look like a place to eat lunch; however, when you walk into this women- owned shop, you’ll find a secret lunch menu open from 12pm–3pm, walk-in only. Though the menu changes daily, they usually serve hot sandwiches and grab-and-go baguette sandwiches.
If you spent too much time at the mall, you may want something quick, and Sunny Blue is the perfect place for that. At this Japanese restaurant, you’ll find quick food for under $5. The shop serves Omusubi (also called Onigri), which are Japanese rice balls with different fillings inside, wrapped with or without nori (seaweed).
Or you can try Cha Cha Chicken: Caribbean Cuisine with Latin Fusion. This restaurant is known for its delicious jerk chicken. Enjoy your taste of the Caribbean on their spacious patio.
Afternoon
After lunch, it’s time to hit the beach— after all, you can’t go to SoCal without going to the beach! Santa Monica Beach is close by, and it stretches for 3.5 miles with Venice Beach to the southeast and Will Rogers Beach to the northwest.
If you’d like to see the eccentric boardwalk at Venice Beach, then you can go over there, but Santa Monica Beach is closer. However, Venice Beach does have an infamous free spirit. If you’ve never been to Venice, it’s worth checking out. Plus, if you’re into skateboarding, it’s home to the Venice Beach Skate Park.
Pick a spot to spread your towel, put up an umbrella, and enjoy the nice weather. Pro tip: the water is a bit better farther away from the pier if you’re on Santa Monica Beach.
There are lots of activities to do, both in and out of the water—swimming, surfing, boogie boarding, body surfing, playing beach volleyball, building a sandcastle, etc. If you need to rent gear, lots of places along the beach rent surfboards, boogie boards, and anything else you might need.
Evening
When you’re done at the beach, head over to the well-known Santa Monica Pier. Unlike most piers, there are lots of things to do here beyond just fishing.
Whether you want to simply walk along the pier and enjoy the ocean breeze or take the kids to Pacific Park for fun and games, there’s something for everyone.
Pacific Park is an oceanfront amusement park on the pier. Ride the Pacific Wheel, the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel where you can see panoramic views of the ocean and the beach. You can also ride the steel roller coaster, West Coaster, or one of the ten other rides. Or play carnival games and eat some delicious treats.
The pier is also a great spot to enjoy the sunset. Find a bench, and relax as you watch the sun dip into the ocean. Or you can find a restaurant with a view where you can eat and watch the sunset at the same time.
And by this point, you’re probably hungry after a busy day. There are a few restaurants and kiosks on the pier and lots more along the beach.
Elephante is a good option that’s about a 10-minute walk from the pier. This restaurant aims to take its guests to the Mediterranean with its Italian cuisine. Its large windows give it the perfect view of the ocean. Elephante serves delicious salads, wood-fired pizzas, and fresh pasta.
Or head to Michael’s Santa Monica, a restaurant that’s been going for decades, long before most of the other restaurants in the area. Here you can expect award-winning drinks, fresh produce, and upscale Californian cuisine in an art-filled setting.
A final note on planning a trip to Santa Monica
That concludes our guide to one day in Santa Monica. We hope you found this itinerary helpful and enjoy your trip to this coastal city. Soak up the sun, eat tasty foods, and have fun in Southern California! Happy traveling!
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About the author: Lexi Cooper is a freelance editor and writer. Her parents taught her a love for traveling, seeing new sights, and learning about the world. Along with her passion for travel, she loves stories and dreams of spending her days reading and writing books and wandering the globe.
