Part of our California guide.
Santa Monica’s photography hotspots include the Santa Monica Pier, Palisades Park, and the beach at sunset. Its museums range from the immersive Museum of Flying to the Camera Obscura Art Lab, while its coffee shops and romantic getaways round out a compact coastal itinerary.
Related travel guides: The Best Hotels When In Santa Monica.
10 Best Spots For Photography In Santa Monica, California
The Santa Monica Pier offers classic shots of the Ferris wheel and ocean. Palisades Park provides elevated views of the Pacific and downtown skyline. Third Street Promenade’s street performers and architecture add urban variety. The Annenberg Community Beach House has a historic pool and ocean backdrop. Tongva Park’s sculptural gardens and water features work well for abstract compositions. The Venice Beach Boardwalk, just south, delivers colorful murals and skate park action. Sunset at the Santa Monica Pier is a perennial favorite. The Camera Obscura at Palisades Park projects live images of the surroundings. Bergamot Station Arts Center’s galleries and outdoor sculptures offer clean lines. Finally, the Santa Monica Mountains trails, part of the secret trails in California, provide panoramic coastal views.
6 Unique Museums To Explore In Santa Monica, California
The Museum of Flying displays vintage aircraft and flight simulators. The Camera Obscura Art Lab, a historic building on the bluff, hosts rotating exhibitions and workshops. The Santa Monica History Museum covers local development from the Tongva era to the present. The Bergamot Station Arts Center houses over 30 galleries in a former trolley station. The Broad Stage focuses on contemporary performance, with backstage tours available. The Getty Villa, technically in Pacific Palisades but a short drive north, features Roman and Greek antiquities in a recreated villa setting.
12 Cozy Coffee Shops To Discover In Santa Monica, California
Menotti’s Coffee Stop on Venice Beach serves espresso from a walk-up window. Dogtown Coffee on Main Street has a surf-shop vibe and outdoor seating. Groundwork Coffee Company on Lincoln Boulevard offers organic blends in a warehouse space. The Urth Caffé on Main Street is known for its organic lattes and pastries. Café Luxxe on Montana Avenue provides a quiet patio and single-origin pour-overs. H Coffee on Broadway uses local roasters and has a minimalist interior. The Conservatory for Coffee, Tea & Cocoa on Main Street roasts its own beans and offers tastings. Café 50’s on Lincoln Avenue is a retro diner with bottomless coffee. Blue Bottle Coffee on Broadway serves pour-overs and cold brew in a sleek space. The Refinery on Santa Monica Boulevard has a communal table and rotating single-origin options. Caffe Roma on Montana Avenue is a neighborhood staple with Italian espresso. Finally, the gems secrets hidden in California include the tiny, plant-filled Good People Coffee on Broadway.
10 Romantic Getaways In Santa Monica, California
For couples, the Santa Monica Pier offers sunset strolls and the Pacific Park roller coaster. The Georgian Hotel on Ocean Avenue provides Art Deco rooms with ocean views. Shutters on the Beach has a private beach club and spa. The Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows features a pool and garden courtyards. The Huntley Hotel’s Penthouse restaurant serves panoramic coastal cuisine. The Annenberg Community Beach House has a heated saltwater pool and beach access. The Venice Canals, a short bike ride south, offer quiet gondola-style walks. The Santa Monica Mountains, part of the range secrets hidden in California, have hiking trails with ocean overlooks. The secret coastal treasures in California include the secluded coves at Will Rogers State Beach. For a longer excursion, couples can cross the Tijuana border on foot from San Diego for a day trip, though that is outside Santa Monica proper.
