Experience the vibrant, timeless energy of southern California with a walk down Santa Monica Pier. The 100-year-old wooden wharf serves as the area's hub of entertainment and culture. This spot is home to the Pacific Park amusement park, the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, an array of shops and eateries, and plenty of street artists. Rent bikes and spend the afternoon exploring the carnival-like atmosphere while enjoying the oceanside scenery. Kids love visiting the Playland Arcade, which has more than 200 games and attractions. The pier also is home to California's only over-water Ferris wheel. For Santa Monica Pier and beyond, use our Santa Monica trip itinerary planner to get the most from your Santa Monica vacation.
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Santa Monica Pier reviews
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For years I’ve been told, “Go to Santa Monica Pier!” “You have to go to the Pier, it’s great!” Well, I went…still wondering, what’s the big deal?! I suppose if you have kids it’s fun, but for...
For years I’ve been told, “Go to Santa Monica Pier!” “You have to go to the Pier, it’s great!” Well, I went…still wondering, what’s the big deal?! I suppose if you have kids it’s fun, but for... more »
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From downtown LA it's a 45 min trip out to the pier. Worth going to see and having a ride on some of the attractions, big wheel was our favourite. From the pier you can wander over to the original...
From downtown LA it's a 45 min trip out to the pier. Worth going to see and having a ride on some of the attractions, big wheel was our favourite. From the pier you can wander over to the original... more »
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Had a great time here! Be ready for the crowds of people that come here and bring your jacket because it can get pretty cold. There are many great spots to take pictures and spend time with family and friends here. We enjoyed the views entering the pier area and leading down to the actual pier. There are a variety of food options and many vendors providing custom gifts. We had some amazing funnel cakes and bought souvenir pictures for our group. This is a great spot for a day or night experience.
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We went on a Sunday. Beautiful weather and plenty to do. It was just a day trip, so we only spent a couple hours there. I can't wait to go back so we can take our time and experience more. Great place to spend the day. Very kid friendly, we took our 10 year old. The beach is clean and wasn't too crowded. It was really nice and worth seeing, even with limited time.
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