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Perfect Day at the Beach! Today, we embraced the beauty of Venice Beach. There are plenty of activities to enjoy and many great places to eat. The beach is very dog- and family-friendly. During the day, parking costs around $18; at night, it drops to $9 (unless you manage to find free parking in the neighborhood). Please note that bringing a life vest is not allowed, as the waves can be strong and may drag you away. Restrooms are conveniently located, and the sunsets are absolutely stunning! Overall, we had a fun time.
Such a Vibe! I'm from Northern Cali and I am ashamed that it took me this long to visit Venice Beach. The crazy thing, I've been to Venice, Italy. lol It's very eclectic and a lot of Shenanigans are happening here. Nonetheless, it's worth stopping by to get some merch and just play basketball!! I really enjoyed my time walking up and down the boardwalk. It's plenty to do and see. Parking is only $5!!!!
I can't quantify the love I have for the beach since moving to LA five years ago. Knowing that, I come into this review with a bias already! I usually go to Malibu but while Wildfire Relief is still happening, I want to stay out of the way and have been venturing down to Venice Beach. I always associate Venice Beach with Venice Boardwalk, and yes, it's that. But there is also so much space of actual beach and it's super chill and amazing most days. So in short, I've fallen in love with Venice Beach. Parking prices vary depending on the day and sometimes depending on the business. Today I paid $6 but other days $13 so let me bring back an old saying, YMMV. That being said, they have huge parking lots all along the beach. The lot I always park in has the sweetest freaking lady, she's just a joy in the morning. Very normal sightings at Venice Beach: -Cool guys on skateboards 'walking' their dogs. I've been sitting here an hour and already seen 18. Always with tattoos. Very Venice. -Cool girls in stylish athletic leisure wear walking 1-2 dogs of varying sizes and styles. -Electric.Bikes.Everywhere including a bunch of two seaters. -Beautiful sand that's combed thru every morning. -Beautiful waves with tons of surfers, also cool guys but a bit different than the skater dog guys. -Emmanuel Acho bike riding with wifey - at least I saw that, lol. -Cannabis clouds, Los Angeles loves their recreation. Venice Beach was always underrated in my brain for some reason, but it really has become a happy place full of sunshine for me.
There was just so much to see while walking the board walk. There are parking lots for a fee (some $10 and there was a cheaper one down the boardwalk for $4). I ended up at metered parking on a side street in the area. There are plenty of places to eat and lots of street performers for entertainment. We just came to walk and see all of the sights and the sunset, which took a couple of hours and was completely free.
It's an iconic "beach" but not for the water but for the boardwalk. Just enjoy your stroll by the beach, people watch, check out the vendors especially the vulgar shirts and sweatshirts , and street performers. Unfortunately there's a lot of homeless so it's not the prettiest but you can say you walked Venice beach.
Venice Beach is straight-up a vibe. Every time I come to LA I usually stop here cause it's my favorite spot to come hoop. Its raw, real, and unapologetically L.A. You pull up, and instantly, you're hit with that salty ocean breeze, palm trees standing tall, and that boardwalk energy with individuals along all kinds. Skaters at the skatepark out there doing wild tricks like Tony Hawk. Muscle Beach where cats get their swole on in the sun. There's a lot of Murals and street art pop off everywhere pure West Coast art. Hoopers trash talking to each other. Venice beach has a combination of a little gritty, a little weird, but that's Venice. You'll catch poets, hustlers, rappers, artists, homeless, and folks just vibing. Street performers doing the most. People watching here alone is entertaining in itself! If you're tryna feel the pulse of L.A. away from the Hollywood filters, Venice Beach gives it to you straight,no chaser.
Been to Manhattan and Santa Monica Pier while on my trip so decided to stop at Venice. I haven't been to Venice in probably 20 years or so. It's just ok. Lots of homeless people here. Wouldn't go out of my way to come here though when there are better beaches.
Dirty. Dangerous. Watch out for the "vendors" who want to "give" you something. If you take it. You buy it. Buyer beware. And don't eat their food. You'll get the runs. Promise.
Venice Beach did a major sweep of the unhoused and it's quite nice now. Every now and again, you still get the aroma of something someone is smoking but on a weekend, it was quite calm. Murals were breathtaking but I didn't see the walls that used to be for graffiti artists. Maybe we didn't walk far enough. Dias de Los Muertos was coming up and Don Julio had a beautiful altar. The structure took a week to construct and all the flowers around it took 3 days. Yay for tequila. It was a beautiful sunny day strolling down the boardwalk. Ok, bye.
As I close my eyes and listen to the sweet caress of the waves flow through my mind. I get this feeling, a very familiar soul soothing feeling of being back in the womb with each crash of the wave. The warmth of the sun on my skin comforts me as my mother did when I was a child. The tranquil feeling of peace flows through the air without a worry or care just as it did when I was young and didn't have to do the adulting thing. It's amazing how just a few feet away you can escape the craziness from the boardwalk onto the sand of peace and zen. This beach gets a bad rap but I've been coming here since I can remember and I guess I'm just use to the LA life. And that's my take, Peace out
Iconic California beach that has tons of activity and businesses along the beach boardwalk. Seriously there's a lot of great restaurants and casual eateries in the area and pretty much you can find something for everyone. Home to the iconic Muscle Beach. I knew of this place growing up before I even moved to LA because of all the famous bodybuilders that come through. There's also some basketball courts that are really popular and there are events here I think every Sunday. Definitely a vibrant place for locals and tourists alike. I don't come out here too often, but have generally a good time when I do. A couple of the downsides is the homeless issue and drug issue. Which they might be related. As of 7/2024, it seems like they addressed the homeless issue a little bit but if you're a tourist or even a local, I would take the necessary precautions and just look over your shoulder just in case. There's paid parking, but there's some street parking to be found in the neighborhood if you're willing to walk and you know where to look.
Recently, I went to Hinano Cafe. I had some time to kill before they opened at 8 AM. I walked along the pier in the rain and enjoyed taking in the views as they were less people. I watched some surfers take in the waves. It was nice pier to walk around and enjoy the sights without hustle and bustle.
Great beach for people watching, skateboarding, just fun vibes overall. We rented a tandem bike and biked along the beach. It was definitely a lot of fun to do that. Loved that there were separate bike lanes and pedestrian walk ways. Highly recommend on a visit to LA!
What could be better than watching your 8-year old grandson play basketball on a perfect, sunny, Sunday morning at Venice Beach? I really enjoyed the vibe here and it was relaxed, fun and enjoyable. There is aooo much to see here and with the LAPD substation a mere ten yards away from the basketball courts, you would hope that everyone would do the right thing which during my visit, it was all about fun and having a good time. There are many food options in the area and many stores to purchase souvenirs. The basketball courts are in GREAT condition and well-maintained. On this day, several former NBA players came out to coach the younger kids and a fun time was had by all. Definitely a place to visit and relax while working on your tan read more
Imagine. In the 1890s, Venice Beach was a deteriorating marshland west of LA. One man had a vision to transform the area into the Coney Island of the Pacific, the Venice of the West. People thought he was crazy, but out-of-the-box ideas are often what drives progress. Over the next twenty years, Abbot Kinney and his colleagues made his dream a reality. Plots of land were developed at Ocean Park. Canals, piers and amusements were engineered for Venice of America. The Million Dollar pier was built. The next hundred years saw so many changes. Fires. Bankruptcy. Annexation. Today, Venice Beach is the second most visited destination in Southern California. Easy to see why. The white sand beach is so beautiful. Catch a wave. Or watch the fireworks on the Fourth of July. Join a race or enjoy a stroll along the boardwalk. Watch the sunset during a rooftop dinner. A great place to enjoy a birthday/holiday weekend. read more
Perfect Day at the Beach! Today, we embraced the beauty of Venice Beach. There are plenty of activities to enjoy and many great places to eat. The beach is very dog- and family-friendly. During the day, parking costs around $18; at night, it drops to $9 (unless you manage to find free parking in the neighborhood). Please note that bringing a life vest is not allowed, as the waves can be strong and may drag you away. Restrooms are conveniently located, and the sunsets are absolutely stunning! Overall, we had a fun time. read more
Such a Vibe! I'm from Northern Cali and I am ashamed that it took me this long to visit Venice Beach. The crazy thing, I've been to Venice, Italy. lol It's very eclectic and a lot of Shenanigans are happening here. Nonetheless, it's worth stopping by to get some merch and just play basketball!! I really enjoyed my time walking up and down the boardwalk. It's plenty to do and see. Parking is only $5!!!! read more
I can't quantify the love I have for the beach since moving to LA five years ago. Knowing that, I come into this review with a bias already! I usually go to Malibu but while Wildfire Relief is still happening, I want to stay out of the way and have been venturing down to Venice Beach. I always associate Venice Beach with Venice Boardwalk, and yes, it's that. But there is also so much space of actual beach and it's super chill and amazing most days. So in short, I've fallen in love with Venice Beach. Parking prices vary depending on the day and sometimes depending on the business. Today I paid $6 but other days $13 so let me bring back an old saying, YMMV. That being said, they have huge parking lots all along the beach. The lot I always park in has the sweetest freaking lady, she's just a joy in the morning. Very normal sightings at Venice Beach: -Cool guys on skateboards 'walking' their dogs. I've been sitting here an hour and already seen 18. Always with tattoos. Very Venice. -Cool girls in stylish athletic leisure wear walking 1-2 dogs of varying sizes and styles. -Electric.Bikes.Everywhere including a bunch of two seaters. -Beautiful sand that's combed thru every morning. -Beautiful waves with tons of surfers, also cool guys but a bit different than the skater dog guys. -Emmanuel Acho bike riding with wifey - at least I saw that, lol. -Cannabis clouds, Los Angeles loves their recreation. Venice Beach was always underrated in my brain for some reason, but it really has become a happy place full of sunshine for me. read more
1 year ago
There was just so much to see while walking the board walk. There are parking lots for a fee (some $10 and there was a cheaper one down the boardwalk for $4). I ended up at metered parking on a side street in the area. There are plenty of places to eat and lots of street performers for entertainment. We just came to walk and see all of the sights and the sunset, which took a couple of hours and was completely free. read more
11 months ago
It's an iconic "beach" but not for the water but for the boardwalk. Just enjoy your stroll by the beach, people watch, check out the vendors especially the vulgar shirts and sweatshirts , and street performers. Unfortunately there's a lot of homeless so it's not the prettiest but you can say you walked Venice beach. read more
Venice Beach is straight-up a vibe. Every time I come to LA I usually stop here cause it's my favorite spot to come hoop. Its raw, real, and unapologetically L.A. You pull up, and instantly, you're hit with that salty ocean breeze, palm trees standing tall, and that boardwalk energy with individuals along all kinds. Skaters at the skatepark out there doing wild tricks like Tony Hawk. Muscle Beach where cats get their swole on in the sun. There's a lot of Murals and street art pop off everywhere pure West Coast art. Hoopers trash talking to each other. Venice beach has a combination of a little gritty, a little weird, but that's Venice. You'll catch poets, hustlers, rappers, artists, homeless, and folks just vibing. Street performers doing the most. People watching here alone is entertaining in itself! If you're tryna feel the pulse of L.A. away from the Hollywood filters, Venice Beach gives it to you straight,no chaser. read more
Been to Manhattan and Santa Monica Pier while on my trip so decided to stop at Venice. I haven't been to Venice in probably 20 years or so. It's just ok. Lots of homeless people here. Wouldn't go out of my way to come here though when there are better beaches. read more
2 years ago
Venice Beach did a major sweep of the unhoused and it's quite nice now. Every now and again, you still get the aroma of something someone is smoking but on a weekend, it was quite calm. Murals were breathtaking but I didn't see the walls that used to be for graffiti artists. Maybe we didn't walk far enough. Dias de Los Muertos was coming up and Don Julio had a beautiful altar. The structure took a week to construct and all the flowers around it took 3 days. Yay for tequila. It was a beautiful sunny day strolling down the boardwalk. Ok, bye. read more
2 years ago
As I close my eyes and listen to the sweet caress of the waves flow through my mind. I get this feeling, a very familiar soul soothing feeling of being back in the womb with each crash of the wave. The warmth of the sun on my skin comforts me as my mother did when I was a child. The tranquil feeling of peace flows through the air without a worry or care just as it did when I was young and didn't have to do the adulting thing. It's amazing how just a few feet away you can escape the craziness from the boardwalk onto the sand of peace and zen. This beach gets a bad rap but I've been coming here since I can remember and I guess I'm just use to the LA life. And that's my take, Peace out read more
Iconic California beach that has tons of activity and businesses along the beach boardwalk. Seriously there's a lot of great restaurants and casual eateries in the area and pretty much you can find something for everyone. Home to the iconic Muscle Beach. I knew of this place growing up before I even moved to LA because of all the famous bodybuilders that come through. There's also some basketball courts that are really popular and there are events here I think every Sunday. Definitely a vibrant place for locals and tourists alike. I don't come out here too often, but have generally a good time when I do. A couple of the downsides is the homeless issue and drug issue. Which they might be related. As of 7/2024, it seems like they addressed the homeless issue a little bit but if you're a tourist or even a local, I would take the necessary precautions and just look over your shoulder just in case. There's paid parking, but there's some street parking to be found in the neighborhood if you're willing to walk and you know where to look. read more
Recently, I went to Hinano Cafe. I had some time to kill before they opened at 8 AM. I walked along the pier in the rain and enjoyed taking in the views as they were less people. I watched some surfers take in the waves. It was nice pier to walk around and enjoy the sights without hustle and bustle. read more
2 years ago
Great beach for people watching, skateboarding, just fun vibes overall. We rented a tandem bike and biked along the beach. It was definitely a lot of fun to do that. Loved that there were separate bike lanes and pedestrian walk ways. Highly recommend on a visit to LA! read more
2 years ago
Venice has changed quite a bit . Lots more homeless and not as clean as it once was but also not as bad as the news makes it out to be . Still a cool place with a great LA vibe 4 stars is for the lack of reasonable parking read more
1 year ago
The day started off beautifully--the beach was lively, scenic, and enjoyable to take in. I'm not fully familiar with all the pet policies beyond the basics of keeping dogs leashed and cleaning up after them, but I did notice some issues. A few dog owners allowed their pets to run without leashes and became confrontational when their dogs misbehaved, which took away from the otherwise pleasant atmosphere. For that reason, I would recommend leaving pets at home to avoid potential conflicts and enjoy a more relaxing experience. read more
3 years ago
So I haven't been to Venice Beach since I was a child and after watching Barbie, I added Venice Beach to my bucket list next time I was in Los Angeles. Maybe I'm on the wrong side of the beach or I came on an off day but the beach was interesting. First off, there's a sidewalk path next to the sand. We assumed one side would be pedestrians and one side for bicycles. However, both paths were for bikes. There's not a designed safe area for pedestrians to walk except for the boardwalk area (where bikes were still allowed) or the sand. The homeless are still pretty present on the boardwalk. We saw them in pretty much every bench with carts nearby. The smell of weed was overpowering. Trash was everywhere. As we were leaving, there was a homeless lady throwing bread in the parking lot attracting the birds. She was on a bike so be careful when you're exiting the parking lot. It's sad because Venice Beach is very artsy and there's lot of nice street art murals or sculptures. read more
2 years ago
This place gets a 5 star if you look to expect an explosion of locals and tourists who are equally but differently engaging with the area. First time here was 2 weeks after moving to California on my first 4/20 here. Last month 16 years later we Stopped by here celebrating our Anniversary on 4/20 early in the morning to check out some Peruvian food and fish tacos.it was cold and gray. People were out and about, opening shops and setting up for the day. We say two couples in wedding attire taking photos. Nice to just stroll and take in all the variety of life. Be alert and mindful and enjoy yourself. read more
1 year ago
Very run down, dirty and scuzzy place around the beach. I have been to many California beaches and towns this one is the worst by far. Too many overpriced restaurants and junk food in the area. A lit of the places are cheap pizza and county fair food. Others are overpriced sit down restaurants. Walk around the neighborhood and you will see worn out area. Shady people hanging around there and on the beach including a lot of homeless. I would not take elderly people or young children here. The positive thing is the beach itself is pretty nice and a good place for volleyball and walking. You can see muscle beach and some of the street art. It's too bad the place is not what it used to be. My friends in the area said it used to be good but in recent years has really changed. I was planning on staying here longer and going back later but left after a couple of hours. If you are in the area go check it out but I don't recommend making this place a destination for your vacation. read more
2 years ago
1 year ago
I came by weekday afternoon. Not so crowded at all and the beach was empty. I walked down from Santa Monica pier and it's good place to get inspired from work out enthusiasts. If you are tired to walk, go to Main street. There is a bus to go to downtown Santa Monica. It will pass Santa Monica station though. read more
2 years ago
Venice Beach is so iconic. I don't think that anything comes close. from the skating ring area to the vendors and all the good places to get snacks. Once you come here, it'll leave the lasting impression , hopefully for the good. I enjoy watching the skaters ! read more
Beautiful and historic, much different that the last time i was here. So many cool shops. Was the backdrop for many movies over the years. The patrons were so cool. The beach was clean, saw some skateboarders doing their thing. Just cool, to see it again! read more
2 years ago
Venice Beach is a wonderful place to catch the sun while having fun in the sand and catching waves. It is definitely a touristy place, but you'll find locals on the beach too. Its board walk is very famous and filled with souvenir shops and fast food eateries. The beach is clean and there are bathroom services nearby. Paid parking is available in the lots near the beach. read more
I would not recommend Venice beach as a tourist stop. Maybe a decent spot for locals to do certain activities - like skateboarding, basketball, or wall ball. I visited this because I wanted to check it off the list of places in LA - But after walking down the strip I quickly realized there was nothing for me here. Unless you need a vulgar poor quality shirt or pot supplies - you can skip this destination. The vendors selling items were very low quality. read more
1 year ago
We had a great time here.I love hearing the waves in the background while walking in the sand.If you're in LA, you should definitely make a stop at Venice Beach. Very clean California beach. The sand was soft. Boardwalk is a great place to walk around. read more
3 years ago
We wanted to stop by the beach during our trip to LA and were in the area checking out the Venice Canals, so we headed here. Still feeling the cold winter temperatures in early March, we found a spot on the sand to just hang out and enjoy the views... the water, trees, and entire atmosphere. The beach was fairly empty since it was later in the afternoon and breezy, but it somehow felt nicer seemingly isolated. Venice Beach doesn't really offer anything special compared to other nearby beaches, it's fairly plain. I think the Boardwalk is the biggest draw for tourists. But even that part to me doesn't really stand out. You have some eateries and souvenir shops, some that look at little run down, your typical street performers, but some of them not so interesting (and others possibly con artists), and of course some of the homeless population in the area. The beach itself is lovely, but there are so many other alluring beaches, with more beautiful and cleaner surroundings and better shops and neighborhoods, some with noteworthy piers as well. All of that really attracts a certain crowd and shapes the quality of a beach. Venice Beach is just okay, in my opinion. read more
The crème de la creme of La. The daily festival. The palm tree circus. The land of all walks of life. The one and only Venice beach. Bring a skateboard. Ride a bike. Lay on the sand. Hit a rooftop bar. So much to do no wonder people retire here. read more
Updating my rating as a result of the drastic improvement of cleanliness, 98% removal of the homeless, tents/encampments and increase of police presence... that I feel more at ease to visit more frequently. The Venice beach pier is easy to access with the ten or fifteen dollar fee public parking lot right next to it. And sometimes if you're lucky, you can snag street meter parking for le$$. Yesterday while walking on the pier, I notice Venice Oceanarium a nonprofit organization that helps blend the ecosystems with Art and Poetry. Venice Oceanarium placed placards along the pier rails by famous poetry quotes that upon reading them, were perfect as you look outward towards the beach, ocean and reflect on moments that simple things that matter. Hope the city, nonprofit organizations, locals and visitors continue the effort to keep our beaches, oceans and ecosystems clean for ALL to enjoy. Peace! read more
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More info about Venice Statepark
1500 Ocean Front Walk
Venice, CA 90291
Venice
Directions
(310) 650-3255
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https://www.veniceskatepark.com
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Ask the Community - Venice Statepark
Are there still homeless encampment? I am pretty skeptical on the recent 4/5 star reviews even from those with Yelp Elite badges. I go to the beach to relax and not be around homeless encampment; there is downtown LA for that.
There are still pockets of homeless but in the particular portion of the beach I was in there was not. I basically went there to eat but I didn't really roam the beach itself
Are the shops still open since the pandemic how about hotels also are they open?
Yes, plenty of shops are open... in fact almost 90% are one now! Restaurants are 25% allows dining in as well...
Is a baby stroller recommended?
Weekends get crowded and it's a zoo, I'd definitely bring a stroller
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Venice Statepark - beaches - Updated September 2026
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