Venice City Beach

How to get there

North or south on the 405 Freeway (San Diego) exit Washington Blvd. west to Venice Beach parking lot.

About Venice

This historic beach is is popular as much for its street performers, roller bladers as for the clean white sands of the beach beach itself.  Known as one of Los Angeles best beaches it is a must-see for any visitor to the area.  The beach stretches for miles along the coast of Venice City, today a suburb of LA though once an independent city, which has a reputation for arts and bohemian living that spills out onto the shore.

At the northern end of the stretch is the famed Muscle Beach where body builders and athletes work out under the sun, to top up the tan and to gain the respect of the many onlookers and tourists.

As one of the major city beaches there are of course a full range of services at Venice Beach, you will find sporting facilities such as Volleyball and Basketball courts, as well as less usual courts on the edge of the beach such as handball and racquetball.

Picnic areas and plentiful cafes and restaurants mean that this is great as an all day outing beach.  Whether you are going with the kids or with friends you will find no limit to the things you can do on the beach to have a great time.

Want to try windsurfing? Ride a bike?  That's all fine at Vince Beach, and the Marvin Braude Bike Trail lets you ride a long way exploring the many views of both people and the city.

Three large parking lots provide plenty of capacity for those arriving by car, but there is also good public transport and of course walking from street parking is also a good option.

Lifeguards are station every 100 yards along the whole beach, even right to the east end where it meets quite abruptly the Marina Del Rey channel.

The long fishing pier nearer the east end is a great place to stop and enjoy the view while casting your line for some fish as well.  The only remaining pier of Venice's three piers this one is still used daily as a place to fish.

Parking fees: Winter $4.00 to $9.00; Summer $5.00 to $18.00

Food: Food concessions

There are lifeguards on duty on the beach at day time.

Here is Venice City Beach on the map.