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the USA🇺🇸 | beachesVenice BeachOcean Front Walk, skate bowls, outdoor weights, 1900s canals | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Venice Beach
👍 Recommendedbeach ranked #11
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Venice Beach was built as an Italian-style resort with real canals, and a few of those canals still exist a short walk inland, free to wander. The beach sits on the Pacific coast on the west side of Los Angeles, the second-largest city in the United States. Crowds are thick and parking is pricey, and the boardwalk can feel like a theme park run by its own residents. I got here by bus from the airport area, and the driver announced the stop with a deadpan “Venice, hold your wallets,” which got the loudest laugh of the ride. The sand is wide, the water is chilly and best for wading or surfing, and cheap tacos and hostels are close. Pelicans work the shoreline, and murals cover nearly every wall.

Discover everything you want to know in the 📖 the USA Travel Guide.


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✨ Why go?
Ranked #11 beach in the USA
Why Venice Beach should be on your travel list

Venice Beach earns its stop because it is the rare Southern California beach where you can sleep, eat and people-watch for little money. Hostels sit a few blocks from the sand, and the food ranges from taco stands to health-food counters, so a day of wandering never forces a restaurant splurge. The second draw is the free spectacle. The Ocean Front Walk runs for roughly 2 miles of street performers, chess players, vendors and painted walls, and none of it needs a ticket. Third, Venice Beach works as a connector. The Santa Monica bike path starts right on the sand and runs north toward the pier, so you can rent a bike and link two beaches in an afternoon. Bring a sweatshirt, because the sea breeze cools evenings fast.

💡 HighlightsKey sights and experiences for travelers

  1. Ocean Front Walk: The boardwalk is the reason most people come. Expect street musicians, tarot readers, skaters, souvenir stalls and hand-painted storefronts along the sand. It is free and best walked slowly in the afternoon.
  2. Muscle Beach: This open-air weight pen is a famous bodybuilding site where lifters train in public. Watching costs nothing, and a day pass lets you join in.
  3. Venice Skate Park: The concrete bowls sit right on the sand and hold some of the most skilled local skaters. Sitting on the edge to watch is free and surprisingly hypnotic.
  4. Venice Canals: A few blocks inland, the remaining canals from the original 1900s resort are lined with footbridges, ducks and small gardens. The quiet is a sharp contrast with the boardwalk.
  5. Sunset on the sand: The beach faces west, so the sun drops
… read more 👉
  1. Ocean Front Walk: The boardwalk is the reason most people come. Expect street musicians, tarot readers, skaters, souvenir stalls and hand-painted storefronts along the sand. It is free and best walked slowly in the afternoon.
  2. Muscle Beach: This open-air weight pen is a famous bodybuilding site where lifters train in public. Watching costs nothing, and a day pass lets you join in.
  3. Venice Skate Park: The concrete bowls sit right on the sand and hold some of the most skilled local skaters. Sitting on the edge to watch is free and surprisingly hypnotic.
  4. Venice Canals: A few blocks inland, the remaining canals from the original 1900s resort are lined with footbridges, ducks and small gardens. The quiet is a sharp contrast with the boardwalk.
  5. Sunset on the sand: The beach faces west, so the sun drops straight into the Pacific. Locals gather with drum circles near the boardwalk as the sky changes color, a lively and free evening ritual.
Venice Beach rewards a day that pairs the Venice Canals in the calm morning with sunset on the sand after the boardwalk crowds thin.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do around Venice Beach

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🌤️ When to go?Seasonal considerations and timing

  • Summer (June to September): Highs of 24 to 28°C (75 to 82°F) at the beach, with the boardwalk at its busiest and hostel prices at their peak. The water reaches about 19 to 21°C (66 to 70°F).
  • Early summer gloom: May and June often start with gray, cool mornings that burn off by early afternoon.
  • Fall (October to November): Warm, clear days of 22 to 27°C (72 to 81°F), thinner crowds, and the best light for photos.
  • Winter (December to February): Highs of 18 to 21°C (64 to 70°F), cold ocean, and the lowest rates. Rain is rare and comes in short bursts.
  • Spring (March to April): Mild and breezy, around 19 to 22°C (66 to 72°F), with fewer people.
Book summer weekends and holiday weekends weeks ahead, since beds and rates move fast then.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: good for travelingFEBFebruary: good for travelingMARMarch: highly recommended for travelingAPRApril: highly recommended for travelingMAYMay: highly recommended for travelingJUNJune: good for travelingJULJuly: fair for travelingAUGAugust: fair for travelingSEPSeptember: highly recommended for travelingOCTOctober: highly recommended for travelingNOVNovember: good for travelingDECDecember: good for traveling
when-to-go

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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas and accommodation options

Venice itself, within a few blocks of the boardwalk, is the best place for backpackers to stay, with hostels and budget rooms a 5 to 10 minute walk from the sand. Beds typically run US$40 to 70 a night in dorms, higher in summer. The streets around Windward Avenue and Abbot Kinney Boulevard put you near cafes, taco stands, and bars, and it is easy to meet other travelers who rent bikes and skate the paved path. Staying close means you can walk to the water at sunrise and avoid parking costs entirely. Santa Monica, about 3 miles (5 km) north along the beach path, is the calmer alternative, with … read more 👉
Venice itself, within a few blocks of the boardwalk, is the best place for backpackers to stay, with hostels and budget rooms a 5 to 10 minute walk from the sand. Beds typically run US$40 to 70 a night in dorms, higher in summer. The streets around Windward Avenue and Abbot Kinney Boulevard put you near cafes, taco stands, and bars, and it is easy to meet other travelers who rent bikes and skate the paved path. Staying close means you can walk to the water at sunrise and avoid parking costs entirely. Santa Monica, about 3 miles (5 km) north along the beach path, is the calmer alternative, with a well-run hostel scene, the pier, and Metro E Line trains to downtown Los Angeles. It costs a bit more but feels tidier at night. Pick Venice for energy and Santa Monica for easy transit and quieter evenings.

🛡️ SafetyScams, Hazards, and Annoyances

Venice Beach is well lifeguarded in daytime, and the main risks are sun and the Pacific itself. Swim between the flagged lifeguard zones, where staff post conditions daily. Rip currents form here on larger swells, and the cold water, often under 20°C (68°F) outside late summer, tires you faster than you expect. Stingrays are occasionally an issue in summer, so shuffle your feet entering the water. Sun is strong even under morning haze, so bring sunscreen. The boardwalk is lively and safe during the day, but petty theft happens, so keep phones and bags in your sight and never leave belongings unattended on the sand. After dark, stay on busier streets and skip the quiet stretches of beach.

FAQFrequently asked questions about Venice Beach

Venice Beach is about 15 miles (24 km) west of downtown Los Angeles and 5 to 8 miles (8 to 13 km) from LAX. The Metro E Line runs from downtown to Santa Monica (about 45 minutes, US$1.75), and from there you can bike or take a bus south for 15 to 20 minutes. A rideshare from LAX typically costs US$25 to 45.
Venice Beach is best for swimming on calm summer days, when the water is around 19 to 21°C (66 to 70°F) and lifeguards watch the zones. Surfing is possible but the break is mediocre and often crowded with locals, so better surf is found at Malibu, 20 miles (32 km) north. Snorkeling is poor because of low visibility, with Catalina Island a day trip away for clear-water dives.
Venice Beach is free to visit, including the sand, the boardwalk, and Muscle Beach viewing. Parking is the main cost, with beach lots charging about US$10 to 25 a day depending on season. Bike rentals run about US$8 to 15 an hour, and the skate park is free to enter.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other American beaches near Venice Beach

Explore more nearby:

  • Santa Monica Beach—Pier amusement park, coastal bike path, Muscle Beach, train access| 5 km away
  • Malibu Beach—Wooden pier, longboard break, Adamson House, lagoon birds| 22 km away
  • Laguna Beach—Bluff coves, tide pools, Heisler Park walk, pirate tower| 80 km away

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We 💚 feedbackWhat to keep in mind

Venice Beach looks like a circus from the boardwalk, but the real surprise is the canals just inland, where the noise vanishes within two blocks. I would walk there first thing, then save the sand for late afternoon and bring a sweatshirt for when the wind picks up.

✈️ When did I visit the USA?
In January 2023 I visited New York. Many years before, before digital cameras existed, I discovered most of the national parks in the West.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in the USA, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

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