Venice Beach is unlike anywhere else in Los Angeles — or anywhere else on Earth. A collision of beach culture, street art, bodybuilders, skaters, musicians, mystics, and million-dollar homes, all compressed into a few blocks along the Pacific Ocean. It's one of our most popular tour stops and consistently surprises visitors who expect a simple beach.
📍 Address: Venice Beach Boardwalk, Venice, CA 90291. A stop on both our LA City Tour (from Los Angeles) and Anaheim tour — hotel pickup from 250+ hotels.
The Venice Boardwalk
The boardwalk — officially Ocean Front Walk — is the beating heart of Venice Beach. This 1.5-mile pedestrian promenade runs parallel to the beach and is packed with activity every day of the year.
What you'll find on the boardwalk:
- Street performers — musicians, magicians, acrobats, comedians, and the occasional snake charmer
- Street art and murals — Venice has one of the most impressive collections of outdoor murals in California
- Vendors and stalls — local artists, craftspeople, and merchandise sellers line the boardwalk
- Food and drink — from fresh juices to tacos to classic beach snacks
- The Freakshow — Venice's legendary oddities exhibition, a Venice institution
Muscle Beach
One of the most famous outdoor gyms in the world, Muscle Beach Venice is where the modern fitness movement was born. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Franco Columbu, and dozens of other bodybuilding legends trained here in the 1970s, cementing Venice's reputation as the home of the fitness culture that spread globally.
Today the outdoor weight pit is still active — you can watch serious lifters training steps from the ocean. The energy is unique and the setting — barbells in the sand next to the Pacific — is unlike any other gym in the world.
Venice Skate Park
Right on the beach, the Venice Skate Park is a world-class outdoor facility that draws professional and amateur skaters from around the world. The park is free to watch and always entertaining — bowls, rails, ramps, and a concrete landscape that produces incredible skating.
It's one of the most photographed skate parks anywhere, and even non-skaters find it fascinating to watch. Best viewing is from the path above the park or from the bleachers along the side.
The Venice Canals
Just two blocks from the boardwalk — and missed by most visitors — are the Venice Canals. Built in 1905 by developer Abbot Kinney to replicate the canals of Venice, Italy, this network of waterways lined with beautiful homes is one of LA's most charming and unexpected neighbourhoods.
Walking the canal bridges gives you a completely different side of Venice — quiet, residential, and beautiful. Ducks, paddleboarders, kayaks, and residents walking their dogs. It feels like a different world from the boardwalk, despite being only minutes away.
Abbot Kinney Boulevard
Named after Venice's founder, Abbot Kinney Blvd was named "the coolest block in America" by GQ magazine. It's a mile-long strip of independent boutiques, art galleries, coffee roasters, restaurants, and concept stores — the kind of street that LA does better than anywhere.
Notable spots on Abbot Kinney:
- Blue Bottle Coffee — excellent single-origin coffee
- Salt & Straw — inventive small-batch ice cream
- Gjusta Bakery — legendary LA bakery, always worth the queue
- Dozens of independent galleries, vintage shops, and lifestyle stores
Best Photo Spots in Venice Beach
Boardwalk at Muscle Beach
The classic Venice shot — the boardwalk energy, ocean in the background, lifeguard towers.
Venice Skate Park
Shoot from above for a great perspective on the park action with the beach behind.
Venice Canal Bridges
The little arched footbridges over the canals make beautiful, very Instagram-worthy shots.
The Murals
Dozens of incredible murals along the boardwalk and surrounding streets — the IM Pei mural is a standout.
Venice Beach Sign
The retro "Venice Beach" sign at the north end of the boardwalk — a classic LA photo.
Sunset from the Beach
If you're there in the late afternoon, the Venice sunsets are extraordinary.
💡 Pro tip: Walk away from the main boardwalk toward the canals for a much quieter, more beautiful side of Venice that most tourists never find.
Visit Venice Beach on Our LA Tour
Venice Beach is a stop on every LA City Tour — along with Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Farmers Market, and Griffith Observatory.
Book LA City Tour Tour Details