Santa Monica Pier
A century-old wooden pier from 1909, with a solar-powered Ferris wheel, the End of Route 66 sign and Pacific sunsets. A classic image of beach life in Los Angeles.
Santa Monica Pier extends into the Pacific. Built in 1909, it is the oldest amusement pier on the West Coast of the United States. At the entrance, an arched neon sign and the 'End of the Trail' sign marking the end of Route 66 are must-photograph spots. The pier has Pacific Park, a small amusement park with a solar-powered Ferris wheel 40 m high. At night, the wheel has an LED light show (about $12 per ride or about $40 for an all-day pass). Other attractions include a carousel from 1922 (featured in The Sting), an aquarium beneath the pier (about $10), street performers, anglers and several seafood restaurants. On either side of the pier is the wide Santa Monica Beach. You can rent a bike or skateboard and ride south 3 km along the 35 km coastal bike path (The Strand/Marvin Braude Trail) to Venice Beach, or north to Malibu. On the beach, Original Muscle Beach is the birthplace of fitness performance. Walking 10 minutes east of the pier brings you to the Third Street Promenade pedestrian street and the Santa Monica Place shopping center, where most of the dining and shopping is concentrated. Sunset is the best time to visit: watch the sun sink into the Pacific from the end of the pier, then photograph the Ferris wheel lit up at night. Getting there: the Metro E Line terminus at Downtown Santa Monica is an 8-minute walk away. It is one of the few beaches in Los Angeles you can easily reach without a car. Driving yourself costs $15–30 per day at the parking lot next to the pier. Note: the sea is cold year-round (15–20°C), so pay attention to the lifeguard flags when swimming. Seagulls on the pier will steal food. Summer weekends are very crowded, and parking is difficult. This pier is the starting point for driving north on the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) to Malibu and Big Sur.
Opening hours
Open all day (Pacific Park about 11:00–21:00; extended to 23:00 in summer)
Nearby sights
- Venice Beach
- Getty Center
- Getty Villa
- Beverly Hills / Rodeo Drive
- Petersen Automotive Museum
- Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
- Sunset Boulevard
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)