With year-round warm weather and beautiful beaches just 20 minutes from Downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica is a great base for exploring the bright lights of LA. The city’s six-kilometre stretch of coastline boasts golden sand, and you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to shopping, from designer stores on Montana Avenue to cool independent boutiques on Pico Boulevard. A highlight is The Strand bike trail, which runs along the coast for 35 kilometres. Starting in Santa Monica, the route passes through the hip Venice neighbourhood and Redondo Beach and finishes up beside the gentle surf at Torrance County Beach.

Santa Monica’s most famous landmark is its pier, which dates back to 1909. Visitors are drawn to the iconic red and yellow Ferris wheel, which is solar-powered and offers incredible views of the coastline from the top. There’s also an amusement park complete with a five-story rollercoaster and classic arcade games, as well as restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops. Street performers line the pier, from mime acts to jugglers, and there’s always live music to enjoy on balmy Southern California evenings.

The closest airport is Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), which operates flights from all over the world, including direct flights from Melbourne and Sydney. It’s a 20-minute drive to Santa Monica from the airport, and there are many car rental options available. You’ll find plenty of taxis waiting at the terminal and a bus service that will get you into Santa Monica in just over an hour. Once you arrive, the city is compact and the best way to explore is by walking. Santa Monica’s paved Strand is also great for cycling, and you can rent a bike or e-bike at several places in town. If you’re travelling into Downtown Los Angeles, the easiest option is catching the Metro E Line, which runs every 15 minutes and will get you into LA in around 40 minutes.

Santa Monica is a year-round destination with warm weather and a packed programme of festivals and open-air events. You can expect hot days and nights from July to October, so remember to pack your hat and sun protection for beach days. Every Sunday evening in August, Jazz on the Lawn offers free events featuring local musicians performing in Gandara Park. November to April is a pleasant time to visit, when you won’t get the stifling hot days of summer but you can still expect mild, sunny conditions. Make your way to Santa Monica in October, when the Open Street Festival closes more than three kilometres of streets to cars and you walk freely to discover local food, music, and shops. If you’re looking for cooler weather, Santa Monica experiences what are known as the May Gray and June Gloom phenomena, when the marine layer moves in overnight, causing low clouds to hover and usually blocking out the sun until early afternoon.

Santa Monica Beach

The city’s main beach attracts paddleboarders and surfers to its waters, and locals head here after work for seaside chess, beach volleyball, and sunset walks along the pier. Make sure to check out the original Muscle Beach, an outdoor gym area built on the sand in the 1930’s that still draws fitness buffs, gymnasts, and acrobats who put on a display.

The Strand

Also known as The Marvin Braude Bike Trail, this 35-kilometre paved trail starts in Santa Monica and passes by the towering palms and baby-blue lifeguard huts of Venice Beach. The route continues to Hermosa, where you can wander along the pier for a unique view from out in the Pacific Ocean. Redondo Beach is the next stop before the finish line at Torrance Beach. There are many places to rent a bike in town, and you can even join a bike tour to find out more about the district.

Route 66

Many visitors head to Santa Monica to see the iconic Route 66 sign, which marks the end of the most famous road in the United States. You’ll find it by the pier and, once you’ve taken the obligatory photo, take a walk past old-fashioned diners with classic neon signs, where you can tuck into a burger and sip a milkshake before a sunset paddle along the ocean.