Santa Monica
Santa Monica is a popular resort town known for its climate, beaches, and hospitality industry.
Santa Monica is its own city within the Los Angeles conurbation, where the celebrated pier has stood since 1908 and the southern end of Route 66 meets the Pacific. Eight neighborhoods offer varied subjects, from Downtown's Art Deco, Victorian, and Romanesque Revival facades to Main Street and Mid-City, thirty minutes by cab from LAX.
Santa Monica's Independent City and Attractions
Santa Monica operates as its own independent city spanning eight square miles, administratively separate from Los Angeles. The Santa Monica Pier, where Route 66 ends, has drawn visitors since 1908 and provides a well-known landmark for photographers. Cultural options within the city include the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium and the Museum of Flying.
Best Photo Spots
Here are six photo spots across Santa Monica, ranging from beachside piers and parks to lively streets and avenues.
Santa Monica Pier
Photographs of This Location
Santa Monica Architecture Walking Tour for Photographers
Santa Monica was founded in 1875 by John P. Jones and Robert Baker alongside Arcadia Bandini de Stearns Baker, and was formally incorporated on November 30, 1886. Photographers drawn to built heritage will find that downtown Santa Monica's architecture spans Art Deco, Victorian, and Romanesque Revival styles. The Santa Monica Conservancy runs a Downtown Walking Tour covering the area's architecture, history, and culture, providing a practical route for locating specific facades and planning shot lists.
Common Questions
Santa Monica has eight unique neighborhoods: Downtown/Third Street Promenade, Main Street, Mid City, Montana Avenue, Ocean Park/Airport, Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica Pier/Ocean Avenue, and Wilshire Boulevard.
Practical Information
Metro Expo Line; Amtrak Pacific Surfliner; The City of Santa Monica provides motorized beach wheelchairs for visitors to the beach.
free early morning, paid otherwise; plentiful parking; Santa Monica offers plentiful parking options throughout the city for visitors arriving by car.
Santa Monica Travel & Tourism's office is located at 2427 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405.; 06:43 - 18:48
$1.25
Session Tips
- Santa Monica provides ample opportunities to capture stunning sunsets, vibrant street scenes, and iconic landmarks.
- Bring a tripod and use the walking ramp as a leading line into the image.
- Coastal fog can hug the beach while sun shines east of 20th Street, so check conditions on both sides before shooting.
- The A Walk Through Pier History guided tour runs on Saturdays and Sundays at 10AM.
- Visit the Santa Monica Pier for its locals' nights, movie nights, and free concerts in addition to photography.
What to Wear
- Casual attire such as shorts, Birkenstocks, sandals or running gear and trainers is the recommended look for Santa Monica.
Photowalk
Walk the Santa Monica Photo Trail
1 routes through the same vantage points, from a quick loop to a full afternoon.
From the end of the pier, you are greeted with views over the clean, rippling blue waters of the Pacific Ocean and a gentle sea breeze.
When to Shoot
Best Time to Photograph
1:25 PM - 1:50 PM
1:50 PM - 2:50 PM
12:35 AM - 1:35 AM
1:35 AM - 2:00 AM
Best Season
July 4th
Avoid
May–August
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 06:59 | 17:08 | 10h 8m |
| Feb | 06:38 | 17:38 | 10h 59m |
| Mar | 07:04 | 19:01 | 11h 57m |
| Apr | 06:22 | 19:25 | 13h 2m |
| May | 05:52 | 19:48 | 13h 56m |
| Jun | 05:42 | 20:06 | 14h 24m |
| Jul | 05:53 | 20:05 | 14h 11m |
| Aug | 06:15 | 19:40 | 13h 24m |
| Sep | 06:37 | 19:00 | 12h 22m |
| Oct | 06:59 | 18:19 | 11h 20m |
| Nov | 06:26 | 16:50 | 10h 23m |
| Dec | 06:52 | 16:46 | 9h 54m |
Getting There
Access & Transit
- Wheelchair access
- Santa Monica Beach has an accessible path extending from the bicycle path adjacent to the parking lot out into the sand, reaching a point covered with water at high tide.
- Public transit
- LA Metro E Line, 720 Rapid, BBB 1
- Walking distance
- about 2 miles
- Bike friendly
- Santa Monica is bike-friendly with dedicated lanes and scenic paths along the beach.