Venice Beach
Venice Beach is famous for its street entertainers, tattooed bodies, and self-proclaimed "freaks" along the Ocean Front Walk boardwalk.
Venice Beach centers on the Ocean Front Walk boardwalk, where skateboarders, street entertainers, and the Muscle Beach workout area provide subjects beneath the Venice Sign. The historic Venice Canals—dug in 1905 by Abbot Kinney, who imported Italian gondolas to recreate Venice, Italy—offer quieter scenes framed by footbridges inland.
Origins of Venice Beach Landmarks
Venice Beach's central hub carries the "Muscle Beach" name, a reference to the outdoor workout area and the muscle display platform. What remains of the Venice Canals dates to Abbot Kinney's 1905 "Venice of America" resort; the waterway had deteriorated by 1940 as automobile use rose, and was later restored with new sidewalks in 1992. The pedestrian boardwalk, originally a bike path, began drawing skateboarders and roller-skaters in the 1970s.
Best Photo Spots
Six photo spots around Venice Beach include the busy boardwalk, an active skate park, peaceful canals, and a colorful tile house.
Venice Beach Boardwalk
Photographs of This Location
Early History of Venice Beach
Before 1900, the land that became Venice Beach was marshland. In 1905, tobacco tycoon Abbot Kinney developed it as a resort modeled on Venice, Italy, complete with canals that Los Angeles later filled in. The city was formally annexed by Los Angeles in October 1925 following a special election.
Common Questions
The address of Venice City Beach is Windward Ave and Ocean Front Walk, Los Angeles, CA 90291.
Photo studios in Venice average $275 per hour to rent.
Admission to the Mosaic Tile House is $20 for adults, $15 for seniors, and free for children 12 and under.
Venice, California has about 40,000 residents and about 16 million visitors annually.
Del Monte Speakeasy and Venice V Hotel
The Del Monte Speakeasy occupies the basement of Townhouse bar and has operated since 1915, when Cesar Menotti opened the venue as Menotti's Buffet. During Prohibition, the bar moved underground, with alcohol smuggled in by boats arriving from Canada through tunnel networks. The Venice V Hotel, which hosted Charlie Chaplin and Clara Bow in the Golden Era, the Doors in the 1960s, and the Z-Boy skate crew in the 1970s, offers another subject for interior and exterior shots.
Practical Information
1800 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291; Bus 1 at Washington Blvd./Dell Ave.; Driving is the most practical way to reach Venice Beach, and the author recommends taking trains rather than buses because public transportation in Los Angeles is slow.
Fee for parking; 3 lots, 1200+ spaces; $25
Saturdays 1 - 4 PM; 5:55am – 11:05pm; 6 AM – 7 PM
$20 adults / $15 seniors / free under 12; $1.75 base fare; $275/hr average
No dogs allowed; free permit
Session Tips
- A zoom lens such as the Tamron 24-70mm or the Tamron 28-300mm is recommended for shooting Venice Beach for versatility.
- When posting photos of Venice street art on social media, photographers should tag the artists when they have left their social handles on the work.
- Arrive at the Mosaic Tile House right at 1 PM when it opens to avoid the crowds.
- Rent a bike to cover more ground on the boardwalk while still spending plenty of time on foot among the crowd.
- For easier access to the Muscle Beach area, park at the public lot at the west end of Venice Boulevard rather than the Rose Avenue lot, which requires a long walk back.
What to Wear
- Venice Beach is not the place for normal clothes; many visitors are barely dressed, in bathing suits, rag-like wraps, or very revealing costumes.
Photowalk
Walk the Venice Beach Photo Trail
2 routes through the same vantage points, from a quick loop to a full afternoon.
The Venice Beach Boardwalk offers street performers, fortune-tellers, souvenir and tattoo shops, and street art for people-watching photography.
When to Shoot
Best Time to Photograph
1:24 PM - 1:49 PM
1:49 PM - 2:49 PM
12:35 AM - 1:35 AM
1:35 AM - 2:00 AM
Best Season
Hot weather is preferable for spending time on the beach at Venice Beach.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 06:58 | 17:08 | 10h 9m |
| 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 | 06:51 | 16:46 | 9h 54m |
What to Expect During Your Session
A photography session at Venice Beach typically covers street entertainers along Ocean Front Walk, bodybuilders at Muscle Beach, skateboarders at the beachside skatepark, and surfers near the Venice Breakwater. For quieter shooting, the Venice Sign is best photographed around 7 AM on a Sunday morning before crowds and cars appear, while the Mosaic Tile House can be visited right at 1 PM when it opens. Parking at the public lot on the west end of Venice Boulevard offers easier access to Muscle Beach, and walking the boardwalk from Santa Monica takes about 45 minutes.
A typical Venice Beach morning can include walking the canals, taking photos of gardens, then having breakfast watching surfers on the beach.
Getting There
Access & Transit
- Wheelchair access
- Venice Beach features step-free entrances, smooth paths for easy navigation, and designated accessible parking.
- Parking
- A public parking lot is located at the west end of Venice Boulevard, with additional street parking on side streets in the area.
- Public transit
- Washington/Pacific
- Walking distance
- 1116 Palms Blvd, Venice CA 90291
- Bike friendly
- Venice City Beach has a paved bike path along with a walking path.