10-Day Santa Monica Itinerary

1. Day 1: Santa Monica Pier
   10 minutes (1.3 miles) from Downtown Santa Monica

   The iconic pier offers beachfront views, an amusement park, restaurants, and souvenir shops.

2. Day 2: Third Street Promenade
   7 minutes (1.1 miles) from Santa Monica Pier

   Pedestrian outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment hub known for street performers and movie theaters.

3. Day 3: Muscle Beach
   16 minutes (3.2 miles) from Third Street Promenade

   Outdoor fitness center on the beach where many athletes and celebs train.

4. Day 4: Getty Villa
   19 minutes (7.9 miles) from Muscle Beach

   Art museum exhibiting ancient Greek and Roman art and architecture in a recreated villa.

5. Day 5: Malibu Pier & Surfrider Beach
   17 minutes (7.3 miles) from Getty Villa

   A historical wooden pier at the exclusive Malibu Beach with amazing surf view and seafood restaurants.

6. Day 6: Venice Beach 'Muscle' 'Skate' & 'Grids'
   7 minutes (2.7 miles) from Malibu Pier & Surfrider Beach

   Experience the unique culture of each beach section: Venice 'Muscle', boarders on 'Skate', and street art on 'Grids'.

7. Day 7: Randall Museum
   30 minutes (10.6 miles) from Venice Beach

   Natural History and Science museum and park with fantastic views of L.A. and its architecture.

8. Day 8: Pacific Palisades - Temescal Canyon Park and Paseo Miramar Lookout
   16 minutes (5.8 miles) from Randall Museum

   Hiking, great views of mountains and ocean, and fresh air for all ages.

9. Day 9: Santa Monica Mountains National Park
   30 minutes (11 miles) from Pacific Palisades

   A vast national park covering from Santa Monica up to Ventura County; Ideal for hiking, biking, waterfall and views chasing, and more.

10. Day 10: Catalina Island Day Trip
    1 hour 40 minutes(36.4 miles and Ferry Boat tour) from Santa Monica Mountains National Park

    Enjoy a boat journey over the Pacific and find yourself on Catalina Island. Discover long sandy beaches, outdoor adventures, aviation history, and more.

Time and Costs Estimates

• Santa Monica Pier (2 hours, free)
• Third Street Promenade (2 hours, varies)
• Muscle Beach (1 hour, free)
• Getty Villa (2 hours, $16 parking fee per car and $5 entrance fee per person)
• Malibu Pier & Surfrider Beach (2 hours, varies)
• Venice Beach 'Muscle' 'Skate' & 'Grids' (2 hours, free)
• Randall Museum (2 hours, free)
• Pacific Palisades - Temescal Canyon Park and Paseo Miramar Lookout (2 hours, free)
• Santa Monica Mountains National Park (4 hours, $12 parking fee per car)
• Catalina Island Day Trip (10 hours, $76-$106 ferry fee per person)
Total Estimated Costs: $116-$146 per person (not including food and souvenirs)

Useful Tips

If you have extra time, consider adding Venice Canals, Annenberg Community Beach House, Beverly Hills, or The Broad Museum to your itinerary. If you have less time, consider eliminating Catalina Island Day Trip and/or Santa Monica Mountains National Park from your itinerary. Some locations might be closed so check the opening and closing times if you are visiting on a weekday.