Last updated August 5, 2026

Crowds walking the wooden deck of Santa Monica Pier past the Route 66 "End of the Trail" sign, with the pier's carnival rides behind them

Cayambe / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Los Angeles

Where to Stay in Santa Monica, Los Angeles

Santa Monica is a separate city that sits right where LA meets the ocean, built around its wooden pier and a long, flat beach. Route 66 officially ends here, marked by a sign at the foot of the pier's Ferris wheel. A few blocks inland, the car-free Third Street Promenade is lined with shops and restaurants, and the Metro E Line's terminus makes it an easy, low-stress base for a beach-focused stay.

What it's actually like to stay here

Relaxed and sunny, with a beach-town pace that's calmer than Venice next door. Families, joggers, and cyclists on the beachfront path outnumber the crowds you'll find on Hollywood Boulevard.

Stay here if

Best for beach time without giving up easy access to the rest of the city, and for families who want wide sidewalks, flat streets, and a straightforward Metro ride into Downtown.

Stay elsewhere if

Consider another neighborhood if you want to be closer to Hollywood's studios and sights, or if you're chasing Venice's grittier, more artsy energy — Santa Monica is polished and family-friendly by comparison.

Walkability
Very walkable — flat streets, a wide beachfront path, and the pedestrian-only Third Street Promenade all connect easily on foot.
Noise at night
Lively but not loud around the pier and Promenade during the day; the residential streets a few blocks back are quiet, especially at night.

Best Hotels in Santa Monica, Los Angeles

Shutters on the Beach

★★★★★
  • ✨ Best luxury
  • ❤️ Best for couples

Our take A shingled, ocean-facing hotel built right on the sand in Santa Monica, for travelers who want a 5-star coastal stay and are prepared to pay for the address.

Highlights

  • Sits directly on the beach, with many rooms offering ocean views
  • Full-service spa and two on-site restaurants overlooking the water
  • A short, flat walk to the Santa Monica Pier and Third Street Promenade

What to know

  • Among the most expensive hotels in the neighborhood, reflecting its beachfront address
  • Beachfront rooms can pick up some ambient noise from the boardwalk and beach activity below
Check availability on Booking.com

Shore Hotel

★★★★
  • 🏖️ Best for beach access

Our take A straightforward, well-located oceanfront pick — directly across from the beach and an easy walk to the pier, without the price tag of Santa Monica's top-end resorts.

Highlights

  • Directly across Ocean Avenue from the beach, with many rooms offering ocean or mountain views
  • An easy, flat walk to both the Santa Monica Pier and Third Street Promenade
  • Rooftop deck with views over the coastline

What to know

  • Ocean Avenue traffic and beach activity can be heard from street-facing rooms
  • Rooms are comfortable but more compact than at some of the neighborhood's larger resorts
Check availability on Booking.com

Viceroy Santa Monica

★★★★
  • 🏛️ Best for architecture & design

Our take A design-led boutique choice a short walk from the bluffs and beach, standing out from Santa Monica's more traditional hotels through its interiors alone.

Highlights

  • Distinctive interior design carried through the lobby, pool deck, and guest rooms
  • A short walk to the Palisades Park bluffs, Third Street Promenade, and the beach below
  • A pool deck and restaurant that work as a social scene, not just an amenity

What to know

  • Not directly on the beach — expect a short walk down to the sand from the bluff-top location
  • The pool deck and bar get lively in the evening, a draw for some and a downside for others
Check availability on Booking.com

Ocean View Hotel

★★★
  • 💰 Best value

Our take The straightforward, budget-friendly option in an otherwise pricey beach neighborhood — a short walk from the sand, without paying for a resort you won't use.

Highlights

  • A five-minute walk to the beach and Santa Monica Pier
  • Simple, no-frills rooms at a noticeably lower price than Santa Monica's resort hotels
  • Ocean Avenue location keeps the Third Street Promenade within easy walking distance too

What to know

  • Ocean Avenue traffic can be heard from street-facing rooms
  • No pool or spa on site
Check availability on Booking.com

Transportation & practical information

Excellent for this list — the Metro E Line's Downtown Santa Monica station puts you on a direct light-rail line to Downtown LA in under an hour, and Venice Beach is a short bus or rideshare away.

You don't need a car for LA's main tourist areas — Metro rail and rideshare cover Hollywood, Downtown, Santa Monica, and Venice well enough. Rent one only if you're planning day trips further out, like Malibu or Griffith Observatory at odd hours, since parking downtown and in Hollywood can be expensive and hard to find.

Related areas

The Hollywood Sign on a hillside above the city, its white letters set against dry brush and a clear blue sky

Thomas Wolf / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Hollywood

Best for: First-time visitors, Nightlife, Architecture lovers

Cyclists and pedestrians on the palm-lined Venice Beach boardwalk, with shops and murals along one side and open sand on the other

David Iliff / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Venice Beach

Best for: Beach time, Nightlife

The curved, stainless-steel exterior and entrance staircase of Frank Gehry's Walt Disney Concert Hall in Downtown Los Angeles

Leviclancy / Wikimedia Commons, CC0 1.0

Downtown LA

Best for: Architecture lovers, First-time visitors

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