Santa Monica Bay in Los Angeles is home to some of the most iconic beaches in the country. From the expansive shores of the South Bay to the secluded gems of Malibu up north, the L.A. coastline has a beach for every occasion. Explore quaint coastal towns for family outings, visit a bustling boardwalk with roller coasters over the sand, or discover quiet coves where you can lay back and relax. Here are seven must-visit beaches in Los Angeles County.
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1. Paradise Cove
Best beach in Los Angeles for luxe relaxation
Paradise Cove has one of the nicest beach and dining combinations in Los Angeles. This scenic and secluded beach in Malibu is tucked into the cliffs, making it feel like a true retreat from the city. Paradise Cove Beach Cafe runs the show here, providing everything from great lunch food to upscale beach amenities like beach beds, chaise lounges, and private terraces for rent. Of course, if you just want to swim or surf, you can access the beach for free, but you’ll still have to pay upwards of $30 for parking. Pro tip: Enjoy a drink or snack in the restaurant and get your parking for just $3.
Where to park: The paid lot at Paradise Cove can be pricey, but dining at the Beach Café can significantly reduce rates for up to four hours.
Nearby food/drink: Paradise Cove Beach Café is right there, and a few minutes’ drive away is Le Café Plage Malibu and The Sunset Restaurant.
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2. Venice Beach
Best beach in Los Angeles for sightseeing
Venice Beach is one of the top attractions in Los Angeles County for a reason. This mile and a half of soft sand makes for great lounging, but no trip would be complete without a walk along the Venice Boardwalk. This one-mile street market near the Venice Pier is bustling with activity from street performers and skaters, and the people-watching is hard to beat.
Stop by Muscle Beach, the “home of bodybuilding,” if only just to take a look at the athletes at work. Whether or not you leave with a souvenir from one of the many vendors, you’ll get a feel for the local culture. There are plenty of private parking lots and some street parking available in the area.
Got kids in tow? The newly rebuilt Venice Ocean View Playground (located right on the sand at Windward Plaza) features a fully immersive, nautical-themed design. Kids can ride surfboard spring riders, launch rescue missions from a lifeguard boat, and climb on a giant octopus.
Where to park: Paid parking lots and metered street parking are available near Venice Beach, including along Ocean Front Walk and surrounding streets, but spaces fill quickly on weekends and summer afternoons.
Nearby food/drink: There are several places to get a bite on the boardwalk, such as Sidewalk Café and Fig Tree; a 10-to-15-minute walk inland on Abbot Kinney Blvd. opens up many more options.
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3. Santa Monica Beach
Best beach in Los Angeles for families
Santa Monica Beach is home to the Santa Monica Pier, ocean-view hotels, and stunning white sand. There are plenty of parking lots (ranging from $7–$18 depending on the day and season) along the beach, and you can walk along the paved path until you find a good spot to forge out onto the sand. Between playing in the waves and spending an hour or two on pier rides, the kids will be totally exhausted. Sister hotels Shutters on the Beach and Casa del Mar make great options for luxurious overnights or nice dinners by the sea.
Where to park: Large paid lots sit just steps from the sand at Santa Monica Beach, including several beachfront lots and structures near the pier, though rates vary and spaces fill quickly on weekends and summer days.
Nearby food/drink: There are plenty of casual pier/oceanfront options, and you can head one block inland to Ocean Ave. or the 3rd Street Promenade (10-minute walk) for more sit-down options.
Beach gear rentals: You can easily rent cruiser bikes, surfboards, chairs, and umbrellas, by the hour or day, from spots like Perry’s Cafe and Beach Rentals, the Pierside Hotel's Board Shop, or Joyride Santa Monica.
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4. Point Dume State Beach
Best beach in Los Angeles for water activities, including scuba diving, sunbathing, and swimming
Point Dume in Malibu has it all: a crescent-shaped beach, clear water, and a scuba spot where you might even meet some sea lions. This is a great beach for swimming and body surfing. It’s also a popular destination for rock climbers, who you’ll spot rapelling off the cliffs over the beach. If you’re looking for an oceanside hike, follow the trails up craggy cliffs for a 360-degree view of Santa Monica Bay. During winter and early spring, you may even catch a glimpse of gray whales migrating south. Summer weekday parking here is $8; weekends run $15.
Where to park: Paid parking is available in the Point Dume State Beach lot and along Westward Beach Road, though spaces are limited.
Nearby food/drink: A 5- or 10-minute walk from the sand is The Sunset Restaurant, and a 15-to-20-minute walk (steep for a stretch) to Point Dume Village offers La Nena Cantina, Le Café de la Plage, and Lily’s Malibu.
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5. El Matador State Beach
Best beach in Los Angeles for photo ops
Follow the trail from the parking lot down the coastal cliffs to this gorgeous hidden beach in Malibu, one of three located within Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach. El Matador State Beach is prized among Angelenos for its striking landscape: Sea stacks create dramatic shapes along the coast and form sea caves, which you can check out during low tide.
If you want to take a stroll, keep walking north along the beach to hit two other beaches, La Piedra State Beach and Lechuza Beach. Pop back up on the trail for dreamy cliffside views and enjoy a picnic while you catch the sunset. $10 gets you parking for the entire day and access to public restrooms.
Where to park: El Matador offers a small paid lot atop the bluffs and limited free street parking nearby. Arrive early, especially on weekends, as spaces fill quickly.
Nearby food/drink: There’s nothing walkable, but a 5-minute drive north is Neptune’s Net, and 10 minutes south is The Sunset Restaurant, Le Café de la Plage, and Sea ‘n Soul Surf.
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6. Playa Del Rey Beach/Dockweiler Beach
Best beach in Los Angeles for skipping crowds
Somehow, the miles of clean white sand and rolling dunes that make up Playa del Rey Beach just south of Marina del Rey are never too crowded. This is the perfect place to spread out in the sun for a sleepy beach day. It’s also one of the only beaches in Los Angeles County that allows bonfires, and for $8, you can park your vehicle for the entire day (campers and RVs are welcome, too). Kick off the evening with a barbecue on the sand and stay to watch the sunset. Or duck over to Brooke Williamson’s oceanfront Playa Provisions for exceptional food and drink.
Where to park: Dockweiler Beach offers a large paid beachfront lot with thousands of spaces, making it one of L.A.'s easiest beach parking options. Nearby Playa del Rey has metered and street parking, though spaces can fill on warm weekends.
Nearby food/drink: You can grab casual bites at local spots near Culver Blvd. such as The Shack or Playa Provisions, or head to Bacari PDR for a more sit-down atmoshpere and drinks. For Dockweiler Beach, Oceans Cafe is right on the beach, next to the Youth Center.
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7. Topanga Beach
Best beach in Los Angeles for surfing
A local favorite, Topanga Beach is a go-to for intermediate to advanced surfers looking for unique surfing experiences. It’s the first beach you’ll hit off the Pacific Coast Highway as you drive north from Santa Monica to Malibu, and though the rocky terrain makes it a bit challenging on the swimming front, surfers, divers, and sunbathers will have a lot of fun here. As one of the more accessible beaches from the east side of town, it does tend to get crowded by midday. Arrive on the earlier side to snag a good parking spot and have some waves to yourself. Summer lot parking costs $15 for the day, and there are also picnic areas, showers, and restrooms on site.
Where to park: Topanga Beach offers a small paid lot near the beach and additional parking along Pacific Coast Highway, but spaces are limited.
Nearby food/drink: Get counter-ordered seafood at Malibu Seafood Fresh Fish Market & Patio Café, a 5-minute drive north; a shorter drive away on the PCH are fish tacos, burgers, and margaritas at Gladstone’s. For a more sit-down experience, Duke’s Malibu and Geoffrey’s Malibu are both nearby.
More beach-centric tips:
From Venice Beach to Manhattan Beach, L.A. is home to some of the country’s most iconic beachside towns. If you’re eager for more time by the water, plan a family-friendly Los Angeles adventure, or explore the rest of Southern California’s coast. A drive along PCH from San Diego to Santa Barbara will take you by some of the best beaches in neighboring San Diego and Orange County.
