Santa Monica and Venice Beach are two main beach destinations in Los Angeles. Located next to each other, both are relatively close to Hollywood, Beverly Hills and other key tourist destinations. However, there is a difference between Santa Monica and Venice Beach based on their atmosphere, type of shops and restaurants, hotels, and other facilities. The key difference between Santa Monica and Venice Beach is that Santa Monica is more upscale than its neighboring Venice Beach.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Santa Monica Beach
3. What is Venice Beach
4. Side by Side Comparison – Santa Monica vs Venice Beach in Tabular Form
5. Summary
What is Santa Monica Beach?
Santa Monica beach is a part of Santa Monica city, in Los Angeles County, California. Although it is next to Venice Beach, Santa Monica is known to be more upscale and elegant. This is mainly due to the upscale restaurants, bars, and hotels in Santa Monica. There are many boutique shops and chains like Gap. It caters to the upscale tourist but welcomes budget travelers as well. However, shopping, dining, and staying (overnight) in Santa Monica beach is relatively more expensive. This beach offers you more hotel options, but for more money. But since the two beaches are within walking distance, you can always stay and take your meals in Venice Beach and visit Santa Monica.
Figure 01: Santa Monica Beach
Santa Monica beach is beautiful at night and has a relatively safer atmosphere. Santa Monica pier and amusement park are famous landmarks on the beach.
Places to Stay in Santa Monica Beach
- The Fairmont Miramar
- Oceana
- The Georgian
- Casa del Mar
- Shutters on the Beach
- Loews
What is Venice Beach?
Venice beach falls under the jurisdiction of the city of Los Angeles. It is often described as an ultimate mix of hip, circus, and sophistication along with a hub of eccentricities. Venice beach consists of a public walk that runs parallel to the beach (“Boardwalk” or “Ocean Front Walk”), a fishing pier (along with the southern portion of the beach), paddle tennis courts and handball courts. The Venice Breakwater is an acclaimed local surf spot in Venice.
Figure 02: Venice Beach
Venice beach has an interesting mixture of people and activities. The boardwalk is often packed various performers (acrobats, singers, magicians, drummers, etc.), vendors, tourists, skateboarders, surfers, as well as locals. The shops in Venice beach are often packed with tourist tee shirts and other souvenirs. Although it is very crowded at daytime, it is better to visit it a day since the beach tends to be isolated
What is the Difference Between Santa Monica and Venice Beach?
Santa Monica Beach vs Venice Beach |
|
| Santa Monica Beach is a part of the Santa Monica city. | Venice Beach is a part of the city of Los Angeles. |
| Time to Visit | |
| It is better to visit Santa Monica beach at night. | It is better to visit Venice Beach at daytime. |
| Type of Crowds | |
| Santa Monica beach caters to upscale tourists. | Venice beach has a mixture of people including various performers (acrobats, singers, etc.) surfers, skateboarders, budget tourists, and locales. |
| Shops | |
| Santa Monica beach has expensive (comparatively) shops, boutiques and chains like Gap. | Shops in Venice beach are often packed with souvenirs. |
| Hotels | |
| Santa Monica offers more hotel options. | Venice beach does not have very good hotels. |
| Cost | |
| Eating, shopping and staying in Santa Monica is more expensive. | The prices in Venice beach are comparatively lower. |
| Boardwalk | |
| Santa Monica beach does not have a boardwalk. | Venice beach has a boardwalk. |
| Attractions | |
| Pier, amusement park, trendy shops, and boutiques are the attractions in Santa Monica beach. | The boardwalk with its typical mix of people, fishing pier, handball and paddle tennis courts, etc. are some attractions in Venice Beach. |
Summary – Santa Monica vs Venice Beach
Santa Monica and Venice Beach are two popular beach destinations in Los Angeles. Although the two beaches are next to each other, there is a big difference between Santa Monica and Venice Beach based on their atmosphere, crowds, shops, and hotels.
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Image Courtesy:
1.’Santa Monica Beach, California’by Beraldo Leal (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr
2.’Venice Beach, Los Angeles, CA 08’By Blake Everett – Own work, (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia