Hotels in Santa Monica

Book your cheap hotel in Santa Monica

First established as a seaside resort in 1875, Santa Monica city quickly became one of California's most popular holiday destinations. Its world-famous pier and amusement park have been entertaining the city's visitors since 1909. Santa Monica retains much of its charm from earlier times, particularly along the Promenade's surrounding area. The city borders 5.63 kilometres (3.5 miles) of soft, sandy beach and overlooks Santa Monica Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The Santa Monica Mountains lie north of the city, and thanks to the remaining area's gentle landscape, the town is easy to navigate and walk on foot. Santa Monica is an internationally famous and lively resort town with a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. There are many tourist attractions and fun activities, including beach sports, nature trails, golf courses and shopping centres.

Santa Monica offers a versatile range of accommodation, suiting all types of travellers and budgets. Downtown and Ocean Avenue offer cosy bed-and-breakfast establishments and charming boutique hotels. Though many large and luxurious big-name hotels occupy the beachfront, there are still many affordable sea-view hotels near the pier. Santa Monica has an excellent selection of family-friendly homes and pet-friendly rentals available, too.

Neighbourhoods of Santa Monica

  • Mid-City is an entertaining area that's furthest away from the beach. This delightful area packs many fun theatres and art galleries.
  • Downtown is the busiest area, brimming with many shops and restaurants, particularly around the Third Street Promenade shopping centre. There is also Santa Monica Place, which features a range of exclusive designers and high-end stores, such as Burberry and Tiffany & Co.
  • Main Street is a laid-back area that seamlessly blends the cultures of surf and cafe together. It's also where you can find several exclusive boutiques.
  • Ocean Park Boulevard is close to the airport and home to the Museum of Flying. There are many cafes and independent stores in this area, too.
  • Montana Avenue is the main residential neighbourhood. It features tree-lined streets and exclusive boutiques.
  • Wilshire Boulevard is famous for its terrific choice of restaurants, including many Tex-Mex establishments.
  • Ocean Avenue is where you can find the pier, amusement park and live concerts. There is also a wide range of boutique hotels with amazing views of the Pacific Ocean.
  • Pico Boulevard is an atmospheric neighbourhood popular with the local students. Fashion, art and cafes add to Pico's originality and wide-ranging diversity.

What to see and do in Santa Monica

Santa Monica's spacious beach is the city's most popular attraction. Still, you can visit many other places to enjoy fun activities, like surfing, paddleboarding, and volleyball. Must-see places and must-do activities include:

  • Original Muscle Beach is an outdoor gymnasium that first established in the 1930s.
  • The Pier has been entertaining holidayers for over a hundred years.
  • The Aquarium and Pacific Park are where you can enjoy amusement rides and activities, including a solar-powered Ferris wheel.
  • The Ocean Walk Promenade sits alongside the beach and features a stunning concrete Viking longboat.
  • Golf is a major activity in all of California. You can find over a dozen prestigious courses along the city outskirts, including Rancho Park and Weddington.

What to eat in Santa Monica

The city is famous for alfresco dining and its array of restaurants with panoramic views of the bay. The local cuisine in Santa Monica has evolved into a Californian fusion. Pasta, burgers, grilled meat and seafood are local favourites, including lobster, oysters and ocean fish. There's also an emphasis on fresh, locally grown fruit and vegetables in most restaurants around town. A favourite dessert is ice cream with a hot, syrupy sauce.

Typical events and festivals in Santa Monica

Farmers' Markets are very popular. There's one every Sunday morning on Main Street and another Downtown on Saturdays and Wednesdays. The Pier 360 is a family-fun festival with live music and sideshows at the end of June. Gandara Park hosts a Jazz on the Lawn festival every Sunday evening in August, while October's Coast event celebrates local culture, food and music inside a small 4.5-kilometre zone.

How to move around in Santa Monica

The primary way to travel during the day in Santa Monica is the Big Blue Bus system. The nearby LA Metro bus usually operates at night in Santa Monica. Bicycle hire is also a popular choice for independent travellers. An economical alternative is to hire a car, which is very easy to arrange.

The climate in Santa Monica

Santa Monica enjoys over 320 days of sun every year, making it an ideal holiday destination all year round. The weather settles with a year-round average that fluctuates between 18° and 26° C (65° to 79° F). The driest months are from April through November, even though Santa Monica experiences very little rainfall outside of these months.

Santa Monica today 63°F
63°F | 54°F

In Santa Monica we will have clear sky, nice temperatures expected throught the day.

    • Friday
    • 57°F | 50°F
    • Saturday
    • 55°F | 50°F
    • Sunday
    • 57°F | 50°F

43 Accommodations in Santa Monica

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Palm Motel

Palm Motel

1,502 yd from city centre
Hotel Sea Blue

Hotel Sea Blue

1,078 yd from city centre Excellent location
from145
Hotel Ocean Park

Hotel Ocean Park

2.2 mi from city centre
from60
Hotel Hilton Santa Monica  & Suites

Hotel Hilton Santa Monica & Suites

778 yd from city centre Excellent location
from154
Hotel Carmel By The Sea

Hotel Carmel By The Sea

771 yd from city centre Excellent location
from89

Frequently asked questions about Hotels in Santa Monica

The most centrally located hotels in Santa Monica with the best ratings are: Hotel Ocean View, Hotel Shore and Hotel Hilton Santa Monica & Suites.

It depends on the category of the hotel. If you want to stay at a 4-star hotel in Santa Monica, the average price per night is 248 , while you will pay an average of 177 for a 3-star hotel, and in a more luxurious 5-star hotel, you'll pay around 318 .

You can make reservations at Oceana Santa Monica, Lxr Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Shore and Hotel Loews Santa Monica Beach if you"re looking for a hotel with valet service for your visit to Santa Monica.

If you need a hotel with disabled access in Santa Monica, we recommend Oceana Santa Monica, Lxr Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Channel Road Inn, A Four Sisters Inn and Hotel Shore.

According to our clients, if you´re travelling with children, the best hotels in Santa Monica are Hotel Fairmont Miramar And Bungalows, Hotel Le Merigot Santa Monica and Hotel Shutters On The Beach.

If you want to save time, the hotels in Santa Monica with express check-in and check-out are Oceana Santa Monica, Lxr Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Shore and Hotel Loews Santa Monica Beach.

Some of the options for hotels with non-smoking rooms in Santa Monica are Oceana Santa Monica, Lxr Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Casa Del Mar and Hotel Channel Road Inn, A Four Sisters Inn.

In Santa Monica, Oceana Santa Monica, Lxr Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Ocean View and Hotel The Ambrose offer 24-hour front desk service.

If you're bringing a vehicle, we recommend that you book a hotel with parking in Santa Monica, like Hotel Channel Road Inn, A Four Sisters Inn, Hotel Loews Santa Monica Beach or Hotel The Georgian.