EXPERIENCE SANTA MONICA ON A BUDGET
Explore Santa Monica’s Many Affordable Attractions, Hotels and Dining Options for a Budget-Friendly Getaway
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (September 23, 2024) – Santa Monica is an iconic destination no matter what the budget. The Southern California beach city has budget-friendly experiences for a stress-free, fun-filled vacation. Luckily, here in Santa Monica there are so many ways to enjoy the best of the destination in affordable and even completely cost-free ways.
Cost-Free Experiences
Santa Monica is home to many attractions and experiences that are completely free for visitors to enjoy, including the legendary Santa Monica Pier. The Pier’s storied history is free to explore, welcoming travelers to catch a beautiful sunset, take a photo with the Route 66 sign commemorating the end of the Route, and enjoy budget-friendly snack options. Just down the shore is the Original Muscle Beach where acrobats and bodybuilders flex their muscles with incredible feats performed for the public admission-free.
The Annenberg Community Beach House is a local treasure, open to the public at no cost. Visitors are welcome to enjoy the grounds alongside locals with free access to amenities like a splash pad, playground, beach wheelchairs and a soccer field. The Annenberg Community Beach House’s location just along the coastline allows for fantastic ocean views, sandy areas to relax, first-come first-served beach volleyball courts and direct beach access from the grounds.
With 280 days of sunshine each year, Santa Monica’s outdoor spaces are open for all. Tongva Park is an urban oasis just steps from the Pacific Ocean, designed to reflect the local arroyo wash landscape with native trees and sustainable plant life. The park also includes artistic sculptures, unique play structures and a summertime splash pad. Palisades Park is another popular outdoor space, extending along the coastline with spectacular views of the ocean perfect for picnicking and taking in the sights.
Art is for all in Santa Monica, with creative venues like Bergamot Station Arts Center or 18th Street Arts Center welcoming visitors to experience an array of galleries and exhibitions at no cost. Santa Monica Travel & Tourism also developed a self-guided walking tour highlighting the city’s over 170 murals with easy-to-navigate maps locating the many pieces of public art brightening Santa Monica spaces. The City of Santa Monica also compiled a map of the City’s public art collection allowing visitors to locate and learn more about each piece.
To learn more about free activities in Santa Monica, visit
santamonica.com/things-to-do/family/100-free-things-to-do-santa-monica-family-and-outdoor/
Affordable Stays
Santa Monica is home to 40 hotels, many of which offer affordable stays without sacrificing quality, design and plenty of fun. The newly rebranded Santa Monica Hotel recently unveiled a full transformation complete with a bright new color scheme, bold exterior mural and revamped guest room spaces at an affordable price point with amenities including breakfast bites, an outdoor game area and e-bike rentals for exploring the city.
Just a stone’s throw from the sand sits Sea Blue Hotel, a fun property with budget-friendly rooms full of character and premium amenities including a breakfast bar and private courtyard with direct access to the shore. Comfort Inn Santa Monica-West Los Angeles is another affordable option providing recently renovated spaces, complimentary hot breakfast, free parking and a heated outdoor pool.
Days Inn by Wyndham Santa Monica is newly renovated after 31 years of service, and is a great affordable option for travelers looking for an ideal home base to enjoy all Santa Monica has to offer while being in a convenient location to reach the rest of Greater Los Angeles as well. Ocean Lodge Hotel and Hostelling International Los Angeles/Santa Monica have also been recently renovated for travelers seeking budget-friendly accommodations.
Several Santa Monica hotels also offer free parking for travelers’ entire stay on-property, including Ocean Park Inn, Sea Shore Motel and SureStay Hotel by Best Western – Santa Monica.
Budget-Friendly Eats
Santa Monica is truly a leading culinary destination home to over 400 restaurants fit for all budgets and preferences, with some of the city’s tastiest eats coming in at highly affordable price points.
Bay Cities Italian Deli is a local favorite, widely regarded as one of Los Angeles’ best sandwich spots. Open since 1925, Bay Cities is famous for “The Godmother” sandwich, generously loaded with prosciutto, ham, capi cola, mortadella, genoa salami and provolone cheese. Layla Bagels is another of the city’s most popular daytime spots, serving up delicious sourdough bagels stacked with the freshest ingredients ranging from smoked salmon and tuna salad to avocado and heirloom tomatoes. Layla Bagels’ enticing menu offers several options for a filling lunch under $15.
Beloved Santa Monica restaurant Gilbert’s El Indio celebrates 50 years in business this year, serving up delicious, authentic Mexican dishes for a hearty dinner under $25. Established and run by the Rodriguez family since 1974, Gilbert’s El Indio is a community favorite named Santa Monica’s Most Loved Business of 2023.
Santa Monica is also known for its fine dining offerings including many Michelin-recommended restaurants, two of which received Bib Gourmand recognition for great quality at great value. Cobi’s on Main Street offers a bright, flavorful menu of Southeast Asian fare including Nasi Goreng, Beef Rendang, Gai Yang chicken and much more served in a charming indoor-outdoor dining space. Meanwhile, trattoria Colapasta serves fresh-made pastas with a heavy emphasis on organic ingredients sourced at Santa Monica’s farmers markets for healthy, sustainable Italian dishes.
Another great way to enjoy Santa Monica’s many incredible restaurants is with Happy Hour deals for the same delicious dishes at a discounted price. One of the city’s most popular Happy Hours, Fig @ Five, offers diners half-off all menu items from 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday at California cuisine restaurant FIG at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows. Additional Happy Hours offering great deals across the city include The Surfing Fox at The Pierside Hotel Santa Monica, Loulou Rooftop Restaurant & Lounge, Socalo, Lunetta and longstanding neighborhood restaurant Michael’s Santa Monica.
Transportation
With many public transport options, it is easy to navigate Santa Monica without a rental car or rideshare app. There are multiple stations along the Metro E Line in Santa Monica for access to various neighborhoods and the rest of Greater Los Angeles, as well as the extensive Big Blue Bus system transporting passengers throughout the city. Free rides are also available with Santa Monica’s Circuit, an electric shuttle allowing locals and guests to call an eco-friendly ride within many parts of the city.
In a beautiful beach destination like Santa Monica, biking is a fun and convenient option for exploring the city. Santa Monica is very bike-friendly, with over 100 miles of bike lanes for safe navigation. Rental options abound at locations such as Perry’s Café and Beach Rentals and Santa Monica Beach Bicycle Rentals, and several hotels including Oceana Santa Monica, LXR Hotels & Resorts, Shore Hotel and Santa Monica Proper Hotel offer guests complimentary bike rentals based upon availability. Travelers navigating by bicycle are welcome to pick up a free adult helmet in partnership with shared bike company Veo at Santa Monica Travel & Tourism’s three Visitor Information Centers for a safe ride throughout the city.
Santa Monica is a very walkable city for visitors, with many attractions, restaurants and shops within walking distance of our 40 hotel properties. At 8.3 square miles, Santa Monica is easily navigable on foot with several neighborhoods prioritizing the pedestrian experience such as Third Street Promenade’s three blocks of car-free shopping and dining and Montana Avenue’s highly walkable stretch of local shops and restaurants.
To learn more about free things to do in Santa Monica, visit santamonica.com.
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About Santa Monica Travel & Tourism
Santa Monica Travel & Tourism (SMTT) is a non-profit organization designed to increase visitor expenditures, tourism revenues and local employment opportunities through the promotion of Santa Monica as a travel destination. For more information visit santamonica.com, email info@santamonica.com, or follow SMTT on Instagram (@SeeSantaMonica), X (@GoSantaMonica) or Facebook (@VisitSantaMonica).
Media Contact
Emily Ohara
Public Relations Manager
