Santa Monica Conservancy Downtown Walking Tours

Discover downtown Santa Monica’s architecture, history and culture with our team of highly-rated docents. From Art Deco to Victorian and Romanesque Revival, you’ll explore the various styles that fill the streets of our city.

Learn about the start of the modern movie industry, visit a lavish Art Deco hotel that attracted Hollywood celebrities with its speakeasy and see where Jim Morrison played his first show. The walking tour covers about 6 blocks in 2 hours and is open to all ages.

Docent-led Tours
Docents lead guided tours the first and third Saturday of the month at 10 am. Meet at 9:45 am at Hostelling International, 1436 Second Street (between Broadway and Santa Monica Boulevard). Reservations are suggested. Convenient paid parking is available directly across the street in Garage #6 at 1433 Second Street. Approach the parking structure from Broadway as only right turns are allowed into Garage #6. Walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen and water are recommended.

Self-guided Tours
Self-guided Tour booklets with maps and information about 24 historic sites are available for $3 at the following Santa Monica Travel and Tourism sites: Main Visitors Center (2427 Main Street), Visitor Information Cart (1300 block of Third Street Promenade), and the Palisades Park Kiosk (1400 Ocean Avenue). Click here for information on these centers.