The 15 best things to do in Santa Monica (November 2026)

The ranked list

1. 

   1. Half Day Best of Los Angeles City Tour from Santa Monica

   Outty Ranking96

   Experience a one-of-a-kind sightseeing adventure through the famous neighborhoods of Los Angeles on this 5.5-hour VIP-style tour. Starting from the Santa Monica Pier with our fun and entertaining driver guide, you’ll tra. Peak Performance at 96/100, 5.0/5 from 385 traveler reviews, 5.5h from $69, free cancellation, an Outty 90+ Club member.

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2. 

   2. Best of Los Angeles Guided City Tour with 4 Stops and Free Time

   Outty Ranking94

   Check out the BEST Los Angeles has to offer on this half-day interactive sightseeing experience! Take a seat on one of our Climate-Controlled Buses as your fun and entertaining driver-guide gives you an insider look at L. 90+ Club at 94/100, 4.9/5 from 2,292 traveler reviews, 5.5h from $59, free cancellation, an Outty 90+ Club member.

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3. 

   3. Malibu Open-Air Tour from Santa Monica with Celebrity Homes

   Outty Ranking94

   Discover the beauty of Malibu on this 2-hour open-air sightseeing tour along California's legendary Pacific Coast Highway (PCH.). Departing from Santa Monica, you'll enjoy breathtaking ocean views as you cruise past famo. 90+ Club at 94/100, 4.9/5 from 497 traveler reviews, 2h from $25, free cancellation, an Outty 90+ Club member.

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4. 

   4. Full-Day Iconic Sights of LA, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Beaches and More

   Outty Ranking93

   This 7.5 hour guided tour - by LA-natives - is perfect for families, couples and all ages! Our routes are carefully curated to visit the most welcoming and visitor-friendly parts of Los Angeles. Discover the area’s most. 90+ Club at 93/100, 4.9/5 from 6,766 traveler reviews, 7.5h from $69, free cancellation, an Outty 90+ Club member.

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5. 

   5. Hollywood, Beverly Hills, & Celebrity Home Tour from Santa Monica

   Outty Ranking93

   Experience Hollywood’s most popular sightseeing tour, which is now starting from Santa Monica! Discover the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles on our Hollywood Sightseeing and Celebrity Homes Tour! Starting and ending at. 90+ Club at 93/100, 4.9/5 from 377 traveler reviews, 3.5h from $59, free cancellation, an Outty 90+ Club member.

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6. 

   6. Santa Monica Hollywood and Beverly Hills Open Bus Tour

   Outty Ranking92

   Buckle up for 3.5 hours of pure LA magic on the open-air bus, departing from Santa Monica's Ocean Avenue. Your expert guide takes you through Century City, past Rodeo Drive, and into Beverly Hills for a 30-minute stop at. 90+ Club at 92/100, 4.9/5 from 312 traveler reviews, 3.5h from $59, free cancellation, an Outty 90+ Club member.

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7. 

   7. Hollywood, Beverly Hills & Celebrity Homes Tour by Open Air Bus

   Outty Ranking91

   Your Ticket to The Hollywood Hills on this Interactive Sightseeing Tour on an Open Air Bus with a Fun Driver Guide. Your Drive Guide will take you past Hollywood, Mulholland Drive, Celebrity Homes, Beverly Hills, Rodeo D. 90+ Club at 91/100, 4.8/5 from 3,371 traveler reviews, 2h from $31, free cancellation, an Outty 90+ Club member.

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8. 

   8. Best of LA: Hollywood, Griffith, Santa Monica, Venice, and Rodeo

   Outty Ranking91

   Hotel pickup and drop-off from over 70 hotels in the Anaheim Resort Area and 150 hotels in the Los Angeles area. This is a fun and fantastic experience of the area’s most iconic sights and landmarks. This guided tour is. 90+ Club at 91/100, 4.8/5 from 829 traveler reviews, 7h from $98, free cancellation, an Outty 90+ Club member.

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9. 

   9. Small-Group Electric Bike Tour of Santa Monica and Venice Beach

   Outty Ranking88

   Try something new on your Los Angeles vacation! See places you can’t get to in your car or on a tour bus as you try out a unique and fun activity – riding an electric bicycle with a small-group of 6! While you cruise the. Exceptional at 88/100, 4.9/5 from 487 traveler reviews, 3h from $89, free cancellation.

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10. 

    10. Santa Monica Sweet Treats Food Tour: Donuts, Churros, and More

    Outty Ranking88

    The Santa Monica donut tour is our first foray into sunny Southern California. This tour celebrates all things donuts, sunshine, and beachfront fun. Our tour begins at a California institution, Randy’s Donuts. You may kn. Exceptional at 88/100, 5.0/5 from 117 traveler reviews, 2h from $70, free cancellation.

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11. 

    11. Grand LA Tour 7 Hour Open Bus Adventure from Santa Monica

    Outty Ranking83

    Explore the vibrant essence of Los Angeles on this 7-hour open-air bus tour that captures the city's most iconic sights. Visit four must-see locations including the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Beverly Hills' Rodeo Drive, the. Exceptional at 83/100, 4.9/5 from 257 traveler reviews, 7h from $95, free cancellation.

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12. 

    12. Shared 2 Hour Small Group Surf Lesson in Santa Monica

    Outty Ranking82

    We are a FUN SURF LA surf school based on Venice Beach. Our goal is for you to have an excellent experience surfing, whether it's your first time trying surfing or you are trying to advance your skills. For the first 30-. Exceptional at 82/100, 4.8/5 from 144 traveler reviews, 2h from $85, free cancellation.

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13. 

    13. LA, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Beach Tour with Hotel Pickup

    Outty Ranking81

    This top-rated Los Angeles city tour makes seeing the highlights easy from start to finish. With round-trip hotel pickup and drop-off included, you can relax and enjoy the ride while a professional guide brings the city. Exceptional at 81/100, 4.7/5 from 176 traveler reviews, 7.5h from $95, free cancellation.

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14. 

    14. Tour of LA, Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Beach with Hotel Pickup

    Outty Ranking79

    Designed for travelers who want to see it all without the stress, this popular LA city tour combines comfort, expert narration, and iconic sights in one seamless day. Enjoy hotel pickup, guided storytelling, and stops at. Strongly Recommended at 79/100, 4.6/5 from 215 traveler reviews, 7.5h from $95, free cancellation.

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15. 

    15. Best in LA: Private, Full-Day, Guided Sightseeing Tour

    Outty Ranking79

    Experience our city in the most exclusive way you can. With the #1 guest-rated private tour company on TripAdvisor and Google for the last 15 years in a row. From pick up at your hotel/rental, we show you all the iconic. Strongly Recommended at 79/100, 5.0/5 from 141 traveler reviews, 7h from $999, free cancellation.

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Traveler ratings are provided by Viator and Tripadvisor. The Outty Ranking is our own independent evaluation. How the ranking works.

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