The Best Photo Spots in Santa Monica

When we first got to Santa Monica, I had no idea where to point my phone first. Palms or the pier? Cliffs or sand? And the light changes every half hour.

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In this guide 7 sections

I spent most of our evenings there trying to catch a gull flying through the sunset. I loved it! Cream and I would walk down to the sand after dinner and wait for the sun to hit the water, and then we'd keep shooting until our phones were full of birds and the sky went dark.

The best photo spots in Santa Monica are all a walk from each other. Every photo on this page came from our month living there.

So this is my list, ranked from the spot I loved most to the one I'd do last. I wouldn't skip any of them. They're all close and simple to reach. If you're still deciding on a trip, I'd start with whether Santa Monica is worth visiting.

Where Are the Best Photo Spots in Santa Monica? My Quick Answer

• Best overall: the beach just north of the pier at sunset
• Best by day: the palm paths in Palisades Park, in the morning or late afternoon
• Best sunset from above: the railings along the Palisades Park cliffs
• Best with no people: the Third Street Promenade and the pier, early in the morning
• Best at night: the Ferris wheel on the pier, lit up after dark
• Good to know: the famous pier sign is gone until late 2027, so a smaller copy on the pier is your sign shot for now
• Cost: free, and you only need a phone

Want to wake up a walk from the sunset? These are the hotels I'd look at. For the neighborhoods, I'd read where to stay in Santa Monica first.

The Best Photo Spots in Santa Monica, Ranked

We shot all of these on our phones, mostly on walks we were taking anyway. That's the nice thing about Santa Monica. You don't have to plan a photo day. The spots come to you.

1. The Beach North of the Pier // Sunset on the Sand

My favorite photos from the whole month came from right here. We'd stand on the sand north of the pier close to sunset and watch the sun go down over the ocean while the Malibu hills sat dark off to the right. I shot it before the sun touched the water and after it dipped. But the moment the sun hit the water was the prettiest. You can get some incredible shots then!

Then there are the gulls. They run along the foam and lift off right in front of you. I loved trying to catch a bird with the ocean and the sunset all in one frame. It takes a lot of tries.

One evening we both spotted something on the sand at the same time. What is that? As we got closer, we saw it was a sea lion. It was looking up and sunning itself in the last light. So majestic! We got really close, and the sun was setting right behind it.

If you see one, I'd zoom in instead of walking up. NOAA asks people to stay at least 50 yards away from seals and sea lions.¹

• Best time: the last 30 minutes before sunset, and a few minutes after
• Light: the sun sets over the ocean, so it's straight ahead of you
• Crowds: the sand never felt packed, even at sunset
• Who it's for: everyone, and anyone who loves bird photos
• Skip it if: you can't make sunset, then walk the beach path south toward Venice Beach for daytime shots instead
• Good to know: it gets cold fast once the sun is gone, so bring a layer

2. Palisades Park // The Jungle Palm Path

For daytime photos, I'd pick the palm paths up in Palisades Park every time. Palm trees on a blue sky are so beautiful. My favorite stretch is what I call the jungle palm path, and the tall palms crowd in so close on both sides that they almost meet overhead.

Mornings and late afternoons were the best for this. With the sun low, the palms throw long stripes of shadow across the path. Midday light is flatter.

One tip from me. Stand under the tallest palms and point your phone straight up. I love that shot.

• Best time: morning or late afternoon
• Light: low sun from the side gives you shadow lines on the path
• Crowds: runners and dog walkers, but rarely anyone in your way
• Who it's for: palm tree lovers after that California postcard shot
• Skip it if: you're short on time, then the cliff railings in spot 3 give you palms and ocean in one shot

Our walks there are a whole story of their own, in our Palisades Park morning walk guide.

3. The Palisades Park Cliffs // Sunset on the Way Home

We never planned these. We'd be walking home along the cliffs and look over the railing, and the sunset would be going. You never know when you'll get a good sunset. Always be ready for photos!

From up here, you see the whole bay at once. Palms and old wooden railings frame the sky. The beach sits way below you.

• Best time: sunset, and the 15 minutes after it when the clouds turn pink
• Light: look for a palm or the railing to frame the sun
• Crowds: a few people stop at the railing, but there's always space
• Who it's for: anyone staying near downtown who's walking by anyway
• Skip it if: you want the sun on the water up close, then go down to the sand

4. The End of Santa Monica Pier // The Ocean Below You

At the end of the pier, the ocean is right under your feet. I liked shooting off the railing here. Waves break below you, and gulls fly past at eye level.

It's a different sunset from the sand. Out here the water goes dark and choppy. Let the sky do the work.

• Best time: sunset, or early morning for an empty deck
• Light: the sun sets off the end of the pier, so you're shooting straight into it
• Crowds: busy at sunset, pretty empty in the morning
• Who it's for: anyone who wants waves and birds in the same shot
• Skip it if: you hate crowds at sunset, then come in the morning instead

We did a lot more than take photos out there, and it's all in our Santa Monica Pier guide.

5. Third Street Promenade // The Dinosaur Topiaries

We found the best time for these by accident. We were heading to coffee early one foggy morning, and there was no one on the Promenade at all. Getting a shot with no people in it was easy!

These dinosaurs are ivy topiaries over metal frames. They double as fountains too. French artists Claude and François-Xavier Lalanne made them for the Promenade's 1989 renovation.⁵

• Best time: early morning, before the shops open
• Light: fog makes them moody, and a blue sky makes the green pop
• Crowds: almost empty in the morning, packed by the afternoon
• Who it's for: anyone who wants something fun that isn't a beach
• Skip it if: you can only come in the afternoon, when you'll be shooting around shoppers

6. The Pier Boardwalk // Pink Sky Over the Deck

We went out on the pier at every time of day, and at sunset you get pink clouds over the deck and a whole lot of people walking out to the end with you. You'll have someone in every shot.

If you want the boardwalk empty, I'd come in the morning. It's pretty quiet then. Mostly gulls and fishermen!

• Best time: sunset for color, early morning for no people
• Light: turn around and shoot back toward the city for the pink clouds
• Crowds: the busiest spot on this list at sunset
• Who it's for: anyone who wants the lively pier feel in a photo
• Skip it if: you want clean shots, then go early

7. The Ferris Wheel at Night // Lit Up Over the Water

We loved the Ferris wheel at night. After dark it lights up in moving colors. I'd shoot it from the pier deck. Its lights bounce off the water below.

Night is harder on a phone. Hold it steady against the railing.

• Best time: right after dark, while there's still a little blue in the sky
• Light: the wheel is the light, so keep everything else dark
• Crowds: night is the pier's busiest time
• Who it's for: night owls and anyone staying near the pier
• Skip it if: you're shooting on an older phone that struggles in the dark

8. The Saint Monica Statue // A Sunset After the Rain

This one was a happy accident. We were walking to dinner and it had just stopped raining, and then the sunset came through and lit up the statue over the wet road. None of it was planned!

You'll find it where Wilshire Boulevard meets Ocean Avenue, at the edge of Palisades Park. Sculptor Eugene Morahan made it in 1934.

• Best time: sunset, best of all after a rain shower
• Light: the pink sky sits behind the statue, so keep it in silhouette
• Crowds: you'll mostly be dodging cars, not people
• Who it's for: anyone walking Ocean Avenue at sunset
• Skip it if: it's a gray evening, when the statue blends into the sky

9. Ocean Avenue // Palms at the Crosswalk

It's last on my list, but I still love it. At sunset, the palms along Ocean Avenue turn black against an orange sky. Crosswalk stripes lead your eye right into it. On a wet evening, the street lights reflect too.

• Best time: just after sunset
• Light: crouch low so the crosswalk lines run up into the palms
• Crowds: wait for the light to change and take your shot from the curb
• Who it's for: anyone who likes a city street with their sunset
• Skip it if: you don't want cars in your photos

Cloudy Days in Santa Monica Make Great Photos Too

It was cloudy a lot that month, and we got some great shots then too. I loved the moody pier. It's a little spooky! On those days the beach empties out and goes all soft and gray.

So don't put your phone away when the sky looks dull. Cloudy days were so cool for photos!

When Is the Best Time to Take Photos in Santa Monica?

Daytime shots here are gorgeous with the blue sky, but the sunset is where Santa Monica shines. If you love taking photos, you have to come at sunset. Want a spot with no people in it? Come early. The pier and the Promenade were pretty empty in the mornings.

Sunset moves a lot through the year, and daylight saving time shifts it by an hour in March and November.

When	Sunset (about)
Early December	4:45 p.m.
Mid-January	5:05 p.m.
Late February	5:45 p.m.
Mid-April	7:25 p.m.
Late June	8:05 p.m.
Late September	6:50 p.m.

Tips for Taking Photos in Santa Monica

I'd keep it simple. We shot everything on this page on a phone. No special gear!

• Get there 30 to 45 minutes before sunset. The colors change fast, and the best minute is when the sun touches the water.
• Shoot before and after the sun goes down. The sky often turns pink after it sets.
• Be patient with the gulls. They come back to the foam over and over, so you'll get another try.
• Give wildlife space. NOAA's rule of thumb for seals and sea lions is 50 yards, and pets too.
• Leave the drone at home. Santa Monica bans drones and other remote-controlled aircraft on its beaches, beach parking lots, and parks.²
• Hiring a photographer? Commercial still photography on public property in Santa Monica needs a city film permit, including at the pier and on the beach.³
• Bring a layer. The breeze off the ocean gets cold the minute the sun is gone.

Every spot here is walkable from the pier. If you're driving in from the rest of LA, I'd compare rental cars at LAX and park once for the evening.

Where Is the Santa Monica Pier Sign Now?

We have our own photo under the old neon sign. It's the one everyone wants! Right now, you can't get it. The city took the Santa Monica Yacht Harbor sign down on October 20, 2026, so it can be restored while the Pier Bridge is rebuilt. It's due back in late 2027.⁴

For now, look for the smaller lit copy on the pier. It sits on the left just before Pier Burger. It glows after dark too.

The Photo I'd Take Again

If I could go back for one more evening, I'd be on the sand north of the pier with my phone up and wait for a gull to cross the sun right as it touches the water. That's Santa Monica for me.

Next Steps for Your Santa Monica Trip

• Santa Monica Pier: What to Know Before You Go
• Palisades Park, Santa Monica: Our Morning Walk Above the Beach
• Where to Stay in Santa Monica
• Is Santa Monica Worth Visiting?
• Walking From Santa Monica Pier to Venice Beach