Where to Stay in Santa Monica: The Best Areas and Hotels

For a month, Cream and I lived in Downtown Santa Monica, a short walk from Third Street Promenade, Palisades Park, and the beach. It was a great base, and honestly, it's also the furthest from the center I'd stay.

Heads up: some links and maps in this guide are affiliate links. If you book or buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

In this guide 7 sections

That's the main thing to know about where to stay in Santa Monica. Most of what's great here is packed into a few blocks around the pier, the Promenade, and the sand. If you book within a short walk of those, you can do most of your trip on foot and barely need an Uber.

Where to Stay in Santa Monica: My Quick Answer

• Best for most visitors: Downtown, between the Promenade and the Metro station. The beach, the pier, and dinner are all a short walk away.
• On the beach: Ocean Avenue and the hotels on the sand by the pier. The best views and the highest prices.
• Best value: Main Street and Ocean Park, south of the pier, with Venice a walk down the beach.
• Quiet nights: Wilshire-Montana, the north end above Palisades Park.
• Cheapest on the Metro: Mid-City, if you don't mind a long walk to the sand.

Ready to book? These are the three hotels I'd pick, from a splurge on the sand to a mid-range stay by the Metro.

For a splurge, Shutters on the Beach puts you on the sand, a 10-minute stroll south of the pier. The Pierside is at the pier's front door, with ocean and pier views from plenty of its rooms. The Hampton Inn sits beside the Downtown Santa Monica Metro station, handy if you'll ride into LA.

The Best Areas to Stay in Santa Monica

Santa Monica is small, about 8 square miles, and its hotels cluster in five areas within a few miles of the pier. We know Downtown best, since that's where we lived. We walked the other beach areas during our month too, past the big hotels on Ocean Avenue, down Main Street, and through the quiet streets north of Wilshire. Those are all prime real estate, and any of them would be great for someone who wants to be in the top spots.

The map shows places to stay across Santa Monica with prices for your dates, and each area below ends with its own link to compare. In the price lines, $ means budget, $$ means mid-range, and $$$ means a splurge.

Map of places to stay in Santa Monica, California

This map comes from Stay22, a booking partner.

1. Downtown Santa Monica // Best Area for Most Visitors

Downtown is the grid of blocks just inland from Ocean Avenue, south of Wilshire Boulevard. It holds Third Street Promenade, the Santa Monica Place mall, a long list of restaurants, and the last stop on the Metro E Line.

This is where we lived. We were close to the Promenade and lots of food options, and Palisades Park and the beach were a short walk away. For a first trip, it's where I'd book.

It's also the busiest part of the city, day and night. Santa Monica's homelessness is concentrated in the downtown blocks, according to a RAND study from October 2026.⁴ We walked these streets every day, and no one really bothered us. You'll just see more of it here than anywhere else in town.

Who it's for: first-timers, anyone without a car, and anyone planning day trips into LA by Metro.

Skip it if: you want quiet streets and an ocean view from your room.

Price: $$ to $$$

Top sights nearby:

• Third Street Promenade, three blocks of shops and restaurants closed to cars
• Santa Monica Place, an open-air mall at the Promenade's south end
• The Downtown Farmers Market on Arizona Avenue, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Tongva Park, a hilly little park across from City Hall
• The pier and the beach, a 5- to 10-minute walk west

An evening here: Dinner off the Promenade, then a walk down to Ocean Avenue to catch the last light over the water.

Good to know: The Downtown Santa Monica station sits on Colorado Avenue at 4th Street. E Line trains reach 7th Street/Metro Center in Downtown LA in about 45 minutes, for $1.75 a ride.⁵

Places to Stay in Downtown Santa Monica

Book between Ocean Avenue and 5th Street, close to the Promenade or the station. That keeps the Promenade, the station, and the beach all within a 10-minute walk. The Hampton Inn & Suites (7.9 on Kayak, from about 2,600 reviews) is next to the station. The Hilton Santa Monica Hotel & Suites (8.4 from about 2,900) is about 5 minutes from the station and 9 from the pier on foot.

Compare places to stay in Downtown Santa Monica, with live prices for your dates.

2. Ocean Avenue and the Beachfront // Best for Hotels Near the Pier

Ocean Avenue runs along the top of the cliffs, with Palisades Park and the ocean on one side and a row of hotels on the other. The pier starts where Colorado Avenue meets Ocean Avenue. Just south of the pier, a handful of hotels sit right on the sand.

These are the Santa Monica hotels near the pier, with the walk to the pier entrance and their Kayak scores in October 2026:

• The Pierside Santa Monica: on the corner where the pier begins, a 2-minute walk. 8.6 from about 3,300 reviews.
• Shore Hotel: across Ocean Avenue, also about 2 minutes. 8.6 from about 2,300.
• Ocean View Hotel and The Georgian Hotel: a few doors north, about 4 to 5 minutes. 8.3 and 8.6. The Georgian is the turquoise Art Deco building you'll see from Palisades Park.
• Regent Santa Monica Beach: the former Loews, about 5 minutes south. 9.2 from about 1,100.
• Shutters on the Beach and Hotel Casa del Mar: on the sand, about a 10-minute walk south. 9.3 and 9.0.

This is the most expensive strip in Santa Monica. On Kayak, Shutters on the Beach averages over $800 a night, even on a weeknight. Most of these hotels charge for parking too, and many only offer valet.

If you want to be right in the middle of it all, with the ocean out the window, this is the strip to book.

Who it's for: couples, special trips, and anyone who wants to wake up to the ocean.

Skip it if: the budget is tight, or you need free parking.

Price: $$$

Top sights nearby:

• Santa Monica Pier, with Pacific Park's rides and Ferris wheel
• Santa Monica State Beach, right below the cliffs
• The beach bike path, which runs south past Venice
• Original Muscle Beach, the outdoor gym on the sand just south of the pier
• Palisades Park, the palm-lined clifftop park along Ocean Avenue

An evening here: A drink with an ocean view at one of the beachfront hotels, then a walk out onto the pier once the lights come on.

Good to know: Ocean Avenue sits on top of the cliffs, so you reach the sand by a ramp or a staircase. The neon sign over the pier entrance came down for restoration in October 2026 and returns in late 2027, with a smaller copy standing in on the deck. Until then, a temporary footbridge just south of the old entrance gets you onto the pier.⁶

See places to stay on Ocean Avenue and by the pier, with prices for your dates.

3. Main Street and Ocean Park // Best Value With a Local Feel

Main Street runs south from Pico Boulevard toward Venice, two or three blocks back from the beach. It's lined with cafes, boutiques, and low-rise restaurants, and it feels more like a neighborhood than downtown does. The Ocean Park area around it is mostly homes, which keeps it quieter.

It's the best-value area close to the beach. The Sea Shore Motel is right on Main Street, about a 22-minute walk from the pier. It's rated 9.0 by about 1,000 guests on Expedia, and it averages about $263 on a weeknight on Kayak. The trade-off is street noise and motel-style rooms. Ask for a room at the back.

Who it's for: couples and families on a budget, return visitors, and anyone who wants to be near Venice.

Skip it if: you want the pier and the Promenade on your doorstep, or you'll take the Metro a lot.

Price: $ to $$

Top sights nearby:

• Main Street's shops, cafes, and restaurants
• The Main Street Farmers Market, Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 2640 Main Street
• The California Heritage Museum, in an 1894 house moved to Main Street
• The beach at Ocean Park, quieter than the pier end
• Venice Beach's boardwalk, about a 35-minute walk south

An evening here: Dinner on Main Street, then a walk to the beach two blocks away for the sunset.

Good to know: The nearest Metro station is Downtown Santa Monica, about a mile north, so most people here use Uber or the bus.

Compare places to stay around Main Street, Santa Monica, with live prices for your dates.

4. Wilshire-Montana // Best for Quiet Nights

North of Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica calms down. Ocean Avenue carries on along Palisades Park, with the ocean below and some of the city's grandest hotels across the street. A few blocks inland, Montana Avenue is a long, leafy street of boutiques and cafes.

Palisades Park runs north from the pier for about 1.6 miles along the cliffs, so the walk from here to the pier is all palm trees and ocean views.

Who it's for: couples, light sleepers, and anyone who wants calm evenings and a morning walk with a view.

Skip it if: you want nightlife outside your door, or a budget room.

Price: $$$

Top sights nearby:

• Palisades Park and its Saint Monica statue at the foot of Wilshire Boulevard
• The California Incline, the ramp down from the park to the beach and Pacific Coast Highway
• Montana Avenue's boutiques and cafes
• The north end of Third Street Promenade, a few blocks away

An evening here: Sunset from a bench in Palisades Park, then dinner on Montana Avenue or down on the Promenade.

Good to know: Stay close to Ocean Avenue if you can. Further north and inland, it's a long walk to the pier and the Promenade. The Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows (8.5 on Kayak) is about a 13-minute walk from the pier. The Huntley Hotel (8.9 from about 3,200 reviews) is about 15 minutes away, and Oceana Santa Monica (8.5) about 20.

Compare places to stay near Palisades Park, with live prices for your dates.

5. Mid-City // Cheapest Hotels on the Metro

Mid-City is the inland part of Santa Monica, around Santa Monica Boulevard and the 17th Street/SMC and 26th Street/Bergamot stations. It's mostly offices, apartments, and the Santa Monica College area, and it's where the hotel prices start to drop.

It's a long walk to the beach, though. The Gateway Hotel Santa Monica (8.4 on Kayak, from about 2,000 reviews) is about 35 minutes from the pier on foot. The Ambrose (8.9) is about 40. Both are near E Line stations, though, so the beach and Downtown are a few stops away.

Who it's for: budget travelers who'll use the Metro, and anyone with a car.

Skip it if: you picture yourself walking to the sand every morning.

Price: $ to $$

Top sights nearby:

• Bergamot Station Arts Center, a cluster of galleries by the 26th Street/Bergamot station
• Santa Monica College
• The Expo bike path, which follows the train line

An evening here: Ride the E Line two stops to Downtown Santa Monica for dinner and the beach.

Good to know: The 17th Street/SMC station is about a 25-minute walk from the pier, so one stop on the E Line saves you the walk.

Compare places to stay in Mid-City, Santa Monica, with live prices for your dates.

All Five Areas Compared

Area	Best for	Walk to the pier	Price	Our take
Downtown	First trips, no car, the Metro	5 to 10 minutes	$$ to $$$	Where we lived, and where we'd book
Ocean Avenue and the beachfront	Ocean views, special trips	2 to 10 minutes	$$$	Worth it if the view is the point
Main Street and Ocean Park	Value, a local feel, Venice	About 20 minutes	$ to $$	The best value near the sand
Wilshire-Montana	Quiet nights, couples	About 15 to 20 minutes	$$$	Calm, green, and pricey
Mid-City	A budget trip on the Metro	About 35 minutes	$ to $$	Cheapest, but far from the beach

Areas to Avoid in Santa Monica

Honestly, there's nowhere in Santa Monica I'd tell you to avoid. Anywhere near the beach is a good base. But each spot has its trade-offs, like crowds, noise, or a long walk, so here are a few tips before you book.

• Right by the pier, if you want quiet. The pier draws crowds into the evening, so the hotels at its entrance are lively rather than calm. Light sleepers should ask for a room away from the pier side, or book a few minutes north on Ocean Avenue.
• The blocks around the Promenade and the Metro station, if street life bothers you. That's where homelessness is most concentrated. A city police substation opened at Santa Monica Place to focus on the area.
• Near Santa Monica Airport, without a car. The motels in Sunset Park, around the airport, are some of the cheapest in the city. But they're about 3 miles from the beach, and the buses are slow.

Is Santa Monica a Safe Place to Stay?

Yes, for most visitors. Cream and I walked everywhere during our month, and I never felt unsafe. You will see homelessness, especially downtown. Be city smart, the way you would in any big city.

The numbers are moving the right way. Santa Monica's 2026 count found 718 people experiencing homelessness, down 11.6% from 2025. The number sleeping outside fell 18.7%, while it rose across the city of Los Angeles.³

At night, stick to the busy, well-lit streets downtown, and take an Uber home if you're out late on the far side of town.

Is Santa Monica a Good Place to Stay for Seeing LA?

Yes, if the beach is a big part of your trip. You can walk to the sand, the pier, and dinner, and the Metro gets you to Downtown LA without a car.

The trade-off is distance. Santa Monica is on the western edge of LA. Beverly Hills is about 8 miles away by road, Hollywood about 14, and Griffith Observatory about 19.

On our first LA trip, we saw Griffith Observatory and Beverly Hills from a hotel in Little Tokyo. From Santa Monica, it's a bit of a way to the rest of LA, but it's also not the worst if you'd rather be based by the beach than in Downtown LA.

If most of your plans are in Hollywood or Downtown LA, staying there saves you the drive.

How Much Does a Hotel in Santa Monica Cost?

Plan on about $250 to $600 a night for most hotels, before tax, and more for the hotels on the sand. These are the prices for one Saturday night on Kayak in October 2026.

Area	One Saturday night on Kayak	Example
Downtown	About $310 to $360	Hampton Inn & Suites, Hilton
Ocean Avenue and the beachfront	About $335 to $600	Ocean View Hotel, The Pierside, The Georgian
Main Street and Ocean Park	About $260 to $330	Sea Shore Motel (weeknight average), Hyatt Centric Delfina
Wilshire-Montana	About $300 to $570	The Huntley, Fairmont Miramar
Mid-City	About $250 to $375	Gateway Hotel, The Ambrose

On top of the room rate:

• Hotel tax: 15% in Santa Monica. A tourism fee also applies in 2026: $2.30 to $7.25 a night, scaled to the room rate.¹ Stays of 31 nights or more are exempt from the tax.
• Parking: often extra, and often valet only near the beach. Check the nightly rate before you book if you're driving.

Hotels vs. Short-Term Rentals

A whole apartment to yourself is a monthly rental in Santa Monica. Stays of 30 days or less are only allowed in a home where the host lives on site.² For a week, a hotel is the simple choice. We rented an apartment downtown for a month, which is a different trip.

So, Where Should You Stay in Santa Monica?

Downtown, for most trips. It's where we'd book again, with the Promenade, the pier, and the beach all a short walk away. If the ocean view is the whole point, splurge on Ocean Avenue, and if you're watching the budget, Main Street gets you close to the sand for less.