What to do and see in Santa Monica, California (CA): The Best Historical & Heritage Tours

June 8, 2021 Sheron Bogner

The beaches of Santa Monica attract all sorts of visitors-- don't be surprised to see families playing on the sand next to a boot-camp fitness class with a barking instructor. Visit the Santa Monica Pier, a haven of shops, restaurants, and carnival attractions (including a Ferris wheel) atop a wooden wharf. By night, the Third Street Promenade is the place to be, bustling with activity from moviegoers, party animals, and talented street performers.
Restaurants in Santa Monica

1. Private Coastal Tour of Santa Monica, Venice Beach and Malibu

The Grove Drive, The Grove Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90036, USA Glitterati Tours
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

Want to see the coastline of Southern California in Los Angeles County?  This private custom 3-hour tour covers the areas of Santa Monica, Venice Beach and Malibu.  Your professional and personable guide will pick you up at your designated Hollywood or Beverly Hills location and provide a wonderful scenic overview of some of the world's most famous beaches.

Inclusions: Bottled water, Professional guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off (selected hotels only), Pickup and drop-off from designated meeting points, Private tour, All taxes, fees and handling charges

Exclusions: Gratuities

Reviewed By jjrpontoni

We absolutely loved and enjoyed our tour of Beverly Hills on Friday! Dan, our tour guide, made it spectacular! We probably saw 50 stars homes! He was so knowledgeable and so funny, we felt like stars being driven around in a nice black SUV! We came all the way from Utah to see the city and for this tour and are beyond pleased! Also saw amazing views of LA from the hills! Was such a perfect day! Definitely recommended this tour company and ask for Dan! Well worth the money!!

2. Full Day Private and Custom Los Angeles Beaches and City Tour

The Grove Drive, The Grove Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90036, USA Glitterati Tours
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

If you want to see it all during your visit to Los Angeles, this private and fully customizable 7-hour full day tour is the perfect opportunity.  On the city-side, see Hollywood, West Hollywood and Beverly Hills.  Then travel west to take in the scenic beauty of Venice Beach, Santa Monica and Malibu.  You're guaranteed a tried and true highly-rated industry professional guide that's fully licensed and passionate about showcasing our amazing cities. *In the tour details listed above, there are few options that best describe timeframes for stops and drive-by introductions. Plus, there are a handful of locations not listed in available "Attractions." Some attractions may not be accessible on certain days of the year. This tour is a solid 7 hours, and we've laid out a guesstimate on stops and travel time. Remember, this is a private tour, so you're also welcome to fully customize your time.

Inclusions: All taxes, fees and handling charges, Bottled water, Professional guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off (selected hotels only), Pickup and drop-off from designated meeting points, Private tour

Exclusions: Gratuities, Lunch

Reviewed By jjrpontoni

We absolutely loved and enjoyed our tour of Beverly Hills on Friday! Dan, our tour guide, made it spectacular! We probably saw 50 stars homes! He was so knowledgeable and so funny, we felt like stars being driven around in a nice black SUV! We came all the way from Utah to see the city and for this tour and are beyond pleased! Also saw amazing views of LA from the hills! Was such a perfect day! Definitely recommended this tour company and ask for Dan! Well worth the money!!

3. 5-Hour Limo Tour with Open Bar

Private limo tours by Sunpower
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5.0 based on 3 reviews

Your private tour guide is Michael Raines, who has worked for a number of limo companies as a driver and bodyguard to some of the biggest celebrities in the world. A TV personality on his own rite, Michael Raines has starred in two survival shows on Discovery and other Film and TV roles in the past 20 years. Just to hear his celebrity stories is worth the price of the ride!! You will ride in style in 6 passenger Lincoln town car with a duel bar setup for wine, beer and liquor with mixers, chocolates and nuts all complimentary. A Bluetooth stereo so you can use your playlist on your phone, with IPhone and android chargers with cables on the rear deck. Your tour is completely customizable, you tell us what you want to see and we will take you there in style.

Inclusions: Beer,wine,liquor,mixers,sodas and candy We have the best stocked limo in town!

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Reviewed By Penny R

Book today you won’t be disappointed! We loved hearing all of the history of LA and surrounding areas. Mikey knew just when and where we would like to take pictures and always offered to take them for us as well.

4. Go Legendary Custom City Sightseeing [Private Tour]

Go Legendary Los Angeles
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5.0 based on 5 reviews

Los Angeles is a huge sprawl of a city. There’s such an overwhelming amount of amazing things to do, it can often be intimidating. This often leads to settling on mediocre, safe, run of the mill activities and tours. Whether it’s your 1st or 100th time to LA, it’s all about finding that fresh, unique experience tailored to you. Whatever your interests, we can help you plan it, book it and/or guide it! We will discuss your activity desires and put together an absolutely LEGENDARY City Adventure for you. The options are limitless. Once you are booked, we can consult to build your completely unique Go Legendary Adventure. Activity Examples: Cultural: Museums & Galleries Sports Live Music Events: Concerts, Music Venues, Under the Radar Live Music Entertainment: Studio Tours, Live Tapings, Special Movie Events, Live Theater, Stand Up Comedy, Improv, Opera, Ballet History Architecture Film Locations Shopping Neighborhoods & Amazing Houses

Inclusions: Bottled water, Air-conditioned vehicle, Private transportation

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Reviewed By Jhorleny

I had the greatest time!! Derek was super cool and customized the tour to fit what we wanted to see.

5. Hollywood Sign Tour: Walk to the Hollywood Sign

6301 Innsdale Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068, USA Bikes And Hikes LA
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5.0 based on 36 reviews

Departure Time: 10:30 AM We’ll take you in front of and behind the Hollywood sign for an unforgettable experience! With ample opportunities for killer Instagram photos, insider Hollywood History, and a local guide, this hike brags some of the best views in LA. Snag a bird’s eye view of top film studios Disney, Warner Bros., Paramount, Dreamworks, the Hollywood Walk of fame, and more! Your docent will regale you with Hollywood history while ensuring a safe and exciting climb. This experience will take approximately 2.5 hours, and is suited for guests looking for a challenging, bucket-list outdoor adventure. Perfect for guests looking for a very special, unforgettable Hollywood Sign Hike. HIGHLIGHTS Hollywood Sign (behind and in front!) Panoramic 360° views of all of LA Best photos of the Hollywood Sign to last a lifetime Leave LA fulfilled: get your full fix of insider LA history from the best local guides in Los Angeles!

Inclusions: 2.5-hour hike, Unlimited Instagram photo opportunities, Expert First Aid and CPR certified professional local tour guide

Exclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off, Gratuities (15 - 20% per person is recommended), Due to COVID-19, guests must provide their own water for this tour.

Reviewed By christigray1

We had the best day with Harris as our private tour guide. We hit 8 cities in 7 hours. I would not want to miss any parts of the ride. You see the hot spots but also the average living areas. I highly recommend the electric bike.

6. Los Angeles Highlights Full-Day Guided Tour

10850 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064, USA ExperienceFirst
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4.9 based on 66 reviews

Join our Highlights Tour for an insider's view of America's most glamorous city! Unlike other tours we keep our groups small and under 15 people per guide so you don't feel lost in the mix. Travel in style in our climate controlled luxury van as your expert guide whisks you through the City of Angels! On this 7 hour comprehensive tour your guide will take you all around LA to see some of the city's most iconic locations. Join us and get fully immersed in California's laid back culture!

Inclusions: Local guide, Air-conditioned vehicle, Live commentary on board

Exclusions: Food and drinks, Gratuities, Hotel pickup and drop-off

Reviewed By tylannam2021

Best wine trip ever! Chris was absolutely amazing as our guide! Your wine tour is not life with out Chris as your guide! He was extremely professional and accommodating to all of our need! The tour at Rosenthal was the biggest highlight! The cheeseboard and wine was unmatched! The tour is worth every penny and you won’t regret it!

7. Santa Monica and Venice Beach Bike Adventure Tour

The Bike Center Santa Monica Tour Center, 1502 4th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401, USA The Bike Center
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4.8 based on 24 reviews

Enjoy our guided bike adventure through Santa Monica and the historical streets of Venice Beach, California. We’ll explore the sites and history around Santa Monica, and take in some privileged views of the California coast before continuing our bike ride south towards Venice. Although the Italian influenced landscape is widely recognized as the birthplace of skateboarding, Venice Beach is also home to talented musicians, performers, stunning architecture, sculptures and West Coast legal graffiti walls that have become alluring grounds for artists from around the world. Our guides will show you these often overlooked sights and provide interesting and insightful information about the culture, communities and history of the area. Participants are expected to know how to ride a bike. This tour travels through a separated bike path and bike lanes on city streets. *Infants (2 years and under) only pay for the cost of a baby seat rental

Inclusions: Use of bicycle, Bottled water, Bike lock, Professional guide, Use of helmet

Exclusions: Lunch, Gratuities, Bicycles are NOT electric

Reviewed By WanderingViking96

This was the first time we have used e-bikes and have also rented them. They were really easy to use and required little effort to use. These guys made it super easy and were super friendly and helpful! We rented for four hours and we only needed the two to ride down to Venice Beach and back with some wander time on the Santa Monica Pier. They included a lock and helmet. By far the best way to cruise the area effortlessly.

8. Santa Monica and Venice Beach Tour from Los Angeles

Another Side Of Los Angeles Tours, 1080 S La Cienega Blvd #108, Los Angeles, CA 90035, USA Another Side Of Los Angeles Tours
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4.8 based on 10 reviews

Get an introduction to the famed beaches of Los Angeles, from Santa Monica to Venice Beach, on this 3-hour tour. Choose a morning or afternoon departure, and travel by comfortable minivan, hopping out to explore each destination on foot with a guide. Sights include Santa Monica Pier and the Third Street Promenade; Venice Beach Boardwalk and its Muscle Beach; and the affluent seaside communities of Marina del Rey and the Pacific Palisades.

Inclusions: Bottled water and chips, Narration by a professional guide, Transport by air-conditioned minivan

Exclusions: Gratuities, Hotel pickup and drop-off

Reviewed By MsSimplyRed

We opted for a 3 hr private tour for our family of 4 + a toddler and it was a great decision! Kenneth was excellent in laying out all our options for a private tour and getting us quickly booked and set up to go. Darnell was a gracious host and showed us what we wanted to see while teaching us about this city. Great job!! Excellent customer service all around.

9. 3.5-Hour Exclusive Malibu Stars Homes & Beautiful Beach Tour

Surf City Tours, 1654 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401, USA Surf City Tours
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4.8 based on 33 reviews

Lose yourself in Malibu's mystique as we show you celebrity homes, historic sites, filming locations & more on this fully narrated tour. Our expert guides will fill you in on all of Malibu's secrets while you cruise the coast in our open air vans. *Grab a quick Malibu bite from one of our faves midway through tour!* Tour includes a stop at the Adamson House with ample time to walk the grounds, get your feet sandy on Surfrider Beach, snap pics of the Malibu pier, or do some local shopping with our friends at Malibu Country Mart. Celebrity Homes: Leonardo DiCaprio Lana Del Rey Robert Downey Junior Matt Groening Mel Brooks Lou Adler Simon Cowell Dr. Dre Cher Adam Sandler Jennifer Lopez & Alex Rodriguez Matthew Perry Rihanna and more! See the Malibu Pier, filming locations, the beautiful PCH, the Adamson House museum and much more Malibu & Santa Monica Filming Locations Baywatch Two and a Half Men Beverly Hills 90210 Gidget Keeping Up with the Kardashians Point Break Taken

Inclusions: Live Tour Guides, Guaranteed fun sightseeing tour, Fully narrated tour, open-air vehicles, Cultural & Historic Malibu Tour, Malibu Celebrity Homes and Filming Locations

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Reviewed By matthewslinda16

The tour itself was good. Loved the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Farmer's Market and the tour of the homes in the hills. The weather was very breezy on the tour bus (could definitely use some windows with a clear view).

10. The Classic LA Tour: Hollywood, Celebrity Homes and Beverly Hills

Downtown Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA Best Coast Tours
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4.8 based on 12 reviews

The best way to experience the City of Angels is on this 6-hour day tour. No stone will be left unturned on this fun trip. See all the classic sights such as the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Chinese Theater and of course, the Hollywood sign. But this tour is so much more! Enjoy spectacular views from Mulholland Drive, see famous movie studios like 20th Century Fox and places such as Century City, iconic Sunset Strip and classic sports stadiums like the Staples Center. You’ll make a stop at The Original Farmer’s Market for lunch (not included in tour price). You’ll also be able to spot a few actors’ and actresses’ homes, some TV locations and finally, check out the art and colorful culture of Venice Beach!

Inclusions: Driver / Guide, Air-conditioned vehicle, Snacks, Bottled water, Hotel pickup and drop-off

Exclusions: Gratuities

Reviewed By alan m

We had a great day. Our driver ,Joseph, held a good balance of giving us interesting info about the area and wine development and other times just let us talk among ourselves. He couldn't have handled the day better . We will definately use this company again.

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