Picture Gallery
Venice Beach is called so because of the canals which were supposed to resemble the city in Italy.
The resemblance quickly fades as you get to the beach though.
A famous feature of Venice Beach is the part called Muscle Beach.
The original site in Santa Monica was closed in 1987 and moved to Venice Beach where it continued to be a popular spot for bodybuilders.
Sports have a central role in Venice Beach, and Basketball is one of the most popular activities.
Looking towards the crowded Ocean Front Walk.
Skateboarding is another popular activity here.
Venice Skate Park is always crowded.
Watch out for cyclists! It's possible to cycle from Santa Monica to Venice Beach on a well-maintained bike lane.
Ocean Front Walk, sometimes also called Venice Beach Boardwalk.
The alleyways near Venice Beach are covered in street art and graffiti. I can recommend keeping an eye open for the alleys while walking around Venice.
It truly makes the area more alive!
Street performers and people selling art and souvenirs are everywhere.
Even the taller buildings can be completely covered in artworks.
Not all areas of Venice Beach look pleasant and there are still some run-down parts. But there's always a lot of people around so you don't feel unsafe.
A girl riding a bike across the street near Marina del Rey.
Graffiti along Pacific Ave, which is one block inside from the beach. This street will take you all the way to Santa Monica and is much more interesting to drive along than the freeway.
