Top 10 Best Beaches in Los Angeles

Los Angeles County boasts 75 miles of coastline with about two dozen beautiful Southern California beaches. LA beaches offer everything from surfing and fishing to whale watching and sunbathing. Embrace the laid-back SoCal vibe at the top beaches in Los Angeles County including nearby Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, and Hermosa Beach, as well as Huntington Beach, Venice Beach, Cabrillo Beach, El Matador Beach, and Malibu Surfrider Beach.

Manhattan Beach

This 2-mile Los Angeles beach is a beautiful destination for sunning, swimming, surfing, windsurfing, fishing and volleyball. The Manhattan Beach Pier - the oldest on the West Coast and a state historic landmark - is a scenic spot for fishing and sunset watching. Enjoy running and biking along the path or explore the marine life at Roundhouse Aquarium.

Hermosa Beach

This white sandy beach is perfect for swimming, surfing and water excursions, as well as beach volleyball. Hermosa Beach has a lively bar scene, restaurants, a weekly farmer's market, The Lighthouse Café - a famous jazz club - water sport rental shops, and The Strand attraction for cyclists, runners, and joggers.

Dockweiler State Beach

This long and wide, sandy beach on LA's South Bay offers fire rings, picnic areas, volleyball courts and a beachfront bike path. Dockweiler State Beach is a beautiful destination for sunning, swimming, surfing and hang gliding. This is the only LA beach where you can have bonfires and cookouts on the sand at night.

Santa Monica State Beach

One of the most iconic and scenic beaches in Los Angeles, Santa Monica State Beach offers 3 miles of sandy shoreline. The beach is perfect for sunning, surfing, swimming, and paddle-boarding, and is a popular spot for beach volleyball. The Santa Monica Pier offers rides, rollercoasters, a Ferris wheel, games, and carnival-style food stalls.

Venice Beach

South of Santa Monica, Venice Beach offers a colorful vibe and eclectic people watching. Relax on the sand beach, swim and surf in the ocean, or check out Muscle Beach. Jump into the flow of the Venice Boardwalk, where you can skate, cycle, play volleyball and enjoy the funky shops, bars, restaurants, and street performers.

Redondo Beach

Redondo Beach features volleyball courts, a horseshoe-shaped pier, whale watching cruises, and kayak, pedal boat, and stand-up paddleboard rentals. Enjoy cycling or running on the Marvin Braude Bike Trail, known as The Strand, which follows the coastline.

El Matador State Beach

Part of Robert H. Meyer State Beach, El Matador is one of the most picturesque beaches in Los Angeles. With its massive rocks and secret sea caves, this beach is popular for weddings and photography. The bluff has picnic tables with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and the clifftop surrounds you in breathtaking scenery.

Paradise Cove Beach

The location for hit Hollywood movies such as ‘Charlie's Angels', this beautiful LA beach is surrounded by tall palm trees and sandstone cliffs. Relax on the glistening sands, rent beach beds and lounge chairs or swim and surf in the Pacific Ocean waves. Paradise Cove Beach also features a café right on the sand.

Malibu Lagoon State Beach

Located at the confluence of Malibu Creek and the Pacific Ocean, Malibu Lagoon State Beach is a popular spot for surfing and birdwatching. Hike the paths through the wetlands, home to more than 200 species of birds. The beach also offers the Malibu Pier, a picnic area, guided tours and the Malibu Lagoon Museum.

Will Rogers State Beach

Bask in the sun, surf, swim, dive or enjoy kitesurfing, windsurfing, diving, fishing and sailing, at Will Rogers State Beach, nestled between the Santa Monica Bay and Pacific Coast Highway. This beautiful LA beach spans three miles of Pacific coastline and offers volleyball nets, picnic tables, lifeguards, a waterfront restaurant and plenty of parking.