Santa Monica Pier is a public waterfront landmark in Santa Monica, California, with Pacific Park, a historic carousel and Heal the Bay Aquarium beneath the Pier.
You can visit the Pier itself without an admission fee, then plan separately for rides and attractions with their own hours. From Marina del Rey, the Pier is about 3.2 miles from a 2.5-star motel.
- Location: 380 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401.
- Pier hours: Open daily
- Pacific Park: No admission fee; rides are priced per person, per ride.
- Metro: The walk from Downtown Santa Monica station to the Pier takes about 10 minutes.
What to see on the pier
Santa Monica Pier brings several attractions together on the waterfront, including Pacific Park, a historic merry-go-round and Heal the Bay Aquarium beneath the Pier.
Pacific Park has no admission fee, and you can buy ride tickets at a Park ticket booth. Check the Pier’s official site before you go, since attraction hours can differ from the Pier’s hours.
Opening hours
- Monday to Sunday: 6 AM–10 PM
Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.
Heal the Bay Aquarium is at 1600 Ocean Front Walk, under the Pier. The Pier describes it as a public marine-education center beneath the historic Carousel building.
The Pier’s story is part of its appeal as a landmark, and the history of Santa Monica Pier traces how the site took shape over time.
How do you get to Santa Monica Pier from Marina del Rey?
From Marina del Rey, you can plan a bus, Metro, rideshare or driving arrival using the Pier’s directions. Big Blue Bus Route 8, which serves Downtown Santa Monica and UCLA, stops at Ocean and Colorado.
Routes 3, 7, 2 and 5 stop on 4th Street or at the nearby Civic Center; Route 3 runs between Aviation/LAX and Downtown Santa Monica.
Big Blue Bus local trips cost $1.25 each way. The Downtown Santa Monica Metro station is at 4th Street and Colorado Avenue, about a 10-minute walk from the Pier. If you use the bus, check Big Blue Bus for current times and schedules.
For rideshare drop-off, use 1550 Appian Way. From there, you can reach the Pier deck by stairs or wheelchair-accessible ramps.
Drivers can use the Pier parking deck, Beach Lot 1 North at 1550 Appian Way, downtown Santa Monica public parking structures or Beach Lot 4 South at Bicknell and Ocean. Parking at Santa Monica Pier covers the lots and arrival details.
When to visit
The Pier is open daily from 6 AM to 10 PM. Pacific Park is open year-round, weather permitting, but its hours vary by season and can change because of weather or special events.
Shops, amusements and restaurants set their own hours, so don’t assume they match the Pier’s schedule. Check the official site before you go, and contact individual businesses for current opening information.
Food and attractions on the pier
Pacific Park rides are priced per person, per ride, with tickets available at a Park ticket booth; there is no admission fee for the Park itself. This lets you visit the Pier without buying a ride ticket, or decide on rides once you arrive.
Restaurants and other businesses have separate opening hours. If a particular stop matters to your plans, check with that business for current information rather than relying on the Pier’s daily schedule.
Making time for the surrounding waterfront
The Pier’s location at the water’s edge makes it possible to pair time on the deck with a look at the adjacent beach and shoreline. Keep your plans flexible if you’re also visiting an attraction with its own schedule: the Pier’s hours and each business’s hours are not necessarily the same.
If Marina del Rey is part of your wider itinerary, its waterfront, routes and local stops offer another way to plan time along the coast.
FAQs
Is there an admission fee for Santa Monica Pier?
The Pier itself has daily public hours, and Pacific Park has no admission fee. Rides cost extra and are priced per person, per ride.
What are Santa Monica Pier’s opening hours?
Open daily. Individual attractions, shops and restaurants may keep different hours.
How far is Downtown Santa Monica Metro station from the Pier?
The walk from the station at 4th Street and Colorado Avenue to the Pier takes about 10 minutes.
Where can rideshare vehicles drop off passengers?
Rideshare vehicles can drop off passengers at 1550 Appian Way. Stairs and wheelchair-accessible ramps lead from there to the Pier deck.