We had to go, it was our first time to Santa Monica, so we had to go to the pier. We went after dinner, so it was already dark. We walked the pier, lots of good people watching. There were people trying to get handouts or doing things to get money, but no one was pushy or made us uncomfortable, we enjoyed a few that were very talented. Lots of fishermen were down by the water. We went on the Ferris wheel, it was fun, nothing spectacular, more of a "we're here, so let's do it" thing. We played a game, and just took in the atmosphere. As we were leaving the pier, we heard karaoke at Rusty's and decided to stop for a drink which turned in to two and had a great time. Everything closes on the pier at 10, which was fine with us because we probably would've stayed a little longer and enjoyed another drink. I think it would have been fun to go around sunset to get the views and then still be able to enjoy the traditional fair atmosphere at night. There were a lot of very annoying and rude teenagers all over, guessing most were locals, didn't ruin our time, but they were definitely noticeable all over.

Santa Monica Pier is fantastic place to visit both for tourists and locals. I'm sure locals don't come here on a busy weekend evening but our friends who live in Malibu come here quite a bit when its not crowded. It really is a fun and historic place... from being the last stop on Iconic Route 66 to the food shops available, street food, street performers and fantastic sunsets, this pier is huge with tons of life and activities.. You can easily spend 4 hours here so plan accordingly. The parking can be tricky as the weekends are very very busy but there are many underground nearby parking lots and if you don't mind taking a walk there is lots of parking deeper into Santa Monica away from the beach. The pier is just lots of fun and easily top destination when visiting Southern California. Also, the cost of trinkets and souvenirs is not that high since there is a lot of competition. Overall people are very friendly and patient.. everyone is here to enjoy themselves and eventually wait for the beautiful sunset.. so plan to get your spot on the pier to record an amazing California sunset.

The Santa Monica Pier is a really fun place to spend some time. The amusement rides are cute and fun and it is just a really beautiful place. We were there a couple days after So Cal had strong Santa Anna winds so the visibility was amazing. Really cool place.

Maybe our expectations were too high, maybe the cold weather has taken a star off, but it is a fun place to be. There is a few rides, a couple of boutiques and many eating options. We ate Fish and Chip and Shrimp and chip at the Albright with a Mango flavored beer. That was excellent. The shrimps were huge. The beach is a long walk from the boardwalk so there is room for everyone. There are some training fixtures that are unusual but much appreciated and used. There is a nice cycling and walking path along the beach.

Lot of activities to do in the Santa Monica pier. Lot of amusement items. Good food and lots of options of all type and ranges, Many local hawkers are selling sandstone and other souvenior items. dont forget to burgain with them. If you want to go to the beach, would recommend to go a little far from the wooden pier as lots of waste is around the pier base area.

It is a fun place to spend time together with family and friends. If you are traveling to LA, then plan a visit for relaxed time. If it is bright and sunny (except summer time), it will be really pleasant. Take your bike and enjoy !!!

We visited at night and it was beautiful to see - the ferris wheel was lit up with cool LED lights that would change images. Typical pier with the expected food, shops and artists. We walked all the way to the end to look out on the ocean. We parked across the street which I felt was easier to navigate than the main lot.

Iconic location but can get super crowded. Had a hard time doing rides because of huge crowds and long lines but kids had fun in the midway games. Park by the pier, not the promenade! The earlier you go, the less crowded….

The Santa Monica Pier doesn’t even let rain stop it from being open for business. It was a miserable day, but I wasn’t going to let it deter me from visiting and it gave me a unique perspective on the pier. The one nice thing is it wasn’t crowded. All the business were open, save the rides (aka Pacific Park). I visited the shops, saw the End of Route 66 sign and got drenched. Just motivates me to visit again in the future, so I can truly enjoy it and ride the Ferris wheel.

The pier has a theme park, which has about 15 rides. The daily admission for one person is around 60 dollars a day, and for children under 7 is around 40 dollars a day. Unlike other parts of Los Angeles, it has a lot of people at night and has a lot of lighting, too. Near it about 100 meters is a large retail area which you can buy clothing and foods.