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Santa Monica Pier Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour

2 Reviews 5.00 out of 5 stars Based on 2 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor | Recommended by 100% of reviewers | Santa Monica, USA

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Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 23 (0) days in advance.

30 to 59 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Instant confirmation
Offered in: English

Overview

No trip to sunny Los Angeles is complete without a visit to the Santa Monica Pier, and no visit to the Pier is complete without this self-guided audio walking tour! As you stroll along this bustling pier, you’ll dig deep into its history, from its humble origins to devastating storms and ambitious amusement parks. Spot the historic Santa Monica Pier Carousel and Pacific Park before making your way to the very end of the pier, offering unbeatable views of the ocean and Santa Monica Beach.

After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point.

New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.

What's Included

  • Text transcripts of audio narration & Self-paced format (start/pause/resume anytime)
  • Pre-recorded audio commentary (downloadable or streamable)
  • Lifetime access (no expiration) with Customer support (chat/email)
  • Entrance fees, in-person guide, headphones, transport, parking, food,Wi-Fi or cellular data, rentals
See 5 moreSee 4 more

Meeting Location

Meeting point

81-99 Colorado Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90401, USA

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Book Online

Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
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Safe & secure • Easy breezy • Hassle-free

Santa Monica Pier

Our tour begins at the Santa Monica Pier Arch. You can’t miss it! This historic structure has been standing tall for over 80 years, adding a little touch of drama to the pier’s entrance.The tour is over 0.38 miles long, with more than 14 audio stories, and takes about 1-2 hours to complete.New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Santa Monica Looff Hippodrome

Now let’s get to know Charles Looff, Danish immigrant, furniture carver, and the pier’s hero.By day, he carved away in a factory, but at night, he created life-size animal sculptures full of imagination, whimsy, and magic. Can you guess what he was building?
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Santa Monica Pier Carousel (pass by)

To our left stands Santa Monica’s iconic carousel. While this one only dates back to the 1940s, the original was built by none other than Charles Looff. He built it as part of a hugely ambitious project in 1916. His goal was nothing less than turning this sewage site into a tourist attraction!
Read more

Pacific Park (pass by)

For decades, the pier sat mostly empty and unused. By the 70s, Santa Monica’s City Council was looking for excuses to tear down the old eyesore. They put forth a plan to destroy the pier and build an artificial island instead. During a meeting, a resident asks the City Manager whether the public should have a say. His response?
Read more
Show 3 more stops

Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
  • Savings tips: Walking tours: couples can share one tour by splitting headphones
  • New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.

Frequently Asked Questions

(6)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Santa Monica Pier Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (PDT). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

We're here to help.
Activity code: C-259648P63

Reviews

5.00
2 reviews

Average 5.00 out of 5 stars based on 2 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and partner sites such as Trustpilot, Viator, and TripAdvisor

5 stars
2
4 stars
0
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
0

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Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 23 (0) days in advance.

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What's Included

Activity name

  • Text transcripts of audio narration & Self-paced format (start/pause/resume anytime)
  • Pre-recorded audio commentary (downloadable or streamable)
  • Lifetime access (no expiration) with Customer support (chat/email)
  • This tour is NOT a ticket to any attraction or site
  • Suggested walking/driving itinerary with stop-by-stop directions
  • Offline GPS-enabled route map
  • NO in-person guide or physical equipment (bring your own device & headphones)
  • This is a GPS-powered, self-guided audio tour that works through an app
  • Entrance fees, in-person guide, headphones, transport, parking, food,Wi-Fi or cellular data, rentals

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • How To Access: After booking, you’ll get an email and text with setup instructions and password (search “audio tour” in emails and texts). • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password sent by email and text. • MUST download the tour while in strong wifi/cellular. • Works offline after download.
  • How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
  • Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
  • Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
  • Savings tips: Walking tours: couples can share one tour by splitting headphones
  • New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
  • For the best experience, bring headphones/earbuds for your walking tour.
  • The tour requires a supported mobile device for navigation. Please use an iPhone with iOS 15 or later, an Android device with Android 9 or later, or an iPad/tablet with GPS and cellular service.
  • Your password can be used on the same number of devices as travelers booked. Enter the same password on each device.
  • Operated by a business

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Free Cancellation

100% refund
No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (PDT).

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  • Cool Rewards is a loyalty program operated by Cool Destinations. Rewards may be earned by any eligible person holding a Cool Destinations account, subject to the Cool Destinations customer Terms of Use.

Earning rewards

  • Rewards can be earned by making bookings on the Cool Destinations website. You will be able to see the value of the rewards you can earn during the booking process.
  • Earned rewards will be issued in a pending state and will move to a confirmed state 24 hours after the start time of the experience.
  • Earned rewards will be available to redeem once they are no longer in a pending state.
  • For bookings that are moved to a different travel date, the rewards will be redeemable after the amended travel date.
  • If a booking where rewards were issued is canceled, the earned rewards will not be redeemable and will be moved to a canceled state.

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