Things to Do
Welcome to Manhattan Beach
Salt-kissed. Sunlit. Timeless.
Here, the horizon stretches wide, and every sunset feels like an encore. Manhattan Beach is more than a destination — it’s a rhythm, a pulse carried by ocean breezes and rolling surf. Cyclists glide along the Strand, artists find muse in the light, and neighbors linger at café tables as if time itself bends with the tide.
With waves that shaped California surf culture, streets alive with creativity, and a community proud to protect its coastal soul, Manhattan Beach is a living canvas — one that invites you to be both spectator and participant.
Come curious, leave inspired.
1. Walk the Manhattan Beach Pier
The classic first stop. The pier stretches out from the end of Manhattan Beach Boulevard and gives visitors one of the best views of the coastline, surfers, beach volleyball courts, and sunset. You stand a good chance of seeing a line of pelicans flying by. You might even see a pod of dolphins wander by. On rare occasions, a migrating whale might blow in the distance.
As you stroll the pier, you will literally walk the “Volleyball Walk of Fame”. Embedded in the walkway are bronze volleyball-shaped plaques honoring the champions of the annual AVP Manhattan Beach Open professional beach volleyball tournament.
At the end of the pier, stop into the Roundhouse Aquarium, a small, family-friendly marine education center right over the water.
2. Spend the day at the beach
Wide sand, clean water, volleyball courts, surf breaks, and room to spread out. Manhattan Beach is ideal for a full beach day, whether visitors want to swim, surf, play volleyball, or just settle in with a towel and a view.
You have probably heard of Waikiki Beach in Hawaii. Guess where the sand there came from. Yep, Manhattan Beach!
3. Walk or Bike the Strand
The Strand is a wide, paved, flat path that runs the length of the city adjacent to the beach. In fact the Marvin Braude Bike Trail, as it is officially known, stretches 22 miles from Will Rogers State Beach in Pacific Palisades at the north end, to Torrance Beach at the south end. In Manhattan Beach, the walking and biking trails are separated for safety.
It’s perfect for a stroll or a jog, especially at sunset. You can even rent bikes and explore the west coast of Los Angeles.
4. Explore downtown Manhattan Beach
Downtown Manhattan Beach is compact, walkable, and packed with restaurants, boutiques, coffee, sweets, and ocean views. It’s one of the best places to pair beach time with lunch, shopping, happy hour, or dinner.
5. Learn at the Roundhouse Aquarium
With the best possible location (at the end of the pier), the Roundhouse Aquarium is a great stop for families and curious visitors. It’s small enough to fit into a beach walk, but memorable because of the location and hands-on marine exhibits.
The aquarium’s mission is to connect and engage visitors to the ocean through hands-on interactive experiences with marine life and habitats of southern California, and to inspire them to become good stewards of our environment.
6. Play Beach Volleyball Where the Sport Lives
Manhattan Beach is one of the spiritual homes of beach volleyball. Visitors can watch serious players near the pier, find open courts, or simply walk past the Volleyball Walk of Fame and understand why the sport is part of the city’s identity.
7. Surf, Paddle or Take a Lesson
The beach is active year-round, and surf lessons are a great way for visitors to get in the water safely. This is especially good for families, first-time California visitors, and World Cup travelers looking for a true beach-town experience.
8. Catch the Sunset
Simple, free, and usually the best part of the day. The pier, beach, and Strand all work. For visitors short on time, sunset at the pier is the must-do Manhattan Beach moment.
9. Tour the Public Art Works
Enjoy a stroll to the many artistic treasures found in Manhattan Beach using the city’s Public Art Story Map. Our Cultural Arts Commission’s “Art in Public Places” program offers a variety of artwork at different sites throughout the city. Discover various sculptures, mosaics, memorials and even a time capsule!
10. Catch a Special Event
If you are planning a trip to Manhattan Beach, be sure to check our events calendar. In the Summer, you’ll want to catch the volleyball action on the beach for the AVP Manhattan Open or the local Six-man volleyball tournament. During the holidays there is nothing like the spectacle of one of the largest fireworks shows in the country launched from our pier.