Santa Monica Stairs — Attraction in Los Angeles

If I’ve got 30 minutes and have to pick between a Stairmaster at the gym or hitting the Santa Monica Stairs, it’s a no-brainer. The Stairs win by miles. There’s just something uniquely fresh about the air in this part of Santa Monica. The ocean breeze wraps around you, cool and invigorating, making the workout feel so much lighter and more enjoyable.

It’s peaceful here, with only the soothing sounds of crashing waves and your own breathing keeping you company. The views are amazing too. You get a gorgeous glimpse of the Pacific Ocean on your way down, and the lush greenery of Pacific Palisades right across.

Sure, I hit the gym sometimes if I’m tight on time, but nothing beats the idyllic charm and effectiveness of training outdoors here. A little heads-up for first-timers: if you’re hydrating properly, you’ll probably need a restroom sooner or later. The closest public restroom is about a 10-minute walk away at Palisades Park. It’s super easy to find once you reach the park (free and conveniently located). Pro tip: If you jog, you can cut that restroom trip down to just 3 or 4 minutes. Plus, Palisades Park itself is a fantastic spot to chill afterward, soaking in the views as a nice reward post-workout.

Just remember to respect the local residents around the stairs… they’re already dealing with plenty of visitors, so let’s keep it quiet and peaceful for everyone. I’m grateful they allow us to enjoy such an incredible spot.

Huge recommendation whether you’re a local or just visiting Santa Monica. Definitely...

Parking: The only parking near by is on the top on the hill, if there's an open spot. There no visitor parking by the main stairs, only local with a permit. If you go the more scenic stairs near the middle of the road you need to walk about a half a mile from your Parking spot--don't complain, you came to walk. The nicer stairs have lots of plants but the stairs are wooden.

There is another stairway on the same street at the end (near public parking), less scenic but the stairs are more study and made from concrete. However, if you have big feet--maybe about size 11+ you will find the steps to be smaller than your foot.

The locals frequently use the stairs for exercise, the people in the area probably hate people with noisy shoes or who...

I came here during the week. It was my first time at an athletic park. I’m from Massachusetts and am not used to seeing people come outside just to work out. There aren’t any athletic parks in snow country.

I love the culture. It was my first time seeing a six pack on a woman. She looked great too and had a friendly attitude.

I will say this about the stairs. It looks very easy at first, but after going up and down the first few times, you become winded if you are not used to this kind of exercise. This was my first time being up close and personal with stairs as big as the one the in China or anything like that...