Private EBike Tour of Santa Monica and Venice Beaches

Two beaches feel like two worlds. This private Santa Monica and Venice e-bike ride keeps things moving while still slowing down for photos and stories.

You’ll get easy-to-use electric bikes plus a guide who can turn the coast into something you actually remember. I also like that the photo memories package is baked into the experience, with edited pictures sent to you after the ride.

One caution: you do need to be comfortable riding a bike, and there’s no biking on the Santa Monica Pier (you may do a quick stroll if you request it).

Key takeaways before you pedal

• 26-Mile Bike Path gives you most of the scenic coast time, with frequent 10 to 15 minute stops for stories and photos.
• Santa Monica Pier is a top photo moment, but you park the bike and handle the pier area on foot.
• Venice Beach + Boardwalk are handled in a smart rhythm, so you see the big sights without feeling rushed.
• The tour adds texture beyond the beach with the Venice art walls and the canals walkway.
• Carousel lovers get a win at the Santa Monica Looff Hippodrome, where admission is included.

A private e-bike ride that actually fits a beach day

Santa Monica and Venice can be a lot to manage on foot and a lot to navigate by car. This is the middle path: you still move like you’re on vacation, but you don’t have to fight parking or traffic to get beach-to-beach. It’s private too, so your group sets the pace instead of being swept along with strangers.

I like that the tour is built around a long, continuous route—the 26-Mile Bike Path. That means fewer stop-and-start moments and more time watching the coastline slide by. And because the bike is electric, the ride stays comfortable even if your day includes stairs-to-the-beach shoes, sun, and salt air.

Price and what makes $119 feel fair

At $119 per person for about 3 hours, the value hinges on what you don’t have to figure out yourself. You’re paying for the guide, the electric bike and helmet, bottled water, and the photo memories package (listed as a $30 value). You also get small PPE—an ounce of hand sanitizer carried for you on the bike.

For me, the best part is that the price isn’t just “bike rental plus sightseeing.” The stops are timed to make sense: short photo moments at big icons, then quick context while you’re already there. You’re not paying to wait in lines. Most listed admissions are free, and the Santa Monica carousel admission is included.

Meeting point: where to start and how to arrive ready

The tour starts and ends at Pedal or Not Electric Bike Tour, just east of Main Street, at 214 Pier Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90405. Aim to arrive about 15 minutes early. That buffer matters because you’ll want time to get your helmet, get set on the bike style, and feel comfortable before you head out.

They also note it’s near public transportation. If you’re planning to arrive from another part of Los Angeles, that’s a nice safety net when parking gets annoying. Also pack for a beach ride: closed-toed shoes, sunscreen, and sunglasses are strongly recommended. Bring a jacket if you run cool by the water, and expect sand—the route includes beach areas where your shoes might pick up a souvenir.

The big engine: 26-Mile Bike Path (your main scenic payoff)

About 2 to 2.5 hours of the tour runs along the 26-Mile Bike Path, which is where most of the time is. This matters because it’s the backbone of the day: a smooth, bike-friendly corridor that lets you actually enjoy the ride instead of negotiating every turn.

You’ll make a chain of stops along the way—many of them in the 10 to 15 minute range—so the tour doesn’t turn into one long stream of riding. The guide uses those pauses for stories, trivia, and quick looks at interesting attractions. That rhythm is a good fit for a mixed group: teens can watch and snap photos, adults can listen, and everyone gets frequent breaks.

One practical tip: since a lot of time is already spent near the beach, you’ll feel the sun. Plan for that. Even when the ride is easy, the coast gives you reflected light and wind that can trick you into thinking you’re not getting sun.

Santa Monica Pier: iconic photos, but bike parking is required

Santa Monica Pier is a must-see for a reason: the ferris wheel and rollercoaster show up in background photos in a way that looks like a postcard. You get about 15 minutes here for a great shot.

But here’s the key rule: bike riding isn’t permitted on the pier. So you’ll treat it like a photo stop with your feet. If you want to go beyond the quick look, the tour notes that by request there can be time for a short stroll. For a full Pacific Park experience, you’d need to plan extra time before or after your tour because that part is outside the ride itself.

Also, the pier is about 1.2 miles (2 km) from the starting/ending point. That’s not far, but it’s far enough that it can eat into your day if you’re trying to do it all inside the tour window.

Annenberg Community Beach House: quick celebrity-era stories

After the pier stop, the tour swings by the Annenberg Community Beach House for brief storytelling—about 15 minutes. This is the kind of stop that works well on an e-bike tour: you don’t lose half your afternoon trying to “get to” a location. You just get close, hear the context, and keep rolling.

The standout here is the vibe. This is described as a spot where celebrities used to hang out and party. Even if you don’t care about celebrity names, you’ll likely care about why this place is talked about at all—what it represents in the broader Santa Monica story.

Venice Beach and Boardwalk: the famous stretch, managed with a plan

Once you roll into Venice, the energy changes fast. You get about an hour at Venice Beach, with time overlaps built into the overall pacing. Venice Beach is known for an anything-goes attitude, plus a long list of sights along the sand. The tour focuses on the best attractions along the beach while keeping bike time smooth.

Then comes Venice Beach Boardwalk, again with a smart time slice—around 45 minutes. The tour rides the Venice Beach bike path that’s parallel to the boardwalk. That’s a good detail. Instead of forcing you to bike through crowds, you get the sights while staying in the bike lane rhythm. You’ll see vendor shops, the eclectic people, and the spots that everyone recognizes.

Photo strategy matters here. Venice can be visually loud. If you want a clean photo, pick a moment with fewer pedestrians, and let the guide time you. (If you’re doing this in peak daylight, that’s easier said than done, so don’t treat this as a single snap-and-go.)

Venice Skatepark and art walls: action shots plus street art timing

If you only do Venice Beach for the beach itself, you miss why the area gets remembered. The tour adds two quick stops that change the look and feel.

At the Venice Skatepark, you get about 15 minutes. They call it the #1 skatepark in California, and the plan is simple: watch the skaters and try for a shot of someone catching air. This is also a stop where your photo results depend on timing, so the short duration is practical—you get a window and then you keep moving.

Right after that, you have Venice art walls for about 5 minutes. This is described as a Legal graffiti park where the art changes over time. The practical takeaway is clear: if you see something you love, grab your photo right away. Street art doesn’t wait for perfect conditions.

Venice Canals Walkway: the quieter side you’ll miss if you go too fast

Venice Canals Walkway is the contrast stop. You’ll pull away from the beach for a few blocks and spend about 20 minutes here, still part of the full 3-hour run.

This area is described as a hidden gem, and the note that bike is the best way to see it matters. You don’t need to hike between “neighborhood highlights.” Instead, the bike route lets you reach the canals efficiently, then you get enough time to photograph and soak in the canals vibe.

This is also the stop where the tour feels most like it’s showing you “how to read” Venice, not just where to stand. If you like small neighborhoods, details, and side stories, this is the part that tends to feel special.

Muscle Beach Venice and Santa Monica’s beach bike rhythm

Muscle Beach Venice Gym gets a quick photo-op style stop (about 15 minutes). It’s famous because Arnold Schwarzenegger used to work out here, and the tour frames it as pop culture history.

One caution based on the provided info: the area was listed as closed for renovation until March 2020. That doesn’t mean it still is or isn’t—it just means you should check current status before you build expectations around being able to do more than a view/photo from the outside.

The ride also spends time on Santa Monica’s beach areas. You’ll have roughly 1 to 1.5 hours in Santa Monica, and then additional beach time riding along Santa Monica Bay. The tour description emphasizes that the beach cities of Los Angeles—Santa Monica Beach and Venice Beach—sit along the same bayfront experience. That’s why the day works: you keep switching sections without losing the overall coastal rhythm.

As you go, you’ll also pass the famous lifeguard towers—iconic markers you’ve seen in movies and online. You can appreciate them from the ride, and if you want a closer photo, the tour notes this can be done by special request.

Santa Monica Looff Hippodrome: the carousel stop that’s actually worth it

The Santa Monica Looff Hippodrome is one of the best “pause and enjoy” moments in the tour, about 10 to 15 minutes. This is the carousel building—one of the last wooden carousels in the world—and the plan is usually to look and take photos, with admission included.

They note you don’t typically go inside, but by request you can carve out time for a photo or even a spin. For many people, this is where the tour becomes more than scenic riding. It’s a classic Santa Monica stop that feels like a real local landmark, not just another quick photo.

A note on comfort: e-bikes help, but you still need to be able to ride

This is the main requirement: you must be comfortable riding a bike. Electric help doesn’t remove balance. You’ll also need to meet the stated rules: minimum age 13, a minimum height of 5 feet (152 cm), and minimum weight of 100 lbs (45 kg). Maximum weight is 250 lbs (113 kg), and the bikes are safety rated up to that limit.

Children 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult. The good news is that an e-bike makes the experience more accessible than a standard bike—especially along long stretches. Still, go in with realistic expectations: you’re riding a bike for a coastal route, not taking a seat in a tram.

Also, the tour doesn’t operate in rain. If the weather looks rough, you’ll need to plan around that, since they require good weather.

Photo memories and the extra touches you’ll notice later

This tour includes a photo memories package (listed at $30 value). Photos are taken during your tour, edited, and emailed to you within 7 days after your tour.

That’s one of the best value additions on a beach day. Santa Monica and Venice are photo-friendly, but your best shots often happen when you aren’t juggling a phone while riding. Having the tour handle the shooting lets you focus on seeing the place, not doing selfie gymnastics.

You also get water, plus a small hand sanitizer included on the bikes. It’s not glamorous, but it’s exactly the kind of practical detail that makes your “beach and bikes” day feel easier.

How to decide: who should book this e-bike tour?

I think this tour is an easy yes if you want:

• A private way to see Santa Monica and Venice without renting a car.
• A ride that’s active enough to feel fun, but paced with stops for photos and stories.
• A guide-led plan for the iconic spots, including the canals and street art.

It’s also a good match for families with teens and older kids, since the electric bikes can help a wider range of riders keep up. And since it’s set up as a private tour, a group of friends or a multi-generational family can make it work without feeling like you’re stuck with strangers.

I’d think twice if your group hates biking or struggles with balance. The pier stop is on foot, but the rest of the day still revolves around riding the bike path and beach areas.

Should you book this Santa Monica and Venice e-bike tour?

Book it if you want the coast with less hassle and more structure. The route is designed around a long scenic bike spine, and the stops hit the big icons—Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach, the canals, skatepark action, and the carousel—without turning the day into a sprint.

Pass (or pick a different style of tour) if you’re not comfortable riding a bike or if your ideal day is mostly sitting still. This is built for motion, even with electric help.

If your timing is decent and you can handle a 3-hour ride with frequent photo stops, this is a great way to see Santa Monica and Venice in one connected day—while still getting those perfect background shots everyone comes for.

FAQ

How long is the private e-bike tour of Santa Monica and Venice?

It’s about 3 hours (approx.). Most of the time is spent on the 26-Mile Bike Path, with shorter timed stops at major attractions.

Is biking allowed on the Santa Monica Pier?

No. Bike riding isn’t permitted on the pier. You can still get photos there, and by request the guide can make time for a quick stroll.

What’s included in the tour price?

Included are the electric bike and helmet, bottled water, a professional guide, a photo memories package, and a small amount of hand sanitizer PPE.

Are attraction tickets included?

Most listed stops have free admission. The Santa Monica Looff Hippodrome carousel admission is included.

What do I need to know about rider requirements?

You must be comfortable riding a bike. The minimum age is 13, the minimum height is 5 feet (152 cm), and you must weigh at least 100 lbs (45 kg). The maximum weight is 250 lbs (113 kg).

Does the tour run in the rain?

No. The tour does not operate in rain, and if it’s canceled due to poor weather you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.