Private EBike Tour of Santa Monica and Venice Beaches

Santa Monica and Venice make more sense from the beach path than from behind a car window. On this private three-hour ride, you cover a long stretch of coastline by e-bike, pausing for stories and photos at places such as the Santa Monica Pier, Venice Skatepark, and the canals.

I like two things in particular: the private format, which gives your group room to set the pace and ask questions, and the chance to see both beach towns in one outing without tackling the route on an ordinary bike. Guide Barb is singled out for making the controls easy to learn and bringing photos to help explain local history.

One thing to weigh: this is still a bike tour, not a beach day. You need to be comfortable riding, and the three hours include many short stops rather than long visits. Bikes are not allowed on the pier, so plan extra time if you want to explore it on foot or ride Pacific Park’s attractions.

At a glance: what makes this ride useful

• A long coastal route: About three-quarters of the tour follows the 26-mile bike path, with stops along the Santa Monica Bay shore.
• Two beach towns in one outing: The route spends roughly half its time in Santa Monica and half in Venice.
• Local context between photo stops: Barb can share stories and show pictures as you pass places with cultural and pop-culture connections.
• A private group: You ride with your own party, rather than joining a mixed tour group.
• The practical extras are covered: An electric bike, helmet, bottled water, hand sanitizer, and an edited photo package are included.
• A few rules matter: Riders must be at least 13 years old, at least five feet tall, and between 100 and 250 pounds.

Riding the Santa Monica Bay path

The tour starts at Pedal or Not Electric Bike Tours, at 214 Pier Avenue in Santa Monica, and finishes back there. From the meeting point, the main draw is the coastal path, where you ride beside the sand and surf between Santa Monica and Venice.

The route’s length is a big part of its value. You get a broad sense of how these neighboring beach areas connect, rather than seeing only one busy stretch of shoreline. The electric assist helps make the distance manageable, but it does not remove the need to steer, balance, and pay attention. If you have never used an e-bike, allow time before departure to get comfortable with the bike’s controls.

The guide’s role matters here. Several riders have praised Barb for being patient and funny, and for explaining the bikes clearly to first-timers. She also uses pictures during her history talks, a useful touch when a building or local story is easier to understand with a visual reference. The best part of a guided ride is often not a formal stop, but the small bits of context you would miss while pedaling past on your own.

Expect frequent pauses for stories, trivia, and photos. Some attractions have their own time estimates, but those stops overlap with one another and with the main route. The whole outing lasts about three hours; it is not three hours of riding followed by separate visits.

Santa Monica Pier and the old carousel

The pier is the tour’s most familiar photo backdrop: its Ferris wheel and roller coaster make for an unmistakable Santa Monica shot. You get about 15 minutes in the area, counted as part of the time on the coastal path and beach.

There is an important catch: you cannot ride a bike on the pier. The tour makes room for a quick walk by request, but if you want to spend time on the pier or visit Pacific Park, set aside time before or after the ride. The pier is about 1.2 miles from the tour’s start and end point.

Nearby, the Santa Monica Looff Hippodrome houses the carousel, one of the few wooden carousels still operating in the world. The carved horses and historic building give you a different view of the area than the beach and rides do. The group does not typically go inside, but you can request time for a photo or a spin. Admission is included.

The lifeguard towers are another classic beach image, familiar from films, television, and advertising. You can appreciate them as you pass or ask to stop closer for a picture. Getting right up to one may mean stepping into the sand, so closed-toed shoes are a sensible choice.

Annenberg and Santa Monica State Beach

Annenberg Community Beach House adds a quick celebrity-history stop to the Santa Monica portion. The site was once a place where celebrities gathered and partied; your guide shares a few stories before the ride continues. It is a brief stop, not a full visit to the property.

Santa Monica State Beach accounts for a substantial part of the route. The tour spends roughly one to one and a half hours in Santa Monica overall, though the named stop times overlap. That gives you time to take in the shoreline and the bay without treating every listed attraction as a separate appointment.

The pace is best for people who enjoy moving through a place and stopping in short bursts. If you want to stretch out on the sand, swim, or linger at one location, this tour will not leave much room for that within its three-hour schedule. Think of it as a guided overview of the coastline, with time to return later to the spots that catch your interest.

Venice Boardwalk, Skatepark, and art walls

Venice changes the mood of the ride. The beach path runs beside the boardwalk, where you can look over the vendor shops and the mix of people and activity along the shore. The tour allots roughly 45 minutes around the boardwalk, but that time is part of the larger Venice and beach-path schedule.

Venice has long been associated with counterculture, and the area still feels more informal and eccentric than Santa Monica. The bike route lets you see the boardwalk without having to weave through it on foot. That is useful, though it also means you observe the scene from alongside it rather than spending the whole visit among the shops and performers.

The Venice Skatepark is a likely highlight if you enjoy watching people test their skill. Skaters use the park from morning until sunset, and the tour allows about 15 minutes to watch for a trick or catch a good photo. It is a viewing stop; the tour does not promise a demonstration or a particular performance.

A short stop at the Venice art walls offers a look at legal graffiti that changes over time. The point is to see what is there that day, rather than expect a permanent display. If a piece catches your eye, take the picture while you can.

A quieter turn through the Venice canals

The Venice Canals take you a few blocks away from the beach for a change of pace. The tour spends about 20 minutes here, where the waterways and neighborhood streets offer a quieter contrast to the boardwalk.

Your guide explains how the canals came to be and why the area is called Venice. This is one of the stops where traveling by bike is especially practical: you can leave the beach route briefly, see a different part of the neighborhood, then return without turning the outing into a long walk.

It is still a short visit. If the canals are your main reason for coming to Venice, you may want more time to stroll at your own pace. On this tour, they are one chapter in a wider coastal route, not the whole story.

Muscle Beach and local pop culture

Muscle Beach is another quick look at a well-known Venice landmark. It is associated with bodybuilders and with Arnold Schwarzenegger, who used to work out there. You view the workout area from outside rather than entering it, and the guide shares pop-culture context along the way.

The stop is brief, around 15 minutes, and is best approached as a photo and people-watching opportunity. The workout area is not included as an activity, and access is not part of the tour. The supplied tour details also note that the gym was closed for renovation until March 2020; that date is historical, so check current conditions if visiting the workout area matters to you.

The e-bike, guide, and included extras

The tour includes use of an electric bike and helmet, bottled water, and a small bottle of hand sanitizer attached to the bike. A photo package is also included. Photos are taken during the ride, edited, and emailed within seven days, which means you can stay focused on the route instead of asking someone in your group to document every stop.

The private format is a real benefit for families and small groups. You ride only with your own party, so the guide can work with your group’s pace and interests. Reviews describe Barb as friendly, funny, and patient, and note that she helped people unfamiliar with e-bikes learn the different controls. That reassurance is useful, but it does not change the basic requirement: you must already be comfortable riding a bicycle.

The minimum age is 13, and riders must be at least five feet tall and weigh at least 100 pounds. The maximum weight is 250 pounds, the bikes’ stated safety limit. Children 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Closed-toed shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a jacket are recommended; the bikes have saddlebags for storage.

Is $119 worth it?

At $119 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see the beach. You are paying for a private guided outing, an electric bike and helmet, water, the photo package, and a route that connects several Santa Monica and Venice sights in one go.

The value is strongest if you want an easy way to cover ground and appreciate the local context. You could ride the path independently, but you would need to arrange bikes and miss the guide’s stories and help with navigation. The photos also add something practical: your group can be in the pictures together rather than taking turns behind the camera.

The price is less compelling if you already have a bike, know the area, or mainly want a slow afternoon by the water. This tour keeps moving, and its stops are short. Gratuities are optional; a tip of about 15 percent is suggested if you enjoyed the outing.

Book about 19 days ahead on average, though that is an average rather than a guarantee of availability. Arrive 15 minutes before departure. Tours do not operate in rain, and poor weather can lead to a new date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start; cancellations or changes inside that window are not accepted.

Who should book this tour?

I would choose this ride if you want to see both Santa Monica and Venice in one active outing, like hearing local stories, and feel at ease on a bicycle. It suits families with teenagers, couples, and small groups who would rather share a private guide than follow a large group. The guide’s patient approach can make an e-bike feel approachable, even if you have not used one before.

I would skip it if you are not comfortable riding, want a beach day with long breaks, or are planning to explore the pier attractions at length. The tour is a guided coastal sampler, not a substitute for a full day in either beach town. If that sounds like the right balance, it is a practical way to get oriented and leave with a few good photos and local stories.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts about three hours. The stop times overlap, so they are not added on top of the total duration.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at Pedal or Not Electric Bike Tours, 214 Pier Avenue, Santa Monica, and ends back at the same meeting point.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates.

What is included in the price?

Use of an electric bike and helmet, bottled water, a small bottle of hand sanitizer, a professional guide, and an edited photo package are included.

Do I need to know how to ride a bike?

Yes. You must be comfortable riding a bike. The tour information does not require prior e-bike experience, and the guide can explain the bike controls.

What are the age, height, and weight requirements?

Riders must be at least 13 years old, at least five feet tall, and weigh at least 100 pounds. The maximum weight is 250 pounds. Anyone 17 or younger must be accompanied by an adult.

Can I ride my bike on the Santa Monica Pier?

No. Biking is not permitted on the pier. A quick walk may be possible by request, and extra time for the pier or Pacific Park should be planned before or after the tour.

What should I wear or bring?

Closed-toed shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a jacket are recommended. The bikes have saddlebags for storage.

When will I receive the tour photos?

Photos are taken during the tour, edited, and emailed within seven days.

What happens if it rains?

Tours do not operate in rain. If poor weather cancels the tour, you will be offered another date or a full refund.