Stranden in Los Angeles County

Top Southern California Beaches

This list features nine notable beaches along Southern California’s coastline, ranging from the lively Venice Beach with its iconic boardwalk and skate plaza to the rugged coves of El Matador State Beach. It includes Malibu’s Zuma Beach, the rocky Catalina Island, and popular piers like Manhattan Beach, showcasing diverse landscapes, recreational facilities, and natural scenic lookouts.

Blake Everett / CC0

Venice Beach

Lively public beach with a scenic sandy shore, boardwalk, and diverse recreational facilities including a skate plaza and outdoor gym.

amy mew / CC BY 2.0

El Matador Beach

A beautiful beach with many small coves hidden along the shore. Not very facilitated, but has its own charm.

Steve Voght / CC BY-SA 2.0

Zuma Beach

Zuma Beach is a county beach at 30000 Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California.

Tom Gally / Public domain

Catalina Island

Santa Catalina Island is a rocky island off the coast of Southern California in the Gulf of Santa Catalina.

Pimlico27 / CC BY-SA 4.0

Manhattan Beach

The Manhattan Beach Pier is a pier located in Manhattan Beach, California on the coast of the Pacific Ocean.

Torrance County Beach

County-managed beach located in the South Bay area of Los Angeles County.

Estrategy / CC-BY-SA-3.0

Hermosa Beach

Hermosa Beach is a beachfront city in Los Angeles County in the U.S. state of California, United States.

Traveler100 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Leo Carrillo State Beach

Leo Carrillo State Park is a state park in Los Angeles County, California, United States.

Ilpo's Sojourn / CC BY 2.0

Paradise Cove

A wonderful beach with many facilities at your disposal - the name says it. Beware, it gets very crowded on weekends.