Overview
Hermosa Beach is a friendly town in the South Bay of Los Angeles. If you're looking for the "typical" Southern California beach town experience, you'll enjoy the laid back attitude, athleticism, and festive nightlife of the Beach Cities: Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, and Redondo Beach. Each provides a unique cultural experience, but they're connected by the strand paved path that runs along the beach.
By day, locals can be found playing volleyball on the beach, running/cycling/rollerblading along the Strand, or congregating around the Pier Avenue shopping area. By night, the bars and restaurants along Pier Avenue become crowded with young people, while the patios and decks of the tightly packed residences buzz with the chatter and bustle of private parties.
2 sights · 2 things to do · 2 places to eat · 3 bars & cafés · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Hermosa Beach
Hermosa Beach Pier
This pier has a statue dedicated to a pioneer in surfing. On a summer weekend, go to the Strand at the Hermosa Beach Pier, and see how many wheeled devices will pass you in 10 minutes. Bicycles, tricycles, roller skates,…
Hermosa Beach
The main thing to see in Hermosa Beach is the beach itself along with the bicycle and pedestrian walkway called The Strand. The sand and sun, combined with the tanned, fit beachgoers strolling down The Strand exemplify t…
Fiesta Hermosa
Since 1970, the "largest arts & crafts fair in Southern California". Over 400 artists and crafters are featured, including painters, photographers, ceramicists, jewelers, sculptors, and handicrafters. People flock to…
Hermosa Beach Firefighters Association Annual All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Breakfast
The HBFA Pancake breakfast is a fundraising event held on Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend and is a unique opportunity to join over 900 members of the community for a breakfast cooked and served buffet-style by your firefi…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jan–Dec. Summer highs reach about 78°F; winter lows dip to about 49°F. Wettest: Feb and Jan. (climate data from nearby Hawthorne)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- HHR Jack Northrop Field Hawthorne Municipal Airport, Hawthorne — 5 mi away. Directions
- LAX Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles — 5 mi away (major hub). Directions
From downtown or Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) take terminal shuttle or Green line to LAX/Green Line Station. Then take Beach Cities Transit (BCT) 109.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Hermosa Beach Pier, Hermosa Beach
- Lunch Good Stuff
- Afternoon Fiesta Hermosa, Hermosa Beach Firefighters Association Annual All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Breakfast
- Dinner Proudly Serving
- Evening Lighthouse Cafe
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
From downtown or Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) take terminal shuttle or Green line to LAX/Green Line Station. Then take Beach Cities Transit (BCT) 109.
The Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) is the main north-south route through Hermosa Beach.
Get around
On foot, bicycle, car, bus, or ferry. Use beach cities transit.
See
See Hermosa Beach
The main thing to see in Hermosa Beach is the beach itself along with the bicycle and pedestrian walkway called The Strand. The sand and sun, combined with the tanned, fit beachgoers strolling down The Strand exemplify the stereotype of California beach culture.
See Hermosa Beach Pier
This pier has a statue dedicated to a pioneer in surfing. On a summer weekend, go to the Strand at the Hermosa Beach Pier, and see how many wheeled devices will pass you in 10 minutes. Bicycles, tricycles, roller skates, scooters, roller blades, etc.
Do
- Grab a towel and soak up the sun on the beach.
- Rent a bicycle or rollerblades and travel along The Strand from Redondo Beach up to Santa Monica. Shops near Pier Avenue will rent bicycles or rollerblades.
- Play in the water. Although the water along California comes down from an Alaskan current and can be chilly, when the weather's warm, it can be very enjoyable. Shops around Pier Avenue will rent surfboards or you can buy a boogie board.
- Go fishing off the Hermosa Beach Pier.
Do Fiesta Hermosa
Since 1970, the "largest arts & crafts fair in Southern California". Over 400 artists and crafters are featured, including painters, photographers, ceramicists, jewelers, sculptors, and handicrafters. People flock to Fiesta Hermosa each year for not only the art fair, but for the Music which is always of the highest caliber. Fairgoers rave about the Food Court, which offers 18 different kinds of ethnic food choices. The festival offers something for everyone, there is a Kiddie Carnival that features a 30 foot slide, mechanical rides, rock climbing wall and bungee jump, and games for kids from 3 to 10 years old. Pony rides, a Petting Zoo, and facepainters are sure to delight the little ones. The festival takes place every Memorial Day and Labor Day Weekend (Saturday, Sunday and Monday) in downtown Hermosa Beach, along Pier and Hermosa Avenue. With the ocean as a backdrop, Hermosa Beach is an ideal place for a summer festival with temperatures of 80°F and balmy sea breezes.
Do Hermosa Beach Firefighters Association Annual All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Breakfast
The HBFA Pancake breakfast is a fundraising event held on Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend and is a unique opportunity to join over 900 members of the community for a breakfast cooked and served buffet-style by your firefighters. Eat breakfast inside the firehouse, meet the firefighters, and bid on many of the exciting auction items all to benefit your community. Kids can sit in the fire trucks and ambulances, get their photos taken with the firefighters and Sparky the Fire Dog, and see the inside of the firehouse.
Eat
Eat Good Stuff
A South Bay landmark, Good Stuff has good lunch/brunch food at affordable prices. There's a large outdoor patio facing the beach with great opportunities for people watching as they bike or skate down The Strand. Fills up fast on weekend mornings.
Eat Proudly Serving
Burgers. The restaurant is off of the Strand and as with most beach cities parking is strictly enforced, read the signs.
Drink
Nightlife is largely centered along Pier Ave, a hot spot for singles and the young.
Drink Lighthouse Cafe
A venerable jazz institution in Los Angeles County, the Lighthouse has also seen the best of the LA area's rock music get its first start.
Drink Patrick Malloy's
Irish pub with suburbanites letting off steam for the weekend.
Drink Sharkeez
Young party crowd, always crowded. Good food.
Sleep
Nearby
Redondo Beach
City / town · 22 listings · 1 mi away
Manhattan Beach
City / town · 23 listings · 2 mi away
Lawndale
City / town · 2 listings · 3 mi away
Torrance
City / town · 21 listings · 4 mi away
El Segundo
City / town · 15 listings · 4 mi away
Hawthorne
City / town · 9 listings · 4 mi away
Gardena
City / town · 9 listings · 5 mi away
Playa del Rey
City / town · 5 listings · 6 mi away
My experience
Write about your trip here. Notes save automatically in this browser as you type; back them up from My journal.