Overview
Pacific Palisades is an affluent neighborhood on the West Side of Los Angeles in Southern California, adjacent to Santa Monica. The district is a primarily residential area with expensive houses amongst the hills offering incredible ocean views.
Pacific Palisades was devastated by the 2025 Palisades Fire, the most destructive fire in the history of Los Angeles. Anything listed below may or may not still be standing.
4 sights · 3 things to do · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Pacific Palisades
Eames House
The Eames House is a landmark of mid-20th century modern architecture that was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2006, and today serves as a pilgrimage site for nearly 20,000 visitors a year. It was constructed …
J. Paul Getty Villa
An extension of the world-famous Getty Center in West Los Angeles, the Getty Villa is a separate location built in the style of an ancient Roman villa that features statues and other cultural artifacts from Greece and Ro…
Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine Temple
The Lake Shrine Temple's 10-acre site has lush gardens and a large, natural spring-fed lake which is framed by natural hillsides, and is home to a variety of flora and fauna, including swans, ducks, koi, water turtles, a…
Will Rogers State Historic Park
Riviera Country Club
The Riviera Country Club is an exclusive private club that first opened in 1926 at a cost of $243,827, making it one of the most expensive golf clubs of its time. The championship golf course hosts an annual PGA tour eve…
Will Rogers State Beach
Offers swimming, volleyball, and a bike/running path. The beach will be familiar to fans of the TV show Baywatch.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jan–Dec. Summer highs reach about 70°F; winter lows dip to about 50°F. Wettest: Jan and Feb. (climate data from nearby Santa Monica)
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.
- LAX Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles — 10 mi away (major hub). Directions
- HHR Jack Northrop Field Hawthorne Municipal Airport, Hawthorne — 14 mi away. Directions
The town is accessible via the Pacific Coast Highway (SR-1; often abbreviated "PCH"), or by traveling along famed Sunset Boulevard, which acts as an east-west pass-through and terminates on the western boundary of the town itself. Temescal Canyon Blvd. originates at PCH and permits a northerly approach into the middle of town.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $250–$250 a night (typical $300), from 2 listed prices.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$290, mid-range ~$380, comfortable ~$420.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning J. Paul Getty Villa, Will Rogers State Beach
- Afternoon Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine Temple, Eames House
Day 2
- Morning Will Rogers State Historic Park, Temescal Gateway Park
- Afternoon Riviera Country Club
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
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
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By car
The town is accessible via the Pacific Coast Highway (SR-1; often abbreviated "PCH"), or by traveling along famed Sunset Boulevard, which acts as an east-west pass-through and terminates on the western boundary of the town itself. Temescal Canyon Blvd. originates at PCH and permits a northerly approach into the middle of town.
By bus
Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus #9 goes along Sunset Blvd. via Chautauqua Blvd., going through the heart of Pacific Palisades, from Santa Monica.
LA Metro bus 2 also travels along Sunset Blvd. all the way to PCH, and then loops back on Temescal Canyon Blvd. traversing much of the town.
By bicycle
You will be competing for space along the same access routes for vehicular traffic. Unless you are a capable urban cyclist, travel along Sunset Blvd. and PCH is not advised. Temescal Canyon Blvd. presents a long, steep grade, and you would do well to make sure your braking system is in tip-top shape should you double back!
By foot
Foot traffic from the coastline is common, especially during good weather. Both the west entrance into town via Sunset Blvd. and the uphill north entrance along Temescal Canyon Blvd. have uninterrupted sidewalks. The east entrance does not have clearly-marked walkways for at least 200 yards (180 meters) measured from the east border of town--walking along either side of Sunset Blvd. is very dangerous and ill-advised.
See
See Eames House (Case Study House No. 8)
The Eames House is a landmark of mid-20th century modern architecture that was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2006, and today serves as a pilgrimage site for nearly 20,000 visitors a year. It was constructed in 1949 by husband-and-wife design pioneers Charles and Ray Eames, and commissioned by Arts & Architecture magazine as part of a program challenging architects to design progressive, but modest, homes in Southern California. In 2004 the non-profit Eames Foundation was created, and today operates the historic house as a museum. Reservations are required to visit, and there is no public parking; street parking is available on Corona del Mar, which then requires a five minute walk up a shared private driveway.
See J. Paul Getty Villa
An extension of the world-famous Getty Center in West Los Angeles, the Getty Villa is a separate location built in the style of an ancient Roman villa that features statues and other cultural artifacts from Greece and Rome. You can visit both the Villa and the Getty Center in the same day (Wednesday through Sunday) and pay the parking fee only once (save your ticket stub), but don't expect to have any time left over for other activities.
See Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine Temple
The Lake Shrine Temple's 10-acre site has lush gardens and a large, natural spring-fed lake which is framed by natural hillsides, and is home to a variety of flora and fauna, including swans, ducks, koi, water turtles, and lotus flowers. A highlight of this spiritual sanctuary is the Mahatma Gandhi World Peace Memorial, where a portion of Gandhi's ashes is enshrined.
Do
Do Riviera Country Club
The Riviera Country Club is an exclusive private club that first opened in 1926 at a cost of $243,827, making it one of the most expensive golf clubs of its time. The championship golf course hosts an annual PGA tour event in February, and has played host to past major golf championships including the 1948 US Open, the 1983 and 1995 PGA Championships, the 1998 US Senior Open, and the 2017 US Amateur. It will be the venue for golf in the 2028 Olympic Games. While only members can book tee times, tickets for tournaments held at the course are available to the general public.
Do Temescal Gateway Park (Temescal Canyon)
From the Nahuatl and Spanish word for "sweat lodge", this nature reserve is the gateway from Pacific Palisades up into the Santa Monica Mountains, connecting to a vast network of hiking trails. Starting in Temescal Canyon, a nice 3-mile (5-km) loop combines the Temescal Canyon Trail and Temescal Ridge Trail, going past a waterfall and taking in views of Pacific Palisades mansions, Santa Monica, Los Angeles, and the Pacific Ocean. Bring water and wear sunscreen, as the Temescal Ridge Trail is pretty exposed.
Buy
Shop Palisades Village
This mall and the surrounding downtown area have most of Pacific Palisades' shopping. For a wider range, try Santa Monica. Scheduled to reopen in August 2026 after much of it was destroyed by the Palisades fire.
Shop Farmer's Market
A downtown farmer's market offering produce, handicrafts, flowers, and homemade food.
Sleep
Go next
- Santa Monica. A neighboring beach city that is popular with tourists and features a fun and famous pier.
- Malibu. Another neighboring city that is accessible via PCH. Malibu is a beach town that is home to many entertainment stars and offers great beaches, surfing and restaurants for visitors.
Nearby
Santa Monica
City / town · 46 listings · 3 mi away
Topanga
City / town · 7 listings · 5 mi away
Venice
City / town · 29 listings · 5 mi away
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
Park · 21 listings · 6 mi away
Marina del Rey
City / town · 52 listings · 7 mi away
Beverly Hills
City / town · 32 listings · 8 mi away
Culver City
City / town · 58 listings · 8 mi away
South Valley
City / town · 16 listings · 8 mi away
My experience
Write about your trip here. Notes save automatically in this browser as you type; back them up from My journal.