Palisades Park Reviews

A must-see walk along the oceanfront, but we travelled with our young family and the number of homeless people was surprising. That wouldn't normally be an issue but when you have your 4 year old asking why there's a man peeing against a tree, it kinda ruins the whole experience.

We strolled through the park on our way to the Pier. It has lovely views of the beach and ocean. There are homeless people camped out in areas of the park and sleeping on benches.

Easy path to stroll with a good view of the mountains on one side and the pier on the other. Amazing to see and osprey fly in and perch in a tree with so many people around.

A lovely setting on the bluffs above the beach framed by towering palm trees, carpeted with grass and dotted with shrubs, flowers and other vegetation. This area is replete with tourists, bicyclists, homeless people and exercise classes. I've seen intense fitness boot camps near Lululemon-clad thirtysomethings working on their downward dogs. Very Southern California.

A very beautiful place to sit & take in the view over the bluff to the ocean.
Great pathways & newly planted grass & well maintained landscape.
One of the most pleasant places to relax, meditate, talk or just gain a wonderful perspective.

Overlooking the ocean in a beautiful setting, you might just come across a location from a recent TV show or movie.

Nice walk with good views of Santa Monica beach. Start near San Vicente to avoid the homeless who hang out near the pier. Bring your own food and beverage as the only close options are the sketchy food trucks

The Palisades Park is a great spot for pictures. It is lined with trees so you can find spots for a picnic or to relax. There are tables if you want to host a party. Walk to the end of the Park for a nice view of the California Coastline.

So this is a very nice area to walk or run, it runs along the cliffs in Santa Monica, with views of the Pacific Coast Highway and the expansive beaches of Santa Monica.

The ramp to PCH is currently under construction so the vehicle traffic can be a pain but a nice walk along the bluffs is fun

Enjoy it most in the afternoon and early evening for a walk and getting some wonderful beach views and amazing sunsets.

You can spend the whole day in and around this park as it is next to the pier, shopping, restaurants and there are so many hotels in front of the park where you can stay. Beautiful plantation and benches to relax.

Easy to navigate walkways with lovely views to the ocean. Benches available for resting. Public bathrooms available. Lots of metered street parking. Lots of dog walkers. There are homeless people in the area which is upsetting. It does remind us of the disparity between the have and have nots.

A peaceful easy walking area. Very safe and pleasant , with great views of the sea. Grassy areas to sit for a picnic, easy parking but
Must use the meters as they come by often.good for dog walking also.

Shame about the number of homeless people sleeping on the benches etc. Great view though and lovely flowers.

This park runs along side the beach and has lots of seats for the weary traveller. It is well looked after and maintained. There are quite a few hobos that use the seats as beds, but they are no problem. Very nice place to visit.

I don't think there is any more beautiful place to walk, run or just stop and look in the USA. No shops and stores, nothing but great scenery from tall cliffs that overlook one of the most beautiful bays in the wolrd.

The graded dirt surface was easy on the knees and the beautiful landscaping made for very relaxing strolls in either direction

You think it'll be an actual park, but it's just like less than half a mile length. It's beautiful, though. There's a lot of benches where you can sit and just admire the palm trees and the views of Santa Monica beach. It was literally right next to third street promenade. It's a small place, you can't do much. You just probably can stay there for 10 minutes then walk out to the pier

Went for a walk here after I was on the pier. It's a nice walk with some beautiful views of the ocean and surrounding area. A great place to spend some time.

Rent a bike, use te perfect bike roads, enjoy the beachlife and admire a fantastic sunset
Enjoy a healty fruit drink in a sun chair!

I love walking in this park. It has beautiful views of the beach and Pacific coast highway. There is also entertainment.

Great path along the cliff... safe during the day,,, watch out for runners, dogs, bicycles and the homeless (not usually a bother, may ask you for money). The trees and plants are quite beautiful as is the view of the ocean (Malibu to the north,,, Santa Monica Pier to the south). Usually a nice sunset... lots of photographers on a good night!

A beautiful park that overlooks the ocean and pier.
It's narrow, but long and is a picture taking must.
Gorgeous flowers, trees and more.
A great walk, but there tends to be homeless people around.
I give this park 4 stars and not 5 because of the homeless who take up so many benches and don't care.
George Vreeland Hill

Many homeless people over there (they are friendly and good to say at least helo) there are restrooms and drinking watrer dispensors

At the beginning of darkness on July 3 we arrived in Palisades Park to view the fireworks from below. There were only a few of us but we were ready. Just before the fireworks began we could hear the distinctive sound of Bruce Springsteen (The Boss) and it was not recorded. We were looking at him on stage. The sound made its way up clearly to our positions above Pacific Coast Highway. Then the stage went silent and we could see the fireworks in the distance over Santa Monica Bay. We could actually see two events at the same time and the music from the stage below was part of the fireworks! After 25 minutes, the fireworks were over and Bruce returned to the stage and the small numbers of people remaining at the club.

Palisades Park is a marvelous park without this special event once a year. It gives all visitors a great view of the pier and Santa Monica Beach below. It is a great place to run, walk, exercise your dog or ride your bike. Don't miss it day or night.

Narrow park set atop bluffs overlooking Pacific Coast Highway and the beach. Plenty of palm trees and park benches. The people watching is another whole attraction with personal trainers, moms and babies, old folks, dogs, everybody. This is the most beautiful and special part of Santa Monica. It's worth the trip. SM Pier starts at the south end.

Could be called the Santa Monica Promenade, because it is located above the Santa Monica Beach atop a cliff and offers beautiful views. You can go down stairs and across a covered bridge to reach the beach. If you want to take a walk, this is the perfect place. There are restrooms and drinking fountains.

If you truly want to appreciate the beauty of Santa Monica, take a little time to park and walk Palisades Park. This little stretch is so beautiful with its sweeping panoramic view of the Santa Monica Bay, beaches, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Santa Monica Mountains and Catalina Island. This is well worth the time it takes to stroll and breathe in the fresh air. It is also a great place to have a picnic or lunch away from the office. On most days it is easy to find parking along Ocean Avenue or in the neighborhood streets.

This comes to life late afternoon early evening, where street dancers and vendors are trying to earn a living. Unfortunately, there are a number of homeless people to be seen, but they do not approach you. Worth a visit if just only to say you've been.

The Palisades Park is located between Ocean Avenue and the Santa Monica Beach. It is a great place for jogging, walking, or sitting to enjoy sunset on the beach. The palm trees and flower bushes along the walking path make the park more of the big garden, not just a green space. The area next to the Pier Gate is usually popular for street performance. There are plenty of benches to sit and enjoy people and the beach, then travelers can cross Ocean Avenue to eat at many good restaurants or shop at the Mall.

I made my own 5 K through this park along Ocean Ave. Nice dirt trail to travel on. Beautiful scenary and peaceful places to stop with pretty landscaping and it does not hurt that everything overlooks the Pacific Ocean. Pretty flowers and there is a nice area with several tables under a canopy of trees as well. Peaceful refuge.

I wouldn't call this a park, more like a long green walk. I gave this a low rating, because of two things. The first was that there were quite a few homeless lying around, especially near the pier area, which didn't make it an appealing sight. The other annoying thing were the demonstrators, and I'm sure their cause was just and genuine, but which annoyed the crap out of me. The speaker was extremely loud and I really didn't think it was appropriate to describe all the horrible abuse and suffering in such detail. This isn't the right place for it. And rather than getting my sympathy, I just got really annoyed about it, which spoiled the rest of the walk. I wished that girl with the lovely singing voice has been able to drown out the laments of the demonstrator.

Apart from that, the 'park' is a long walk along the coast with a bit of greenery alongside it. I prefer walking on the beach, to be honest, where it's a bit quieter.

Lovely to walk along the bluff...it is a very historic area in the history of Santa Monica and the Palisades.

This is a great place for a walk with lovely views. There are public restrooms and water fountains. Check out the erosion of the bluff while looking down at the beach. The old walking path has completely fallen off the bluff.

Best deal in Santa Monica! I love going to Palisades Park to watch the sunset, go for a walk (3 miles round trip from San Vicente to the Santa Monica pier), and enjoy the ocean views. The public bathrooms are clean and there are picnic tables available. It is one of my favorite things about living in Santa Monica.

Long narrow park running the length of Ocean blvd in Santa Monica. Perched above the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean. Meandering trail closest to the ocean overs benches or low hanging branches for sitting in the shade. Nooks in the path host plain air painters or street musicians. Varied plant life keeps the view ever changing. Starter paths near the road are better suited for faster travel by foot, bike, blades etc. Food trucks park alongside too. Lawn expanses between the paths will often have groups doing tai chi, yoga, etc.

lots of interesting people to see as you stroll along or sit and chill. street entertainers, other walkers, tourists, locals.

Absolutely beautiful park with well manicured grounds and views second to none. However, the park has been taken over and over run by the homeless population. 90% of the benches are the permanent sleeping quarters during the day for this group. Thus, the park is rendered virtually useless unless you’re just wanting to take a quick stroll through, walking your dog.

Rats running wild at Palisades Park next to Santa Monica Pier. I seen 2 rats running around Palisade Park tonight. I have been to that park twice in my life and both times I seen rats at the park.

I witnessed several people that appeared to be homeless/mentally challenged. They were not bothersome but were foraging through the garbage and sleeping on the grass. They have a right to be in the park. It is not comfortable to be in their presence when one is attempting to enjoy the scenery and beauty of the park. Also, it was packs of runners parading through the park, way to many running together taking up space on the small trails.

This is a nice little bit of greenery overlooking the beach. It's currently being improved with additional features and more grassy areas. A lot of the homeless hang out there. It's very common to see them sitting and sleeping everywhere, but they don't bother people.

Beautiful, well used park overlooking the ocean. Can't beat the scenery and landscaping. The city does an extraordinary job maintaining such a wonderful resource.

I was there in April, weather was cool but still great for a morning run, park is beautiful overlooking the ocean and great for walking or running, I even saw 1 "star" walking.

Walking along the park, stopping to sit on a bench or looking at the ocean are all great ways to spend an afternoon or morning here. Watching the sunset is a most beautiful experience here, especially since you can also see Malibu and the mountains.

It is a lovely park where there there are plenty of seats to sit and take in the sun. Unfortunately there are a number of homeless who use the park benches for sleeping so it can be hard to get a seat sometimes.

This is one of the most well-kept parks on the west side. The views of Santa Monica State Beachq are great and you can see the coastline forever --- from Malibu to the North to Rancho Palos Verdes to the South. The flowers, trees, and succulents are impeccably manicured, and if you want to amble or run, you've got an inner and outer path. Dog walking is popular as is people watching. Shaded areas are plentiful. One caveat. This is not a park of the NYC Central Park type. It stretches lengthwise 3 miles and is the width of three or four sidewalks. A great place to discover why people move to SoCal. Best time to visit are weekday mornings or afternoons. You can walk to the 3rd Street Promenade in no time.

This is a beautiful area along the ocean for walking. It stretches for miles. The public parks in SM are well maintained. The only very negative is all the homeless people sleeping and camping out in the parks.

Great place to kick back watch ocean from on high, do Thai Chi, relax in the sun. Clean, many benches, great landscaping, several ways to beach.
Unfortunately there are few homeless folks.

Try the northmost part which is a nice 80 foot elevation above the Pacific Coast Highway #1. We got there by walking up the "secret steps" from Estrada Drive then west on Ocean Drive to the overlook. We got there a few minutes before sunset and enjoyed ~15 of the sunset and beautiful afterglow. Nice residential neighborhood. A combination of local sun setters and tourists (ike us) snapping pictures.

Went early one morning to do the Stairs and we did three sets of stairs then walked from Adeline St all the way to the beach front and all I can say it the morning was well spent. Good for the Mind, Body, and Soul. After the stairs the Water feel great on your feet and the views are spectacular. Definitely a must do.

Tons of Shops, rides and stores. Concerts during the summer. Eric Burdon and the Animals were playing that day we went. Rides are about $8 per person. Beautiful views. Took the Ferris wheel. Worth the stop. Always some performer entertaining.

A great place to walk through, nice and well maintained lawns & gardens.

Also you can see the end of Route 66 land mark. Recommend to all.

A wonderful power walk or stroll in Palisades Park ending with a sunset over the Pacific, there is nothing better. Brind yur dog or your friend or a date or elderly parent and it is just a wonderfully relaxing environment or one where you can work up a sweat running or cycling!

This is a linear park...situated along the bluffs, above Highway 1 and the beach, and adjacent to downtown Santa Monica. It's basically a wide spot along the road, with a walking path and benches...and a beautiful overlook. We used this several times as a place to spend time while waiting for our family members to get done with a doctor's appointment! Parking is metered, and plenty of it.

Absolutely the best place for a walk or jog. The park is beautiful. The ocean views are just the best. A must.

The beautiful views from the park is worth a visit. Lots of people walk their dogs here. While most are responsible, watch out for the dog poo from lazy people who don't pick up after their pet!

overall a beautiful view of the ocean, in the mornings there are a lot of groups exercising, but watch for homeless people in some areas.

I don't mean to sound snarky, but this little stretch of grassy area is running a pretty close second to Venice in terms of weirdos per square foot (particularly closer to the pier)!! Ok, that might have been a slight exaggeration, but it does house its share. (Nothing can touch Venice!!) It does have a temperate climate, nice shade trees, grass to lie down on, and unsuspecting (bighearted) tourists with cash.....Who could ask for anything more? AND, there are much better views out there that don't have the PCH in them!!

This is a very long and narrow park along the beach. There are a lot of homeless people in the park, but besides that it's a very lovely walk.

Great open walking areas and a gorgeous view. Bit sad to see homeless sleeping there. You can see fit locals too.

we love to walk the length of the park- the view is spectacular- the flowers are beautiful - the dogs are friendl

It's a park near the sea and I guess the sunset is as spectacular from here as it was from my room at Shutters or indeed from a beach bar on Clearwater Beach. If you want somewhere nice and green with a bit of atmosphere to walk around this fits the bill.

It is the best place for any time walk, though i walked through in the evening, the beauty of this is have one the best views of the beach and pacific oceans, nice breeze, also see misty mountains far and sunset.

Really like this park. It grows on you. It's long and narrow but seriously the best spot to view the Californian sunsets. You can go jogging and do whatever. Worth a stroll around and people watch. Definitely watch the sunset.

Beside the pier at Santa Monica is palisades Park. The linear park is on the cliffs above the beach. Shady manicured. Plenty of entertainers in the busy places in the park. They were excellent. Enjoyed the serenity further away from the pier section. Drinks coffee available on the other side of the street. Hop on hop off bus stops right near the park.

Next to the pier and very relaxing! Lovely views of the beach, seemed safe. Worth checking out to take a walk.

Nice view, you van see the beach and the pier at several points. There are many homeless people, but they do no harm to anyone. Police is driving by constantly.

Palisades Park is absolutely beautiful if you can avoid the trash and the average of 10 homeless people per block! The Santa Monica City Government is doing a bang-up job!!

After a great dinner at Dina's Diner in Culver City, we usually drive over to the cliff in Santa Monica to walk off the meal. It's beautiful and never really crowded. You can sit and watch the ocean or walk around the wonderful plants and trees. If you want just to contemplate the quiet of the ocean or people watch, I highly recommend the Pacific Palisades Park of Santa Monica.

The Park is situated just beyond the end of the Pier. In the twilight you can look across to the Pier all lit up or watch an amazing sunset. It's beauty is where it is rather than what it is. It is in reality, no more than an elevated boardwalk. But in my opinion the best. Go there at Sunset, and you will be totally amazed. It's also handy for 3rd Street Promenade, and the Pier. You will never go thirsty or hungry!

This is a lovely place to take a short of long stroll with a friend or family under the palm trees and to enjoy the overlook to the beach and ocean below. An excellent place to take pictures. Dogs on a leash are welcome.Beautiful condos line Ocean Avenue, providing a very pleasant atmosphere. There is usually a nice breeze.

It's a very nice park to enjoy the ocean view or just relax on one of the many benches there before you hit your next spot. Some scenes from Ocean eleven was filmed there .

We walked through Palisades Park daily. There were a lot of homeless people but, they never asked for anything. Food trucks available also. Lots of locals running and walking, seemed a bit aggravated with tourists but, well worth walking to see the sights!

Nice attraction on way to Santa Monica Pier. Love the palm trees. A nice, clean, safe place to just hang out.

Beach views, people watching, beautiful little rose garden and sculptures. Always nice to walk along.

Miles of ocean bluffs provide the setting. Well planted and maintained park goes almost the entire length of Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica. Ocean view benches, fine gravel paths, interesting tree shaded picnic area, toilet facilities, rose garden, etc. Safe and well lit day and night.

1.5 miles of View, View and more View
From Colorado to Adelaide (about 1.5 miles each way)

Start at the pier and cannon and end at the totem pole
If you walk it, an hour each way--
First 1/2 mile is business along ocean blvd then into residential

Great ocean and sunset views

Families picnicking and hanging out
Old people, young people
Locals and tourists
Trainers with clients
Walkers and runners
Dogs with their owners--Dog friendly on leashes

Some homeless, but that’s Santa Monica. Don't let it bother you.

150 feet or so above PCH
View, View and more View

This used to be a very nice park to walk in. It still is from appearances but there are some issues--people not picking up after their pets (which seems to be an issue all over not just here but it does detract from the park) and way too many people smoking weed where people are bringing their families, kids, etc. I would recommend people avoid areas where they congregate such as by the cannon. It brings down the enjoyment for everyone.

The park located on bluffs right after sandy Santa Monica beach. It offers beautiful scenery of Santa Monica Pier, beach and coastal California line up to Malibu. Palm trees and their melodically sounds in wind bring beautiful and tranquil atmosphere to park. Especially watching sunset is breathtaking here.

We walked through this park several times during our trip to Santa Monica. The views of the pacific were lovely and the lawns were manicured. The problem was we found it impossible to walk along and truly enjoy the views and scenery when there were so many homeless people in need laid around on the grass. There were also a lot of people constantly trying to stop you to sell you a tour of some description which got pretty annoying.

Beautiful park with spectacular views. Great place to watch the sun set over the Pacific. Located above the Santa Monica Pier. A MUST see!

When you walk there, you will have the view of the sea, being above sea level (maybe 20-40 metres?)

Beyond that, there is nothng special in the park and it is not very shady either.

Amazing views and very close to the beach, pier and downtown. I only gave it 3 stars because it is overran by homeless people and addicts. They were sleeping on many of the park benches and this was the daytime. We parked by a meter on the street $2 an hour or there is covered secure parking in garages.

Buy an ice-cream and sit under the palm trees, looking out across the beautiful Pacific Ocean. You will be pinching yourself to make sure you are not dreaming!

After walking the Santa Monica Pier, we turned left and continued north to the nearby Palisades Park. Ocean views and breezes through the tall palm trees and green landscape provided a perfect venue for a stroll. As with the pier, panhandlers were present.

This place is great to go for a jog with a human friend or a furry friend. Its never too crowded, but it never feels empty.

One of my all time favorite things to do when I come to Santa Monica, is walk the entire length of the park. It overlooks the Santa Monica beach and pier, amazing view of the ocean, boardwalk, pier and some unique homes on the beach. There are usually bikers, joggers and lots of people doing group yoga in the park, families picnicing, couples lounging and of course a lot of homeless. I've never been bothered at the park in the 10 years I've been coming back to visit many times and enjoy it alone, with friends and on business trips. You can walk over the walkway to the beach. Its a must do item when coming to Santa Monica I highly recommend enjoying this beauty.

Palisades Park is not safe. Witnessed a man get attacked from behind by what appeared to be a vagrant high on drugs. The vagrant kicked him in the head repeatedly until police arrived and arrested the vagrant. I read that the victim had his jaw broken in two places and suffered a concussion.

I love going to SM on business because I can run here. A round trip of about 2 miles, it is a clean and safe place to run most anytime. Few lights to cross, views to die for. At the north end, turn right on the street and go about two blocks to reach the famed Santa Monica steps - hundreds upon hundreds of steps for the killer workout of all time. Said to be a celebrity hot spot, but I have always found people of all walks of life getting their workout groove on.

The park is lovely. Beautiful flora and fauna everywhere you look, not to mention views of the ocean. The park goes on for miles so it’s great for walking, biking, rollerblades or skates. Ok now the downside - homelessness is a big problem. I don’t live in California and am not used to seeing this everywhere. They have become invisible to the locals but I found it disturbing and upsetting. As you’re walking and enjoying the park you’ll be confronted with many homeless people and the smell of urine every so often. That’s just the way it is.

Starting from the border of the Pacific Ocean coastline and the Pacific Highway road, extending parallel to the Pacific view and the Santa Monica city settlement, on the enormous cliff (cliff), one end of which ends at Route 66 - Santa Monica Piere, is a 2.5 km long, insatiably beautiful, decorated with palm trees. A walking/jogging/walking/watching/resting park where squirrels and bee-eaters live freely and safely. The geographical cliff type location that makes Santa Monica Santa Monica is unique to this park. There is access to the beach and the sea through wonderful passages every 50 meters, it is always kept clean and well-maintained, with toilets, sinks and drinking water springs at sufficient intervals, where natural life is unconditionally protected and the needs of civilization are met. I respect this system that it meets.

This is not actually a Park, but a two or three mile meandering walkway, that is filled with lovely shady trees, with above-the-ground curvy roots, Cannons, Statues and Monuments. The elevated path above the bluffs gives people spectacular views of the Ocean, the Beach and the iconic Santa Monica Pier.

The Park is clean, and is nicely maintained. In the early morning, it is serene, peaceful, and a place of solace. Many emotions are experienced as you walk along the Park -- The natural beauty amazes you, the gorgeous scenery dazzles you, and the homeless people everywhere sadden you.

We enjoyed several strolls along the park in the mornings and in the afternoons, yet, never got tired of the scenery. It is the best area to view drop-dead gorgeous sunsets. And, do not forget the Route 66 sign on one wall of the hut that is the Visitor’s Center, directly across from the pretty blue building of The Georgian Hotel.

There are lots of great Hotels and Restaurants across the street – many of them with windows overlooking the park and the ocean.

Take the walk, at least once, if you are in the area.

We did a nice loop by walking through this little park, made some nice pis of the beach, strolled back on the beach. Park is much smaller than I had thought.
Only would go if you plan to visit the pier or downtown - not for an extra trip.

Nice little park next to Santa Monica pier. Beautiful sceneries & nice, lushful trees. Nice, relaxing walk. Very crowded sometimes!

...on your own, walking a dog, romantic stroll, or with family or friends; meditate, jog, or stare at the ocean; an hour; for few minutes ,or hours...sunset views can't be beat!

One of our favorite things to do is to get the dogs into the car and drive down to Palisades Park. It may be necessary to park a few blocks away, but it's worth it to stroll through the park,and the rose garden, and gaze at the ocean, and the sunset, if we've timed it correctly. The dogs always get very excited as we turn the corner from Montana Avenue, especially the shih tzu. Living near this, why do we take vacations?

Located just above the beach and just North of the Santa Monica pier, this park offers a tranquil setting for a casual walk with beautiful views of the ocean. A pleasant change from the congestion of the pier. Beautifully planted with mature vegetation that has been here for decades. As is true for all of Santa Monica, the park is home to many homeless folks; but they seem to stay to themselves and do not engage visitors.

On our way from the on street, metered parking to the SM pier we waked through this nice little park. Folks were walking, jogging and riding scooters through the area. We did find several folks that decided to "stake a claim" in the park for their personal use. They did not appear to be residents of anywhere else so I guess this works here. We enjoyed the views.

The views are beautiful along the park. There are so many people walking, running, and riding bikes. Another great place to people watch.

This park is typical Southern California and has been the background for a number of films. Really nice park for a walk or to just hang out and people watch

A fantastic place to walk and the view is spectacular, you can see all the way to Catalina on a clear day, The beach is so beautiful and clean, just a super place to be

Palisades Park is one of the most beautiful places in Santa Monica. There are panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean just beyond the massive bluff and you won't catch a better sunset in this part of town!

This is the ideal place to go for a walk, lay out a blanket and read, play with your dog, practice some yoga or have a picnic. There are park benches if you don't like to sit in the grass.

Pro tip:
- Pack a blanket or beach towel
- Bring some snacks
- Arrive about 20 minutes before sunset for world-class views

I'm not trying to take on the nation's homeless problem but just giving a review/heads up about what the park is like. We had no idea the amount of mentally ill homeless that are in Santa Monica especially this area surrounding the pier. Laying on every park bench, screaming at themselves, lying in the grass, etc. It was a real eye opener to us. We did not feel safe after dark.

I felt pretty safe running in the part at about 8am on a Wednesday morning. It is nicely landscaped with pretty views of the ocean and pier.

It is called the park. However, other than the footpath and a little bit of grass beside it, it really does not pass muster as an actual park. There are of course very nice views of the beach and at the civic ocean. Otherwise, there's not much to say.

Super views for taking photos of the beach or the pier. we definitely enjoyed our stroll through the park to the pier!

It is a picturesque shoreline park on Ocean Avenue that can be quickly navigated in the same vicinity of Santa Monica Pier.

One of my favorite places to watch a sunset... especially at the northern part called inspiration point! I went here with my Dad the other day we had a great time. We witnessed of the most beautiful sunsets I have seen in years! It's always a little less busy than the park by the promenade and you can actually get some peace :) love it !

Had a birthday party in the park, picnic tables under wonderful shade trees, with views of the beach and the pier just below the cliffs. Within 3 blocks there's a nice public restroom, rose gardens, amazing perennials in bloom. People watching is top notch here with all the dog walkers, baby strollers, runners, lovers holding hands, and even some folks in wheelchairs and walkers. Everything is well maintained, clean.

A walk along the Palisades Park in Santa Monica is a real delight. You get a nice ocean breeze and can stop and look out at the beach and ocean. You see interesting people. There is a pretty rose garden. It is flat, so is an easy walk. Don't start at Colorado Street because there are a lot of homeless characters around that corner. Start at Broadway or Santa Monica Blvd. You can walk all the way to San Vicente.

On the beach you get to play in the ocean, but you can't experience its grandeur. For that you need to stand on the bluff overlooking the Pacific, high above Santa Monica Beach. Palisades Park is a swath of green that runs the length of downtown Santa Monica with over a mile of ocean views, mature shade trees, arbors and a sweet rose garden. It features winding trails for walking and a great jogging path as well as acres of grass for just hanging out. One of the most beautiful spots in a beautiful city.

Visited the park along the way of visiting santa monica pier stopped. To walk along it and to take some awsome pictures of the view over looking the bluffs and the ocean always busy with people here too

The park goes from the pier entrance all the way up through north Santa Monica. The view is always spectacular with the palm trees and the beautiful ocean below. The best place in all of Santa Monica. The only downside is the large population of homeless people who are occasionally aggressive.

Although this park is part of a string of parks along Ocean Blvd, it has lovely trees for shade and interest, and several parallel walkways for strollering, walking/running, or biking. Several food trucks are parked along the road for refreshments too. Public restrooms easily accessible. Not much room for frisbee throwing, but you'll often see a dozen or so doing tai chi.

So
Sad to See Such a Wealthy Area with Million Dollar Residences and homelessness everywhere in the Beach area to The Streets. it Seems They have made Careers out of Homelessness either because of necessity or inability to Pay for any Worthy Housing

great views all the way around easy to get to and walk around good view of the Santa Monica pier and the bay

This park has a camera obscura that people can go and see free of charge. Unlike Griffith camera obscura, this one you can turn and see the desired area.
Please follow the local rules. I enclosed a picture where it says not to feed wild animals, people put food next to the sign!
Too many homeless people in the park, but they are harmless.. at least in day time I feel safe.

It was a nice place to walk along under the trees and watch the world go by, we watched street performers entertaining the crowds and skaters pass by. I noticed a petanque/boules pitch, so that would be a nice place to play if you are into the sport. We saw a few unfortunate homeless people in the park while we were there, they didn't beg, but it was sad to see them. Overall, a nice afternoon.

Palisades Park is on the bluff of the Santa Monica beach. Very nice park to walk or take a jog along the paths. At one end the path goes to the Santa Monica stairs an the other end takes you in front of the Santa Monica pier. Lots of things to do on the pier (food, entertainment, etc). If you want some outdoor activities, this is your place to go.

Visited on US trip with SOTC group. This park is located along the Ocean avanue in Santa Monica city spreading in a 26.4-acre area in Santa Monica, California. The park offers views of the Pacific Ocean and the coastal mountains. The park extends over 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the Santa Monica Pier at the south to Adelaide Drive at the north. This long linear park is lined with plants and trees. There are benches, picnic areas and restrooms. A nice place for family picnic.

I love strolling along the park. It's nice. There are quite a few homeless these days and at night the rats are insane. They are scattering everywhere! I had never seen a rat before visiting Santa Monica. I have now seen my fair share. I wish they could do something about that.

This park is a perfect spot to start your jog, walk along the edge with an ocean view, or do some yoga. There are running paths here. It's a shallow but long park if that makes sense. It is full of people exercising and relaxing. It's not a park with fields to play sports or playgrounds.

A great park which is relaxing with a great view of the Bay and Pier. The park has lots of Palm trees, gardens and toilets. Park is easily accessed by car or public transport. Heaps of restaurants and shopping close by

The walk along the cliffs of Palisades Park are easy to reach from downtown Santa Monica. Stretching for miles, you can easily walk and enjoy the ocean breezes. You will see homeless people sleeping under trees, but the area is largely clean. If you look over the edge, you can see the effects of weather and erosion - the walkway is completely gone and rerouted in one section.

Pet friendly, nice walk or biking, beautiful view of the bay, close to downtown and plenty of restaurants.

Get above the beach & walk the Palisades Park path. Lovely grass areas to picnic on, great views --a real gem in the heart of Santa Monic?

Great shade, perfect weather and unless you get there early and stake out a table or a grassy area with a view, Fathers Day and any other major summer holiday is not a good idea because the inland population will be there too and it becomes a loud noisy mob of humanity

Do yourself a favor and go jogging along this stretch of land and you'll be more than glad you did. The beautiful architecture along the way is something to be desired. The pacific palisades is absolutely beautiful and charming. Also, there's shopping, great cafes and friendly people.

It's the best for running/jogging in the morning with the view of the pch and the ocean. Easy for parking and it's nice for picnic too. Make sure to check out the rose garden. Stop and smell the roses, delicious :)

Full of down and outs. It's just a walk a long the cliff edge overlooking the beach. Nothing that special

Having grown up in Southern California, then moved to Asia, this would not have been one of my strongest recommendations. As a boy, the beach held the fascination. But this park is a wonderful stroll, with lots of decorative trees and plants, and the ocean and coastal view is wonderful. If you stay in one of the nearby hotels, this becomes almost an extension of the hotel grounds. It is also a good place to take photos, such as close ups, with a plant or tree in the picture.

Palisades Park is the perfect length for a nice, casual stroll along the beach cliffs to relax and enjoy the ocean view. It's light to medium busy depending on which day of the week you visit. The week-ends are a bit busier. It has a beautiful "rose garden" with the rose bushes blooming in the late spring, interesting sculptures and you can walk across the sky bridge to access the beach area.

It's a nice park but could do with more seating to enable people to sit and enjoy the area. It is only a few minutes walk from the park to the pier.

The park is a great setting and I have always enjoyed the views and vibe but the homeless and pan handling have really ruined it. I am sure there are good days and bad days here and maybe this was a bad day but I think I will just walk on the other side of the street

Our Accommodation was across the road from this park and it was delightful to look out, see the Park & ocean beyond. Santa Monica is home to a large number of "homeless ex-veterans" who are well cared for here, but no matter how much accommodation is offered to them, quite a large number still prefer to bed down for the night under their favourite tree. It is not, in the least disturbing, but I believe the park is so well maintained and cared for because of this.

There are truly amazing views from this Park, day and night. It is utilised very well by joggers, strollers, bikers, and just people in general, PARTICULARLY just prior to sunset as the Park sits high above the shoreline and allows a huge number of people to take photos of a stunning view.

Long path, great for running, jogging, walking etc. Amazing view of the beach and Santa Monica Pier. There is also a pretty rose garden.

I'm not sure where others went to relax and hang out because when we were there it was full of homeless people. It was also small and had lots of tourists riding electric scooters throughout. It stank of urine and pot.

Nice view and a bit calm, despite the surrounding traffic, if you don't mind the homeless. Go there in the morning

Don't get me wrong here. Homeless people are people too. I don't expect to take a trip to indulge a fantasy that homelessness does not exist. But Santa Monica has a massive problem with the homeless. It really detracts from the experience because I could not walk a block without either being solicited or witnessing some baffling and sketchy behavior. You just are bombarded all the time with it. I had to head to downtown L.A. to get a break from it. People following you into coffee shops, passing out in the middle of the street, etc, etc. Hey things happen sometimes but when they are happening every 5 minutes 24 hours a day it's just too much. Especially when you just come to get some sun and relax a little. Palisades itself would be a great park if you felt like you could sit on the grass without worrying about getting jabbed by a hypodermic needle. Or avoid disturbing some guy on the grass who is sleeping on the grass with all his possessions next to him. It was a funny contrast with the wealth and poverty put side by side constantly. Even visiting your own city's slum areas I feel you will feel less awkward than coming here. Sorry Santa Monica. I desperately want to like you but damn. Get it together.

The park is long and narrow, quite busy on the weekends. As you walk south and are near the pier entrance there are numerous homeless (no comment.) The park is over manicured if that is possible. It seems they have more help then they need, when I sit in the rose garden to read the newspaper it is hard to relax as the gardeners are always cutting the grass, etc. (when it does not need cutting in my opinion) or talking to the visitors.

If you want to experience nature, people and atmosphere away from busy LA life - this is your place. The Palisades Park is a great place for a run with an iconic view of the Pacific Ocean.

Looks very nice from a distance - but - it would appear the visitors (local or tourists) think of the edge (cliff side) as a rubbish dump. The council needs to start a real clean up of the cliff face. The park itself is a contrast - lots of lovely views, lots of activity of interest, but - a number of either homeless or beggars wandering around - a few touts trying to sell things and religious nutters trying to convert anybody passing. However it was a nice walk that could benefit by a few more seats (several were obviously home to some of the homeless) - so contrast everywhere - which made it interesting - best point was the views available

A wonderful view, and a great place to enjoy the sunset. It gets crowded near the pier. Plan your visit and start near the north end to find better parking.

Tourist season is already in full swing down at the Santa Monica pier. Families from all over the globe descend on this destination spot with its epic views of the Santa Monica beaches and mountains. Sunsets from this vantage point can be pretty darn spectacular but unless you have little ones, I recommend staying far away from the rides and arcades on the pier. Everything seems a bit "tired" and dated, needing a major sprucing up, and the restaurants are nothing special. Instead, wander along the walking path and take in the sea breeze and the scenery.

The vegetation and beauty of this place compares to none. I love relaxing on the grass or sitting on the park bench, watching the birds and the people enjoy themselves.

Best place to see the LA coastline from Palos Verdes to Malibu. Many famous movie scenes filmed from here as well. The north end near San Vicente is best in my opinion, starting around Montana Ave.

Other than the homeless bums who use this as their outside sleeping grounds where it almost never gets hot or cold during the night, this is a tiny paradise.

Ocean Avenue only runs less than a mile and the vista as the bay front winds up the coast is spectacular.

Stunning views of the beach and bay. There is a beautiful pathway running along the park, that sits high on the cliffs above the beach. Lots of people use it for walking and running. Yes, there are a lot of homeless sleeping in the park, but I walked along here as a woman alone and did not feel unsafe. The park and lovely trees do a great job of soaking up the pollution from the cars on Ocean Ave and it is a lovely piece of greenery set up against the beachfront.

Beautiful views as you walk to Santa Monica . Not much else to look at. It's just a park attached to the beach. It's nice and elevated some what.

Just along side of the Santa Monica beach this green area is Palisades park.Yes to me also like another traveller ,its a green walk.
Well strolling here is great and you can also relax on the benches and have views of sea,sun and mountains.

It’s all homeless (75%) and one woman had her pants down in broad daylight. You can pick up a scooter though, or ride your bike through, but be careful.

It's still a nice walk but there is a homeless problem at this park day and night.
Still can't take away from the beautiful walk

Used to live a block from this park and went there daily with my infant daughter. Not a lot of amenities but the views are fantastic. Great spot to throw down a blanket and relax.

For those commenting on homeless people, there are virtually no homeless people in the west end of the park. It's an area that's further from the tourist parts of downtown Santa Monica so I imagine most of those commenting didn't actually head down that far. In any case, went there daily...never felt unsafe.

Also, scooters are banned in the park. You may see some there but you can get ticketed if you have a scooter in the park. And even if you don't, you will get some dirty looks.

I love to walk through this park starting from the pier and all the way to the end. Fresh air, nice views ,relaxing etc.. excellent place for the morning or the evening walk.Also great location to see the sun set..

My family and I strolled along Palisades Park and watched the sunset as we made our way to the Pier. We were surprised by its existence (on maps I'd looked at there was no indication of cliffs) and delighted. You get a view of the beach and the ocean from high along cliffs. Simply breathtaking.

Sad too say the place is a magnet for the homeless. We stayed in a hotel across the road and did not venture out after dark as it didn’t appear safe! There were homeless people sleeping on the benches and grass day and night. Loads of noise shouting and playing loud music! Not an enjoyable place to walk.

After living 26 years in Santa Monica, you would think I might get tired of it but I never do and never pass the opportunity to go for a walk and look at the magnificent sea and time permitting, watch beautiful sunsets.
Athena T.

People uses it to exercise, relax ad play music , the view is amazing on the Santa Monica bay and beaches, and the whole Santa Monica bay
the downside are the homeless even if not may are aloud to sit at the park some are
it is the big issue in Santa Monica , Venice even worst, and Down TownLA, it is a real matter they are thousand and Garcetti the Los Angeles Major is not capable to solve the matter
they actually sleep in the field at the Los Angeles City Hall .........
Palisades Park is actually cleaner and well maintained
so yes go and enjoy at the mazing sight

Take your wife and go there for a walk and/or a photoshoot by the sea. The place is clean and if you come in the summer you will capture the essence of californiA

Beautiful surroundings -nestled among lush greenery- beautiful ocean front park to experience zen meditation walk. Loved it

Palm Trees sway in the afternoon ocean breeze. The park is full of visitors who make there way to Ocean Avenue to catch the sunset. People walk their dogs and amble amid the elderly playing cards and birthdays being celebrated.
Santa Monica residents have Palisades Park as their front yard and take advantage of the beauty it affords. The foot path weaves the length of the park and yields some of the best sunset views you will ever find.
The people watching is first rate, and regulars to the park cluster and visit as their dogs interact.
Bathrooms are located about a block north of California Avenue and further North near Montana Avenue.
Yes, homeless folks can be found sleeping on the grass, but if you give them their space, they pretty much keep to themselves.
If you head south of California Avenue, you can walk to the Santa Monica Pier.

You have seen this park in a thousand movies since the 50s. It is nicely laid out and the views of the Pacific and the monumental palisades are gorgeous. Lately, it appears not as safe as it once was with homeless guys pretty much taking over some of the best spots to stop, rest and enjoy the view.

Palisades Park is a park located at street level above the Santa Monica Pier. There is a wavy sidewalk and a jogging path that runs the length. The park is tree lined which provides great relief from the sun. Great ocean views are available anywhere along the park. This is where the famous Route 66 ends. A small monument can be found detailing the information. A public bathroom is available but it's used so much it was really bad. You'll see a number of homeless people sleeping in the grass. None was a bother to anyone. Palisades Park is the entrance to the Santa Monica Pier area. Across the street is many nice restaurants, shops and hotels. This was a very relaxing area to enjoy the views and people watching. Most parking in the area is metered or pay garages.

Palisades Park is excellent place only if you are North of Wilshire Blvd due to homeless loiterers near the Pier. There are stairs with access over PCH that will end on the beach side of PCH from Palisades Park.

Palisades Park is nice in these areas for walking, jogging, enjoying the view of the ocean. There are benches that overlook the water and nice paths. People walk their dogs, exercise, and enjoy the rose garden when in full bloom. Montana St. is just off Palisades Park and a great area to shop, have frozen yogurt (Menchies), and hang out in an upscale neighborhood, although you would need to walk about 7 - 9 short blocks.

At the end of the park, north of Montana the street curves and is nice to walk and if you zip down towards the beach there is a tunnel that goes below PCH to the beach, there are a few steps but easy enough to walk a bike to the beach bike path. There are also beachwear shops, restaurants, and a small liquor store for sodas and snacks if you wish to avoid taking the Pier route to the bike path and beach.

Do not take the California Incline down to Pacific Coast Hwy unless you are in a car or motorized vehicle, there is not an easy way to cross PCH without getting ticketed.

We walked away from the pier at dusk as far as Lot 7 North. We crossed the highway by a foot bridge then walked up to the Palisades. Please note the paths on the cliff close at 6.30pm. I would expect it is probably not safe after then. Beware of holiday cyclists struggling up the slopes.
After taking a seat to watch the sun go down, with fine views west from there we walked back to Santa Monica in 20 minutes. The atmosphere changed rapidly from holiday makers and sun worshippers to homeless people setting up for the night. Nothing bad happened but it was slightly menacing because you did not know where the next person was going to be and one does not want to walk through someones front room.

From the bluffs of Palisades Park on a clear day you can see forever. It's a great place for sunset too! Near Montana Avenue there is also a beautiful rose garden. Great for strolling, running, dogwalking, people watching, napping, picnicking and more.

I've never seen another park like this. It's a great place. In the morning Yoga classes and bikers fill the grass. The views over look Santa Monica Beach and the Santa Monica Bluffs. Very pretty.

Very nice to walk through. Many perfect photo options. Clean. Go here to capture the sunset over the beach.

I'm from a rural area and where I come from, rats are vermin. I would never go back at night, but I am willing to try it in the daytime hours. No restrooms available (for women).

It is the primo place to walk with the beautiful ocean. The gardens are delightful, sitting on the benches is fun and viewing the sunset is amazing especially in winter.

I am very tired of the pier, but still love the views from this park. The flowers and palm trees are gorgeous. Even though there are times when it is quite busy, I still find it relaxing. It is wonderful to look out over the beach and to the ocean.

This is a magnificent stroll or run or just sitting on a bench! It's an amazing view because you are high up from the beach what seems like an unending cliff. It's really quite spectacular and worth seeing. The park in beautifully maintained and all the palm trees are so beautiful and tropical that you can easily forget where in the world you are.

The homeless problem and over usage mixes with tourists and rich locals. One always wonders if there are police or park guards around and if the park is washed down and or fumigated. Place needs both from smell of urine and bugs from squirrels and dogs. It us beautiful but it suffers.

We were lucky enough to stay in a condo one street from the Park. Very well maintained and has great views of Santa Monica beach. The only sobering issue is the number of homeless people who sleep in the park during the day.

We have been three this cool park many times. This park is located past the pier on the way to Malibu away from Venice. There are cool places to sit and pathways to scenic views of the city and ocean. This park is also very close to the 3rd Street Promenade. Great place for any occasion!

The views of the beach at sunset were lovely from here. Be aware though that there are homeless folks living in this park and some apparently have no sense of modesty. One man, whose pants were drooping below his buttocks, decided to relieve himself out in the open by a tree. We had to steer our kids away to look at the lovely views from the park to avoid the not-so-lovely views of this man's parts. Otherwise, it's a nice place to take in the ocean views right by the pier.

Another LA site that should not be missed. Great place for a walk to enjoy the views of the Pacific and the park too.

Palisades Park in Santa Monica is a treasure for anyone who wants a bit of peace and quiet and beauty, not to mention a great place to walk your dog. Just watch out for the buggy brigade, the new moms exercising with their buggies in a circle - until they all jog.

Palisades Park is a beautiful place to take lovely sunset pictures and pictures of Santa Monica Pier... but the homeless have taken over the park. The Park is dirty and reeks smells of urine. The homeless are camped out everywhere. They are sleeping on the benches, laying against the rails... they are everywhere.

Great place to enjoy the beauty of Santa Monica. Exercise, walk, or just sit and relax. Very enjoyable.

It has an easy pedestrian access to beach and running path. The views are tremendous as they run along the bluff above PCH

The Pacific Ocean was right before me and it was great to see it from this park. There were plenty of other tourists, but I suppose that's what is to be expected in Santa Monica.

This is a great little park near the Santa Monica pier. The park is beautiful surrounded by palm trees. The only advised that is not the cleanest park and there are a lot of transients but they do not bother you and it has a great view of the pier.

What a way to spend a day.
Views, smells, sights and sounds.
Ignore peoples comments about the homeless as its not their fault and they don't bother anyone.

This is a nice park to walk around and they have numerous benches so you can sit and rest and watch the people walk by. They have the area landscaped with flowers and shrubs, I enjoyed sitting by the main road and watching the people and some expensive cards go by.

Good place to jog or just walk and enjoy ocean views. Nice and quiet neighborhood. Some nice pictures to be taken here too.

The park is beautiful, and its location approximating the water is quite attractive, as well. The only sad thing is that of late, more homeless people have found refuge in the place.

Great stop if you're on a walking tour before heading to the Sta. Monica Pier. The view of the Pacific Highway from the ridge is fantastic, and it is of walking distance from the Sta. Monica Promenade area. You may opt to have a small picnic for families especially on a budget

Nice park with beautiful views and lots of lush, green grass to lay on. Pet friendly. Parking available on the spot.

The park from my childhood where young and old enjoy the outdoors. The park sits atop a 150 ft cliff looking out towards the west and the Pacific Ocean. Santa Monica has done a great job maintaining the area and keeping it fresh and beautiful. One end has a totem pole and the other the Santa Monica Pier .In between is a canon used during World War II to protect the area if it needed it. Also there is a stone monument honoring Mr Jones and commenting the sunsets he used to watch from that spot. Walk and enjoy the whole length of it.

Wonderful for strolls, jogs, and runs at all times of the day. Also great for seeing movie and TV character actors.

We really were impressed with the cleanliness and feel of this park. It offers some great vantage points of Santa Monica beach. The city really does work hard to keep it clean. Just wish there weren't so many homeless folks lying all around on the ground.

This green grass & palm tree park runs along the upper Pacific Palisades above Pacific Coast Highway overlooking the beach and sea. Friendly people and all sorts of casual uses, ie yoga.

Palisades Park is a sliver of a park sandwiched between Santa Monica's Ocean Front Drive and the beach below. Several stairs and passageways let you travel down to the sand, should you want to. However, the elevation change gives the park and its higher perch a world class vantage point of the beach, the ocean and sunset views. The narrow park has winding paths and is dotted with interesting trees. Directly across the street, you'll find restaurants, hotels and just three blocks away is the famous 3rd St. Promenade with shops and street performers. But there's plenty of time for all of that....make sure you grab a park bench in the park and soak in the world class view.

It's the best place to watch the sunset, but there are a lot of homeless people and it's dangerous. I don't think you should go there alone, even during the day.

The bluffs are a lovely, charming walk thru palm trees and up above the Pacific Coast Highway with a gorgeous view of the ocean. You can picnic, exercise, read a book, walk a dog......

This is a really great park in Santa Monica, and it is such a pretty place to spend time in. I highly recommend it!

Blessed to be living right across the street from this beautiful park & it’s rose garden - active walkers/joggers/yoga/tai chi/momnbaby strollers - constant activity & beautiful sunsets - but right now the once very seldom rains have stopped & the weather is turning back to “Heaven on Earth”

We took this path on a daily basis on our recent stay in Santa Monica. We always felt safe and loved the view out over the ocean. We had a picnic in the park one of our days and it was glorious in the sunshine. There is many homeless people.

I guess when you live somewhere the true beauty of what surrounds you gets lost at times. I hope that feeling never leaves me. In the mornings I run the paths by the fence and watch the ocean, breathing in fresh air and tasting the salty breeze. The park is full of life with people doing yoga, tai chi, stretching, walking, running with and without their dogs. Women marching with a power latte in hand.

On most Sunday's by the rose garden is a band that plays mixed music that some dance to. A lovely lady in her 90's asked me to dance with her one day. How could you think of saying no? She wore me out! Thank you Ada.

In the evening you find the same activity,s but a slower pace enhanced by lovers going for a evening stroll. More dog walkers and people gazing at the beautiful sunsets. I have taken well over 500 photos of these serendipitous night falls. This is the place that heaven loans you for a day to relax and take it all in...

I'm told there are bands that play in the park and they would add another vibe to the area. Have been here many times and will be back again. Tip is to walk there during the day, but I wouldn't venture in the park much after dark. Better to walk on the East side of the street in the evening if you are visiting.

We visited Palisades Park several times during our recent visit to Los Angeles. It's so nice to walk along the paths, grab a seat on the bench and people watch. Yes, there are many urban campers in the park, but they do their own thing.

We enjoyed the sunsets most of all, and it is so cool to see so many people stop what they're doing, dash over to the park and have a serene moment as we all watched the sunset into the Pacific Ocean. Beautiful views, great place for photos. A must see when you're in LA.

A Beautiful area to walk and see the stunning Cali coastline from a birds eye view as you enjoy and get acquainted with Santa Monica. Start here, take the 3rd street stairs to the coast and go North, or South. This is a must do.

I love to walk this park from Wilshire Boulevard north to San Vincente Blvd and at sunset it can really be spectacular. If the winds are calm it is about as good as it gets. Sometimes the afternoon winds kick up and it can be a bit breezy and usually the view of the sail boats, ocean and sunsets will have you taking pictures.

Nice park with view to the beach and the pier. people hanging around, walking or jogging. Plenty of foodvans, burgers, racos, veggie etc.

Somewhat ordinary park - not much in it to grab/hold attention. Cannot hold a candle to, say, Chicago's Millennium Park.

Pretty landscaping and very clean. A nice morning walk. Some homeless, not disturbing. Excellent views of the beach down below.

If you're anywhere near Santa Monica, you will want to stroll in this well-maintained park overlooking the beach and sparkling Pacific. We never a miss a chance to join the walkers, runners, bench-sitters, newspaper readers, chess players, etc. who enjoy exercising or just hanging out along the palm-shaded paths at this L.A. icon . . . in any weather, although sunshine is nice!

great to walk any time of day, peaceful and beautiful. just be careful near downtown santa monica, there are many homeless that hang out there.

Santa Monica has taken the problem of the park takeover by indigents and appears to have solved it. This week it was clear, and tidy and a pleasure to walk along and enjoy the scenery and sunshine

This park has stunning views! I was so impressed with how clean and well maintained it was. And I was so excited to see a Great Egret hunting in a garden a couple feet from the sidewalk. At first I thought it was a statue. Beautiful morning stroll.

We loved this park - it is very pretty and you can spend hours just watching life happen. Also a great view of the beach and pier from there.

Palisades Park is located along the ocean in the Santa Monica area. It provides a wonderful view of the Pacific. It is also the entry way to the Santa Monica pier. Great location to enjoy the view and watch people.

The whole Pacific Palisades area is absolutely gorgeous.Many parks, beautiful homes and local shops.

the history and scenery set this place apart... All of the people that 'live' there are harmless and very nice

A great break from the commercial retail crowds of Third Street Promenade, this small park hosts an occasional small festival but it has quaint walkways and plenty of shade from palm trees for a cool refresher near the sand and surf.

A stretch of green space above the freeway, Palisades Park runs parallels to the Pacific coast at the higher elevation, so it offers a spectacular view of the pier, the beach, and the coast! Especially on a beautiful sunny day that is typical in SoCal, walking in Palisades Park is a relaxing experience to be had.

However, there are many homeless people that call this place home and though all of them mind to their own businesses, you probably don't want to idle here at nighttime by yourself.

There are plenty of parking around that is free for the first 90 minutes or so, so I recommend coming from Third Street Promenade and walking through this park to reach the Santa Monica Pier!

I got up here after a long walk along the beach and it was perfect. Great views, lots of seating although not much is shaded, fairly good grass, lots of flowering plants, and many water fountains with refreshingly cool water.

Palisades Park runs parallel to the coast line with beautiful views of the beach and ocean. It is a wonderful place to stroll or jog, picnic or sit and be peaceful.

The crowds make this pretty park overlooking the ocean very crowded during the day and evening, but still spectacular for viewing the sunset. When I went for a run early in the morning it was much quieter but still crowded in a different way--this time, with large numbers of homeless people sleeping on every bench and the aroma of their al fresco toileting around every curve. I mean them no ill-will--there but for the grace--but it is something I thought visitors would want to be forewarned about.

While visiting Santa Monica a trip along the front via the Palisades Park is a must, well maintained, clean and very inviting, well worth the walk.

This is a great place to take a stroll, we walked the whole length then crossed over the highway and walked back along the beach.
There are lots of interesting sculptures etc to see in the park and lovely flowers and birds.

We went when it was pretty dead, cold but not freezing and clear skies. I enjoyed the views and found it to be very well-kept! There's lots of things around to see or do as well.

Very well kept park. Excellent for walking, jogging, and people watching. Excellent views of beach and ocean. Lots of activities here!

This is a very beautiful place and fun to walk. The view is great. The only thing that partially spoils it are that there are a large number of homeless people there, some of whom can get belligerent.

My favorite place for brisk walks, yoga, picnic on the grass and sunsets. Especially the stretch between California and it's northern end is beautifully landscaped and well kept. Such a lovely place to be alone or with friends and family! A must visit!

wonderful place to walk
overlooking Santa Monica bay
great place to walk off those pounds you gained from eating pastries, ice cream etc
don't walk alone after dark

Read the reviews before going and will say that this is a beautiful park, with squirrels running around freely and there are some opportunities to take some breath taking shots. Personally would recommend walking through this place during the day.

However, the number of homeless people sleeping and wandering in the park can at times leave you feeling a little uneasy, this for me was the only downside.

Love Palisades Park. My grandmother lived two blocks away and would always take my sisters and I here. It is a great place to walk, sit and relax and enjoy amazing views of the ocean and beach. A must to see while in Santa Monica!

Beautiful park very clean wonderful beach and ocean views.Lots of people walking and sitting. Picnics or walking their dogs. Super cute on a date or group or just by yourself.

Nice place to walk along during the day. Quite a few homeless hanging around to use the public restrooms. Nice place to view the sunset but even better down on the beach.

The palisades park sports a beautiful path along the coast near the Santa Monica pier. It is perfect for a morning run. A full loop,around the park is about 2.5 miles and you can time it to end at the pier or muscle beach.

I love walking on the bluffs high above the ocean. Wonderful sunset view. Limited parking and can be very busy and crowded, as parks go.

This park on the hill above Santa Monica Beach would be a great place for walks, jogging and picnics. Unfortunately, homeless people and drug addicts are everywhere. During the day we could still go through without any problems. At night we would rather avoid the park.

Palisades park is not what one would normally think of as a park. There are no playgrounds or ball fields. It is a wide strip of grass that runs above the ocean along Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica. There are walking paths and some monuments. There are beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean from the edge of the park. It is a peaceful place to walk and relax. Also good for dog walking. It runs all the way from Santa Monica to the pier.

Parking was no problem on Sunday morning at 7:30. A few people were walking or doing yoga. From the Park you have a pretty view of the pier and the beach below.

Palisades Park is along Ocean Avenue and overlooks the Santa Monica Pier and Beach. It's has a nice paved walk that is perfect for an early evening stroll when the cool ocean breeze wafts through the air (good to have a sweater or light jacket in the evenings as it can get chilly). There are some military monuments to all 50 states, which is fun to explore, but basically it's a nice little park in the middle of busy Santa Monica. Park nearby in the Santa Monica Place ramp (first 90 minutes are free).

The park is a narrow strip of land between the main road and the Pacific Highway. very attractive but marred by the number of homeless people camping out there. never felt threatened, more sad to see so many people uncared for.

The parks is right next to the ocean. People play soccer, have picnics, lay on blankets, etc.. It is a very nice park.

We have been to this cool park many times. This park is located past the pier on the way to Malibu away from Venice. There are cool places to sit and pathways to scenic views of the city and ocean. This park is also very close to the 3rd Street Promenade. Great place for any occasion! You can literally walk from this park all the way to Venice beach! There are a lot of park people ( homeless people) who do not have a place to live the closer you get to the Santa Monica pier so please say hello or give them a extra water or your spare change. The closer you get to Malibu the emptier the park seems! Many people walk their pets and jog this park! Lookout for the scooters and skaters it’s a prime location for any outdoor activity! Excellent view of the ocean!

Beautiful, immaculately kept public park which offers great views down to the Pier and Venice Beach. Relaxing spot yet so close to all of the hustle and bustle.

Worth an afternoon stroll! Plenty of metered parking also available.

Well maintained and well used, great for people watching or just relaxing, I ran through this park every day that I stayed in Santa Monica.

Lovely park to walk with ocean views, most enjoyable in the late afternoon and early evening, wonderful sunsets.

This is a great feature of Santa Monica and so worth a visit. It's just an elevated park above the Pacific Ocean - but it's well maintained and can be nice and serene. You may want to keep your headphones on. And can be very windy. But a good place to power walk or jog.

This is a good walk to the pier. A nice park with colourful and not so colourful people with some nice flora and interesting artefacts to maintain your interest.

It has great views of the ocean and the pier.

They have an amazing view, but this park has too many bad smells from homeless people. I thought so last year, and again this year when I returned. I no longer stay in SM when I visit the area.

The waterfront in Santa Barbara is so much more nice and vibrant. And pleasant! There are a few homeless there, but you don't get this sense like you do in SM that the homeless have taken over the park.

This city should be ashamed that they don't do more for their homeless. Allowing them to camp out for free is enabling. And I believe there are health risks for everyone involved.

Sunsets are magnificent. Walking along the bluff in the midst of the big city has long been one of my favorite places. Turn your back on Ocean Avenue and forget the urban chaos across the street. The Los Angeles Marathon finish line is at Palisades Park.

A wonderful, relaxing, and beautiful park. Great jogging paths, clean restrooms and incredible view overlooking the Pacific Ocean and amusement park. My dog and I often walk there to enjoy the fresh air.

This is a really lovely old park, especially early in the morning before the main crowds of homeless crawl out of their dumpsters and start fighting. North, further away from the Pier end is especially nice as it feels safer and the beautiful old trees are under less pressure from the crowds. Grab a coffee at McD's on Colorado, and if you can make it to the corner without getting mugged you can take a very nice long stroll along the bluff. But go early.

Tip: If you see a homeless dude with a skateboard be very wary as he may try to shoot it into your feet as you walk past and trip you over so he can mug you while you are on the ground. We saw two attempts made on the one day, but the intended victims were clearly locals and dodged the board with hardly a missed step. Quite impressive reflexes.

There is a lot of high speed bike traffic on the dual use cycleway/footpath, so keep an eye on little kids or they may get mowed down by some hipster blasting through on his way to his conflict free, vegan, hot organic, shade grown soy pilates class. You don't hear them coming, you just hear a faint 'woosh' as they fly past leaving a vortex of spinning homeless in their path.

There are usually a few burrito trucks parked on the West side of Ocean which along with the Camera Obscura building seems to be where the main crack dealing goes on. The South end by the Pier entrance is where the highest population of weirdo's congregate, and we were treated to a very special Sunday afternoon in our hotel listening to a group protesting about illegal Chinese human organ harvesting. That was awesome. All afternoon. Non stop. Not even the crowds of crack smoking fighting homeless could put a damper on their screeching and wailing about something that the surging crowds seemed totally mystified about, and totally indifferent to. But they seemed into it, and that is the main thing on a sunny Sunday afternoon at the park. Fortunately we had paid a LOT extra for our Ocean View Premium Balcony Eco Suite, so we had the full benefit of their presentation. All afternoon.

Right by the Pier entrance a group has a small live animal show. They have large birds in small cages, snakes, and all sorts of poor wretched creatures that makes you want to phone for a PETA SWAT squad to fly in and do the human gene pool a big favor. You can't miss it. Unfortunately.

There is a public restroom attached to the Camera Obscura building. Between the smell, and the inhabitants I personally wouldn't go in there. Use the McD's on Colorado.

Palisades Park is a 25+ acre strip of land bordered by Ocean Avenue on one side
and the edge of the sandstone cliffs above Santa Monica Bay on the other. It offers a sense of serenity for people to enjoy as they walk, jog or bike on a path surrounded by trees, grass, shrubs and an incredible view of the ocean.
If there is a negative to this area, it was all of the homeless who were sleeping and loitering in the park during the day.

Let's be honest, it is a strip of land at the side of a busy road that is full of people down on their luck. Yes the views are lovely, especially the sunsets, but there are definitely times that you will feel unsafe while walking here.

We strolled past all kinds of entertainers including a filming session at the Santa Monica boulevard junction. Very well kept gardens with stunning ocean views.

Beautiful narrow park along Ocean Avenue.

Nice walk. Meet lots of interesting people.

One of the best views of the ocean.

This is a delightful Park on a City bluff above the Pacific Ocean. The landscaping is superior, but there are those grafitti and scratchitti people who have defaced even beautiful plants, minding their own business, swaying in the breeze. There are many homeless people about and a lot of tourists. But the views are unsurpassed. There is architectural beauty which has also been marred by graffiti and neglect. Sigh. This area could be so nice if it was given some care.

The park itself is very beautiful and provides a nice ocean view. There are some rather dirty spots and many homeless people though.

Incredible ocean view. Great people watching location. Easy access from the Santa Monica pier and the commuter train. Crowded daily all summer long. Good walking path, wheelchair and stroller friendly. However, there is considerable roadside traffic noise. Some construction in areas where drought friendly planting is being added.

This park is unique and known for its gorgeous Pacific Ocean clifftop views that stretch for miles atop his long stretch of tree infused, grass and walking paths. There is plenty of shade underneath massive trees, and if you are lucky, you may find a spot on one the few sitting benches that overlook the expansive white sandy beaches below.

There were a lot of people but not all of them were there for pleasure a large number of the people appeared to be homeless. Most benches were taken up with people laying sleeping on them. There were also people just laying on the grass or sitting around all looked to be homeless. It may of just been me but it made me feel a little unsafe; I guess I am just not used to seeing so many homeless people. There were also people walking dogs and people just out for a walk. I had seen programme on TV about the large number of homeless people in Los Angeles but to actually see up close and personal made it real, very sad that there doesn't seem to be much being done to help these people. I don't think I can recommend this as a good place to visit.

It's a beautiful park and well maintained. You can walk it, jog it ot ride it. It is really unfortunate that there are so many homeless people. Very sad.

Along with the Santa Monica Pier the Palisades Park is a Park you should walk. Nicely maintained and great views of the ocean and sights along the main drag. Highly recommended to do!!

Whilst in Santa Monica I wanted to get some exercise and take in some of the scenery that the Pacific Ocean coastline can offer. So I headed to Palisades Park, a sizable strip of grass, palm trees & walking trails that features expansive ocean views. The park is around 1.7 miles in length and is a lovely place to walk in the Californian sun. There is a big old iron canon and also there is the Santa Monica Veterans Memorial (opposite Santa Monica Blvd.). There are quite a few homeless people in the park, many sleeping rough on the grass, which is a real shame. Worth a walk though.

I have strolled along this park hundreds of times. I never get tired of the view which is the sparkling Pacific Ocean. Some days it literally looks like 1 million diamonds on the horizon. Some days you can see all the way to Catalina. I love walking alone ...watching people with their dogs and kids, old people, young people...it is a very Zen place to stroll along.

As an avid gardener, I was so glad to see so many of my favorite drought tolerant plants especially the flowering attenuata agave.

The rich, the homeless, the Californians, the Russian emigres, the couples smooching on the lawns, the fitness freaks walking fast on the dirt and asphalt pathways, families, singles, the old and the young, and always the fantastic view of the blue Pacific. On a clear day you can see Catalina Island to your south.

Significantly more upscale than the seaside neighbor Venice Beach.A very laid-back style characterize the environment.The walk attracts everything from visiting tourists, joggers, to the homeless

A lovely walk on the Palisades (bluffs) provides views of the Santa Monica Pier, Malibu Point to the north and Palos Verdes to the South. It is one of the loveliest spaces in Santa Monica.

This is a pleasant enough area, but I wouldn't call it an attraction. It's a fairly narrow strip of grass, palm trees and pathways that lead to the pier. If you're into people watching, you'll see many pass by. There are also a lot of homeless people, very quiet and unobtrusive, who spend the day there.

the place close to the sea is a perfect spot to enjoy the weekends, Is in the area between of Malibu and Santa Monica

On my afternoon spent walking around Santa Monica, I truly enjoyed Palisades Park. The place is very beautiful and scenic as well. I love the palm trees as they stick out right there in the open. Good place to sit back and relax for a few minutes.

This park is along Ocean Boulevard and is very long and wide. There are nice trees and walkways for walkers, joggers and bikers. We strolled along the ocean and took marvellous pictures. The sun set was great. The ocean view during sunset was great. I highly recommend you to visit this park if you are in Santa Monica.

Now for the bad news first.

Santa Monica is a very expensive place period.

Parking and Traffic are just tough.

But once you get here. It is well worth the effort! As it has the bets view of the start of the Pacific Ocean.

With options of paved paths or compacted dirt, I loved jogging in this park. There were plenty of people, but also enough space that there were few pedestrian traffic jams. The view off to the ocean was lovely, and there are basically no street crossings to slow you down!
In general, it was rather clean, though I didn't visit the restroom buildings, so can't speak to that aspect.
Also, if you're uncomfortable around homeless people, you might not want to visit the park.

Its a very long and skinny park with Ocean views the entire span. Fantastic place to take in CA sunsets or take the family for a walk on a sunday afternoon. Yes, there are can be quite a few homeless people so if that makes you uncomfortable maybe stay away but to me that's no reason to not enjoy a great setting like Palisades Park.

Great park for an enjoyable walk.

Met some great folks from New Zealand and had a wonderful chat.

Great views.

Lovely scenery.

Nice to have open space in a congested place like Los Angeles.

The park is a nice green area between Ocean Avenue and the beach. It was quite well worn. Probably due to the many people who walk that path to and from the pier, like I did. In the morning it has quite a few transients that occupy the park, sleeping on the grass and using the restroom to wash.

Many of the tour buses park near the pier along the park limiting parking spaces.

We visit the park whenever we can. It is a lovely walk along the coast and views are great. If you are into people watching; they come in all shapes sizes and age! Met some fun folks from Australia on our last visit.

Nice park for a walk along the Pacific. The park goes from the Santa Monica pier up through north Santa Monica. The view is always spectacular with the palm trees and the beautiful ocean below. The best place in all of Santa Monica.

How's this for praise: Palisades Park is the second favorite park that I've ever been to after Tuileries Garden in Paris. Better than Central Park in New York. Better than Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Better than Grant Park in Chicago. It's the ambience. The palm trees. The ocean. The quiet solitude. The meandering sidewalks. The homeless men don't even disturb the scenery. When I die, I want to be cremated and my ashes scattered under a palm tree at Palisades. Wait a minute! Homeless men? Forget it. Just keep walking. They don't disturb anyone, and no one disturbs them. If you were homeless, you'd want to come here too. It's a paradise for everyone!

We parked here and then walked down to the beach for lunch. It is a very pretty park with great views of the beach!

The views are beautiful. There are alot of homeless people here though, and they do come up and ask for money. Most people are just trying to walk past fastly.

If you need to chill, look no further. You will love this place. Bring a beach chair, sit under a tree, let your worries just fly away.

After strolling down Montana Ave. and passing by its small shops, you reach Ocean Ave. and a long Palisades Park high above the broad beach and the Pacific Ocean beyond. The path is flat and winding slightly in places. Rest rooms are available along the way towards the Santa Monica pier. It is a go to place for walking or jogging. In case you are hungry, there are many restaurants on the east side of Ocean Ave. and good areas to cross the street.

another great place to walk around. Tons of homeless people (very sad) but they are friendly, say hello. Its safe, its beautiful.

This lovely park offers, in my personal opinion, one of the better views of the Pacific. It's a great place to walk, or stroll, or bike, or just chill, all with a killer view. Recommended.

I wouldn’t say this is a spectacular park, but it’s there, it’s quite pleasant, and if you’re headed to Santa Monica beach it’s worth walking through.

This is a great little park to have a rest away from the hustle and bustle of Santa Monica. Clean and beautiful!

Well kept beautiful park, spectacular views, places to sit, plenty of public restrooms and water fountains. Beach access via stairs (many steps - some steep and bridges over Pacific Coast Highway. Many people walking, running, walking dogs or just taking in the view. Great for sunsets. Often you can see dolphins breaching the surface of the water and I'm told whales as well on occasion. As you get closer to the pier, the number of the homeless population increases - just ignore them!

Running along the west side of Santa Monica, Palisades Park is a tranquil spot to walk or spend some time just enjoying the area and the views over the Pacific and the pier.

This park is across the street from several hotels to the east, and the beautiful ocean to the west. If you want a great view of the sunset, the water, the coastline that bends north to Malibu or straight south to Venice, then visit this park. It is mostly walkway and foliage, so there isn't much else to do but observe the sights or play Pokemon Go. Homeless people sleep in the park day and night, but there is not a lot of trash/litter this far from the beach and pier. Most days you will see this snake charmer at the south edge of the park though!

I loved this place, just walking around enjoying the view and the many street performers made it even better.