Venice Beach is quite safe, but only in the daytime. In the nighttime, Venice Beach is not safe due to the increased crime rate and the homeless problem. However, you can stay safe at Venice Beach by visiting the beach during daylight, avoiding piers and rocks, following lifeguard instructions, etc. There are also quite a few activities you can participate in at Venice Beach.
To get the full answer to your question of whether Venice Beach is safe, you need to read the article till the end!
Is Venice Beach Safe?
Venice Beach is usually safe during the daytime and early evening hours of the day. But, when it starts to get dark, the beach area starts to get unsafe. In fact, it’s not recommended to walk around Venice Beach at nighttime.
Much like the Santa Monica and Long Beach, Venice Beach was also initially safer before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. After the pandemic, a lot of problems arose on this beach, which jeopardized the safety.
The area quickly transcended into a rowdy state at that time and now Venice Beach is mostly deemed unsafe. This happened due to the post-pandemic homeless problem back in 2020.
Below I’ve elaborated on the homeless problem at Venice Beach. Give it a read.
The Homeless Problem
After the pandemic hit, the LA council partially suspended the Municipal Code 56.11. This restricted the homeless people from having their possessions on the streets.
As a result, the homeless people gathered around the Venice boardwalk and set up tents there. Due to this, the crime rate increased drastically around Venice Beach.
Studies have shown that assaults increased by 162% and the robbery rate spiked up to 177%. Although the city had cleared out the homeless tents by almost 60% and lessened the crime rate, they’re still there.
How to Stay Safe at the Venice Beach
Apart from the crime threats, you can always run into problems while visiting a beach. This is applicable to all beaches, for instance, Miami and Tampa beaches.
However, you can easily stay safe at Venice Beach by following a few guidelines. Here are the things you need to do:
- Don’t go out when it’s dark. As mentioned before, Venice Beach gets unsafe as the hours pass by in a day. There have been reports of recreational drug use along the Venice Boardwalk.
- You can visit and enjoy the beach in the daytime but at nighttime, it’s best to stay at your rental. This is also applicable for walking around the beach.
- Don’t swim alone. Try to get a companion for the swimming sessions at Venice Beach, since the ocean can be very unpredictable.
- Stay away from piers and rocks. While it can be fun to hang out by the rocks, it can be equally dangerous as well. The ocean waves can push you toward the rocks, which may cause injury.
- Stay close to lifeguards, as they are very knowledgeable about the Venice Beach water conditions. Lifeguards can help you know the safe and unsafe parts of the beach, as well as help you if you need any help in the water.
Don’t be shy to ask them for advice and share their knowledge about Venice Beach! - Apply sunscreen before heading out in the sun. Remember that the ocean isn’t the only threat at a beach, as scorching heat can cause exhaustion and heat strokes.
You can apply sunscreens and wear hats/caps. This will help you battle against the heat at beaches, as you will have the necessary protection.
Is Venice Beach Worth Visiting?
Venice Beach is absolutely worth visiting; especially in the daytime. This beach invites all types of people from around the world, and the atmosphere is brilliant for you to relax.
The water at Venice Beach is crystal clear and it’s known for the purity of the water and wide sandy shores. The Venice Beach water met water quality standards 60% of the time. Furthermore, you can indulge in various activities around the entire Venice area.
Things to Do at the Venice Beach
I’ve jotted down all the recreational activities you can enjoy around Venice Beach here.
- Visit the Venice Ocean boardwalk. Venice is known for the iconic boardwalk at the front of the beach. This boardwalk stretches up to 2 miles and can give you great views of the beach itself. You can also shop at the various stores here.
- Skate at the Venice Beach skatepark. The skatepark of Venice Beach has always been a major tourist attraction. It’s right beside the boardwalk, where you can enrich yourself with the skating culture, dating back from the 1970s.
- Go on a boat ride through the Venice canals. If you want to add an Italian taste to your trip to Venice Beach, float through the Venice canals. You can get a ticket for the boat for as low as 30 dollars.
- Surf on the beach. Similar to the Myrtle and Carolina beaches, surfing is also quite big at Venice Beach. You can go to the Breakwater, which is the main surfing spot of Venice Beach, and surf away!
You can also visit the Mosaic Tile House, Oceanarium, the Muscle Beach, and go on e-bike tours. The possibilities of exploring Venice Beach are quite extraordinary.
FAQs
Is Venice Beach Good for Tourists?
Yes, Venice Beach is a good place for tourists to visit. The beach and sand are very clean on the beach, reserved by the city council. The water of Venice Beach is also very clear.
Can I Swim in Venice Beach?
Yes, you can swim in Venice Beach. There are also activities like beach volleyball, surfing, and fishing you can do around Venice Beach.
How Deep Is Venice Beach Water?
The Venice Beach water is at least 30 – 60 feet deep, where the water is Green and Blue. However, the maximum depth of Venice Beach water is found to be 164 feet below sea level.
The Final Words
That’s all the information needed to answer the question, is Venice Beach safe? Hopefully, this article helped you prepare for the Venice Beach getaway! Have a wonderful time at the beach.
