Now touched by the suburbs of Los Angeles, Laguna Beach started out as an artist’s colony between Los Angeles and San Diego. And there’s a lot of beauty to inspire art in this place. Seven miles of picture perfect, secluded sandy coves, buffeted bluffs, calm beaches, sea caves and tide pools, and around 20,000 acres of protected wilderness. But it’s also a large town, with streets lined with galleries, restaurants and cafes, and some seriously luxurious hotels and resorts, some of which we’ve included on our list of the best places to stay in Laguna Beach.

When it comes to atmosphere and ambience, Laguna Beach differs from other Californian beach towns, because of its strong traditions in the arts, and its arts-and-crafts cottages and bungalows. And Laguna Beach’s waterfront is dotted with public sculptures, so it’s got a bit of a Riviera feel. The beachfront hotels are certainly some of the most popular, but if you’re looking for incredible views you should aim a little higher and consider staying close to Alta Laguna Park, which is where the Top of the World Walk starts. The area around the Crystal Cove State Park is worth considering too, and Thousand Steps Beach.

If you’d prefer to be in the thick of things then stay along Main Beach, which is just a short stroll from the centre of town. And if you’re looking for an escape consider The Ranch at Laguna Beach, a real ranch, surrounded by green parkland and mountain views, yet close to the heart of Laguna Beach.

As with all coastal towns in this region, the best places to stay in Laguna Beach get filled up pretty quickly. So if you're planning a visit, do your homework and book well ahead.

The Best Places to Stay in Laguna Beach

For a romantic stay

• The Casa Laguna Inn and Spa is a 22 room boutique hotel with stylish decor reminiscent of Moroccan tiles. It is set just back from the beach, but it still has ocean views from its second floor, where there are also private balconies. It’s comfortable and peaceful, with an intimate air, plus an outdoor pool and a spa.
• The Hotel Joaquin is a boutique resort nestled above Shaw’s Cove. It has 22 individually designed rooms and suites, decorated with great vintage finds, customised furniture and a carefully curated collection of art. There’s a chic outdoor pool and a sun terrace. And it’s adults only.

For families

• The Ranch at Laguna Beach will possibly surprise you: it’s a real ranch, surrounded by empty lands and mountains, which make for a beautiful view. The location, in Aliso and Wood Canyons, is the reason, but it’s still right up against Laguna Beach, and well located for exploring Los Angeles. There are 97 rooms, suites, cottages and villas here, along with excellent facilities, offering something to please guests of any age.

Prefer an Apartment or Villa?

• If you’d prefer to stay in an apartment or private villa we recommend you visit our online partner, booking.com.

Travel Information

• Want to fly to Laguna Beach?

• The Los Angeles area, which includes Laguna Beach, is served by five major commercial airports: Santa Ana, Los Angeles Airport, Burbank, Long Beach, and Ontario, and which one you fly into probably depends on where you’re flying from. Santa Ana is probably closest, only 20-30 minutes in a cab. From LAX the transfer is a bit more of an adventure, involving routing through Union Station and either bussing or cabbing it from San Juan’s Amtrak Station. The transfer from Long Beach involves around two hours worth of bus journey. Or you can arrive in San Diego airport and catch a couple of trains and a couple of buses.
• If you’re thinking about hiring a car we recommend checking what our online partners, Rentalcars have to offer.
• In summer Laguna Beach plays host to numerous large art festivals, and, as summer turns to autumn, it’s time to look out to Laguna’s ocean where you’ll start to see minke, finback and blue whales migrating. August is the hottest month in Laguna Beach, with maximum daily average temperatures at 28°C. January and February are coolest, with daily maximums around 18°C.

Still not sure?

• You could expand your search to include the best places to stay in Los Angeles, or the best places to stay in San Diego.
• Browse our pick of the best places to stay in California
• Or you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.

Weather

Monthly Weather in Laguna Beach