The city is located in the South Bay region of the greater Los Angeles area and is one of the three Beach Cities. It is bordered by Manhattan Beach to the north, and Redondo Beach to its east and south. Of the three cities, only Hermosa Beach owns its own beach. The other two cities' beaches are owned by the county of Los Angeles.

Hermosa ("beautiful" in Spanish is an accurate description of this city's beach, which is also flat, sandy, and long; ideal for sunbathing, volleyball, surfing and paddleboarding. The city itself is only about 15 blocks from east to west and 40 blocks from north to south, with the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH to the locals) running down the middle. Situated on the Pacific Ocean, Hermosa's average temperature is 70 degrees in the summer and 55 degrees in the winter. Gentle westerly sea breezes take the edge off what can be high summertime temperatures in Los Angeles and elsewhere in the county. The same breezes help keep the smog away 360 days of the year.

A paved path, called The Strand, runs along Hermosa's beach from Redondo Beach in the south approximately twenty miles north to Pacific Palisades. A typical day on this path will see thousands of people on foot, bicycle, skateboard, rollerblade and stroll enjoying the sun and surf.