A periphery monitoring apparatus having a monitor device for displaying an image of periphery of a vehicle includes an image information acquiring section for acquiring image information captured by an imaging device mounted on the vehicle, an image recognizing section for effecting an image recognition process on a target feature included in the image information, the target feature being a linear shape present on a lateral side of the vehicle, a display image switchover deciding section for deciding whether or not a display image to be displayed on the monitor device should be switched over to a side-view image relating to the lateral side of the vehicle, and a display image switching section for switching the display image to the side-view image, based on result of decision made by the display image switchover deciding section.