Blessed with sun-kissed beaches against a grand mountain backdrop, Malibu has long attracted the rich and famous, whose mansions line some of the loveliest California coastlines.
Here urban chic meets a laid-back beach culture and an open-air lifestyle. No matter what your preferences are, you’ll find something to excite you among the best things to do in Malibu.
The glorious Mediterranean climate pleases with long sun-drenched summer days attracting crowds onto the golden sands and into the Pacific waters.
The city is also edged by the largest urban national park in the world, boasting miles and miles of trails through the natural wilderness and along the mountain slopes.
So, let’s take a drive up the Pacific Coast Highway for a holiday of a lifetime in Malibu.
At A Glance
- 10 Unmissable Things to Do in Malibu (& 7 Bonus Places!)
- 1. Find Your Happy Space On A Malibu Beach
- 2. Commune With Nature In The Santa Monica Mountain National Recreation Area
- 3. Soak In The Sun On Malibu Pier
- 4. Explore Three Unusual Malibu Museums
- 5. Camp At The Channel Islands National Park
- 6. Relax And Play At Malibu Bluffs Park
- 7. Book A Wine Safari
- 8. Treat Yourself At The Malibu Country Mart
- 9. Malibu Hindu Temple
- 10. Enjoy The Shade Of The Sycamores At Leo Carrillo State Park
- Plan Ahead for the Best Malibu Holiday
10 Unmissable Things to Do in Malibu (& 7 Bonus Places!)
1. Find Your Happy Space On A Malibu Beach
If you’re a beach lover, Malibu is the place for you. The city boasts 27 miles of coastline with a wide range of beaches. Here you’ll find long golden sands and tiny, private bays surrounded by towering cliffs and rock formations. If you love sand in your hair and salt in the air, Malibu beaches beckon.
Zuma Beach
Located at the northern end of Malibu, Zuma Beach is one of Malibu’s most popular seaside destinations. This beach enjoys one of the more natural settings on the Malibu coast because it’s one of the few beaches in Malibu that doesn’t have private homes along the shore.
Stretching for almost two miles, this is a great family beach with some of the best facilities in the city. These include lifeguard stations, restrooms, showers and picnic areas. You’ll even find a restaurant at this beach.
If you enjoy beach volleyball, you’re bound to find a game in progress on Zuma Beach. Kiteboarding, bodyboarding and windsurfing are all very popular. If you don’t have your own equipment, there are shops that will rent them out to you.
Surfrider Beach
Surfing is part of the Malibu lifestyle. Surfers have ridden the waves of this coastline for nearly a hundred years. In Malibu, the surf is always up. Surfriders Beach found fame in the surfing movies of the 50s and 60s and it remains the most popular of the Malibu surfing beaches.
Surfrider Beach was the first beach in the world to receive the designation “World Surfing Reserve”. The beach is quite small, consisting of just one mile of coastline. Try your hand at surfing. Even if you’re a novice, you can find yourself in a surfing school. So, get out there onto the waves with the rest of the bronzed Malibu surfers.
If you prefer something a little more sedate, hire a stand-up paddling board and take water. As you navigate secluded bays along the coast, you’ll enjoy the coast from a completely different perspective.
El Matador State Beach
El Matador is a beach with a difference. The beach is known for its impressive rock arches and steep cliff overhangs. The beautiful jagged rock formations give the beach a secluded feel and, indeed, it isn’t as crowded as Zuma. This is perhaps because it’s less accessible. A steep gravel path leads down to that beach which has no facilities.
El Matador Beach is considered one of the USA’s best beaches and it’s great for swimming and snorkelling.
Point Dume State Beach And Preserve
Rocky coves and towering cliffs hug the warm white sand of Point Dume State Beach. Locals flock to the beach known for its excellent swimming, surfing and diving. This beach is one of the best in the city because of its consistently robust breaks. Still, it’s not as well-known as Surfrider beach so it’s a good option for surfers who prefer less company.
A short hiking trail leads to an elevated viewpoint offering spectacular 360° views of Santa Monica Bay and the mountains. From this height, on a clear day, you can see all the way to Catalina Islands.
California grey whales pass this way on their annual migration from December to the middle of April. You’ll see them from the top, and while you’re up there, look out for falcons.
2. Commune With Nature In The Santa Monica Mountain National Recreation Area
Located just north of Malibu, Santa Monica Mountain National Park is the world’s biggest, urban national park covering nearly 157,000 miles of natural habitat.
The park preserves the highest density of archaeology of any of the world’s mountains. It has more than a thousand sites that date back 10,000 years.
The mountains are home to 400 species of birds and 1000 plants, many of which are endangered.
Solstice Canyon
Many consider this one of Malibu’s best hiking trails. Trails range from gentle walks to more challenging hikes. Hiking paths wander past waterfalls and abandoned buildings including the oldest surviving stone building in Malibu.
Picnic areas and plenty of wildlife add to the interest. Bird lovers will find plenty of surprises along the way.
One of the favoured trails in the area is the Escondido Falls Trail. The 3.7-mile trail starts in a residential area before leading onto shaded paths that will sometimes take you to a pretty waterfall, depending on the time of year and recent rain.
The Escondido Falls drop off a 150-foot multi-tiered cliff, the highest in the Santa Monaco Mountains.
The Grotto
Also in the park, the Grotto is halfway up the 3-mile-long Grotto trail. Enjoy the wonderful views of Malibu from the top and look out for a hidden pool and waterfall. As you descend into the leafy valley, you’ll follow a small mountain creek.
In spring and summer, the area is also full of wildflowers. Climb between gaps in the rocks to find the grotto and the small waterfall that drops into an enclosed pool.
Malibu Creek State Park
Explore the 8,000 acres of exquisite tall grass and woodlands that surround the 14-mile Malibu Creek. The creek contains an estuary that attracts hundreds of waders and migratory birds. This bird lover’s paradise contains more than 200 species of bird.
Hike, camp, kayak or cycle along banks of the creek and on the slopes of the Santa Monica Mountains. The park has some of the nicest and most peaceful campsites in the state.
Filmmakers, 20th Century Fox Studios, bought Malibu Creek State Park in 1946, using it to shoot films and television series. Take a 2.5-mile hike to the set of the sitcom MASH, a hit from the 1970s.
Along the way, you’ll pass the area that was used as the set for the 1968 movie, The Planet of the Apes.
In 1974 the State of California bought the property, opening the park to the public in 1976. Century Lake in the park is named after its former owners.
Malibu has a huge number of other hiking trails – see them all here.
3. Soak In The Sun On Malibu Pier
Take a stroll down the lovely wooden Malibu Pier. Avid movie fans will recognize the twin white towers and rustic wooden pier from several Hollywood movies.
Built in 1905, the pier was once privately owned by local business tycoon Frederick Hastings Rindge and was originally built to accommodate cargo. This is a great place to stretch your legs and admire the expensive homes and pretty cliffs across the water.
There are plenty of benches lining the pier so take some time to soak in the sun while you watch recreational fishermen reel in the fish. Why not rent a rod and tackle on the pier and try your hand at fishing?
Look out for dolphins and take in the surfing action at the neighbouring Surfriders Beach. Pop into the mix of shops along the pier, you’re bound to find something that takes your fancy.
Order a seafood meal at the Malibu Café at the end of the pier and enjoy the sweeping ocean views and the gentle sea breeze while you savour the taste of the ocean. The Café offers counter service only. If you’re looking for full sit-down service, the Malibu Farm Restaurant on the other end of the pier offers three meals a day. Try a sunset dinner.
4. Explore Three Unusual Malibu Museums
If you’re into museums of a different kind, you’re in for a treat in Malibu. Here you’ll find some of California’s most unusual museums.
The Getty Villa
Located east of the city, the Getty Museum was once the home of the oil tycoon, Jean Paul Getty. It celebrates the classical cultures of southern Europe, featuring art from the ancient Etruscan, Roman and Greek civilizations.
The collection consists of more than 44,000 relics dating from 500 AD to 6500 BC. The museum is set up as an ancient Roman house. There are 23 galleries each with its own theme that include gods and goddesses, the Trojan War and Roman life.
It’s not just the stunning home that draws attention, a tour of the four gardens will lead you through open-air Roman gardens and orchards. Plan your visit to coincide with one of the regular outdoor shows in the Greek theatre located on the grounds. There’s also an onsite café that sells delicious Mediterranean food. No need to pack lunch.
The Adamson House Museum
Built in 1929, the Adamson House is a Spanish Revival beach house, featuring an impressive array of decorative tiles. It was built by the wealthy Rindge’s family as a wedding gift for their daughter.
Beautiful arched doors adorned with cast iron blooms add to the charm as does the railed first-floor balcony overlooking the Malibu Lagoon State Beach. Classic furniture fills the rooms. The 60-foot entrance to the home boasts a Persian Rug of tiles. The rest of the home is also decorated throughout with a variety of tile adornments.
The Malibu Lagoon Museum adjoined to Adamson House tells the tale of the Malibu past through artefacts, documents and photographs.
Take a walk through the tranquil 1930s gardens and stop at the on-site shop to browse around and find a memento or two.
The California Surf Museum
Whether you’re a surfer or not you can’t miss a visit to the California Surf Museum. It has welcomed tens of thousands of visitors every year since its inception in 1986. This museum, run by volunteers, contains one of the biggest collections of surfing artefacts anywhere in the world.
Here you’ll find almost any type of board, from wooden to plastic, used since surfing first became popular in the 1920s. Apart from the permanent collection, the museum also hosts revolving collections.
5. Camp At The Channel Islands National Park
This UNESCO Biosphere Reserve offers visitors some of the best landscapes in California. This chain of volcanic islands offers sanctuary to a host of unique animals, birds and plants including the island fox, spotted skunk and island night lizard.
The islands also host the largest breeding colony of California Brown Pelicans. They are home to the world’s biggest breeding colony of western gulls.
Take a boat from Oxnard for a great adventure into the wildlife of the Channel Islands. For the fit and healthy, the islands make a great kayak adventure. The islands are edged by more than 100 sea caves, a great place to explore.
Bring your camping gear and provisions and spend the night at one of the camping grounds. Take a dip in the turquoise waters surrounding the islands and snorkel in the forests of kelp.
6. Relax And Play At Malibu Bluffs Park
Malibu Bluffs Park offers fun for the whole family. The community park overlooks the Pacific Ocean and has a host of sporting and recreational facilities.
Part of the park has been left wild and it’s home to a host of small animals. The other part has been developed into sports fields and playgrounds. There’s also a popular whale-watching station and picnic tables where families can enjoy an outdoor meal.
Trails meander through the 83 acres of wilderness. Jogging paths offer health enthusiasts the opportunity to enjoy a run in a relaxed environment with views of the ocean.
7. Book A Wine Safari
Moving inland onto the slopes of the Santa Monica Mountains, take a trip into the local Winelands. Look out for a wine tour that will take you to a number of local wine farms for tastings.
The safari wine tasting offers a wine trip with a difference. You’ll explore 1,000 acres of Sandlerock Ranch and vineyard in an open-air safari vehicle. You’ll stop for wine tastings along the way, meeting up with wild animals like zebra, alpacas, bison, water buffalo and even a giraffe.
If you don’t have time to spend the day wandering the Winelands you can also taste their produce at wine bars such as Malibu Wines, Cornell Winery and Tasting Room and the Rosenthal tasting room. The wineries are based in Malibu.
Look out for Surfrider and Rosenthal brands they’re made on the outskirts of the city. The area is known for its Cabernets, Syrah, Zinfandel and Chardonnay varietals.
8. Treat Yourself At The Malibu Country Mart
Founded in 1975, the Malibu Country Mart is in the heart of downtown Malibu. Situated just across from the beach, you can dust the sand from your feet. Do a bit of retail therapy in one of 75 boutique stores in the centre. Then get right back onto the beach.
In this 6-acre shopping centre, you’ll find chic boutiques and delightful restaurants all comfortably installed in a laid-back country environment.
The centre consists of multiple buildings interspersed with gardens, giving it its laid back atmosphere. There’s a children’s playground in the centre along with plenty of parking.
9. Malibu Hindu Temple
Built in 1981, the Malibu Hindu Temple is one of the largest such temples in the West. Despite its name, the temple is situated in nearby Calabasas in the Santa Monica Mountains.
It boasts a magnificent façade containing intricate patterns and marvellous architecture. The inner sanctuaries are as beautiful and elaborate as the outside.
This is an active temple carrying out Hindu ceremonies and cultural celebrations so check the temple calendar before you go and plan your visit to coincide with a traditional ceremony. The temple is open over the weekends from 10 am to 5 pm.
While you’re there, enjoy a fragrant vegetarian meal from the temple kitchen.
10. Enjoy The Shade Of The Sycamores At Leo Carrillo State Park
Named after the actor and conservationist Leo Carrillo, the Leo Carrillo State Park runs along 1.5 miles of the beautiful California coast. The tidal pools, shoreline caves and sycamore trees make for a lovely setting.
There are plenty of trails for hikers to follow, including dog-friendly walks. Book into the sycamore-shaded camping grounds and enjoy a few days relaxing at the seaside. Bring your kite surfboard and fishing rod and enjoy some water sports with the family.
In the summer, there are special kids’ events like Junior Rangers and campfire building.
Plan Ahead for the Best Malibu Holiday
Whatever your preference in leisure and entertainment, you’ll find something to your liking in Malibu. Find cheap motels, then spend days in the sun, the sand and the water. Choose your water sport from kayaking to windsurfing, swimming or surfing.
If you prefer hiking through unspoilt natural spaces, you’ll find hundreds of miles of trails to hike, horse ride or cycle.
The best things to do in Malibu all depend on your preferences.
