While some associate Malibu with mansions perching on the cliffs and surfers bobbing on the breaks, we tie the city to L.A.’s most stunning natural wonders. Forget the tarnished glitz of Hollywood and the posh landmarks of Beverly Hills; these things to do in Malibu make us question why we don’t spend every single weekend in the waterfront city. From some of the best beaches around to hiking trails with waterfalls—and a little bit of wine tasting to wind down—we’ve rounded up our favorite things to do in Malibu.
Just a heads up that you’re probably going to need a car to visit most of these spots. Malibu’s scenic landmarks largely hug the Pacific Coast Highway and the beachfront, which runs from west of Pacific Palisades to the Ventura County border. While Metro’s 534 bus will take you about as far west as Zuma beach, you’ll need your own wheels to venture into the more remote coastline to the west, as well as the canyon communities and hiking trails to the north in the Santa Monica Mountains.
1. Relax in the sand at Zuma Beach and Point Dume
Make the drive past Will Rogers and Surfrider beaches and you’ll be rewarded with a clean, wide patch of sand and surf at Zuma. This Malibu beach accommodates crowds with plenty of on-site parking (pay at the lot or park for free along PCH) and lifeguards on duty. Directly to the south, you’ll find Point Dume State Beach, with both hikers and climbers scaling its iconic namesake rock face and strolling through seasonal wildflower fields atop its crown.
2. Explore the rock formations at El Matador State Beach
Small, beautiful and dominated by rocky outcrops, El Matador is easily the most picturesque piece of coastline in the county. Wear shoes and don’t bring too much gear; the western Malibu beach is only accessible via a steep gravelly path from a paid parking lot. There are no lifeguards or other facilities, but it’s the perfect spot to spread your towel in the cupped hands of the rocks—just watch out for high tide when sand comes at a premium. Arriving early or staying late should reward you with a memorable dawn or sunset.
3. Walk the grounds of an oceanfront estate at the Adamson House
This striking 1929 Spanish-style building sits, along with the Malibu Lagoon Museum, inside the confines of Malibu Lagoon State Park. The major attraction at Adamson House is the array of decorative tiles manufactured at the once-celebrated but now-closed Malibu Tile Works. The guided tours allow visitors access to much of the property.
4. Sip pours in a canyon vineyard at Malibu Wines
A visit to Malibu Wines is almost a rite of passage for Angelenos. It’s easy to see why: the picturesque vineyard and tasting room boasts plenty of lawn space for picnicking you can bring in food, but no alcohol themed events include Friday-night karaoke, Sunday yoga and mimosas and Thursday movie screenings; and the pours behind the bar are fast and plentiful.
The Tasting Room is currently closed following the Woolsey Fire, so Malibu Wines has turned its attention toward a garden spot in West Hills, instead. But you can embark on a wine hike in the area.
5. Pose with a giraffe at Malibu Wine Safaris
Looking for something a little more adventurous? Malibu Wine Safaris combines the experience of a zoo and winery on their two-hour nature tour, where you’ll get to personally feed animals—including local icon Stanley the Giraffe—while stopping to taste various wines from Saddlerock Ranch.
6. Brush up on ancient history at the Getty Villa
This one’s technically just outside of Malibu, in a Pacific Palisades villa that dates back to 1974, when oil magnate J. Paul Getty opened a museum of his holdings. Eventually the decorative arts and paintings were moved to the Getty Center, and the villa was closed for conversion into a museum for Getty’s collection of Mediterranean antiquities. Today, there are roughly 1,200 artifacts on display at any one time, dated between 6,500 BC and 500 AD, and organized under such themes as “gods and goddesses” and “stories of the Trojan War.” Even if you’re not interested in the art, the palatial courtyards and manicured gardens are worth the visit alone.
7. Hike through a dramatic landscape at Malibu Creek State Park
With dramatic gorges, open pastures hidden pools and jagged peaks, Malibu Creek is simply one of the most stunning spots in Southern California. The Santa Monica Mountains space is filled with scenic trails and, since this is still L.A., a bit of silver screen history: you can spot singed remnants of the M*A*S*H set and splash in the rock pool that was featured in Planet of the Apes.
8. Camp on the sand at Leo Carrillo State Park
Leo Carillo has the best of both worlds a well-equipped stretch of sand with seclusion and scenic beauty. Stretching one and a half miles across the north tip of Malibu, you’ll find enough quite from the rift raft of Santa Monica beach warriors and crowds of Surfrider. Long boarders can paddle out for mellow waves—it gets no more than chest-high at this point break—while nature lovers can explore tide pools on the rock-dotted coastline and a nearby trail. And don’t forget Fido: This is one of the rare beaches where dogs (leashed) are allowed to roam.
