Malibu

Malibu is a beach city hugs the Pacific Ocean, north of Santa Monica in the northwest corner of Los Angeles County. Because of the town's location on the ocean and the proximity to downtown L.A.'s studios, Malibu has become a fixture in American culture, and has been featured on popular TV shows such as Two and a Half Men and Hannah Montana.

Understand
Malibu and its beaches are frequently listed as one of the must-see spots of the West Coast and the United States in general. However, the popularity of this city of 11,000 people (2020) is at odds with its residents. Local politics in Malibu are dominated by measures to keep outsiders out and to slow the growth of the city to keep it from turning into other beach side towns like Santa Monica or Newport Beach. Politicians and citizens alike often vote in favor of measures that make it more difficult for tourists to visit Malibu. These range from regulations on services like AirBnb to refusing to stripe additional parking spots at popular beaches. Malibu is a beautiful location worth visiting, but be aware of parking restrictions and other difficulties when attempting to see its beautiful beaches.
 * Malibu City Council website

Get in
Take Pacific Coast Highway (California State Route 1) north from Santa Monica. From Los Angeles International Airport, take San Diego Freeway (Interstate 405) north to Santa Monica Freeway (Interstate 10) west. The Santa Monica Freeway intersects the Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica. If driving on a weekend, expect traffic on PCH and very limited parking at the beaches.

LA Metro bus 134 provides service to Malibu from Santa Monica and Washington/Fairfax transit center.

Get around
The main (and pretty much only) route through Malibu is along the Pacific Coast Highway. It's the "main street" of Malibu. PCH runs the length of the town and is really the only way to get from one side of the Malibu to the other.

Do

 * Head to famous or  for a great day at the beach.
 * For a great coast view, head to . From PCH heading north, turn left on Heathercliff and left on Dume Drive. Take Dume drive as far as you can and turn right at the end of the road. There is a park on the cliff with a few trails where the locals like to jog. Follow a trail or two to the tip of the point. You'll know when you get there. There will be a bench and a wooden sort of deck in the middle of the trail. From here you can see all of the coast out to Palos Verdes, watch surfers below, and listen to the sounds of sea lions and dolphins. Point Dume, Zuma Beach and Westward Beach have been filming locations for numerous movies and TV programs such as Planet of the Apes, I Dream of Jeannie, D-Day 6th of June (1956); D-Day Battle of Omaha Beach (2019); Iron Man Parts 1-3, Fast & Furious, Lucifer, Star Trek Enterprise-Earth Beach, and Knight and Day.
 * Malibu Pier. The historic Malibu Pier is a quintessential stop for visitors, offering beautiful ocean views and a glimpse into Malibu’s coastal charm.
 * Getty Villa. Modeled after an ancient Roman villa, the Getty Villa is an art museum that houses a vast collection of ancient Greek, Roman, and Etruscan artifacts. The museum’s gardens and architecture are as impressive as its collection.
 * Malibu Pier. The historic Malibu Pier is a quintessential stop for visitors, offering beautiful ocean views and a glimpse into Malibu’s coastal charm.
 * Getty Villa. Modeled after an ancient Roman villa, the Getty Villa is an art museum that houses a vast collection of ancient Greek, Roman, and Etruscan artifacts. The museum’s gardens and architecture are as impressive as its collection.
 * Malibu Pier. The historic Malibu Pier is a quintessential stop for visitors, offering beautiful ocean views and a glimpse into Malibu’s coastal charm.
 * Getty Villa. Modeled after an ancient Roman villa, the Getty Villa is an art museum that houses a vast collection of ancient Greek, Roman, and Etruscan artifacts. The museum’s gardens and architecture are as impressive as its collection.

Sleep
Malibu hotels span the spectrum from luxury to family motels. Most of the Malibu hotels are along the main coastal road, Pacific Coast Highway, and several are located along the beach. The nearby communities of Calabasas, Agoura Hills, Woodland Hills and Santa Monica may offer less expensive options.



Go next

 * Santa Monica - A neighboring beach city that is much more touristy than Malibu and features a famous pier.
 * Pacific Palisades - Located south of Malibu, the Palisades are home to multi-million dollar homes set amongst the hills overlooking the ocean, as well as the J. Paul Getty Villa which features classical sculpture.
 * Further northwest are the cities of Ventura and Santa Barbara with the Channel Islands National Park.
 * Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Miles of scenic roads and hiking trails through the mountains behind Malibu, as well as historic sites such as Malibu Creek State Park.
 * San Fernando Valley. The suburbs inland, to the east.