Hollywood
Last Updated: January 08, 2026
Malibu is a scenic coastal paradise offering countless things to do for visitors seeking sun, surf, and luxury. Explore the pristine Malibu Pier, hike the trails at Solstice Canyon and Escondido Falls, or relax on the sandy Zuma Beach and El Matador Beach. Enjoy shopping and dining at Malibu Country Mart, savor seafood at Nobu Malibu, or enjoy wine tasting at Malibu Wines. Art lovers can visit the Getty Villa for classical antiquities, while surfers catch waves at Surfrider Beach. With stunning beaches, hiking, dining, and cultural attractions, Malibu offers the perfect mix of relaxing and exciting things to do in Los Angeles.
Malibu Surfrider Hotel
Malibu offers some of the most stunning hotels in California, providing the perfect coastal retreat for travelers. For an iconic beachfront experience, stay at Malibu Beach Inn, where you can enjoy luxury accommodations with direct beach access. For a more exclusive, upscale option, Post Ranch Inn offers breathtaking cliffside views and unparalleled service. If you’re looking for a chic boutique hotel, Surfrider Malibu provides a stylish, laid-back vibe with panoramic ocean views, located just steps away from Malibu’s famous surf spots.
Geoffrey's Malibu
Malibu's restaurant scene is renowned for its fresh seafood, coastal views, and upscale dining. For an elegant, oceanfront dining experience, visit Gallon’s Seafood, known for its sustainable seafood dishes and a menu inspired by the California coast. Nobu Malibu is another world-famous restaurant, offering high-end sushi and Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine with sweeping views of the Pacific. For a more casual yet exceptional meal, Malibu Farm Restaurant offers farm-to-table dishes with a stunning oceanfront setting.
Malibu has long been a favorite getaway for celebrities, and you’ll find plenty of spots where you can catch a glimpse of Hollywood’s elite. One famous hangout is Geoffrey’s Malibu, a restaurant known for its stunning views and celebrity clientele. Another popular spot is Soho House Malibu, a private members-only club perched on the cliffs, offering unparalleled views and a relaxed atmosphere. For a casual celebrity sighting, head to Malibu Country Mart, where many stars shop and dine.
Point Dume Beach
Malibu is famous for its pristine beaches, perfect for relaxation, sunbathing, and water activities. Zuma Beach is one of the largest and most beautiful beaches in the area, known for its wide sandy shores and excellent facilities. El Matador Beach is a more secluded spot, featuring stunning sea caves and rock formations, making it a popular destination for photography and quiet beach days. For a family-friendly beach, Malibu Lagoon State Beach offers a calm atmosphere and scenic walking trails, ideal for a day of outdoor enjoyment. Malibu Lagoon State Beach offers visitors access to fishing, restaurants, and stunning views of the surf. Dan Blocker Beach is a stunning 15.2-acre beach located on the Malibu coast and is a popular destination for surfers, divers, scuba enthusiasts, and hikers. Point Dume State Beach offers visitors a picturesque one-mile stretch of sandy coastline surrounded by headlands, cliffs, rocky coves, and beach access.
Malibu is a world-renowned surf destination, attracting surfers from around the globe. Surfrider Beach is the most famous surf spot in Malibu, known for its long right-hand point breaks and consistent waves. For experienced surfers, First Point offers one of the best longboard waves in California, while Second Point provides a more challenging surf break. If you're a beginner, Malibu Pier is a great spot to take surf lessons and enjoy the mellow waves in a relaxed setting.
Backbone Trail to Sandstone Peak
Malibu offers some of the most scenic hiking trails with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and the surrounding hills. Solstice Canyon is a popular spot, featuring easy trails and the picturesque Solstice Canyon Waterfall. For a more challenging hike, head to Escondido Falls Trail, where you can explore a series of cascading waterfalls. If you’re looking for panoramic views, the Point Dume State Beach and Preserve offers rugged trails along the cliffs, providing sweeping vistas of the ocean and surrounding coastline. Leo Carrillo State Park offers unique cliffside trails that wind through diverse coastal and mountain ecosystems. Whether seeking panoramic views, hidden waterfalls, or peaceful meadows, Malibu’s hiking trails have something for everyone to enjoy.
Malibu Creek State Park
Malibu is home to several beautiful state parks, each offering a unique experience for nature lovers. Malibu Creek State Park is a favorite for hikers and campers, with its stunning rock formations, scenic trails, and access to the creek. Topanga State Park offers expansive views of the Pacific Ocean and a variety of wildlife along its miles of hiking and equestrian trails. For a coastal park with beautiful beaches, Leo Carrillo State Park is perfect for a day of picnicking, swimming, and exploring tide pools.
The Malibu Pier, an iconic Southern California landmark, has been a symbol of the region’s coastal charm since it first opened in 1905. With its signature white towers, weathered planks, and expansive ocean views, the pier has become a must-visit destination for both locals and tourists. Located adjacent to Surfrider Beach, a world-renowned surf spot known for its three-point break, the pier offers a front-row seat to some of the best surfing in the world, with surfers often seen riding waves that stretch 300 yards or more. The festive, laid-back vibe of the pier is amplified by its array of exceptional restaurants and shops, including the upscale Malibu Farm Restaurant & Bar at the entrance, offering an elegant-casual atmosphere and breathtaking ocean views. At the far end of the pier, the Malibu Farm Cafe serves casual fare with an elevated rooftop seating area that provides an equally stunning view of the surf below. Whether you're a foodie, a surfer, or simply someone looking to enjoy the natural beauty of California's coastline, the Malibu Pier offers a perfect blend of history, culture, and seaside relaxation.
Nestled in the hills above Malibu, the Getty Villa is a beautiful museum and cultural center dedicated to the arts of ancient Greece, Rome, and Etruria. The museum itself is designed to resemble an ancient Roman villa, with lush gardens, tranquil courtyards, and impressive architectural details. Explore its extensive collection of ancient art, attend a lecture, or simply wander through the gardens, which offer spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. The Getty Villa is a must-visit for history buffs and art enthusiasts.
For those who love shopping and dining, Malibu Country Mart offers a chic and relaxed shopping experience in an outdoor setting. Located just off the Pacific Coast Highway, this upscale shopping center features luxury boutiques, casual dining options, and art galleries. Whether you’re looking for high-end fashion, unique gifts, or a relaxing spot to enjoy a meal, Malibu Country Mart delivers the laid-back, beachy vibe that the city is known for. It’s a great place to grab a coffee, shop, and people-watch.
The Adamson House is a historic home that offers a glimpse into Malibu’s past. Situated at Malibu Lagoon State Beach, this Spanish Colonial Revival house was built in 1930 and is renowned for its beautiful tiles, which were designed by the owner and famous local artist, Rixford Adamson. The Malibu Lagoon Museum located on the property offers exhibits that explore the history of the area, the Malibu Lagoon, and the significance of the Adamson family in Malibu’s early development. It’s a great stop for history lovers.
Malibu's breathtaking beaches and stunning coastal landscape have made it a sought-after location for film and television productions for decades. Known for its rich association with surfing culture, Malibu became an iconic backdrop in the 1960s with the release of Gidget, a film that helped define the California surf scene. This association continued with shows like Charlie's Angels and Two and a Half Men, which often showcased the area’s sun-kissed shores. But Malibu’s appeal goes beyond surfing—it's also been the setting for diverse productions, including the Planet of the Apes series, Iron Man, and Hannah Montana. One of the most iconic locations is Point Dume, a dramatic rocky headland that juts into the Pacific, featured in numerous films and TV shows. Notably, it served as the site of Tony Stark's mansion in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, cementing Malibu's place in cinematic history as the perfect blend of natural beauty and Hollywood allure.