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Twenty-One Miles of California Coastline

Malibu is a coastal city in Los Angeles County, California, known for about 21 miles of Pacific shoreline, world-famous surf and a relaxed, sunlit style of living. The Santa Monica Mountains rise directly behind the beaches, so the Pacific Coast Highway runs between green canyon and open sea. The name comes from the Chumash word for the place, and the area has been admired for its coast for generations. Its beaches are among the most photographed in the state.

Surfrider Beach, beside the historic Malibu Pier, was the first World Surfing Reserve to be designated, and its long, peeling waves have shaped surf culture since the 1950s. Zuma Beach is a broad, golden sweep that suits family days, while Point Dume gives sweeping views from its headland, and El Matador State Beach is famed for sea stacks and arched rocks at sunset. In winter and early spring, whale-watching boats look for migrating grey whales off the coast.

Canyons, Vineyards and Seaside Tables

Away from the sand, Malibu has a quieter side. Trails in the Santa Monica Mountains and Malibu Creek State Park wind through oak woodland and chaparral, and the Adamson House, with its hand-painted Malibu tiles, preserves a glimpse of 1930s seaside life. Malibu wine country, in the canyons above the coast, produces cool-climate wines, and tasting rooms open to visitors. The city is also home to the Getty Villa, a short drive south, which houses ancient Greek and Roman art in a Roman-style setting.

Dining here is naturally coastal, with fish tacos, grilled seafood and sunset tables on the pier and at cliffside restaurants. Roadside farm stands sell avocados and citrus, and beach cafés serve breakfast with the surf in view. A hotel group can offer guests everything from beachfront rooms to canyon retreats, and the Los Angeles attractions of galleries, shops and stage shows are within an easy drive for guests who want city days too.

Reaching Malibu and Planning the Coast

Malibu is about 30 to 60 minutes by road from central Los Angeles and from Santa Monica, depending on the traffic, and the Pacific Coast Highway is the classic route. Direct flights from London reach Los Angeles in around eleven hours. Late spring and early autumn bring clear, warm days and softer crowds, while summer is the peak season for the beaches, and winter offers dramatic light and whale-watching.

Malibu fits naturally into a longer California itinerary, with Hollywood for city glamour, San Diego to the south and San Francisco to the north by the coast road. A name like VisitMalibu.co.uk gives hotels, airlines and boards a clear, single home for the coastline's story, and a place from which to show a California where sea, mountains and sky meet within a few miles of each other.

Beach Houses, Cliffside Inns and Canyon Retreats

Malibu's stays are as relaxed as its coastline. Oceanfront inns and beach hotels along the Pacific Coast Highway let guests wake to the sound of surf, with balconies, firepits and direct sand access. Carbon Beach, nicknamed Billionaires' Beach, is lined with glamorous homes, while the Malibu Colony and Point Dume areas have quiet streets and sweeping headland views. Private beach houses rented by the week suit families and groups, and cliff-top retreats with plunge pools and spa treatments are popular with couples. A stay on the water means sunrise walks along an almost empty shore, and sunset dinners with the sky turning pink over the waves.

Away from the sea, the Santa Monica Mountains have their own appeal. Canyon lodges and rustic ranch-style hotels, such as Calamigos Ranch, offer a countryside feel with horse riding, glamping and weekend weddings. Leo Carrillo State Park, at the northern end of the coast, has campsites for those who like to sleep near the waves, with tide pools and sea caves close by. Wellness retreats provide yoga, sound baths and organic menus, and surf camps give beginners a gentle introduction to the sport. For a hotel group or boutique brand, Malibu offers a very strong sense of place, and the stay is half the holiday.

Seafood Shacks, Farm Stands and Surf-Town Summers

Malibu's table is simple and fresh. Neptune's Net, a roadside seafood shack by the highway, has served fried shrimp and fish to surfers and motorcyclists for decades, and Malibu Farm on the pier serves organic, sustainably sourced dishes with ocean views. Nobu Malibu, on the beach, brings polished Japanese cooking to the shore, and the Reel Inn and local taco stands offer casual lunches in the sun. Roadside farm stands sell avocados, citrus and strawberries, while the Sunday farmers market in the city centre is a lively gathering with fresh bread, flowers and local honey. Coffee and smoothie shops are never far.

Culture here is about nature and the arts. Pepperdine University's Weisman Museum shows exhibitions on its hilltop campus, the Adamson House and Malibu Lagoon Museum tell the story of the area, and the Getty Villa lies just south. The Malibu Chili Cook-Off draws crowds at Labor Day, and surf events enliven the summer months. In spring, wildflowers colour the canyons, and in winter the grey whales pass offshore. Late spring can bring a cool morning haze known as June gloom, which usually clears by lunch, while September and October offer some of the warmest, clearest beach days of the year.

Sea Caves, Waterfalls and Channel Island Day Trips

Malibu is a place for doing as much as for resting. Surf lessons at Surfrider and Zuma Beach suit beginners, paddleboarders glide along calm mornings, and kayak tours explore sea caves along the coast. Hikers follow the trails of Solstice Canyon to a hidden waterfall and the ruins of an old estate, or climb through Escondido Canyon to a cascade. Point Mugu State Park, a little north, has coastal dunes and mountain trails, while Leo Carrillo has tide pools alive with anemones and crabs. Cyclists take on the Pacific Coast Highway, and horse riding in the hills gives a classic California view.

Day trips and add-ons are easy. The Getty Villa and Santa Monica are close by, while Los Angeles and Hollywood provide city contrast. Heading north, Ventura offers boat trips to Channel Islands National Park, known for its wildlife and clear water, and Santa Barbara, with its Spanish Revival architecture and beaches, is within a comfortable drive. Many guests link Malibu to San Diego or San Francisco on a coastal itinerary, or to Hawaii by air. A tourist board can show how a single coast road leads to many different holidays.

Planning your stay

Malibu is a coastal city with about 21 miles of Pacific shoreline, with most of it strung along the Pacific Coast Highway between the sea and steep canyons. There is no single centre, so beaches, restaurants, vineyards and the Getty Villa are spread out, and you will spend time in a car. Beaches such as Zuma and Malibu Lagoon State Beach suit swimmers, surfers and walkers.

Most UK visitors treat it as a day trip or a quiet stay within a wider Southern California itinerary. Santa Monica is the nearest busy beach town, Hollywood and the wider Los Angeles area are an hour or so away depending on traffic, and San Diego makes a longer onward drive along the coast.

When to go

Spring and autumn are comfortable, with clear days. Early summer mornings are often grey and cool on the coast, and the sea stays cold for much of the year, so swimming is better in late summer. Winter is mild with occasional heavy rain, and weekends in good weather are busy on the coast road.

Entry rules and getting there

If you travelled to or were in Cuba on or after 12 January 2021 you cannot apply for an ESTA, so check your history before you book Malibu.

Fly direct from London to Los Angeles, which takes about eleven hours, then drive north. Public transport along the coast is limited, so most visitors hire a car or book a transfer. Check the road conditions before you set off, because closures can follow landslides and fires.

Driving and costs

Stay on main roads, use well-lit car parks and avoid leaving items on display. In Malibu, keep passports out of any hire car, boot included, and avoid leaving items on display, since gangs may target vehicles driven by people who look like tourists.

Malibu is expensive, with high hotel and restaurant prices, and parking at beaches can add to the cost. Expect these rules in Malibu: prices in Malibu usually exclude sales tax and tipping is expected. Compare the full cost of a stay against a base in Santa Monica or Los Angeles with a day trip.

Before you travel

Entry requirements and official travel guidance are updated regularly, so check the latest position with your government before booking. The sources we used are listed at the foot of this page.

Why Malibu matters to the industry

Malibu is a luxury and lifestyle brand with a small number of high-spend properties, where trust and accuracy matter. VisitMalibu.co.uk lets a hotel group, tourist board or airline publish clear guidance on access, seasons and costs, and our AI platform carries it to searchers.

See our other destination guides for comparison with coastal markets elsewhere.

Questions travellers ask about Malibu