Malibu stretches for more than 20 miles along the Southern California coast, with the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Santa Monica Mountains on the other. That layout is part of what makes it such a good day trip from Los Angeles, but it also means you need a little more of a plan than simply arriving and seeing what happens.
Most of the places worth stopping at sit along or close to Pacific Coast Highway. Follow the coast in one direction, and you can fit beaches, lunch, shopping, and some of Malibu’s best-known landmarks into the same day without spending half of it doubling back.
Got a day to spare? Here’s a Malibu itinerary that offers plenty to see without turning the whole trip into a race through parking lots.
Start With a Self-Drive From Los Angeles
The drive to Malibu is part of the day, so there’s no real reason to rush it.
From Los Angeles, make your way towards Santa Monica and join Pacific Coast Highway heading west. Once you get beyond Pacific Palisades, the city starts dropping away, and the road opens onto the coast. On a clear morning, you’ll have long stretches of ocean beside you before you have even reached central Malibu.
If you want to make the drive part of the experience, you can rent a luxury car for the day and follow the coast at your own pace. The stops are spread out, so having your own car also gives you the freedom to stay longer somewhere that turns out to be worth it.
For two people and not much luggage, the Lamborghini Huracan Evo Spyder is a two-seat, open-top model with an electrically retractable soft top and all-wheel drive.
The Range Rover Sport gives you four-wheel drive and considerably more room for bags and beach gear. It is a very different option when extra space matters more than an open-top sports car.
Whichever way you do it, leave LA reasonably early. Pacific Coast Highway is much more enjoyable when you are looking at the ocean rather than the brake lights in front of you.
Prefer Not to Drive? Take a Chauffeur Instead
You can follow a similar route without driving yourself.
If you would rather leave the parking and navigation to someone else, you can book a chauffeur for the day. That lets you get out at each stop, spend as long as you want there, and meet the driver again when you are ready to continue.
It can also make the busier coastal stops easier, especially where parking is limited or access changes.
The route does not need to become a strict schedule either. Start from your hotel or private address, choose the main places you want to see, and leave enough room to spend longer somewhere you actually enjoy.
Malibu tends to reward that approach.
Visit the Getty Villa on the Way
Before you properly reach Malibu, there’s a worthwhile stop just off Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades.
The Getty Villa is modelled on an ancient Roman country house and holds the Getty Museum’s collection of Greek, Roman and Etruscan antiquities. The galleries are the main reason to visit, but the gardens, fountains and architecture make the setting just as interesting.
Admission is free, although you need a timed-entry reservation and there is a charge for parking. Check the official Getty Villa visitor information before travelling, particularly if you want one of the earlier entry times.
Don’t make the mistake of spending half the day here if Malibu is the main plan. Pick out the galleries you are most interested in, walk through the gardens and continue along PCH.
The good thing about stopping here first is that once you leave, the rest of the day keeps moving in roughly the same direction.
Walk Along Malibu Pier and Surfrider Beach
Malibu Pier is one of those landmarks that looks exactly where it belongs.
It extends into the Pacific beside Surfrider Beach, one of Malibu’s best-known surfing spots. Walk along the open section of the pier, look back towards the shoreline and spend a little time watching the surfers before moving on.
There is a current access restriction worth knowing about. Part of the ocean end of the pier has been closed because of structural concerns, so check the official Malibu Pier visitor information before you go.
Malibu Lagoon State Beach is right beside Surfrider if you feel like stretching the walk. The area also includes the historic Adamson House and trails around the lagoon.
There’s parking around the pier and surrounding area, but busy weekends can fill quickly. This is another good reason to start the day before the main crowds arrive.
If you still have a few days in the city after Malibu, there are plenty more luxury things to do around Los Angeles without repeating the same kind of coastal day.
Have Lunch by the Ocean
You’re already at Malibu Pier, so there is no need to get back into the car just to find lunch.
Malibu Farm Restaurant sits at the shore end of the pier, with tables looking out over the water. The menu is built around simple California-style dishes and it fits neatly into the route because lunch does not require another detour.
During busy weekends, particularly around lunchtime, there can be a wait. Arriving a little before the main rush gives you a better chance of getting seated without losing too much of the afternoon.
Give yourself enough time to actually enjoy lunch. There is very little point driving to Malibu for the day and then treating the ocean view like something you need to finish in 20 minutes.
And yes, you could head somewhere more formal instead. Save that for dinner. The pier is already under your feet.
Browse Malibu Country Mart
After lunch, head a short distance inland to Malibu Country Mart.
This is less about ticking off another major attraction and more about breaking up the day. The six-acre centre has boutiques, cafés, restaurants, wellness businesses and plenty of outdoor space, so it makes an easy stop between the coastal sections of the route.
Grab a coffee, browse a few stores or simply walk around for a while before heading farther west.
Parking is free, which is a welcome change after some of the beach stops.
You probably don’t need hours here unless you came to Malibu specifically to shop. Have a look around, get a coffee if you need one and move on when you’re ready.
There is more coast waiting.
See the Coast From Point Dume
Point Dume is where Malibu starts showing off a little.
The headland rises above the Pacific, with cliffs, rocky coves, and views stretching along the coast. There are short trails around the preserve, and on a clear day you can see a long way along the shoreline from the overlooks.
It is also a good place to watch for migrating gray whales during the appropriate season.
Access and parking around Point Dume can change because of erosion and road conditions, so check the latest California State Parks information for Point Dume before travelling.
That aside, Point Dume is worth keeping in the route. You don’t need a long hike. Walk out to one of the viewpoints, stay for a while and then carry on.
By this point, you may also realise Malibu is much longer than it looked on the map.
And if one day suddenly feels a little short, Malibu is also included among our favourite weekend getaways from LA.
Spend Some Time at El Matador State Beach
Continue west along PCH, and you’ll eventually reach El Matador.
It is part of Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach, along with La Piedra and El Pescador. El Matador gets most of the attention for its cliffs, rock formations, and sea stacks rising out of the water.
The beach sits below the bluff, so reaching the sand involves paths and stairs. That is worth knowing before arriving in beach shoes and carrying half the contents of your hotel room.
Parking is limited at the top, which can make busy summer weekends a bit of a lottery. Check the current California State Parks information for El Matador for parking and access details before heading out.
Once you are down there, don’t feel the need to do much.
Walk along the sand, explore around the rocks when conditions allow and take in the cliffs. El Matador is one of those places where adding an activity would probably make the visit worse rather than better.
People who do not fancy the stairs can still enjoy views from around the bluff top before continuing along the coast.
Stay Along the Coast for Sunset
You’ve spent most of the day moving, so stop moving for a bit.
El Matador can be a great place to stay for sunset, particularly if you are already there and have a good spot. Depending on parking, conditions, and how far west you have travelled, another nearby coastal viewpoint works just as well.
Check the sunset time for the date you are visiting rather than relying on a generic itinerary. Malibu’s sunset can arrive surprisingly early in winter and considerably later during summer.
There is no complicated sightseeing advice for this part.
Find somewhere with a clear view of the Pacific, put the phone away after you have taken the inevitable photographs, and stay until the light starts disappearing.
Not every stop needs an admission ticket.
Finish With Dinner in Malibu
Once the sun has gone down, start heading east again towards Los Angeles and stop for dinner on the way.
Geoffrey’s Malibu is a good option if you want to keep the ocean in view a little longer. The restaurant sits above the coast, with dining areas facing the Pacific.
Nobu Malibu is another well-known choice farther east along PCH. Its location makes sense if you are already heading back towards Santa Monica and want dinner to be the final stop before returning to LA.
Book ahead if dinner matters to the day. Malibu is not somewhere you want to spend your final hour driving between restaurants hoping a table appears.
If you’re planning the coastal day for a celebration, you can also borrow a few ideas from our guide to celebrating a birthday in LA.
After that, it is straight back along the coast towards Los Angeles.
Unless you decide Malibu deserves a second day after all.
Tips for Spending One Day in Malibu
A little planning goes a long way here.
Start early.
Traffic along Pacific Coast Highway can build quickly, particularly at weekends and during busy summer periods.
Keep moving in one direction
Malibu is stretched along the coast, so repeatedly driving east and west can eat into the day surprisingly quickly.
Check access before leaving
Road works, erosion, beach conditions and parking restrictions can change, particularly around the state beaches.
Don’t try to see everything
This itinerary already covers a good amount of ground. Add another four beaches and three restaurants and you will mostly remember Malibu through a windshield.
Bring something warm.
The coast can get cooler and windier once the sun drops, even when the afternoon has been hot.
And finally, leave some space in the day. The best stop may end up being the one you had only planned to spend 20 minutes at.
Explore More of Los Angeles With STARR Luxury Cars
Malibu is one of the easiest ways to get a very different day out of Los Angeles. You can be among museums, hotels and busy city streets in the morning, then spend the afternoon following Pacific Coast Highway with beaches and cliffs beside you.
The important thing is choosing how you want to travel before setting off. Driving yourself gives you complete freedom over the route, while being driven lets you concentrate on the stops rather than parking and the return journey.
Either way, don’t over-plan it. Malibu works best when you know where you’re heading but still have enough time to stop somewhere simply because it looks worth it.
