Malibu beach day from Los Angeles
The best Malibu beaches
Zuma, Point Dume, El Matador, Carbon Beach and Malibu Pier: here is how to plan a Malibu beach day from Los Angeles, with honest advice on parking, getting there without a car and whether a tour is worth the money.
See our 3 picks
Short answer The best Malibu beaches are Zuma Beach for a swim and space, El Matador for rocks and coves, and Point Dume for cliff views. Malibu is about 25 miles from LAX, a 45-minute to one-hour drive. No train goes there. Drive, take Metro bus 134, or join a 2-hour tour from Santa Monica from €28.
Our 3 picks for Malibu
Two narrated coast drives from Santa Monica, and a vineyard tour in the Malibu hills. None of them need a car.
-
from €28 per person Our top pick 2 hours 4.7 (26) reviews on GetYourGuide
Malibu beaches and celebrity homes from Santa Monica
A 2-hour drive up the Pacific Coast Highway past the Getty Villa, views of Zuma Beach and Point Dume, and a stop at Malibu Pier, with stories from the guide.
Best for First-timers without a car on a budget
Check availability: Malibu beaches and celebrity homes from Santa Monica on GetYourGuide -
from €35 per person 2 hours 4.7 (110) reviews on GetYourGuide
Malibu celebrity homes and beaches tour
A 2-hour narrated drive along the coast with photo stops, beach visits and time at Malibu Pier. You pass the Getty Villa and the big homes on the water.
Best for Small groups who want more stops
Check availability: Malibu celebrity homes and beaches tour on GetYourGuide -
from €88 per person 2 hours 4.8 (26) reviews on GetYourGuide
Malibu vineyard tour by vintage VW bus
A 2-hour ride through a ranch and vineyard in the Malibu hills in an old VW bus, with wine tastings, snacks and music on the vintage radio.
Best for Couples and friends who like wine
Check availability: Malibu vineyard tour by vintage VW bus on GetYourGuide
Malibu tours compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Group size | Pickup | Free cancellation | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malibu beaches and celebrity homes from Santa Monica | €28 per person | 2 hours | Small group: Up to 10 people | Meet on site | Yes, up to 24 hours in advance | First-timers without a car on a budget | The lowest price for a Malibu drive with a guide, rated 4.7 from 26 reviews, in a group of up to 10. |
| Malibu celebrity homes and beaches tour | €35 per person | 2 hours | Small group: Up to 8 people | Meet on site | Yes, up to 24 hours in advance | Small groups who want more stops | The most-reviewed Malibu tour here (4.7 from 110 reviews), in a small group of up to 8. |
| Malibu vineyard tour by vintage VW bus | €88 per person | 2 hours | Small group: Up to 6 people | Meet on site | Yes, up to 24 hours in advance | Couples and friends who like wine | The top-rated pick (4.8 from 26 reviews) and a different side of Malibu, away from the beach. |
Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 22 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Things to do in Malibu, Los Angeles
The best things to do in Malibu are on or by the beach. Pick one or two beaches, walk the pier and drive the coast road. Here are the main stops from east to west.
- Malibu Pier and Surfrider Beach: the historic pier and the surf beach beside it. Surfrider Beach became the first World Surfing Reserve in 2010.
- Carbon Beach: the 1.5-mile beach known as "Billionaires' Beach". Homes line the sand, but public paths lead down to it.
- Point Dume: a headland with short cliff trails and wide views.
- Zuma Beach: the big sandy beach with plenty of paid parking.
- El Matador State Beach: small coves with sea stacks, reached by a steep path.
- The Malibu hills: ranch roads and vineyards, as on the VW bus tour above.
Point Dume: cliffs, short trails and whale views
Point Dume is the best Malibu spot for views from above. It is a headland that sticks out into the ocean. It has about two miles of trails, and part of it is a protected nature preserve.
Hiking guides call it a good place to look for migrating whales in spring. The 2-hour tours above pass Point Dume on the way.
El Matador Beach: coves, rocks and a steep path
El Matador Beach is the most photogenic of the Malibu beaches. It is one of three small coves in Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach. You reach the sand by a trail and stairs from the clifftop.
The lot on the cliff is small, so parking can be hard. Come early and wear good shoes for the path.
Los Angeles to Malibu beach: driving, bus or tour
The easiest way from Los Angeles to a Malibu beach is by car. From the end of the I-10 freeway in Santa Monica, the road becomes the Pacific Coast Highway. Central Malibu is about 14 miles up the coast from there.
Without a car, take Metro bus 134. It runs along the coast from downtown Santa Monica to Malibu and on to Trancas Canyon. The guided tours above also leave from Santa Monica, from the visitor center near the santa monica pier.
Before you drive, check Caltrans QuickMap for road work on the Pacific Coast Highway. Weekend and summer traffic can make the trip much longer.
Los Angeles airport to Malibu
From LAX, Malibu is about 25 miles, or 45 minutes to an hour by car. Take the I-405 north, then the I-10 west to the coast, and follow the Pacific Coast Highway north.
Malibu to Los Angeles
Heading back, the same road takes you to Santa Monica and the I-10. Leave before the late afternoon rush, or stay for sunset and drive after dark.
Want to stop at several beaches in one day? A rental car gives you the most freedom on the coast road.
Wine and vineyard tours near Los Angeles: the Malibu bus tour
For a wine tour near Los Angeles, Malibu is the closest pick in our list. The vintage VW bus tour starts on Mulholland Highway in the Malibu hills. It drives you through a ranch and vineyard with tastings and snacks.
You need your own way to the start, since the tour has no pickup. Book a driver or go with someone who is not drinking.
Tips for a Malibu beach day
Arrive early
Zuma's lots can close for an hour or two on hot, busy days, and El Matador's lot is small.
Leave the dog at home
Dogs are not allowed on any beach in Malibu. Leo Carrillo State Beach, near the county line, allows leashed dogs in some areas.
Know the beach rules
Alcohol and smoking are banned on Malibu beaches. Fires are allowed only in a few marked spots on state beaches.
Check the road
Look at Caltrans QuickMap for road work on the Pacific Coast Highway before you set off.
Check the meeting point
The coast tours meet at the Santa Monica visitor center on Ocean Avenue. They have no hotel pickup.
Check cancellation
Most picks show free cancellation on their booking page; check the exact cut-off there.
Questions people ask
What to do in malibu los angeles?
Spend the day on the beach. Walk Malibu Pier, swim at Zuma, take photos at El Matador and look out from Point Dume. Add a vineyard tour in the hills if you like wine.
How far is malibu to los angeles?
Malibu is about 25 miles from LAX, or 45 minutes to an hour by car. Central Malibu is about 14 miles up the coast from the end of the I-10 in Santa Monica.
How far is it from malibu to los angeles?
The same distance the other way: about 25 miles to LAX. Traffic sets the time, so allow up to an hour or more on summer weekends.
How far is malibu from pacific palisades by car?
Very close. Pacific Palisades sits on the Pacific Coast Highway just before Malibu, so the first Malibu beaches are a short drive. Check for road work on the highway before you go.
Is malibu close to los angeles?
Yes. Malibu is part of Los Angeles County and starts just up the coast from Santa Monica. It feels far because no train goes there and the coast road gets busy.
What is the best beach in Malibu to swim at?
Zuma Beach is the usual pick: it is long, sandy and has plenty of paid parking. Swim near a staffed lifeguard tower and check the water grade first.
Where is Billionaire beach?
Billionaires' Beach is the nickname of Carbon Beach in Malibu. Homes line it, but it is open to the public below the high-tide line, with public paths down to the sand.
What is the most dog friendly beach?
Near Malibu, Leo Carrillo State Beach is the one to try: it allows leashed dogs in some areas. Dogs are not allowed on any beach inside the City of Malibu.
More Malibu tours with live availability
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
Live prices and availability from GetYourGuide load here.
More beach guides
Facts checked on 22 October 2026 against: City of Malibu: beach FAQ · Pepperdine University: directions to Malibu · LA Metro: Line 134 timetable · California State Parks: Point Dume brochure · Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach · CNN: public access to Billionaires' Beach · Surfer Today: Malibu, the first World Surfing Reserve · Caltrans QuickMap.
Written by the Things to Do in Los Angeles editorial team.