10 Best Things to Do in Malibu

The Getty Villa is famed for being the residence of Paul Getty and today is an educational center and museum of the famed industrialist's collection of ancient artifacts. The museum holds over 44,000 artifacts that can be traced to ancient Greece, Rome, and even the Etruscan civilization.

The permanent collection on display includes 1,200 of these works spread over 23 galleries, with 5 additional galleries rotating other artifacts or showcasing visiting exhibits. It's also the campus for the UCLA/Getty Master's of Archaeological and Ethnographic Conservation program. The museum sits at the far east end of Malibu in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood.

El Matador State Beach is a public beach situated at the base of scenic cliffs and is among the more popular beaches in Malibu for its surf and panoramic views. Public parking is available on bluffs overlooking the beach, and the lots also provide outstanding photo opportunities.

The location is a favorite spot of pro photographers to shoot swimsuit models due to its sea stacks and sunsets, so if you're lucky, you might catch the next supermodel on a shoot. The beach is located just a 9-minute drive straight up the coast from downtown Malibu.

Zuma Beach offers an endless stretch of golden sand and waves, making it as popular for those building sandcastles as it is for surfers and fishing enthusiasts. The beach is considered among the most beautiful in Malibu, and, at any time of day, you can see people playing beach volleyball, riding the waves on a surfboard or bodyboard, or just walking hand in hand down the shore with their beloved.

Lifeguards are on duty all day, and, in the winter, the ridges above the beach are popular for those seeking to catch a peek at seals and dolphins just offshore. It's just a 10-minute drive east of the center of the city.

The Malibu Pier is 780 feet long and extends over the Pacific Ocean, making it popular with fishing enthusiasts and those who want to watch surfers tackle the waves. The pier is located just next to the iconic Surfrider Beach, long known as the heart of surfing culture in Malibu and famed for its 3-point break that can carry waves up to 300 yards.

The pier offers rod brackets for fishers, and a number of seafood restaurants dot the walkway, offering cocktails, wine, and locally-caught seafood. The Pier is just a 10-minute drive east along the shore from downtown Malibu.

Paradise Cove is a beachfront café with its own private beach that's popular as a filming location for many movies and television series. It's certainly a unique location where you can enjoy great food all day long. Breakfast is the signature meal and offers dishes like carrot cake waffles and French toast, while dinnertime brings fresh lobster to the table.

Regular jazz nights offer live entertainment, and, if you're really lucky, you just might see your favorite celebrity filming their next project. The café and its beach are in the heart of Malibu, just 4 minutes from the heart of the city.

The Adamson House and Malibu Lagoon Museum offer spectacular views of the nearby beaches and feature intricately landscaped grounds and an early-20th-century historic Spanish Colonial Revival house.

Guided tours of the home are available, and the nearby museum contains exhibits, artifacts, documents, and photography that detail the colorful history of Malibu from the earliest Chumash Indian cultures and early Spanish explorers up to the modern day. It's just a few minutes' drive from the downtown, along the famed Pacific Coast Highway.

The Frederick Weisman Museum of Art showcases important works of art from California and all over the world, including the 30-sculpture Rodin's Obsession: The Gates of Hell collection. Over the years, it has featured a number of notable exhibits from some of the greatest artists in history.

Besides the Rodin exhibit, the museum has also displayed the works of Chuck Close, Andy Warhol, and many others. The gallery is located on the campus of Pepperdine University, just a 12-minute drive along the Pacific Coast Highway from downtown.

Point Dume is a state beach and nature preserve that offers white sand and blue surf shaded by overhanging cliffs and romantic rocky coves perfect for a quiet getaway. It's popular among snorkelers and divers as well as surfers and fishers. The beach is also well known as a great spot to watch for gray whales during their migration from December to April.

A hiking trail guides outdoor adventurers to bluffs and dunes overlooking the Santa Monica Bay, and, on a clear day, you can see as far as Catalina Island. This romantic getaway is a mere 8-minute drive south of downtown.