About Malibu

Introduction

Malibu's beautiful 21 mile stretch of coastline features some of the best beaches, shopping, and restaurants in California. Getting to Malibu is easy. Take a scenic drive along Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) or travel through one of the three main canyons that lead to the coast. The southern border of Malibu is just eight miles north of Santa Monica. The center of Malibu is only 45 minutes from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), depending on traffic. Get detailed directions .

Scenic Drive
A scenic drive along Pacific Coast Highway is a great way to begin your visit. You'll see spectacular beach homes lining the coast for miles and unique architecture on the hillsides of the Santa Monica Mountains. It's easy to spot the public beaches with their wide sandy shores, plentiful parking, showers and restrooms. Finding the public access ways between the beach homes takes a little more work. Look for the small brown "Coastal Access" signs that signal a walkway to the beach. Visit our Malibu Beach Guide for more about Malibu's beaches. For a panoramic view of the coastline be sure to visit Malibu Bluffs Park .

Things to Do
Malibu offers endless options for travelers of all ages. Surfers typically head to  Surfrider Beach , Zuma Beach , and Nicholas Canyon Beach.  Hikers enjoy plentiful trails including the Backbone Trail in the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area. The more adventurous can find horseback riding in Malibu Canyon, bike riding at Malibu Creek State Park, or kite surfing at Leo Carrillo State Beach .

Main Attractions
Malibu attractions include the J. Paul Getty Villa Museum , the Adamson House Museum , the Malibu Pier , The Malibu Country Mart , the Malibu Colony Plaza , Paradise Cove , and Point Dume State Beach . Malibu is also a favorite location for television and feature film shoots. On any given day you can see production crews filming on a variety of local beaches. Paradise Cove, Zuma Beach, and Point Dume State Beach are the most popular for film, television commercials, and music videos.

Celebrities
Malibu's reputation as a celebrity haven began in the 1920s when a handful of movie stars moved to the area now known as the Malibu Colony next to Surfrider Beach. Today celebrity homes are also concentrated along Carbon Beach, Broad Beach, Malibu Cove Colony, and Point Dume. Star sightings in Malibu are common as celebrities like to shop, dine, and attend local events just like regular folks do.