Imagine spending a couple of blissful days on the California coast relaxing next to the ocean, sipping on wine, eating at a celebrity-frequented restaurant, touring a billionaire’s villa… If you’re wondering where you can do all this and more, look no further than Malibu. This Southern California gem is the perfect place for a getaway! I’ll share all the details so you know exactly what to do in Malibu. And while this place definitely conjures up images of the rich-and-famous, you can visit Malibu and get those glitzy vibes cheaper than you may expect.
How to get to Malibu
Malibu is located about 30 miles west of downtown Los Angeles. The easiest way to experience Malibu, in my opinion, is by car. Since California is such an amazing state for a road trip, you could add 2 days in Malibu to any Cali itinerary.
If you’re coming to Malibu from San Diego, you are looking at 150 miles/a 3-hour drive. My friend and I did this drive! The mini road-trip helped kick off a perfect girls weekend. We got to blast tunes and catch up on life 🙂
Maybe you’re on a bigger road trip through California and are coming to Malibu from the north. Malibu is about 280 miles south of Big Sur or 67 miles south of Santa Barbara.
Remember to always give yourself ample driving time in California–the traffic can be wild!
Weather in Malibu and When to go to Malibu
Malibu is in Southern California, so the good thing is you never really have to deal with super cold weather. Throughout the year, temperatures in Malibu only range from highs of 89 degrees in August to lows of 51 degrees in February. January and February are the rainiest months with an average of 5 days of rain.
My friend and I visited Malibu in April. We were comfortable in maxi-dresses during the day when the sun was out. However, we were glad we had cardigans for the chillier moments and at night. If you are staying next to the ocean, that breeze can be colder than you think!
Malibu is a great all-year-round destination, but you still have to keep your eye out for current weather reports. For instance, California is at risk for destructive wildfires, usually in the fall. The Woolsey Fire in November 2018 was horrible and caused Malibu to be evacuated. And even though it doesn’t rain much in SoCal, it can be really bad when it does. In January 2019, sections of the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu had to be completely shut down to clear debris from mudslides.
With all that being said, spring and summer are probably the best times for a Malibu getaway.
Where to Stay in Malibu
My friend and I stayed in an Airbnb when we went to Malibu, and we were so happy about that decision! When looking for a place to stay, we definitely wanted to be based within walking distance to a few of our activities. Even though we had a car, we wanted the freedom to have alcoholic beverages and not worry about driving everywhere during our Malibu getaway.
Our Airbnb was walking distance to Nobu Malibu, Malibu Pier, a grocery store, and the beach! The only things we had to drive to were the Getty Villa and Malibu Wine Safari (but we used Uber for that so we could drink). The location made our stay much more enjoyable and relaxed!
There are many other options when it comes to accommodation in Malibu depending on your budget. If you are like me and want a comfortable, convenient stay that doesn’t break the bank, I would definitely recommend our Airbnb.
Where to Eat
When thinking about what to do in Malibu, there are two iconic spots that come to mind for food: Malibu Farm Cafe and Nobu Malibu.
Of course, there are many other food options in Malibu, but those were the two that I wanted to experience and are popular with most travelers. For the rest of our meals, we bought groceries from the local shop and ate at our Airbnb. That worked out perfectly because we were able to relax and spend time in our ocean-front accommodation.
Malibu Farm Cafe
Malibu Farm Cafe is located at the end of Malibu Pier (there’s also Malibu Farm: a sit-down restaurant by the same company located at the start of the pier). The cafe is super cute, serves local, organic meals, and is the perfect place to post up and watch the surfers. The cafe is counter-service only. Once you order, pick any open seat while you wait for your food. If you would prefer something more formal, try Malibu Farm restaurant located at the start of the pier.
I’ve eaten at Malibu Farm Cafe twice and found it extremely enjoyable both times. The food is fresh, and the atmosphere is lovely.
Nobu Malibu
Nobu Malibu is the other popular spot for food. It’s a Japanese Restaurant (located right on the ocean) that is referenced in a rap song as being a place where successful people go haha. So basically it has an exclusive, celebrity vibe to it. Don’t let that deter you if it’s somewhere you really want to experience… it’s not the most expensive restaurant in the world. I went with one other person, and we spent $60 each which got us a fancy cocktail, 4 shared plates of sushi, one starter, and a tip. We could have spent way more money if we wanted to leave feeling stuffed, though, so keep that in mind.
My friend and I tried making a reservation to Nobu Malibu at the last minute without any luck (booking for Monday dinner on Sunday), so I feel like it’s usually pretty busy. We were still able to go, however, because they have a bar and sushi counter. Both of those spots are first-come-first-served (you just miss out on facing the ocean while you eat). This wasn’t a huge concern to us, because our Airbnb was a few buildings down and had literally the same views. We were happy with our decision to spend money at Nobu because the sushi tasted amazing and the cocktails were very good.
Malibu Wine Safari
If you’re planning what to do in Malibu, you have to go on a wine safari! It was the highlight of our trip. Malibu Wine Safaris is a double wine-tasting experience that takes you around Saddlerock Ranch in an open-air truck. It literally feels like you’re on safari–beautiful vistas, animal encounters and all. I was blown away by every aspect of this experience. The wine was delicious, the views were insanely beautiful, the guides were fun and super nice, and the animals were exotic. I won’t give everything away because it’s definitely something you need to do yourself!
I would book this as far in advance as you possibly can because it is a very in-demand activity in the Los Angeles area. When you visit their website, make sure you read through all the different tour options. The prices range from $65-$185 per person so you can pick one based on your interests, preferences, and budget. We did the $95 Giraffe Tour and couldn’t have been happier.
Getty Villa
I also highly recommend spending a few hours at the Getty Villa during your trip. Just be sure you don’t get it confused with the Getty Center, which is further away in Los Angeles.
Tickets to the Getty Villa are free! However, you still need to get on their website and reserve an entry time before showing up. You do have to pay for parking, which is $20 unless you arrive after 3 pm (then it’s $15). The villa is open from 10 am to 5 pm every day except Tuesday. It is completely closed on Tuesdays.
I didn’t have expectations going into my visit, but the villa was very impressive. The villa is absolutely gorgeous and is home to soooo many incredible, ancient artifacts from Greece and Rome. Museum enthusiasts will love the Getty Villa! Even if you’re not a museum person, it’s such a beautiful spot to spend a couple of hours admiring the view and the garden.
What to do in Malibu in 2 Days
Here is exactly what our trip looked like so you have an idea of how much time to give yourself for similar activities. I would have also liked to go on a hike because there are beautiful hikes in the area… next time!
Day 1
Afternoon: Arrived and parked the car at Airbnb (was still too early to check in). Caught an Uber to Malibu Wine Safari.
12 pm-4 pm: Malibu Wine Safari! We would have stayed longer, but at the time of our visit, the tasting room was closed for renovations. There wasn’t really anywhere to go once the safari concluded. This time window includes how long it took for us to Uber there and back.
5 pm: Cheese platter and glasses of wine on the deck of our Airbnb right next to the ocean. Sat outside until sunset which was beautiful.
Evening: We wanted our vacation to be super chill, so we hung at our Airbnb chatting and watching movies.
Day 2
10 am: We walked along Malibu Pier to Malibu Farm Cafe and had a delicious breakfast and coffee.
11 am-12 pm: Beach walk!
3 pm- 5pm: Getty Villa
6 pm: Dinner at Nobu
Evening: Another relaxing night 🙂
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If you have any questions about Malibu, feel free to shoot them my way.
Also, if you are visiting Malibu as part of a bigger California road trip, I highly recommend making your way to Joshua Tree National Park at some point in your journey. I’ll share a couple of my posts below so you can see why. But seriously, Joshua Tree is one-of-a-kind (the trees and therefore landscapes are found nowhere else in the world). If you have the chance to visit, it is totally worth it.
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