Buying a home in Malibu might be out of your budget (mansions here routinely sell for over $10 million), but you don’t have to flash a lot of cash to enjoy the Malibu way of life, though you may have to pay for parking.
The beaches and the mountains are the most sought-after playgrounds on this gorgeous stretch of the California coast, and the free thrills they deliver are hard to beat. Moreover, there are free big-ticket museums and cultural institutions in Santa Monica and Los Angeles, but Malibu has plenty of free activities to enrich a visit beyond surf and sun.
Here are our picks for the eight best free things to do and see in Malibu.
Bask on the Beach
It would be impossible to come to Malibu and not visit the beach. Luckily, there’s a beach for every type of traveler. Zuma Beach is perfect for all-day fun in the sun, while scenic El Matador State Beach is ideal for a quiet, reflective stop. Conversely, if you want to admire the beach without getting sand in your shoes, pull off the Pacific Coast Highway at Dan Blocker Beach, where you can appreciate the ocean from a gated viewing deck with picnic tables.
While access to the beach is free, you will usually have to pay for parking at the beach lots. However, if you’re savvy enough with parallel parking, you can often locate free parking on both sides of the Pacific Coast Highway. From there, you can walk to the sands; just use extreme caution as this is a famously busy thoroughfare.
Go Tide-Pooling
Exploring the tide pools along the Southern California coast is a fascinating activity for travelers of all ages, and Malibu has some great spots for finding sea critters. The best pools can be found at Leo Carillo State Beach, where low tide brings out a host of sea creatures such as crabs, mussels, urchins, and sea stars. The beach also features small caves and rock formations for little adventurers to explore.
The key to tide-pooling here, therefore, is timing your trip with low tide, as high tide can come in quickly, trapping beachgoers against the cliffs. You can check a tide forecast for the area online. Additionally, remember: don’t remove any tide pool animals – these vulnerable creatures can perish quickly out of water. As with most Malibu beaches, you’ll have to pay to park, but it is possible to find free spaces on the Pacific Coast Highway.
Visit Getty Villa
On the border of Malibu and Pacific Palisades, the Getty Villa is the former home of oil baron J Paul Getty, which has served as an antiquities museum since the 1970s. Free to visit, it’s an extension of the larger Getty Center in Los Angeles, focusing on the arts and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome, and Etruria.
The villa itself was inspired by an ancient dwelling in Italy and features its very own Italian-style herb and shrub garden overlooking the Pacific Ocean. With ancient artifacts on display and ocean vistas, a visit here feels like a quick trip to the Mediterranean. Free entrance requires a timed ticket; parking is available for a fee.
Swing by Malibu Cars & Coffee
With a winding coastal highway that serves up breathtaking ocean views, Malibu is a favored destination for scenic drives, whether in a car or on a motorcycle. It is natural that some of that driving culture would spill over into town. Every second and fourth Sunday morning, the City of Malibu invites car enthusiasts to Malibu Bluffs Park to show off and admire a collection of classic, custom, and just plain cool cars, for free.
Starting early at 7 am – hence the need for coffee – this popular car show is different from the informal car collectors’ gathering across the way at Malibu Country Mart (where Jay Leno is a frequent attendee) but you may still spot a celebrity or two. Therefore, be sure to check the Malibu Cars and Coffee website for the latest dates and times.
Go Whale-Watching
Although there are occasional whale sightings in summer, winter is still the best chance to see whales off Malibu’s coast. December marks the start of whale-watching season in Southern California, with cetaceans visible right through April. For a wide-angle view of the ocean, make your way to Point Dume, where whales can be observed both from the sand and atop the point. Malibu Bluffs Park also has a great lookout point for whales – don’t forget to bring your binoculars!
Consequently, for a better understanding of how the whale migration is progressing, visit the American Cetacean Society’s website before heading to the shore. Starting December 1, researchers tally whale sightings from their base in Palos Verdes, about an hour and a half south of Malibu.
Frederick R Weisman Museum of Art
At Pepperdine University, the fascinating Frederick R Weisman Museum of Art features exhibitions of both historical and contemporary art by renowned artists. This small, carefully curated space focuses on art from California and the United States, showcasing everything from paintings to sculptures. Moreover, tickets are free, but you’ll need to secure a timed entry slot. Parking on campus is free but specific directions must be followed (see the website for details).
Malibu Pier
If you can find parking on the Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu Pier can serve as a fantastic place to see a vibrant part of Malibu without spending much money. You can fish without a permit or bring a picnic to watch surfers tackle the waves at Surfrider Beach, before strolling over to the Adamson House, a historic home on the edge of the Malibu Lagoon that offers a glimpse into life in Malibu at the turn of the 20th century.
The house conducts tours for $7 ($5 for kids and free for those under five), but you can stroll around the exterior of the house for free, taking in the views and gardens. Consequently, the pier is also a superb location to watch the sunset, especially on a warm summer evening. If possible, wake up early for sunrise instead – you’ll find yourself among just a few people on the pier enjoying Malibu’s morning glory.
Malibu Creek State Park
There are numerous hiking trails winding through the Santa Monica Mountains, but Malibu Creek State Park offers the most diverse experiences. Sometimes described as “The Yosemite of Southern California,” the park was formerly owned by a movie studio, 20th Century Fox, until 1976. Today, the 4.75-mile (7.6 km) Crags Road trail leads hikers to the former set of the hit television show, M*A*S*H, where a few old props such as vehicles and medic tents can still be spotted.
Mountain biking, rock climbing, horseback riding, and kayaking in a small lake are also popular activities in the park. Although there is a fee for parking, it is cheaper than parking by the beach – prices range from $3 for an hour to $12 for an all-day pass.
