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Santa Monica Malibu Open-Air Sightseeing Tour 2 hr

TourTruth score 7.9 out of 10

GoodTop 11% in Santa Monica

604 reviews · Rated on 2 providers · How we score

  • Santa Monica
  • 2 hrs
  • Updated November 2, 2026

Cruise the Pacific Coast Highway from Santa Monica, spotting celebrity homes and coastal landmarks before a 30-minute stop at Malibu Pier.

About this tour

Trade Santa Monica’s bustle for ocean air and coastal views on a 2-hour Malibu open-air sightseeing tour. Follow California’s Pacific Coast Highway past famous beaches, celebrity homes, luxury oceanfront estates, and scenery that has drawn filmmakers and visitors for generations.

A knowledgeable guide shares stories about Malibu’s history, Hollywood filming locations, famous residents, and local landmarks. Along the way, take in the Getty Villa and Carbon Beach, often called “Billionaire’s Beach.” The tour pauses for 30 minutes at Malibu Pier, where you can stroll, browse the shops, grab a drink or snack, and take photos before heading back along the coast.

Your Santa Monica Malibu open-air sightseeing tour begins and ends at the Santa Monica Visitor Center & Cafe. Check in at Santa Monica Cafe, then settle into the open-air van and enjoy the ride. Choose this Santa Monica Malibu open-air sightseeing tour for a relaxed look at the coast, its landmarks, and its celebrity lore.

Highlights

  • Cruise along the Pacific Coast Highway with ocean views
  • Spot celebrity homes, luxury estates, and filming locations
  • Admire the Getty Villa and Carbon Beach
  • Enjoy a 30-minute stop at Malibu Pier

What's included

Included

  • Open-air sightseeing van
  • Malibu celebrity homes and filming locations

Not included

  • Meals
  • Gratuities

Ratings on each provider

The ratings and review counts each booking site shows for this tour.

What reviewers mention

Themes that come up most in this tour's reviews.

Important information

  • Meet at Santa Monica Cafe; look for its sign in front of the shop
  • Infants and small children can ride in a stroller
  • Specialized infant seats are available
  • Service animals are allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

How this score is calculated

This tour scores 4.88 on Viator and 4.65 on GetYourGuide. Ratings on these sites cluster near the top of the 5-star scale, so we compare each one with all other ratings on the same site before combining them.

How the score works and rating distribution in Santa Monica
  • Each provider rating is turned into a percentile: the share of that provider's ratings it beats, weighted by review counts.
  • Listings on different providers are combined in proportion to their review counts.
  • Tours with few reviews are pulled toward the average until more reviews come in, so a handful of perfect reviews can't top the list.
  • The result is shown from 0 to 10: this tour scores 7.9. Top 11% in Santa Monica means it ranks in the top 11% of tours in Santa Monica by this score.

Provider rating distribution in Santa Monica

How many tours in Santa Monica have a provider rating at or below each value. The dashed line is this tour.

  • GetYourGuide
  • Viator

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