Things to Do in Catalina Island

Things to Do in Catalina Island, CA - Catalina Island Attractions

Things to Do in Catalina Island


Book these experiences for a close-up look at Catalina Island.

Top Attractions in Catalina Island

These rankings are informed by traveler reviews—we consider the quality, quantity, recency, consistency of reviews, and the number of page views over time.

*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

What travelers are saying

  • Yuntao L
    Tucson, AZ2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    depart and arrive on time, except on the way back captain stopped for a while to give us the opportunity for whale watching, which was amazing experience!
    Written March 18, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Gamela
    Santiago554 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    I highly recommend a visit to this historical building. I would recommend you do a guided tour as there is just so much interesting history attached to this amazing place..

    We thoroughly enjoyed all the Art Deco decor and sitting in the grand theatre watching old movies. The ballroom as well is certainly grand and must have been very special crowded with dancers in its heyday.

    The views from the circular verandah at the top of the building were quite spectacular. A must do when visiting Catalina Island.
    Written March 14, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Douglas C
    Missoula, MT18 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We had a tour with Lindsey. She was great. Really knowledgeable and very personable. The 2 hr tour takes you around the NE side to the Island to the Airport. We saw bison and foxes. We highly recommend the tour, it's a good value and a great way to see the island with really spectacular views of the CA coast.
    Written January 21, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • GhiaGirl
    Clarkdale, AZ1,371 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth a visit. We were there on an unusually hot day, so we welcomed the occasionally shady spot. The memorial itself, while no longer the final resting place of Wrigley, was beautiful. I had no idea the Wrigley Family still owned most of the island, or were the operators of the Catalina Island Co. As a fan of Wrigley Field and a Chicago-native, this was super fun to learn.
    Written September 21, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Erik H
    4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Best burger on the island. Beautiful view. Definitely worth the drive. The chocolate chip cookies are awesome as well.
    Written July 15, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • jamespR1338LL
    Torrance, United States2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Modern well designed with all of Catalina’s history well told. Each display had interesting stories of the island’s past. Definitely without a doubt take some time to walk thru it.
    Written December 28, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • GenXUrbanHippie
    Phoenix, AZ29 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful building, fascinating history! Especially enjoyed learning about the theatre previewing some of the first "talkies".
    Written August 30, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Cary L
    San Diego, CA708 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    This museum, tucked away on a side street a couple of blocks from the waterfront, is a hidden gem. It presents a well-curated series of exhibits on the history and culture of Santa Catalina, from the original Native Americans through the early developers, the war years, movie filming, and contemporary arts. Most visitors don't get past the bars and restaurants near the waterfront. Too bad. They really should check out this place.
    Written April 25, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • GhiaGirl
    Clarkdale, AZ1,371 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    My husband has long wanted to go to Two Harbors and scheduled this trip for his folks and us via Cyclone boat from Avalon. We spoke to some amazingly friendly and helpful agents from the Catalina Island Co. to set up reservations for two pair of chaise lounges at the beach club, because we figured we'd have a "beach camp" set up for the day. The chair rentals include umbrellas, towels and are about half the price of renting beachside chairs at Descanso Beach in Avalon. Two Harbors is mellow, with hiking trails, places to relax, swim, paddle, a campground. You can shop at the surprisingly well-stocked general store. We wanted to scout out Two Harbors for a future camping trip some day. My mother-in-law and I were determined to see both of the Two Harbors and made the short walk (about 1.2 miles round trip) across to see the 2nd harbor. That was cool.

    My husband loved Two Harbors, preferring the peacefulness and wilderness vibe over the noise and hub-bub of Avalon. Though I did enjoy it, it wasn't as interesting to me as Avalon. This is a stop on the Trans-Catalina trail where hikers can stock up at the grocery store, shower, camp, etc. Not much else happening in "town". We brought floaties and snorkel stuff. You can rent kayaks at the pier.

    The staff at the beach club were friendly, but really not very organized or efficient. Took forever to order drinks. We ended up just walking to the bar. So that was a li'l bummer, because that was supposed to be part of the fun of renting the chaise lounges and getting bar service to the beach. Ordering lunch became a comedy of errors as we tried to flag down our guy, and then the order was taken nearly too late, just before the kitchen closed, then order was wrong, then it was dropped on the ground on the way to us. Ha! It was good, when we finally got it, but we had to eat it more quickly than we liked, since we had to pack up to head back to the pier for the boat return trip.

    Overall, a fun adventure.
    Written September 20, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Laurie V
    San Mateo, CA162 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Took the 8 mile out and back from town all the way out to Lone Tree Point. The views were phenomenal once we reached Lone Tree Point. It was extremely hot that day so bring tons of water and cover as there is no shade on this trail. I"m glad I wore long sleeves and a hat.
    Written August 10, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • seibert4dc
    Sandy, UT25 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Not exactly glamping, but close enough. If you like to hike, but don't want to rough it too much, the Trans Catalina Trail is an experience well worth the effort. It does require that you spend a bit of money in order to get there, in reality it's part of the adventure. If you are coming from outside Souther California, you have multiple airports to fly into. I recommend Long Beach. Once you are in Southern California, you can catch ferries from Long Beach, Dana Point or San Diego. If you want a bit of fun, spend the first night in the beach town of Avilion. It has many great hotels, restaurants and a campground near the trail head. The trail circumnavigates Catalina Island. Each of the campgrounds are unique with three of them right on the ocean. Some of the special features of the hike include a restaurant at about the halfway point at Catalina's airport, free roaming buffalos (you do need to keep an eye on them), the village of Two Harbors' amenities, and slack pack services for your gear, food, water and firewood. It should be noted most of this is ridgeline hiking and a challenging 38 miles. Give yourself at least three to four nights on the trail. It's a one-of-a-kind hike, great trail for a group or to go do solo. The best and most complete review of the Trans Catalina Trail I have read is by Alison on her She Dreams of Alpine blog.
    Written September 29, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Michelle M
    7 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    The ladies in the office were very friendly and helpful with the events and attractions on the Island.
    Written January 27, 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions about Catalina Island