Santa Barbara Travel Guide

Tourist Guide
Santa Barbara featuring a coastal town
The American Riviera offers historic adobe architecture, plenty of art galleries, wineries and beautiful beaches. 

Santa Barbara is famous for its expensive hotels, large mansions and trendy boutiques, but it also has beautiful beaches and many museums and festivals dedicated to celebrating the city’s past.

Be sure to visit Santa Barbara’s picture-perfect beaches. Lie on the soft sand and read a book, or grab a board and hit the surf. Conditions are great for beginners, but on the right day there are some good breaks for those of all skill levels. 

Marvel at the Franciscan–Spanish architecture of the old Santa Barbara Mission. You’ll find artifacts and documents from old missionaries, a still-operating chapel, and the mission’s impressive and well-kept grounds. For more old architecture, visit the adobe Rafael Gonzalez house or the Santa Barbara County Courthouse. Head up the bell tower for great views of the surrounding area. History buffs will also want to check out the Presidio of Santa Barbara, a Spanish fortress from the 1780s. 

Learn how modern-day Santa Barbara came about as you wander through the exhibits at the city’s Historical Museum. For a look at the evolution of plant and wildlife in the area and beyond, spend some time at the Museum of Natural History. 

Art lovers will enjoy the city’s excellent institutions. The Santa Barbara Museum of Art has an extensive collection of European, American and Asian art, and plays host to some world-class exhibitions. For a look at more recent works, wander over to the Contemporary Arts Forum. This gallery is artist-run and funded, and is dedicated to exhibiting the highest-quality work in the region. 

To enjoy other local products, organise a tour of the region’s wineries. 

Santa Barbara enjoys the sophisticated charm of a much larger city but maintains a quaint, friendly atmosphere. Throw in a fascinating history, loads of cultural activities and excellent beaches, and it’s not hard to see why it attracts visitors from around the world.

Where to stay in Santa Barbara

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Santa Barbara Beach

4.5/5(67 area reviews)

Santa Barbara Beach is known for its stunning beaches, and you can see some sights area like Stearns Wharf and MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation.

Santa Barbara Beach
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Montecito

5/5(4 area reviews)

The pristine beaches and ample dining options are top of the list for many visitors to Montecito. A stop by Miramar Beach or Butterfly Beach might round out your trip.

Montecito
Santa Barbara featuring a coastal town

Historic Downtown Santa Barbara

The pristine beaches and ample dining options are top of the list for many visitors to Historic Downtown Santa Barbara. A stop by Lobero Theater or Granada Theatre might round out your trip.

Historic Downtown Santa Barbara
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The Mesa

While visiting The Mesa, you might make a stop by sights like Leadbetter Beach and Arroyo Burro Beach.

The Mesa
Santa Barbara featuring a coastal town

Downtown Santa Barbara

The pristine beaches and ample dining options are top of the list for many visitors to Downtown Santa Barbara. A stop by Lobero Theater or Santa Barbara County Courthouse might round out your trip.

Downtown Santa Barbara
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West Beach

If you're spending some time in West Beach, Santa Barbara Harbor and Santa Barbara Carriage Museum are top sights worth seeing.

West Beach
Hotel Milo Santa Barbara
Hotel Milo Santa Barbara
3.5 out of 5
202 W Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA
The price is ₹15,833 per night from 23 Apr to 24 Apr
₹15,833
per night
23 Apr - 24 Apr
Stay at this 3.5-star beach hotel in Santa Barbara. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 outdoor pools and a fitness centre. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
8/10 Very Good! (1,033 reviews)
"This hotel is terrific! The staff were extremely friendly and made check-in quite easy. The lobby is adorable with a seating area and several items to purchase with food, wine, clothing. There are several fire pit areas that we used and loved. I would recommend this hotel to anyone."

Reviewed on 27 Mar 2024

Hotel Milo Santa Barbara
West Beach Inn, a Coast Hotel
West Beach Inn, a Coast Hotel
3 out of 5
306 W Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA
The price is ₹17,347 per night from 31 Mar to 1 Apr
₹17,347
per night
31 Mar - 1 Apr
Stay at this beach hotel in Santa Barbara. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi and free parking. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,009 reviews)
"Quiet and the staff was excellent."

Reviewed on 22 Mar 2024

West Beach Inn, a Coast Hotel
Hotel Santa Barbara
Hotel Santa Barbara
3 out of 5
533 State St, Santa Barbara, CA
The price is ₹20,729 per night from 11 Apr to 12 Apr
₹20,729
per night
11 Apr - 12 Apr
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Santa Barbara. Enjoy free WiFi, room service and a 24-hour fitness centre. Our guests praise the helpful staff ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,010 reviews)
"The bathroom while very modern and pretty wasn’t practical or safe. The bathroom mat got wet every time I took a shower and the floor was slippery. I could barely brush my teeth as the bathroom sink was much taller than the accepted standard."

Reviewed on 16 Mar 2024

Hotel Santa Barbara
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Casa Jardin
Casa Jardin
2.5 out of 5
1018 Garden St, Santa Barbara, CA
Stay at this aparthotel in Santa Barbara. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking and a Smart TV. Our guests praise the clean rooms in their reviews. Popular attractions ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (67 reviews)
"Compact but very well designed and stocked."

Reviewed on 24 Mar 2024

Casa Jardin
Tide Pool Villas
Tide Pool Villas
4.5 out of 5
26 Chapala St, Santa Barbara, CA
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury aparthotel in Santa Barbara. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi and free parking. Popular attractions MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration ...
6.2/10 (42 reviews)
"No parking despite description on site. Office is located off property—hard to find. Room was fine tho."

Reviewed on 5 Nov 2023

Tide Pool Villas
The 3 Dux
The 3 Dux
4 out of 5
402 Anacapa St, Santa Barbara, CA
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly aparthotel in Santa Barbara. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking and 20 beach bars. Popular attractions Reagan Ranch Center and ...
10/10 Exceptional! (4 reviews)
"I highly recommend The 3 Dux! In the Papa suite, we spent each morning enjoying our gourmet coffee provided by the host (with a wide selection of creamers) on the balcony, watching the sun rise against the mountains. At night we loved the fire and being so close to restaurants and wine tasting. The ..."

Reviewed on 25 Nov 2023

The 3 Dux
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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