Santa Barbara, CA

Travel Guide

United States of America which includes farmland
Santa Barbara County Courthouse which includes a luxury hotel or resort and heritage architecture
Channel Islands National Park
El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park featuring a church or cathedral
Santa Barbara County Courthouse which includes an administrative buidling, a garden and heritage architecture

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, organize 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

Default Image

Montecito

4.5/5(179 area reviews)

Celebrity-favored Montecito offers backcountry hiking trails and attractions like Lotusland and El Fureidis. Easily accessible via State Route 192 and the U.S. 101 Freeway, it's well-connected to Santa Barbara County.

Montecito
Default Image

Santa Barbara Beach

4.5/5(1,188 area reviews)

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

Santa Barbara Beach
Santa Barbara showing 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 Historical Museum might round out your trip.

Downtown Santa Barbara
Sambo’s Restaurant

West Beach

While visiting West Beach, you might make a stop by sights like Santa Barbara Harbor and Santa Barbara Carriage Museum.

West Beach
Default Image

East Beach

4.5/5(529 area reviews)

East Beach is known for its stunning beaches, and you can see some sights in the area like East Beach and Santa Barbara Zoo.

East Beach
Default Image

The Mesa

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

The Mesa
Hyatt Place Santa Barbara

Hyatt Place Santa Barbara

3.5 out of 5
4111 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA
$161 nightly
The price is $187 total per night from Oct 20 to Oct 21
$187 total
Oct 20 - Oct 21
Total with taxes and fees
Stay at this 3.5-star business-friendly hotel in Santa Barbara. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a fitness center. Our guests praise the breakfast and the ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,023 reviews)
"Clean room Friendly staff"

Reviewed on Oct 13, 2025

Hyatt Place Santa Barbara
Hotel Santa Barbara

Hotel Santa Barbara

3 out of 5
533 State St, Santa Barbara, CA
$162 nightly
The price is $185 total per night from Nov 10 to Nov 11
$185 total
Nov 10 - Nov 11
Total with taxes and fees
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Santa Barbara. Enjoy free WiFi, room service, and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the helpful staff ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,011 reviews)
"Newly refurbished rooms, halls and lobby remodel in progress. Good location on State and walking distance to most restaurants, shops and venues. Staff was fantastic, they even charged my electric car during valet! Super reasonable right now while it's being remodeled."

Reviewed on Oct 10, 2025

Hotel Santa Barbara
Sandpiper Lodge

Sandpiper Lodge

2 out of 5
3525 State St, Santa Barbara, CA
$129 nightly
The price is $147 total per night from Nov 9 to Nov 10
$147 total
Nov 9 - Nov 10
Total with taxes and fees
Stay at this motel in Santa Barbara. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our reviews. ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,921 reviews)
"Parking was very limited and the stalls too small. It made coming back late at night difficult during our weekend in Santa Barbara."

Reviewed on Oct 13, 2025

Sandpiper Lodge
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
Book a stay at this business-friendly aparthotel in Santa Barbara. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and premium bedding. Our guests praise the helpful staff and ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (211 reviews)
"I will definitely be staying at this place again anytime I visit Santa Barbara."

Reviewed on Oct 5, 2025

Casa Jardin
Casa Riviera

Casa Riviera

4 out of 5
800 Garden St, Santa Barbara, CA
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Santa Barbara. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and Netflix. Popular attractions Santa Barbara Bowl and Santa Barbara Harbor ...
10/10 Exceptional! (56 reviews)
"The host made it easy to follow directions and get in and out easily, we loved the location and the parking situation was very comfortable."

Reviewed on Oct 10, 2025

Casa Riviera
Los Aguajes

Los Aguajes

2 out of 5
118 Los Aguajes Ave, Santa Barbara, CA
Book a stay at this business-friendly aparthotel in Santa Barbara. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a garden. Popular attractions Santa Barbara Harbor and ...
7/10 Good! (6 reviews)
Great Stay
"Great and comfortable place for family and friends stay. Was walking distance to Santa Barbara state street. Would only say that unit does not have AC so it’s was super hot due to the high heat’s for that weekend. Other than that our stay was perfect."

Reviewed on Aug 25, 2025

Los Aguajes
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.

Getting around Santa Barbara

The only public transit option in Santa Barbara is its bus network, the SBMTD, which spans the entire city and into Santa Barbara County, as far out as Carpinteria. Taxis are very expensive in the city center, making car rental a more appealing option. If you’re staying close to the center, consider walking or cycling around Santa Barbara. It’s easy to rent a bike in the city. Visit the California Department of TransportationOpens in a new window website.Browse Santa Barbara rental cars.

Best time to visit

Like much of California, Santa Barbara has mild weather year round, with highs of around 75 F (24 C) in July and August, and around 65 F (18 C) in December and January. This temperate climate means it’s pleasant to visit throughout the year. Summer is the busiest and most expensive time, so you may prefer to visit in May or September; most of the rain in Santa Barbara falls between December and February.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Cities near Santa Barbara

Other places like Santa Barbara

Explore a world of travel with Expedia