USA

Santa Barbara

Just 100 miles north of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara is the ultimate beach town. From lazy days at sun-soaked beaches to crazy nights at the club, this town has something for everyone. With UCSB in town, there is a big college scene here year-round. You can also find some of California's best (and most beautiful) wine tasting in this region. Ready to experience the best of California? Here’s my ultimate guide to Santa Barbara.

What to Expect in Santa Barbara

Beach Vibe: Santa Barbara is a chic upscale beach town with world-class vineyards at its doorstep. The style is laid-back with a little bit of luxury!

Weather: Flawless! It’s usually sunny and around 70-75 degrees F. The temperatures are fairly consistent all year, although you will find more rainy days and temps as low as 50 degrees F during the winter.

In summer, it’s all warm (but not too hot) sunshine. Don’t forget the sunscreen! Santa Barbara sees over 300 days of sunshine each year.

Food: Santa Barbara boasts lots of farm-to-table, fresh fare. There are some great Mexican restaurants as well as outstanding seafood. With many neighboring vineyards, you will get some of the best local wines. Be sure to check out the farmers market for all the local goodies!

Helpful Tip: A lot of restaurants, shops, and hotels in SB tend to be on the more expensive side, but you can find more budget options in Isla Vista (where UCSB students reside)!

Getting Around in Santa Barbara

Bikes: You can rent a bike on the boardwalk. Since it’s a relatively small city with great weather, this is a good option for seeing the main attractions.

Drive: Renting a car is a good idea if you’re planning to explore a wider area or get out to some of the vineyards.

Uber or Lyft: These apps are popular options in California and will get you wherever you need to go hassle-free. You are much more likely to snag a ride-share than a taxi in SB.

Walk: Take walks along the beach boardwalk or head to downtown where you can walk up and down State Street for some shopping!

Travel Tip

Santa Barbara is one of the many great stops along the Pacific Coast Highway! I recommend including Santa Barbara in your California road trip. You can plan a 3-day, 10 day or even 2-week trip along the coast.

Where to Stay in Santa Barbara

If it’s your first time visiting Santa Barbara, I highly recommend staying in the “hippest” neighborhood, the Funk Zone! Flooded with all things bohemian and artsy, you could spend days exploring the remarkable studios, galleries, boutiques, breweries, wine tasting rooms, and hip restaurants.

I stayed at The Hotel Californian in Santa Barbara, right in the center of the Funk Zone, and it was an awesome experience.

Here are the top hotels to stay at in Santa Barbara!

Hotel Californian

In the heart of Santa Barbara, this luxury hotel stole my heart on my last trip stateside. The hotel truly feels like you’ve stepped back into history—they’ve even incorporated the façade of the original 1925 Hotel Californian—and the architectural details are so impressive. Here’s my full experience!

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Lower State/Funk Zone

Luxury, Boutique

$$$

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara

This five-star Spanish-style resort offers the best of SoCal luxury. As it’s a Ritz-Carlton property, you’ll be impressed by the luxury and ambiance at every turn. It’s a bit outside of Santa Barbara proper, so you’ll want a car to explore the area if you stay here!

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Driftwood Beach

Luxury

$$$

VRBO

From cheap couches to luxury lofts, VRBO is a great option in Santa Barbara for every taste and price range.

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Various

$-$$$$

Palihouse Santa Barbara

With a dream location just off of the famous State Street, this European-influenced property offers a lush courtyard, a delicious complimentary breakfast, and exceptional services.

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Downtown

4-Star

$$$

The Waterman (Formerly Wayfarer)

In one of my fave areas, The Funk Zone, this trendy boutique hotel offers incredible value for the money.

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Lower State/Funk Zone

3-Star

$$$

Where to Eat in Santa Barbara

When in Santa Barbara, you have to try some fresh seafood and local wine and craft beers! It is truly foodie heaven and has a lot to offer by way of cafes, fish markets, breweries, and upscale, fine dining restaurants.

Here are the top spots to eat in Santa Barbara!

The Lark

New American

For modern American fare in an upscale spot, you can’t beat The Lark.

Figueroa Mountain Brewery

Brewery

For award-winning local beers and sweeping mountain vistas, come here for drinks and pub grub.

Lucky Penny

Pizza

This is the perfect place to sit out, enjoy the sun, and chow down on some wood oven pizza.

Brophy Brothers

Seafood

For ultra fresh seafood and amazing Bloody Marys, look no further.

Jeanine’s

Breakfast

Want to see where the locals go for breakfast? Come here.

Santa Barbara Shellfish Co

Seafood

Santa Barbara has some of the best seafood in the world, and this place has the freshest of fresh seasonal seafood.

La Super-Rica on Milpas

Mexican

The lines here get crazy during lunch time but their first-rate Mexican specialties make it worth the wait.

Panino Downtown

Cafe

This traveler-friendly spot is perfect for grabbing something quick and healthy on the go.

The Shop Kitchen

Breakfast, American

Walk up to the service window (be prepared for a line at peak hours) and order from a selection of the best breakfasts, baked goods and coffee.

What to Do in Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is the perfect playground! If you’re looking for a destination with beautiful beaches, hiking areas, and outdoor activities but also high-end shops, spas, and restaurants‚ this city is the perfect mix. There’s something for everyone!

Here are my favorite activities to do in Santa Barbara!

Rent Bikes

You can rent bikes all over town and they’re the perfect way to get around. As soon as you hop on, head down to the pier.

Wine Tasting

Get over to the trendy The Funk Zone to experience the Urban Wine Trail. Be sure to try the local Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays.

See a Movie

Normally I don’t think it’s worth it to spend travel time in a dark movie theatre, but Arlington is just such a cool spot. They’ve also got standup comedy shows and concerts.

Mission Santa Barbara

Founded in 1786, Mission Santa Barbara is a great place to start exploring and learning about Santa Barbara’s Spanish roots. Plan for a good hour here to take in Mission’s incredible artwork and architecture.

If this interests you, be sure to check out El Presidio Historic Park too! It is the last Spanish military site remaining on the west coast of the USA.

Shopping

State Street has it all. You could easily spend a full day just exploring the shops, restaurants, and cafés.

Science Museum

The MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation is such an impressive place. It’s also a perfect rainy day activity.

Beach Day

You can’t go to Santa Barbara without spending at least one full day at the beach! My top picks are Butterfly Beach and Santa Clause Lane.

Ty Warner Sea Center

Also known as Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center, get down here to pet an octopus!

Know Before You Go

Getting There

Santa Barbara has its own (very small) airport that you can fly into. You can also fly into San Francisco or LAX and rent a car to drive to Santa Barbara. If you're already in California, my favorite way to visit SB is on a California Coast road trip!