California (CA)

Things to Do in Santa Barbara

Things to Do in Santa Barbara, CA - Santa Barbara Attractions

Things to Do in Santa Barbara

Popular things to do

Ways to tour Santa Barbara

Book these experiences for a close-up look at Santa Barbara.

Food, Wine & Nightlife

All-Inclusive Wine Tasting Tour from Santa Ynez Valley
27
from $145.67 per adult
Santa Barbara Vineyard to Table Taste Tour by Bike
47
from $161.54 per adult
Santa Ynez Valley Wine Tour
7
from $139.00 per adult (price varies by group size)
Santa Ynez Valley Cupcake and Wine Tour
5
from $159.00 per adult (price varies by group size)
Highway 1 Self-Driving Audio Tour (Pacific Coast Highway)
3
from $15.00 per adult
Small-Group Santa Barbara Wine Tour (MAX SIX GUESTS) to Private Locations
65
from $193.47 per adult
Enchanted Santa Barbara Wine Tasting Ghost Storytelling Tour
8
from $85.00 per adult
Santa Ynez Wine Country Shuttle
2
from $99.00 per adult
Private All-Inclusive Wine Tasting Tour from Santa Barbara
1
from $175.00 per adult (price varies by group size)
Santa Barbara Wine Country Tour
35
from $200.00 per adult

Top Attractions in Santa Barbara

1. Santa Barbara County Courthouse

Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks

Temporarily closed

This beautiful Spanish-Moorish Palace was built in 1929, surrounded by lawns and sunken tropical garden is a host to…

2. Santa Barbara Zoo

Zoos

By Q6040WTlindas

Today, the Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens encompasses more than 80 acres and continues to build on a legacy of more…

3. Cold Spring Tavern

Mountains

This was a real stagecoach stop over a hundred years ago and is still complete with hewn logs, sloping floors, heating…

4. Old Mission Santa Barbara

Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks

By P3487VXjohnd

the museum contains a vast store of historical material and displays of many artifacts and original items.

5. Shoreline Park

Parks

By ChristinafromNY

Shoreline Park overlooks the Pacific Ocean and has a full horizon view of the ocean.

6. Cabrillo Bike Path

Hiking Trails

Along the palm-lined East Beach strand, this path reveals drummers, balancers, para-gliders, musicians, and athletes…

7. Arroyo Burro County Beach Park

Beaches • Parks

By donnalT2925VS

The ocean has removed so much sand in the last 2 years that exposed rocks in several areas provide tide pools.

8. Santa Barbara Harbor

Points of Interest & Landmarks • Piers & Boardwalks

By ArtfulSusanSB

It is a city owned, municipal marina of 1,149 berths, with a mixture of commercial and recreational vessels all mingled…

9. Stearns Wharf

Piers & Boardwalks

Sterns Wharf is the oldest wooden working wharf in the United States!

10. Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

Natural History Museums

By LisaandRod93013

It featured animatronic dinosaurs and interactive exhibits pertaining to dinosaurs.

11. Santa Barbara Scenic Drive

Scenic Drives

The historic Mission looks down over the city to the Pier at the base of the primary road, State Street.

12. Santa Barbara Maritime Museum

Military Museums • Speciality Museums

The timeline historical exhibits brings the maritime history of Santa Barbara and the Channel Islands to life.

13. Chaucer's Bookstore

Points of Interest & Landmarks

They have expanded from a tiny store at Five Points to a spacious store in Loretto Plaza.

14. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

Gardens

This is the oldest botanical garden in California and features native plants only.

15. Moreton Bay Fig Tree

Points of Interest & Landmarks

This Moreton Fig Tree (from Australia) was planted in late 1800s / and is now considered to be the largest specimen in…

16. State Street Underpass

Points of Interest & Landmarks • Historic Walking Areas

The entire area is rebuilt in Spanish architecture after a devastating 1925 earthquake.

17. Lake Cachuma

Bodies of Water

By firsttimerstomaui

The park has about 400 sites, spread out in various areas.

18. MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation

Science Museums

An interactive museum that allows hours of exploratory experiences from virtual reality to video creation.

19. Casa del Herrero

Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks

This 11-acre compound about 20 minutes from downtown Santa Barbara is unchanged from the 1920s when it was designed by…

20. Reagan Ranch Center

Speciality Museums

This modern facility, has three floors of exhibits including a piece of the Berlin Wall.

21. Funk Zone

Points of Interest & Landmarks

The Funk Zone is located next to Amtrak in a revitalized industrial part of Santa Barbara near the ocean and Highway…

22. Santa Barbara Visitor Center

Visitor Centers

Located just off the beach and Garden Street, the Visitors' Center was staffed by knowledgeable and friendly volunteers.

23. East Beach

Beaches

By Wanderering1

This beach is flanked by the clear blue waters of the bay and stretches out along the California coast for about a mile.

24. Douglas Family Preserve

Nature & Wildlife Areas

By Mobile809236

This 70 acre open space along the coastal cliffs just North of downtown Santa Barbara was once part of a nursery.

25. Thousand Steps Beach

Beaches

A hidden, non-descript entrance to the "1000 steps" stairway (about 150 steps really) takes you over the cliff and down…

26. Santa Barbara Orchid Estate

Nature & Wildlife Areas

Open now

This is one of the premiere orchid nurseries in Southern CA.

27. Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market

Flea & Street Markets

Open now

Two long blocks closed off to cars, lined with stalls selling fresh and often organic produce.

28. Sevtap Winery Tasting Room

Wineries & Vineyards

His bar is decorated by patrons with chalk drawings and sayings and by small prayer flags suspended from the ceiling.

29. Rattlesnake Canyon Trail

Hiking Trails

It's a daily steady climb through a native canyon with plenty of trees for shade.

30. El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park

State Parks • Points of Interest & Landmarks

This humble site is mainly reconstructions built from foundations of the Spanish military fort that once stood over…

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Frequently Asked Questions about Santa Barbara

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