The Essential Guide to Santa Barbara, California

As an avid traveler, I spend a lot of time exploring new destinations, and I rarely reach for the word “perfect.” Still, Santa Barbara may be the closest I’ve come to finding a place that truly deserves it. On a recent girls trip to Southern California, the city completely won me over with its charm—and I’m clearly not alone; Travel + Leisure editors just named Santa Barbara one of the 50 best places to visit in 2026. If you’re dreaming of a trip to California, but not interested in the hustle of Los Angeles, the expense of San Diego, or the fog of San Francisco, Santa Barbara offers a slower, sun-drenched version of the Golden State.  

With more than 300 sunny days each year, Santa Barbara has been dubbed the “American Riviera.” Visitors and locals alike appreciate the Spanish Colonial Revival-style architecture, whitewashed adobe buildings, and red-tile roofs nestled at the foot of the Santa Ynez Mountains, bordering the Pacific Ocean.  

Here’s where to stay, eat, and explore in Santa Barbara.

Best Hotels & Resorts

El Encanto

Perched above Santa Barbara with sweeping ocean views, El Encanto is a refined hideaway known for discreet luxury and timeless California elegance. The historic property reportedly hosted some guests who attended Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco’s recent wedding.

Harbor View Inn

Steps from the sand and Stearns Wharf, Harbor View Inn delivers classic coastal comfort in the heart of Santa Barbara. Rooms open to ocean or garden views, while the beachfront location makes morning walks, bike rides, and downtown exploring effortless.

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara

Set across 78 acres along the rugged coastline, The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara pairs Spanish-inspired architecture with effortless coastal luxury. Think sweeping Pacific views, multiple pools, a destination spa, and easy access to nearby vineyards and beaches.

San Ysidro Ranch

A longtime favorite and repeat winner in the World’s Best Awards, San Ysidro Ranch is a Montecito retreat tucked into the foothills above Santa Barbara. Known for its private cottages, lush gardens, and old Hollywood romance, it’s a place where seclusion, history, and understated luxury quietly take center stage.

Best Things to Do

Go whale watching.

The Santa Barbara Channel is one of only two Whale Heritage Areas in the U.S., and it’s often called the “Whale Superhighway,” as so many whales use it as a migration route. This fact, combined with excellent weather, presents a unique opportunity to see whales year-round. Book a trip aboard the Condor Express, and, depending on the time of year, you might see humpbacks, gray whales, fin whales, the occasional orca, or even the ever-impressive blue whale (the largest mammal on Earth).

Explore on two wheels.

Embrace Santa Barbara’s gorgeous weather by hopping on two wheels and traversing the local bike paths. Beginners can take the oceanfront palm-lined Cabrillo Bike Path from Stearns Wharf to Butterfly Beach. Expert cyclists may enjoy Gibraltar Road: the granddaddy of hill climbs in Santa Barbara. With around 3,800 feet of elevation gain, it has panoramic ocean views every time you look up.

Museum hop around the city.

Santa Barbara is home to all kinds of museums—from art and science to natural history and heritage sites. Don’t miss the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, or MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation.

Relax in a salt cave.

Boasting what’s allegedly the largest salt cave in North America, Salt Cave Santa Barbara offers an unexpected pause from the city. You can book massages and facials, or settle into a zero-gravity chair inside a room made entirely of salt. I recommend a halotherapy session; relax in the dark and let the mineral-rich air support your respiratory health.

Spend an afternoon wine tasting.

The unique east-west coastline and sunny weather provide an optimal environment for wine growing, and the Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail features more than 20 tasting rooms (I loved Kunin Wines and The Valley Project). As someone who enjoys wine, but doesn’t know a lot about it, I appreciated the laid-back, approachable way these wineries operate. Even travelers who aren’t wine connoisseurs will feel welcome and comfortable while enjoying tastings in Santa Barbara.

Best Restaurants

Bettina

The Bettina menu centers on wood-fired pizzas and seasonal plates made with locally sourced ingredients, and it changes based on what’s available from nearby farms. It’s unfussy, thoughtful, and consistently good, whether you’re stopping in for a casual lunch or an easy, satisfying dinner.

Gracie

Gracie quickly became one of my favorite restaurants in Santa Barbara. Set right on the harbor, it’s the kind of place where you want to sit outside, order something fresh, and linger long after you’ve finished your meal. The waterfront views steal the show, especially as boats drift by and the light starts to change.

Jeannine’s

Jeannine’s is a longtime Santa Barbara favorite, and the At the Shore location features a lovely menu and a charming outdoor patio that feels more like a European cafe than a California brunch spot. It’s an easy place to chat over coffee, pastries, or a relaxed meal.

Best Time to Visit

While you can expect decent weather no matter when you go, spring and fall are the best times to visit Santa Barbara. These seasons have decent hotel deals and fewer crowds. 

To witness the incredible monarch butterfly migration, plan your trip between November and February. For whale watching, December to May offers a chance to see gray whales as they migrate south in the winter and back north in the spring. May to October is the prime time to witness humpbacks, blue whales, and minke whales. An orca sighting is rare, but you might spot one in April and May, or from September through December. 

Wine lovers can plan their trip around the Santa Barbara Wine Festival in June, the California Wine Festival in July, or the Santa Barbara Vintners Festival in October.

How to Get There

Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) is small and convenient, and it has nonstop flights from many U.S. cities via American, Alaska, Delta, Southwest, and United Airlines. You can also fly into Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) or Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and drive to Santa Barbara, although this will take considerably more time and effort than flying directly to SBA. Pro tip: If you fly with Alaska Airlines to Santa Barbara, you can take advantage of the Wine Flies Free program and bring home souvenirs from your tastings at no additional cost.

Areas to Visit

Funk Zone

Once an industrial pocket near the beach, the Funk Zone is now Santa Barbara’s most creative neighborhood. It has tasting rooms, casual wine bars, breweries, galleries, and coffee shops packed into a few walkable blocks. It’s lively without feeling overwhelming, and it pairs well with a beach walk or a sunset drink.

State Street

State Street is the city’s main artery. Recently reimagined as a pedestrian-friendly promenade, it’s lined with shops, restaurants, and historic theaters. It’s where visitors naturally gather, making it an easy place to explore, people-watch, and get a feel for the city.

Montecito

Just east of Santa Barbara, Montecito blends understated luxury with a relaxed, residential feel. Tree-lined streets lead to beaches, boutiques, and excellent restaurants. It’s polished without being showy, and it has a slower pace that feels distinctly Southern California.

Channel Islands National Park

Often called “North America’s Galápagos,” Channel Islands National Park feels worlds away from Santa Barbara, despite being just offshore. Accessible only by boat, the park is known for dramatic cliffs, wildlife encounters, kayaking, and hiking.

How to Get Around

Unless you plan on heading out of town, you don’t need a car to enjoy Santa Barbara properly.  You can take an Uber from the airport to the city, and then walk or bike to most attractions. Or, get your bearings during a 90-minute Santa Barbara Trolley tour.