Location: Santa Barbara
Top Things to do in Santa Barbara
The 10 Best Points of Interest & Landmarks in Santa Barbara, California (CA)
Nestled between the shrub-covered slopes of the Santa Ynez Mountains and the clear blue shores of the Pacific Ocean, Santa Barbara is California at its best. Mission Santa Barbara is an example of 18th-century religious architecture, boasting beautiful grounds and a wonderfully detailed interior. Work up an appetite with a walk through Shoreline Park, then dine above the water on Stearns Wharf. Fig trees, parks, waterfalls, and botanical gardens round out Santa Barbara’s natural beauty.
Restaurants in Santa Barbara
1. Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 7 reviews
2. Chaucer's Bookstore
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 173 reviews
Reviewed By gaylem113 - Chicago, United States
Best thing for me was the extensive collection of cook books...crowded, cozy independent book store with something for everyone.
3. Historic Walking Tour of Santa Barbara
4. De La Guerra Plaza
5. Santa Barbara County Courthouse
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,969 reviews
Visit the Santa Barbara Courthouse to enjoy a free Self-Guided Exterior Tour and a virtual tour of the Mural Room interior. Use your cell phone or tablet to explore Santa Barbara’s iconic Spanish Colonial Revival Courthouse. The web-based tours can be found at sbcourthouse.org. The Courthouse is closed to visitors during Covid.
Reviewed By cresapsd - San Diego, United States
Coincidentally our stay in Santa Barbara was during the annual Fiesta Days and we enjoyed free concerts in the courthouse sunken garden as well as a docent led tour. The tour was very interesting and entertaining. The courthouse is not to be missed and don’t forget to check out the breathtaking view from the courthouse clock tower
6. Old Mission Santa Barbara
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,679 reviews
Visitors can tour this historic Franciscan mission that features twin bell towers and lovely gardens.
Reviewed By PetriHat - Los Angeles, United States
The historic mission is both working monestary and historic landmark. Take a self guided tour for $9 and experience the inner gardens, cemetery, and church before entering the museum to see the history of the missions and how they interacted with and impacted the native Chumash culture.
7. Casa del Herrero
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 177 reviews
Tours are by reservation only on Wednesdays and Saturdays for those 10 years & older. Admission for the 90-minute, Docent-led tours is $25 per person. All tours are booked online via our website: http://casadelherrero.com/events/. Designated in 2009 as Santa Barbara's 4th National Historic Landmark, Casa del Herrero, built in 1925, stands today as one of the finest examples of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. The creative manifestation of St. Louis industrialist George Fox Steedman, Casa del Herrero (House of the Blacksmith) reflects the visionary passions of its 'dream team' of designers: reknowned architect, George Washington Smith, landscape architects Lockwood de Forest and Francis T. Underhill, and antiquarians Arthur Byne and Mildred Stapley, who also helped outfit the well-known Hearst Castle.
Reviewed By V4820YRnancya
Classic Spanish Revival House and Garden that were planned with each other in mind in 1925. The house has all of its original contents and the house and garden that have been cared for continually for 95 years. Wonderful docent gave us a fact filled tour full of anecdotes and personal tidbits. He and we were having such a good time we agreed to go over the regular hour and a half.
8. State Street Underpass
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,386 reviews
Seven straight miles of shops.
Reviewed By christinam22018 - San Diego, United States
Visiting Santa Barbara is always fun. The city has great shopping, dining and the beach! We walked from one end of State Street all the way for the Wharf. We went into the antique shops and record shops. It’s a nice stroll so bring comfy shoes and your credit card! We stopped into a store; I can’t remember the name; but she sells slightly used high end items. I found a gorgeous Oscar de la Renta silk scarf for $100. It was a good find! There are numerous local businesses up and down the street. There is also a ‘mall’ with all the typical stores. It’s was very enjoyable.
9. Moreton Bay Fig Tree
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 355 reviews
Reviewed By robw114
You can see the Moreton Bay Fig trees in a couple places in SB the one pictured here or the ones at the Courthouse. They are beautiful and very large
10. Santa Barbara Harbor
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 771 reviews
The Santa Barbara Waterfront is a gem within the City of Santa Barbara. Visitors can stroll from beach to beach by foot or bike, park in convenient waterfront parking lots, and experience Santa Barbara Harbor & Stearns Wharf. From boating excursions to standup paddle boarding, day fishing to excellent museums, fabulous restaurants to sweets, you can find everything you need to spend the day at the our waterfront. Managed by the City's Waterfront Department, our mission is to provide the community with a quality Waterfront for recreation and commercial use, along with mooring and landside services for boating. Approximately 252 acres of tidelands and submerged lands is managed by the Department. The area encompasses the Harbor and Stearns Wharf and the beaches within the city limits. These lands belong to the State and are held in trust by the City in order to provide preventative maintenance, capital improvements, parking services, staffing, public safety, slip and visitor boat services, special events, public education and more. For those visiting by cruise ship, Santa Barbara is a wonderful day trip destination. Cruise Ship Ambassadors welcome passengers and provide a wide variety of free information on all there is to do and see during your visit. There is also public transportation via MTD Downtown and Waterfront Shuttles along with access to taxis. Check out Visit Santa Barbara or Downtown Santa Barbara's websites for information to help you plan the best experience while visiting Santa Barbara.
Reviewed By 385eileenz - Los Angeles, United States
Took a wonderful 90 minute cruise around the Santa Barbara Harbor with Celebration Cruises. Beautiful area, many boats, kite surfers and everyone friendly when passing people. Ask for Captain Fred who makes it personable, and personal. Get the news on which boats are for sale and what well known people dock here. Also an interesting look at a Kelp cutter and fishing boats.
