Santa Barbara California Things to do Day Trip Itinerary
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50 Great Things to Do in Santa Barbara California

Sherianne Higgins·
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Top Things to Do in Santa Barbara California

If you are planning a trip to Santa Barbara California and looking for the best things to do, see, and eat while visiting, you are in the right place. Santa Barbara is located 90 minutes north of Los Angeles and is a must-stop on a West Coast road trip. The city sits between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean on the American Riviera. You will find amazing weather, palm trees, bougainvillea, Spanish architecture, brick sidewalks, and open-air plazas. Browse the list of must-see attractions, off-the-beaten-path experiences, outdoor activities, and museums to create your personal Santa Barbara bucket list. Then, plan the itinerary for your Santa Barbara trip with these top things to do, see, and eat. Enjoy your time out of the office!

READ The Ultimate Guide to Los Angeles
READ Santa Ynez Valley’s Foxen Canyon Wine Trail

Paseo Nuevo Shops Santa Barbara California Things to do Day Trip Itinerary 1
Paseo Nuevo Shops

Things to Do in and Around Santa Barbara California

Go wine tasting on the Urban Wine Trail

Check out the architecture of the Presidio neighborhood

Browse the Sunday Art Walk on Cabrillo Blvd

Explore the Old Mission

Ride through town on the trolley

Check out the view from the Santa Barbara Courthouse

Shop for souvenirs on State Street

Take a walk along the boardwalk

Visit the Santa Barbara Zoo

Enjoy a glass of wine on an outdoor patio

Wander through Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

See the lotus pond at Ganna Walska Lotusland

Browse the Funk Zone galleries

Go mural hunting

See the largest fig tree in the world, the Moreton Bay Fig Tree

Grab some fresh fruit at the Saturday Farmer’s Market

Have lunch at the Santa Barbara Public Market

Check out the Arlington Theater

Photograph the Chromatic Gate

Browse the Monet collection at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art

Take the scenic Alameda Padre Serra drive

See the blue whale skeleton at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

Watch the fishing boats unload the day’s catch

Hang out at Montecito’s Starbucks watching for celebrities

Check out La Arcada Plaza

Photograph the flags at Sterns Wharf

Check out Ablitt House

Watch a Sunday polo match

Spend an hour relaxing at Salt Cave

Attend a concert at the Santa Barbara Bowl

Photograph the Lost at Sea Memorial

Bike the waterfront

Go whale watching

Mountain bike the Tunnel Trail

Hike to Nojoqui Falls, Montecito Point, or Inspiration Point

Cruise to the Channel Islands

Go paddleboarding at Stearns Wharf

Surf at El Capitan Beach

Take a beachfront yoga class

Check out 1000 Steps Beach

Watch the sunset over Butterfly Beach

Go for a swim at Seven Falls

Cliff jump from Red Rock

Play volleyball on East Beach

Spend the day at Mesa Lane Beach

Have a picnic with a view at Lookout Park

Stop for a taco at La Super Rica Taqueria

Grab an ice cream at McConnell’s Fine Ice Cream

Eat clam chowder at Santa Barbara Shellfish Company

Drive out to Cold Springs Tavern for a tri-tip sandwich

Check the Santa Barbara California Tourism Board website for upcoming festivals, special events, and what’s happening during your stay.

Bookmark and Pin Things to Do in Santa Barbara California

My Favorite Booking Resources

  • Discover Cars Search, compare and save on car rentals.
  • Trainline Explore effortlessly by train and bus.
  • Booking.com Search Booking.com to find the perfect property.
  • Hostelworld Hostelworld has great inexpensive options.
  • Get Your Guide Don’t chance it, the best attractions sell out.
  • Tiqets Get your tickets now, relax when you arrive.
  • Big Bus Tours Hop-on Hop-off at all the iconic landmarks.
  • Go City Card Save up to 50% on attractions, tours and activities.
  • Welcome Pickups Airport and port transfers.
  • Visitors Coverage Pick the right travel insurance for you.
  • Use code SAVE10 to pick up a travel guide from Lonely Planet to browse on the plane.
  • Shop my Amazon travel essentials and have them delivered to your home. 

Have a great vacation!

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11 Responses

  1. Santa Barbara seems to host a lot of great travel must dos. Would love to see the fish boats unload the day’s catch while biking on the waterfront, cliff jumping would be such an adrenaline rush. Would definitely like to go swimming in the Seven Falls after a hike to Nojoqui Falls. So many options!

  2. I loved the rustic vibes of Santa Barbara and good to know that it is only 90 minutes away from Los Angeles. I love figs and it would be great to see largest fig tree here. 1000 steps beach would be also worth visiting as it looks unique. Good you tipped us to shop souvenirs from State street.

  3. I have family living in Santa Barbara and there is a possibility that I will visit them someday. The 1000 Steps Beach seems a good experience, and I heard many good things about Santa Barbara, a new location for upscale people who wants to be lowkey. Great list and definitely lots to see, no boring days.

  4. I’ve heard much about Santa Barbara and this looks like a cool list of things to do there. Being a wine lover, going on the urban wine route would be something I wouldn’t miss. Sunday art walk and mural hunting would also make it to the top of my list. Largest fig tree in the world? That’s intriguing.

  5. Quite an interesting list with some really awesome things to do. Road trips in the US are on my radar, and now Santa Barbara has been added on to the list of pit stops. Out of all the things listed, the whale watching tops the list for me, of course apart from having sumptuous meals at the market, and going for scenic drives and walks.

  6. Santa Barbara will not be a disappointment to its visitors. There are so may things to do there. It’s hard to choose which ones to do. But I think watching sunset over Butterfly Beach while enjoying ice cream from McConnell’s will be a wonderful thing to do to end the day.

  7. Santa Barbara is one of my favourite spots to visit in California. But every visit has been too short and we leave with a long list of things to see and do on our next visit. Your post has added even more! It would be great to visit on the weekend and do the Sunday art walk. We have yet to visit the Botanical Garden or the Museum of Art. We will definitely check out the concert schedule for the Santa Barbara Bowl! Cliff jumping, swimming at falls or lazing on the beach. All sound like good reasons to go back.

  8. I like your list; it is very detailed and helpful in planning a trip. I haven’t been to so many places yet. I spent only a few hours in Santa Barbara, but I would love to come back for a weekend. It’s a beautiful place. I would like to check out 1000 Steps Beach and take a cruise to the Channel Islands. As I am a hiking lover, I would like to do this recommended hikes to Nojoqui Falls, Montecito Point, and Inspiration Point.

  9. You have given me a lot of things that I definitely need to add to my bucket list for San Barbara! Thank you so very much. In particular I’m definitely going to check out swimming at seven Falls, eating clam chowder at the Santa Barbara shellfish Company and doing a bit of mural hunting.

  10. You have listed so many things to do! An amazing choice. I need to think about where to start! Thank you very much, I will share this post with my friends.

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