Originally published July 2019

Santa Barbara is one of the most beautiful, fun places to visit in California. It has relaxing beaches, impressive museums, incredible restaurants, lovely Spanish architecture, and a rich culture.

There are so many things to do in Santa Barbara, that despite living there for years and visiting my entire life, I have never been bored!

Whether you’re looking for something outdoorsy and adventurous, relaxing and luxurious, or something in between, there’s truly an almost endless list of things to do in Santa Barbara.

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Relax on the Beaches

Santa Barbara is the quintessential beach town with a long coastline of beautiful beaches. Some beaches have more facilities than others, like restrooms and nearby restaurants, while others have none.

One unique aspect of Santa Barbara beaches is the direction the coast faces. You would expect the coast to face west in California, but Santa Barbara is actually on a curved part of the coast, and the beaches all face south!

Visiting the beaches is at the top of my list of best things to do in Santa Barbara!

A few of my favorite beaches in Santa Barbara:

Butterfly Beach
Leadbetter Beach*
East Beach*
Hendry’s Beach*

*Has restrooms and restaurants nearby

Things To Do in Santa Barbara, California

Visit the Santa Barbara Museum of Art

The collection of work at the Santa Barabra Museum of Art is impressive. They have paintings by well-known artists like Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, and Henri Matisse.

The museum was remodeled in 2021 and now has a grand entrance with a large, center sculpture. It’s a smaller museum, but worth a visit for any art lovers looking for things to do in Santa Barbara!

Explore the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

The botanic garden hosts a collection of native Californian plants, including a cactus garden and a redwood tree grove. Although Santa Barbara doesn’t usually come to mind when you think “redwoods,” their redwood grove is lovely and one of the more unique things to do in Santa Barbara.

There are numerous trails to walk as you explore the far corners of the garden. The botanic garden trails even a “back country” area for kids to learn about the outdoors, but it’s fun for adults too!

Go on a Sunset Cruise

One of my favorite things to do in Santa Barbara when I was in college was go on a sunset cruise in the harbor. It’s perfect for groups who want a fun night out or a couple looking for something romantic to do.

You can buy food and drinks (including alcohol) on board the catamaran and look for sea otters, dolphins, and sea lions as the sun sets!

Stroll Down the Santa Barbara Harbor Walk

The Santa Barbara Harbor has a maritime museum, restaurants, and some shops. To get some of the best harbor and ocean views, walk down the Harbor Walk at the end of the harbor.

This is a great spot to bird-watch (lots of pelicans and seagulls!), take photos, or even set up to plein air paint. Ensure you don’t wear any clothing that touches the ground as it will likely be pretty wet from ocean spray and waves.

Watch Sunset at Stearns Wharf

Stearns Wharf at sunset is a magical time! From here, you can see some of the best views of the Santa Barbara coastline when you look back from the wharf.

During sunset, the Santa Ynez mountains in the distance glow a pinkish-orange color, with the white, Spanish-style buildings lined with palm trees in the foreground.

This is one of the best views in all of Santa Barbara in my opinion! The only better view you can get is from the sunset cruise in the harbor.

Get Drinks in The Funk Zone

The Funk Zone is an artsy neighborhood in Santa Barbara that is dotted with murals, wineries, breweries, and great restaurants. It’s a great place to go wine tasting, check out Figueroa Brewing Company to grab some beers, or get coffee/tea at Dart Coffee Co.

This area is so fun and is a must-visit, especially if you’re looking for some eclectic things to do in Santa Barbara.

Not sure where to start? Take a Guided Food and Photo Tour to explore all the food, drinks, murals, and art galleries while learning about the area.

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Eat Fish Tacos at Cocina Corazon

Some of the best fish tacos I have ever had are from Cocina Corazon in Public Market. It’s a walk-up restaurant inside one large building with other restaurants.

There is indoor and outdoor seating — I recommend outdoor since it can get loud inside when the sports bar has a game on.

Cocina Corazon was started by Chef Ramon Velazquez, who grew up in Guadalajara, Mexico. On their website, they describe their food as an “inventive take on Mexican food.”

Although I love the fish tacos, they also have burritos, salads, ceviche, and quesadillas!

Turn Back Time at the Museum of Natural History

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is one of the best natural history museums I’ve been to. They have a great collection of high-quality taxidermy animals, as well as a whole room of gems and minerals.

In summer, they have a large butterfly garden you can go inside and see dozens of butterflies fluttering around. Their Prehistoric Park in the back is an outdoor area with large, animatronic dinosaurs that are fun for kids and adults.

Visiting these dinosaurs is not only one of the most unique things to do in Santa Barbara, but it also landed a spot on my list of most unique things to do in California!

Tour the Queen of Missions

Santa Barbara’s mission has been named the Queen of Missions due to its grand exterior and lovely pink color. I may be biased, but I think this is the best of all the California Missions.

You can take tours of the inside of the mission, or you can enjoy the lawn and rose garden with views of the front of the mission.

Walk Down State Street

The main street in Santa Barbara is State Street. In 2020, they closed a large portion of it to cars and turned it into a pedestrian-only street.

You can now walk or bike down the street, eat at one of the restaurants with cute outdoor seating areas, and enjoy the shops without worrying about cars zipping by.

In addition to larger chain stores like Urban Outfitters and Lululemon, they also have local boutique stores, antique shops, and movie theaters.

Shop at a Farmers’ Market

If you’re staying for more than a few days, one of my top recommended things to do in Santa Barbara is to check out one of the farmers' markets and pick up some local produce.

I love the one on East Cota Street (Saturdays from 8am-1pm)since it’s in a lot and the booths are not as spread out — makes it easier to do a few laps! They have a great booth of mushrooms and another with amazing local honey.

A few other farmers’ markets in Santa Barbara:

Old Town Santa Barbara: Tuesdays from 3-6:30pm
Goleta Camino Real Marketplace: Sundays from 10am-2pm
Montecito: Fridays from 8am-11:15am

Visit the official SB Farmers’ Market website for the most up-to-date list of all farmers’ markets and their schedules.

Travel to Greece at the Greek Orthodox Church

The Greek Orthodox Church is a hidden gem in Santa Barbara. It’s a bright white building with a Mediterranean blue domed roof that looks like it was plucked straight out of Santorini!

Check their schedule ahead of time to ensure you are not disrupting any services. I went after-hours to check it out and take photos and had the place to myself. The inside is closed during after-hours, but the outside is the main attraction anyway.

In the summertime, the magenta bougainvillea is in bloom, which makes it look even more like Greece. Add this spot to your list of things to do in Santa Barbara that look like another country!

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Go For a Hike in the Hills

Santa Barbara is set next to Los Padres National Forest, which has some of the best hiking trails in the Santa Barbara area. There is a full range of hikes with different levels of difficulty, with some for beginners, avid hikers, and everyone in between.

For a full list of hikes in and around Santa Barbara, visit AllTrails.

Tip: Wear trail shoes that work for both walking around downtown Santa Barbara and hiking the local trails. Don’t forget to bring a water bottle!

Bird Watch at the Andree Clark Bird Refuge

The Andree Clark Bird Refuge is a lovely park area with a freshwater/brackish lake surrounded by water plants. It is home to a wide variety of bird species and is located directly next to the Santa Barbara Zoo.

There are benches to sit and enjoy the scenery and local birds, as well as a trail that goes along one side of the lake. For a great photo spot, go to one of the jetties with benches and include the reeds in the foreground!

Get Dinner on the Beach at Shoreline Beach Cafe

Dig your feet in the sand while enjoying fish tacos and fries at Shoreline Beach Cafe! This restaurant is situated directly on Leadbetter Beach, across the street from Santa Barbara City College.

You can either order from their limited walk-up menu and get your food to go for a beach picnic, or get a table outside for a sit-down meal on the sand. Either way, you get to eat your meal right on the beach with ocean views.

Just don’t feed the seagulls and protect your food from any that look interested in stealing some fries.

Walk Through a Rainbow at Chromatic Gate

My absolute favorite piece of art in Santa Barbara is titled Chromatic Gate. It’s a gorgeous rectangular, rainbow archway that frames the ocean and palm trees.

There may be a bit of a wait in summer and on weekends to take photos in the arch since it’s a popular photo spot in Santa Barbara. Just be patient and take turns!

It is one of the most Instagrammable spots in town and should be added to your list of things to do in Santa Barbara if you want to leave with some great photos.

Ride Bikes Along the Coast

Rent some bikes and go for a coastal bike ride lined with palm trees on E. Cabrillo Blvd.! There is a long bike path along the coast that is perfect for a nice bike ride. You’ll pass a few different beaches, the Chromatic Gate, Stearns Wharf, the harbor, and SBCC.

This is a great path to see some of the main sights in Santa Barbara. It’s one of the most fun, outdoorsy things to do in Santa Barbara on a sunny day.

You can even book a bike tour with electric bikes and an expert tour guide!

Catch a Wedding at the Courthouse

The Santa Barbara Courthouse is a gorgeous example of Spanish-style architecture in Santa Barbara. It’s so beautiful that many people choose to have their wedding and wedding photos taken here.

If you visit the courthouse, you may just catch a wedding happening while you’re there. I’ve seen a few while visiting the courthouse to take photos!

You can also walk up the stairs to the top of the clock tower for amazing views of Santa Barbara. The interior of the courthouse is lovely with old wood benches and murals.

See a Concert at the Santa Barbara Bowl

The Santa Barbara Bowl is the best concert venue in town. It’s an outdoor amphitheater that hosts concerts and shows with performers such as Jason Mraz, Chelsea Handler, Foo Fighters, Jack Johnson, and many more.

They host about 27 concerts a year between April and October. Check their current lineup for a full list of all upcoming concerts!

Visit the Animals at the Santa Barbara Zoo

The Santa Barbara Zoo has over 140 species of animals in their care, including Masai giraffes, African lions, California Condors, and Australian kangaroos!

Purchase tickets online in advance to ensure your visit as they do sometimes sell out on busy weekends or holidays. If you’re a member, you still need to make a reservation online in advance.

In addition to general admission, the zoo also offers animal encounters (for an additional cost) where you can get up close to some of the animals, like their giraffes, penguins, capybaras, and even lions and leopards.

Learn About Sea Life at the Sea Center

The Sea Center is an aquarium located on Stearns Wharf and provides educational information about the sea life around Santa Barbara. You can use tools to study the ocean, see an octopus and some jellyfish, and even pet starfish in a touch tank.

The Museum of Natural History owns the Sea Center, but tickets are separate. You cannot buy tickets online for the Sea Center and must purchase them upon arrival.

Explore the SBCC Campus

Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) is a two-year college with epic views of the ocean and Leadbetter Beach below. It has some of the best views of any college campus out there.

Walk up to the top of campus and cross the bridge for the best views! You can also get your exercise by running up and down the bleachers, which is something you can see people doing on nice days.

Go For a Walk at Douglas Family Preserve

There are a few trails throughout the Douglas Family Preserve, with a long stretch along the bluff with ocean views. This park is dog-friendly and has over 70 acres to explore, filled with native trees and plants.

You may even catch a paraglider taking off or coming in on the bluff! The Douglas Family Preserve is also a great spot to visit at golden hour and watch the sunset.

Visit Ganna Walska Lotusland

A special and unique thing to do in Santa Barbara is visit Ganna Walksa Lotusland. It is the former estate of Polish opera singer Madame Ganna Walska who immigrated from the Russian Empire.

Madame Ganna Walska built a lavish mansion with well-kept gardens throughout the property. She had a full-time staff of gardeners, including my great-grandfather and one of my uncles!

Her property is now open to the public for self-guided or docent-led tours. Advanced reservations are required and visits are limited to 2 hours.