Things to do in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate year-round. Late spring and early summer often bring a coastal fog known locally as May Gray and June Gloom that burns off by midday; September and October deliver the warmest, clearest beach weather.
Best months: April, September, October, November
What is worth your time in Santa Barbara
MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration and InnovationDo not miss
A hands-on science and creativity museum with a glass-floored rooftop deck overlooking the harbor, a hit with families.
Museum · 2.3 hr4.7
Old Mission Santa BarbaraDo not miss
Known as the Queen of the Missions, this 1786 hilltop landmark dazzles with twin bell towers, a rose garden, and a peaceful colonnade.
Historic Site · 1.5 hr4.6
Santa Barbara Botanic GardenDo not miss
Seventy-eight acres devoted to California native plants, with redwood groves, a creek, and trails framing ocean views.
Park · 2 hr4.6
Santa Barbara County CourthouseDo not miss
A 1929 Spanish-Moorish masterpiece with hand-painted ceilings, sunken gardens, and a clock-tower viewpoint over the red-tiled city.
Architecture · 1.1 hr4.6
Butterfly BeachDo not miss
Montecito's celebrity-favorite cove faces west for rare sunset-over-water views across from the Biltmore.
Beach · 1.4 hr4.5
East BeachDo not miss
A wide, palm-lined stretch of golden sand with volleyball courts, a bike path, and calm swimming below the mountains.
Beach · 1.8 hr4.5
Stearns WharfDo not miss
California's oldest working wooden wharf juts into the harbor with seafood shacks, a sea center, and sweeping views back to the mountains.
Landmark · 1.4 hr4.5
The Funk ZoneDo not miss
A walkable warehouse district of tasting rooms, murals, galleries, and breweries a block from the beach.
Neighborhood · 2.3 hr4.4
Santa Barbara Urban Wine TrailDo not miss
More than two dozen walkable tasting rooms pour Santa Ynez Valley wines downtown, no designated driver required.
Cultural Experience · 2.3 hr4.3
State StreetDo not miss
The pedestrian-friendly heart of downtown, lined with Spanish colonial arcades, boutiques, sidewalk cafes, and live-music patios.
Neighborhood · 1.8 hr
Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden
A free downtown block of subtropical gardens, a koi pond, and shaded benches a short walk from State Street.
Park · 45 min5
Santa Barbara Sailing and Whale Watching Cruise
Sail out of the harbor for sunset, dolphin pods, and seasonal whale sightings across the Santa Barbara Channel.
Activity · 2.5 hr5
Santa Barbara Waterfront Bike Path
Rent a beach cruiser or surrey and pedal the flat oceanfront path linking the harbor, wharf, and East Beach.
Scenic Route · 1.5 hr5
La Cumbre Peak
The highest point on the front range above Santa Barbara, reachable by car off Camino Cielo for a sweeping coastal view.
Viewpoint · 1.4 hr4.9
And 31 more, which the planner picks between based on your dates, pace and what you are into.
Worth knowing
- State Street is the walkable spine of downtown; park once and explore the shops, restaurants, and Spanish colonial arcades on foot.
- The waterfront, Stearns Wharf, and East Beach are all linked by a flat seaside path ideal for biking or a sunset stroll.
- The Funk Zone and Urban Wine Trail let you taste Santa Ynez Valley wines downtown without driving to the vineyards.
- Coastal fog can linger in the morning during May and June; plan beach and viewpoint stops for the afternoon when skies clear.
- Many wineries and the full Santa Ynez wine country are a 45-minute drive north, best done as a dedicated day.