Hotels in Santa Barbara, CA

Best time to visit Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara experiences mild temperatures of approximately 60 – 70 degrees Fahrenheit year round, so any time is a good time to visit. March – May and September – November are less crowded, and hotel rates tend to be more affordable. June – August is peak tourist season when most of the city’s annual events take place. If you are visiting from December – February, remember to bring an umbrella. No matter when you visit, dress in layers since mornings and late evenings tend to be much cooler than daytime.

Getting around Santa Barbara

Most of the popular attractions, shopping, and dining areas in Santa Barbara are located within a 3-mile radius in the downtown core. It is easy to get around on foot. The city prides itself on its eco-friendly programs such as car-free zones and green transportation options such as biking paths and pedicabs. Prices for pedicabs depend on the number of passengers and distance covered. MTD operates several bus routes in the city, and also offers a Downtown-Waterfront electric shuttle. Standard one-way fare for the buses and shuttle is $1.75 USD, while a Day Pass costs $6.00 USD. For a fun and scenic way to explore the city, book a trolley tour with the Santa Barbara Trolley Company. An Adult Pass costs $22.00 USD and allows one child under 12 years to ride for free. The trolley makes stops at all major sites and attractions, and once you buy a pass, you have the option to hop-on and hop-off the trolley any number of times during the day.

Best places to stay in Santa Barbara

With lush green and golden hillsides cascading into sparkling waters and red-tile roofs creating a brilliant contrast with clear blue skies, Santa Barbara county rightfully earns its moniker of ‘The American Riviera’. There are several neighborhoods and small towns within Santa Barbara, and each offers a unique experience and lifestyle. Choose where to stay based on the kind of experience you want to take home.

Downtown Santa Barbara – Cosmopolitan

Downtown Santa Barbara is a pedestrian-friendly area that vividly displays its Spanish heritage. The cool cafés, shops, restaurants, and Spanish Revival architecture featuring classic red rooftops, white-washed walls and colorful tiles, all come together to create a charming package. In the heart of downtown, stay in luxurious rooms at the Kimpton Canary Santa Barbara, a Spanish-style hotel with an indulgent rooftop pool and several complimentary amenities. Check out The Upham Hotel, an 1871-dated historic landmark, and the oldest operating hotel in Southern California. This small boutique property is located amid the buzz of downtown shopping and dining. It features comfortable rooms and suites with sweeping redwood verandas.

Santa Barbara Waterfront – Adventure

The Santa Barbara Waterfront area is picture perfect with views of its famed coastline, palm tree-lined shores, pristine beaches, and the Santa Ynez mountains in the background. Biking and walking paths run parallel to the beaches, making it easy to soak in the sun and enjoy the scenery at the same time. Enjoy unobstructed views of the scenic coastline and mountains from your hotel room at the Santa Barbara Inn, an upscale hotel on East Beach, just a 9-minute walk from the Santa Barbara Zoo. Check out the plush, Spanish Colonial-style rooms featuring wrought-iron balconies overlooking the ocean at The Ritz-Carlton Barcara, Santa Barbara. This luxurious hotel is the only property in the area with direct access to the beach.

The Funk Zone – Fresh and Funky

The area between the ocean and Highway 101 has emerged into a contemporary neighborhood with an artistic flair. The streets are filled with boutique tasting rooms, trendy cafés and art galleries. You’ll also find several shops housed in converted warehouses decorated with graffiti murals, selling vintage and modern goods. Budding chefs, brewers and wine-makers practice their craft in this part of the city. In the heart of Funk Zone, you have Hotel Indigo Santa Barbara that features well-appointed guest rooms, sunny patios, and an on-site art library and museum that takes inspiration from its creative surroundings.

Presidio – History

Presidio is where you can experience Santa Barbara’s unique history. This area is home to museums, historic homes, shops and eateries that blend coastal appeal with a European setting. Check out Simpson House Inn, an 1874-dated Victorian mansion converted into a refined B&B that offers country-style suites and bright, airy cottages. You can also consider the individually decorated rooms and suites in Cheshire Cat Inn, a family-run B&B set in 2 Victorian Queen Anne–style homes and Craftsman-style cottages.

Goleta – The Good Land

Nicknamed ‘The Good Land’, Goleta is a delightful locality that features surf-friendly beaches, farm-fresh food, local craft breweries and wineries. This area is also home to a flourishing tech industry, several golfing venues, and the University of California in Santa Barbara. Within ½ a mile from the university, enjoy contemporary rooms, modern comforts and the Mediterranean-style décor of the Courtyard by Marriott Santa Barbara Goleta. Check out the traditional and spacious 1-bedroom accommodation in Pacifica Suites, a classic all-suites hotel, just 2-miles from Goleta Beach.

Montecito – Luxury meets Leisure

Montecito, meaning ‘little mountain’, is flush with celebrity-owned estates and manors, luxurious resorts, and a wide selection of high-end shops and restaurants. The area exudes an effortless chic vibe, and the unspoken rule is that no one makes a fuss on spotting a famous face anywhere in the neighborhood. Enjoy country-chic cottages and suites decorated with Persian rugs and crystal chandeliers at the San Ysidro Ranch, an 1893-dated luxury resort set on a 500-acre ranch at the foot of the Santa Ynez mountain range.

Cheap hotels in Santa Barbara

In Santa Barbara, it’s not difficult to find cheap accommodation in the downtown area or along the waterfront. Several quaint inns and family run B&Bs offer budget-friendly accommodation with excellent amenities. Consider the colorful retro-style rooms in Agave Inn in the heart of Downtown Santa Barbara. Check out the tastefully decorated rooms at A White Jasmine Inn, a quaint B&B located on a quiet residential street in the theater district. In the West Beach neighborhood, just a 3-minute walk from the beach, you have The Eagle Inn, a comfortable boutique hotel with individually decorated rooms. A 12-minute walk from Stearns Wharf, stay in sleek rooms and suites at the Casa Del Mar Inn, a Spanish-style hotel surrounded by excellent shopping, dining, and entertainment.

The gorgeous city of Santa Barbara offers a scenic experience and a relaxed lifestyle that includes wineries, gardens, street festivals, music and dance. Your itinerary promises to be packed with sandy beaches, hiking trails, art galleries, museums, wine tours and plenty of shopping and entertainment. Here are a few suggestions that you may want to include in your see-and-do list.

• Enjoy the tranquil East Beach, the colorful West Beach, and the Leadbetter Beach which has a harbor front.
• Stroll along State Street, Santa Barbara’s most famous avenue that runs from downtown to the waterfront, lined with scores of shops, restaurants, galleries, theaters and museums.
• Gaze at the intricate tile mosaics, lush gardens, and jaw-dropping views of the city and ocean from the 1929-built Santa Barbara County Courthouse.
• Appreciate the permanent collections of American, European, and Asian art, including sculptures, paintings, prints and ceramics at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.
• Enjoy nature trails and picnic lunches in the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.
• Learn about the city’s history and early origins at the Old Mission Santa Barbara.
• Meet anteaters, leopards, gorillas, penguins, native California condors, and snow leopards at the small but jam-packed Santa Barbara Zoo.
• Take an Art Walk to admire prominent pieces of art and art installations along more than ½ a mile of the beachfront on Cabrillo Boulevard. On Sundays, admire local artwork, chat with aspiring artists and take home a memorable souvenir from the Arts and Crafts Show.
• Sample fresh local produce and meats, including wild boar, heirloom tomatoes, escargots and pepper-crusted venison at the Bouchon bakery.
• Book a wine tour with one of the local vineyards such as Claiborne & Churchill Winery, Edna Valley Vineyard, or Rancho Sisquoc.