Santa Barbara – California Dream
Santa Barbara is the California dream at its finest. The city offers everything that characterizes California – sunshine, a stunning oceanfront, tall palm trees, historic sites from the Spanish colonial era, relics of Native American culture, and above all, immense wealth and stunning sunsets. The most Mediterranean city in California lies in the shadow of the Santa Ynes Mountains to its east, hugging the golden shores of the Pacific Ocean. It's a bustling tourist city, part of the legendary route along Highway 101.
How much time do you need for a trip to Santa Barbara?
Dedicate about half a day for a trip to Santa Barbara.
What must you see and do in Santa Barbara?
- The Pacific Ocean at its best on the Santa Barbara waterfront
- Shopping and entertainment on State Street
- The impressive structure of the county courthouse
- The city's origins at the Santa Barbara Mission
- Tangible history at El Presidio de Santa Barbara
- Museum history at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum
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What is Santa Barbara?
- The city of Santa Barbara is one of the most beautiful cities in California
- It lies at the foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains, which rise to nearly 1500 meters
- The city sits on the western slopes of the range along the Pacific Ocean, a one hour and forty five minutes drive from Los Angeles, on the route of Highway 101 towards San Francisco (5 hours drive north)
- Santa Barbara is home to about one hundred thousand people, and another hundred thousand live in the small cities and towns nearby, in what is called the Santa Barbara metropolitan area.
- This is one of the wealthiest cities in California, enjoying a perfect Mediterranean climate, low-rise buildings with large mansions, iconic palm avenues, and all the beauty of California.
Like all settlements in California, the initial community in the city was Spanish and served as a military base. Only in 1850, with California joining the United States, did the settlement in Santa Barbara become a city.
The city mainly developed after World War II, when many residents of Los Angeles were drawn to the spacious living and beautiful beaches, earning the city its nickname as the Riviera of California.
Map of Santa Barbara
How to reach Santa Barbara?
Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) – This charming little airport is your most convenient option to fly directly into the city, unless you're up for a two-hour drive from Los Angeles Airport.
Located slightly to the west of downtown, near the University of California campus, this airport operates on a smaller scale but is accessible from several key airports, especially on the West Coast, including Los Angeles, Dallas-Fort Worth, Portland, Phoenix, San Francisco, and even Atlanta.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) – The legendary airport of Los Angeles is one of the largest and most important airports in North America. It's known as the second busiest airport in the USA (right after Atlanta's airport) and the third busiest in the entire world.
Known affectionately in pop culture as LAX, it's situated near downtown Los Angeles, nestled between Inglewood and Playa Del Rey Beach, right next to the 405 freeway. It’s perfectly connected with every point across the USA and the entire world, including direct flights from Ben Gurion Airport or plenty of options for transfers in Europe. The drive from LAX to Santa Barbara is about two hours.
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When to visit Santa Barbara?
- The weather in Santa Barbara is Mediterranean, similar to Los Angeles but just a bit cooler.
- Throughout the year, the city's weather is comfortable, mostly sunny, and not too hot or humid.
- Summers in Santa Barbara are ideal, with average temperatures of 25-26 degrees and plenty of sunshine.
- Winter in Los Angeles is cool, but there are really warm days even in January.
- Relatively, the city is also very dry with not too much rain throughout the year. Similar to home, there's almost no rain in the summer.
- Spring and fall also boast great weather, very pleasant during both seasons and not too rainy.
Click here for a guided kayak tour to Santa Barbara's waterfront…
How to Plan a Trip Itinerary in Santa Barbara?
The trip to Santa Barbara is an integral part of the legendary Highway 101 route, the coastal road from Los Angeles to San Francisco. The city lies along Route 101 and is considered the largest and most interesting city along a route mainly focused on nature and the sea.
You can also take a day trip to Santa Barbara from Los Angeles or spend a couple of days in the city of angels. The drive from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara takes about two hours, including a stop in Malibu and Oxnard.
The city tour itinerary is divided into two parts:
- A tour of downtown, along State Street and the sites surrounding the Presidio, including a visit to the Mission
- A stroll along the waterfront of Santa Barbara, the city's long palm-lined beach with its beautiful marina and pier
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Everything you need to know about lodging in Santa Barbara
- Accommodations in Santa Barbara are also divided into two main areas in the city – the beach and downtown near State Street. The most beautiful hotels, those that characterize the city as a California dream, are located by the beach across from the marina.
- These are three-star hotels located in classic mansions. They are very small and intimate hotels that have become very popular with the residents of Los Angeles who come to relax or enjoy a romantic vacation.
- In the city center, there are more hotels, usually with an urban character, some private and some part of large international chains, for those who want to maintain standards.
- Another group of small beach hotels, considered motels, is found on the East Coast at the waterfront, where the location is less ideal but the beach is still great.
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Map of Recommended Accommodation Areas in Santa Barbara
Everything to See and Do in Santa Barbara
State Street
State Street is the main street of Santa Barbara and one of the most fun urban streets in California south of San Francisco. The elegant street is full of restaurants, galleries, shops, and entertainment venues. On its southern part lies the large mall, Paseo Nuevo.
Across the street from the mall is Casa de la Guerra, the house of the presidio’s commander built in 1822, now open to the public. The house showcases the furniture and lifestyle of Santa Barbara from 200 years ago. The street is the axis of what is known as downtown Santa Barbara, limited to vehicle traffic and lined with tall palm trees.
Santa Barbara Museum Of Art
The Santa Barbara Museum of Art is located on State Street, and like the street itself, it is a small and elegant institution. It opened in 1941 and houses an impressive collection of art from both Europe and Asia, as well as South America. The Asian collection features Chinese and Japanese works, some of which are very ancient and classified as archaeology. In the European collection, you'll find an impressive representation of several great modern artists, including paintings by Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Edgar Degas, and more.
Address: State St. 1130, Santa Barbara
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Santa Barbara County Courthouse
The Santa Barbara County Courthouse is located near the Museum of Art, one block east of State Street. It's one of the most beautiful buildings in the city, inspired by Spanish colonial architecture, built in 1929. Above the entrance gate of the building, on the street-facing facade, there is an impressive clock tower with tall palm trees at its base whose tops reach the height of the tower. At the back of the building, shaped like the letter ‘U', there's a large lawn.
Address: 1100 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara
El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park
The Presidio of Santa Barbara lies further along the street from the County Courthouse. It is the urban core of Santa Barbara, following Spanish settlement principles – first establishing a military post around which the city then grows. The Presidio of Santa Barbara was the fourth established by the Spanish in California in 1782, dominating the space between the city of Monterey and San Diego to the south.
The Spanish military camp is considered the second oldest surviving structure in California, after Mission San Juan Capistrano on the southern outskirts of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. It was severely damaged during the US-Mexico War in 1848, and only in 1963 did the city decide to restore it and turn it into a historic site.
Address: E Canon Perdido St. 123, Santa Barbara
The Santa Barbara Historical Museum
One block south of the Presidio is the city's historical museum building. The museum was founded in 1932 through a private initiative, aiming to exhibit a variety of discoveries, both archaeological and historical, related to the city. The museum's display includes items from the Chumash culture, the Native American tribes that settled on what is today California's coast, historical items from the days of Spanish, Mexican, and later American control after the city's annexation with California into the United States.
Address: E De La Guerra St. 136, Santa Barbara
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The Mission of Santa Barbara
The historic Santa Barbara Mission is located just a 5-minute drive from State Street, at the beginning of the ridge uplift. The mission building is situated next to the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.
The mission was built by Franciscan friars in 1786 and dedicated to Saint Barbara. The entire city was named after the mission. It still stands today and is renowned for its stunning façade, combining Neoclassical architecture with Spanish architecture influenced by Moorish design.
Address: Laguna St. 2201, Santa Barbara
The Waterfront
Santa Barbara's wide, sandy coastline is one of the most beautiful in California. It blends the city's relaxed and affluent vibe with all the fun of a Pacific Ocean beach. It's a very popular place for recreation and strolling. The waterfront promenade and beach stretch from Shoreline Park in the west, through Leadbetter Beach, the city's marina, and further east to the bath beaches up to East Beach Park.
Near the marina is the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, a small and interesting museum featuring artifacts from maritime excavations of shipwrecks from the Spanish era and relics from wrecked Indian boats.
Santa Barbara's waterfront stretches over a kilometer of golden beaches, a promenade lined with tall palm trees, lawns, and plenty of visitors enjoying the sun and ocean. At the heart of the waterfront, near the marina, you can stroll along Stearns Wharf, a pier with parking and several popular seafood restaurants.
