Santa Barbara Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Santa Barbara tours and things to do on California’s “American Riviera”: sip wine in the Santa Ynez Valley, tour the Spanish mission and red-tiled downtown, cruise the harbor to spot whales, visit the Danish village of Solvang, and kayak the sparkling coast. Compare top-rated experiences and plan the perfect trip.
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Explore Santa Barbara by interest
Whatever brings you to Santa Barbara — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Top attractions in Santa Barbara
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Santa Ynez
Wine country.
Old Mission
Queen of missions.
The Harbor
Coastal cruises.
Solvang
Danish village.
The Coast
Kayak & caves.
Funk Zone
Wine tasting.
Channel Islands
Wild islands.
State Street
Downtown.
45 min awaySanta Ynez
Wine country.
45 min awaySolvang
Danish village.
Boat awayChannel Islands
Wild islands.
City awayThe Harbor
Whale cruise.
City awayThe Coast
Kayaking.
City awayFunk Zone
Wine tasting.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Santa Barbara visitor asks before booking.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Warm and busy — the “June gloom” can linger.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Sunny, clear and the grape harvest.
Spring (Mar–May)
Green hills and wildflowers.
Winter (Nov–Feb)
Mild, quieter and good for gray whales.
For whales
Winter for grays, summer for blues.
Best overall
September and October for sunny, clear days.
One day
The mission, downtown and harbor.
Two days
Add a Santa Ynez wine tour.
Three days
Add Solvang and the Channel Islands.
For wine
A day in the Santa Ynez Valley.
For the coast
A harbor cruise or kayak tour.
For history
The mission and Spanish downtown.
On foot
State Street and the harbor are walkable.
Tours & transfers
Tours reach wine country and Solvang.
Trolley
A sightseeing trolley loops the main sights.
By car
A car helps for the wine country.
Where to stay
Stay near State Street or the beach.
US dollar
The US uses the dollar; cards widely accepted.
The mission
Visit the Old Mission and its gardens.
Courthouse tower
Climb it for free downtown views.
Wine country
Join a tour so you don’t have to drive.
Whales
Book a whale cruise in the right season.
Funk Zone
Walk the Urban Wine Trail’s tasting rooms.
Beaches
East Beach and Butterfly Beach are lovely.
Wine tours
Santa Ynez tours fill up — book ahead.
Whale cruises
Seasonal trips fill up — reserve early.
Solvang tours
Village tours fill up — book ahead.
Island trips
Channel Islands boats fill up — reserve early.
Kayak tours
Coastal tours fill up — book ahead.
Summer & autumn
Peak season is busiest — book well ahead.
City tour
Around $33–60 for a city and mission tour.
Wine tour
About $40–120 for a Santa Ynez wine tour.
Harbor cruise
Roughly $33–80 for a harbor or whale cruise.
Solvang tour
Around $49–100 for a Solvang day tour.
Island trip
About $49–100 for a Channel Islands trip.
How to save
Join group tours to save over private ones.
Santa Barbara through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Beaches.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Busy.
- Best for
- Wine harvest.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Ideal.
- Best for
- Wildflowers.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Green.
- Best for
- Gray whales.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Mild.