Filled with picturesque beaches, rich history as a mission town, a vibrant arts scene, wineries along the Santa Ynez Valley, and delicious food spots, Santa Barbara is the perfect coastal getaway for couples, girls trips, and solo travelers.
3 Days in Santa Barbara is the Goldilocks itinerary: not too short where you miss out on all the hot spots and attractions, but not too long where you get bored and spend more money (because face it, Santa Barbara is not a budget-friendly destination). Just the perfect amount of time for your stay.
Santa Barbara is an upscale beach town located along the Central California coast. It’s also a college town, home to UC Santa Barbara (one of the biggest party schools in California, just like Davis!). But there’s more to Santa Barbara than sunbathing by the water. From outdoorsy activities to museum hopping to wine tasting, this charming town has much to offer for travelers with different interests.
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Santa Barbara Travel Resources
No time to read? Here’s a mini list of resources for your 3 days in Santa Barbara:
- 🚘 Car rental: Let’s face it; you need a car when exploring California, and Santa Barbara is no exception. I mean, you want to go to the beaches, don’t you? Get the best rental car deals at DiscoverCars.
- 🌊 Tours: I love using Viator and GetYourGuide for guided walking tours, food tours, and day trips! It makes it so much easier to familiarize myself with a new city. Here are some must-do activities in Santa Barbara:
- 🏨 Accommodation: You can find amazing hotels, apartments, and vacation rentals at Booking.com, especially if you are in their Genius loyalty program.
- 🎒 My trusty travel backpack that I’ve taken everywhere with me, and makes the perfect carry-on or personal bag for flights!
- 💰 Travel insurance: No matter how much you plan, s*** happens. From a minor inconvenience to a major disaster. Protect yourself with travel insurance from VisitorsCoverage.
Your Itinerary for 3 Days in Santa Barbara
Day 1: Stearn’s Wharf and Funk Zone
Stroll through and near Stearn’s Wharf
Stearn’s Wharf is one of Santa Barbara’s most iconic attractions, lined with gift shops, fishing equipment rentals, seafood restaurants, and ice cream shops. Surrounding the pier are stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and Channel Islands National Park. If you want to see some marine life, you can visit the Sea Center of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.
Every Sunday from 10 am to sundown near the wharf, the Santa Barbara Arts & Crafts Show features local fine artists (painters, sculptors, glass blowers, and photographers) showcasing their work. Most of the artwork captures the essence of Santa Barbara’s coastal beauty.
Eat, drink, and shop your way through the Funk Zone
Walk a few blocks away from Stearn’s Wharf, and you’ll step into streets with murals, art galleries, vintage shops, cafes, breweries with mouthwatering bites, and wineries. This is the Funk Zone, wedged between the beach and Highway 101. What was once an industrial area with abandoned warehouses became converted into businesses that make up Santa Barbara’s coolest and most eclectic district.
The Funk Zone houses the majority of the tasting rooms that make up the Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail. Unfortunately, since Cecilio does not drink, I didn’t get to go to any of them 🙁
Start your day off with coffee from Dart Coffee Co. and mural hunt around the Funk Zone for some cool insta spots. To window shop for cute vintage items and home decor, check out The Blue Door.
Feeling hungry? You’re in for a treat. Lucky Penny is hands-down the best pizza spot in Santa Barbara. Cecilio and I ordered the Californian, which has pesto, pine nuts, artichokes, and lemon ricotta cheese. My mouth is watering typing this out!
Even though we don’t drink beer, we enjoyed Lama Dog Tap Room. I ordered a refreshing hard kombucha on tap, perfect after a long day of exploring. Lama Dog also has its own food spot, The Nook, offering greasy (but delicious!) bar fare. Cecilio enjoyed a classic Nook burger, while I devoured my tater tot nachos 😋
Day 2: Old Mission, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, and Downtown
Step into a piece of history at Old Mission Santa Barbara
No trip to Santa Barbara is complete without an entrance to Old Mission. It is a part of California’s 21 Spanish Missions. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Spanish Empire sought to colonize the Indigenous tribes of California, convert them to Catholicism, and force them to assimilate into European culture.
It was the Chumash tribe who resided in Santa Barbara, and who the Spanish colonizers targeted as a plan to protect the Alta California region from its rivals, Russia and Great Britain.
Between the diseases the Spanish brought, assimilation to Christianity, and forced labor, the Chumash tribe had enough. They revolted against the missionaries in February 1824, killing thousands of them before reconciliation in June 1824.
Inside the building, there are fascinating sites like the beautiful courtyard with flowers and plants, a chapel, cemetery, and priests’ living quarters. Inside the quarters and workshop rooms, you’ll find a myriad of artifacts from the missionaries and the Chumash tribe.
The Spanish colonial architecture, rich (but dark and bloody) history, and views of the Pacific Ocean on one side and Santa Ynez Mountains on the other make Old Mission Santa Barbara one of the most iconic Missions in California. There’s a reason it’s nicknamed “Queen of the Missions”!
The Mission is open from 9:30 am-5 pm daily. Here are the admission costs:
| Adults (ages 18–64) | $17 |
| Youth (ages 5–17) | $12 |
| Seniors (ages 65+) | $15 |
| Children (ages 4 and under) | Free |
| Active Military (with ID) | $15 |
You can purchase the tickets upon entrance up until 4:00 pm.
Experience different terrain types in the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
Drive a few miles past Old Mission, towards the Santa Ynez Mountains, and get lost in Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. At 72 acres, this isn’t your run-of-the-mill neighborhood garden. It’s more like a hiking trail and forest with thousands of rare and California native plants.
Planted on Mission Canyon, the garden was developed in 1926 by Anna Blaksley Bliss in memory of her father, Blaksley Bliss. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden’s mission is to preserve the native plants as much as possible for the well-being of humans and the Earth.
What makes the garden also pretty cool is that it’s sectioned off by different terrain types, such as canyons, meadows, Redwood forests, and deserts. You can even see so for yourself with the map!
The Mission Creek cuts through the garden and runs all the way to Stearn’s Wharf. The trails throughout the garden are about 5–6 miles long, so you can enjoy a moderate, heart-pumping hike while enjoying nature.
In addition to all the plants and greenery, you’ll see a variety of animals such as birds, squirrels, insects, and turtles. Oh, and the garden is dog-friendly, so bring Fido on a nice little stroll or hike!
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is open daily from 10 am–5 pm. Tickets are available online and 2 months in advance. Below are the admission costs:
| Adults (ages 13–59) | $20 |
| Youth (ages 3–12) | $12 |
| Seniors (ages 60+) | $16 |
| Children (ages 2 and under) | Free |
| Military (active and retired soldiers and their spouses, with ID) | $14 |
| Students (with ID) | $14 |
Take a free tour of the Santa Barbara Historical Museum
Now, you’re back in Santa Barbara city proper, specifically, Downtown. If you’re looking for a free activity and want to learn more about Santa Barbara’s history and culture, you’ve got to check out the Santa Barbara Historical Museum.
The museum is pretty small, so you can spend an hour at most. But there are so many artifacts, collections, artwork, and documents dating back 500 years from when the Chumash tribe ruled the area before the Spanish missionaries took over.
Some of the collections from the Chumash tribe include woven baskets and pottery.
There is also an extensive costume collection, primarily consisting of Spanish-inspired outfits. This includes bullfighting suits and floral fiesta dresses.
Dinner and dessert at Santa Barbara Public Market
Santa Barbara Public Market is in the heart of Downtown, near lots of shops. You’d be remiss to not try a taste of Santa Barbara’s kickass food scene. It reminds me of Seattle’s Pike Place Market or London’s Seven Dials Market, but on a much smaller scale.
There are a variety of cuisines to choose from. Craving Asian fare? Grab some noodle bowls from Empty Bowl, where you can have your pick of Thai noodles or Filipino pancit. They even have dumpings! Or you savor Thai and Vietnamese dishes from Three Monkeys, or sushi from Wabi Sabi.
No food market in California is complete without a Mexican eatery. Corazon Cocina is inspired by the street food in Guadalajara, serving ceviche, tacos (especially birria and seafood tacos), quesadillas, and burritos.
You can even have a beer at Cooney’s (with over 30 beers on tap!) while watching a game and cheering on your favorite team.
Don’t forget to top it off with dessert from Rori’s Creamery, some of the best artisanal ice cream I’ve ever had!
Day 3: Wine Tasting and Beaches
Wine Tasting at Santa Ynez Valley
While Napa and Sonoma get all of the credit for California wine, Santa Barbara also has a rich wine scene along Santa Ynez Valley. There are over 200 wineries (seven of which are AVA-certified), from family-owned vineyards to brick-and-mortar tasting rooms!
You can either go on an exclusive, private wine-tasting tour in a van or go on a group bike ride tour along the rolling vineyards.
Here are some of the top Santa Barbara wine-tasting tours to book:
- Wine Tasting Tour in Santa Ynez Valley (All-Inclusive and Full Day)
- Santa Barbara Vineyard to Table Taste Tour by E-Bike
- Santa Ynez Wine Tour with Tastings & Lunch from Santa Barbara
- 7-Hour Private Santa Barbara Wine Tour
Beach hopping
While you can’t swim on Santa Barbara’s beaches, they are great for relaxation, strolling, and maybe even a bit of tidepooling.
If you’re looking for beaches up north, go a little bit into the residential area and visit the 1000 Steps Beach. The last step leads straight to the water. Or, if you want a quieter, more scenic beach, visit El Capitan State Beach. It has tidepools and picnic spots; grab some tacos to-go and a bottle of wine from one of the many Santa Ynez Wineries for the perfect lunch!
Sunset kayaking
Wrap up your 3 day Santa Barbara itinerary with an epic kayaking excursion during sunset on the Pacific Ocean. You’ll meet up with your tour between Stearn’s Wharf and Santa Barbara Harbor.
Get ready for an epic adventure sliding your paddle on the water as the sun sets. Bring your phone (or a GoPro) to capture Golden Hour’s popping colors. You might even see some sea lions!
Included in this tour is extra safety gear, like a helmet, wetsuit, and life jacket).
There is no need to be nervous about paddling in the ocean since you will have a guide to lead you along the way. You’ll also learn about astronomy and ecology, making this tour fun, educational, and awe-inspiring.
Bonus Day: Day Trip to Solvang
So maybe you decided that 3 days in Santa Barbara wasn’t enough time, and you wanted to squeeze an extra day. This is where I recommend taking a day trip to Solvang, the cute Danish-inspired town nestled in Santa Ynez Valley.
Since Solvang is a super small town, you can spend all day exploring every nook and cranny. You don’t need to go all the way to Copenhagen to experience Danish culture and food.
Speaking of food, eateries in Solvang serve classic Danish dishes, like smørrebrød (open-faced sandwich with rye bread, topped with seafood or meat and pickled vegetables) and æbleskiver (deep-fried pancake balls).
Get your smørrebrød at Red Viking with a side of Carlsberg beer, and walk to Danish Mill Bakery a few feet away for æbleskiver.
Oh, and Solvang also has replicas of Copenhagen’s famous Little Mermaid statue and Round Tower! I told you, you don’t need to fly thousands of miles away!
How to Get to Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara has its own airport, a small regional airport that doesn’t get a lot of flights outside California. Here are other airports you can fly to, and from there, rent a car:
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX): 1 hour and 45 minutes
- Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR): 1 hour and 30 minutes
- John Wayne Airport (SNA): 2 hours and 15 minutes
- San Diego International Airport (SAN): 3 hours and 30 minutes
To rent a car, I recommend going through DiscoverCars.com to find the best deals. I also do recommend getting a car to get around, especially if you want to venture outside the city and explore more beaches.
Related: How old do you have to be to rent a car in California?
Where to Stay in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara is not a budget-friendly destination, as far as accommodation goes. Especially if you want to stay by the beach, Downtown, or the Funk Zone. The key is to not be too picky about your preferences.
Cecilio and I stayed in Agave Inn, a simple motel located a few minutes away from Downtown. Don’t be put off by the fact that it’s a motel; it was clean (which is the most important thing), and had a pretty Southwestern desert aesthetic (and no ugly 1970s bedding that you see in most motels that looks like it smells stale).
- Budget: Agave Inn
- Mid-range: Riviera Beach House
- Luxury: Hotel Californian
Wrapping up your 3-Day Santa Barbara Itinerary
For a quintessential California getaway with rugged beaches, scenic views down US 101, wine flowing from the valley, and fresh seafood and tacos, Santa Barbara should be on your radar.
Just keep in mind that it is one of the more expensive cities in California to visit (I mean, Prince Harry and Meghan live in Montecito nearby, after all…)
Whether you want to nerd out on Spanish mission history, seek the best of delicious California cuisine, or inhale the fresh ocean breeze, Santa Barbara will give you all that you desire and more!
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Hannah is a travel writer, graphic designer, and the founder/editor of Hannah on Horizon. She is based in Sacramento, California, living with her husband and two adorable dogs. She shares tips on how to experience luxury travel on any budget, and how to maximize time at each trip or destination, no matter what your budget or amount of vacation time at work. She enjoys making you feel like you have visited each destination with her through her storytelling and informative writing style.