Santa Barbara

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CA-1
2026 Americas 50 - Night Attractions

CA-1

6.7
4.8/5
499 reviews
CA-1 is a highly iconic coastal self-drive route on the West Coast of the United States, stretching over 1,000 km along the Pacific coastline and connecting coastal towns from the San Francisco Bay Area, Monterey, Big Sur, San Simeon, and Morro Bay all the way to Los Angeles. Its highlight is concentrated in the Big Sur section between Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and San Simeon: the road winds along steep cliffs, with the surging Pacific Ocean on one side and mountains and redwood forests on the other. There are many scenic parking areas along the way where you can pull over at any time to enjoy the sea breeze and watch the waves crash against the cliffs. There are several highly recognizable scenes along this section: the Bixby Bridge, which spans the canyon, is an elegantly designed concrete arch bridge, and there are almost always vehicles parked at the bridgehead for photos; McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park drops directly from the cliff top onto the beach in the cove, making it a rare beach waterfall in California; the sand at Pfeiffer Beach has a faint purple hue due to the weathering of manganese garnet in the cliffs; further south in the San Simeon area, groups of northern elephant seals can be seen sunbathing on the beach year-round, and you can also visit Hearst Castle on the mountain nearby. The Old Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey at the northern end and the town of Carmel-By-The-Sea also have their own unique charm.Monterey County · 61.3 km from downtown

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Experiences you can't miss in Santa Barbara

Featured Culture & history in Santa Barbara

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Santa Barbara Trolley Tour
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4.5/5
· 383 reviews
Duration: 90 mins
English
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22 consecutive positive reviews
From€32.97
Santa Barbara: Sanctum Sacrifice Ghost Tour
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Duration: 1 hr
Free cancellation
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From€21.44
Santa Barbara: Comedian lead Food and Walking Tour
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5.0/5
· 2 reviews
Duration: 2.5 hrs
Free cancellation
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From€138.49

Featured Day tours in Santa Barbara

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From Los Angeles: Coast Starlight Train & Santa Barbara Day Tour
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5.0/5
· 1 review
Duration: 5.6 hrs
English
Free cancellation
87 travellers saved
From€200.19
Los Angeles to San Francisco | Highway 1 northbound one-way private charter 1-day tour
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Duration: 10.7 hrs
English
Free cancellation
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From€169.10
Santa Barbara City Highlights&Old Mission 1-Day via Amtrak Starlight Coastal from LA
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From€156.40
Santa Barbara: Chocolate Bar and Art Box Making Workshop
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4.9/5
· 10 reviews
Duration: 1–2 hrs
Free cancellation
From€53.63
Eat, Sip & Explore on a Local Food Tour
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5.0/5
· 1 review
Duration: 3 hrs
Free cancellation
From€142.96
Santa Barbara Harbor: Sunset Kayak Tour (2 Hours)
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5.0/5
· 2 reviews
Duration: 2 hrs
Free cancellation
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From€79.52

Featured Food & drink in Santa Barbara

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Private Vineyard Horseback Ride in Santa Ynez Valley
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4.9/5
· 10 reviews
Duration: 1.5 hrs
Free cancellation
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From€263.58
Santa Barbara: Craft Beer Walking Tour
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Duration: 3 hrs
Free cancellation
From€111.69
Santa Ynez: Wine Shuttle
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5.0/5
· 1 review
Duration: 5 hrs
Free cancellation
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From€124.20
Taco Tour Santa Barbara 200+ ️️️️️ reviews!
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5.0/5
· 1 review
Duration: 2.5 hrs
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Santa Barbara 3-Winery Tour with Picnic Lunch & Tastings
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5.0/5
· 4 reviews
Duration: 7 hrs
Free cancellation
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From€213.64
Private All-Inclusive Wine Tasting Tour
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5.0/5
· 2 reviews
Duration: 5–6 hrs
Free cancellation
From€267.25

Featured Outdoor & sports in Santa Barbara

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Santa Barbara: Trolley Tour
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4.8/5
· 64 reviews
Duration: 1.5 hrs
Free cancellation
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23 consecutive positive reviews
From€25.02
Kayak or Stand Up Paddle Board Rental
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4.9/5
· 13 reviews
Duration: 1 hr
Free cancellation
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From€13.71
Santa Barbara: Stand-up Paddle Board Rental
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Duration: 1–1.5 hrs
Free cancellation
From€22.34
Santa Barbara: Private Beach Horseback Ride
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5.0/5
· 3 reviews
Duration: 1.5 hrs
Free cancellation
From€268.05

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Santa Barbara Cruises

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Private Tours in Santa Barbara

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Santa Barbara Today's weatherClear 13-24℃
Santa Barbara weather for the next 2 days11/5: 12-25℃, 11/6: 13-26℃

Free things to do in Santa Barbara

What travellers say about Santa Barbara

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YoYo_1I8Q7O5OMay 1, 2026
5.0
Driving along California's Highway 1, my hands were aching from gripping the wheel for so long. The coastal section was winding and twisting, with waves crashing white against the cliffs below. I stopped by the roadside to watch the seals; those lazy guys just rolled on their backs, not moving an inch. The Big Sur Bridge was quite photogenic, but I was too busy watching the road to cross it. We kept stopping and starting, turning into every viewpoint we saw to enjoy the breeze. Just as the gas tank was almost empty, we arrived in town; a burger and a Coke were the perfect comfort food.

CA-1

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野枫印象March 22, 2020
5.0
Santa Barbara is located in California, USA, not far from Los Angeles. Due to historical reasons, the buildings here are mainly Spanish and Mexican, and the buildings are very beautiful. Many wealthy people live here. In the residential area, there are green grass and red flowers in front of and behind the houses. It is a beautiful garden city. The climate here is mild, the air is fresh, the beach is soft, the sea water is clear, the trees are forested, and the flowers are fragrant. It is known as the "Paradise on the Pacific Coast."

Waterfront

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cparisshMarch 15, 2020
5.0
The beach area of ​​Santa Barbara is very beautiful and the lake is very calm. However, you cannot park for free here. Basically, there are parking lots next to the port, and there are many empty spaces. The parking fee is not expensive.

Santa Barbara Harbor

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柔实先生September 24, 2019
5.0
Kutna Hora BONE CHURCH Kutna Hora is the world's most famous bone church, which contains no less than 40,000 human bones, from the Black Death patients in the 14th century and the people who died in the "Hussite War" in the early 15th century. When the town of Kutna was repairing the church, bones were dug up everywhere. There was no place to put the piled-up bones. It was not until 1870 that the artist Rint thought of using them to decorate the church. After thoroughly disinfecting the bones, he arranged them into various patterns such as chandeliers, crosses, door lintels, family emblems, etc. ~ So this bone church was born! The courtyard outside the church is a cemetery. It is said that an abbot brought back a handful of soil from Jerusalem on a pilgrimage and scattered it in the church yard. Since then, famous families have been buried here as an honor. The small courtyard is very expensive, and many cemeteries are where a family is buried together. ​Walking into the scene does not give people a gloomy and terrifying feeling, but rather a very shocking and fearful feeling of death.

Old Mission Santa Barbara

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mayrMarch 19, 2023
5.0
The sea is vast and blue, and the view from the pier is as far as the sky. Seagulls fly by from time to time, spreading their wings and chirping. The beach has big waves, attracting many surfing enthusiasts.

Goleta Beach Park

Trip Moments in Santa Barbara

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Frequently asked questions

What are the must-do things in Santa Barbara?

Don't miss these attractions in Santa Barbara: CA-1, Waterfront, and Santa Barbara Harbor. If you like Culture & history, try 1-day tour to Los Angeles Solvang + Santa Barbara Harbor + Old Mission Santa Barbara | Admission ticket not included. If you enjoy Day tours, try From Los Angeles: Coast Starlight Train & Santa Barbara Day Tour.

You can give Private Vineyard Horseback Ride in Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Barbara: Craft Beer Walking Tour a try. Before you go, please check their opening hours and menus online. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak hours.

When choosing a tour, start with how much time you have and the kind of experience you're looking for. Trending options right now include From Los Angeles: Coast Starlight Train & Santa Barbara Day Tour, Los Angeles to San Francisco | Highway 1 northbound one-way private charter 1-day tour, and Santa Barbara City Highlights&Old Mission 1-Day via Amtrak Starlight Coastal from LA. Check the real-time availability and itinerary before you book.

As of November 5, 2026, the reference price for day tours and activities in Santa Barbara is around EUR 53.63 – EUR 200.19. Rates vary by duration, group size, transport, tickets, meals, and any special admission requirements. Before you book, please confirm the billing currency and whether the price is quoted per person or per group.

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