Things to Do in Santa Barbara: Tours, Tickets & Day Trips
Wondering what to do in Santa Barbara? The 90-minute trolley tour (about $37) is the most-reviewed way to see the Old Mission, the Courthouse, State Street and the waterfront in one loop, and the electric-bike tour ($85) is the highest-rated. Then eat and drink: the downtown food and drink walk ($175), the taco tour ($159) and the Santa Ynez Valley wine tours ($235–239) are Santa Barbara’s speciality, with a harbour kayak among the sea lions ($55–59) for the afternoon. Give yourself two to three days — one for the Mission, the Courthouse tower, State Street and Stearns Wharf, one for the beach, the harbour and the Funk Zone’s urban wine trail, one for the wineries of Los Olivos and the Danish town of Solvang — and add whale watching from December to April. Much is free: the Courthouse and its tower view, Stearns Wharf, Butterfly and East beaches, the Douglas Family Preserve and the Tuesday farmers’ market cost nothing. Below you can compare every Santa Barbara tour and ticket by rating and price, with free cancellation on most.
148 tours · prices per person, book with partner
Santa Barbara
The ORIGINAL Downtown Santa Barbara Walking Food & Drink Tour
from$175/ person
via Viator
Santa Barbara
Small-Group Wine Tour in Santa Barbara to Exclusive Vineyards
from$235/ person
via Viator
Santa Barbara
Solvang Santa Ynez Valley Small Group All-Inclusive Wine Tour
from$200/ person
via Viator
Santa Barbara
3-Winery Tour with Lunch & Tastings from Solvang-SYV-Buellton
from$169/ person
via Viator
All experiences in Santa Barbara — FAQ
What are the top things to do in Santa Barbara?
By traveller reviews: the Santa Barbara trolley tour, the electric-bike tour, the downtown walking food and drink tour, the guided harbour kayak tour, the small-group Santa Ynez wine tour, the Santa Barbara taco tour, the all-inclusive Santa Ynez wine tour, the wildlife kayak tour of the harbour, the vineyard-to-table e-bike tour and the coastal yacht cruise. Compare all of them below.
How many days do you need in Santa Barbara?
Two to three days. Day one: the trolley tour, the Old Mission, the Courthouse clock tower, State Street and Stearns Wharf at sunset. Day two: a harbour kayak or coastal cruise, East Beach or Butterfly Beach, the Funk Zone wine tasting rooms and a food tour. Day three: the Santa Ynez Valley wineries, Los Olivos and Solvang, or a whale-watching trip in season. Add a day for Channel Islands National Park from Ventura.
What can you do in Santa Barbara for free?
The County Courthouse and its clock-tower view, Stearns Wharf, East Beach, Leadbetter Beach and Butterfly Beach in Montecito, the Douglas Family Preserve bluffs, the Inspiration Point and Seven Falls trails, the Tuesday and Saturday farmers’ markets, the Presidio’s grounds, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art on Thursday evenings, the Carpinteria seal rookery (December to May), Chase Palm Park and Shoreline Park’s sunsets and window-shopping on State Street and in the Funk Zone. The Old Mission charges a small entry fee.
Do Santa Barbara tours offer free cancellation?
Most experiences listed here can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before the start time. The policy is shown on each tour before you book.