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Santa Barbara, United States

Top things to do in Santa Barbara

17 attractions, landmarks and museums worth your time, ranked by traveler reviews.

Santa Barbara County Courthouse
Landmark4.5

Santa Barbara County Courthouse

3,011 reviews

The Santa Barbara County Courthouse is widely considered one of the most beautiful public buildings in America, a working courthouse, yes, but one built in 1929 in a sumptuous Spanish-Colonial Revival style, with hand-painted ceilings, tile work, wrought iron, murals, and lush s

Tickets & tours

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Good to know

What is the most visited attraction in Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara County Courthouse draws the most traveler reviews of anywhere we track in Santa Barbara, with 3,011 of them, rated 4.5 out of 5. Review volume is the closest honest proxy we have for how many people actually turn up, so it is what this list is ranked by.

Browse Santa Barbara by type: museums, parks & nature. Planning your trip to Santa Barbara? See where to eat, build a Santa Barbara itinerary, or check visa requirements.
Sight
Sight4.5

Carr Winery

28 reviews

A boutique winery in Santa Barbara offering tastings of handcrafted wines in a relaxed urban setting.

Sight
Sight4.5

Telegraph Brewing Company

16 reviews

A craft brewery in Santa Barbara, California, known for its small-batch beers and laid-back tasting room near the Funk Zone.

Outdoor & fun
Outdoor & fun

Leadbetter Beach

A prime spot for surfing, sailing, and picnicking with gentle waves and grassy areas.

Park & nature
Park & nature

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

78-acre garden dedicated to native California plants, with trails through diverse habitats and stunning mountain views.

Entertainment
Entertainment

Lobero Theatre

Historic performing arts venue hosting concerts, plays, and dance. Intimate atmosphere with excellent acoustics.

Outdoor & fun
Outdoor & fun

East Beach (Santa Barbara)

A wide sandy beach with volleyball courts and a scenic promenade, ideal for sports and strolls.

Museum
Museum

MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation

MOXI is an interactive science museum in Santa Barbara with hands-on exhibits exploring sound, light, and motion for all ages.

Museum
Museum

Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara

Rotating exhibitions of modern and contemporary art in a sleek downtown space. A dynamic cultural hub for cutting-edge works.

Museum
Museum

Presidio of Santa Barbara

Explore the site of the last Spanish fort built in California, now a museum with adobe architecture and military artifacts.

Landmark
Landmark

Stearns Wharf

Historic wooden pier stretching into the Pacific, lined with shops, restaurants, and a small aquarium.

Park & nature
Park & nature

Lotusland

Lotusland is a historic estate with elaborate themed gardens, including a Japanese garden and a water garden, open by guided tour.

Museum
Museum

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center

An interactive marine biology museum on Stearns Wharf with touch tanks and live exhibits of Pacific Ocean creatures.

Park & nature
Park & nature

Santa Barbara Zoo

A 30-acre zoo with over 500 animals and stunning Pacific Ocean views, offering an intimate wildlife experience.

Park & nature
Park & nature

Casa del Herrero

A historic Spanish Colonial Revival estate with meticulously preserved gardens and guided tours of the house and grounds.

Outdoor & fun
Outdoor & fun

Arroyo Burro Beach

A dog-friendly beach with tide pools and a casual restaurant, perfect for a relaxed coastal outing.

Entertainment
Entertainment

Arlington Theatre

Historic movie palace and live performance venue with stunning Spanish Colonial Revival architecture.