Santa Barbara In One Day: 11 Top Things To Do

Santa Barbara is an absolute gem nestled along California’s coast. This little slice of heaven is all about picturesque beaches, mountains, vineyards, Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, and eclectic little neighborhoods that all come together to make Santa Barbara such a joy to visit.

Whenever my partner Papu and I decide to go road-tripping through our home state of California, Santa Barbara somehow always makes it on our list of stops! It makes sense though… this city is charming as heck.

You can expect to find pedestrian-friendly streets lined with the hottest pink bougainvillea you’ve ever laid your eyes on, Spanish Colonial-style buildings casting a warm aesthetic throughout the city, lots of top-notch wineries, and delicious seafood and Mexican food at every turn — all against a backdrop of majestic mountains.

Over the years, Santa Barbara has solidified itself as one of my favorite weekend getaways from the Bay Area!

There are a ton of amazing things to do in Santa Barbara, from museums to outdoor adventures to wine tasting — enough to keep you busy for days on end.

But if you’ve only just got a day to spare, here are the best things to do in Santa Barbara in one day.

This trip was in collaboration with Visit Santa Barbara. All opinions are my own.

SANTA BARBARA FAST FACTS

Santa Barbara is home to: 25 beaches, 55 parks and 8 public gardens, 50+ museums and galleries, 400+ restaurants known for fresh and sustainably-sourced cuisine, and 200+ vineyards countywide within seven American Viticultural Areas (AVAs).
Santa Barbara is extremely walkable. Make time to explore Santa Barbara on foot to admire its distinctive Spanish revival architecture.
Don’t have a car? Grab a BCycle bike or ride the SB Visitor trolley. The trolley has several stops between downtown Santa Barbara and the Funk Zone. Tickets are just $1 per ride.
Don’t miss: A stroll down State Street, sampling street tacos and seafood (SB is famous for their uni), Old Mission Santa Barbara (known as “The Queen of the Missions”), and a side trip to Channel Islands National Park if you have more time (also known as “The Galapagos of North America”).

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Get coffee (or cocktails) at Cajé

If you’re looking for a super unique coffee shop in Santa Barbara, Cajé and its nighttime alter ego, Lab Social, should be at the top of your list!

By day, Cajé on Haley Street features super cute cocktail-inspired coffee drinks. All non-alcoholic of course!

But, as the clock strikes 5:30 p.m., something magical happens. The blinds go down, the music goes up, and Cajé metamorphoses into Lab Social, a Prohibition-era-themed speakeasy that adds a whole new layer of excitement to this already cherished spot!

Not sure what to order? The S.B. Margy, with cimarron blanco, lime juice, agave nectar, and a lavender-salt cloud, is a whimsical twist on a classic. And the Churchill Sour, featuring Old Crow bourbon, earl grey gomme, and a handcrafted “rose” garnish, is nothing short of special.

Stopping by for coffee instead? The Bela Rose – an iced matcha latte with strawberry elderflower syrup, pomegranate ice cubes, and rose petals garnish – is a standout option. The Burnout, a breve short latte with bourbon pecan syrup and activated charcoal, is also super popular!

Go on a morning bike ride along the beach

When you’re in a picturesque coastal town such as Santa Barbara, the beach is a must. Even if your toes never physically touch the sand, seeing the beach is the minimum requirement!

One of the best ways to enjoy the beach (aside from frolicking in the sand and water) is to ride bikes along the Cabrillo Bike Path!

This pedestrian and biker-friendly pathway connects Shoreline Park to Butterfly Beach at about 4 miles distance with plenty of highlights along the way.

You’ll pass by the Santa Barbara Harbor, Stearns Wharf, the IG-favorite Chromatic Gate art installation, West Beach, and Each Beach — all with a palm tree-lined path leading the way.

Need to rent a bike? A super convenient option is Wheel Fun Rentals of Santa Barbara, located just one block away from the beach. They offer regular bikes, e-assist bikes, surry bikes, tandem bikes, and more.

Wine tasting in The Funk Zone

Wine Tasting at The Funk Zone Santa Barbara

The Funk Zone is such a fun little area to go wine tasting and dining. It’s super centrally located, making it an effortless stop on your one-day Santa Barbara itinerary.

Once a manufacturing hub in the 19th century, this 13-block district near Santa Barbara’s waterfront is home to a variety of art galleries, wine-tasting rooms, craft breweries, boutiques, and restaurants.

For wine, you have no shortage of options! There’s Santa Barbara Wine Collective, Pali Wine Co., The Valley Project, Melville Winery, Riverbench Winery, Santa Barbara Winery, and Municipal Winemakers.

Feeling more like cocktails and/or beer? Funk Zone’s got that too! Check out Cutler’s Artisan Spirits, SB Biergarten, Pearl Social, or Test Pilot (a tropical cocktail bar).

Explore the rest of Funk Zone

While you’re in the Funk Zone, be sure to save some time for wandering around, shopping, and eating. For shopping, we like browsing through SeaVees and The Shopkeepers — both have so many fun knick-knacks that make the best gifts.

There’s also Jules by the Sea at Zone Studios, Love Worn, Raoul Textiles, and The Blue Door.

And for food, I’d recommend The Lark for locally sourced American fare (it’s one of the most popular restaurants in town), Loquita for a fancier Spanish tapas-style dinner, and Mony’s for yummy street tacos!

And if you’re visiting during the holiday months of November and December, you NEED to stop by Pearl Social for their limited-time holiday cocktail bar, Miracle At The Funk Zone.

We visited in early December and this was the most festive I had felt all month long, even though Christmas wasn’t taking place for another 3 weeks! Expect ALL of the holiday vibes — cute Santa mugs, warm and spicy drinks (all of which had really cute names), whimsical decor, and lots and lots of lights everywhere!

Take a trolley tour around town

If you’re a first-timer in SB, one really fun way to get the lay of the land is by seeing the city on a set of wheels. But not just any set of wheels — by trolley!

Santa Barbara Trolley Company offers 90-minute narrated trolley tours of the city with highlights including Old Mission Santa Barbara, the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, Santa Barbara Zoo, the Museum of Natural History, Butterfly Beach, and more.

If you’re traveling to SB without a car, this is a really good way to see a lot of the city that you probably wouldn’t be able to see on foot alone.

Visiting during the winter months? Don’t miss the Annual Trolley of Lights Tour — where your trolley tour will roll you through Santa Barbara’s most festive neighborhoods!

Old Mission Santa Barbara

If you’re a history buff or someone who enjoys California mission history, you’ll want to step back in time and uncover the hidden tales of Old Mission Santa Barbara.

This isn’t your average tourist spot—it’s a portal to history, with grand bell towers, lush gardens, and a gorgeous facade that’ll make your jaw drop. They call it the “Queen of the Missions,” and trust me, the title fits like a glove!

What’s the deal with missions in California, anyway? Missions were like early Spanish settlements established to spread Christianity and colonize the region. A lot of the missions across the state are designated historical landmarks with exhibits and artifacts that tell captivating stories about California’s past. At Old Mission Santa Barbara, you’ll learn about a time when Spanish Franciscan missionaries were sent to new lands to colonize the territory and convert its Indian inhabitants to Christianity.

Founded in 1786 by Spanish Franciscans, this place has seen more than two centuries of history, all of which you’ll get to relive during your visit. Walk through the church, explore the historic cemetery and mausoleum, see the gardens, and get lost in the museum.

The multi-language audio tour makes history come alive, revealing the secrets of the inner garden and the remnants of aqueduct systems.

Pro tip: Opt for the hour-long docent-guided tours if you can (Friday and Sunday at 12:00 pm and Saturday at 10:30 am) — they sprinkle extra tidbits of history that you won’t find in any guidebook.

👉 Hidden Gem: When you’re done exploring the mission, take a stroll across the street to the A.C. Postel Memorial Rose Garden. Over 1,500 rose plants await, painting the air with their fragrance. Spring is the golden hour for roses, but trust me, they’re a treat anytime thanks to their never-ending growing season.

Stroll (and shop) State Street

State Street is SB’s main drag, home to a countless number of coffee shops, restaurants, breweries, apparel stores, gift boutiques, and dessert shops.

State Street isn’t your run-of-the-mill shopping strip; it’s a goldmine of local finds and cute boutiques—each one adding to Santa Barbara’s charm.

I know you’ve only got a day, but there is no need to speed-walk; this is the kind of stroll where you can unearth quirky trinkets, handmade wonders, and maybe that perfect Santa Barbara keepsake if you take your time to peruse the shops.

Whenever we’re in Santa Barbara, a stroll (and a bite) along State Street is a must. It’s the perfect place to grab lunch or hang out in the early evening. Our sweet spot to visit is always after adventuring around SB and right before dinner.

Some of our favorite food establishments in the area include:

L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele – The same pizza restaurant that was featured in Eat Pray Love
McConnell’s – A local institution for ice cream! The cookies and cream flavor is a MUST (you can thank me later). The Santa Barbara Strawberry is a close second.
LOKUM – A great spot to enjoy Turkish coffee, baklava, and Turkish delights
Broad Street Oyster Co. – After drawing a cult following at its original Malibu eatery, the downtown Santa Barbara location opened in 2022! They’re known for their world-famous lobster rolls… topped with uni (sea urchin).
Shaker & Mill – Located within the same building as Broad Street Oyster Co., it’s just about the cutest place on State Street to sit down for a cocktail
CAJÉ – they make the cutest craft cocktail-inspired coffee drinks (non-alcoholic). Their Eastside location even turns into a speakeasy at night!

L'Antica Pizzeria Da Michele - Santa Barbara

Shop at Paseo Nuevo

Also situated along State Street is a cute little shopping center called Paseo Nuevo.

Among oodles of IG-worthy photo spots featuring classic Spanish architecture, you’ll find stores like Sephora, Aveda, Gap, and Hollister, as well as lots of other indie boutiques.

Take a self-guided Red Tile Walking Tour

If discovering the Spanish architecture that makes the city so picturesque is high up on your list of things to do in SB, plan to make a couple of stops along the Red Tile Walking Tour, a self-guided walking route that showcases some of the city’s Spanish Colonial Revival architecture.

This route is jam-packed with gorgeous architecture — hidden passageways and flower-filled courtyards included!

The full tour includes 17 stops and 22 historic adobes dating from the 1700s through the 1800s, all of which embody the best of the city’s Spanish-style architecture.

One stop that we particularly love is Casa De la Guerra, which honestly looks like a whole movie set and is so cute and charming when it’s lit up at night.

Another must-visit stop: the Santa Barbara County Courthouse. This building is massive and has got romance and Spanish influence pulsating out of it like no other!

Designed in a dreamy, Spanish-Moorish style, the still-functioning courthouse was built back in 1929 to resemble a castle. Its distinctive clock tower, sweeping red-tile roof, elegant arches and Sunken Garden make it a worthy stop on your architecture stroll.

Inside, you can get a visual history lesson from the Mural Room, marvel at wrought-iron chandeliers and hand-painted tiles, and get a panoramic view of Santa Barbara and beyond at the top.

Seafood and a sunset at Stearns Wharf

Stearns Wharf is that quintessential spot you’ve gotta visit when you’re in a coastal city. Stearns Wharf might look old, but it’s got history — it’s the West Coast’s oldest working wooden wharf and one of Santa Barbara’s most beloved landmarks.

You’ll find your typical fudge/candy shops and seashore-themed souvenir stores here, as well as the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center.

These are all great stops for families with kids, but what I really love this area for is the seafood, the views, and the sunsets!

For seafood, I cannot recommend Santa Barbara Shellfish Co. enough. If you’re a fan of uni, this is THE spot in Santa Barbara to get it. They also have other things like oysters, lobster, crab, and even pasta dishes too.

If you enjoy super casual eateries, then you’ve gotta add this spot to your list. Try to time your visit just before sunset so you can bask in the final sun rays of the day while enjoying your freshly caught meal out on the outdoor patio.

Soak in those dazzling views of the coastline and the Santa Ynez Mountains while the sun sets!

Eat tacos along the Santa Barbara Taco Trail

For a much more casual dining experience (but equally as satisfying!), you can plan your very own taco crawl through the streets of Santa Barbara.

Hold on, I know what you’re thinking. What would a coastal beach town know about Mexican food?? I thought the exact same thing when I first visited SB many years back. Well, it turns out, Santa Barbara knows heaps about Mexican food.

While the city is renowned for its Mediterranean-inspired cuisine and seafood offerings, what catches many off guard is the hidden gem that Santa Barbara holds – its incredible Mexican food scene.

Stumbling upon Mexican restaurants and taquerias serving up no-frills street tacos is almost TOO easy to do here.

During our last trip to Santa Barbara, Papu and I made it a priority to try as many taco spots as we could! Given that we only had two stomachs and way too many taco meats we wanted to try at each place, we clocked in at a whopping… 3 taquerias.

But they were all REALLY good! After researching a bunch, the three we ended up trying were:

Lilly’s Tacos: best for simple street tacos. We ordered pastor, lengua, and ojos (eye) — all were so flavorful and delicious.
Maiz Picante: they have some really unique premium taco creations if street tacos aren’t your vibe. We thoroughly enjoyed these tacos as well.
La Super Rica: This one’s probably the most famous of the bunch and is best known for their tamales. The tacos were okay, but the tamal is the true star here.

If you’re limited on time, I’d recommend prioritizing Lilly’s Tacos or Maiz Piquante.

Looking to add on more stops? There’s also Taqueria El Bajio, Tacos Pipeye, Cesar’s Place, Los Agaves, Mony’s Mexican Food, and a bunch of others!

Got more time to spare in the Santa Barbara area? Be sure to explore other stuff you can do there!

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