Things to do in Santa Barbara
The unmissables
Most booked
Santa Barbara Trolley Tour: 90 minutes, 8 stops★ 4.56 (912) · 1h 30m
Top rated
Santa Barbara: Electric Bike Tour with Funk Zone & Mission★ 4.96 (601) · 2h 30m
Best value
Santa Barbara: Downtown Wine & Food Walking Tour★ 4.90 (553) · 3h–4h
Recommended (7)
Santa Barbara: Harbor Kayak Tour with Sea Lions & Local Guide★ 4.97 (457) · 1h 30mUS$ 55View ›
Solvang Ghost Hunting Tour: EMF Meters & Spirit Box★ 4.94 (327) · 1h 45mUS$ 55View ›
Santa Barbara: Private Family Wineries Tour & Organic Lunch★ 4.96 (300) · 7hUS$ 235View ›
3 Ziplines near Santa Barbara: California's Longest★ 4.99 (270) · 2hUS$ 155View ›
Santa Barbara: Taco Walking Tour with Drinks & Local Gifts★ 4.92 (258) · 2h 30mUS$ 159View ›
Santa Ynez Wine Tour: 3 Wineries & Lunch in Santa Barbara★ 4.80 (245) · 5hUS$ 220View ›
Kayaking in Santa Barbara Harbor: Wildlife & Marine Views★ 4.92 (226) · 2hUS$ 59View ›Top rated (10)
Santa Barbara: Electric Bike Tour Downtown, Montecito & CourthouseYou’ll cruise Santa Barbara’s coastline and hidden streets by electric bike with a local guide, climb the courthouse tower for city views, hear quirky stories about Montecito and Stearns Wharf, and even get tips on secret ice cream shops. Expect laughter, sea air, and moments you’ll want to linger in.
Santa Barbara: Electric Bike Rental & Waterfront RideYou pick up an electric bike at the Santa Barbara shop (free parking, test ride included), get a helmet, lock, and marked map, then ride the waterfront and inland neighborhoods at your own pace. The motor handles the hills, so you cover more ground without exhaustion. Return whenever you're done — no fixed schedule, no guide, just you and the city on two wheels.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to cover Santa Barbara's waterfront and neighborhoods in one afternoon without arranging transport or navigating on foot — the e-bike motor means you see more ground and more of the city than you'd manage on a regular bike, and the flexible rental means you set your own pace and return time.
Santa Barbara Bike Rentals: Electric, Mountain & HybridYou choose your bike type and rental length, get fitted with a helmet and water bottle, then explore Santa Barbara on your own schedule. Electric bikes let you cruise without pedaling, mountain bikes unlock the Santa Ynez trails, and hybrids give you speed and comfort for town riding. The rental shop provides maps and free gear like a tool kit and air pump.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to see Santa Barbara without a car or a guided group. Plan for moderate physical activity — that's what lets you cover the waterfront, neighborhoods, and mountain trails all on your own timeline.
Santa Ynez Valley Bike & Wine Tour: E-bike or Sport BikeThis Santa Ynez Valley biking and wine tasting activity takes you through wine country on your choice of an electric-assist Rad Power e-bike or a Poseidon sport bike, with a professional guide who brings over 20 years of sommelier experience. You'll ride past lavender fields and through Ballard Canyon, stop in Solvang for a rest, and finish with two wine tastings, an olive oil tasting, and a locally sourced gourmet picnic lunch. The ride lasts about five hours and requires at least moderate fitness; different distance options let you choose your pace.Is it for me?Choose the e-bike if you want to focus on the wine and the scenery without burning out on the climbs; pick the sport bike if you're looking for a harder physical challenge mixed with the tasting experience. The five-hour pace gives you time to ride, rest, and linger over the wines without rushing through either one.
Santa Barbara: Private Surf Lesson with Board & WetsuitYou’ll meet your instructor right on the beach south of Santa Barbara, get fitted for a wetsuit and board, then learn how to catch your first wave with patient coaching. Expect laughter, salty air, and that wild rush when you finally stand up—even if only for a second. It’s not about perfection; it’s about feeling that Pacific energy under your feet.
Santa Barbara Wine Tour: Private Estates & Vineyard TastingsYou visit three to four private Santa Barbara wine estates on the Santa Ynez Wine Trail, taste limited-release wines in seated settings often with the winemakers themselves, walk through vineyards and barrel rooms, and eat an organic lunch—all in a group of no more than eight people. Hotel pickup and drop-off in a luxury coach are included, and you avoid the crowded commercial tasting rooms entirely.Is it for me?This tour suits wine drinkers who want to taste real wines from small producers without the commercial tasting room experience—the small group size and private locations are what make conversations with winemakers possible in a single afternoon.
Solvang Wine & True Crime Tour with 3 Drinks IncludedYou visit three wine bars in two hours, tasting three wines, a wine cocktail, and champagne, while your guide shares stories of crime and hauntings tied to Solvang's historic sites. You don't arrange transportation between stops or worry about what to order — the tastings and route are set, and you show up ready to listen and drink.Is it for me?Pick this if you want a night out that's equal parts wine and storytelling, and you'd rather have someone else plan the route and pour the drinks. The small group and fixed itinerary mean you show up, listen, and move at a pace that lets the stories land.
High Ropes Adventure Course near Santa Barbara: 80+ ObstaclesA high ropes adventure course near Santa Barbara with 80+ obstacles built within an old growth oak grove, where you climb ladders, cross rope bridges and navigate aerial challenges up to 60 feet high across four routes at two difficulty levels. A live guide teaches you the double clip harness system and stations themselves throughout the course to assist you. The activity takes up to 2 hours and includes all gear.Is it for me?The course demands sustained climbing and balance over 2 hours at height, so you need moderate fitness and comfort moving through obstacles 60 feet up. If you're looking for a ground-level walk or a passive experience, this is the opposite—you're doing the work yourself, clipped in, moving through the treetops.
Santa Barbara E-Bike Wine Tour: Solvang & Los Olivos TastingYou ride an e-bike through Santa Ynez Valley's vineyards and stop in the Danish village of Solvang, then finish with wine and olive oil tastings and a gourmet lunch at a local winery. Round-trip transport from Santa Barbara, professional guide, and all bikes and helmets are included. Minimum two people per booking; moderate fitness level recommended.Is it for me?Book this if you want to taste Santa Ynez Valley wine and see the vineyards without arranging your own transport, bikes, or timing — the e-bikes and shuttle handle the logistics, leaving you to ride and taste at a real pace.
Santa Barbara: Beach & City Electric Bike Tour on SandYou’ll ride fat tire electric bikes right across Santa Barbara’s beaches and through downtown’s lively State Street promenade. Expect salty air, local stories from your guide, and moments where even city noise fades into ocean hush. It’s a day trip that leaves you feeling both sun-kissed and oddly calm.
Lowest price (10)
Santa Barbara: Kayak & SUP Rental on West BeachYou arrive at the rental stand on West Beach, get fitted with a life vest and paddle, and launch from calm, flat water with no waves to fight. Paddle out to the seal buoys in minutes or explore the open ocean if you want — the gear is current and the entry is easy enough for families. You need to be able to swim, and the rental is yours for as long as you book it.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to paddle without arranging transport to a distant launch point or waiting for the tide — the downtown beach location and flat water mean you're paddling within minutes of arriving.
Santa Barbara: Ghost Tour with Stories & Photos by NightYou’ll join locals at dusk for a Santa Barbara ghost tour that blends history with mystery—real stories told beside old adobe walls, guest-captured photos passed hand-to-hand, and moments where you might just feel something brush past your shoulder. Includes a local guide and plenty of chances to ask questions or linger longer if you’re brave enough.
Santa Barbara: Kayak & SUP Rental on West BeachYou get a kayak or paddleboard with all gear, a calm entry straight into the water, and access to the seal-filled buoys within minutes. No waves to paddle through, no complicated logistics — just walk onto West Beach, get outfitted by the staff, and go. Bring your swimming ability and show up ready to be on the water.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to paddle without the hassle of driving to a launch point or fighting waves to get offshore — the downtown location and calm water mean you're on the ocean within minutes of arriving, which works for families, first-timers, and anyone who just wants to show up and go.
Santa Barbara Ghost Tour: 12-15 Haunted Stories & HistoryA 2-hour guided ghost tour through Santa Barbara's most haunted sites, led by an experienced guide who shares 12–15 stories of local hauntings researched by Professor Julie Ann Brown. The tour covers El Cuartel, the Chapel, the historical museum, and El Paseo, with photos and videos of ghost sightings captured by past guests. Children are welcome from age 1, and the tour is free for kids under a certain age.Is it for me?The tour starts in central Santa Barbara with public transit nearby, so you don't need a car to join—it's built for visitors staying downtown or arriving without their own transport. Children go free, which makes it an affordable way for families to explore the city's haunted history together.
Santa Barbara Taco Tour on E-Bikes: 3 Taquerias, Funk ZoneA 90-minute e-bike tour of Santa Barbara that stops at three taquerias for one taco each, with a beer or soda at the final stop. A local guide leads the route through the Funk Zone neighborhood and along the path to East Beach, sharing the city's history and what makes each district distinct. The tour includes the e-bike and all food and drink; vegetarian and meat options are available at each taqueria.Is it for me?Choose this if you want to taste three taquerias across different neighborhoods on an e-bike rather than walking between them—the ride itself becomes part of discovering each spot.
Sunset Kayak Tour Santa Barbara Harbor: 2-Hour PaddleA 2-hour sunset kayak tour in Santa Barbara Harbor where you paddle the shoreline, pass the historic wharf and pier, and watch for harbor seals, sea lions and brown pelicans as the light fades. All kayaking gear is provided, a guide leads the paddle and covers marine ecology, and the tour suits beginners through advanced paddlers. The start time shifts with the season and runs roughly 2 hours before sunset.Is it for me?Book this if you want a guide leading the group at one pace with live commentary on marine life and harbor history, rather than exploring independently at your own speed.
Kayaking near Santa Barbara: Gaviota Coast WildlifeKayak the Gaviota Coast near Santa Barbara on a 3.5-hour guided paddle through one of California's few remaining undeveloped coastlines. You'll operate your own kayak (or share a double), paddle roughly 3 miles through kelp beds, and learn about marine ecology from your guide while watching for wildlife. Gear, wetsuit and instruction are included; children from age 5 are welcome, and the trip suits all fitness levels.Is it for me?You operate the kayak yourself on a shared paddle with a small group, which means you're moving through the water under your own power rather than watching from a boat. It suits anyone who wants to be in the water and moving, not sitting still—and the guide handles the route, the timing and the wildlife spotting so you can focus on paddling.
Santa Barbara Beginner Mountain Bike Tour: Coastal Trails & MeadowsYou’ll get to explore Santa Barbara’s coastal trails on a high-quality mountain bike, guided by someone who knows every twist and turn. It’s a relaxed way to see hidden meadows, feel the ocean breeze, and maybe even spot some local wildlife—no experience needed, just a sense of adventure.
Secret Solvang Food & Culture Tour with TastingsA small-group food tour through Solvang led by a local guide, with tastings at five locations plus wine at two spots—enough for lunch without the tourist crowds. The tour walks the town's streets, starting with Danish pastry and coffee, moving through a Michelin-honored sandwich shop, two wine tastings, fresh sushi, and ending with gelato. Coffee is included; wine tastings are optional. Live guide in English; wheelchair accessible throughout.Is it for me?Book this if you're staying in Solvang without a car—the entire tour walks the town's streets, so you reach each restaurant on foot.
Santa Ynez Wine Tour: 3 Wineries, Picnic Lunch & TastingsYou get picked up from your hotel, driven to three Santa Ynez wineries with tasting fees already paid, eat a picnic lunch with a view, and return without worrying about driving or logistics. The whole day is planned; you just show up and taste.Is it for me?Book this if you want to taste three good Santa Ynez wineries without arranging transport, paying tasting fees separately, or deciding which wineries to visit—the driver handles the route and the timing, which is what makes a full day of tasting possible without the logistics.
