The verdict
Our pick
Santa Barbara: Downtown Wine & Food Walking Tour★ 4.90 (553) · 3h–4h
Best value
Santa Barbara: Ghost Tour with Stories & Photos by Night★ 4.91 (91) · 1h
Top rated
Solvang Ghost Hunting Tour: EMF Meters & Spirit Box★ 4.93 (329) · 1h 45m
All 10 options, side by side
✓ 2026-09-28Real price per person across the 9 options: US$ 9.99–US$ 175 (median US$ 55). With 100+ reviews: 3 of 10.
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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 Self-Guided Walking Tour & GPS Audio HighlightsThis is your chance to explore Santa Barbara’s downtown on your own schedule with a GPS audio walking tour. Hear local stories about historic landmarks, wander through the lively Funk Zone wine district, and finish at Stearns Wharf with ocean views—all while pausing or lingering wherever you like. Perfect if you want freedom plus insider insight.
Solvang Ghost Tour: Haunted Landmarks & Local LegendsSinister Solvang Ghost Tours is a nightly walking tour through Solvang's haunted landmarks, led by a knowledgeable local guide who shares documented history, local legends and stories of unexplained encounters at sites including Old Mission Santa Inés, the Hans Christian Andersen Museum, Christiansens' Restaurant and Solvang Theaterfest. The tour covers one mile and operates year-round. Moderate fitness is required, as the route is outdoor walking on city streets and mission grounds.Is it for me?Book this if you want a guide leading you through specific haunted sites at a set pace rather than wandering on your own, and you're available for an evening departure.
Santa Barbara Ghost Tour: Haunted Courthouse & Historic SitesA guided ghost tour of Santa Barbara led by a live, experienced guide covers the County Courthouse, historic theatres, and downtown landmarks tied to documented hauntings and unexplained encounters. The tour lasts about an hour and visits sites where spirits are said to remain active—from a former safe house owner at the courthouse to dancers still visible outside City Hall.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to hear local stories about Santa Barbara's most active haunted sites from someone who knows the history and the reported encounters firsthand. The guide's experience and access to firsthand accounts—sometimes from witnesses or the guide's own experiences—sets this apart from a self-guided walk through the same streets.
Solvang self-guided app tour: Copenhagen Drive at your paceThis self-guided app tour of Solvang lets you walk the town's Danish-style streets, bakeries and wine shops at your own pace using the Pintours app on your phone. The app includes detailed information about each stop — Mission Santa Ines, the 1922 windmill, the Petersen Museum and the Amber Museum — and you control when to pause, move on or skip a location entirely. Audio guide in English; suitable for all fitness levels.Is it for me?You set the pace and the stops, which works best if you want to browse bakeries and shops without rushing or if you prefer exploring alone rather than in a group. The app means no meeting time and no guide keeping everyone moving together.
Santa Barbara: Taco Walking Tour with Drinks & Local GiftsYou’ll taste five different tacos across downtown Santa Barbara, sip on craft beer or margaritas at two stops, and wander between local taquerias with an easygoing guide who shares stories along the way. Expect laughter, new flavors, and even a small local gift card to keep exploring after you’re full.
Taco Walking Tour Santa Barbara: 5 Taquerias DowntownA 2.5-hour taco walking tour through downtown Santa Barbara where you taste five curated tacos from family-owned taquerias while a guide shares the area's history and local food culture. The route covers 1.5 miles at a relaxed pace, and dinner plus drinks are included. Groups stay small and interactive, making it work for team building, date night or friends looking for something beyond the usual restaurant meal.Is it for me?The guide speaks English and delivers the tour in a relaxed, interactive format, so anyone who can walk 1.5 miles at an easy pace and wants to eat and learn at the same time will follow comfortably—no food tour experience needed.
Frequently asked questions
Can I book with free cancellation?
Yes: 9 of the 10 options offer free cancellation, so you can book now and confirm your plans later.
How long do these experiences last?
Most options last up to 2 hours. There are also shorter and longer formats to fit your itinerary.
Which one is the travelers' favorite?
Santa Barbara: Downtown Wine & Food Walking Tour is the travelers' favorite, rated 4.90 out of 5 across 553 reviews.
