# Things to see in Santa Barbara, California (United States): 43 places and when to go

> Santa Barbara, California is a city in United States with around 182,000 inhabitants, and this site lists 43 places in and around it, mainly Food and drink (11), History (8), Nature (8). The best known are Mission Santa Barbara, La Cumbre Peak and Santa Barbara Museum of Art. The best time to come is March to October; also possible: November to February. In June there are 14 h 17 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 42. Here is what there is, when to go, how to get there and what else is nearby.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/santa-barbara/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-08
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **Where:** United States · 34.435, -119.72
- **Population:** About 182,000
- **Places:** 43 places on this site, in the town and around it.
- **What people come for:** [Food and drink](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/gastronomia/) (11) · [History](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/historia/) (8) · [Nature](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/naturaleza/) (8) · [Wildlife](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/fauna/) (7) · [Museums and art](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/museos/) (6) · [Mountains](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/montana/) (4)
- **Best time:** March to October.
- **Also possible:** November to February.
- **Nearest airport:** LAX Los Angeles, 133 km as the crow flies
- **Highest point:** Big Pine Mountain, at 2,077 m.

## What to see in Santa Barbara, California

The places in and around Santa Barbara, California, best known first, each with its own page: what it is, when to go and what is next to it. Distances are from the centre, as the crow flies.

- [Mission Santa Barbara](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/mision-de-santa-barbara/): 18th-century Spanish mission in Santa Barbara, California · 687 m
- [La Cumbre Peak](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/la-cumbre-peak/): Peak of the Santa Ynez Mountains in California · 6.7 km
- [Santa Barbara Museum of Art](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/santa-barbara-museum-of-art/): Museum in Santa Barbara, California · 2.0 km
- [El Capitán State Beach](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/el-capitan-state-beach/): State park in California, United States · 27 km
- [Rincon](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/rincon-beach/): Beach in the United States of America · 23 km
- [Santa Barbara station](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/santa-barbara-2/): Train station in California listed on National Register of Historic Places · 3.4 km
- [Santa Barbara County Courthouse](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/santa-barbara-county-courthouse/): Place in California listed on National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 km
- [Art, Design and Architecture Museum](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/art-design-architecture-museum/): Museum in Santa Barbara, California · 12 km
- [Casa del Herrero](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/casa-del-herrero/): Single-family detached home in Santa Barbara County, California · 7.6 km
- [East Beach](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/east-beach/): Beach located in Santa Barbara, California · 4.7 km
- [Leadbetter Beach](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/leadbetter-beach/): Beach in Santa Barbara, California, U.S · 4.3 km
- [Little Pine Mountain](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/little-pine-mountain/): Mountain in California, United States of America · 19 km
- [Santa Barbara Light](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/santa-barbara-light/): Lighthouse in California, United States · 4.3 km
- [Santa Barbara Zoo](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/santa-barbara-zoological-gardens/): Non-profit organization in the USA · 5.3 km
- [Arlington Peak](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/arlington-peak/): Mountain in Santa Barbara County, California, United States of America · 5.3 km
- [Big Pine Mountain](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/big-pine-mountain/): Mountain in California, United States of America · 30 km
- [Cold Spring Canyon Arch Bridge](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/cold-spring-canyon-bridge/): Bridge in United States of America · 15 km
- [Goleta Depot](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/goleta-depot/): Place in California listed on National Register of Historic Places · 12 km
- [Goleta Slough](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/goleta-slough-ecological-reserve/): Area near Goleta, California, United States · 12 km
- [Refugio State Beach](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/refugio-state-beach/): State park in California, United States · 32 km
- [Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/santa-barbara-museum-of-natural-history-sea-center/): Zoo in California, United States · 4.2 km
- [West Beach](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/west-beach/): Beach in the city of Santa Barbara, California · 3.9 km
- [Carpinteria Valley Museum of History](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/carpinteria-valley-historical-museum/): History museum in Carpinteria, California · 19 km
- [Moreton Bay Fig Tree](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/moreton-bay-fig-tree/): Ficus macrophylla with the broadest known crown of any Ficus macrophylla · 3.4 km

And the other 19, by what you come to do:

- **Museums and art**: [South Coast Railroad Museum](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/south-coast-railroad-museum/)
- **History**: [Stow House](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/stow-house/)
- **Hot springs**: [Big Caliente Hot Spring](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/big-caliente-hot-spring/), [Montecito Hot Springs](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/montecito-hot-springs/)
- **Hiking**: [California Mission Trail - stage 06 Mission San Buenaventura, Ventura to Mission Santa Barbara](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/california-mission-trail-stage-06-mission-san-buenaventura-v/), [California Mission Trail - stage 07 Mission Santa Barbara to Mission Santa Inés](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/california-mission-trail-stage-07-mission-santa-barbara-to-m/)
- **Food and drink**: [Courthouse Distillery](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/courthouse-distillery/), [Cutler's Artisan Distillery](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/cutler-s-artisan-distillery/), [Frequency Wines](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/frequency-wines/), [Grassini Family Vineyards](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/grassini-family-vineyards/), [Island Brewing Company](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/island-brewing-company/), [Jamie Sloan Wines](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/jamie-sloan-wines/), [Kunin Wines](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/kunin-wines/), [Pali Wine Co.](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/pali-wine-co/), [Potek Winery](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/potek-winery/), [Riverbench Winery](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/riverbench-winery/), [Santa Barbara Cider Company](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/santa-barbara-cider-company/)
- **With kids**: [REEF/Aquarium](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/reef-aquarium/)
- **Stargazing**: [Westmont Observatory](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/westmont-observatory/)

## When to go to Santa Barbara, California

The best time to visit Santa Barbara, California is **March to October**; also possible: November to February. This comes from its own places: a month counts as the town's best time when it is the best time for half of what there is to see.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Possible | 9 h 56 |
| February | Possible | 10 h 45 |
| March | Best time | 11 h 45 |
| April | Best time | 12 h 52 |
| May | Best time | 13 h 48 |
| June | Best time | 14 h 17 |
| July | Best time | 14 h 05 |
| August | Best time | 13 h 17 |
| September | Best time | 12 h 12 |
| October | Best time | 11 h 07 |
| November | Possible | 10 h 10 |
| December | Possible | 9 h 42 |

In June there are 14 h 17 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 42. In July, 42 of the 43 places are at their best.

When to go to United States in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/#cuando-ir).

## Getting to Santa Barbara, California

The nearest main airport is Los Angeles International Airport (LAX, Los Angeles), 133 km as the crow flies. How to get around United States (train, car, bus) is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/#moverse), and what to sort out before you leave is in [its checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/#antes-de-salir).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=34.435%2C-119.72)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=34.435%2C-119.72)

## Other towns nearby

- [Solvang](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/solvang/): 27 places · 43 km
- [Ventura](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/ventura/): 9 places · 46 km
- [Lompoc](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/lompoc/): 7 places · 66 km
- [Camarillo](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/camarillo/): 17 places · 67 km
- [Santa Maria, California](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/santa-maria/): 11 places · 86 km
- [Calabasas](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/calabasas/): 24 places · 100 km

And all of United States, in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is there to see in Santa Barbara, California?

The best known: [Mission Santa Barbara](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/mision-de-santa-barbara/), [La Cumbre Peak](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/la-cumbre-peak/), [Santa Barbara Museum of Art](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/santa-barbara-museum-of-art/), [El Capitán State Beach](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/el-capitan-state-beach/), [Rincon](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/rincon-beach/). In all, 43 places in the town and around it, all on your trip map from day one.

### When is the best time to visit Santa Barbara, California?

March to October; also possible: November to February. In June there are 14 h 17 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 42.

### How do you get to Santa Barbara, California?

The nearest main airport is Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), 133 km away. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=34.435%2C-119.72) opens the route on the map.

### How do I add it to my trip?

Create a trip with Santa Barbara, California as the destination and these 43 places are on your map, each with its category. The ones you like go into a day's plan with one tap, and Kokai reminds you when you pass nearby.

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright), licensed under the ODbL, from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/), CC0, cities from [Natural Earth](https://www.naturalearthdata.com/) and airports from [OurAirports](https://ourairports.com/data/). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).