Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara is a Southern California coastal city known for Spanish-style architecture, a hilltop mission and beaches near the harbor. Trains from Los Angeles stop here on the Pacific Surfliner.
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Santa Barbara sits on the Pacific coast of Southern California, up the coast from Los Angeles. Much of its downtown uses Spanish Colonial Revival style, with red tile roofs, white walls and arched courtyards. The Old Mission Santa Barbara sits on a hill above downtown, and State Street runs through shops and restaurants below it. The harbor and beaches are close to the center.
The city suits a trip built around history, beach time and food. The Funk Zone, a former industrial area near the waterfront, now holds tasting rooms and restaurants. Montecito, next to downtown, is a residential area with a quieter feel. Choose your base before you plan the days, since State Street, the Funk Zone and Montecito each feel different. Plan two or three days. Summer mornings are often overcast near the coast, so plan beach time for the afternoons.
Santa Barbara in five
- Visit the Old Mission outside Mass hoursOpen Monday to Saturday from 9:30 am and Sunday from 12:30 pm, with the last tour ticket sold at 4 pm. The church and cemetery leave the tour route after 3:15 pm on Saturday and 9:30 am to 12:30 pm on Sunday.Mission hours and tickets
- Treat Stearns Wharf parking as a short stopThe city's attendant lot at the wharf charges $4 per hour or part of an hour, up to $40 a day. For a longer beach day, check the self-pay waterfront lots on the same city page.City waterfront parking
- Take the Pacific Surfliner and skip the carThe route links Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, and the staffed station sits at 209 State Street. Arrive 30 minutes before departure, or 45 if you check baggage.Plan transport
- Check SBA before you default to Los AngelesSanta Barbara Airport is run by the city and lists nonstop flights to 13 destinations. If your route does not fit, fly into Los Angeles and continue by train or car.Santa Barbara Airport
- Landing at LAX? Get ESTA before the coast legMost visitors from abroad reach Santa Barbara through Los Angeles. If you are visa exempt, the ESTA must be approved before you board a flight to the US.ESTA explained
Things to do in Santa Barbara
See all attractions in Santa Barbara
Need to know
- Airport
- Santa Barbara (SBA); Los Angeles (LAX) is the main alternative
- Getting there
- Amtrak Pacific Surfliner from Los Angeles; Highway 101 by car
- Getting around
- Walking and cycling downtown; a car for Montecito and the hills
- Best base
- Downtown or the Funk Zone; the waterfront for the beach
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 days; 3 with wine country
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryClear7 rainy daysHigh17°Low9°Mild, rain riskJanuaryClear
Mixed
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 124 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, rain risk
- FebruaryClear6 rainy daysHigh17°Low9°Mild, wetterFebruaryClear
Mixed
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 103 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, wetter
- MarchClear8 rainy daysHigh17°Low9°Spring, greenMarchClear
Mixed
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 110 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, green
- AprilClear3 rainy daysHigh19°Low11°Mild, clearAprilClear
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 21 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, clear
- MayClear3 rainy daysHigh20°Low12°May GrayMayClear
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 12 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
May Gray
- JuneClear2 rainy daysHigh22°Low15°June GloomJuneClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 6 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
June Gloom
- JulyClear0 rainy daysHigh24°Low17°Warm, busyJulyClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 2 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- AugustClear1 rainy dayHigh25°Low18°Warm, busyAugustClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 4 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- SeptemberClear2 rainy daysHigh25°Low17°Warm, clearSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 7 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, clear
- OctoberClear2 rainy daysHigh23°Low15°Warm, quieterOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 12 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, quieter
- NovemberClear3 rainy daysHigh20°Low12°Mild, quietNovemberClear
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 43 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- DecemberClear6 rainy daysHigh17°Low10°Mild, holidaysDecemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 137 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, holidays
Average daily high and low in Santa Barbara, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Santa Barbara
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
22
- Feels like
- 20°
- Humidity
- 39%
- Wind
- 12 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Santa Barbara
02:39 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today23°13°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 23°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue23°15°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 23°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed21°15°0%Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 21°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu23°17°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 23°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri25°18°0%Friday: Clear. High 25°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat27°19°0%Saturday: Clear. High 27°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun26°20°0%Sunday: Clear. High 26°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 02:28 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Santa Ynez Valleyabout 1 hour by carWine country and the Danish-style town of Solvang, easiest by car or on a guided tasting trip.
- Ojaiabout 1 hour by carA valley town of galleries and spas under the hills, best as a relaxed half day.
- Los Angeles2 to 3 hours each wayPossible on the Surfliner, but long for a day; treat it as a separate stop.Read the guide
Before you go to Santa Barbara
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Rules for Santa Barbara, checked
- Old Mission self-guided tour: adults $17, seniors $15, youth 5 to 17 $12, ages 4 and under free. Open Mon to Sat 9:30 to 5, Sun 12:30 to 5; last ticket 4 pm.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- The Mission's front parking lot off Los Olivos Street is free during open hours, first come, first served; no food or drink on the tour route.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- Stearns Wharf lot: $4 per hour or part of one, $40 daily maximum per space. Waterfront lots close 2 to 6 am except Harbor Main and the Launch Ramp.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- Amtrak Santa Barbara, 209 State Street: staffed, waiting room 6 am to 10 pm daily; arrive 30 minutes early, or 45 if you check baggage or need assistance.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Santa Barbara
Parks, cities and trip planning for visitors
Read the guideLos AngelesWhere the Pacific Surfliner starts for most visitors
Read the guideSan DiegoThe Surfliner's southern end on the same coast
Read the guideBig SurThe next stretch of the coast drive north
Read the guidePlan transportTrains and rental cars for visitors
Read the guideTours and ticketsWine-country and boat tours to compare
Read the guideSanta Barbara FAQ
How many days do you need in Santa Barbara?
Two days cover the Old Mission, State Street, Stearns Wharf and a beach. Three days add wine country or Montecito. From Los Angeles it works as a long day on the Surfliner, but you will spend much of it in transit.
Is the Santa Barbara Mission worth visiting?
Yes, for about an hour. Admission is $17 for adults and covers the church, cemetery, nine-room museum and gardens, with an audio tour in six languages. Time it outside Mass: the church and cemetery close to the tour on Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings.
Can you get from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara without a car?
Yes. Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner runs between Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, and the Santa Barbara station is at 209 State Street. Check the timetable for your day, and arrive 30 minutes early.
Is parking free at Stearns Wharf?
No. The city's lot at the wharf charges $4 per hour or part of an hour, to a $40 daily maximum, and waterfront lots close from 2 to 6 am. The Old Mission's own lot is free during open hours.
Where should you stay in Santa Barbara?
Downtown or the Funk Zone if you want to walk to restaurants, the wharf and the train. Choose the waterfront for the beach and Montecito for quiet with a car. Pick the base by how you arrive and how much you want to drive.