Holiday In Santa Barbara
You awaken to find a sliver of sunlight has shimmied its way through your bedroom curtains and made itself at home across the carpet.
You shuffle to the window and look out, greeted by Spanish-style rooftops and emerald palm fronds beneath a cloudless blue sky. You can only assume one thing: You’ve been transported to the set of a telenovela as you slept (¡No lo creo!).
Guess again, friend. You’re on a Santa Barbara holiday—where you could swear you’re in old school España, but you’re actually in wine country. Put away that red cape, matador a glass of merlot will be the only crimson in sight. Seriously, don’t mistake an African lion at the Santa Barbara Zoo for a bull after an aerated bottle of the good stuff…your traveller’s insurance probably doesn’t cover it. Holidays in the “American Riviera” are meant for relaxing in the good life. When you book Santa Barbara package deals on lastminute.com.au, you don’t even have to spend like a SoCal socialite to live like one.
Things to Do in Santa Barbara
Start your holiday in Santa Barbara with a trip to the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. Native plantlife lines the winding trails, and the fresh air does a body good. The venue is the perfect place for quiet reflection (and hangover recovery, if we’re being honest). Next, treat yourself to a tour of Mission Santa Barbara. Sometimes called the “Queen of the Mission Stations”, the church has been standing since 1820. The architecture is impressive enough, but they’ve added a museum for good measure.
With a bit of cultural tourism under your belt, you deserve some time at the beach. You are California dreamin’, after all. Find a bit of sandy real estate on Butterfly Beach or East Beach, where you can spend the day working on your tan and cooling off in the Pacific Ocean from time to time. Take your surfboard out for a spin, or start a game of beach volleyball. When you’ve shaken all the sand out of your hair and showered off that sunscreen (this is a classy town, folks), visit the Santa Barbara Museum of Art and fawn over the huge collection of Monet. Santa Barbara car rental makes it easy to get around, so reserve one early.
Shopping, Dining & Nightlife
Booking one of the cheapest packages to Santa Barbara leaves plenty of cash for a shopping splurge. Head downtown, where specialty boutiques send out a siren song and make it easy to blow a wad of cash in a few hours.
Seafood is the name of the game in Santa Barbara, so put on your lobster-eatin’ bib and get to noshing. If you tire of the fresh catch of the day or you’re allergic to creatures of the sea, fear not (and put away the EpiPen). The city also has Mexican food and classic American food on the menu.
Want to drink and dance while you’re in Santa Barbara? Head to State Street. End of story. If you have but one mission there, let it be this: Take your picture with the giant leprechaun in front of Dargan’s Irish Pub.
What’s Next?
Book one of our cheap packages to Santa Barbara, and you’ll be sipping on a glass of vino along the coast before you know it. Looking for a day trip? LA is just 150 km away, and Los Angeles holiday packages make a visit to the City of Angels easy on the wallet.
Top hotels for your Santa Barbara holiday
Sandpiper Lodge
Reviewed on 17 Dec. 2024
Hotel Milo Santa Barbara
Reviewed on 18 Dec. 2024
Hyatt Place Santa Barbara
Reviewed on 18 Dec. 2024
Popular places to visit
Santa Barbara Zoo
Why not meet the animals who call Santa Barbara Zoo home during your holiday in Santa Barbara? Wander the beautiful beaches and seaside in the area.
Santa Barbara Harbor
Explore the waterfront in Santa Barbara with a trip to Santa Barbara Harbor. Wander the beautiful beaches and seaside in the area.
Santa Barbara County Courthouse
Learn about the local history of Santa Barbara when you take a trip to Santa Barbara County Courthouse. Stroll along the area's seaside or experience its lively festivals.
Recommended cities for you
- Anaheim Holidays
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- Atlantic City Holidays
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- Miami Holidays
- Monterey Holidays
- Montreal Holidays
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- Philadelphia Holidays
- Phoenix Holidays
- Portland Holidays
- Reno Holidays
- San Antonio Holidays
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- San Francisco Holidays
- Sarasota Holidays
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- Toronto Holidays
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Book your Santa Barbara holiday package
Top picks
^Savings based on all package bookings made with Flight + Hotel on lastminute.com.au from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019, as compared to the price of the same components booked separately. Savings will vary based on origin/destination, length of trip, stay dates and selected travel supplier(s). Savings not available on all packages.