West Beach Travel Guide
Santa Barbara
Popular places to visit
Santa Barbara City College
Explore the campus of Santa Barbara City College during your stay in Santa Barbara. Discover the top-notch restaurants in this walkable area or seek out the cycling trails.
Santa Barbara County Courthouse
See the best views of Santa Barbara and enjoy a stunning variety of architectural styles at the city’s historic courthouse.
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 Bowl
Enjoy a show at Santa Barbara Bowl, a popular theatre in Santa Barbara. Wander the beautiful beaches and seaside in the area.
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.
Butterfly Beach
Why not spend a care-free afternoon at Butterfly Beach during your travels in Santa Barbara? Visit the shops and top-notch restaurants in this walkable area.
Things to do
Santa Barbara: Beach and Coastline Helicopter Tour
Coastal Cruise on Yacht in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Downtown Self Guided Walking Tour
Santa Barbara: Full-Day 7-Speed Bike Rental with Area Map
Top hotels in West Beach
Avania Inn of Santa Barbara
General manger was very responsive to all questions and issues. Regular employees were ok, but not as good as property manager. They no longer do full Continental breakfast, just croissants, yogurt and fruit, so that was a bit disappointing.
Reviewed on 6 May 2026
The Milo
Loved The Milo hotel. Would’ve been great to have more time to enjoy this place. We were in ground floor unit which was very convenient. Unfortunately, the people staying upstairs must’ve been a family of elephants who didn’t like sleeping. The stomped around all night at odd hours which kept us ...
Reviewed on 6 May 2026
Inn By The Harbor
Classic Santa Barbara hotel. The staff are friendly, the vibe is cool.
Reviewed on 7 May 2026
West Beach Inn, a Coast Hotel
Excellent very clean, beautiful garden. Swimming pool very nice.
Reviewed on 6 May 2026
The Franciscan Hotel
Enjoyed my stay for one night . Staff was great
Reviewed on 7 May 2026
La Playa Inn
Super clean and comfortable, modern with Santa Barbara style! Good coffee all day and a decent small breakfast assortment in the morning. The location can't be beat, it's about a block to the harbor and a super short walk to the pier or State St for shopping and about any restaurant that could want. ...
Reviewed on 6 May 2026
Other neighbourhoods around West Beach
The Funk Zone
Travellers come to The Funk Zone for its beaches, and you can see top attractions like MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation and Santa Barbara Art Foundry while you're in town.
Lower State
While visiting Lower State, you might make a stop by sights like MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation and Paseo Nuevo Mall.
Historic Downtown Santa Barbara
The pristine beaches and ample dining options are top of the list for many visitors to Historic Downtown Santa Barbara. A stop by Lobero Theater or Paseo Nuevo Mall might round out your trip.
East Mesa
If you're spending some time in East Mesa, Leadbetter Beach and 1000 Steps Beach are top sights worth seeing.
Downtown Santa Barbara
The pristine beaches and ample dining options are top of the list for many visitors to Downtown Santa Barbara. A stop by Lobero Theater or Presidio Santa Barbara might round out your trip.
Santa Barbara Beach
Santa Barbara Beach is known for its stunning beaches, and you can see some sights area like Stearns Wharf and MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation.
