Downtown Santa Cruz Travel Guide
Santa Cruz
Visit Downtown Santa Cruz
Popular places to visit
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Enjoy the exciting rides at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and see why everyone loves this theme park in Santa Cruz. Attend a sporting event in this walkable area or seek out the cycling trails.
Mystery Spot
Find out about the history of Santa Cruz when you take a trip to Mystery Spot. Attend a sporting event in this walkable area or seek out the surfing spots.
Natural Bridges State Park
You can take time to visit Natural Bridges State Park during your travels to Santa Cruz. Attend a sporting event in this walkable area or seek out the cycling trails.
Santa Cruz Wharf
After visiting Santa Cruz Wharf, make a plan to see the other sights and activities in Santa Cruz. Attend a sporting event in this walkable area or seek out the surfing spots.
Ocean Street
During your visit to Santa Cruz, you can search for that perfect souvenir at Ocean Street. Wander the area's beautiful beaches or simply enjoy one of its top-notch restaurants.
Pacific Avenue
During your visit to Santa Cruz, you can search for that perfect souvenir at Pacific Avenue. Wander the beautiful beaches in this family-friendly area.
Things to do
Capitola Friday Night Food Tour
UC Santa Cruz: Personalized Self-Guided App Tour
Capitola Private Personalized Self-Guided App Tour
Top hotels in Downtown Santa Cruz
Pacific Blue Inn
Clean room. Quiet. Enjoyed our stay
Reviewed on 29 Mar 2026
Dream Inn Santa Cruz
Hotel staff were friendly. Rooms were clean. The view was spectacular. Enjoyed our stay very much!
Reviewed on 28 Mar 2026
La Bahia Hotel and Spa
Yes
Reviewed on 28 Mar 2026
Seacliff Inn Aptos, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
Stayed 1 night with kids. It’s was excellent for what we needed. We enjoyed the heated pool. Comfy beds. Would love to stay here again.
Reviewed on 29 Mar 2026
Chaminade Resort & Spa
Rooms were nice; beds were a little too firm. The pools are nice; there wasn’t a bar open at the pool but they had a service option although it took an hour to be delivered. The hiking paths were a fun thing to do.
Reviewed on 26 Mar 2026
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Santa Cruz
Great hotel to stay if you want to be close to the Boardwalk. Second time staying here and our girls loved it! Breakfast included is always good to have when you travel with kids.
Reviewed on 25 Mar 2026
Other neighbourhoods around Downtown Santa Cruz
Downtown
While visiting Downtown, you might make a stop by sights like Pacific Avenue and Williams-Reynolds House.
Lower Ocean
Lower Ocean might not have many top sights, but Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Pacific Avenue are two attractions nearby that you can check out.
Beach Hill - Beach Flats
While there might not be top attractions in Beach Hill - Beach Flats, you can explore the larger area and discover places like Main Beach and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center.
Mission Hill
While visiting Mission Hill, you might make a stop by sights like Mission Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park.
Westside Santa Cruz
Travellers to Westside Santa Cruz praise its stunning beaches. If you've got some more time to explore, be sure to stop by Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Monterey Bay.
Midtown
If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Midtown and surrounding area, you can visit Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Ocean Street.