Visit Downtown Santa Cruz
Popular places to visit
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Enjoy the thrill rides with your kiddos at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk as part of your trip to Santa Cruz. Attend a sporting event in this walkable area, or seek out the biking trails.
Mystery Spot
Find out about the history of Santa Cruz with a stop at 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 biking 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 enjoy retail therapy 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 browse for the perfect souvenirs at Pacific Avenue. Wander the beautiful beaches in this family-friendly area.
Downtown Santa Cruz Hotel Deals
Pacific Blue Inn
Unique. Very clean. 2025 was rough. This place was unique. Simple. Very clean which is a lot easier to do when the decor is minimalist. Electric Fireplace functional and cozy. Heatboard on the wall was new to me. Bath was beautiful. Towels plush pristine. Mgr. helped me get in during the horrendous ...
Reviewed on 2026/1/7
Hotel Paradox, Autograph Collection
Love staying here
Reviewed on 2026/1/8
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Santa Cruz
Roomy with a solid breakfast and really close to the water.
Reviewed on 2026/1/15
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Santa Cruz by IHG
Good
Reviewed on 2026/1/12
Seacliff Inn Aptos, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
Very friendly staff as soon as we checked in, very clean rooms, dinner there was fantastic, great place to spend our 11th anniversary
Reviewed on 2026/1/12
Hilton Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley
The staff and surroundings were amazing. The staff was friendly and very responsive to any requests I had. As for the surroundings it was beautiful with tall trees surrounding the property giving you the feeling of being in the forest. Great place to stay.
Reviewed on 2026/1/6
Other neighborhoods around Downtown Santa Cruz
Downtown
If you're spending some time in Downtown, Pacific Avenue and Williams-Reynolds House are top sights worth seeing.
Lower Ocean
If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Lower Ocean and surrounding area, you can visit Pacific Avenue and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
Beach Hill - Beach Flats
Beach Hill - Beach Flats might not have many top sights, but Main Beach and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center are two attractions nearby that you can check out.
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
Westside Santa Cruz is known for its stunning beaches, and with sights like Monterey Bay and Pacific Avenue, you won't get bored spending a day wandering around this part of Santa Cruz.
Midtown
If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Midtown and surrounding area, you can visit Ocean Street and Pacific Avenue.
