Top Historic Downtown Santa Barbara Hotels

A coastal town with red-tiled roofs, palm trees, and mountains in the background.

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Where to stay in Historic Downtown Santa Barbara

Find the best Historic Downtown Santa Barbara areas and neighborhoods for the activities you enjoy most. Learn more about Historic Downtown Santa Barbara

A coastal town with a pier extending into the ocean, a beach, and a mix of residential and commercial buildings.

Santa Barbara Beach

Santa Barbara Beach is known for its stunning beaches, and you can see some sights in the area like Stearns Wharf and East Beach.

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A coastal beach with palm trees, a sandy shore, and a clear blue sky.

Montecito

Celebrity-favored Montecito offers backcountry hiking trails and attractions like Lotusland and El Fureidis. Easily accessible via State Route 192 and the U.S. 101 Freeway, it's well-connected to Santa Barbara County.

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A coastal town with a prominent white building with a red roof, palm trees, and mountains in the background.

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.

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A marina with multiple boats docked, calm water, and a clear sky.

West Beach

While visiting West Beach, you might make a stop by sights like Santa Barbara Harbor and West Beach.

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A beach with palm trees, a pier, and the ocean at sunset.

East Beach

East Beach is known for its stunning beaches, and you can see some sights in the area like East Beach and Santa Barbara Zoo.

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Top Historic Downtown Santa Barbara Hotel Reviews

Ramada by Wyndham Santa Barbara

10/10 Excellent

"Our recent stay was exceptional, characterized by outstanding customer service from the staff and impeccable hotel cleanliness."

Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels

10/10 Excellent

"Our stay at Drift Santa Barbara was memorable from check-in to check-out. The keyless, contactless system was seamless—easy arrival and departure on our own schedule. The room was a pleasure with modern fixtures, a comfortable, cozy bed, and a rain shower. Everything on the property felt stylish and well cared for. Dusk and Dawn are the heartbeats of the Drift Hotel. Dusk invites you to unwind with craft cocktails in a warm mezcal bar featuring bold pours and shareable bites with live music offered on Tuesday evenings. Dawn greets you with fresh coffee and a bright start to your day. Guests enjoy complimentary drip coffee, free bicycles for exploring the area, and paid public parking that sits right behind the hotel. The location is unbeatable. Right on State Street, we walked to restaurants, bars, the beach, the Tuesday farmers market, the Museum of Art, independent bookstores, and Paseo Nuevo shopping mall. Free bikes took us farther. We pedaled to the El Mirador Clock Tower and climbed to its 88-foot deck, enjoying a full 360-degree panorama of the coast and mountains. Drift is convenient and quiet, with a relaxed style that made our Southern California staycation feel special. We highly recommend it and are already looking forward to coming back."

El Encanto Santa Barbara

10/10 Excellent

"This is a beautiful property with lovely grounds and spacious rooms featuring large bathrooms. The staff was consistently lovely and accommodating throughout our stay. We didn’t try the on-site restaurant, but the pool was fabulous and never felt overcrowded. The gym is nothing special, though it’s convenient to have one available. We were pleasantly surprised to be able to check in a couple of hours early, which made a big difference after traveling. The location is great—close enough to downtown Santa Barbara, and Ubers to Montecito/Santa Barbara were only $12–18 per trip. I would happily book this hotel again on future visits to Santa Barbara."

Frequently asked questions

What is Historic Downtown Santa Barbara like?

Travelers love the Historic Downtown Santa Barbara neighborhood for its beautiful beaches, array of dining options, and major shopping area. Are you looking for Historic Downtown Santa Barbara travel tips? Be sure to check out Lobero Theater and Arlington Theater while you're in the neighborhood.

What's the best accommodation in Historic Downtown Santa Barbara?

Based on our traveler data, Hotel Santa Barbara is one of the top choices for your stay in Historic Downtown Santa Barbara. This hotel is a short 13-minute walk from Santa Barbara County Courthouse, and it offers a 24-hour fitness center and free WiFi. Other good options for your stay in the neighborhood include The Upham Hotel and Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels.

How many hotels will I be able to find in Historic Downtown Santa Barbara?

Expedia has 25 hotels and other accommodations in Historic Downtown Santa Barbara to choose from, making this an ideal home base for exploring the greater Santa Barbara area.

If I need to cancel my hotel reservation in Historic Downtown Santa Barbara, will I receive a refund?

Yes! The majority of hotel room reservations are fully refundable if you cancel before the hotel's cancellation deadline, which in most cases is within 24 or 48 hours of your scheduled arrival. If you have a reservation that's non-refundable, it might still be possible to cancel it and receive a refund within a 24-hour period of booking. Put your dates in and click on "Search", then use the "fully refundable" filter to view top deals in Historic Downtown Santa Barbara.

Where can I learn more about changing or cancelling my trip to Historic Downtown Santa Barbara?

For more details about rescheduling or cancelling your trip to Historic Downtown Santa Barbara, head over to our customer service page.

What is there to do in this Santa Barbara neighborhood?

Sights like Lobero Theater, Arlington Theater, and Santa Barbara Museum of Art can be part of your cultural tour of Historic Downtown Santa Barbara. Paseo Nuevo Mall and La Arcada are also a couple of places to visit in the neighborhood. A few places to visit in the area around Historic Downtown Santa Barbara include Hill-Carrillo Adobe, Susan Quinlan Doll and Teddy Bear Museum, and Casa de la Guerra. While you're out sightseeing, De la Guerra Plaza and Presidio Santa Barbara are a couple of additional sights to visit in Santa Barbara.

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Our top choices for Historic Downtown Santa Barbara hotels

Hotel Santa Barbara

The Upham Hotel

Haley Hotel

Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels

Kimpton Canary Hotel by IHG

Hotel Virginia Santa Barbara, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

Vagabond Inn Santa Barbara - Carpinteria South

Cliff House Inn On The Ocean

Vagabond Inn Santa Barbara - Carpinteria North

Best Western Plus Carpinteria Inn

Casa Del Sol

Santa Barbara Inn

Inn on Summer Hill

The Inn at East Beach

Casa Iglesia

Rose Garden Inn

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Carpinteria by IHG

The Craft House Inn

Motel 6 Santa Barbara, CA - Beach

Montecito Inn

Where to stay in Historic Downtown Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara Beach

Montecito

Downtown Santa Barbara

West Beach

East Beach

Top Historic Downtown Santa Barbara Hotel Reviews

Ramada by Wyndham Santa Barbara

Frequently asked questions

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