Guide to Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara virtual tour
Santa Barbara is a corner of Spain on the California coast. White houses with colorful tile roofs are built in the classic Spanish style. Between the houses on the waterfront and other streets of the city rise to the sky a lot of palm trees, turning the city into a magical combination of whiteness and deep emerald green. In addition to street trees and flowerbeds, you'll find many gardens and parks in Santa Barbara. The Botanical Gardens, Francesca's Park and Carpinteria Flower Garden invite residents and visitors alike into a realm of leafy shade and the fragrances of a multitude of exotic plants.
Santa Barbara represents the cultural and scientific center of California. While vacationing here, you can visit the University Art Museum, Historical Museum, Maritime Museum, Planetarium and many more fascinating places. Most of them are free, so you can satisfy your thirst for beautiful and interesting things quite freely.
Not to forget about the beaches of Santa Barbara. The strip of golden sand along the Pacific coast attracts travelers and locals all year round. The water here never gets cold enough to discourage swimming.
Photos of Santa Barbara
Interesting places in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara's attractions are numerous. Fascinating museums and art galleries invite everyone to visit. Most of the city's museums are free. A stroll along Santa Barbara's white-washed houses will give you a taste of the charm of this California city. Restaurants in Santa Barbara offer travelers a diverse cuisine with plenty of seafood. A vacation with children in Santa Barbara will be educational first and foremost.
Flight ticket prices
Santa Barbara mainly receives domestic flights, so travelers from Europe need to arrive via major international airports such as Los Angeles (LAX) or San Francisco (SFO). Direct flights from London, Paris, Madrid, and Warsaw are operated by British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, and Iberia. Travel time to Los Angeles or San Francisco is approximately 11–12 hours, followed by a short connecting flight or a bus/car ride to Santa Barbara.
Ticket prices vary depending on the season and booking time. The average price for a flight from London to Los Angeles starts at 550 euros, from Paris at 600 euros, and from Warsaw and Barcelona at 650 euros. During peak seasons, such as summer and holidays, prices can reach up to 900 euros. A flight from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara costs around 100 euros. To save money, booking in advance is recommended.
The best hotels in Santa Barbara
Hotels in Santa Barbara are plentiful, and all of them are fairly high-end. A five-star Santa Barbara hotel like the Simpson House Inn will run you between $200 and $600 USD per night for a double room. A four-star hotel like the Bath Street Inn will run you 150-350 USD per night. In a three-star hotel, such as Santa Barbara House by Hyatt, a room for two people will cost 90-290 USD per night. Inexpensive hotels and hostels in Santa Barbara you can stay for 20 USD per night.
Travel budget
The most expensive part of the budget for traveling to Santa Barbara will be airfare and a US visa. Otherwise, spending a vacation in this amazing city can be relatively inexpensive. Here it is real to find inexpensive comfortable housing, choose a diner where lunch will cost you a few dollars or cook on your own in the kitchen of the hostel. The majority of excursions in Santa Barbara museums are free of charge, so you have all chances to spend a minimum of money on your intellectual leisure.
| The budget for a trip to Santa Barbara | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa | 320 USD | Flight | from 1400 USD |
| Accommodation | from 40 USD per day | Average check in a restaurant | From 30 USD |
| Transportation fare | from 4 USD | ||
| Total: about 1960 USD for a week for two people | |||
Santa Barbara: tips for tourists
Visa to Santa Barbara
You need a visa to enter the U.S., and the procedure for obtaining one is described at the link.
The consular fee is $160 USD. Having a visa does not guarantee entry into the country, the final decision is made by the Department of Homeland Security at the border crossing.
Airport in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara's small airport handles mostly domestic U.S. flights. So you'll have to fly here from Los Angeles or San Francisco. Some travelers recommend taking the train.
Transfer to Santa Barbara from the airport
Take a regular city bus to downtown Santa Barbara from the airport within the city limits. It costs about $2 USD. You can also take a cab, which costs about 20 USD.
Public transportation in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara's main public transportation is buses, which connect the city's neighborhoods. The fare is about $2 USD. There is also a cab service. Prices are fixed, and a ride around the city will cost 15-20 USD.
Car rental in Santa Barbara
The cost of renting a car in Santa Barbara is approximately 40 USD per day. If you plan to drive in this city, you need to have an international driver's license, at least one year of driving experience, and be at least 21 years old yourself.
Safety in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara is a fairly quiet city, so there's not much to worry about in terms of safety. However, anything can happen, so keep a close eye on your valuables and don't forget to check the phone number of the tourist office.