Top 10 Historic Downtown Santa Barbara Hotels of 2026

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

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Compare popular hotels in Historic Downtown Santa Barbara

Property	Property class	Guest rating
Hotel Santa Barbara	4.0 star property	9.4 Exceptional 1,442 reviews	View
The Upham Hotel	4.0 star property	9.2 Wonderful 1,008 reviews	View
Haley Hotel	3.5 star property	8.8 Excellent 674 reviews	View
Kimpton Canary Hotel by IHG	4.0 star property	8.8 Excellent 1,001 reviews	View
Hotel Virginia Santa Barbara, Tapestry Collection by Hilton	4.0 star property	8.6 Excellent 1,000 reviews	View

Where to stay in Historic Downtown Santa Barbara

Find the best Historic Downtown Santa Barbara areas for the activities you enjoy most.

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 area like Stearns Wharf and Santa Barbara Harbor.

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

Montecito

The pristine beaches and ample dining options are top of the list for many visitors to Montecito. A stop by Miramar Beach or Butterfly Beach might round out your trip.

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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 Presidio Santa Barbara or Granada Theatre might round out your trip.

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

West Beach

If you're spending some time in West Beach, Santa Barbara Harbor and West Beach are top sights worth seeing.

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

East Beach

East Beach is beloved for its stunning beaches. Take some time to explore sights in the area like Santa Barbara Zoo and East Beach.

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Top Historic Downtown Santa Barbara Hotel Reviews

Ramada by Wyndham Santa Barbara

10/10 Excellent

"Great location. Starbucks is steps away. Great scenery onsite. Friendly, helpful and available staff!"

Inn By The Harbor

10/10 Excellent

"Fantastic little hotel in a nice area. Minutes from everything in Santa Barbara. Staff were all nice and our room looked like a little apartment with a kitchen and fridge. Very helpful for leftovers from dinner out! The grounds were so beautiful! The breakfast was great too. They had egg frittatas, out meal, cereal, yogurt parfaits and pastries. Coffee and tea. We ate inside but lots of people ate on the patio outside the lobby which was really nice. I highly recommended this hotel."

The Upham Hotel

10/10 Excellent

"Our stay was wonderful. The overall experience succeeded our expectations. We enjoyed drinks and appetizers one evening, followed by brunch the next day, and the complementary continental breakfast pastries were delicious. The staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming, which made our stay even more enjoyable. The property was comfortable and very well maintained with beautiful outdoor seating areas that were perfect for relaxing. The location was another highlight. It was easy to walk to downtown making it convenient to explore the area without needing to drive. The food was great throughout our stay and we truly enjoyed our experience. We would definitely stay here again and recommend it to anyone visiting the area."

Frequently asked questions

What is Historic Downtown Santa Barbara like?

Travellers love the Historic Downtown Santa Barbara neighbourhood for its beautiful beaches, array of dining options and major shopping area. Are you looking for Historic Downtown Santa Barbara travel tips? Make sure that you visit Granada Theatre and Arlington Theater while you're in the neighbourhood.

What's a favourite place to stay in Historic Downtown Santa Barbara?

Based on our traveller 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 centre and free WiFi. Other good options for your stay in the neighbourhood include The Upham Hotel and Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels.

How many hotels are there in Historic Downtown Santa Barbara?

Expedia has 25 hotels and other accommodation options 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! You'll find that most hotel bookings are refundable provided that you cancel prior to the hotel's cancellation deadline, which is often 24 or 48 hours before the scheduled arrival. If you have a reservation that's non-refundable, you might be able to cancel it and be given a refund within a 24-hour period of booking. Enter your dates, click on "Search", then use the filter option "fully refundable" to get the top deals on offer in Historic Downtown Santa Barbara.

What is there to do in this Santa Barbara neighbourhood?

Sights like Granada Theatre, Arlington Theater and Lobero Theater 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 neighbourhood. 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.

Hotels in Historic Downtown Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara

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Our top choices for Historic Downtown Santa Barbara hotels

1. Hotel Santa Barbara

2. Kimpton Canary Hotel by IHG

3. The Upham Hotel

4. Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels

5. Haley Hotel

6. Hotel Virginia Santa Barbara, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

7. Casa Riviera

8. Casa Jardin

9. La Playa Inn

10. Palihouse Santa Barbara

11. Courtyard by Marriott Santa Barbara Downtown

12. Inn By The Harbor

13. Hideaway Santa Barbara, A Kirkwood Collection Property

14. Avania Inn of Santa Barbara

15. Brisas del Mar, Inn at the Beach

16. Casa De La Vina

17. West Beach Inn, a Coast Hotel

18. Vagabond Inn Santa Barbara - Carpinteria South

19. Marina Beach Hotel

20. Lavender Inn by the Sea

Compare popular hotels in Historic Downtown Santa Barbara

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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