Top 10 Santa Barbara Beach Hotels of 2026

Santa Barbara Aerial Panorama. Scenic shot of Pier and beach

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Property	Property class	Guest rating
Harbor House Inn	3.0 star property	9.8 Exceptional 1,003 reviews	View
Marina Beach Hotel	3.0 star property	9.8 Exceptional 1,132 reviews	View
Casa Yano by The Beach	4.0 star property	9.8 Exceptional 14 reviews	View
La Playa Inn	2.5 star property	9.6 Exceptional 1,007 reviews	View
West Beach Inn, a Coast Hotel	3.0 star property	9.4 Exceptional 1,125 reviews	View

Where to stay in Santa Barbara Beach

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

Butterfly beach along Channel Drive in Santa Barbara, California., Shutterstock ID 23776711, SF SSA Case with Manager Approval: Case 07151371, Job: Prepay credit, Client/Licensee: , Other:

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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urban landscape of the city of Santa Barbara, California ; Shutterstock ID 398939668

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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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 East Beach and Santa Barbara Zoo.

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Historic Downtown Santa Barbara

The pristine beaches and ample dining options are top of the list for many visitors to Historic Downtown Santa Barbara. A stop by Lobero Theater or Paseo Nuevo Mall might round out your trip.

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Top Santa Barbara Beach Hotel Reviews

Beachside Inn

8/10 Good

"The building is under construction so it looks questionable outside. Inside is not bad. Not worth paying for a view seeing as though there is a harbor directly infront. The bed wasn’t too comfortable. My back started to hurt both nights. Even the pillows are not top tier. Not many amenities, the breakfast looks okay. I didn’t stop to try it. The interactions which were very few, the staff was nice. We had our do it disturb sign up for a nap and the Houskeeping was knocking and about to enter, which was odd. Didn’t see the point of the sign. Room was clean. It’s an alright hotel if you’re looking for something basic and do not intend on spending much time in the hotel itself."

Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort

8/10 Good

"Overall, we liked the hotel — it’s beautiful, and our room was big and comfortable. Some of the staff were fantastic, especially the maintenance guy who helped with the fire pit and the bartender on Friday night. The pool bartenders, though, weren’t very attentive, and the drinks were pricey. The pool area could’ve been cleaned more often, and the birds definitely took advantage of that, which wasn’t great for guests. Just a heads‑up: the hotel isn’t super close to other restaurants, so expect about a 3/4‑mile walk."

Marina Beach Hotel

8/10 Good

"The location of the Marina Beach Motel is excellent. It is close to the beach, and within easy walking distance of Stearn’s Wharf, the Santa Barbara harbor, and The Funk Zone. The motel offered amenities, such as the use of bikes, which we did not take advantage of due to our limited stay. Overall, our stay was enjoyable. The room was clean and comfortable. Staff were friendly. The motel offered amenities nice breakfast buffet."

Frequently asked questions

What is Santa Barbara Beach like?

Santa Barbara Beach is a welcoming neighbourhood known for its beautiful beaches and popular zoo. Make sure that you visit Stearns Wharf and West Beach as part of your Santa Barbara Beach travel plans.

What's a favourite hotel to stay in Santa Barbara Beach?

Based on our traveller data, Beachside Inn is one of the top choices for your stay in Santa Barbara Beach. This hotel is a short 1-minute walk from Santa Barbara Harbor, and it offers free breakfast and an outdoor pool. Other good choices for your stay in the neighbourhood include Avania Inn of Santa Barbara and The Franciscan Hotel.

How many hotels are there in Santa Barbara Beach?

If you're searching for places to stay in Santa Barbara, Expedia has something to meet your needs with 174 Santa Barbara Beach hotels and other accommodation options to choose from.

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

Yes, most hotel room reservations are fully refundable as long as you cancel prior to the hotel's cancellation deadline, which in most cases is within 24 or 48 hours of your scheduled arrival. If you have a non-refundable reservation, it might still be possible to cancel it and get a refund within a 24-hour period of booking. Plug in your dates, click on "Search", then you can use the "fully refundable" filter to review the best deals in Santa Barbara Beach.

What are the top things to see and do in Santa Barbara Beach?

Santa Barbara Zoo, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center and Santa Barbara Maritime Museum are fun stops for the whole family while you're in Santa Barbara Beach. Stearns Wharf and West Beach are also a couple of places to visit in the neighbourhood. Santa Barbara Deep Sea, Santa Barbara Art Foundry and MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation are just a few of the places to visit in and around Santa Barbara Beach. When you're sightseeing in Santa Barbara, Reagan Ranch Center and East Beach are also worth a stop.

How can I get around Santa Barbara Beach and the greater Santa Barbara area?

If you want to head out of town, you can hop aboard a train at Santa Barbara Station. You can enquire about options for water travel at the port.

Hotels in Santa Barbara Beach, Santa Barbara

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Our top choices for Santa Barbara Beach hotels

Santa Barbara Inn

Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort

Hideaway Santa Barbara, A Kirkwood Collection Property

Motel 6 Santa Barbara, CA - Beach

Blue Sands Inn, A Kirkwood Collection Hotel

West Beach Inn, a Coast Hotel

The Inn at East Beach

Avania Inn of Santa Barbara

La Playa Inn

Hotel Californian

Beachside Inn

Lavender Inn by the Sea

Inn By The Harbor

Brisas del Mar, Inn at the Beach

The Franciscan Hotel

Castillo Inn at the Beach

Mason Beach Inn

Marina Beach Hotel

Pacific Crest Hotel Santa Barbara

Harbor House Inn

Compare popular hotels in Santa Barbara Beach

Where to stay in Santa Barbara Beach

Montecito

Downtown Santa Barbara

West Beach

East Beach

Historic Downtown Santa Barbara

Top Santa Barbara Beach Hotel Reviews

Beachside Inn

Frequently asked questions

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