Upper Riviera
Santa Barbara
Visit Upper Riviera
Popular places to visit
Santa Barbara Bowl
Enjoy a show at Santa Barbara Bowl, a storied theater in Santa Barbara. Wander the beautiful beaches and seaside in the area.
Santa Barbara Zoo
Why not visit the native and exotic animals who call Santa Barbara Zoo home during your trip to Santa Barbara? Wander the beautiful beaches and seaside in the area.
Santa Barbara County Courthouse
See the best views of Santa Barbara and enjoy a stunning variety of architectural styles at the city’s historic courthouse.
Santa Barbara Harbor
Explore the waterfront in Santa Barbara with a trip to Santa Barbara Harbor. Wander the beautiful beaches and seaside in the area.
Butterfly Beach
Why not spend a carefree afternoon at Butterfly Beach during your travels in Santa Barbara? Check out the shops and top-notch restaurants in this romantic area.
Upper State Street
During your visit to Santa Barbara, you can find the perfect gifts to bring home at Upper State Street. Amble around this family-friendly area's beautiful beaches and enjoy its top-notch restaurants.
Things to do
Santa Barbara Sunset Cruise on Yacht with Full Bar
Santa Barbara: Beach and Coastline Helicopter Tour
Santa Barbara: Full-Day 7-Speed Bike Rental with Area Map
Top hotels in Upper Riviera
El Encanto Santa Barbara
WiFi not stable / not working for the 2 days we were there. No soap in bathroom, minibar with only 2 bottles of water, rooms with full of leds - switch lights that can’t be darken. quality - price ratio not attractive
Reviewed on Feb 12, 2026
Hotel Santa Barbara
Newly renovated room was clean and cozy. Amenities were nice. Staff was always very nice.
Reviewed on Feb 14, 2026
Best Western Plus Pepper Tree Inn
Clean room, smelled good, and in a good location for a reasonable price. We loved our stay.
Reviewed on Feb 15, 2026
Sandpiper Lodge
Big room with good price
Reviewed on Feb 17, 2026
Santa Barbara Inn
Great room, great view and excellent staff. Room was exceptional! We ate at the restaurant at the hotel, and the food was delicious!
Reviewed on Feb 14, 2026
Inn By The Harbor
I made the mistake of choosing this property (the “Inn”) and paying a huge premium, because it was one of the only ones I found with a kitchen and that didn’t allow pets While I adore pets, unfortunately I can’t stay at such places due to health reasons. Friends and family stayed elsewhere, at much ...
Reviewed on Feb 16, 2026
Other neighbourhoods around Upper Riviera
Laguna
Though Laguna might not have many top sights, you can venture to the surrounding area to see attractions like Presidio Santa Barbara and Lobero Theater.
Upper East
While visiting Upper East, you might make a stop by sights like Mission Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara Natural History Museum.
Eastside
Eastside might not have many top sights, but Santa Barbara Zoo and East Beach are two attractions nearby that you can check out.
Mission Canyon
Visitors to Mission Canyon enjoy its gardens, and if you want to do some exploring, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is worth a stop.
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.
Historic Downtown Santa Barbara
The beaches and abundant 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.
