Santa Barbara · Weekend itinerary
A Weekend in Santa Barbara for Grown-Ups
Two days is enough for the classic Santa Barbara weekend: wine in the Funk Zone, a sail at sunset, the Mission and a view over the whole city from El Encanto.
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Day 1: Downtown, wine and a sunset sail
State Street to the sea.
Morning
Santa Barbara County Courthouse
1100 Anacapa St
Free; the 2 p.m. docent tour runs daily if you're late.
A working courthouse and Spanish Colonial Revival showpiece, with the painted Mural Room and a clock-tower observation deck looking over red roofs to the sea. Free, including hour-long docent tours daily at 2 p.m. (and 10:30 a.m. on weekdays).
Afternoon
The Funk Zone and the Urban Wine Trail
Funk Zone, between State St and the beach
A slow afternoon in the tasting rooms.
More than 20 tasting rooms pouring Santa Barbara County wines, most of them in the converted warehouses, murals and galleries of the Funk Zone, with a second cluster on Anacapa Street and El Paseo downtown.
Sunset
Sunset Kidd Sunset Sail
Santa Barbara Harbor, 125 Harbor Way
Bring your own wine and picnic.
A 41-foot ketch that takes no more than 16 passengers, and says plainly it's "not a narrated tourist ride". Bring your own wine and picnic in a soft cooler; there's no bar on board.
Dinner
The Lark
131 Anacapa St, Funk Zone
Reserve well ahead at weekends.
Seasonal Central Coast cooking designed for sharing, with Michelin Guide recognition and a Wine Spectator award. Dinner nightly from 5 p.m.; brunch at weekends.
Day 2: The Mission, the Riviera and a show
An easy day with the best view in town.
Morning
Old Mission Santa Barbara
2201 Laguna St
Sunday tours start at 12:30 p.m.
Founded in 1786, the Mission's church and grounds are open on a self-guided tour. Tours run Monday to Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays 12:30 to 4 p.m.
Lunch
El Encanto Dining Room & Terrace
800 Alvarado Pl, the Riviera
Lunch in the gardens above the city.
The hilltop hotel restaurant of El Encanto, with alfresco tables in the gardens and views down to the coast. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and takes outside reservations on OpenTable and Resy; ask for the terrace.
Evening
The Good Lion
1212 State St
A cocktail on State Street.
A small, serious cocktail bar next to the Granada Theatre, styled after the Mediterranean coast. Open daily 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Show
The Granada Theatre
1214 State St
Next door; check what's on.
A grand 1924 movie palace and live-performance venue on State Street. Check the calendar for your dates.
Staying longer? Our 3-day Santa Barbara itinerary adds whale watching and wine country.
Everything here was checked in September 2026. Garden seasons, boat schedules and show calendars change, so confirm before you go.
Questions people ask
Is a weekend enough for Santa Barbara?
Yes, for downtown, the Funk Zone and a sail. Add a day for Santa Ynez wine country.
What should you not miss in Santa Barbara?
The view from the courthouse clock tower, an afternoon on the Urban Wine Trail, the Mission and a sunset on the water.