Along with big-name shops and local boutiques, State Street is where you’ll find most of Santa Barbara’s top restaurants, offering everything from sushi to pizza. The street is also home to the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, whose collection includes 19th-century European paintings, Greek and Roman sculptures, and more. If local, contemporary art is more your thing, take a stroll through the many independent galleries.
State Street is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.
Most of the shops, restaurants, and galleries are located along Lower State—below Victoria Street.
Take a break from shopping and sightseeing at the nearby Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden.
State Street runs through the center of downtown Santa Barbara, and is easily accessible from the rest of the city by bike, on foot, or via the downtown shuttle bus. At the south end of State Street, Santa Barbara’s train station has connections to other cities in California.
The businesses along State Street are open year-round. Santa Barbara bustles with tourists during the summer months, especially on weekends. For a quieter experience, visit on a weekday.
See lions, penguins, gibbons, and more at the Santa Barbara Zoo, where more than 140 different species from around the world are housed in enclosures that reflect their natural habitats. Children love feeding the giraffes, and trying out their monkey-style skills on the climbing wall.
