Discover the best self-guided tours in Santa Barbara - from sightseeing tours and cultural experiences to adventure activities and day trips with top-rated local guides.
Self-guided Tours in Santa Barbara
Discover Santa Barbara at your own pace with our carefully designed self-guided tours.
Whether you are a history enthusiast, a lover of architecture, or someone who enjoys
wandering through hidden streets and local markets, our self-guided itineraries provide
the perfect blend of flexibility and discovery. Unlike traditional guided tours,
self-guided experiences allow you to explore without time restrictions, pause for a
coffee, or spend extra time at the places that capture your interest most. Each route
is curated to showcase the cultural, historical, and scenic highlights of Santa Barbara,
while also introducing you to unique, off-the-beaten-path gems that most visitors miss.
With digital maps, audio guides, and insider tips included, you’ll feel like you have
a knowledgeable local by your side, but with the freedom to design your own schedule.
From iconic landmarks to hidden alleys, from bustling neighborhoods to tranquil spots,
our self-guided tours in Santa Barbara make it easy to create an experience that is truly
personal. Enjoy the freedom of exploration while still ensuring that you see the very
best that Santa Barbara has to offer.
Explore the ocean views and city sights of Santa Barbara on an electric bike! Capable of speeds up to 20 mph and a range of 25 - 75 miles! These bikes make your sight seeing a breeze! These fun-filled ebikes will help you see more of the city than you expected all without breaking a sweat!
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Explore the city sights and rugged hills around Santa Barbara with an electric, mountain or hybrid bike 1- or 2-day rental. Get around town easily on an eco-friendly electric bike that doesn't require pedaling. For a more adventurous experience, explore the city streets or Santa Ynez Mountains on your mountain bike. Or get a hybrid bike that combines the speed of a road bike with the stability of a city bike. Choose from a wide variety of models appropriate for beginners and experts alike. Biking around town provides a great workout and allows you to cover lots of ground fast — there's no better way to see Santa Barbara!
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We pride ourselves on carrying Santa Barbara's easiest kayak and paddleboard experience as the only rental and tour company on West Beach. We also prioritize keeping our inventory up to date with the highest-end kayak and paddleboard gear you can find. Most importantly, our friendly tour guides and beach staff will be happy to answer any questions as they help assist you and the family into your ocean adventure!
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We pride ourselves on carrying Santa Barbara's easiest kayak and paddleboard experience as the only rental and tour company on West Beach. We also prioritize keeping our inventory up to date with the highest-end kayak and paddleboard gear you can find. Most importantly, our friendly tour guides and beach staff will be happy to answer any questions as they help assist you and the family into your ocean adventure!
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Note: Multiple factors affect how far you will get on a single battery charge including: hills, headwinds, and rider weight. Rider mode will also affect battery life. Our bikes have 3 modes: eco, normal, and high. In eco-mode, you will typically get up to 4 hours of straight riding. For those renting for a full day, you are welcome to come back to the shop to swap out your battery.
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We have the lowest prices in town guaranteed. We have new electric cruisers that ride super smooth with belt drive instead of greasy chain. We are conveniently located in Funk Zone just 2 blocks from the beach. An e-Bike allows you to go where cars are not allowed like Channel Drive, State Street Promenade, and the harbor overlook. Unlike the white public city bikes, you get a helmet, water, and a lock included free.
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Turn Santa Barbara into a giant game board with this fun scavenger hunt adventure! This challenge combines the excitement of the Amazing Race with a 3-hour city walking tour. Guided from any smart phone, teams make their way among well known and overlooked gems of the city, solving clues and completing challenges while learning local history. Note: Pricing is per individual, but teams must book together in order to be included in the same adventure.
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We have immersive adventures. We provide your own remote, interactive, live host to assist and encourage you along through your phone. We are an Austin, TX-based global custom event design company offering scavenger hunts and other events in 300+ cities in North America and beyond. Our specially hand-crafted adventures are equal parts tour, creative challenge, detective hunt, and social experiment!
Guests get to discover in an alternate reality our favorite hidden gems off the beaten trail and creatively interpret fun art, history, and culture clues - for points! They get to enjoy fame and glory while appearing on our website’s international leaderboard, no matter what their score. They get to essentially race other teams in other cities, even if they don’t have competitors who have signed up in their city that day. Get ready to discover unusual oddities, laugh out loud, and make the experience your own!
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Our bicycles were hand picked to provide the best experience possible. Cuso's Bikes is the most centrally located bike boutique in Santa Barbara, and provides riders easy access to any type of riding experience.
Our bikes:
Road Bikes
Bianchi is our choice of premium e-bikes for cruising around town. Superb Italian design showcases the perfect marriage of form and function. With the perfect amount of comfort and power, you can cruise the streets, ride the beach path, scale the hills, and cover more ground.
Mountain Bikes
Intense, the iconic Southern California brand, meets the challenge of the intense trails in the mountains surrounding the city. These are perfectly designed workhorses that provide you the adrenaline rush you seek but helps on the climb up.
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Our very unique, immersive adventures are the only ones of their kind. We, unlike other companies, provide your very own remote, interactive, live host to assist and encourage you along through your phone. We are an Austin, TX-based global custom event design company offering scavenger hunts and other events in 300+ cities in North America and beyond. Our specially hand-crafted adventures are equal parts tour, creative challenge, detective hunt, and social experiment!
Guests get to discover in an alternate reality our favorite hidden gems off the beaten trail and creatively interpret fun art, history, and culture clues - for points! They get to enjoy fame and glory while appearing on our website’s international leaderboard, no matter what their score. They get to essentially race other teams in other cities, even if they don’t have competitors who have signed up in their city that day. Get ready to discover unusual oddities, laugh out loud, and make the experience your own!
Book Now
You'll be redirected to Viator to finish your booking.
Why Choose Our Self-guided Tours in Santa Barbara?
Our self-guided tours in Santa Barbara are perfect for travelers who want freedom without
missing out on the highlights. With carefully curated routes, insider tips, and easy-to-use
digital tools, you can explore at your own pace while still enjoying the benefits of a
thoughtfully planned itinerary. Whether you’re short on time or seeking hidden gems,
these tours provide the flexibility and depth that make your trip unforgettable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Each tour includes a digital map, clear directions, and audio or written commentary.
You’ll also receive local tips to make exploring Santa Barbara smooth and enjoyable.
Most tours can be downloaded in advance, so you don’t need constant internet access.
We recommend saving maps and content before starting your journey.
On average, tours take between 2–4 hours. However, since you control the pace, you
can make the experience shorter or longer based on your preferences.
Absolutely! Self-guided tours are family-friendly, giving you the freedom to stop
whenever needed and adjust the pace for kids or older family members.
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