Santa Barbara Earns Spot as One of many Best Locations to Travel in 2026

Santa Barbara has earned the popularity as the most effective locations to journey from a worldwide checklist, spotlighting the coastal metropolis’s attraction and enduring enchantment as a must-visit vacation spot. 

Santa Barbara was featured among the many greatest locations for ‘big-city thrills’ in Travel + Leisure’s ‘The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2026’ checklist. 

Also often called the American Riviera resulting from its year-round Mediterranean local weather and over 300 days of sunshine yearly, Santa Barbara’s sun-drenched seashores, traditional historic structure, and enjoyable out of doors actions are a key attraction for vacationers. 

Santa Barbara is house to a number of hospitality venues, with extra set to open quickly, in keeping with Travel + Leisure. 

Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara, a prime favourite vacation spot amongst Hollywood celebrities, is slated to open after intensive renovations, in keeping with Travel + Leisure. The luxurious resort is anticipated so as to add a Nobu restaurant and a Bouchon Bakery, led by chef and restaurateur Thomas Keller. 

Sitting near the Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore, Montecito Inn can also be being revitalized and debuted new rooms on the finish of 2025, in keeping with Travel + Leisure. 

In addition to the brand new hospitality choices, Santa Barbara has a number of historic lodges which date again a number of a long time however proceed to welcome visitors with the identical heat and upgraded comforts. 

The metropolis can also be house to a vibrant eating scene, with a number of eating places providing locals and guests a variety of delicacies choices. 

Santa Barbara has 15 Michelin-recognized eating places and is about to welcome extra new spots, Travel + Leisure mentioned. 

New additions embrace the Korean barbecue counter Seoulmate Kitchen and the Marisella situated inside the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara. 

The previous 12 months noticed a number of new eating places opening in Santa Barbara, diversifying town’s culinary scene with extra selections and larger selection. Edhat beforehand reported on 10 new eating places that expanded town’s eating expertise in 2025. 

Adding a brand new dessert spot, town noticed the opening of The Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory in late 2025. 

In addition to the brand new spots, Santa Barbara boasts of a number of iconic eating places which were  serving generations since they first opened a number of a long time in the past. 

“Santa Barbara gets its mystique from a convergence of elements rooted in nature and beauty,” Karna Hughes, director of public relations at Visit Santa Barbara, mentioned. 

Travel+ Leisure’s Methodology 

Travel + Leisure’s checklist of the very best locations to journey is compiled yearly based mostly on first-person expertise of its workers members, who’re continually exploring the world on project and on private journeys. 

For this 12 months’s checklist, workers picked entries from over 100 nominees, specializing in “what makes a place worth visiting in the year ahead.” 

Many of the 50 profitable locations have been as soon as tough to succeed in however are regularly turning into accessible resulting from higher airline connectivity and infrastructure initiatives. 

Travel + Leisure additionally tapped the experience of journey world insiders and members of the “T+L A-list” to discover the cities that are hottest now and the underrated eating spots. 

Major cultural and sports activities occasions additionally influenced the checklist.