Santa Barbara Trolley Tour
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September 2026
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Who is going?
Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Non-refundable booking. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.6/5
Based on 902 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Santa Barbara Trolley Tour worth booking?
Santa Barbara Trolley Tour is a 1.5-hour experience in Santa Barbara, United States, from $37 per person. It scores 75 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 4.6/5 rating across 902 reviews. This booking is non-refundable, so pick your date carefully. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 75 / 100
- Rating
- 4.6/5 (902)
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- From
- $37 per person
All Aboard Santa Barbara’s Original & Longest Running Trolley Tour and Charter Services See the American Riviera in 90 minutes Santa Barbara sightseeing at its finest on the original, fully narrated Santa Barbara Trol
What you get
About this experience
All Aboard Santa Barbara’s Original & Longest Running Trolley Tour and Charter Services See the American Riviera in 90 minutes Santa Barbara sightseeing at its finest on the original, fully narrated Santa Barbara Trolley Tour. For 30 years, we've been providing trolley tours in the Santa Barbara community. Join us as we visit local hot spots such as the Santa Barbara Courthouse, Santa Barbara Zoo, Museum of Natural History, the historic Santa Barbara Mission, and more, all fully narrated by our energetic and knowledgeable tour guides! Our pick up location is only a 10 minute walk from Stearns Wharf, at 1 Garden St.
What's included
Included
- Narrated Tour
Not included
- Food and Drinks
What you'll see and do
Stearns Wharf
Enjoy the seaside sights and sounds of Stearns Wharf, one of Santa Barbara’s most iconic landmarks. Named for builder John P. Stearns and located at the end of State Street, it is California’s oldest working wharf and the perfect spot to soak up the sun, salty breezes and stunning views of the impossibly blue Pacific. The Wharf was completed in 1872 and served the passengers and freight shipping needs of California’s south coast for more than 25 years. Today it’s one of Santa Barbara’s most visited attractions and a mainstay of the Waterfront district.
Pass by without stopping
East Beach
East Beach is a favorite spot for locals for volleyball (including pro tournaments), skating, paddle sports, art shows and just plain relaxing. It also has a great panoramic view of the Santa Barbara mountains.
Pass by without stopping
Andree Clark Bird Refuge
Andrée Clark Bird Refuge is a 42-acre open space park that includes a 29-acre lake that is an artificially modified estuary that supports brackish wetlands. Three islands are located in the lake. The park provides passive recreation opportunities such as bird watching, hiking, and biking. Boating and fishing are prohibited, as is feeding the wildlife. The Bird Refuge is a scenic resource with views to and from scenic highways (East Cabrillo Boulevard and Highway 101) and provides a view of aquatic and terrestrial habitats.
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Butterfly Beach
Located in the chic and laid-back village of Montecito, Butterfly Beach is a favorite among Santa Barbara locals. The beach’s pristine shoreline is ideal for swimming, surfing and sunbathing, and its unique east-west orientation makes for some truly spectacular sunrises AND sunsets. Spend the better part of your day lounging with a good book, or venture into the ocean and take on the waves in a kayak. Keep your eyes peeled and you might even see a star or two—Montecito is home to several celebs. Whatever activities you include in your day by the sea, Butterfly Beach is the perfect setting.
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Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History has a rich history dating back to 1876. Exhibits and collections change throughout the year to educate and entertain children and adults alike. Make sure to check out the iconic 73-foot Blue Whale skeleton displayed out front!
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Old Mission Santa Barbara
Old Mission Santa Barbara is a community of many parts, but one spirit. The Mission has served as a gathering place and spiritual home for many since its establishment in 1786. Today the Mission operations include a museum, gift shop, cemetery and mausoleum, and several historic gardens, as well as being the home to a community of Franciscan Friars on about 15 acres. The Mission is also home base for Saint Barbara Parish, which operates under the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the Santa Bárbara Mission Archive-Library, a separate Franciscan-sponsored non-profit, and a Novitiate which provides the first year of education for Friars in training from across the United States.
10 minutes here · Admission not included
Santa Barbara County Courthouse
or a firsthand look at one of the country’s most beautiful public buildings, look no further than the Santa Barbara County Courthouse. Designed in the Spanish-Colonial style and completed in 1929, the fully operational Courthouse is an iconic Santa Barbara landmark with its distinctive four-faced clock tower, red tile roofs, elegant arches and verdant sunken garden and grounds. Through the self-guided tours, visitors can get a visual history lesson from the elaborate hand-painted murals, marvel at ornate wrought-iron chandeliers and climb to the top of the clock tower for an incredible panoramic view of Santa Barbara and beyond.
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El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park
Located in downtown Santa Barbara, El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park (El Presidio SHP) is a 5 1/2-acre park that preserves the site of the last Spanish fortress, or presidio, founded in Alta (Upper) California in 1782. Two of the fort‘s original adobe buildings still exist and are open to the public — El Cuartel and the Cañedo Adobe.
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Santa Barbara Waterfront
At Santa Barbara Harbor you will find interesting stores, delicious seafood restaurants and the occasional celebrity yacht. Naturally sheltered by mountains and islands on a southward facing coastline, it is one of the best harbors in the world.
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Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Santa Barbara
Departs Thursday - Monday at 1 Garden st. Departure times are 10:00am, 12:00pm and 2:00pm.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Departs Thursday - Monday at 1 Garden st. Departure times are 10:00am, 12:00pm and 2:00pm.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 4 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Santa Barbara Trolley Tours
Know before you go
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 895 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
7 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
5 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Value for money
4 mentionsTravelers feel they got more than they paid for.
Traveler reviews
895 verified traveler reviews for Santa Barbara Trolley Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Worth the time and money
Very interesting, worth the time and money. Very friendly driver who make the trip fun. Interesting. You have nothing to loose here but knowing to gain. My favorite spot was the mission.
via Viator
Enjoyable Trolley Tour
Trolley tour was great. Joey the guide was very informative and offered a nice tour. The route included most of the highlights in the area and gave us a great overview. Definitely worth the money and time. Would recommend!
via Tripadvisor
A beautiful morning in Santa Barbara
I liked taking the trolley ride to get an overall look at the city of Santa Barbara and a bit of Montecito. Hearing about the history, the stories of locals and celebrities, seeing the different sections of town that I might not have seen otherwise was well worth the ticket price. It was a beautiful day to drive along the pacific coastline and our guide/driver seemed to really enjoy the ride and showing off his town. Large (pay) parking lot is located at the pick up/drop off spot.
via Tripadvisor
Smart and funny tour guide
Our guide was great: informative and funny, with a couple of good tricks up his sleeve. He did not inject any bias or political opinions into his spiel, which kept us in vacation mode. We wish we had arrived sooner because early arrivals get the best seats for airflow. All seats had good views, though. Parking in the lot where we met requires an app … so save time for downloading it and entering your tags.
via Tripadvisor
Awesome Trolley Tour
The Santa Barbara Trolley was a great 90 minute tour to get a lay of the land while learning about Santa Barbara’s history and culture. Chuck was our tour guide and he did a phenomenal job at keeping us all engaged and laughing on the tour. The trolley was comfortable, airy, and felt very safe. We were traveling with young children and they did great on the trolley. We were able to fold up our stroller and store it in the front of the trolley. There is one stop on the trolley ride which is the Santa Barbara Mission. You have about 15 minutes here to use the restrooms, grab a drink/coffee and walk around. Otherwise, it was a beautiful and fun ride that was easy on the feet and a great overall tour of Santa Barbara.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Non-refundable
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 316
- Verdict
- Strongly Recommended
Why this scores 75
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Santa Barbara Trolley Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Santa Barbara.
How much does Santa Barbara Trolley Tour cost?
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Prices start at $37 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Santa Barbara usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Santa Barbara Trolley Tour take?
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Plan for about 1.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Santa Barbara is not rushed.
Is Santa Barbara Trolley Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 75 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.6/5 across 902 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most popular in Santa Barbara, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Santa Barbara Trolley Tour?
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No. This experience is sold on a non-refundable basis, so only book a date you are confident about. Similar experiences in the city do offer free cancellation if flexibility matters more than price.
Is Santa Barbara Trolley Tour suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 1.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Santa Barbara Trolley Tour?
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Around 316 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Santa Barbara can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Santa Barbara and add a light layer if any part of the 1.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Santa Barbara Trolley Tour start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Santa Barbara within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Santa Barbara?
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Santa Barbara runs wine tours into the Santa Ynez Valley, harbour sailing and whale watching, Channel Islands day trips, and Spanish colonial walking tours through the Presidio and Mission. Tasting-room access and group size make the biggest difference in wine tours here. On Outty we rank every Santa Barbara experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Santa Barbara Electric Bike Tour, Kayak Tour of Santa Barbara with Experienced Guide, Small-Group Wine Tour in Santa Barbara to Exclusive Vineyards. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Santa Barbara?
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March to June and September to November, dodging the May and June marine layer. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Santa Barbara?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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