Downtown Santa Cruz Travel Guide

Santa Cruz

Downtown, Santa Cruz, California, USA, during autumn. The image shows the street with trees in fall colors, buildings, and a bus. The photo shows the city's architecture.
Downtown, Santa Cruz, California, USA, during autumn. The image shows the street with trees in fall colors, buildings, and a bus. The photo shows the city's architecture.
Clock tower in downtown Santa Cruz, California, USA. The tower is a local landmark and gathering place, decorated with flowers and pumpkins.
CWFJJA USA California CA Santa Cruz clock tower and trolley on Pacific Avenue

Popular places to visit

Gotta ride this 100 year old wooden roller Coaster on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

4/5(41 reviews)

Have a fun-filled day with the family at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk during your visit to Santa Cruz. Attend a sporting event in this walkable area or seek out the cycling trails.

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
The place where you can't stay straight.

Mystery Spot

4.5/5(2 reviews)

Find out about the history of Santa Cruz when you take a trip to Mystery Spot. Attend a sporting event in this walkable area or seek out the surfing spots.

Mystery Spot
Pier at Santa Cruz, California

Santa Cruz Wharf

5/5(1 review)

After visiting Santa Cruz Wharf, make a plan to see the other sights and activities in Santa Cruz. Attend a sporting event in this walkable area or seek out the surfing spots.

Santa Cruz Wharf
USA-Santa Cruz-Natural Bridges State Beach; Shutterstock ID 101070745

Natural Bridges State Park

4/5(9 reviews)

You can take time to visit Natural Bridges State Park during your travels to Santa Cruz. Attend a sporting event in this walkable area or seek out the cycling trails.

Natural Bridges State Park
EN5XP1 Street scene in autumn with shops art galleries on Ocean Avenue Carmel Monterey County California

Ocean Street

During your visit to Santa Cruz, you can search for that perfect souvenir at Ocean Street. Wander the area's beautiful beaches or simply enjoy one of its top-notch restaurants.

Ocean Street
CWFJJA USA California CA Santa Cruz clock tower and trolley on Pacific Avenue

Pacific Avenue

During your visit to Santa Cruz, you can search for that perfect souvenir at Pacific Avenue. Wander the beautiful beaches in this family-friendly area.

Pacific Avenue

Things to do

Santa Cruz Scavenger Hunt Walking Activity

Santa Cruz Scavenger Hunt Walking Activity

฿1,553
per traveller
Santa Cruz Scavenger Hunt Walking Activity
Beginner Surf Lesson in Santa Cruz

Beginner Surf Lesson in Santa Cruz

฿4,320
per adult
Beginner Surf Lesson in Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Redwoods Forest Therapy

Redwoods Forest Bathing

฿2,766
per adult
Redwoods Forest Bathing
See all activities in Santa Cruz

Top hotels in Downtown Santa Cruz

Pacific Blue Inn

Pacific Blue Inn

3 out of 5
636 Pacific Avenue Santa Cruz CA
The price is ฿2,775 per night from 17 Feb to 18 Feb
฿2,775
฿3,318 total
17 Feb - 18 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this guesthouse in Santa Cruz. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, parking (surcharge) and daily housekeeping. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
9/10 Wonderful! (897 reviews)
It was chill

Reviewed on 18 Jan 2026

Pacific Blue Inn
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Santa Cruz

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Santa Cruz

3 out of 5
550 2nd St Santa Cruz CA
The price is ฿4,214 per night from 25 Feb to 26 Feb
฿4,214
฿4,858 total
25 Feb - 26 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Santa Cruz. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour fitness centre. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,257 reviews)
Wonderful visit.

Reviewed on 5 Feb 2026

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Santa Cruz
Chaminade Resort & Spa

Chaminade Resort & Spa

4 out of 5
1 Chaminade Ln Santa Cruz CA
The price is ฿4,262 per night from 12 Feb to 13 Feb
฿4,262
฿6,197 total
12 Feb - 13 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this spa resort in Santa Cruz. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the restaurant and the helpful staff ...
8/10 Very Good! (1,001 reviews)
Restaurant and hotel staff were very friendly.

Reviewed on 6 Feb 2026

Chaminade Resort & Spa
Hotel Paradox, Autograph Collection

Hotel Paradox, Autograph Collection

4 out of 5
611 Ocean St Santa Cruz CA
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is ฿3,720 per night from 12 Feb to 13 Feb
฿3,720
฿4,305 total
12 Feb - 13 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Santa Cruz. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and room service. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,211 reviews)
Yes, spotless

Reviewed on 7 Feb 2026

Hotel Paradox, Autograph Collection
Seacliff Inn Aptos, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

Seacliff Inn Aptos, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

3.5 out of 5
7500 Old Dominion Court Aptos CA
The price is ฿3,298 per night from 1 Mar to 2 Mar
฿3,298
฿3,830 total
1 Mar - 2 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Aptos. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and room service. Our guests praise the restaurant and the helpful staff ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,070 reviews)
Staff was great the room was clean.

Reviewed on 3 Feb 2026

Seacliff Inn Aptos, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
Marea Sol Hotel

Marea Sol Hotel

2 out of 5
301 Beach St Santa Cruz CA
The price is ฿3,620 per night from 11 Feb to 12 Feb
฿3,620
฿4,191 total
11 Feb - 12 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this beach hotel in Santa Cruz. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a rooftop terrace and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,374 reviews)
Great location and amazing hotel

Reviewed on 4 Feb 2026

Marea Sol Hotel
See all 1,182 properties in Downtown Santa Cruz
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Downtown Santa Cruz

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Downtown

While visiting Downtown, you might make a stop by sights like Pacific Avenue and Williams-Reynolds House.

Downtown
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Lower Ocean

Lower Ocean might not have many top sights, but Pacific Avenue and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk are two attractions nearby that you can check out.

Lower Ocean
CWFJJA USA California CA Santa Cruz clock tower and trolley on Pacific Avenue

Beach Hill - Beach Flats

While there might not be top attractions in Beach Hill - Beach Flats, you can explore the larger area and discover places like Main Beach and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center.

Beach Hill - Beach Flats
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Mission Hill

While visiting Mission Hill, you might make a stop by sights like Mission Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park.

Mission Hill
This is a small state park at the northern end of Santa Cruz' scenic West Cliff Drive and a little over a mile from the Boardwalk, wharf and Main Beach. A couple of times a year you can see Monarch butterflies during their migration. They are not in the numbers of years past, but you'll still see some. If you walk north towards the rocks during low tide you will find some amazing tidepools full of sea anenomes, sea urchins, starfish, crabs, hermit crabs, and all sorts of marine life. The tidepools are on a ledge, so the tide needs to be quite high

Westside Santa Cruz

4/5(31 area reviews)

Travellers to Westside Santa Cruz praise its stunning beaches. If you've got some more time to explore, be sure to stop by Monterey Bay and Pacific Avenue.

Westside Santa Cruz
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Midtown

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Midtown and surrounding area, you can visit Ocean Street and Pacific Avenue.

Midtown

Downtown Santa Cruz Travel Guide