Santa Barbara Transport

From open-air trolleys and electric shuttle buses to pedi-cabs, getting around downtown Santa Barbara is easy and convenient. Buses operated by Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District travel all over Santa Barbara and its satellites including Goleta and Montecito.

By bus

The Downtown-Waterfront Shuttle bus operates every 10 to 15 minutes along State Street to Stearns Wharf. A second route runs from the zoo to the yacht harbour at 30-minute intervals. Shuttle buses and bus stops are marked with blue and black sailboat symbols.

Taxis

As Santa Barbara is home to some large universities, taxis tend to gather around entertainment venues at night as well as at tourist attractions throughout the day. There are several taxi companies to choose from in Santa Barbara, and unlike many larger cities, taxi rides here can be quite cheap since distances are not great. Some local firms in Santa Barbara include: Beachside Taxi (tel: +1 805 966 5600), Checker Cab (tel: +1 805 560 8284) and Seaside Taxi Service (tel: +1 805 565 3002).

Tourist services

The Santa Barbara Historic Trolley operates a guided downtown tour, which begins and ends at Stearns Wharf and takes in many historic sites in the area including De La Guerra Plaza, the Presidio and the Mission. Tours begin daily 10:00 and run every 45 minutes. Phone: +1 805 965 0353; website: www.sbtrolley.com.

From the airport

A public bus stop is located on Moffett Road, across from the airport terminal. Bus schedules are available in the terminal’s south lobby and online at: www.sbmtd.gov/. The number 11 bus will take passengers to and from the airport from downtown Santa Barbara. Other transportation options include door-to-door shuttle services, taxis and car rentals. The Santa Barbara Airbus shuttles passengers between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Santa Barbara 14 times daily.