Downtown Travel Guide
Tourist Guide
Popular places to visit
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Enjoy the exciting rides at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and see why everyone loves this theme park in Santa Cruz. Attend a sporting event in this walkable area or seek out the cycling trails.
Mystery Spot
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.
Natural Bridges State Park
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.
Santa Cruz Wharf
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.
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.
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.
Activities
Santa Cruz, California Scavenger Hunt
Half Day Private Beach Tour in Santa Cruz
Capitola Friday Night Food Tour
Capitola Private Personalized Self-Guided App Tour
Santa Cruz Walking Tour: Discover Downtown & Mission Hill
Santa Cruz Surf Walk: History and Culture Tour
Our pick of the best Downtown Hotel Deals
Ocean Pacific Lodge
This Hotel is nice and clean. Great location, Staff is very cool.
Reviewed on 19 Apr 2026
Dream Inn Santa Cruz
The housekeeping staff was excellent.
Reviewed on 17 Apr 2026
Chaminade Resort & Spa
Everything about the property absolutely acceded our standards ! The staff was very nice and helpful with everything and made sure our stay was great ! The pool was very large, the room was very big and had nice views.
Reviewed on 17 Apr 2026
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Santa Cruz
Everything was clean and excellent
Reviewed on 19 Apr 2026
La Bahia Hotel and Spa
Very nice staff Bartender was great Beautiful Hotel Would go again
Reviewed on 18 Apr 2026
Bay Front Inn Santa Cruz
Great spot for my family and our fur baby. We love the boardwalk and the hotel was perfect for our family vacay.
Reviewed on 17 Apr 2026
Other neighbourhoods around Downtown
Mission Hill
While visiting Mission Hill, you might make a stop by sights like Mission Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park.
Downtown Santa Cruz
Unique features of Downtown Santa Cruz include the beaches and restaurants. Make a stop by Pacific Avenue or Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History while you're exploring the area.
Westside Santa Cruz
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 Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
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 Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center.
Lower Ocean
Lower Ocean might not have many top sights, but Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Pacific Avenue are two attractions nearby that you can check out.
Circles
While Circles may not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Cowell's Beach.
