What is Downtown Santa Cruz like?

Downtown Santa Cruz is a welcoming neighborhood that travelers like for its restaurants and biking. Are you looking for Downtown Santa Cruz travel tips? Be sure to check out Pacific Avenue and Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History while you're in the neighborhood.

Where is the best place to stay in Downtown Santa Cruz?

Based on our traveler data, Pacific Blue Inn is one of the top choices for your stay in Downtown Santa Cruz. This guesthouse is a short 11-minute walk from Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, and it offers in-room fireplaces and free WiFi.

If I need to cancel my hotel reservation in Downtown Santa Cruz, will I receive a refund?

Yes, the majority of hotel bookings are fully refundable as long as you cancel before the accommodation's cancellation deadline, which is often 24 or 48 hours before your scheduled arrival. If your reservation is non-refundable, you might be able to still cancel and get a refund within a 24-hour period of your booking. Enter dates in and click on "Search", then use the "fully refundable" filter to get the top deals on offer in Downtown Santa Cruz.

Where can I learn more about changing or cancelling my trip to Downtown Santa Cruz?

To access more information about rescheduling or cancelling your trip to Downtown Santa Cruz, click here .

What is there to do around this Santa Cruz neighborhood?

If you're looking forward to a day of shopping in Downtown Santa Cruz, consider Pacific Garden Mall or Pacific Avenue, and pick out the perfect souvenir. A visit to Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History is also worth the trip while you're discovering the neighborhood. A few places to visit in the area around Downtown Santa Cruz include Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Williams-Reynolds House, and Town Clock. Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park and Mission Santa Cruz are also worth a visit when you're out sightseeing in Santa Cruz.

Top Downtown Santa Cruz Hotels

A historic building with a distinctive corner turret, surrounded by autumn-colored trees and a clear street.

Change your mind
Book hotels with free cancellation
Treat yourself
Sign in to save 10% or more on thousands of hotels
Sign in
Be picky
Search almost a million properties worldwide

Check prices for these dates

Tonight

Tomorrow

Next weekend

In two weeks

Our top choices for Downtown Santa Cruz hotels

1. Pacific Blue Inn

Downtown Santa Cruz

Sharon

₩179,751 total

includes taxes & fees

Oct 8 - Oct 9

2. Ocean Pacific Lodge

Downtown, 0.8 km from Downtown Santa Cruz

Anthony

₩160,258 total

includes taxes & fees

Oct 18 - Oct 19

Breakfast, lunch, dinner and brunch served

3. Hotel Paradox, Autograph Collection

Westside Santa Cruz, 0.6 km from Downtown Santa Cruz

Brooke

₩242,691 total

includes taxes & fees

Sep 27 - Sep 28

4. Hyatt Place Santa Cruz

Westside Santa Cruz, 0.5 km from Downtown Santa Cruz

Grester

₩216,200 total

includes taxes & fees

Oct 7 - Oct 8

2 Queen Bed + Sofa Bed | Desk, blackout drapes, iron/ironing board, WiFi (free)

5. Seaside Inn & Suites

Westside Santa Cruz, 0.6 km from Downtown Santa Cruz

Justin

₩118,695 total

includes taxes & fees

Sep 27 - Sep 28

Suite, 1 King Bed, Non Smoking | Desk, iron/ironing board, cribs (free), rollaway beds (surcharge)

6. Comfort Inn Santa Cruz North

Westside Santa Cruz, 1.3 km from Downtown Santa Cruz

Bertha

₩149,753 total

includes taxes & fees

Oct 19 - Oct 20

7. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Santa Cruz

Beach Hill - Beach Flats, 1 km from Downtown Santa Cruz

Jill Susanne

₩229,678 total

includes taxes & fees

Sep 28 - Sep 29

8. The Aqua Pacific Hotel

Lower Ocean, 0.7 km from Downtown Santa Cruz

SONIA ARACELI MATA

₩117,876 total

includes taxes & fees

Sep 22 - Sep 23

9. Surf City Inn and Suites

Lower Ocean, 0.6 km from Downtown Santa Cruz

Lorena

₩118,906 total

includes taxes & fees

Sep 23 - Sep 24

10. Hotel Solares

Lower Ocean, 0.5 km from Downtown Santa Cruz

Sanmatie

₩136,403 total

includes taxes & fees

Sep 22 - Sep 23

11. Riverside Inn & Suites Santa Cruz

Lower Ocean, 0.7 km from Downtown Santa Cruz

Siddharth

₩109,875 total

includes taxes & fees

Oct 11 - Oct 12

Deluxe Double Room, Non Smoking | WiFi (free)

12. Drift Inn

Lower Ocean, 0.8 km from Downtown Santa Cruz

John

₩109,196 total

includes taxes & fees

Oct 4 - Oct 5

13. Continental Inn

Westside Santa Cruz, 0.7 km from Downtown Santa Cruz

KAREN

₩122,400 total

includes taxes & fees

Oct 6 - Oct 7

Double Room, Balcony, Park View | View from room

14. Carousel Beach Inn

Westside Santa Cruz, 1.2 km from Downtown Santa Cruz

Carmen

₩135,781 total

includes taxes & fees

Sep 30 - Oct 1

15. Best Western Plus All Suites Inn

Westside Santa Cruz, 0.7 km from Downtown Santa Cruz

Roy

₩183,395 total

includes taxes & fees

Sep 28 - Sep 29

Queen Room | Desk, iron/ironing board (on request), WiFi (free)

16. Beachview Inn

Westside Santa Cruz, 1 km from Downtown Santa Cruz

Javier

₩136,987 total

includes taxes & fees

Sep 22 - Sep 23

Egyptian cotton sheets, premium bedding, desk, iron/ironing board

17. Islander Motel Santa Cruz

Westside Santa Cruz, 0.6 km from Downtown Santa Cruz

Irinea

₩129,029 total

includes taxes & fees

Sep 22 - Sep 23

18. Marea Sol Hotel

Westside Santa Cruz, 1.1 km from Downtown Santa Cruz

Lisa

₩176,696 total

includes taxes & fees

Oct 1 - Oct 2

Signature Room | Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, desk, blackout drapes

19. Torch Lite Inn

Lower Ocean, 0.7 km from Downtown Santa Cruz

Nevaeh

₩135,484 total

includes taxes & fees

Oct 5 - Oct 6

20. Beach Street Inn and Suites

Westside Santa Cruz, 1.1 km from Downtown Santa Cruz

Corinne

₩216,197 total

includes taxes & fees

Sep 22 - Sep 23

View all properties

Where to stay in Downtown Santa Cruz

Find the best Downtown Santa Cruz areas and neighborhoods for the activities you enjoy most. Learn more about Downtown Santa Cruz

A beach with a natural rock arch formation.

Westside Santa Cruz

Westside Santa Cruz is known for its stunning beaches, and with sights like Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Monterey Bay, you won't get bored spending a day wandering around this part of Santa Cruz.

See properties

A white lighthouse with a green top, surrounded by large rocks and people.

Eastside Santa Cruz

Eastside Santa Cruz is known for its beaches, and you can plan a trip to Monterey Bay and Twin Lakes State Beach while you're in town.

See properties

A crowded beach with numerous boats and people.

Pleasure Point

World-renowned surf spot with a strong surf culture, Pleasure Point offers picturesque ocean views along East Cliff Drive and a walkable path with separate bike lanes. Enjoy amenities at Pleasure Point Park and nearby 41st Ave commercial district.

See properties

A street with a clock tower, a tram, and a building with a sign.

Beach Hill - Beach Flats

Beach Hill - Beach Flats might not have many top sights, but Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Santa Cruz Main Beach are two attractions nearby that you can check out.

See properties

A beach with people playing and walking.

Upper Seabright

When in Upper Seabright, you can plan a visit to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Santa Cruz Harbor, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

See properties

Top Downtown Santa Cruz Hotel Reviews

Ocean Pacific Lodge

8/10 Good

"Location"

Surf City Inn and Suites

8/10 Good

"Decent experience, nothing special. Our kids appreciated the pool for sure and somewhat close walking distance to the boardwalk. There was hair in our shower drain, not a huge deal but a little ick. We also got called from the hotel staff that we were making too much noise the morning we were leaving, simply walking around to pack up when the night before there were several parties going on around us and our kids couldn't fall asleep and that went on until about 2am."

Carousel Beach Inn

8/10 Good

"Such a cute place! Great location to the boardwalk we didn’t need to bring so much because going back to the hotel to grab beach stuff was so convenient. The only thing they can improve on is the hot water, it was pretty lukewarm for every shower. But the staff was super friendly, it’s close to the boardwalk and the place had personality which i loved!"

Hyatt Place Santa Cruz

10/10 Excellent

"Absolutely loved our stay. Great and friendly staff. Valet was super welcoming and helpful. Room was clean and comfortable. We enjoyed the pool and hot tub. The treadmills weren’t working. We didn’t eat breakfast at the hotel. The location was in close proximity to the beach and downtown which was perfect. Overall it was amazing and would definitely book again."

Find hotels in Downtown Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz

Change your mind

Treat yourself

Be picky

Check prices for these dates

Filter by

Star rating

Guest rating

Our top choices for Downtown Santa Cruz hotels

1. Pacific Blue Inn

2. Ocean Pacific Lodge

3. Hotel Paradox, Autograph Collection

4. Hyatt Place Santa Cruz

5. Seaside Inn & Suites

6. Comfort Inn Santa Cruz North

7. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Santa Cruz

8. The Aqua Pacific Hotel

9. Surf City Inn and Suites

10. Hotel Solares

11. Riverside Inn & Suites Santa Cruz

12. Drift Inn

13. Continental Inn

14. Carousel Beach Inn

15. Best Western Plus All Suites Inn

16. Beachview Inn

17. Islander Motel Santa Cruz

18. Marea Sol Hotel

19. Torch Lite Inn

20. Beach Street Inn and Suites

Where to stay in Downtown Santa Cruz

Westside Santa Cruz

Eastside Santa Cruz

Pleasure Point

Beach Hill - Beach Flats

Upper Seabright

Top Downtown Santa Cruz Hotel Reviews

Ocean Pacific Lodge

Frequently asked questions

Explore a world of travel with Expedia