Downtown Santa Cruz, CA

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
Good pizza if you are downtown Santa Cruz

Popular places to visit

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

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

4.5/5(2,013 reviews)

Enjoy the thrill rides with your kiddos at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk as part of your trip to Santa Cruz. Attend a sporting event in this walkable area, or seek out the biking trails.

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

Mystery Spot

4/5(639 reviews)

Find out about the history of Santa Cruz with a stop at Mystery Spot. Attend a sporting event in this walkable area, or seek out the surfing spots.

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

Natural Bridges State Park

4.5/5(251 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 biking trails.

Natural Bridges State Park
Pier at Santa Cruz, California

Santa Cruz Wharf

4.5/5(85 reviews)

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

Pacific Avenue

4.5/5(7 reviews)

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

Pacific Avenue
EN5XP1 Street scene in autumn with shops art galleries on Ocean Avenue Carmel Monterey County California

Ocean Street

4.5/5(14 reviews)

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

Ocean Street

Downtown Santa Cruz Hotel Deals

Pacific Blue Inn

Pacific Blue Inn

3 out of 5
636 Pacific Avenue Santa Cruz CA
The price is ₩127,452 per night from Feb 3 to Feb 4
₩127,452
₩152,384 total
Feb 3 - Feb 4
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this guesthouse in Santa Cruz. Enjoy free WiFi, parking (surcharge), and daily housekeeping. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
9/10 Wonderful! (895 reviews)
It was chill

Reviewed on Jan 18, 2026

Pacific Blue Inn
Hotel Paradox, Autograph Collection

Hotel Paradox, Autograph Collection

4 out of 5
611 Ocean St Santa Cruz CA
The price is ₩170,458 per night from Feb 5 to Feb 6
₩170,458
₩197,240 total
Feb 5 - Feb 6
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Santa Cruz. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,202 reviews)
Cool vibes, nice staff, great pool

Reviewed on Jan 29, 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 ₩158,728 per night from Mar 1 to Mar 2
₩158,728
₩184,080 total
Mar 1 - Mar 2
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Aptos. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the restaurant and the helpful ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,058 reviews)
Great pool area, good food and service and nicely decorated restaurant and rooms. Feels recently updated and all of the staff we interacted with were helpful and friendly. Would recommend and will be back!

Reviewed on Jan 24, 2026

Seacliff Inn Aptos, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
Dream Inn Santa Cruz

Dream Inn Santa Cruz

4 out of 5
175 W Cliff Dr Santa Cruz CA
The price is ₩308,034 per night from Feb 6 to Feb 7
₩308,034
₩351,540 total
Feb 6 - Feb 7
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this beach resort in Santa Cruz. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and a beach locale. Our guests praise the restaurant and the helpful staff ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,000 reviews)
Very fun and close to the ocean. Was able to park and enjoy the sights near by,

Reviewed on Jan 28, 2026

Dream Inn Santa Cruz
Marea Sol Hotel

Marea Sol Hotel

2 out of 5
301 Beach St Santa Cruz CA
The price is ₩166,261 per night from Feb 4 to Feb 5
₩166,261
₩192,482 total
Feb 4 - Feb 5
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this beach hotel in Santa Cruz. Enjoy free WiFi, a rooftop terrace, and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,364 reviews)
Spacious room and outstanding location. Cleanliness could’ve been better so dropped it 1 star.

Reviewed on Jan 27, 2026

Marea Sol Hotel
La Bahia Hotel and Spa

La Bahia Hotel and Spa

4.5 out of 5
215 Beach Street Santa Cruz CA
The price is ₩365,459 per night from Feb 8 to Feb 9
₩365,459
₩490,219 total
Feb 8 - Feb 9
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this luxury hotel in Santa Cruz. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and 3 restaurants. Popular attractions Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Capitola ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (93 reviews)
Beautiful rooms, comfortable beds, friendly staff.

Reviewed on Jan 18, 2026

La Bahia Hotel and Spa
See all 1,164 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 neighborhoods around Downtown Santa Cruz

Default Image

Downtown

If you're spending some time in Downtown, Pacific Avenue and Williams-Reynolds House are top sights worth seeing.

Downtown
Default Image

Lower Ocean

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Lower Ocean and surrounding area, you can visit Pacific Avenue and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

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

Beach Hill - Beach Flats

Beach Hill - Beach Flats might not have many top sights, but Main Beach and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center are two attractions nearby that you can check out.

Beach Hill - Beach Flats
Default Image

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(2,586 area reviews)

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

Westside Santa Cruz
Default Image

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, CA