Santa Cruz

California

Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2026

Shop

Get even more with a Lonely Planet guide.

Shop Book
I really enjoyed this moment

Why visit Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz has marched to its own beat since long before the Beat Generation of the 1950s and '60s. This is counterculture central, a touchy-feely, new-agey city famous for its leftie-liberal politics and easygoing ideology – except when it comes to dogs (rarely allowed off-leash), parking (meters run seven days a week) and Republicans (allegedly shot on sight). It’s still cool to be a hippie or a stoner here, although some of the far-out-looking freaks are just slumming Silicon Valley millionaires and trust-fund babies.

Lonely planet’s trusted travel insurance provider

Dreaming of Santa Cruz? Protect your trip

Travel with confidence. Protect your trip and your wallet.

LEARN MORE

We don’t represent World Nomads, we receive a fee from quotes using this link. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

Take your United States (USA) trip with Lonely Planet Journeys

Pick one of our ready-to-book trips or fully customize your own with help from our local experts.

bookable trip

Alaska Unplugged: 10 Family-Friendly Days in The Last Frontier

10 days / 9 nights

highlights

  1. 1 Landing on a Denali National Park glacier during a thrilling "flightseeing" journey
  2. 2 Kayaking alongside whales, seals, and sea lions in Kenai Fjords National Park
  3. 3 Tasting birch syrup and birch ice cream on a Talkeetna factory tour
from $5,760

per person

book this trip see trip details

Explore more trips

  • Alaska: Glimmering Glaciers, Brown Bears, and Fantastic Fjords
    The USA

    10 days / 9 nights

    Alaska: Glimmering Glaciers, Brown Bears, and Fantastic Fjords

    FROM $7,900

    per person

    See Trip Details
  • Easing up East: New York, Cape Cod, and Boston in 11 Days
    The USA

    11 days / 10 nights

    Easing up East: New York, Cape Cod, and Boston in 11 Days

    FROM $5,395

    per person

    See Trip Details
  • From Bayside to Coastside: California's San Francisco Peninsula in 10 Days
    The USA

    10 days / 9 nights

    From Bayside to Coastside: California's San Francisco Peninsula in 10 Days

    FROM $4,940

    per person

    See Trip Details
  • Great Granite State Road Trip: New Hampshire in 7 Days
    The USA

    7 days / 6 nights

    Great Granite State Road Trip: New Hampshire in 7 Days

    FROM $2,880

    per person

    See Trip Details
  • Hawaii's Big Island and Oahu's Big City in 8 Days
    The USA

    8 days / 7 nights

    Hawaii's Big Island and Oahu's Big City in 8 Days

    FROM $5,493

    per person

    See Trip Details
  • Lei'd Back Hawaii: Maui and Kauai
    The USA

    8 days / 7 nights

    Lei'd Back Hawaii: Maui and Kauai

    FROM $5,090

    per person

    See Trip Details
  • Maine's Marvelous Coastline: 10 Days in Acadia, Bath, Bethel, and Camden
    The USA

    10 days / 9 nights

    Maine's Marvelous Coastline: 10 Days in Acadia, Bath, Bethel, and Camden

    FROM $3,795

    per person

    See Trip Details
  • New York, New York: 7 Days in the Big Apple
    The USA

    7 days / 6 nights

    New York, New York: 7 Days in the Big Apple

    FROM $3,240

    per person

    See Trip Details
  • Road Trippin' Across the American West
    The USA

    11 days / 10 nights

    Road Trippin' Across the American West

    FROM $5,780

    per person

    See Trip Details
Want our experts to design a custom trip for you?
start planning

Top places to visit in Santa Cruz

Discover the best attractions in Santa Cruz from must-see sights to unexpected hidden gems.

Explore all

in partnership with getyourguide

Book popular activities in Santa Cruz