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

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

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 biking trails.

Natural Bridges State Park
The place where you can't stay straight.

Mystery Spot

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
Pier at Santa Cruz, California

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.

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

Ocean Street

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

Pacific Avenue

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

Downtown Santa Cruz Hotel Deals

Pacific Blue Inn

Pacific Blue Inn

3 out of 5
636 Pacific Avenue Santa Cruz CA
The price is AED 327 per night from Jan 26 to Jan 27
AED 327
AED 391 total
26 Jan - 27 Jan
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 18 January 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 AED 411 per night from Jan 25 to Jan 26
AED 411
AED 477 total
25 Jan - 26 Jan
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! (1,180 reviews)
yes

Reviewed on 20 January 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 AED 404 per night from Feb 2 to Feb 3
AED 404
AED 468 total
2 Feb - 3 Feb
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! (1,046 reviews)
They had a nice restaurant/bar. It was a clean room.

Reviewed on 19 January 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 AED 951 per night from Feb 23 to Feb 24
AED 951
AED 1,083 total
23 Feb - 24 Feb
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)
This was our 2nd trip to Santa Cruz and we only stay on this hotel. Will go again soon!!!

Reviewed on 20 January 2026

Dream Inn Santa Cruz
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Santa Cruz

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Santa Cruz

3 out of 5
550 2nd St Santa Cruz CA
The price is AED 400 per night from Jan 27 to Jan 28
AED 400
AED 464 total
27 Jan - 28 Jan
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Santa Cruz. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the breakfast and ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,245 reviews)
Yes was good

Reviewed on 21 January 2026

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Santa Cruz
Hilton Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley

Hilton Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley

4 out of 5
6001 La Madrona Drive Santa Cruz CA
The price is AED 358 per night from Jan 25 to Jan 26
AED 358
AED 414 total
25 Jan - 26 Jan
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Santa Cruz. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,241 reviews)
The staff and surroundings were amazing. The staff was friendly and very responsive to any requests I had. As for the surroundings it was beautiful with tall trees surrounding the property giving you the feeling of being in the forest. Great place to stay.

Reviewed on 6 January 2026

Hilton Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley
See all 1,156 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

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Downtown

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

Downtown
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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
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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
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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

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