Colorful cottages near the beach, luxury villas with pools and ocean views, cute tiny houses and even a (almost) invisible house – there are a few dang cool Airbnb in Santa Barbara, California that you can rent here on the coast.
Santa Barbara is one of my favorite cities in California. The first time my husband and I visited, we loved it so much we decided to be spontaneous and extended our stay. Having a chic, comfortable and cool place to come back to at night after a day biking around the boardwalk or exploring downtown Santa Barbara is so important. You need to book the BEST place to compliment all the wonderful coastal vibes of this city. I did all the hard work for you – keep reading for the best, most unique Santa Barbara vacation rentals out there.
Unique Santa Barbara Airbnbs & Bungalows For Your California Beach Vacation
>> Got a question Santa Barbara that you need answered quickly? DM me on Instagram @thewhimsysoul and I’ll be happy to help!
I judge a cool Airbnb based on a few things: style/decor, location, past guest reviews, perks that go over the top (like craft coffee grounds, etc) and just overall vibe. If the rental could be a destination in itself, then I want to book it. (Otherwise, I’ll opt for a hotel.)
Santa Barbara has a LOT of fun things to do during the day (like the Old Mission, restaurant hopping on State Street, wine tasting at the Funk Zone, just to name a few.) When we visited I found it helpful to have a car to drive as not everything is in walking distance to each other. Being a car-friendly city means you have some wiggle room on the Airbnb or vacation home you rent. This is great because there are a few stupidly cool Airbnbs just outside the city limit that you’ll love. Let’s go!
Unique Santa Barbara Airbnbs & Bungalows You'll Love
The coolest, most unique Santa Barbara Airbnbs & beach bungalows to rent for your California weekend getaway. From villas with pools, ocean views, chic decor, tiny homes & more, you'll find the best vacation rental in the Santa Barbara area here.
Location: Santa Barbara Hills
Guests: Up to 2
Price: $311
Yes that's a glass house Airbnb!! It's basically invisible since it blends into the forest so well. Sitting on 11 acres of land, this glass cottage has a redwood shower, pool, hot tub, a hammock and even free-range eggs from property chickens (yum!) It's a close drive to tons of trails or the beach yet hidden in the hills for anyone seeking out the balance of city and nature. This unique Santa Barbara house is so dang cool it even made my list of 15 favorite Airbnbs in all of California.
Location: Carpinteria
Guests: Up to 2
Price: $198 / per night
There is nothing more quintessential Southern California than sleeping in a 1974 Airstream. If you're looking for an Airbnb near Santa Barbara (not smack in the hustle) this one is great. The trade-off for walking distance to restaurants is a private retro Airstream that is oh-so Instagram-worthy on the inside. There's a chic detached bath area and also a deck to lounge on. The Airstream is located on a 5 acres ranch for extra privacy and reaction. Perfection!
Location: Santa Barbara / Riveria Neighbhorod
Guests: Up to 6
Price: $330 / per night
My heart be still, this Spanish Colonial meets California Cool house is made from my dreams! Just check out at the fireplace!! And the ocean views! And that cute AF kitchen! Sip happy hours in that backyard garden or zip down the hill to the beach. This is the best Airbnb Santa Barbara for anyone looking to camp out in SoCal for a few months and WFH remotely.
Location: Summerland
Guests: Up to 6
Price: $424 / per night
This Airbnb Plus just blocks from the beach and you can see the water from the back patio, making it a great spot to enjoy happy hour or morning coffee. There's even an outdoor fire pit for summer nights!! I love all the pops of blue decor in this cottage and it can fit up to 6 people, so it's a fantastic rental if you are traveling with family.
Location: Santa Barbara / Inspiration Point
Guests: Up to 2
Price: $109 / per night
Ug, this one bed tiny cabin is so dang dreamy!! It's probably one of the most unique houses to rent in Santa Barbara - just look at that indoor/outdoor flow. It's a nice balance of nature and city since it's just a quick drive up the hill from downtown and has panoramic views of the mountain and ocean. I would recommend spending a day wine tasting at the Funk Zone in Santa Barbara & buying your favorite bottle. Then come back to this dreamy tiny house, park yourself on the porch and watch the sunset over the ocean. MAGIC.
Location: Downtown Santa Barbara
Guests: Up to 2
Price: $68 per night
Steps away from hot spots like State Street, this apartment in Santa Barbara is a fantastic choice for anyone looking for something that's cute yet on a budget. The private studios are airy and bright and all building guests get to access a joint backyard with outdoor seating and string lights. It's HARD to find something this cheap that's this nice and also close to the city center. Snaps for being so dang attainable!
Location: Montecito near Butterfly Beach
Guests: Up to 14
Price: $2500 / per night
If you're planning a Santa Barbara bachelorette party, this house will check all your boxes. It's huge (can fit up to 14 of your friends) and literally right to the beach so you can fill up a glass and wander over to the water. But there's also a pool, too! Best of all, it's still nextdoor to Santa Barbara and all the bars you'll hit up there.
Location: Carpinteria
Guests: Up to 4
Price: $185
Gosh I'm a sucker for tiny houses. They're just so fun and unique! This one is located in Carpinteria, a tiny beach town just south of Santa Barbara AND it's about 1 mile from the beach so you can totally walk over easily. It's dog friendly, has amazing natural light and a stunning deck to BBQ on and enjoy the sunshine.
Looking for cool Santa Barbara hotels instead? We LOVE The Kimpton Goodland Hotel, it just oozes all that retro California vibes you want when visiting the coast.
Most California Travel Posts You’ll Love
