Santa Barbara, Solvang and Hearst Castle Day Trip from Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States of America
Experience spectacular views and awe-inspiring sights along the California coast! You can enjoy one of the world's most scenic coastal drives on this day trip from Los Angeles. As you journey along the beautiful California coast, you’ll visit Santa Barbara's harbor, beaches and picturesque Spanish Mission, and see the quaint Danish village of Solvang. You’ll also visit the magnificent Hearst Castle, home of famed newspaper baron William Randolph Hearst. This is a day trip that will live long in your memory!
Step outside the greater Los Angeles area and visit three of Southern California’s most celebrated places! You’ll leave LA in the morning, heading north along the Pacific Coast to your first stop, Solvang, a quaint Danish town in the middle of the Santa Ynes Valley, featured prominently in the acclaimed movie Sideways. You’ll be delighted by Solvang's Danish architecture and the Little Mermaid statue, based on the tale by Hans Christian Andersen. This is a replica of the iconic statue in Copenhagen. Finally, browse the Danish bakeries and shops before returning to your coach.
Next, you’ll drive to Hearst Castle. This unforgettable tour takes you through William Randolph Hearst’s notoriously opulent estate, famous as much for its guests as its décor. A favorite of the stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age, Hearst Castle is filled with art treasures and architecture from around the world – you’ll see Greek vases from 800 BC next to rare oriental carpets and magnificent statuary. Invitations to Hearst Castle were highly coveted in the 20s and 30s, so be sure to take pictures of the castle and its riches to prove you were there.
From there, your road trip travels to Santa Barbara. Here, you’ll tour Old Mission Santa Barbara, the Spanish Mission that gives the town its name, and learn how these Spanish religious centers were essential to settling the entire state of California. You’ll see the Santa Barbara harbor and have the opportunity to take photos of the beautiful beaches before continuing on your tour.
Following your time in Santa Barbara, you’ll board the coach for the scenic drive back to Los Angeles. It will be the perfect relaxing end to your full-day trip along the California coast.
Involves a lot of driving from/to LA, but an excellent overview of the 3 sites, with the focus being on the castle.
Review by: Jackie, January 2018
I took this tour as a single woman on January 13, 2018. The tour was AMAZING! We accomplished so much in one day -- Hearst Castle, lots of sightseeing and views of mountains, visiting the elephant seals, stopping by the Madona Inn and visiting San Luis Obispo. There were mudslides in Santa Barbara when I took this tour, so unfortunately, we were not able to go there all roads were closed. But the tour guide made up for it by showing us things we would never have seen otherwise such as the elephant seals. We traveled about 720 miles on the tour and I was seriously impressed with how much we accomplished in one day. The driver was also great and played a movie for us on the long drive back about William Randolph Hearst. Take this tour!!
Review by: JULONG ZHAO, January 2018
Very well organised, our tour leader Richard was very friendly and resourceful, and the driver made all of us feel absolutely safe and enjoyable! All 6 of us truly appreciated their service.
Review by: eileenc, December 2017
Awesome way to see santa barbara, solvang and hearst castle all in one day. Our guide was very knowledgeable and funny to boot! Shuttle drive was very comfortable and we were provided with complimentary bottled water and cookies along the way. Took this tour solo but thoroughly enjoyed it. Felt safe the whole time and even made new friends! My favorite was catching the sunset with the elephant seals at san simeon.
Review by: Marina K, December 2017
Three different locations to visit in one day-great experience! Want to go back and revisit soon, Thank you!
Review by: Pegs, November 2017
This was a great trip! Richard is a terrific tour guide and very knowledgeable. My only complaint is that we didn't have enough time to explore Hearst Castle on our own after the tour, but that was more the fault of disorganisation at the castle rather than the tour, and was outside Richard's control. I'd definitely recommend this trip to others.
Review by: Florence F, October 2017
The tour was amazing! Thanks to our knowledgable tour guide Giovanni, and our driver, we were able to cover a lot in such a short time. I loved the surprise stop to see the Elephant Seals after we completed the day trip from Santa Barbara to Solvang then to Hearst Castle in San Simeon. Thank you.
Review by: SHANNON P, October 2017
Great Tour!
Review by: Edwin B, September 2017
Everything was great except long trip but we stopped at Santa Barbara and Solvang great driver and guide did everything to help us enjoy the trip
Review by: Callum C, July 2017
We were excited to do this tour as a young couple after reading the viator descriptor, seeing the 4.5 star review and reading recent reviews however we feel we have been misled. The descriptor states a 12hour tour with 3 sightseeing stops. Santa Barbara was stop one. We stopped at the mission for 20 minutes and drove quickly through the rest of the place. This was extremely disappointing as previous reviews stated a stop at the harbour also. Santa Barbara seemed more of a restroom break than a sightseeing destination in the tour as specified in the descriptor. In Solvang the stop was 40 minutes which was enough for a quick coffee and browse in the small town. Hearst Castle definitely was the highlight of the tour, with a great tour from California State Park workers and time to explore and have lunch approx 2.5 hours. The biggest downfall to this tour, that is not made clear in the descriptor, is the time it takes to drive to places. After the castle it was a 4 hour trip back to LA with minimal talking from the tour guide and no radio on in the bus. It felt like an extremely long ride home. Reading the viator descriptor Santa Barbara seems to be the last stop which would have broken up the drive however this was not the case for us and added to an unenjoyable trip. Another aspect of the trip that let it down was the tour guide fell asleep during the tour. Many towns along the drive were left unspoken about, a real change to all towns previous which were discussed. We felt this was a little unprofessional. The driving of the minibus was questionable at times, immediate slams on breaks at red lights, driving in middle of the lanes, fast speed (71mph in a 55mph) and at one point flying over a speed bump. This made us feel unsafe at points. A point to note also this tour is way more than 12hours. From last pick up to first drop off we were on the road for 14.5hours. This was not altered because of traffic as the tour guide stated this at the start of the tour, another misleading selling point on the tour descriptor. If the tour guide knows the tour is a good 2hours more why is this not on the website?Considering as a couple we have paid $340 this trip really was not worth the money and extremely disappointing with some unprofessional elements. We would be grateful to hear a response from the company as we feel this tour was misleading.
Review by: A P, July 2017
The itinerary was great and the tour manager was very informative. I liked the trip. Mostly driving. _br/_ But it could be better if there was a long stopover in Santabarbara especially near the beach and where it looks beautiful at the entrance. We only drove pass.
Review by: shirlcheung, June 2017
This was a great trip to cover a lot in a short time, but it is a very long day out as distance covered great. Stop at Santa Barbara very short, but a nice drive around over view. Solvang a quaint town. Only half an hour but managed to buy a souvenir and grab some great danish do-nuts. All too short but wouldn't want to miss._br/_ Hearst castle spectacular but unfortunately undergoing renovations of the pool area.Local guides very informative. Not a wide range of food choices and expensive so pack your own or pickup in stop ahead was advised.Good idea._br/_ My guide for day jacob was very knowledgable and considerate. Bottled water provided, so thanks._br/_ I was the only client so most appreciative did not get cancelled. thank you!
Review by: Natasha B, June 2017
This tour was amazing! Jacob was my tour guide for the day! He was very knowledgeable and ensured that I was comfortable during the ride to and from our destination. It just so happens I was on the tour alone because no one else had booked, but I wouldn and #39;t change a thing! Hearst was the best!
Review by: FELIX S, May 2017
Nice drive up the coast!
Review by: Simona, March 2017
A VERY long daytrip, and most of the tour is spend in a car driving on the freeway. Hearst Castle was beautiful, however I don't recommend it if you are afraid of heights since the tour bus drives up the small curvy mountain road to get to the castle. _br/_ Solvang is a very charming little town, but it really looks nothing like Denmark.
Review by: Nancy M, March 2017
A very good quick look with no driving worries.
Review by: Jennifer J, March 2017
We were highly impressed! Our tour guide, Giovanni, was friendly, prompt, and very knowledgeable! We wouldn't have enjoyed the trip as much, or learned as much if we'd gone on our own. Driver, Sam, was great as well. I usually get car sick, but no issues! Van was comfortable and needs were provided for: phone chargers, bottled water, trash can. We went during the slow season and were the only two people on the tour. I was surprised and grateful it wasn't cancelled! Santa Barbara first, then Solvang, and then Hearst Castle. After leaving Hearst Giovanni added a special surprise stop. We saw the Elephant Seals on a beach nearby. We took Highway 1 as much as possible. Morro Rock at Morro Bay was one of many amazing views that day! _br/_ Thanks for a great day! Jennifer and Carol on 2/25/17
Review by: S.J., March 2017
A VERY long daytrip, and most of the tour is spend in a car driving on the freeway. Hearst Castle was beautiful, however I don't recommend it if you are afraid of heights since the tour bus drives up the small curvy mountain road to get to the castle. _br/_ Solvang is a very charming little town, but it really looks nothing like Denmark.
Review by: Maria G, February 2017
This tour was amazing!
Review by: karen.tilbury, February 2017
If you need a day away from LA, this trip is really worth doing. While it is a long day, the scenery along the coastal drive is outstanding before you reach your first stop of Santa Barbara. The town of Solvang is very pretty and our guide allowed plenty of time for us to wander through this unique place and enjoy it's ambiance. If you're a lover of pastries, you won't be disappoint with the number of bakeries on offer, all within a short walking distance of each other. Hearst Castle is a highlight and the guides are so knowledgable about the history behind the building of the castle and family. Due to the distance travelled, you get to do the Grand Rooms tour only and to see the pools, tennis courts and outside the three guest houses. Our guide planned a special stop for us on the drive back to LA, this was great as it allowed you to stretch the legs and have a break from the drive. Our guide was very friendly and had the challenge of having to impart knowledge to both English and Italian languages, but he handled this wonderfully and was always mindful that both groups were looked after.
Review by: Kew F, January 2017
We booked this tour as I had always wanted to see the Hearst Castle. Dorit and Sam picked us up at the designated spot and we ended up having our own private tour the other tourists didn't show up. We had plenty of stops along the way and even a bonus quick stop to look at the elephant seals at San Simeon beach. This was definitely a bucket list trip for myself and I highly recommend going.
Review by: Roz, December 2016
This is a long drive, but you will be so happy that you have a driver! And that he knows just where to take you, so that you get a great taste of the area.
Review by: coffeerose, December 2016
Nice
Review by: Dee, October 2016
Wonderful day with a great guide Michael. Delayed twice by accidents so we were late arriving in Solvang so didn't get to explore. A long day but wonderful
Review by: LY T, September 2016
Our guide was Giovanni. It was a very informative tour. I highly recommend it for anyone wanting a quick glimpse of what California has to offer. The drive was long but scenic. I wish we had had more time at each of the location. But overall it was a worthwhile trip.
Review by: Daniel O, September 2016
The tour was great, and our guide Richard was full of information and a good sense of humor.
Review by: Perch, September 2016
Loved this trip. Our tour guide Richard was fantastic and the drive itself with his local knowledge made the trip. Wished we had longer in Santa Barbara as it was so beautiful. Hearst Castle was a little rushed and we saw very little, took ages to take us through just a few rooms so that was a little disappointing. However would recommend doing this trip, its a very long day but so worth it. A little tip, make sure you eat lunch in Solvang NOT Hearst Castle, the food at the Castle is appalling.
Review by: Ronald S, August 2016
In general, the trip was very enjoyable and the guide was very knowledgable, but the time allowed at each site was disappointing. I think perhaps spending more time at 2 of the sites and not trying to put so much into one day would have made a better trip for us. We did not get to spend much time really exploring any on the three sites.
Review by: manishaffer, July 2016
Everything was wonderful.
Review by: Ramanpreet W, July 2016
Booked the trip for my parents, they loved it. Tour bus was comfortable and clean, the driver was a fun and a knowledgeable narrator, the stop-over/sites had nice site seeing. Overall, it was a memorable and a well-planned tour.
Review by: Anupama C, June 2016
The most disappointing tour I ever had . The company is extremely unreliable . I invested so much for a trip to Santa Barbara and it was just a complete good up . I wrote a grievience Mail to the company , they didn and #39;t even bother to revert back . A complete waste .
Review by: Eva Y, June 2016
It is a perfect relaxing day trip along the California coast. My tour guide Armin was very friendly and knowledgable in making a very memorable trip. He made quick stops at San Simeon to see the Northern elephant seals and Mission Santa Barbara. I would recommend to my friends because I had the best small group travel experience.
Review by: Robert G, June 2016
Great guide and a wonderful experience, seeing wild Zebra in California and tour guide made the trip o memorable - tour group were like old friends by the end of the day
Review by: Yuan C, June 2016
Value for money and overall a well-paced, informative day out! I especially enjoyed Hearst castle and would have love to spend more time exploring the site.
Review by: FRANCINE D, May 2016
The tour guide was very friendly and knowledgable. Very happy with the tour.
Review by: Jakob F, April 2016
My guide was aggressive and rude and clearly had anger management issues. Hi was Italian and with bad English and several of the information gave was incorrect. Also, way to mush time spend on the bus due to the distance to Heart Castle.
Review by: Connie B, April 2016
Very fun and interesting trip Giovanni was our tour guide and he was terrific
Review by: Ronda M, February 2016
Luxury transportation, beautiful weather, add in an amazing tour guide, Geovoni, to make the perfect day trip. Hearst castle is well worth the cost and time it takes to get there. We stopped every hour to explore along the way.
Review by: Maria G, February 2016
Unforgettable memories and experience!! I highly recommend this tour. Our tour guide Giovanni was exceptional. We felt like VIP'S his knowledge and experience of the area went far beyond. He truly loves what he does and it shows. The scenery is magnificent and me and my Mom made precious memories that we will treasure for ever. This tour is one not to be missed if you are ever in California for a few days!!!!
Review by: Katherine J, February 2016
Richard was an excellent tour guide. I'd highly recommend this tour. The day ended with an unexpected but very pleasant surprise: a visit to watch elephant seals.
Review by: Tracy C, January 2016
Richard was my tour guide. Excellent!!! Thank you Viator for sending Richard for my tour. I really enjoyed my day and company. I recommend Viator to others and I will be using Viator in New York City in June. Many thanks, Tracy Cash.
Review by: Gary M, January 2016
Great bus driver, great tour guide. Both very knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. Very much worth the 4 hour trip. Gary - Gold Coast Australia
Review by: Beverly B, January 2016
Really enjoyed the tour. The tour guide was very good and there was so much to do. So happy this was a full day trip.
Review by: Maria R, November 2015
Very long day and unfortunately the driver/guide wasn't very knowledgeable about the tour. He was nice but wanted to get in and out of every town and castle fast
Review by: Julie T, November 2015
Our guide and driver were very professional. Be prepared for a very long day. The highlight was definitely Hearst Castle. I would have loved a lot more time there, as the guided tour took most of the allotted time and left no time for wondering around the Castle. However well worth the experience.
Review by: mcleanfamily, November 2015
Tour guide a great guy, very informative but I would have preferred less time at Solvang and more _br/_ time at Hearst castle
Review by: Laura S, November 2015
Tour was really Good, Tour Guide and Driver were excellent but transportation was too cramped and time at one place was too limited. I would opt to spend more time in Solvang and have lunch there instead of at the Castle.
Review by: Snooz, November 2015
This tour was sensational. Our tour guide Richard was friendly, accomodating and very informative. I highly recommend this tour. Great day out.
Review by: Valborg A H, November 2015
Great trip - Richard was a great tour conductor and the driver was excellent!
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