Butterfly Beach
Butterfly Beach
4.5
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A beautiful stretch of beach in front of the Four Seasons Biltmore Hotel.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
130 reviews
Excellent
74
Very good
44
Average
10
Poor
2
Terrible
0
MrGaucho1987
Santa Barbara, CA946 contributions
Aug 2021
This is a beautiful beach. it is short on services. Not much for restrooms or food. With the Four Seasons closed at this time. The beach is not large. Also Parking, especially at the weekend, can be difficult. But the setting is beautiful and well worth an hour or two.
Written September 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Craig051
Brockham, UK34 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
I'm not usually a beach person but this was stunning. We went qucikly with the family just before sunset and before dinner. Loved walking along the length of the beach and back. Do be aware about the natural tar in the water. We weren't and got our feet covered. Didn't spoil the visit.
Written August 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sharmhaynes
Austin, TX62 contributions
Apr 2017
Beautiful beach, not crowded, easily accessible by stairs. Great place for a morning run. This beach is nice for children, dogs, artists and walker/runners.
Written April 21, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Melissa G
Santa Barbara, CA86 contributions
Jul 2018 • Solo
I live in the neighborhood this is my favorite beach in Santa Barbara. Less touristy than East Beach and in the A.M. I can let my dog off-leash. When the tide is low you can walk or jog all the way from Eucalyptus Point to East beach - a beautiful view the entire way.
Written July 29, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stuart R
Elmsford, NY135 contributions
Apr 2015 • Couples
A very narrow beach that disappears at high tide. Street parking could require a long walk. But it still has some magic and is worth a trip for a short day (no services on the beach) or just a long walk along the Pacific. We went on a very very windy day and had to leave after a few minutes.
Written April 25, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
55Mickey
San Francisco, CA303 contributions
Sept 2019
I love Bufferfly Beach. This is a super awesome Beach to pass the day away. We always have a amazing time.
Written October 14, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anne
Oslo, Norway189 contributions
Jul 2019 • Family
This beach is beautiful and rather small, picturesque scenery. Our kids complained a bit about all the seaweed when bathing and actually preferred Santa Barbara beach for a swim, but this one was quieter.
No life-guards, restrooms or other facilities, but a truly beautiful little beach.
No life-guards, restrooms or other facilities, but a truly beautiful little beach.
Written July 22, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amanda P
54 contributions
Oct 2017 • Couples
My review would be ten out of ten but I have to give it 9.5 only because when you walk this vast beautiful beach you can often pick up tar on the soles of your feet. Nothing a good scrub in the bath or shower will get rid of. Butterfly beach really does have butterflies on it and is a natural beach. The tar has been there for years and although there are oil rigs out at sea, they help to keep the tar to a minimum rather than increase it. The large amount of black rock found at the top of the beach near land (tar) has been there for years and is not a new thing. The beach is a lovely long beach ideal for playing on, picnicking in and sunbathing on. There were plenty of swimmers and suffers in the sea and dogs love it. There is more than enough space for everyone. We spotted groups involved in photo shoots, joggers and morning walkers. It's great at any part of the day.
Written October 24, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Katerina
Santa Barbara, CA61 contributions
Jul 2017 • Friends
I've been going to butterfly Beach for decades since I've lived in Santa Barbara. It's one of my favorite beaches. It's important to check the tides though- at low tide you can walk forever but if high tide there might not be much beach. Although there's a sidewalk where you could take a nice walk as well. But the beach is lined by cliffs or palm trees and the water is easy to enter as there's no rocks on the bottom; it used to be a meeting place for a mermaid group I was part of where we swim together a few times a week ! Dolphins abound! Now I see it once a week for years all year since I'm in a writing group at the house across the street . So I've got to know it's many moods in different weather and seasons and always beautiful !! Sunsets are just to die for here .
It's conveniently across the street from the four seasons Hotel which is a nice option to go have a happy hour drink and watch the sunset from if you don't want to stay on the beach . Street parking all along the streets but watch it during the summer mid day you may or may not find a spot . Usually if you wait someone will eventually pull away . If you've not been to Santa Barbara and you're from out of the country or out of town to snow or orders don't get really warm. Sometimes in the summer when there's a warm recurrent it's just fine to jump in and swim and swim. But other times of year I put on short wet suit. But this summer we've had many sharks spotting so I'm just not swimming! Sadly! I'm sure I shall again. But if you're looking for one of our better beaches this is it
It's conveniently across the street from the four seasons Hotel which is a nice option to go have a happy hour drink and watch the sunset from if you don't want to stay on the beach . Street parking all along the streets but watch it during the summer mid day you may or may not find a spot . Usually if you wait someone will eventually pull away . If you've not been to Santa Barbara and you're from out of the country or out of town to snow or orders don't get really warm. Sometimes in the summer when there's a warm recurrent it's just fine to jump in and swim and swim. But other times of year I put on short wet suit. But this summer we've had many sharks spotting so I'm just not swimming! Sadly! I'm sure I shall again. But if you're looking for one of our better beaches this is it
Written July 29, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Scigris
Las Vegas, NV525 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
Such a great beach for sunsets. Very stunning. Get here early on weekends. We prefer early mornings especially during low tides.
Written May 29, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi
I’ll be in Santa Barbara in April and driving north from Laguna beach and would like to stop at butterfly beach..is it walking distance from downtown Santa Barbara hotel where I’m staying, the west beach inn?
Thanks
Kelly
Written February 24, 2019
Jelly, it is about a 2-3 mile walk from downtown Santa Barbara. It’s a short drive to Butterfly Beach from Santa Barbara hotel. Plenty of parking.
Written February 25, 2019
Where did you rent the kayak?
Written June 29, 2018
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