Santa Cruz Main Beach
Santa Cruz Main Beach
4
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This popular beach, with killer waves, is known as one of the top surfing spots in the world.
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Restaurants
146 within 3 miles
Attractions
31 within 6 miles
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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 wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
284 reviews
Excellent
114
Very good
104
Average
44
Poor
8
Terrible
14
Balasubramanian R
Chennai (Madras), India774 contributions
Sep 2022
Santa Cruz Main Beach is one of the important tourist attraction place. Behind the beach amusement park boardwalk and other things are there. Enjoyed the beach and an excellent view. It attracts tourists from all walks of life
Written September 16, 2022
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.
K V
Cologne, Germany32 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
Great, vibrant place, even though I can’t get used to the American going out scene. I realised this only here. Most people can’t afford to go out, so they go out early, get the Happy Hour and then go home.
Still, we enjoyed this place, cruised the broad walk and had some nice walks around the town, visiting sone of the more sleazy establishments.
Highly recommended for a short trip, before you hit SF.
Still, we enjoyed this place, cruised the broad walk and had some nice walks around the town, visiting sone of the more sleazy establishments.
Highly recommended for a short trip, before you hit SF.
Written November 5, 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.
kunfushuss
Pennsylvania432 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
This is a busy but clean beach. The day we went the waves were pretty calm, which was perfect. The parking is a nightmare on a nice early summer day though. The boardwalk makes the experience better, so you can break up the day a little.
Written June 20, 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.
Jill Balgje
1 contribution
Jul 2021 • Family
Absolutely disgusting! Garbage EVERYWHERE! Sad its allowed to be so gross. Food wrappers, broken umbrellas, plastic toys abandoned, tweekers, alcohol containers. Just trashed. Smells like a dumpster. I wouldn't let kids play here. Just gross!
Written July 6, 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.
mini
Fremont, CA197,452 contributions
Jul 2020
We went to the Main Beach area at Santa Cruz. This beach is close to the fun Boardwalk area. There is sand volleyball.
We enjoyed wading in the Pacific Ocean water, taking a walk, and enjoying the views. Many were there too on a delightful sunny July Day.
We enjoyed wading in the Pacific Ocean water, taking a walk, and enjoying the views. Many were there too on a delightful sunny July Day.
Written July 13, 2020
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.
lkonzen
6 contributions
Jun 2016 • Friends
Looked terrible with garbage everywhere. When the tide came in, full garbage cans went into the ocean. When I called guest services at the Boardwalk about the garbage they hung up on me. I asked the Boardwalk security to help me, but they gave me a citation banning me from the Boardwalk for a year.
Written June 6, 2016
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.
Mperez4
Sacramento, CA108 contributions
Oct 2015 • Couples
We visit Santa Cruz pretty often. It holds a bit of sentimentality for us, as well as just being a nice place to go all around.. It has the beach, the food, downtown, and it doesn't all close down at 6PM. We like that we can enjoy the beach during the day, and then still have something to do at night.. Most coastal towns close down really early.. I love Capitola, but shops and stores are all shutting down around 6.. As much as we love coming here, the past couple times we have agreed that we wont be coming back... We have yet to stick with that. But reason being is the homeless activity... Santa Cruz is a family friendly area.. But the last 3-4 times we have been there, we have been overwhelmed with the amount of homeless, and not just there presence, but their obnoxiousness... We spent the Thanksgiving vacation there last year, and we Stayed at the Casa Blanca on the beach just so we could have our room right on the beach and listen to the waves... But instead... We heard the homeless fighting, the entire 4 days that we were there.... The cops came one time, and only because one of them fell and scraped his elbow... We got to watch the cops and ambulance waste their time on a drunken elbow scrape. It was just out of control, there was (no exaggeration) 15 of them living by the restrooms.. They fought constantly, yelling profanities all day and all night. When we got home I tried to find online where I could contact the county somehow regarding the situation, but lost patience with that. The last time we came was during peak season, which I assume they make more of an effort to keep the streets clean.. But still there were yelling homeless walking around.. The horror on families faces is what gets me... This is just not the place for that. Anyway, to end my rant... We love Santa Cruz and probably will never stop going there, but we are looking for other places to enjoy without the chaos of bum wars...
Written October 6, 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.
SeaNSun515
Santa Cruz, CA1 contribution
Apr 2015 • Family
Need to know where to rent metal detectors to use on Santa Cruz, CA Beaches, please respond if you have information.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Written April 1, 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.
KniteRiter
Hickman, CA187 contributions
Jun 2012 • Family
If you bring your dog, you may want to check ahead to see if dogs are allowed. It seems to vary from beach to beach. They are in Aptos, but aren't in Capitola. They are at Manresa, but aren't in Santa Cruz. Frustrating!
Written June 5, 2012
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.
justshyla
jerome, idaho5 contributions
I thought that our trip to Santa Cruz was awesome. It wasnt that crowded when we were there, we got parking just fine, we didnt visit The Boardwalk but we spent plenty of time on the beach and eating out at restaurants. The dining out food was the best, I'm sure there are cleaner beaches than the santa cruz beach as well but it was still great, what can you expect from pure nature? I would have to say the highlight of Santa Cruz would have to be the HBQ grill that we had dinner at ...i'm sure I have the name wrong but its pretty close. It was the best place I have ever eaten at. We are coming back for another visit this weekend. Can't wait!
Written August 21, 2006
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.
What suggestions for activities would you suggest on a Wednesday and Thursday night last week of May?
Please let me know. Thsnks
John M
Santa Cruz, CA4,376 contributions
Weekdays are easier for traffic.Although the traditional memorial day Aptos music festival has died, check local venues on line, if you like live music. Spend the daylight hours outside. Downtown Santa Cruz is not good past 9PM, because of the street trolls. Early mornings are great outdoors, so make the most of your time.
Elizabeth S
Sierra Vista, AZ283 contributions
I know that there is a band on Friday nights in the summer. Where do you line up to see the free band and what time do you recommend. I will be going through there in August and was hoping to catch the Gin Blossoms show.
john v
Santa Cruz, CA44 contributions
I live right above the boardwalk and usually take a blanket down in the morning and set up on the sand right outside of the limit ropes as do many locals or you can wait until 4:30 and go into the concert area to set up again on the sand . The shows are 6:30 and 8:30 . You can also wait till 8 and just fill in and empty spot as some of the 6:30 attendees will be leaving .
SeaNSun515
Santa Cruz, CA1 contribution
I need to know where to rent a metal detectors to use on the beach in Santa Cruz, CA.
Exigeken
Campbell, CA266 contributions
Have you tried atoolshed online?
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Claim your listingSanta Cruz Main Beach - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Frequently Asked Questions about Santa Cruz Main Beach
- Hotels near Santa Cruz Main Beach:
- (0.03 mi) Economy Inn
- (0.13 mi) Valley Inn Watsonville
- (0.47 mi) Best Western Rose Garden Inn
- (0.65 mi) Holiday Inn Express & Suites Watsonville, an IHG Hotel
- (0.43 mi) Royal Inn
- Restaurants near Santa Cruz Main Beach:
- (0.12 mi) The Fish House Bar & Grill
- (0.11 mi) Red Apple Cafe
- (0.16 mi) Cowboys Corner Cafe
- (0.11 mi) Las Islitas Mariscos
- (0.11 mi) Donut King