The 7 Best Things to Do in San Luis Obispo + 1 Thing I Would Skip in 2026

One of my favorite little towns in California that I’ve visited this past year was San Luis Obispo (SLO), and because of all the fun little, and even kinda romantic, things to do here, I think it makes for a fantastic weekend getaway.

I just spent a long weekend here and got to do most of the typical things you’d want to do, from exploring the historic old town and visiting the Mission to getting out into the wine country for some wine tasting.

And now I figured I’d help you guys plan your own trip to SLO, so I put together this guide with my favorite things to do in San Luis Obispo that I actually did myself, plus one thing that everybody seems to tell you to do but that I personally think is worth skipping.

What Are the Best Things to Do in San Luis Obispo? My Quick Answer

If I had to sum it up, I definitely wouldn’t say that the activities in San Luis Obispo are particularly active or thrilling, if that makes sense. Most of the things I did here were pretty low-key, wholesome, and, from my own experience, felt like things I’d do on a romantic couples weekend.

Obviously, you don’t have to come here as a couple, but that’s just the kind of vibe SLO had for me.

There were a few things I enjoyed more than anything else, though, and the wineries were for sure number one. I personally love a good glass of wine, and I love it even more when I can enjoy it sitting at an actual vineyard. There are tons of wineries around San Luis Obispo, so you have plenty to choose from.

Another place that surprised me was Avila Valley Barn. It might technically be more of a family activity, but we had so much fun here anyway. It’s basically a little farm with cows, pigs, donkeys and other animals, and a super cute farmers-market-style shop and some really good food.

Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting San Luis Obispo

Where to Stay in San Luis Obispo

We stayed right in the historic city center/downtown, which I thought was perfect. Our hotel was the Garden Street Inn, which was super cute and I can definitely recommend it.

What I liked even more though was the location. We could literally walk to a ton of restaurants, bars and cafes around downtown, so we barely had to use the car at all while we were here.

Best Time to Visit San Luis Obispo

I’ve heard that September and October are some of the best months to visit San Luis Obispo and other destinations around Central California.

The temperatures are still pretty mild, you can get those beautiful blue-sky days, and it’s also harvest season, which makes it a really fun time to visit the wineries and vineyards around SLO.

Best Cafes & Restaurants to Try

I recommend checking out the cafe and restaurant scene while you’re in SLO. There are plenty of really cute places around the historic downtown, and since everything is so walkable, you can easily just wander around and see what looks good.

Some of my favorites were Linnaea’s Cafe, Scout Coffee, and Sally Loo’s Wholesome Cafe for coffee and breakfast, while Kiko was one of my favorite restaurants I tried here.

Be Aware of June Gloom

Don’t make the mistake I made and visit in June without knowing about June Gloom.

If you haven’t heard of it before, the whole Central California coast can get pretty gloomy and overcast during June. And while it obviously doesn’t happen every single day, it can definitely be a little disappointing when you’re expecting those perfect California blue skies.

How Many Days Do You Need in SLO?

It of course depends a little bit on what your plans are, how much you want to relax and how busy you want to be, but I personally think 2 full days is perfect.

That basically gives you a whole weekend to explore San Luis Obispo and the historic old town on foot, while still having enough time to get out of the city for some wine tasting or maybe a hike.

The 7 Activities in SLO That I Loved the Most

1. Explore the Historic Old Town

Number one on my agenda when I arrived was checking into our hotel, the Garden Street Inn, which was a super cute little B&B right in the heart of the historic old town.

And then we immediately went for a wander because the old town is just so cute. There are loads of red-brick buildings, cute little storefronts, and literally an endless number of shops, bars and cafes worth checking out.

I loved Linnaea’s Cafe for coffee, which was also basically right down the road from our hotel. And then, a little more randomly, we found this cute little shop called Making SLO, where I bought a bunch of souvenirs. It was such a fun little place to browse around.

2. Visit Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa

Of course, one of the must-dos in many California towns is visiting the local mission, and the one here in San Luis Obispo is actually one of my favorites. Although, I have to say, the ones in Santa Barbara and Carmel were also gorgeous.

In case you don’t know what the California missions are, there are 21 of them, and they were established by Spanish missionaries between 1769 and 1823 as part of the Spanish colonial mission system.

They kinda look like churches or monasteries, and many have beautiful courtyards, gardens and chapels, so they’re a really interesting part of California history to see while traveling around the state.

3. Take a Trip to Avila Valley Barn

I had an absolute blast taking a little trip from SLO down to Avila Valley Barn, which is basically a little petting farm and market.

Yes, it’s definitely more geared toward families with kids, but we had an awesome time here too. They have all kinds of super cute animals, including mini horses, donkeys, cows and pigs, and you can walk around and see them while exploring the property.

They also have this really cool little farm store where we bought a bunch of things, from tea to honey, and they sell food here too. I had a delicious chicken sandwich, which was honestly way better than I expected from what is basically a little farm shop.

4. Do a Wine Tasting at a Vineyard or Winery

There are tons of amazing vineyards and wineries in the San Luis Obispo wine country, and it’s obviously impossible for me to try all of them. 

So, if you’re a wine lover, you’ll definitely want to visit a few of them while you’re here. So many of these vineyards are absolutely gorgeous, and doing a wine tasting is always such a fun way to spend an afternoon.

My number one favorite, and in my opinion one of the most beautiful vineyards I’ve visited, was La Lomita Wines Ranch. You’ll need to make a reservation for this one, but I thought it was absolutely worth it.

I also had a really fun time at Tolosa Winery and Sextant Winery.

5. Stay at the Quirky Madonna Inn

This is actually something I didn’t do myself because I didn’t even know about the Madonna Inn until after I’d already booked our hotel. Otherwise, I probably would’ve at least considered staying here!

The Madonna Inn is one of the most quirky and eccentric hotels in California, with an all-pink decor and design, and apparently every single room is completely different and uniquely designed.

They also have their famous pink champagne cake and all kinds of other over-the-top stuff, so apparently staying here is an experience in itself.

I just stopped by to take some pictures and have a look around, but the next time I’m in the area, I’ll definitely make sure to stay here myself!

6. Visit the Farmers Market in SLO

I love a good farmers market, and the farmers market in downtown SLO is for sure worth checking out.

It takes place every Thursday afternoon, and there are hundreds of vendors, so if you happen to be in town on a Thursday, I’d definitely try to make it here.

They have tons of fresh bread, fruit and produce, but also BBQ, sandwiches, snacks and plenty of other food. Basically, the whole downtown area turns into one giant farmers market, and it’s just such a fun way to spend an afternoon.

7. Hike the Nine Sisters

And lastly, if you’re into the outdoors and love hiking, then the Nine Sisters are some of the most iconic peaks around San Luis Obispo.

They’re a chain of nine volcanic plugs stretching across the area, and five of the nine are actually accessible to hike up to.

I didn’t have time to hike all of them myself, but if you want to get out of the city and do something a little more active, this is definitely one of the things SLO is known for.

Things I Would Skip in San Luis Obispo

Bubble Gum Alley

In San Luis Obispo, there was really only one major thing where I thought, okay, this is a little silly and definitely not worth planning a visit around, and that is Bubble Gum Alley.

It’s kind of funny because when I was doing my own research on what there is to do in San Luis Obispo, this was one of the first things that kept coming up. And then you actually get there and… it’s literally just an alley covered in bubble gum on the walls.

It is right in the city center, so if you happen to walk past it, sure, have a look. It takes about two minutes and it’s definitely a little weird.

But I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit it, and honestly, it’s also a little gross when you think about how much old chewing gum is stuck to those walls. There are plenty of other things I’d rather spend my time doing in SLO.

FAQs About What Activities I Loved the Most in San Luis Obispo

Is San Luis Obispo worth visiting?

Yes, 100%! SLO has one of the cutest historic town centers, with all these little storefronts and old brick buildings, but you also have some amazing wine country just outside the city with beautiful vineyards that I absolutely loved visiting.

Where should I stay in San Luis Obispo?

Whenever anyone asks me where they should stay in San Luis Obispo, I always tell them to make sure they stay somewhere in or around the historic city center so you’re within walking distance of all the restaurants and cafes.

We stayed at the Garden Street Inn, which was super cute, and I can definitely recommend it.

What is there to do in San Luis Obispo with kids?

For kids, I think by far one of the most fun things to do around San Luis Obispo is visiting Avila Valley Barn.

The visit itself is free, and they have all kinds of farm animals, plus things like hayrides and plenty of food. I’d definitely recommend it for families because we had a lot of fun there ourselves too!

Is San Luis Obispo expensive?

I thought it was, for sure. I was kind of expecting SLO to be a little cheaper, but especially when it comes to hotels in the city center, the prices weren’t that far off from what I paid in Santa Barbara.

What are some good free things to do in San Luis Obispo?

Exploring the historic city center is completely free, as is walking around the farmers market if you’re visiting on a Thursday.

You can also check out the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa from the outside without spending anything, so there are definitely a few easy ways to explore SLO without opening your wallet.

Final Thoughts on What to Do in San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo is for sure not the most activity-heavy city in California, but to be fair, I don’t think that’s a bad thing.

A lot of the smaller California towns around here, like Morro Bay and Santa Barbara, are kind of the same way. You’re not coming here to fill every hour of the day with attractions. You’re coming here to slow down a little, eat good food, drink some wine and just enjoy being there.

For me, it ended up being the perfect couples weekend. We went to the wineries, found cute cafes in the mornings, had some nice dinners together and spent plenty of time just walking around the historic center.

I think what makes a weekend here even better is staying somewhere that fits that whole vibe. I’d definitely look at the Garden Street Inn or the Granada Hotel & Bistro if you want something a little more special for a weekend away.

I hope this guide on the best things to do in San Luis Obispo gave you guys a better idea of what to expect and how to plan your own trip!

Check Out My Other San Luis Obispo Guides

Is San Luis Obispo Worth Visiting? My Honest Review

Where to Stay in San Luis Obispo: My Top Hotels & Areas

The Best Coffee Shops in San Luis Obispo: My Favorite Cafes in SLO

Things to Do in San Luis Obispo: The Best Activities in SLO

Santa Barbara vs. San Luis Obispo: My Honest Comparison