Capitola Beach Reviews

We stoped by the beach just to see the water. The parking in this area is VERY limited. We were lucky that a meter opened up right in front, but it was a maximum of 3 hour parking in the lot. We were just here for a quick look around and found when looking at the water to the left there was a cement look out to watch the surfers and body boarders. We also walked out to the peer that is visible from this beach. The peer was pretty uneventful with a few fishermen and a bar/restaurant. On the afternoon we were there there were numerous families on the beach itself. Very few people in the water as it was to cold. There was a volleyball court and lots of sand play.

Fantastic beach with a gorgeous setting. We enjoyed Pizza of my Heart while the kids romped on the beach.

It is a wonderful quaint beach with smooth dark colored sand. Two issues. First parking as one would expect was challenging. We bit the bullett and parked in a private lot rather than circle the block over and over again. Not cheap but we were there for just the day and wanted to spend it enjoying the beautiful city and not just look at it from the car. There is a lot of driftwood so just need to be careful actually getting to the beach. We were lucky since the weather was sunny. We were concerned about the rain California has gotten recently but were very lucky. Fantastic views of Monterey Bay. Otters were easy to see off of the pier nearby. Look forward to our next visit. Enjoy

We have been to the capitola beach a couple of times and have enjoyed it each time. The area is clean, and we have never fell it was unsafe. It's a nice place to take the family. There are bathrooms and resterants in the area.

Walked out to the Capitola Pier and had breakfast. Had Christmas Eve dinner at the Shadowbrook restaurant which I would highly recommend for a high end and romantic dinner restaurant.

We visited Capitola Village in April in daytime during our 6-Days vacation in Santa Cruz .we park the car in the parking lot behind Police Station and walked to the town and the beach .The weather was great and the area wasn't too crowded at time of our visit.
We had a great time exploring the small beach,fishing wharf and the streets close to the beach as there are a lot of shops ,boutique shops,and restaurants within walking distance.
It was a nice walk along the beach and seeing a couple of surfers,as well as children playing,and the colourful rental apartment of Capitola Venetian Hotel near the sand.
It is worth visiting the area and the required time to spend depending on how much the activities to be done.we stayed around 2-hours.

if you are a normal, humble person who doesn't look like a model, then you will be shunned at Capitola City Beach. It's clearly a place for the Rich and Beautiful. I was staying in a beach rental,
and when I tried to get my hair done, I was turned away, but the next person wasn't. I'm sure I was polite. I just didn't look good enough. Then I tried to get a table with my family, and again, the cafe had a standard we could not hit.

When we go here we always bring some food, umbrellas or a tent, and boogie boards. Its a perfect place to boogie board to the left of the stage/park area.

You can rent boogie boards here and I think even a suit.

You can go get some pizza at the Pizza My Heart and bring some slices or even a whole pizza back to the beach.

It can get very busy in the summer or even early fall so you should arrive early in the morning (around 9-10) to have the most parking spots available.

Here's a basic overview of how we do a trip to Capitola: Arrive, Get a spot near the stage/amphitheater and set up 1/2 tent, kids boogie board, around noonish get pizza, ice cream 1/2 hour before we leave, and pack up and leave.

Charming little beach town, lined with some cute boutiques, eateries, hotels, and homes. Holiday weekends really draw in a crowd, but there is ample space to set an umbrella and enjoy the views for the day. A quick walk on to the pier will give you another view of the beach, the iconic multi-colored painted buildings, and the coast.

My sister and I traveled to Capitola at the beginning of this month and had such a great time. We had an ocean view room at the Capitola Beach Suites. We were walking distance to the downtown area for shops, food and wine bars with evening music. I absolutely love this little coastal town.

Small town but a lot of fun. Little bit on the expensive side but what here in California isn't. Very pretty views. The food at Margaritaville is the best, however the pizza stand is really good as well.

Clean, busy beach right off the quaint Capitola boardwalk. It was packed, but not overcrowded for a Friday afternoon.

Grew up coming here, but now massive amounts of people and cars plus not dog friendly makes this a big NO.

Always a great place and town. One of the finest offered by Northern California. The local shops and restaurants are terrific. Plenty of parking.

This is my favorite beach in the area. It has lots of character while also being a beautiful place to visit. There are many cute shops and restaurants near by.

When you ask people where they should go in California, no one ever says Capitola. A heard about it from a friend and I can’t believe there aren’t more tourists! It’s a very cute and clean seaside town with lots of charm and the colorful houses are just gorgeous!

This is a great little place to stop if you're doing the Big Sur trip ... the hispanic, multi coloured little beach houses against the sand are idyllic. There are lots of cafes n restaurants to have a bite to eat or drink and the beach is clean and family friendly.

Beautiful little town. Very comfortable benches and friendly people. Lots of restaurants and shops. Good parking.

Capitola beach is a beautiful stretch of sand just south of Santa Cruz. It's best to get there early in order to secure a spot to land for the day. The city has made parking so much easier. In town & also just above the village there's ample parking spaces that are numbered & you can self serve at any pay station in the town just by entering your numbered spritz They take cash & cards for payment & if you use the parking up the hill you don't have to worry about moving. In September there's the Begonia Festival & the following weekend the Arts & Wine Festival. The esplanade affords many choices for dining & the village has a variety of shops to peruse. Lifeguard is on duty during daylight hours. It's a charming little place to stay, hang out for the day & I lived there at one time & still feel enchanted when I visit.

Love this beach that is always changing because of the river that cuts a new path to the sea every year. Lots of kids, surfers and always a sea lion sighting!

Definitely go here instead of Santa Cruz boardwalk. Easier to find parking and beach is very nice. Good shops and food, and beautiful scenery.

This is a wonderful little beach and small town. The colored houses in the picture and right on the beach and many restaurants have outdoor seating looking toward them. Kid friendly but no dogs on beach. The town is also very small, just a handful of shops to walk around on. Unless you plan multiple beach days this is a great day 1-day visit.

I have to say out of all the places I've been for a short vacation with friends this was one of my favorites. Very relaxing. Some of the most friendliest and helpful people. Great food, clean beach and restrooms. Even seen a huge whale while out on the pier. Beautiful scenery in the evening. My only complaint would be I wish more places had outside patios to listen and look at the ocean while eating and having a drink. We ate mostly at the Sand Bar for that reason and also they had great food with great prices. Everything is walking distance and they have just about everything you'll need right in the Village. Cute beach houses you could rent. As soon as we got home we started planning a trip to go back in September.

Pictures we see online must be a little dated. This area has grown a lot! Many restaurants line the street next to the beach. The little cottages seen in pictures have been repainted muted earth tones. But it's still pretty at sundown. If we could have found parking for our camper, I would have tried Margaritaville even though it's not a Jimmy Buffet one.

Stopped by for a stroll with my love and we had such a great time. Lovely views, peaceful walk. Everyone on the beach were having a blast

A beautiful quaint little villlage that has it all. First clas shopping, great restaurant’s, beautiful beaches and even a night life all in one little spot. Even wine tasting, paddle boarding and so much more!! Highly recommend for families, friends and especially romance!

After the horrendous storm last year knocked out the wharf and a lot of waterfront restaurants, they have done an amazing job of bringing the beach back to life. Small, quaint. Lovely. A very nice change from rambunctious Santa Cruz.

It is a vibrant beach scene with chairs, tents and lots of families. Parking is challenging and limited to 3 hours.

Every time we visit Capitola we spend a good part of one day walking along the beach and just sitting on a bench staring out at the beach and ocean. Great place to people watch.

Nice place. Beach mostly washed away. Many Oceanside businesses are closed but interior businesses are open
Pier closed due January storm damage

We like to go to Capitola in October. Still warm enough but the hoards of children and young adults are back in school. Parking is always a challenge so get there early! Summertime is super busy/crowded. If you go in the summer, be sure to check out the happenings so you can watch a free concert or enjoy one of the many events.

We visited the beach a couple of times while in the area. We took pics in front of the colorful row houses. Our younger one enjoyed playing at the edge of the beach. I can imagine how crowded this place must get during the summer as it was quite busy. The main affordable parking is up the street up a hill but we found a nice walkway along the river.

We walked to the beach and could smell it from a block away. The water is murky, which is weird for a Northern California beach. Skip this one and head to either Santa Cruz or Monterey.

We visited Capitola on a nice spring afternoon. It has a nice beach with alot of sun seekers on the sand. Not many people entered the ocean because it was cold. It sure was great for tanning. Recommended place.

It’s Sunday at 11:00 and a fabulous group of ukulele locals are playing the shops are just opening and there are parking spots. Yes this is when it gets excellent review. Do have change ready for both parking and light eats but it is nice to roam around this picturesque village. Yes take shuttles during wine festivals or car shows not only is parking limited but also hard to move around. Or walk or you will give a lower rating during busy times

Fun to watch the children playing, and to watch the surfers waiting for waves. It was a very lively beach and a good place to people watch.

This was our second time visiting Capitola Beach. On this trip we stayed overnight up the hill. Our first time here was I think, September 2020, on a great sunny warm day. This time, we spent a few hours in the afternoon, it was a bit breezy but the sun finally came out of the morning fog. It got very busy again, but if you walk towards the RIGHT side of the beach, you can find a good spot usually to place your chairs. We like that you can walk off the beach to check out restaurants, coffee shops, and of course, lots of boutiques. There is also a public restroom towards the Left side/center. This is our second favorite beach in the bay area (our first is Carmel).

Capitola beach is a special place to spend a special day. Easy access to the beach. Metered parking nearby and lots of shops and restaurants too. Benches all along the seawall with close up view of ocean, pier, cliffs, sea birds and sometimes dolphins. As you walk along the seawall, there are many hand painted tiles to depict Capitola beach past and present. Artists young and old all sharing memories of times spent at a lovely place. Listening to the surf and breathing in the fresh ocean air relaxes body and soul. Spending time on the beach is a wonderful getaway whether you live local or come for a visit. Make your day a nice getaway. Capitola shines like a beautiful gem by the sea.

Sweet beach, extremely quaint looking, but the parking is awfully pricey. We were surprised by a minimum $10 lot, and only needed to be there a couple hours. Sticker shock! Nice folks at Morenos, but feel a bit priced out after all was said and done. I have found more affordable ways to enjoy the west coast.

Capitola Beach is one of my favorites in the area. Smaller and more manageable than Santa Cruz but still has a selection of restaurants, shops, bars and events.

My wife and I stopped by and checked out the Capitola Beach after spending the weekend in Santa Cruz. This is a quiet little resort town and surfing is definitely the thing. We sat on benches along the Esplanade and watched the surfers. Everyone had wet suits on which is definitely required as the water is so cold. Very nice place. However, parking could be a problem her when it is busy.

This is very small beach and very crowded. There is a part of the beach next to wharf where they have accommodations which have all the rainbow colors and makes it look very festive and colorful with a spanish touch. It was a day trip with my family. We spent the day playing in the water and watching people fish.
It was a good one day trip, but not as nice as Pismo beach.

Very nice surprise. Excellent stay We will be back with great pleasure. Too bad the shops are not open all week in Winter

Easy access to beach makes it great for a quick stroll from the street to the pier. Love looking at the cool little rentals painted so colorfully. Nice to walk along the little riverfront too. Good place to collect little shells or cool rocks and make sand castles.

I’ve been sitting in my car enjoying the Beach view for an hour now. I have observed multiple people trying to pay for parking. What a Nightmare. Cmon Capitola! Get it Together and make it easier to pay for parking!

Great beach , nice pier with restaurants, live music ( we were there on a Saturday) , and a small store with a little bit of everything. . You can rent fishing poles and get bait. The beach was nice and the area was cute with many shops and restaurants

The beach is small and when we were there was covered in debris from the winter storms. There is a nice wharf with boats you can rent.

This is a gem of a place particularly after the crowds have left when the summer is over. Lots of restaurants overlooking the ocean, and cute shops in Capitola Village. During the summer, it is crowded, so have patience if you are planning a trip and looking for parking. However, they have free twilight concerts on the beach during the summer. Contact the City of Capitola Chamber of Commerce for schedules. Hint: In peak times go up the hill and find the large lot of public metered parking.

Parking can be a challenge but they have parking lots for all day parking. The beach is wonderful and has great restaurants and an ice cream parlor for treats. You can rent boards and wet suits for optimum enjoyment. Super for a family outing .

We were told to visit Capitola when we were in Carmel Beach, and we were so please we did it. It is only 45 min. away from Carmel, the city is a micro version of little Venice Italy, so beautiful. It is California’s oldest seaside resort town, spend a day there just stroll along the beach; have a drink in one of the restaurants over see the ocean; or drop by the coffeehouse on the 2nd floor for a cup of lavender Latte. So delightful!

We were there for an afternoon on our way up north on the 4th of July, the traffic is very congested, can barely find any parking space. I am sure on a normal day it will not be this bad, so avoid holidays and weekends.

Absolutely beautiful beach and surrounding area, everything from the view to the surrounding businesses were fantastic. Restrooms were clean and showers were close to the beach for use.

My friend and I went to Capitola beach because it was less crowded than other beaches that day. There are plenty of small yummy places to eat around there too.

Capitola is just beautiful. The little bungalows, rentals, cottages, etc., are so cute and inviting. It's a fun place to stroll and shop. Even if you have rain, it's still fun. The down-side is the traffic getting in and out of the darling town.

Was visiting friends who run the Britannia Arms in Capitola. This was our first visit and wow what a lovely place. Great family beach, pretty houses/hotels and a quaint town with some quirky shops, restaurants and bars. The restaurants and bars along the front have ocean views and offer a wide choice of menus. This place has a very laid back atmosphere and we enjoyed a couple of hours at the Wharf House Restaurant at the end of Capitola Wharf just watching the locals, pelicans and seals catching fish. Capitola is a very family friendly town with surfing being one of the main sports activities available. Only down side if you are driving the parking is limited on the beach front/village (max 3 hours so you cannot top up the parking, you have to find another parking bay) and restrictions are very strict. However, there is a larger pay car park next to the Britannia Arms but this fills up quickly. I would suggest that if you are staying for the day you choose the much cheaper option about quarter of a mile away behind the Town Hall located on Capitola Avenue which offers a complementary shuttle bus to the beach.
Anybody visiting nearby Santa Cruz must spend the time to visit Capitola. Highly recommended.

Do not use this rental agency. I found a suitable beach condo advertised for $214 a night plus 7% Property Fees on VRBO/HomeAway . I booked it only to be directed to their management company Capitola Beach House Rentals. They then billed me $1900 for FOUR nights! Exorbitant fees which when I was finally done would have cost me almost $500 a night. When I asked Capitola Beach House Rentals to itemize my invoice they refused and just simply told me it was "per visit" DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY. I have contacted the BBB.

really liked this very pretty town. It contained colorful murals and small shops. Parking is not plentiful so ended up parked about 7 minutes away at a paid city parking lot.

Capitola is a very cute little town. Around the beach area are quite a few little shops and restaurants all within an easy walk from the beach.

The beach itself is not that large, but it is a nice beach. There is a short wall around the beach that you can sit on, and there are plenty of benches that overlook the beach as well. Behind the beach is a stage area where concerts sometimes take place and next to that a rather large restroom - with plenty of stalls in the women's side. There is an outdoor shower / foot rinse to rinse off - no showers in the restroom area that I saw.

There is also a grassy overlook area (up a few stairs), which is also nice and I think dogs are allowed in that area (they are not allowed on the beach).

When we were there, there was a company renting out boggie boards, surf boards, etc and also giving lessons.

If you have a difficult time finding parking, consider parking up the hill in the upper or lower Village parking lots. You can drop someone off with all the beach things, park and be back relatively soon, as it is an easy walk and parking is only 50 cents an hour, if I recall correctly. There may be a shuttle that runs in the summer (?) There was a shuttle the day we went, but we went during the Begonia festival and that day was particularly crowded.

Cute town but don't plan to spend much time there as they don't want you to. Parking is a nightmare found a spot to park paid my fare - had an enjoyable meal with a friend - then wanted to go shopping for a bit so we moved the car thought we had paid our parking - electronic meter said we had till 6:20 but wouldn't print us a receipt but also didn't say it wasn't accepting our payment so we assumed all was well - came back and our car had a ticket on it. The car over from us had a paid receipt that clearly was not expired and they had a ticket for $96 ours luckily was only $36. So lesson learned I won't be spending any money in the little village of Capitola again as they really don't want anyone there including locals! With so many amazing little towns to visit - I recommend going where your business is wanted.

I have visited here many times and the beach is a very nice public beach. It is quite protected so it doesn't get a lot of wind, which is nice. There are public showers available which is nice for rinsing off before going to your car or to eat. I like that it has soft sand and is kept quite clean. The Capitola River runs through it but is shallow enough people just wade across most of the time.

I have been coming to Capitola Beach for many years. I love how Capitola has resisted becoming huge and commercial. It has stayed a small town beach, and is great to spend some time here. The beach itself is nice and wide and plenty of room to lay out and soak up some rays.

Love to go to Capitola, hardest part is finding parking, there are city lots up the hill that will take you down to the square, so that works great, do not miss the wonderful restaurants.

We enjoyed ourselves, but this isn't a large beach so be prepared to practically be on top of each other. The water is a little stinky and cold, but refreshing after laying on the beach in the hot sun for a little. There are so many cute little shops and restaurants! Get there early if you want any chance of finding a parking spot! Was very busy during our visit because they were having some sort of competition and a Jr lifeguard training.

We had a good time at Capitola Beach. It was a Friday and we enjoyed wataching the surfers. Its a good place for beach play. There are bencehs to sit at There are also walll murals which are interesting to see. Its free. Parking can be difficult to get though. Be patient.

The band was Sambada and it was great. The crowd was very happy there was lot of dancing! People brought their kids; and the weather was great. I recommend checking it out!

In the past we've rented houses along West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz. This time we chose a place along East Cliff in Capitola, so we spent quite a bit of time walking the Cliff Drive and gazing out at the surfers along Capitola City Beach as well as watching people walking with their dogs, babies, and each other. It was a sensational afternoon and we thoroughly enjoyed it. The houses along the way were smaller than those in Santa Cruz, bit also more interesting.

CAPITOLA beach will be sunny when others are fogged in, small area but good for kids, no dogs allowed on beach, good place to people watch. Surf lessons available. One of my favorite places to walk the dog.

We were lucky to have timed our visit with the Art and Wine festival. I can highly recommend this beachside village.

A beautiful place to watch the surfers without getting your feet Sandy! The shops and restaurants were nearby. Someday it would be fun to stay in one of the beach cottages.

We loved the Capitola Venetian Hotel. It has the perfect location with ocean views, steps from the beach, and walking distance to everything in town. The staff was very friendly. The rooms are spacious, clean, and comfortable. Perfection!

love this beach, very clean and pretty, good places to do as a day trips, hang out with friends and dine many good restaurants around town.

I learned to swim in the Capitola River that empties into the ocean at this perfect little beach. Many more shops and restaurants are there now, but they haven't ruined the flavor of this perfect little beach!

I must have been there around the same time as the previous reviewer...Not that it is garbage on the beach but it was completely littered with wood and debris. I hope it was a recent Mother Nature event...Otherwise this place was great. Away from the crowds at Santa Cruz and great little restaurants right on the shore. Great place to just sit and relax!

Found this wonderful town quite by accident and am very glad I did. The colorful Venetian cottages on the beach are one of a kind. Cute shops and restaurants around every corner. Happy to have taken the detour through Capitola

Ok beach. The area pictured is rather small, but nice. Beachy shops downtown with terrible traffic. Spending an hour or two there once was enough.

Capitola Beach is simply beautiful!
The tourist town by the beach is full of homegrown talent and quirky little finds for you to take home.
Parking can be quite difficult due to how popular this beach is.

Capitola is a nice little town. We were there for the wine and art festival. They have a great beach. The claim to fame are the brightly colored houses. Worth a visit.

What a great little no cal beach town with lots of great shopping and nice restaurants. The sunsets are amazing.

It's my home, and I wouldn't live anywhere else. The beach is a leisurely stroll, and on chilly winter days, it's nearly empty, making a stroll more fun. The Esplanade is always welcoming, brimming with local pubs and eateries. If you like a locals-style bar, the Sand Bar is for you (211 Esplanade). The wait staff is very friendly, the owners are often working, and the food is wonderful! Try the burgers. For ice cream visit the Village Creamery across the street (104 Stockton Ave). Very reasonable prices, delicious ice cream cones and lunch items. (Don't bother with Souza's Ice Cream). Try the breakfast burrito. Cava is around the corner (115 San Jose Ave) for a cozy wine tasting experience. Check out the 2-for-1 bottle specials. I could go on and on, but just come ready for a casual, lovely day of checking out quaint shops and restaurants.

Cute beach with very eclectic surroundings. No access from the Monarch Cove Inn. Plan on a little hike.

Beautiful beach and the village is just oh so quaint and scenic but our visit was unfortunately marred by the lousy facilities.

There was a big bathroom / changing house at the beach but it was dirty and messy and low on paper... such a shame for such a busy, lovely sandy beach. I felt like it was a bit messy overall, maybe unavoidable for such a busy place. I feel like they just need to staff it better, maybe it improves in the high season.

loved to walk around the town, had great meals at three local restaurants and a delicious breakfast at the hotel..

Parking is always an ordeal and the beach is small. Local touristy restaurants line the esplanade and there are plenty of shops to peruse.

Beach was not over crowded. It looked like it may have average surfing possibilities. Children were playing in the surf and building sand castles.

I have family that live in Capitola and it is one of my favorite spots to visit. Great little beach town and clean beach. It is such a great spot to hangout with friends and family and just enjoy the ocean views and breeze.

Cutest little town with great people!! BEAUTIFUL area! Wonderful restaurants and great food! It is amazing little Gem!

Capitola Beach sits right at the shores of Pacific Ocean along Monterey Bay. It’s about half-a-mile drive from where we live in San Jose via CA 17 S route. Exactly right at the doorstep of Capitola Venetian Hotel, a quaint and colorful boutique hotel on the beach. Small it is but vibrant complete with restaurants, shops and entertainment throughout summer and special holidays. Low key. Feels like you belong. Family oriented. Dog friendly. Frequented by local tourists. Very much a quintessential California beach. A popular surf break and sunset romantic pastime. Walk atop the pier overlooking the beautiful Monterey Bay and watch shorebirds, otters, surfers etc busy do their fun thing. Parking can be a problem despite fee for parking. Park free somewhere past Capitola Historical Museum and Fire station and walk. Not far and do able.

Capitola is a hidden gem in my opinion! It is beautiful and there are lots of good restaurants as well as good "beach" shopping. Capitola is still charming!

Capitola can be crowded in peak season but in off season it's a lovely place to visit. We had great weather and it wasn't too crowded. It was so nice to walk on the beach and the pier.

Capitola Beach is a charming coastal getaway, known for its colorful beachfront houses and laid-back atmosphere. My family and I enjoyed strolling along the shore, taking in the gentle waves and scenic views. The nearby Capitola Village offers great dining and shopping options, making it easy to spend a full day here. The beach is clean and well-maintained, though parking can be tricky during peak hours. Whether you're here for a relaxing beach day or a casual seaside meal, Capitola Beach is a great spot for families and visitors alike.

Nice clean beach with all sorts of amenities close by! Worth an afternoon visit! Rent a kayak off the pier, check out the sea otters and have a view of the area from the water.

What a beautiful place by the beach. We spend the day walking around and visiting the many shops. We ate a delicious meal at Paradise grill (which was highly recommended by locals) and the red snapper was really good. We had a table by the window and enjoyed looking out at the water. Several restaurants and coffee shop available. The weather was cool but a sunny beautiful day. Will definitely go back when we go back to California. A very popular location!

Excellent place to stay. The view was unbelievable from the top floor just steps from the beach, shops and restaurants

I absolutely love Capitola as a beach town. Each shop has its own character and you are sure to find something of interest. I even found my wedding ring at a little shop. The Thomas Kincade gallery has a large number of Disney paintings that are sure to put the Child like spirit into your day. Stop for Pizza at Pizza My Heart and get a T-Shirt. its totally worth it. I know I live in Chicago but, pizza was meant to be folded. End your night at the Paradise Grill for a number of great drinks and calamari.

We just stopped quickly to get a photo of the colorful houses. Our four teens enjoyed it. They thought the houses were cool.

Capitola beach is a great little beach with colorful homes and pier beams making this a picture perfect (ie. Instagram worthy) spot - if you’re into that. I visited Labor Day weekend (Sunday) with family as a day trip. Traffic from the east bay was not bad, but we traveled early (arrived by 10:30 am). Parking at that hour was a synch! It was also less than $5 for the whole day. Some reviewers complained about parking and price $10 — neither was my experience. The lot is a 5 minute walk or they have a shuttle which we did not use. I actually couldn’t believe there was a shuttle for such a short distance. Yes, if you try to park at the foot of the beach you’re going to encounter potentially nightmarish traffic only to find yourself in no parking land and if you should find a spot, all were metered marked 3 hour limit and some only took coins.

The crowds are all easy going folks and safe.

Go early. Park in the lot. Walk 5 mins. Enjoy the beach.

Capitola beach is really a sweet little beach. I live close by, so I am very fortunate to be able to walk down anytime and enjoy sitting on the benches along the Esplanade, to enjoy the view. This beach does not have a long expanse of shore, so it isn't one of those beaches where you can walk for miles in solitude with the tide lapping at your feet. Santa Cruz County has other beaches for that experience. Capitola beach is small, but so sweet! Even in the winter months when there's more driftwood than beach.

There are always lots of people around. Dogs are allowed along the Esplanade, but not on the beach itself. It is very clean and people are friendly. Surfers enjoy the far end of the beach where they can surf in a small cove-like area, surrounded by rocks, well away from the Capitola Wharf.

Parking is troublesome if you try to find a spot right near the beach, that is true. However, just up the street, there are two very large lots. And in the summer, there is another lot on Bay Avenue that has a shuttle. When I used to live in Santa Cruz, my daughter was little and Capitola was our favorite beach to visit. I always used the shuttle and made it part of the trip. One thing that helped, I think, was we didn't bring lots of beach gear, like toys, coolers, umbrellas. It was easier for us to just hop on the shuttle, ride down, and spend a few hours enjoying the sun and water. I was able to carry necessities in a beach bag.

There is an outdoor shower near the restrooms to rinse off the sand when you're ready to leave. I'd put clean, dry clothes on my daughter and she was comfortable and happy for the trip back home! The restrooms are clean and always in working condition with plenty of supplies. The hand dryers are very powerful, though! Once I had my insulated beverage container under my arm and the air blew it loose and it fell to the floor and cracked! I learned my lesson!
Patience is the key to enjoying this beach. I sincerely recommend paking in the nice lots and walking down to the beach. It will truly enhance your experience. Enjoy walking around the Village, enjoy the restaurants, enjoy the beautiful view! Capitola Beach is a sweet spot, summer and winter.

I don't think any sandy ocean place can be bad. This was gorgeous during some nice days in December. A little chilly but oh so beautiful. Capitola is really adorable.

This is an amazing beach community. Just big enough to have fun food and shopping from higher end restaurants to places like Pizza My Heart. Bathrooms are easy access and often on the weekend live music is playing. Great area for easy surfing and space for SUP and boogie boarding. Also Lifeguards on duty in the summer. Parking can get right so be prepared to wake from common lots in top of hill. Metered parking in town is only 3 hours and they do ticket right away so set your watch.

My family and I went to Sta. Cruz Boardwalk and going home we decided to drop by Capitola which is a small beach town next to Sta. Cruz. We were there early so we were able to park near the beach. We strolled along the beach, I love the colorful houses/cottages in the area, there are restaurants but since it was early, most of them were closed. There are beautiful art shops which is walking distance from the beach. We come across Thomas Kinkade shop (painter of light) but it was also closed at that time. There's a lot of seating area near the beach and it's a great place to people or bird watch. I would love to back again to this beautiful Capitola beach.

Such a cute place. So many restaurants to choose from. Crows nest, etc. artsy community with beachy themes. Don't stay in Santa Cruz. The beaches here were great for kids.

Viewed the Beach along the roadside to the lighthouse. This time of year there was debris of driftwood and kelp. Okay for the time

Love to walk the beach at sunset here after dinner! Parking can be tricky, so I spend the day at the beach in Santa Cruz, then head to Capitola for a good meal and a sunset walk on the beach. After 8pm, parking is free!

This is a decent spot to mix things up along the coast. Pretty small brach relative to all the other places but overall a good place to visit with some cheap parking nearby. Many restaurants have patio dining with a view of the sea.

Major storms had hit beach shortly before our visit. Lots of drift wood + sand erosion. Signs said beach closed but many playing on beach and stacking drift wood. Nice view and several places to eat or have a drink. Pay parking.

This tiny picturesque beach village can be VERY crowded. Minimal numbered street parking is now pre-paid at digital pay stations which provide awfully confusing instructions, but which will take a credit card once you figure out how to complete the transaction.
Most confusing was that even the handicap spaces were numbered which made us believe that my disabled companion had to pay for parking when this is usually not the case in California.
I had to call the Village of Capitola today to ask if handicap drivers indeed do need to pay for parking. The lady I spoke with was not sure so I suggested that they clearly post the handicap parking policy on the street.

Parking is $40 in the lot so not worth buying a ticket for that. You would have to search for a spot :( However, twin lakes is like 3 miles away, and that would be more convenient especially if you have a dog. Capitals doesn’t allow dogs.

I had multiple opportunities to visit Capitola when I was young, and during my return in July, years later, Capitola retained that wonderful beach front charm. Sure some of the stores and restaurants have changed- but those that have remained or are new are fun to visit. The water is cold (I relocated to Florida, so I am spoiled) but the beach is still fun. Walking around town is not to be missed. If you are a surfer- you can catch a wave here. Capitola is less busy than Santa Cruz and Monterey and is situated in a spot that gets more sun than those two locations (though foggy mornings are not out of the question). Take a week, a weekend or day- discover Capitola.

We returned to Capitola City Beach. We first saw the town's Christmas tree and then went to the beach area.

It was very nice even in December.

Every year I go a couple of times. Always a beautiful day and the shops around the beach are so nice. There is something for everyone.

My grandchildren love Capitola beach. We go with our half tent, sand castle building buckets, boogie boards, wetsuits and just enjoy the water, sand and sunshine! A stop for ice cream cone is also a tradition! Fun family place!

Beautiful day and views. Love the ocean and the quaintness of Capitola. Visited many little shops and met such friendly merchants who took alot of time to give us hints of where to visit and a little history of this darling town. Will definitely visit again.

I had forgotten how beautiful Capitola is as it was my first time since I was younger. I recently decided on my last stay in California to take a trek that is outside the norm for my visits. Along the way I did Gilroy and Santa Cruz but decided to stop in capitola. This nice little beach town is just outside Santa Cruz along the coast. Home to about 10,000 residents the downtown area is filled with various surf shops and restaurants. The beach area has fantastic sands and waves. Be sure to check out the multicolored buildings and stay for the nightlife.

enjoyed the solitude. nice walk. Weather fair at this time, a little cool for May. Overall, pleasant.

Staying in San Jose and wanted a day at the beach. We had a fab time, it’s a small place with a few restaurants , quite a lot of boutiques and some art galleries

A nice beach with baby waves, lots of kelp, and fossils if you can find them. It's fun, colorful, and chill.

We had a great view of the colorful buildings along the beach from the restaurant. Parking is $1.50 per hour with a 3 hr. limit. Bring lots of quarters or credit cards! Shrimp appetizer was great! Service was friendly and attentive!

This is a very nice family beach. It has all the conveniences you could want: bathrooms, showers, rental store for wetsuits and different boards and lessons to boot, restaurants and shops a bit farther in. It has a nice cove area for people to try out their surfing and boogie boarding, and lifeguards that come on duty later in the morning. **Note - Don't set up your blanket in the space between the front of the guard tower and the beach. They will put up cones to mark the pathway they need to be cleared to allow them beach access. Come early and mark your spot as it becomes crowded. Also, they hold Jr Lifeguard programs on this beach which can add to the crowd.

Capitola Beach, there's just something about it. I love the view, the water, beach, restaurants and bars and the people! It;s one of those places that you just want to keep going back to. If you have not been, you need to visit!

Great beach not crowded during the week. You can watch surfers if the waves are up. The beach is kept clean and is very easy to get to.

Such a lovely town, we ate in a bar overlooking the water, great atmosphere, beautiful beach and pastel coloured apartments!

lots of places to eat, and small shops to browse in, stay the night and enjoy dancing on thursdays at the Sand Bar and Grill. Zeldas thurs lobster special is good too, but check in for that after 430 or you wont get the special pricing

Love this beach! You can walk forever along the surf, dipping toes in the waters albeit cold waters. The volleyball nets always let you find a pick up game, the people watching is great, and air doesn't get much crisper and cleaner. Parking can be a challenge but manageable.

Capitola is a gorgeous seaside town with an excellent selection of shops and restaurants and a really nice pier/boardwalk. There's always a lovely safe atmosphere in the town and lots of parking.

Easy to get to, clean, long sandy area leading to the ocean, easy access to village restaurants & shops.

You'll love it, Go to Zelda's for lunch or brunch or dinner or drinks or just stay all day. You won't be disappointed.

Colorful surroundings, quaint beach chairs and friendly people dot this seaside arena. This is a great place to sit or walk and see the sights.

Fun place to walk around, neat little colorful Vacation apartments right on the beach lend a colorful touch. Much nicer and quainter than Santa Cruz.

A lovely golden sand beach, very popular on warm days. Definitely the kind of place that you want to spend the afternoon at. Parking is bad, so be prepared to park in the big lot behind the police station and haul all your gear the 2 blocks to the beach (many folks bring a little wagon). The Esplanade is chock-a-block with eateries of all styles and little boutique shops (most locally owned). If you plan to have a drink or two, be aware that Capitola police are always on the look out. If you don't like the sand, there is a strip of nice grass just beyond the band stand. Enjoy!

It's a nice small beach surrounded by colorful old style houses. But we were there for an afternoon on weekend, the traffic is very congested, can barely find any parking space.

We went to Capitola beach during the begonia festival so it was a bit busy, but fun. It's a really quaint town on the water with great shops and restaurants. The beach area is small but nice for families and surfers. They have large public restrooms and water spouts to get the sand off.

I did not ever want to leave! The beach was so clean, beautiful. The bathrooms were convenient and clean. I loved it here, I can't wait to go back!

Park your car and get ready to step back in time. That's what you'll enjoy when you visit Capitola City Beach. Off shore you might see seals swimming by, or whales, or a school of dolphins. This is one beach that no matter what time of year you visit, you're apt to have a good time. The beach is small and more of a good walking beach during the winter. In the summer, bring a towel and enjoy the day. If you're a runner, take part in the Wharf to Wharf 10k run in late July. It starts at the Boardwalk and finishes just off of the Capitola Beach. If you're looking for more fun, walk around the town. There are shops and restaurants seconds after you leave the sand. The entire town of Capitola is worth walking around and seeing. The Capitola City Beach is a perfect place to enjoy the day.

All the stores and surrounding beach seemed sleepy but everyone enjoyed our company, so it was the right kind cadence for our sister weekend. The beach was clean and quite. We found it pleasant and friendly.

We had a wonderful time in Capitola Beach on a lovely sunny day. We enjoyed the beach then had lunch, and then enjoyed shopping in the downtown area.

Our room and the floors leading to our room were dirty and stained. We arrived on a sunny Sunday afternoon. The room showed Pizza crumbles and greasy finger prints on the desk, mirror and lamps. The beds seemed to be just straightened and not freshly made. The sheets itself had hair on them and had been in use for many years. They showed pilling. The bathroom was simply disgusting. The door had dirty finger prints, the bathtub was dirty and the lamp showed a quarter inch of dust. The towels had dark hair on them and were dirty as well. We picked that hotel because of it's swimming pool but unfortunately it is just a seasonal pool in sunny California. We stayed only for 7 hours in the hotel and left at 3 am in the morning and skipped the free breakfast after recognizing that this place is just a dump...how can somebody every expect a good breakfast at this place, if everything else is just filthy and unbelievable dirty.

Lots of benches, good place for taking little kids because of the lagoons formed from the flow of the Soquel river into the ocean, makes for large safer pools of water versus actual ocean. So close to bathrooms, lots of shops and cafes, and benches along the beach to enjoy the view. Fun to see the surfers and water boarders.

We came after a decent winter storm and there was driftwood and debris everywhere. This made for Vera building materials for the fun living and the kids.

The beach is small and easily accessible with tons of shops, restaurants, bars and more nearby.

Parking can be tough so go early.

Capitola Beach is a cool way to get the beach without the over overcrowding of bigger beaches. The beach is situated among some great restaurants and shops if it become too cold. Just a cool place to hang out.

I prefer other beaches to Capitola, the Capitola one is always crowded and touristy. There's no life in the water and it's cold. The only real benefit is that it's right by Capitola Village. If you have kids, then maybe, but I think there are better beaches in beautiful Santa Cruz.

My boyfriend and I explored Capitola for a few hours. We absolutely loved the feel of the town, it was beautiful and vibrant. I would definitely recommend setting aside a few hours to walk through the village and sit on the beach.

It's always nice to take a break from the cold long winters. We enjoy coming to this beach especially mid week. A nice walk along the shoreline, listening to the waves, really does the soul good. The shopping center is fun to browse and enjoy all the options. We have a fav restaurant, we always try to go to while here.

On the week-ends it can get a bit too crowded, but today it was mid week and a gorgeous sunny wonderful day. Surfers and long boarders were out. We enjoyed the views. There are shops, dining, and wine bars to enjoy nearby the city beach.
I liked seeing a couple of surfers carrying their surf boards on their bikes. The birds were enjoying the delightful weather also.

Also in this area is part of the Sanctuary Scenic Trail, which is a 50 mile coastal trail from Santa Cruz to Monterey.

We parked in the downtown area (much easier to find a spot to park mid week than on the week-ends.)

Whenever I'm fortunate enough to find time here with family I am amazed at the beauty, peacefulness, and friendliness of the community. Watching the sun rise and set from the beach houses is an added perk.

What a cute little beach town. Lots of restaurants and little shops around. It looks like it would be a very fun place to be on a hot and sunny day!

Capitola Beach is my favorite beach in any country I've visited. There's lots of soft, flat sand, with waves you can swim in on a good day. There are public showers and restrooms just off the beach, with many restaurants and pubs nearby. The shops are unique and quirky, and I always buy souvenirs there. This visit, I bought a hoodie with a heart-shaped picture of a big, blue wave on the front. Blue wave is what I'm hoping for.

Capitola is a quaint little town on the coast near Santa Cruz. Several restaurants with patios overlook the beach.

Capitola City Beach has it all. A pristine clean beach, a quaint town and great places to eat.
It was the first time I visited Capitola, as I am from Southern California , which had many beautiful beaches itself.
Capitola was so beautiful and quaint, I will definitely make the trip up north again!

Compared to Santa Cruz Beach, Capitola is SO much nicer and a quainter place to hang out - ESPECIALLY if you have dogs. Capitola beach is dog friendly - Santa Cruz Beach is not. But love the shops, strolling along the streets and don't forget the romantic trail along the river. LOTS of places to eat too.

Love walking along this beautiful beach to view the pastel-colored beach front homes that can e rented for your beach vacation! Great waves and body surfing! Also, a great selection of shops and beach front restaurants!

There are two sides to this beach, one of which disappears at high tide. The adjoining Capitola Wharf is worth a stroll, especially if you eat at the only restaurant on the wharf. Unlike the State Park beaches and the main beach in Santa Cruz, you will find only locals here, friendly, and few crowds. A wonderful experience along the sea!

Capitola City Beach is next to Capitola village, which has plenty of places to eat and get any required beach items within a 3 - 5 minute walk. There are a number of restaurants that line the beach, for both sit down inside, or outside, as well as several also have walk up windows for food to go. Nice area to go to if small children as there are plenty of places to walk and keep them busy or feed if needed. The only downside is that parking is sometimes difficult close to the beach, and my have to use a parking lot a few blocks away and hike to the beach. There is also a walkway with stone benches to sit and watch the people, waves, sun rise or set if desired. Grab a slice of Pizza from Pizza My Heart and sit on the benches to enjoy the food nd scenery.

Small town with a small beach to walk on. Pars are falling into the ocean. Very little parking but lots of places to eat and see the ocean.

The beach is small and paid parking is limited. Right now, they’re bulldozing part of the beach to fill in the inlet directly in front of the painted houses of the Venetian hotel. A bit smelly and seaweed-covered.

Lots of shore line, lots of sand, not many people (at least not during the week). Very short stroll from the cottages and from downtown Capitola. If you need to park, park on the hill and it's maybe three long blocks to the beach

Melanie J. tried to find out about handicapped parking in Capitola. This from the city website: "The State of California issues disabled placards or license plates that exempt vehicles from parking time limits (on public streets only) as long as the person to whom the placard is issued is being transported and is within a reasonable proximity of the vehicle. Exempted time limits include: signed parking time limits, residential parking permit areas, regular parking meters, pay stations and green zones. It is illegal to park in a red zone, yellow zone, white zone or the crosshatching of a disabled parking space, regardless of having a valid disabled placard or license plate." Most of the village area is pay stations, with a few meters, and much of it is also subject to residential parking permits, so it seems safe to park in most areas with a disabled placard or plates.

I love this beach. There are shops and restaurants all around. Almost always someone surfing down by the cliffs.

I had fun hanging out at this beach late afternoon into the sunset hour. The colorful vintage houses, the restaurants on the beach, the laid back atmosphere was really sweet compared to Santa Cruz down the road. Nice family vibe in the afternoon. Lots of shops and cafes along the beach.

There are a lot of "no's" to observe at this beach: no smoking, no dogs, no alcohol, no going in the lagoon etc. It's not that great of sand or easy to park and all parking cost $. It's a great beach to view from a restaurant/bar patio though! Or good if you want to get your kids to the water and don't want any of those things that are prohibited to be around you. So it's all a matter of opinion, right? Me, I usually like to have a beer or glass of wine when I can make it to the ocean, so I look for other beaches to spend time at.

Wonderful view! Bring beach towel and sun cream, lie on beach and enjoy the sunshine in front of the colorful houses at the beach

This place was great; right on the beach and beautiful scenery. Food and service were very good, and it’s a great place to grab a beer and hang out.

Lovely beach, picturesque houses and a quaint town with some unique shops. Restaurants are good but not brilliant. Recommended

This is a pretty small beach so if you are coming for a family day it may not be the best beach. Because of Margaritaville and the surrounding restaurants Capitola is more of an adult location with not a lot of children. Occasionally swimming is restricted, Great place for couples or vacations with friends. Always good for breakfast at Zelda's or drinks at Margaritaville.

What a quaint little beach town. Stopped in the village to enjoy the sea, sun and sand for a couple of hours. Parking can be an issue, very busy spot. Metered parking along beach side, Small boardwalk along the beach or take a stroll along the pier to enjoy the views. A popular spot for sunbathers and surfers. What a great place to people watch. Numerous restaurants/bars along the beachfront, within walking distance to one of a kind shops and boutiques. Will definately return to this lovely little seaside village.

Capitola Village Beach is a small, but truly nice family beach ... Safe and with a lot of good restaurants nearby ... Or bring a picnic lunch. It is also a delightful venue for the Wenesday night summer free concerts.

Shame on Capitola City. When we visited the beach were in ruin with driftwood and storm damage. We have been to beaches in Sydney which had more storm horrific storm damage but a day later it is in pristine condition. City of Capitola may be organize volunteer day to clean the beach if you do not want to soend the money. Shame on who is responsible, you should be recalled.

too crowded and really small, but if you want a place for kids and a close bathroom its nice. Parking is horrible!

Tucked away in a cove, this beach is everything I want. Warm sand, ocean a few steps away and a variety of food places. Even pizza by the slice. And touristy shops too. Grab your beach chair and a book and head out for Capitola beach. 3 hour parking with meter. No boardwalk or carnival rides but Santa Cruz is not far.

Pretty much a classic American beach, crowded, flat, manicured sand with whispering surf and a picturesque pier. Surfers taking lessons or practicing on the small break southeast of the beach. easy walk to liquor store but no bottles allowed, etc.

Check the above street for parking - free all day and short walk downhill to beach/town.

Beach is clean and sweet river run in for children to play in. Quaint famous houses line the beach front. Worth a postcard visit.

After many years of hearing about and seeing photos of Capitola, we finally took a day trip there! It didn’t disappoint.
I only wished we had taken stuff for the kids to play on the beach...
Highly recommend visiting

This beach has plenty of space to walk and services galore. Love the fishing pier and the awesome, kitchy little souvenir shop. We loaded up on inexpensive, hippy style purses to bring back home. Also, it has great postcards that are cheap!

We stayed in Capitola for Spring Break to be close to Santa Cruz, but not within all the busyness that is the Santa Cruz Boardwalk.
It is a lovely town with a beautiful beach and I will definitely be back gain.

Beautiful beach close to shops and restaurants
Great views of Monterey bay with patio seating at restaurants overlooking right on the beach

This beach is always packed with tourists and is PERFECT for that. Shops in Capitola village are mediocre at best. The SURFING at Capitola is always a crowded but mellow scene. Parking is always a challenge.

What an amazing place. We love the beach and shops and food here at Capitola Beach. Order a pizza at Pizza My Heart and eat while sitting watching the waves. Go to the far left as you face the ocean to watch the surfers during the day and a nice place to buggy board too.

There is a quaint circle of shops and restaurants down by the beach. The shops close by 7, so do your gift shopping early.

Just a great low key chill beach.
No dogs, or smoking. small beach , limited parking. Lots of little shops and restaurants. Parking is per app.with a 3 hr. Limit. Check out Mr. toots for coffee or Mijos for tacos if you go.

Pretty beach with calm ocean water and seals swimming about. The hotels and restaurants around are painted vibrant colors and it creates such a cool environment - almost Venice like. Downtown Capitola and its beach are just lovely and quaint.

We found this beach to be a nice place to hangout when visiting the Monterey area. It has many small shops and nice restaurants. We bought pizza and brought them to the beach and had lunch. There were seating walls & benches next to the sandy beach area. We had a very enjoyable and relaxing lunch. There was a short boardwalk and viewing area for watching surfers. Only problem is that the parking lots are a little far away. Only street parking is close by.

Great family friendly beach for swimming and body boarding. Several restaurants have beach access and an overall cute beach town with several fun festivals throughout the summer and early fall.

We stayed in Capitola for two nights. Ate at the same restaurant (Paradise Beach Grille) and had a wonderful time. Parking can be a challenge but it’s well worth it!

Every week, sometimes every day, the Capitola beach changes. The geographic blend of open ocean, large tides, storms, an alternating evolving trickle, stream, river, torrent, or lagoon of the Soquel Creek (depending on time of year and rainfall) shifts sand, delivers logs and various driftwood, moves rocks, topples eroding cliffs, and constantly surprises human and sea life. The ocean giveth and the ocean taketh away. Be a geobiologist. Enjoy. BUT, check the tides; dont get stranded.

Originally, we were going to stop here to eat lunch, but because we got out late, we ate in Half Moon Bay, instead. We thought about skipping Capitola altogether as a stop on the way to the Tickle Pink Inn in Carmel, but in the end, we decided to just see the beach. I'm glad we did. Capitola, at least the part by the beach, has a cutesy vibe. The beach, itself, is just plain good. Nice view, the sand is nice. It's sort of like a circle, as I remember it and it's not super wide, but is fairly deep. It has a feeling of intimacy, to me. And there are stores and restaurants around. Both my wife annd I liked it and thought we might want to come back and stay there for a very relaxing few days. Just veg. Put a towel down on the sand. Take a dip. Read a book. That sort of thing. Go to a nice dinner. Sounds good.

Maybe because there were lots of people on the beach, that’s why it looks a bit shabby. The town of Capitola is very charming and I hope everyone does their job to clean up after each used. We will all benefit and enjoy it more ..... so everyone please be mindful and courteous ...... let’s keep our planet clean‼️

Took our dog for a walk here, leashed of course. The beach, like others in the area are good for long walks and interesting views. This beach has California’s first condos, gaily painted so they can’t be missed.

When my wife and I dated, we used to bike here from Santa Cruz. It can get really crowded during the weekends, so if I were you, take a Monday off and go here.

Now that I have kids, we like to stroll here at least once a month. When I have visitors from out of town, we take them here. Very picturesque, very beautiful. They have houses for rent along the river.

This is a nice beach that is kept clean by the city. They have their large tractor device that rakes the sand everyday which picks up the garbage in the mornings. The water temperature is too cold for me and it is often windy here but that's typical at most Northern California beaches!

There are probably a dozen restaurants along the beach that you can get great food from, souvenir and ice cream shops also surround this beach.

There is some limited parking along the street which fronts the beach. There are also several paid parking lots in the surrounding streets but be prepared to walk several blocks or take a shuttle to get to the beach. If you're going to walk and have young children a wagon would be helpful to pull the kids and all your beach goodies.

The San Lorenzo river feeds into the ocean during certain times of the year and ends just opposite the beach and creates a pond like area during the summer months directly in front of the volleyball and colorful motel area.

Overall this is a nice beach to visit and a quieter vibe than the Santa Cruz Boardwalk.

lovely beach, shops are also really nice restaurants are very good, we had an excellent meal at Paradise Island

Pretty views of wharf. The wharf is pretty big. Ocean waves come in soft and steady, so a calming effect after busy day.

Great beach with lots of clean sand, water is cold.
Capitols Village is entertainment for the family, lots of quaint little shops

Great spot to avoid north winds . Restaurants very busy Might be difficult to obtain
A meal without queuing. Coffee at a local restaurant was very American ,not strong .

I love Capitola Beach but don't go on the weekend unless you like crowds. Dogs not allowed. Parking challenging. Fun shopping and restaurants easlily accessible.

We spent a good part of our trip at and around the beach. It was so beautiful. I love the beach and the surroundings and if I could I would move down here. The beach was so clean and I was impressed to see the life guards keeping watch. There were people all around laughing,eating and enjoying the wonderful weather. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and now that my husband and I retired we take every advantage of driving down along the coast and it is spectular. Will do it again very soon.

Wonderful, lively yet relaxing town worth the visit. We spent an entire day exploring Capitola and had a great time. Weather for the end of April was very nice for this Midwestern couple. Temps were in the mid to high 60s. The day started off cloudy, but cleared up by early afternoon. Locals were dressed for colder weather while we were fine in jeans and a tshirt. A light sweater was fine for when the wind picked up and walking along the beach. A light jacket was handy toward early evening.
Pros: totally walkable town, but wear comfy shoes. Lots to see and do from shopping, art galleries, the beach (there was swimming and surfing), dining. Public restrooms available. Beach is sandy and clean. Beautiful scenery from the unique buildings to gardens.

Cons: there are no fast food options so be warned, esp if you have younger kids. The town is best accessed on foot so those with mobility concerns should plan accordingly. Restaurants are on the more expensive side, even for California. Good food can be had, but it's pretty much only American fare. Shops are plentiful, but it's a tourist town and they cater to that.

We loved our trip to Capitola and will definitely be back for another day trip!

Special note: the owners of the beach condos are kind enough to let visitors see their unique gated community up close. Please be respectful.

It is real surprise. Close to Santa Cruz this small area is like a time jump. Small beach surrounded by colorful old style houses. Perfect for half a day out of time

Capitola is somewhat unknown by many California natives beyond the Central Coast. First-time visitors to California tend to miss our little town. The beach is a gem, but parking is difficult.

The beach shores many boats, surfers and kids. No alcohol, smoking, dogs, glass containers, open fires or overnight camping allowed. Right next to the adorable little town.

This beach had benches where you could sit and enjoy the beach even if you weren't actually on the sand. Restaurants and shops were nearby with outdoor dining. Seems like most folks brought pizza boxes to the beach from nearby eatery. A great place to enjoy the sun and sand.

Had a great beach day with family here. Went on Saturday so parking was a challenge but the beach and atmosphere was great

Not a beach you go take a walk on. Very small and crowded. One nice thing was there was a Wednesday night concert during the summer months. Very enjoyable.

I love going to this beach because it has so much to offer. Nice family friendly beach, lots of restaurants and cool boutique shops and just all around great place to visit.

I love Capitola Village. Often on Sundays there's a street fair and great music.
People come to Capitola Beach to learn how to surf. The surf is shallow enough and perfect for even very young kids.

Clean, safe, fun beach right in the village of Capitola. Great people watching and restaurants within feet of the sand. Metered Parking on the sand with a large lot a block.or two away. The beach is raked daily so it's smooth and clean. Really cute lovely area.

Small town center to walk around with lots of shops, if you are into that. Dogs it allowed on the beach and you cannot see the house colors with walking on the beach. Parking is challenging near the area. Have fun!

great small town beach town, both very nice and total local style.
Best in off season- fog is gone in off season

Nice little beach with white sand. It was family orientated and good for young children.Cute cove for beginning surfers, especially children. Very pleasant afternoon was spent their. Parking can be difficult as it appeared to be a very popular area with lots of restaurants and shops.

We went there by chance but we have been very satisfied. There was a very nice sandy beach and everbody were wave surfing . There were many different colour painted house at beach . It was imperessive for us . Everbody when go to Santa Cruz should go there . There were many kind of very sweet restaurant in that area . I highly reccommend to all of people .

This is a big surfer beach and has a few resturants and shops close by and some are on the beach. There is also a pier you can fish on. The beach isn't large but good if you just visiting to relax a few days.

Beautiful beach, lovely people, lots to do and see and don't miss dinner at Shadow Brook, romantic with fabulous food.

Beautiful sandy beach at the mouth of a river with summer concerts, colorful rental option right at the water, plenty of quaint boutique shopping and interesting bar/restaurant options. A total must see if you are in the Santa Cruz area.

A good place to spend an afternoon with the family. A lot of shopping close by and many places eat. With a lot of food choices.

If you are heading to the Central Coast of California this quaint and charming beach town is a must, great restaurants, shopping and lodging is only steps away, park your car for the weekend or week and simply explore the amazing gem.

Most people think of Capitola Beach as the Esplanade, but you can escape the crowds if you park further away and walk from the New Brighton end of the beach, and entry into that State Park on foot is free. There are also paths leading down to the beach from the residential side.

Little town, fair size beach, pretty houses along. It was a perfect trip for Sunday. Small shops and small coffee shops too.

We enjoyed the handmade tiles decorating the wall along the walkway. LOTS of driftwood on the beach made the walk interesting.

Make sure you are aware of the "regulations" currently in place.
If the beach had been available more, we would have had a fantastic time.

Right on the beach Capitola is lovely. Picket fences and wooden buildings on the beach front it is very quaint. A range of restaurants and bars including Margaritaville and the Britannia Arms. Lovely beach and bay.

we went on a warm sunday afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed the beach, perfect for family with kids. marianne's icecream and pizza my heart are nearby. picturesque beach with colorful houses and a creek running, had a fabulous time. water was warm as well, perfect for playing

We love to spend time here. The family loves to play on the beach and splash in the water. We can enjoy sitting in the sun and watching the children play. Good food, ice cream, and souvenir shops in the village as well. Kids make memories every time we visit.

As a last minute visitor to Capitola we weren't sure what to expect. It is a surfers paradise, so was full of all sorts of people surfing. There are benches alng side the small promenade to watch them and keep eye out for dolphins. It was a beautiful way to spend a couple of hours.

I personally never heard of this town before, though it has been considered California's oldest seaside resort. I instantly fell in love with this town and am definitely considering to come back again soon and perhaps stay overnight. Since we came here on Memorial Day weekend, to find parking was a nightmare and the beach was over crowded, absolutely no place to sit! So we decided to just walk around town, the beach and wharf area and took LOTS of pictures of this cute, picturesque Mediterranean-feel village. It was not easy to find the perfect spot to take pictures of the colorful houses/complex along the shore but we finally got to the other side where the public restrooms are and managed to take some pictures but because of the direction of the sunlight they didn't come out too well.
Anyways, it was all worth it, thought this place was much more interesting than the nearby touristy Santa Cruz.

Capitola was always a vacation destination. We usually end up at the beach the same week they are holding junior life guard classes. It is busier, of course, that time of year. You can fish off the pier, boogie board in the kelp (sharks don’t do kelp), and enjoy the view. There are volley ball nets and a small lagoon area that used to be a river that lead to the sea (sort of like the one in Rio Del Mar). There are lots of trash receptacles and as a result, not a lot of trash. The beach is smaller than others, shallower, so it gets full quickly. There are evening concerts in the summer and the local eateries have weekday/night specials. The cheapest place to park is the “lower lot” or the $10 all day lot by the Britannia arms. Parking is very limited and parking enforcement is on their A game at this beach. Don’t be a second late to the meter. They also chalk your tires while you are parked. Do not attempt to clean off the chalk.

If you are craving the classic SoCal feel but you are in Northern Cal, Capitola is the place to go. Laid back, cool beach vibe. Tons of places to eat. Such a great beach town.

There is an adequate amount of parking during the week. You must pay up front at a parking station. The beach has pretty views, restrooms and some shops with treats etc. It makes for a pretty nice day at the beach. The day we were there, life guard training was being held so some of the area was corded off. We ended up moving to a nicer wider section and stayed several hours.

I use the opportunity to go into Capitola Village as a park away and walk in along either cliff...for excercise. My favorite time is Wed Nights during the Twilight Music Concerts over the summer. Bring friends, walk, listen and dance to the music, have a drink or dine. THIS IS THE LIFE of smiles!

Capitola City Beach is a great place to play Frisbee, suntan, paddleboard, and body board. The area is protected from direct ocean current and faces south so is warmer when the sun is out and not so windy.

It is a beautiful beach but at this time full of debris, wood, and algae. However, we were told that in April-May bulldozer come in every morning at 5 and then topped of with fresh sand. I am sure it looks better then. Still enjoyed our walk on the beach and the view.

We parked in the Capitola Village parking which is a short walk to the beach. We visited on a weekday and the beach was clean and not too crowded. This really is a lovely spot with restaurants and amenities near by.

There are amazing ocean, beach and surf vistas. You can sit in the fabulous overlooks and view surfers catching waves. There is even a beach dog park where you do not have to use a leash. Capitola is one of the origins of surfing and there is a nice museum in a lighthouse.

I go to Capitola quite often. The beach is nice and the village is also. I like to go hear the Wednesday evening free concerts! There are also some small unique stores.

With good restaurants at the beach edge , nice waves and a distant view of Monterey, this is a great place to take in the sun. The water is cold this far north but is warm enough to swim in late Summer/early fall. Lots of surfing in wetsuits to the left of the beach as you face the water. Opal Cliffs there is accessible at low tide and you an see lots of fossils in the exposed rock. It is illegal to take opals from the cliff faceo f the Cliff of that name.

We visited Capitola Beach, the biggest issue is parking; however, there is a public parking lot about 2 blocks away, near the Police station, on Bay Street.

Kinda the opposite of real Santa Cruz— it’s prettied up for the middle aged suburban people. No style, no energy...Just blah blah blah.

Over-priced women’s boutiques combined with T-shirt and trinket shops.

A couple of restaurants mixed in. Nice little beach.
Crowded parking.

Capitola Beach could be a lot nicer if it were cleaned up. We noticed garbage and wood all around the beach itself. The surrounding area is nice because there are shops and restaurants, but the beach itself is average.

This is a main tourist beach in the Santa Cruz area, and one of the best. It can be a little crowded sometimes, but it's a nice beach for having lots of facilities close by and it's more protected than many other beaches.

This little gem was voted one of the 5 Best Coastal Towns in Sunset magazine for a reason:

http://www.sunset.com/travel/ocean-towns

Being California's oldest seaside resort town, Capitola is only 1.7 square miles in size. But this little gem of a town exemplifies quality over quantity.
See the Soquel Creek drain into the ocean surrounded by a Euro style little seaside village with great restaurants and a quaint beach. Look up over the creek and see the train trestle crossing high above the creek as it has since the mid-1870's. Stroll up the street to see the little Capitola Museum to get a view of how this town adapted over its many years. Look around and see the many unique homes rimming the cliffs on both sides of the village. Look ahead and note the thousands of hand painted glazed tiles which ribbon the Esplanade walkway. Walk over the longest standing wharf in California, from 1857. Then look around at the young restaurants that dot the seaside to enjoy your memorable stay.
Note that Capitola celebrates life with a number of events/festivals every year from the Rod & Classic car show to the Wharf-to-Wharf 10k foot race, free Twilight concerts, the Begonia Festival and the Art & Wine Festival.
The best time to visit is when you're ready.

This is the 3rd time we've been to Capitola. We love it there, but parking is a nightmare. Relaxing and good restaurants. Fun for a weekend get-away.

Always safe, with plenty of shopping and restaurant choices nearby. Suggest going to Gayles first for excellent food to share at the beach.

Very crowded with limited paid parking. Lot of surfers and tourists from vacation rental. Cute beach town with variety of shops and restaurants.

A great place for a family get-away! We love spending time listening to the ocean from the open window of the beach house and watching the sunrise over the beach. It's nice to go just a few steps out the door and go kayaking or relax on the sand while the kids build sand castles or play volleyball. We also enjoy walking along the river, out on the bluffs, the wharf, or in the village to check out the shops and restaurants. The village is only a block away so the kids like to go get a slice of pizza, an ice cream, or visit the candy store. To celebrate special occasions we walk to beautiful Shadowbrook Restaurant for lunch or dinner. Capitola has something for everyone, it's a very special place!!

Capitola always reminds me of how California used to be a generation ago. The locals show up to play on the beach and there is a robust area to support them with pizza by the slice, beachwear, and live music after the sun sets. It's a classy, laid back spot where you can still see local kids at "lifeguard camp" running the beach. Beaches further down the coast have a little less traffic, but Cap has all the amenities you need for a successful day at the beach.

Very Nice, Beautiful little coastal town. Great places to eat, nice shops, awesome beachfront views.
Will definitely return for a future visit.

A little bit of heaven right here on earth! Beautiful, picturesque, pleasant and a treat to pass everyday. Stop by!

This is a must visit. I used to come here often as a kid and I must say, not much has changed. Really, the only thing is that now they have a time limit and fees for parking. As you pull up and park there is an attendant that comes and marks your tires. So Beware! They are very strict about their parking! Now back to the good stuff. It is still very quaint and quite lovely to sit on the deck of one of the restaurants and have a bite to eat and some drinks. It's so relaxing. Although you can bring your dog to walk around, the restaurants don't allow your dogs on the deck. I saw people sitting on the deck by the railing/fence line to the walkway so they could be on the deck and the dog can be on the walkway. There are sweet shops for you to mosey around. The beach is pretty big and it wasn't that busy when I was there in Feb even though it was in the 70s. There are benches along the walkway for you to spend time just pondering. If you walk towards the 'end' of the beach towards the restrooms there are stairs with a lookout. This is a great place to watch the surfers. The beach had a lot of driftwood piles. This is a must visit if you are in the area, you won't regret it!

This was my second visit to Capitola Beach. I enjoy cute little beach towns such as this. There were nice restaurants and some great shops. As usual, the shops ranged from touristy beach knick knacks to pricey art galleries. There were a couple nice clothing stores. The beach itself was not terribly clean. Lots of stick and stones to walk over so barefoot was uncomfortable. Parking is at a premium and has a 2 hour limit along the beach area. That is a pain.

I enjoyed the peace on this beach, even with young children boggieboarding just off waters edge. The shops and restaurants are plentiful and just steps from the sand! I had travelled from the East Bay and loved the cooler weather and breeze. It is my understanding there are surf lessons available for children and novices.

Capitola is a very small and quaint little beach town. The beach is very nice, relaxing and beautiful. There are several nice little restaurants that overlook the ocean and have good food. Be sure to wander around and check out the little shops around the area.

While Capitola gets crowded during the peak season (summer, of course) it's a bit quieter and more relaxed than nearby Santa Cruz. Another good time to come is Labor Day weekend. Although it's very crowded, you'll be able to enjoy the annual Begonia Festival which includes a sensational sand castle competition on the beach. Well worth it.

Beware, however, that during the season, parking in Capitola can be a challenge.

This is where you went in the 60`s. Now it has been lovingly restored to its glory days of the 30`s-60`s. Beautiful beach side rentals and amazing shopping to explore. There are restaurants close by so no driving required. The beach is groomed daily and the evening entertainment is always a pleasure. Never a disappointment.

Capitola Beach is nice, not the greatest beach in the area, but nice. It could definitely use a bit of a clean up. We may have come on the wrong day or something, but there seemed to be a lot of trash on the beach. Parking can quite difficult and it can get crowded here, but the close proximity of good restaurants and nice shops are definite pluses for this beach though especially as compared to others in the area. We like to come here on late afternoon/early evening of weekdays when its not crowded.

The beach was very nice and clean. Lots of birds and tourists. No complaints. Easy access and parking is reasonable. Highly recommended for a family beach day.

Have spent several trips to Capitola this summer and fall, the most recent one was the best. In summer it can be quite crowded and difficult to find parking. After school is back in the place is much more friendly and the sun is out more. The locals say that September and October is their summer. In this area I can't think of a more pleasant place to walk and wander.

Don't get me wrong, the town is a quaint seaside gem of a town, but we were really surprised when we finally made it down to the beach that dogs are vehemently not welcome on the sand and nearly all restaurants (even verandas). We've made countless lovely day trips to the coast with our furry friends and the majority seaside haunts welcome our entire family onto their outdoor seating areas... Sadly, Capitola isn't one of them (it's not Carmel). Leave the love ones behind if you can as they aren't welcome here.

I was very pleased to find such a calm and relaxing place to visit away from the traditional hustle and bustle. Surrounded by the calming water streams, the ocean and multi colored houses, I enjoyed my time in the late afternoon and early evening at Capitola Beach. There are local restaurants which you can enjoy a nice meal of local seafood

I highly recommend checking out this quaint area

What a perfect little beach and pier. There's even a local uke group that has a music jam Sunday mornings starting at 9:30am. You can find them at the end of Monterey Ave in Esplanade Park at the beach. Great way to meet some locals. Rather then get caught up in the traffic at the beach, park up in the residential area a few blocks from the beach and walk down.

As newly retirees, this a wonderful place to visit and hangout. Parking is terrible, instead we parked by City Hall down the street. Parking further allows you to browse the shops downtown Capitola. This area is nicer than Carmel and has more personality. We plan to stay there next time instead of other beach areas. This is a real find.

The problem with Capitola is the traffic getting in. It's a decent beach, but there are local ones that are far more chill. But if you are into the "scene," well, this is as Riviera as it gets.

Very clean, friendly beach, awesome to take long walks and play in the ocean.Good for swimming too, however the water is cold!

Great family beach with shops and restaurants close by in a very nice village atmosphere. Safe and pleasant. Nice Esplanande along beach edge with broad walkway and benches facing the water too! Music on some summer weekend evenings at the band shell, we caught an outdoor movie one weekday evening. Clean bathrooms with showers outside to wash off the sand.

I live in Santa Cruz, which isn't far away, but I always take my out of town guests into Capitola Village and the beach because they are so sweet and charming. I like to walk along the creek and admire the little vacation homes. The colorful condos on the beach front are the oldest condos in California. There is a great variety of restaurants and touristy shops. The only negative is Capitola Village has vicious meter readers. It seems their greatest income is parking tickets, so beware.

We stopped in on a Thursday morning to enjoy the beach. We arrived around 10:30 and were able to find is parking. The beach was clean and quickly filled up after we arrived!

Capitola has a lovely beach and surrounding village with great views across the bay. Cliffside views are spectacular

The beach, complete with sand, water, birds, and a pier, was right next door to their downtown shopping area with some stores and restaurants. It has street parking and parking lots. It has a small water channel going inland (very picturesque) and some rentable beach houses.

Found this small town a few mins south of Santa Cruz, nice little beach and town area with some restaurants and a small beach. famous for the colored homes (see pics). Parking is limited to 2 or 3 hours depending in your meter and there isn't a ton of street parking if you want to stay for a few hours. Best is to try the parking lots right by the beach/restaurant row.

My partner and I stopped here for breakfast on route to Monterey. What a hidden little gem of a place. A quaint and beautiful coastal town with an abundance of shops, restaurants and cafes near to Capitola beach. The colourful houses are very picturesque. We found parking extremely easy and enjoyed a couple of hour here. If driving the Pacific Coast Highway, it really is worth a pit stop here. This was one of my favourite places.

went here for a lunch with my wife. the area itself, is GREAT. santa cruz, aptos, capitola. the entire area is a great for a vacation. good food, sorta still sleepy, and the redwoods are stunning, asis big sur. we will go back to this area for sure.

We were there on a rainy winter day. Small, and nice treat to be right on the beach with city stores and food around. However, amazing beaches are in this area and would spend the day at some of those beaches versus this one. New Brighton is nice...

Smaller than Santa Cruz, for those that might want a more intimate beach, this beach is for you. Shops and food available.

Uncrowded, grassy park with outdoor showers across road, plenty of food (fast to fabulous) all within a short walk. Smaller waves, nice surf spot.

Capitola is a great beach anytime of year . Surfing ,boogie boarding ,fishing on the warf. Great restaurants

We stayed at the Capitola Hotel which was across the street from the many restaurants and the beach. A very nice clean beach where they have surf lessons for all ages. I saw mostly children. The water is safe and a lot of fun. Nice shops to visit and like I said many places to eat.

This is a great beach to hang out with the family during the summer. Parking is a hassle but once you get here, it's fun. Lots of restaurants and shops to browse. Also, you can sit at the benches near the beach. It has a small surfing beach for beginners.

This is everything you want in a little getaway. Just an hour out of San Jose, this cute little beach is so clean and friendly. I actually lost my debit card and rental car keys and some wonderful mom left them at the lifeguard station! Great little restaurants and bars to just kick back and enjoy as well as great little shops. Don't let people know. It will be over run just like Santa Cruz!

its a quick travel at capitola wharf , a lot of restaurant and things to do near the beach, its either you go shopping at cute shops nearby , go surfing or just sitting around and enjoy its laid back scenery.

This is a nice place to stroll through the small unique gift shops and have lunch. The area reminded me of the Santa Cruz Boardwalk without the carnival atmosphere and crowds. Parking can be a little tough but if you get there early 10 AM (+/-) you will find plenty of street (metered) parking. If you get tired of the shopping the area has a lot of restaurants and beach area to relax. Highly recommend the visit when in the area

This Beach is a small and busy beach. locals and tourist love this beach. the small lawn area is perfect for me. Ice cream shops and cafes are a few steps away. surfers and dog walkers keep me entertained. traffic but not to bad most times.

Visit to Capitola was great, very scenic and plenty to do along the beach and in the town. The beach and quaint village are safe and clean. Loved staying at one of the colorful vacation rental beach houses at the waterfront (email: capitola_nine@yahoo.com), just steps from the village. There are lots of unique shops and many restaurant choices and all but 2 or 3 of the places damaged in the January storm have finished repairs and reopened. Live music and events are starting up again, Capitola survived the winter of '23!

Our family greatly enjoyed visiting this kid friendly beach. No dogs allowed here, which could be a bummer for dog owners, but again we did not have to tip-toe our way around the beach :)

Parking was a bit difficult but we prevailed - notably the parking fees were very reasonable. Also, there are restaurants and other shops within walking distance from the beach.

Great little beach right by all the cute little shops. Great for swimming, surfing, people watching. Beach was clean, family friendly, no smoking, drinking, campfires, glass containers. A great way for us to end our trip to the central coast.

Mostly small waves, easy access to ocean, lots of shallow water and plenty of space. Free summer concerts right next to the beach as well as restaurants and take out pizza.

The boardwalk itself provides for good people watching, and in addition, there is the sight of watching people attempt to be lowered off the pear to the water for paddle boarding and kayaking – what an ordeal! The shop on the boardwalk has boats and such for rent as do a few other beachside shops. Underneath the boardwalk there is room to hide in the shade if you need a break from the sun (but then again, why are you at a beach?). There seemed to be lots of area for surfing, boarding, and kayaking. Plenty of clean sand to let the kids play in, and the shops and restaurants have a pretty decent variety. This area is less crowded and touristy than Santa Cruz and seemed to be filled with lots of chill locals.

The beauty of travel is not only the places that you come across, it's the fact that you find that residents of an area or other travelers like yourself, like to share information. That's how I found out about Capitola.
From San Jose, the drive took about 45 mins. I landed in town around 0745 and took time out for breakfast at Zelda's on the Beach. Remember that charged parking starts at 8 a.m. and the meters have a max time limit of 3 hours.
A walk on the pier and a little time on the sand revealed some colorful beach homes and the ability to listen in on the days adventures by some of the people fishing or taking canoes and pleasure boats out on the water.
Afterward I took a walk around the small area and did some window shopping.Some of the stores did not open until 11 others at 11:30. By ten, the village was packed with beach goers, families and a few surfers.
Through a tip of a shop keeper, I found more parking near City Hall and the Police department that gave better time limits when my three hours were up. Get there early because both lots fill up fast.
This was a nice day trip as I had time to visit the stores, talk to a few people that put me on track to other shops and a nice bakery, Gayles.
I'd have to admit that I enjoyed this area better than Santa Cruz.

We love this beach and were so surprised to see it this past weekend(Feb.4th). The beach is very small and is covered with trees and wood debris from the recent storms(see photos). During the summer this beach is very crowded with tourists but this time of year is usually empty. There were a few die hard surfers out in the rain. There are some nice shops and places to eat along the beach and adjoining town area. Fun place for Camilla Day Labor Day Weekend.

Tons of fun, eclectic places to visit. Make sure you pay for your parking before you visit the shops. Surfer of all skill levels e everywhere.

We were staying in Santa cruz so we decided to drive to Capitola for the day, beautiful place ad the beach is lovely, it was covered in lots of driftwood though so had to make sure we were not near that, my son enjoyed the beach and went into the sea for a paddle. Was lovely just to sit and enjoy the scenery and enjoy the sunshine. lots of parking nearby but think you can only stay for 3 hours before you have to move your car which is annoying if you are there all day, might be longer stay parking around somewhere else but we did not see it. would highly recommend a visit to Capitola as its less busy than Santa cruz but the beach is still as beautiful. lots of shops as well to look around and also the pier to have a walk along.

Since we had a storm coming in, they were preparing for high tide and blocked the entrance to the sand so the parking lot didn't flood. Large berms were created with sand to prevent erosion. People were still on the sand and many on the sidewalks. Parking must be paid with meter, watch for painted curbs and don't get caught in short term parking. All other space have 3hr max.

We have stopped here everytime we are in the area. Beautiful seaside location. The beach faces west so catches a great sunset.

Capitola Beach is a true local hidden gem, offering colorful seaside village vibes and easy access to the ocean.
Arrive early! Getting there before the crowds means you can easily spot (and say hello to) the cute seals often resting by the wharf.
The town provides plenty of opportunities to hang out, boasting numerous exquisite restaurants and charming shops. Just remember: parking can be hectic, so planning ahead or arriving early is essential.

Well I've been here since 2008 and feel so blessed. Anytime is a good time for Capitola! Park Smart or you'll donate to our lovely city!

After finding a parking place nearby, we wandered past the main beach to an overlook where we sat comfortably and took in the scene. Kids playing on boogie boards in the close-in surf, boats riding on moorings, and surfers working at catching a wave. Interestingly, the waves were not as good as the ones I'm accustomed to in Oregon, but the Californians seemed content with them. I guess one makes do.

Capitola Beach is clean and safe, and a pleasant place to visit.it's a great place for families! Parking near the beach can be tight, but there is a city lot up the road for a charge.

Really nice beach and quite a difference from Santa Cruz Beach. You are not bothered by all the young beggars like on Santa Cruz Beach. Amazing sight during low tide.

The delicious restaurants and beach bars lining capitola beach were so retro and interesting. Seeing the sun set over this colorful artist palate town was truly unique.

This cute little village has a nice and warm feel. You can easily spend a nice relaxing day strolling around. The beach is ok but all the colorful houses makes this place unique. It seems like you are not in the USA but somewhere in Europe.

Quaint, with several small beach areas divided by small reefs that seem to give you some added space. Nice for small children. Dogs are not allowed on the main beach but there is a very nice long sliver of beach below the promenade near where the rest rooms are.
What I found is that if you jump on the beach there along the seawall and follow it around the corner, you will pick up this rather private slice of beach where people walk their dogs.
As you get away from the main beach area, you will find that you can let your dog off the leash. You can do this dependent on the low tide being close only. At high tide the tide comes in to far to get around this corner. You will see folks surfing at this beach.
If you keep going here- you will right onto the beach at New Brighton State Park. If you enter from that side - there is a fee!! Make sure that you have your dog back on the leash when you get close to the State Park- You will see a small park building and some steps there. Each day when I walked this beach with my son's dog- I got to closely observe some nice shore birds and we saw an otter each day.

This beach and the surrounding area have a great vibe. We will definitely be coming back! No need to pack food - there are lots of restaurants around. Some are even on the water!

Heavy fog and beach was a mess from a recent storm with seaweed ashore and sand dunes and valleys on the beach. Different from the sunny beach we were used to. Should be better when cleaned up.

Capitola Beach is a complete experience--you can surf, swim, little kids can play safely in the shallows, and wildlife can be impressive: think dolphins, waves breaching, sea lions, the occasional sea otter, herons, pelicans (even white ones). The beach itself is probably best in off season, since it is small and parking immediately adjacent is limited. But, oh, the charm. The iconic Venetian condos and hotel, in their brilliant colors establish a quirky and somewhat European vibe. There are numerous full-service restaurants, as well as "beachy" food like hot dogs, pizza, cupcakes, and ice cream. And when you've had enough sun, just one block back are a variety of appealing shops.

Capitola beach has something for everyone. It's a clean beach with plenty of available parking, lots of shops and restaurants too.

Although a very tiny beach, Capitola is unique in the way the tiny, colorful Mediterranean style village lines the waterfront, reflecting off of the Soquel creek that cuts through the beach and through the town. Complete with wharf, a winding esplanade, and fabulous fauna, it's a dreamy little seaside village beach.

Nice clean beach for family and couples. There are plenty of restaurants for lunch or dinner. It is a nice town to walk around and observe the ocean view.,