Must-SeeHeritageWineFood

Napa and Sonoma Valleys

California

America's most famous wine country, with vineyards and fine dining an hour north of San Francisco.

Photo: Rhododendrites · CC BY-SA 4.0

Napa won the 1976 'Judgment of Paris', beating French wines. Its towns have top restaurants. Quieter Sonoma has a historic plaza and a California mission.

Best Time
May to October
Time Needed
2–3 days
Cost Level
$$$$
Open
Year-round
Getting There
About 90 minutes from San Francisco.

What to See

2 of 4 are free
1.5 hours

Castello di Amorosa

A Tuscan-style castle winery near Calistoga.

Free1.5 hours

Oxbow Public Market

Local food stalls in Napa.

3 hours

Napa Valley Wine Train

Dine in vintage rail cars.

Free1.5 hours

Sonoma Plaza

California's largest town square.

Know Before You Go

  • Tastings often need reservations and can cost over $50.
  • Harvest in September and October is the busiest.

Where to Stay

Stay in Yountville, St. Helena or Sonoma.

Where to Eat

Our picks are on the way.

Editor's picks. Nobody paid to be on this list.

Something wrong or out of date?

Traveler Reviews

Sign in and mark Napa and Sonoma Valleys as visited to write a review.

Go Next

Must-See
Cities · Food

San Francisco

California

Hills, fog, the Golden Gate and one of the country's best food cities.

Full Guide
Must-See
Beaches · Scenic Drives

Big Sur and the Pacific Coast Highway

California

Highway 1 clings to cliffs above the Pacific for 90 miles, with redwood groves and coves along the way.

Full Guide
Worth a Detour
Mountains · Lakes

Lake Tahoe

California and Nevada

A deep blue alpine lake ringed by peaks: beaches and hiking in summer, ski resorts in winter.

Full Guide

Last checked 2026-11-01. Part of the California list.