Solvang Travel Guide: How to Have the Most Magical Weekend

Located an hour away from Los Angeles, Solvang is a charming Danish village in the heart of Santa Barbara wine country. This small town is known for its European-style architecture, delicious restaurants and wine tasting opportunities. Whether you’re looking for a solo escape, a romantic getaway or a girls trip, here’s my Solvang Travel Guide: How To Have the Most Magical Weekend:

Timing

Time of Year

Like much of Central California, Solvang is pleasant year-round. However, some summer days can get up to 90°F or higher, which can make outdoor exploring slightly uncomfortable. Summer is also the time of year that sees the largest influx of weekenders.

Instead, I recommend planning your visit in Fall or Winter around one of Solvang’s three signature festivals: Danish Days, Grape Stomp or Julefest.

On one September weekend every year, Solvang hosts its annual Danish Days. This heritage festival includes three parades, Danish music and folk dance performances and themed events like rock concerts and Aebleskiver Breakfasts.

Like the name suggests, Grape Stomp is a harvest festival where visitors have the opportunity to stomp grapes, receive a souvenir wine glass and, of course, sample some amazing local delicacies and wine. This annual tradition typically takes place in mid-October and is great option if you had previously missed out on Danish Days the month prior!

Finally from late November to early January, the city dresses up for its annual Julefest with nostalgic Christmas lights and decorated trees. Visitors can experience a candle walking tour, seasonal music, traditional holiday markets, and light shows.

Trip Length

As a small town with lots of great restaurants, wine tasting opportunities and cute shops, a 2-3 day weekend is perfect for exploring Solvang.

Solvang Travel Guide: Jordan Gassner window shopping at the Danish Mill Bakery & Coffee Shop in Solvang, California, USA

Transportation

Travel Blogger Jordan Gassner standing and smiling on Alisal Road in front of Vinhaus in Solvang, California

How To Get There

If arriving from out of state, the easiest airports to fly into are the Santa Barbara (SBA), Burbank (BUR) and Los Angeles (LAX) airports. From there, Solvang is approximately a 1-2.5 hour drive, depending on your starting point. The furthest of these starting points is LAX at about 144 miles away.

It’s also possible to visit from Northern California, but driving from larger hubs like San Francisco or Sacramento typically takes around 4.5-6 hours. So unless Solvang is just one of your stops on a much larger California roadtrip, I’d recommend driving-in from Southern California.

How To Get Around

Solvang is extremely walkable, as most restaurants and shops are located in the downtown area. However, to experience a bit more of Solvang’s charm, the city also has a local Trolly & Carriage Company

Going Wine Tasting?

Solvang also has a number of different tour companies that can take you around the area.

  1. Artisan Excursion
  2. Stagecoach Co.
  3. Silk Road Transporation
Traditional Danish buildings lining the cross-streets of Mission Dr and Fourth Place in Solvang, California, USA

Accommodations

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With picturesque buildings, amazing restaurants, diverse wineries and adorable shops, there’s something for everyone. So pack your bags and book your Solvang hotel for a magical weekend you won’t soon forget:

Hotels

The Landsby – $$$

Hotel Ynez – $$-$$$

Sideways Inn – $

Vinland Hotel & Lounge – $

The interior lobby of the Landsby Hotel in Solvang, CA

Wine Tasting

Travel Blogger Jordan Gassner and dog standing in front of a vintage red truck at the Buttonwood Farm Tasting Room in Solvang, California

Wineries

Here’s a list of my favorite wineries, all of which have organic or biodynamic wines and are within 15 minutes driving-distance from Solvang:

Buttonwood Farm – Sustainable Winery

Coquelicot Estate – 100% Certified Organic

Larner – 100% Organic

Solminer – Austrian-focused and Certified Biodynamic & Organic

Stolpman Vineyards – Certified Biodynamic & Organic

Sunstone Vineyards – Celebrity Favorite. Their estate-grown wines are organic.

Two plates full of food and two glasses of white wine in front of a picnic basket at Sunstone Vineyards in Solvang, California
The wine pouring line-up inside the Toccata Tasting Room in Solvang California
A wooden sign post on Mission Drive in Solvang, California reading four local business names, one of which is "The Sanger: Family of Wines"

Tasting Rooms

If you’re looking for something in-town, check out one of these local Solvang tasting rooms:

Casa Cassara – 1607 Mission Drive

Dana V. Wines – 1588 Mission Drive

Royal Oaks – 1687 Mission Drive

Sanger Wines – 1584 Mission Drive

Toccata – 1650 Copenhagen Drive

Travel Blogger Jordan Gassner drinking a glass of white wine at a "beer garden" style seating area at one of Solvang's many tasting rooms

Shopping

Travel Blogger Jordan Gassner looking into the window of the Edelweiss Store on Copenhagen Drive in Solvang, California
Travel Blogger Jordan Gassner window-shopping at the Edelweiss Store on Copenhagen Drive in Solvang, California
Travel Blogger Jordan Gassner standing in front of the Edelweiss Store on Copenhagen Drive in Solvang, California
The Wishing Well's traditional Danish-heritage decorated storefront in Solvang, California
A building with an entrance fashioned like a white windmill with the sign "Hamlet Square" on top of it in Solvang, California

Alisal Road

Solvang’s main street, Alisal Road, is lined with a variety of shops that offer everything from Danish imports to handmade crafts to designer clothing.

The Book Loft – Bookstore with a wide selection of new, used and Nordic books.

Hanson’s Clock Shop Jewelers – Souvenir Shop with some incredible Danish charm, offering beer steins, cuckoo clocks and other bespoke collectibles.

Solvang Olive Press – Olive Oil Shop offering tastings of flavored oils, maple syrup and more.

Copenhagen Drive

Another fun spot to peruse is Copenhagen Drive, especially if you’re an art fan as most of Solvang’s galleries are located here:

Ingeborg’s Chocolates – Gourmet Chocolate Shop

Pavlov – Art Gallery

Pebble People – Souvenir Shop selling kitschy gifts Christmas ornaments and Disney figurines and watches.

Thomas Kinkade – Art Gallery

ZFolio – Art Gallery

Honorary Mention: The Solvang Spice Merchant

Shopping in Solvang isn’t just limited to Alisal Road and Copenhagen Drive. One of my favorite shops in the whole town is The Solvang Spice Merchant.

Offering a large and affordable collection of salts, spices and teas, the Spice Merchant has something for everyone. My recommendations? Sample a few blended spices. My favorites are the Brewpub Garlic Fries, the Spicy Thai Blend and the Tuscan Bread Dip.

Bowls of loose spices underneath a chalkboard map of the world at The Spice Merchant in Solvang, California
A shelf full of spice blends inside The Spice Merchant in Solvang, California

Restaurants & Cafes

Solvang Travel Guide: Travel Blogger Jordan Gassner sitting at a white iron table outside The Solvang Bakery in Central California
Travel Blogger Jordan Gassner smiling while sitting on a bench in front of a Danish-style building in Solvang, California
Solvang Travel Guide: Two cocktails on a table near a window at the Mad & Vin restaurant in the Landsby Hotel in Solvang, California

Danish Pastries and Pancakes

One of my favorite things in Solvang is all the amazing food! If you’re looking to keep the European charm going, try some of the town’s phenomenal Danish pastries and pancakes:

Mortensen’s – Traditional Danish Bakery

Olsen’s – Traditional Danish Bakery

Solvang Bakery – Traditional Danish Bakery

Restaurants

If you have any food restrictions or are generally just looking for something a little less sweet, there are also many other casual and fine dining spots around town to choose from:

Mad & Vin – New American

  • Located in The Landsby Hotel, this spot has my favorite food and drinks in all of Solvang!

Leonardo’s – Italian Cuisine and Pizzeria

peasants FEAST – New American

Na Na Thai – Fun Thai Dishes in Buellton (about 10 minutes from Solvang’s Downtown)

Secret Tip:

Have some extra time before your Mad & Vin reservation? Enjoy Happy Hour from 4-6PM daily in The Landsby’s Lobby Bar. The drink menu was updated since my last visit, but I found the Korean Style Short Ribs and Calamari incredibly delicious!

Day Trips

Mailboxes under a country hill near Los Olivos, California
Sunset over a street in Los Olivos, California, USA

Los Olivos

A charming wine country escape in the Santa Ynez Valley, Los Olivos is all about boutique wineries, farm-to-table dining, and relaxed small-town charm. Stroll through its historic downtown, where Victorian buildings house tasting rooms, artisan shops, and cafés.

Sip your way through the region’s renowned Pinot Noir and Syrah at spots like Stolpman Vineyards and their Fresh Garage (my favorite tasting in the area!), then explore the scenic countryside with a cycling tour or a stop at Clairmont Lavender Farm.

And don’t forget to indulge in a little olive oil tasting from Olive Hill Farm or splurge on a gourmet meal at Auberge Resort restaurant, Mattei’s Tavern.

Distance from Solvang: 15 Minutes

Travel Blogger Jordan Gassner smiling while standing near the entrance to the Inn at Mattei's Tavern in Los olivos, California

Santa Barbara, California

Red, orange and yellow historic buildings near palm trees in Santa Barbara's downtown area

Located along the California coast, Santa Barbara is a wonderful spot to explore. See the Cactus Garden at Ganna Walska Lotusland, walk Stearns Wharf or visit Mission Santa Barbara. And for something a little more low-key, try shopping on State Street or renting bikes to explore the town.

Distance from Solvang: 1 Hour

An aerial view of Santa Barbara's red tiled roofs and palm tree lined streets

San Luis Obispo

An adorable college town, San Luis Obispo makes for a great trip from Solvang. Head over to quirky Bubble Gum Alley, then grab lunch at Mint + Craft before enjoying some boutique shopping on Higuera Street and a show at the historic Fremont Theater.

And if you do decide to stay overnight, the nearby Madonna Inn is a kitschy hotel full of immersive rooms and photo-ops that will often make you feel like you’re in a different place and/or era.

Distance from Solvang: 1.5 Hours

Ojai

An aerial view of the vineyards of Ojai, surrounded by large hills

Don’t let the small town escape end! Take a trip to Ojai for a host of wonderful beer and wine tasting opportunities, cute hotels and trendy boutiques.

Perhaps the number one reason to visit Ojai, however, and number one place I recommend, is Bart’s Books. Originally inspired by Parisian book carts on the banks of the Seine, Bart’s is not only the world’s largest outdoor bookstore, but a eye-catching spot to spend a few hours exploring.

Distance from Solvang: 1.5 Hours

Travel Blogger Jordan Gassner looking through a colorful bookshelf at Bart's Books in Ojai, California
Travel Blogger Jordan Gassner standing in the middle of a vineyard in Paso Robles, California

Paso Robles

Why not continue your California wine adventure at one of the best wine regions in the state? Unlike Napa and Sonoma, Paso Robles has still managed to be one of California’s best kept secrets to all but locals and those in the industry.

While in Paso, make sure to stop at wineries such as L’Aventure, Broken Earth and Robert Hall. For more ideas on what to do while visiting, visit my blog post: How To Spend One Day in Paso Robles – My Favorite Spots.

Distance from Solvang: 1.5 Hours