San Francisco & Northern California San Francisco
A compact city of steep hills, cable cars and fog — with the Golden Gate Bridge at one end and Alcatraz in the middle of the bay.
Things to see in Napa & Sonoma
Seven experiences across the two valleys, from the big names to the quiet corners.
1. Napa Valley wineries
Two parallel roads run the length of the valley: busy Highway 29 past many of the historic estates, and the quieter Silverado Trail along the eastern side. Cabernet sauvignon is the star. Reserve tastings in advance and allow 60 to 90 minutes for each.
2. Napa Valley Wine Train
Early twentieth-century Pullman dining cars make a round trip of about 58 km (36 miles) between Napa and St Helena while lunch or dinner is served. It is about the scenery and the occasion rather than serious tasting; some journeys include winery stops.
3. Sonoma Plaza and Mission San Francisco Solano
The largest town square in California, shaded by old trees and ringed by tasting rooms, cafés and adobe buildings. On its corner stands the last and northernmost of California’s 21 Spanish missions, founded in 1823, now part of a state historic park.
4. Castello di Amorosa
A full-scale reconstruction of a thirteenth-century Tuscan castle near Calistoga, built with traditional methods over many years and opened in 2007. Visits combine the towers, courtyard and cellars with a tasting.
5. Calistoga
A small spa town at the north end of Napa Valley, known since the nineteenth century for hot mineral springs and volcanic-ash mud baths. Nearby are a geyser that erupts at intervals and a petrified forest. The main street is low-key and walkable.
6. Wine caves, cellars and tasting rooms
Many wineries age their barrels in tunnels dug into the hillsides, and cellar tours are a highlight. For tasting on foot, try the tasting rooms of downtown Napa, Yountville and St Helena; Napa’s Oxbow Public Market is the place for a casual lunch.
7. Sonoma County back roads
North of Sonoma town, the Russian River, Dry Creek and Alexander valleys around Healdsburg are known for pinot noir, chardonnay and zinfandel. Roads are quieter, many wineries are family-run and the redwoods and coast are close by.
Destinations
Combine it with
San Francisco & Northern California 
Sierra Nevada & national parks Lake Tahoe
A deep, startlingly clear alpine lake ringed by peaks on the California–Nevada border: beaches and boats in summer, big ski resorts in winter.
Sierra Nevada & national parks Yosemite
Granite cliffs a kilometre high, some of the tallest waterfalls in North America and groves of giant sequoias — the Sierra Nevada at its grandest.
Plan your trip
Book tours in Napa & Sonoma
Compare real-time prices and availability on GetYourGuide. Most tours can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours ahead.