Solvang is a quintessentially Danish town located in the Santa Ynez Valley, 30-miles northwest of Santa Barbara. Visiting Solvang is like visiting Europe… but without having to cross the Atlantic or bring your passport. It’s a charming Danish town surrounded by rolling hills, vineyards, and adorned with classic Danish style architecture. It’s the perfect one-day or weekend getaway if you’re looking to spend time in a picturesque village.
Is Solvang Worth Visiting?
Without a doubt, I would say that – yes – Solvang is absolutely worth the visit. If you are looking for a quiet, peaceful getaway Solvang is the place for you. Or if you’re doing a larger California trip, it’s the perfect town to stop in to rest and recharge.
If you’re planning a California road trip, don’t miss these posts…
- The Ultimate California Coast Road Trip from San Francisco to Santa Barbara
- How to Plan an Epic Wine Trip through 5 California Wine Regions
- The Best 8-Day California Vacation
Best Time to Visit Solvang
In my opinion, the best time to visit Solvang is in the fall when the leaves start to change. Being in Central California, the weather is warm throughout the year, and by visiting in the fall, you can still anticipate nice weather while avoiding the heat that comes with California summers. Even better, try to visit in December when the town has decorated for Christmas. It might attract more visitors, but you can’t miss the Christmas charm in this Danish village.
How Long to Spend in Solvang
You really don’t need more than a quick afternoon to explore Solvang in its entirety. However, if you want to slow down or visit Los Olivos wine region, I would recommend spending two nights. One day to relax and hang around town, and another day to day trip to nearby wineries.
How to Get to Solvang
The easiest way to get to Solvang is by flying into Santa Barbara and driving from there. However, it’s easy to make the trip from Los Angeles, or San Luis Obispo too. Lastly, you could drive to Solvang from San Diego or San Francisco, the drive will just be longer.
- Santa Barbara to Solvang – Take highway 154 northwest 30-miles to Solvang
- Los Angeles to Solvang – Take the 101 N to highway 154, 128-miles northwest to Solvang
- San Luis Obispo – Take the 101 southeast, 60-miles
WHEN BOOKING FLIGHTS, I LIKE TO USE A BIG SEARCH ENGINE TO COMPARE PRICES AND GO FROM THERE!
If you plan to rent a car to drive up to Solvang, I highly recommend renting from Discover Cars. Not only will Discover Cars give you a plethora of different rental companies to choose from making it easy to compare prices, but they also offer 24/7 support and free cancellations.
If you plan to visit Solvang from Santa Barbara (or visit Santa Barbara in general), don’t miss…
How to Get Around Solvang
Being only 2.5 square miles, Solvang is not only accessible but easily walkable. You can most certainly see the entire town in one day, even if you’re just on foot! If you are driving up for the day, there are many metered places to park. If you have trouble finding parking, drive further outside of town, park on a side street, and walk to town.
Where to Stay in Solvang
For such a small town, there are tons of different style hotels to stay in. You can pick a traditional Danish-style hotel, a luxury hotel, or a quaint bed and breakfast. I stayed at the New Haven Inn and was in awe of the location and charm. The New Haven Inn is a boutique-style hotel with only 12-rooms to occupy. There are options for balconies with fire pits, suites, and they even offer bikes that you can take at your convenience for free. Another hotel that I love in Solvang is The Landsby.
BOOK YOUR STAY IN SOLVANG HERE!
The Best Things to Do in Solvang
Although small, there are tons of things to see in Solvang. Start on Alisal Road, the main road in town. This is where the big windmill is located – Solvang Windmill – and where you can access all of the quaint side streets. While you’re on Alisal Road don’t miss stopping at the Solvang Windmill. Next to the windmill is the Solvang Bakery, where you can go for freshly baked loaves of bread, sweets, and cakes; and next to that is The Vinhus, a store full of wine and picnic supplies such as meats and cheeses.
You’ll also want to make sure to venture down Copenhagen Drive, which branches off from Alisal Road. Copenhagen Drive is home to the impressive Christmas store, Edelweiss, and also home to many different restaurants and wine tasting rooms that are scattered along the street.
And while Solvang is impressive enough on its own, there are tons of places to visit around Solvang too. This Danish town is situated in the heart of wine country within the Santa Ynez Valley. Only five miles north of Solvang you’ll come to Los Olivos, one of the most underrated wine regions in California. Los Olivos is home to tons of different vineyards, complete with a quaint downtown area of restaurants, hotels, and tasting rooms. Don’t miss stopping at the Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Cafe in downtown Los Olives for lunch!
BOOK A WINE TOUR FROM SOLVANG HERE!
The Bars & Restaurants in Solvang
There are tons of food options in Solvang, ranging from brunch spots to nice sit-down dinner spots, and even casual lunch spots. You really can’t go wrong! And with traditional Danish food to classic American food and even other international food like Mediterranean, there is surely something for everyone. Below you’ll find my favorite bars and restaurants in Solvang…
- brekkies by chomp – perfect for classic breakfast food
- High Roller Tiki Lounge – if you’ve had too much wine, head to this fun and vibrant tiki lounge for cocktails or beer
- Mad & Vin – In the beautiful Landsby Hotel, Mad & Vin is a chic American restaurant. It’s open for breakfast, closes during the afternoon, and reopens for dinner. It’s a great choice if you’re looking for a little bit of a nicer, sit-down dinner.
- Succulent Cafe – with a large outdoor patio, I prefer to eat here for a late lunch after having wine
California Essentials – What You Need & Need to Know About Visiting California
- To easiest way to book hotels in California is through Booking.com or Expedia
- My favorite platform for rental properties is VRBO
- For car rentals, I recommend Discover Cars
- To book a private driver to be waiting for you at the airport, use Welcome Pickups (available in select cities)
- To book a flight to California, I recommend Expedia or Skyscanner to compare options
- For tours and activities in California, I recommend using Viator, Take Walks, or Devour Tours (available in select cities)
- Don’t forget a California guide book to help plan your travels
- I recommend traveling with a reusable water bottle to cut down on plastic waste
Quintessentially Danish, Solvang is a fun European-style town in the heart of California. Escape for the day to feel like you’ve left the continent, without even needing your passport or crossing the Atlantic! Visiting Solvang is a great weekend escape, one I’d encourage anyone to take.
If you’re planning a trip to California, don’t miss these posts to inspire your travels!
- The Ultimate Napa Valley Travel Guide
- The Best Things to Do in Paso Robles
- How to Spend a Weekend in Palm Springs
For more information on things to see and do in California, make sure to check out my Instagram page/highlight reel by searching “#ppincalifornia” or under my highlights for “California”
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Founded by Kylee, a NICU nurse with nine years of experience, including seven years as a travel nurse; Passports and Preemies was created in 2017 and is now the go-to travel and lifestyle channel for nurses who crave adventure beyond the bedside. Whether you’re a staff nurse looking for your next getaway or a travel nurse navigating life on the road, this space is designed to help you maximize your time off, explore the world, and prevent nurse burnout.
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I LOVE Solvang! Great restaurants would include Bit O Denmark and the Red Viking. Great wine tasting in town – Dana V Wines (for Dana Volk). Great wine tasting in the area should include Sunstone Winerty (where Picard was filmed) and Gainey Winery. Also, Solvang is MAGICAL during the Christmas season.
Thank you, Kylee, for this and other posts.
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Omgsh isn’t it just the cutest little town?! And thanks for the recommendations! Definitely will be visiting again and will have to check out some of these places :). Thanks for the comment Dana!