Things to Do in Napa Valley, California

Napa Valley is America’s most famous wine region — 30 miles of vineyard-covered valley floor with 400+ wineries, multiple Michelin-starred restaurants, and hot air balloons floating overhead at sunrise. It sits 75 minutes north of San Francisco and runs from the city of Napa in the south to Calistoga at the north end, with St. Helena and Yountville as the heart of the valley in between.

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Quick Facts: Napa Valley is in Northern California, about 90 minutes from San Francisco and 75 minutes from Sacramento. Best time to visit: late spring (May–June) or harvest season (August–October), avoiding the August heat wave.

Here’s everything worth doing in Napa Valley, from the must-do experiences to the underrated gems.

Wineries & Wine Tasting

This is the reason most people come to Napa, and there’s no shortage of options at every price point.

The Big Names — Robert Mondavi, Opus One, Domaine Chandon, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Beringer (the oldest continuously operating winery in the valley, founded 1876), Castello di Amorosa (a full-scale Tuscan castle that took 14 years to build).

Off the Silverado Trail — The smaller family wineries on the parallel road to Highway 29 are where the real Napa experiences happen. Less crowded, more personal, and often just as good in the glass. Look for Hagafen, Black Stallion, Robert Sinskey, and Stags’ Leap Winery.

Sparkling Wine — Domaine Carneros (the château at the south end of the valley), Domaine Chandon, Mumm Napa, and Schramsberg are the standouts.

Tasting Logistics — Tastings run $25-75 per person at most wineries; reservations are required at the majority of properties post-2020. Plan 2-4 wineries max per day if you actually want to enjoy them. Use a tour company or hire a driver — the back roads are scenic but Napa enforces DUI strictly.

For deeper wine planning: Napa Valley wine tasting guide.

Hot Air Balloons

Napa Valley Balloons and Napa Valley Aloft launch at sunrise and float over the vineyards for about an hour. The morning light on the valley floor is extraordinary — fog burning off the rows, the hills turning gold, vineyards in every direction. Around $250-300 per person, and one of the most photographed experiences in California.

Most flights include a champagne brunch after landing. Book months ahead for harvest season weekends.

Napa Valley Wine Train

A restored 1915 Pullman dining car running 36 miles through the valley with multi-course meals served as you roll past vineyards. Multiple experiences:

Gourmet Express — The standard 3-hour multi-course experience
Quattro Vino Tour — Stops at four wineries with food paired at each stop
Murder Mystery — Themed dinner theater on the rails
Castello di Amorosa Tour — The wine train combined with a stop at the medieval castle

Prices range from $200 to $500+ per person depending on the experience.

The Towns of Napa Valley

Napa Valley is more than just the wineries — each town in the valley has its own character.

Napa (city) — The biggest town and the south end of the valley. Oxbow Public Market is the artisan food hall worth a couple hours: cheese, charcuterie, oysters, craft spirits, gourmet kitchen shops, and the famous Hog Island Oyster Co. counter. The Napa Riverfront has restaurants, art galleries, and the redeveloped warehouse district.

Yountville — The food capital of Napa. Home to Thomas Keller’s three restaurants (The French Laundry, Bouchon Bistro, Ad Hoc) and several other Michelin stars in a town of just 3,000 people. The walkable main street has tasting rooms, restaurants, and the V Marketplace shopping complex.

St. Helena — The historic heart of the valley. Main Street has boutiques, bakeries, and restaurants in 19th-century buildings. The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone (in the old Christian Brothers winery building) runs cooking demos and has a restaurant open to the public.

Calistoga — The northern end of the valley. Famous for natural hot springs and mud baths since the 1860s. Indian Springs Resort and Dr. Wilkinson’s are the historic spa-and-mud-bath destinations. The Old Faithful Geyser of California erupts every 30 minutes about a mile out of town.

Restaurants Worth the Trip

Napa Valley has more Michelin stars per capita than almost anywhere in America. The food is the draw for many visitors.

Casual: Gott’s Roadside (the iconic burger and shake stand with locations in St. Helena and Napa), Oxbow Public Market food vendors, Sam’s Social Club at Indian Springs in Calistoga.

Mid-Range: Bouchon Bistro in Yountville (Thomas Keller’s bistro), Mustards Grill in Yountville, Bistro Don Giovanni in Napa, Brix Restaurant & Gardens.

Splurge: The French Laundry in Yountville (one of the best restaurants in the world; reservations open 60 days out and disappear in seconds), Auberge du Soleil in Rutherford (Michelin-starred mountainside dining), Press in St. Helena (steakhouse with one of the best wine lists in the country), The Restaurant at Meadowood.

Farm-to-Table: Long Meadow Ranch’s Farmstead Restaurant in St. Helena, Solbar at Solage in Calistoga.

Breakfast: Sweetie Pies Bakery in Napa, Model Bakery (the legendary English muffins), Boon Fly Café at the Carneros Inn. See more at our Napa Valley breakfast and brunch guide.

Day Trips From Napa Valley

Sonoma Valley — 30 minutes west. Napa’s quieter, more laid-back wine country neighbor. The historic Sonoma Plaza, Mission San Francisco Solano, and 400+ wineries of its own.

San Francisco — 90 minutes south. The obvious city contrast to wine country quiet.

Russian River Valley — 90 minutes northwest into Sonoma County. Pinot Noir country, redwood forests, and a more rustic wine experience.

Point Reyes National Seashore — 90 minutes southwest. Coastal cliffs, the Point Reyes Lighthouse, and the famous oyster farms in Tomales Bay.

Lake Berryessa — 30 minutes east. The largest lake in Napa County. Boating, fishing, and the famous “Glory Hole” spillway.

Calistoga Petrified Forest — A short drive from Calistoga. Petrified redwood trees buried by Mt. St. Helena’s eruption 3 million years ago.

For more options: Napa Valley day trips and scenic drives.

Free Things to Do in Napa Valley

Drive the Silverado Trail (free, scenic alternative to Highway 29)
Walk the Napa Riverfront promenade
Browse the Oxbow Public Market (entry is free, you pay for what you buy)
Old Faithful Geyser viewing area in Calistoga (small admission but the area is free)
Self-guided tours of historic buildings in St. Helena
Picnic at Bothe-Napa Valley State Park (small parking fee)
Free wine tasting at some smaller wineries during off-peak hours (dwindling but exists)

Full list: Napa Valley free things to do.

Napa Valley Resort Stays

Napa Valley has multiple resort and timeshare properties offering promotional stays at deeply discounted rates. These typically include 3-4 nights in a wine country resort suite for the cost of a 90-120 minute vacation ownership presentation.

Available Resort Properties:

WorldMark Windsor (Sonoma County) — Wyndham property in nearby wine country with full kitchen suites and resort amenities
The Meritage Resort and Spa Vacation Club — Full-resort amenities including spa, vineyard, and winery tour access
Various wine country resort partners — Promotional packages also available at boutique inns and vineyard resorts

View Napa Valley Timeshare Promotions →

Vacation Deals