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Destinations / United States

Sacramento

Gold Rush capital with farm-to-fork food

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Plan your trip to SacramentoSee the top 10
535,798Population
2.5 millionMetro area
English, SpanishLanguage
USDCurrency
3 daysIdeal stay
$180-300Typical day

Sacramento is California's capital, set where the American and Sacramento rivers meet in the Central Valley. Its Gold Rush past lives on in Old Sacramento's wooden boardwalks and the excellent State Railroad Museum, and the Capitol sits in a leafy park downtown. Surrounded by farmland, it calls itself America's Farm-to-Fork Capital. It suits history fans, families and travellers heading to Napa, Lake Tahoe or the Sierra foothills.

Where to start

Top 10 things to do

Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.

  1. A riverside historic district of Gold Rush era buildings, boardwalks, shops and museums.

    2 hoursTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free to explore.

    Tip. Come in the evening for river views.
    Official siteSee on the map

  2. The domed Capitol building with restored historic offices and a large park around it.

    1 to 2 hoursTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Check the official site for current prices.

    Tip. Walk through Capitol Park's trees and memorials.
    Official siteSee on the map

  3. One of the best railroad museums in North America, with restored locomotives in Old Sacramento.

    2 hoursTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Check the official site for current prices.

    Tip. Check for seasonal excursion train rides.
    Official siteSee on the map

  4. The oldest public art museum in the West, in a Victorian mansion with a modern wing.

    2 hoursTime needed
    about $15Cost
    noBook ahead

    2026 adult admission is $15.

    Tip. Look at the original ballroom.
    Official siteSee on the map

  5. A restored 1840s adobe fort where Sacramento began.

    1 hourTime needed
    about $5Cost
    noBook ahead

    2026 adult entry is $5.

    Tip. Check for living history days.
    Official siteSee on the map

  6. World-famous wine region with tasting rooms and vineyard views.

    Full dayTime needed
    yesBook ahead

    Check the official site for current prices.

    Tip. Drive about 1h15 west; reserve tastings and use a designated driver.
    Official siteSee on the map

  7. Over a century of cars, from early models to muscle cars.

    1.5 hoursTime needed
    about $14Cost
    noBook ahead

    2026 adult admission is $14.

    Tip. Near Old Sacramento.
    Official siteSee on the map

  8. A small zoo in William Land Park.

    2 hoursTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Check the official site for current prices.

    Tip. Pair with a picnic in the park.
    Official siteSee on the map

  9. A gold-painted lift bridge from 1935 that frames Old Sacramento.

    30 minutesTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free to walk across.

    Tip. Great at sunset.
    See on the map

  10. A long river greenway with a paved bike trail and swimming spots.

    Half a dayTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Check the official site for current prices.

    Tip. Rent a bike to ride the Jedediah Smith Trail.
    Official siteSee on the map
Map: OpenStreetMap contributors.
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Ready-made itineraries

Choose how many days you have.

Sacramento in three days

Day one covers the Capitol, Crocker and Sutter's Fort; day two Old Sacramento and the auto museum; day three the zoo and American River Parkway.

  1. California State Capitol Museum1 to 2 hours
  2. Crocker Art Museum2 hours · about $15
  3. Sutter's Fort State Historic Park1 hour · about $5
  4. Old Sacramento Waterfront2 hours · Free
  5. California State Railroad Museum2 hours
  6. California Automobile Museum1.5 hours · about $14
  7. Tower Bridge30 minutes · Free
  8. Sacramento Zoo2 hours
  9. American River ParkwayHalf a day
Beyond the city

Day trips

Lake Tahoe

Alpine lake, beaches and skiing.

99 mi · Car, about 2 hours

Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, Coloma

Site of the 1848 gold find.

43 mi · Car, about 1 hour

Lodi wine country

Relaxed wineries known for zinfandel.

37 mi · Car, about 45 minutes

San Francisco

The Bay Area's main sights are an easy day away.

87 mi · Drive or Capitol Corridor train, about 1h30 to 2h each way

Napa Valley

Vineyards and tasting rooms in a classic wine region.

59 mi · Drive, about 1h30 each way

Apple Hill and Placerville

Orchards, farm stands and a Gold Rush town in the foothills, best in fall.

40 mi · Drive, about 1h each way

Plan your dates

Weather and seasons

Best: April to June and September to October. Warm, dry days without the peak summer heat.

Busy and priceyShoulderQuiet and cheaper

Temperature

Daily high and average, by month

32°50°68°86°104°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecDaily highAverage

Rain

Typical inches per month

0.00.81.62.43.13.94.7JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

January

56°F
Typical daily high
Average48°F
Rain3.6 in
About12 rainy days
Sun strength2.2 kWh/m²

Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.

Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.

Main events

Jul

Independence Day

July 4

National holiday with fireworks; check local listings.

Sep

Farm-to-Fork Festival and Tower Bridge Dinner

Usually September

The city's food celebration, listed by the tourism board as annual events.

Jul

California State Fair

Usually July

Large fair with agriculture, rides and concerts; check dates before planning.

Oct

IRONMAN California

October 18, 2026

Triathlon event listed by Visit Sacramento for 2026.

Apr

Sacramento Kings season

October to April

Home games are at Golden 1 Center downtown.

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Know before you go

At a glance

4/5
Safety

Based on UK FCDO advice for the USA, which says violent crime rarely affects tourists; downtown has visible homelessness and car break-ins, so take usual care.

4/5
Walkability

Downtown, Midtown and Old Sacramento are flat, close together and easy to walk or bike.

3/5
Public transport

SacRT light rail and buses serve downtown and suburbs; many visitors still drive.

Pick your base

Where to stay

The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.

Map: OpenStreetMap contributors. Shapes where OpenStreetMap has a boundary; dashed circles mark areas it only has a point for.
12345

1. Downtown

$$$WalkabilityFlat grid with sights close together.

Best for: first-timers

Near the Capitol, arena and Old Sacramento.

See on the map

2. Old Sacramento

$$WalkabilityCompact boardwalk district.

Best for: families, history fans

Historic hotels on the river.

See on the map

3. Midtown

$$WalkabilityVery walkable and bikeable.

Best for: couples, food lovers

Tree-lined streets full of restaurants and bars.

See on the map

4. West Sacramento

$WalkabilityWalkable to Old Sacramento.

Best for: budget

Cheaper hotels across the Tower Bridge.

See on the map

5. East Sacramento

$$WalkabilityPleasant for strolls but sights need a short ride.

Best for: quiet, families

Residential and calm, near Sutter's Fort and parks.

See on the map

Getting there and around

Main airportSacramento International Airport (SMF), 11 mi from the center
To the centerTaxi, rideshare or rental car; check the airport site for bus options.
Around townWalk or bike downtown, Midtown and Old Sacramento, and drive for Napa or the foothills.
Ride appsUber, Lyft
Taste it

What to eat

Farm-to-fork dining

Seasonal menus from Central Valley farms.

Local wines

From the nearby Lodi and foothill regions.

Mexican food

Strong taquerias across the city.

Fresh produce

Visit a farmers market.

Farm-to-fork seasonal plates

The region grows much of California's produce, so menus lean fresh.

Local craft beer

Sacramento has many breweries around Midtown and the River District.

Farmers market produce

Look for stone fruit, almonds and tomatoes in season.

Tri-tip sandwich

A California grill classic common in local barbecue spots.

Good to know

PlugsType A and B, 120 V, 60 Hz
Tap waterSafe to drink
TippingTip 18 to 20 percent at restaurants.
PaymentsCards are accepted nearly everywhere.
EtiquetteCasual. Locals are proud of their farm-to-fork scene, so ask where produce comes from.
  • Summer highs often pass 35 C; plan outdoor sights early.
  • Lake Tahoe is about 2 hours east.
  • Napa is about 1h15 west.
  • Bikes and scooters are handy downtown.
  • Old Sacramento parking fills on weekends.
  • Summer afternoons are very hot, so plan outdoor sights for the morning.
  • The Crocker Art Museum is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
  • Parking downtown is metered; check signs for street sweeping hours.

A short history

The Nisenan and Miwok peoples lived along the rivers before John Sutter built a fort here in 1839. Gold was found at Sutter's Mill in 1848, and Sacramento boomed as the supply town for the Gold Rush. It became the state capital in 1854, and the Pony Express ended its run here. In 1863 work began here on the Central Pacific, the western half of the first transcontinental railroad.

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Researched 2026-10-13. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.

Plan Sacramento