Comparison · Napa Valley vs San Francisco · United States
Napa Valley vs San Francisco
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Drew Jacksich from San Jose, California Republic, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
Choose Napa Valley for Cabernet Sauvignon and winery tastings; choose San Francisco for Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, lower day-to-day costs and beaches. San Francisco is generally less expensive, and the two are about 59 km (37 mi) apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 59 km (37 mi)
- Less expensive
- San Francisco
- Best time for Napa Valley
- April–June and September–October
- Best time for San Francisco
- April–May and September–October
Plan either trip
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Side by side
| Napa Valley | San Francisco | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Known for | Cabernet Sauvignon, Winery tastings and Fine dining | Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and Cable cars |
| Best time to visit | April–June and September–October | April–May and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | US$350–600 | US$270–450 |
| Cost level | Very expensive | Very expensive |
| Warmest month | July, 31°C (88°F) | September, 23°C (73°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 14°C (57°F) | January, 14°C (57°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 3 | 13 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 7 |
| Beaches | — | Baker Beach |
| Airports | SFO, OAK, STS | SFO, OAK, SJC |
Month by month
Going by our guides' own ratings, the better pick is Napa Valley in June–August. Both are at their best in April–May and September–October.
| Month | Napa Valley | San Francisco | Better pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14°C (57°F), 10 rainy days | 14°C (57°F), 11 rainy days | No clear pick |
| February | 17°C (63°F), 9 rainy days | 16°C (61°F), 10 rainy days | No clear pick |
| March | 19°C (66°F), 8 rainy days · shoulder season | 17°C (63°F), 9 rainy days · shoulder season | Either: shoulder season |
| April | 22°C (72°F), 5 rainy days · best time | 18°C (64°F), 5 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| May | 26°C (79°F), 2 rainy days · best time | 19°C (66°F), 2 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| June | 29°C (84°F), 1 rainy day · best time | 21°C (70°F), 1 rainy day · shoulder season | Napa Valley |
| July | 31°C (88°F), 0 rainy days · shoulder season | 21°C (70°F), 0 rainy days | Napa Valley |
| August | 31°C (88°F), 0 rainy days · shoulder season | 22°C (72°F), 0 rainy days | Napa Valley |
| September | 30°C (86°F), 1 rainy day · best time | 23°C (73°F), 1 rainy day · best time | Both at their best |
| October | 26°C (79°F), 3 rainy days · best time | 22°C (72°F), 3 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| November | 19°C (66°F), 7 rainy days · shoulder season | 18°C (64°F), 7 rainy days · shoulder season | Either: shoulder season |
| December | 14°C (57°F), 9 rainy days | 14°C (57°F), 10 rainy days | No clear pick |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Napa Valley for…
Cabernet Sauvignon and winery tastings. Napa Valley is a narrow valley about 50 km long, running from the Carneros wetlands at the top of San Francisco Bay north to Calistoga at the foot of Mount St Helena. Highway 29 and the parallel Silverado Trail link the towns of Napa, Yountville, Oakville…
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Choose San Francisco for…
Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, lower day-to-day costs and beaches. San Francisco packs steep hills, Victorian houses and bay views onto a peninsula roughly 11 km across. Most sights are reachable by cable car, Muni streetcar or on foot: the Golden Gate Bridge and the Presidio in the north-west, Fisherman's Wharf and the…
Top sights compared
| # | Napa Valley | San Francisco |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Napa Valley Wine Train | Golden Gate Bridge |
| 2 | Oxbow Public Market | Alcatraz Island |
| 3 | Downtown Napa tasting rooms | Golden Gate Park |
| 4 | Castello di Amorosa | California Academy of Sciences |
| 5 | Beringer Vineyards | de Young Museum |
Food compared
| Napa Valley | San Francisco |
|---|---|
| Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon | Mission burrito |
| Carneros sparkling wine and Chardonnay | Sourdough bread |
| Tasting menus | Clam chowder in a bread bowl |
| Oysters | Dungeness crab |
Which is cheaper?
San Francisco is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about US$270–450 per person there, against US$350–600 in Napa Valley (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). San Francisco on a budget.
Napa Valley or San Francisco from the U.S.
Worked out from time zones and airport coordinates: straight-line distances, not flight routes.
| Napa Valley | San Francisco | |
|---|---|---|
| Time vs New York | −3 h | −3 h |
| Time vs Los Angeles | Same time | Same time |
| From New York (JFK) | 2,560 mi (4,120 km) | 2,580 mi (4,150 km) |
| From Los Angeles (LAX) | 371 mi (596 km) | 347 mi (559 km) |
| U.S. plugs | U.S. plugs fit | U.S. plugs fit |
Napa Valley and San Francisco are about the same distance from New York.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Napa Valley and San Francisco are about 59 km (37 mi) apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Napa Valley and 4 in San Francisco.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Napa Valley or San Francisco cheaper?
San Francisco is usually less expensive: about US$270–450 a day mid-range against US$350–600 (estimates).
+Is Napa Valley or San Francisco better for a first trip?
Pick Napa Valley for Cabernet Sauvignon and winery tastings, or San Francisco for Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, lower day-to-day costs and beaches.
+How far is Napa Valley from San Francisco?
About 59 km (37 mi) in a straight line.