Travel guide · United States
Napa Valley travel guide
Cabernet country of historic estates, hot springs and destination dining
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Drew Jacksich from San Jose, California Republic, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
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, Rutherford, St Helena and Calistoga, with hundreds of wineries in between. Most visitors come for Cabernet Sauvignon tastings, but the valley also has celebrated restaurants, Calistoga's mud baths, hot-air balloon flights and a wine train, all about an hour and a half from San Francisco. Plan 3 days for a first visit; the best months are April–June and September–October.
Key facts
- Country
- United States
- Best time to visit
- April–June and September–October
- Ideal stay
- 3 days
- Main airports
- SFO, OAK, STS
- Mid-range daily budget
- US$350–600 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Winery tastings, Fine dining and Napa Valley Wine Train
Plan a trip to Napa Valley
Compare flights, places to stay and rental cars, then book with the provider you choose.
Why visit Napa Valley
- Historic estates such as Beringer, Inglenook and Chateau Montelena, which helped put California wine on the world map at the 1976 Judgment of Paris tasting.
- Yountville's few blocks hold an unusual concentration of acclaimed restaurants, including Thomas Keller's The French Laundry.
- Calistoga's hot springs have drawn visitors for mud baths and mineral pools since the 1860s.
- Sunrise balloon flights float over vineyards from Napa and Yountville.
- Sonoma, the Pacific coast at Point Reyes and San Francisco are each within a day trip.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 18 things to do.
Experience · Downtown Napa
Napa Valley Wine Train
Restored early 20th-century Pullman cars run a roughly 58 km round trip between Napa and St Helena while passengers eat lunch or dinner, with some packages adding winery stops.
- Time needed
- 3–6 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Couples
- Food
- Views
Experience · Yountville
Hot-air balloon flight
Balloon companies launch around sunrise from near Yountville and Napa, drifting over vineyards and hills for about an hour in calm morning air.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours with transfers
- Cost
- Expensive
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Iconic
Market · Downtown Napa
Oxbow Public Market
A food hall on the Napa River with stalls for oysters, tacos, cheese, spices, coffee, bakeries and wine bars.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Shopping
Neighbourhood · Downtown Napa
Downtown Napa tasting rooms
Dozens of tasting rooms cluster within a few walkable blocks of First Street, Main Street and the Napa River, from boutique producers to big-name labels.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Food
- After dark
- Shopping
- Couples
Castle · Calistoga
Castello di Amorosa
A winery built as a medieval Tuscan-style castle, with towers, a drawbridge, a great hall with painted frescoes, barrel cellars and a torture chamber.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Photo spot
- Kids
Historic site · St Helena
Beringer Vineyards
Founded in 1876 by German immigrants Jacob and Frederick Beringer, Beringer is often cited as the oldest continuously operating winery in the Napa Valley.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- History
- Architecture
- Food
Where to stay
Downtown Napa is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 6 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, food lovers, nightlife and budget
Downtown Napa
Riverfront tasting rooms, Oxbow Public Market and the valley's widest choice of hotels
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$$$$ · Best for couples, luxury and food lovers
Yountville
Small, polished village of acclaimed restaurants, galleries and boutique inns
$$$$ · Best for couples, luxury, food lovers and quiet stays
St Helena
Historic Main Street in the middle of the valley's most famous vineyards
$$$ · Best for couples, quiet stays, families and budget
Calistoga
Laid-back hot-springs town at the top of the valley
What to eat
- Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon — The valley's signature wine: rich, structured Cabernet from benchland sites in Oakville and Rutherford and mountain vineyards such as Howell Mountain and Spring Mountain.
- Carneros sparkling wine and Chardonnay — The cool Carneros district produces crisp Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and méthode champenoise sparkling wines.
- Tasting menus — Napa's top restaurants serve multi-course tasting menus built around local farm produce, from Yountville's The French Laundry to restaurants in St Helena and Napa.
- Oysters — Fresh oysters from Tomales Bay and the Marin County coast, served raw or barbecued, are a popular lunch in the valley.
- Tacos — Napa's large Mexican community, many of whom work in the vineyards, supports taquerias and taco trucks selling carnitas, al pastor and birria.
- Olive oil — Several Napa estates press olive oil from their own groves, and tastings of oils and vinegars are popular between wineries.
When is the best time to visit Napa Valley?
The best months to go are April–June and September–October. Harvest in September and October is the most atmospheric but the busiest and priciest. Winter is quiet and good value, with mustard flowers in the vineyards from January to March.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Bud break, green hills and mild weather; spring is quieter than summer and autumn, with good-value midweek stays. |
| Summer | June–August | Warm to hot, dry days with cool nights; ideal for balloon flights and outdoor dining, busy at weekends. |
| Autumn | September–November | Harvest and crush season with golden vineyards; the busiest and most expensive time, and a period when wildfire smoke is possible. |
| Winter | December–February | Cool, rainy and quiet, with the lowest prices, cosy tasting rooms and mustard flowers between the vines. |
Getting there and around
San Francisco International (SFO) is about 100 km away, roughly 1.5–2 hours by car depending on traffic. Oakland (OAK) is about 75 km and Sonoma County Airport (STS) about 50 km away. Airport shuttles and car hire are available; by public transport, the San Francisco Bay Ferry to Vallejo connects with Vine buses to Napa.
Napa Valley is best explored by car, with a driver or on organised tours. Highway 29 runs up the west side of the valley and the quieter Silverado Trail up the east; the Vine bus service and the Vine Trail cover parts of the valley.
How many days do you need in Napa Valley?
Two days allows two or three tastings a day, a balloon ride or the Wine Train and dinner in Yountville or downtown Napa. Three days lets you split time between the south and north of the valley, adding Calistoga's spas and a hike; with five days you can add Sonoma or the coast. How to split your days.
Planning a trip to Napa Valley from the U.S.
Worked out from time zones, airport coordinates and local power standards. Time differences can shift by an hour for a few weeks a year while daylight saving starts or ends on different dates.
Time difference
3 hours behind New York; Same time as Los Angeles
Distance from the U.S.
2,560 miles (4,120 km) from New York (JFK); 371 miles (596 km) from Los Angeles (LAX)
In a straight line between the airport and the city centre, not a flight route.
Plugs and voltage
U.S. plugs fit (Type A and B sockets). Power is 120 V (120 V at home).
Practical information
- Currency
- USD
- Language
- English and Spanish
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Tipping
- Tipping follows US norms: about 18–20% in restaurants, a few dollars per drink in bars, and 15–20% for drivers and tour guides.
Napa is generally low-risk for visitors. The main concerns are drink-driving, summer heat and wildfire smoke or fire risk from late summer to autumn; check local alerts during that season. Lock valuables and wine purchases out of sight in parked cars.
Flights to Napa Valley
Questions travellers ask
+What is Napa Valley known for?
Cabernet Sauvignon, Winery tastings, Fine dining, Napa Valley Wine Train, Calistoga mud baths, Hot-air balloons and Harvest season. Historic estates such as Beringer, Inglenook and Chateau Montelena, which helped put California wine on the world map at the 1976 Judgment of Paris tasting.
+Is Napa Valley expensive?
Napa Valley is very expensive for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly US$350–600 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Napa Valley?
A car or driver is very helpful, as wineries are spread out. If you plan to taste, use a driver, a tour, the Wine Train or the Vine Trail rather than driving yourself.