Day Trip Guide to Solvang: A Danish Town in Southern California

(Updated: 2023)

Located in the Santa Ynez Valley in Southern California is a small Danish town called Solvang that feels as if you’ve stepped straight into Denmark heritage. Solvang boasts Danish culture, art, food, wineries, and architecture and is a popular stop along the iconic Highway 1. It was founded by 3 Danish immigrants in 1911 and has been a day trip destination since. Here is guide on how to spend a day in Solvang, CA.

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Table of Contents

How to Get to Solvang

Things to Do

Where to Eat

Where to Stay

Tips & Things to Know

Nearby Attractions

Resources

How to Get to Solvang

Nearby Airports

If you are flying into one of the following airports then you can easily add Solvang into your plans for a day:

Santa Barbara Airport - SBA (35 miles)

Los Angeles International Airport - LAX (129 miles)

By Car

Los Angeles to Solvang by car is 129 miles and takes about 2.5 hours. Along the way are great spots to stop like Santa Monica, Malibu, Ventura, and Santa Barbara.

San Francisco to Solvang distance and length of trip depends on whether you want to focus on the California coast or the fastest route there down the 101. The quickest route is 297 miles and takes about 4 hours and 45 minutes. I recommend if you have the time to take the iconic coastal route down HWY 1 so you can stop in Big Sur, San Simeon, and Pismo Beach.

By Amtrak Bus

Amtrak has a bus system that runs daily out of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo that drops off right in downtown Solvang. Visit the official Solvang Visitors Site for more information.

Things to Do in Solvang

Walk around the village

Simply taking a stroll around the quaint downtown of Solvang is an experience in and of itself. It’s a great way to explore the area, browse shops, naturally stumble across museums and restaurants, and take in the architecture.

Locate the Solvang windmills

There are several wooden (non-operating) windmills that stand above the rich Danish town of Solvang, aka The Windmill City. They are easy to spot and are a popular attraction in the area.

Buy traditional European clogs from Solvang Shoe Store

An authentic experience in Solvang is to buy clogs from the famous Solvang Shoe store. They offer a range of more modern shoe brands as well. If you don’t want to shop, at least take a photo with the big red clog outside the store!

Visit the Solvang museums

If you like to immerse yourself in culture, history, and art then the many museums of Solvang are an obvious must-visit. Some of these museums include:

Take a narrated tour of Solvang in a horse-drawn trolley

With Solvang Trolley & Carriage Company, you can see and learn of this Danish town in a slow-paced, relaxing way by hopping on a replica honen trolley pulled by two Belgian horses.

Taste the local wine

There are several vineyards and tasting rooms in and around Solvang worth stopping by for a local glass of wine. Here are just a few:

Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyard (tasting room in Solvang)
Buttonwood Farm Winery & Vineyard (vineyard & tasting room in Solvang)
Rusack Vineyards (vineyard & tasting room in Solvang)
Sunstone Winery (vineyard & tasting room in Santa Ynez)

Visit an ostrich farm

A unique stop right down the street from Solvang is OstrichLand USA, a farm where you can visit or even feed ostriches - a once-in-a-lifetime experience on the Central California Coast.

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Where to Eat in Solvang

Solvang is home to a range of restaurants and specialty foods & drinks. Whether you are craving an authentic Danish meal or not, there are options for you to choose from.

Here are some of my favorites that I got food from or heard great things about!

Where to Stay in Solvang

If you are staying longer than a day in the area, you will find there are a number of accommodation options available in and around Solvang. The following are some of the many inn options in Solvang, CA:

Booking.com

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Tips & Things to Know

I recommend planning to stay in Solvang for at least 4-5 hours. It’s a great destination for a weekend road trip or simply as a stop along the way to where you are heading.
Located in California, the weather is decent year-round so I’d argue that there really isn’t a “bad” time of year to visit. Of course, during the summer there will be more tourist crowds. During the winter it will be cooler so you may way to focus on more indoor activities depending on your weather preferences.
There are always events and festivals happening in Solvang. You can keep updated on what is happening on the Solvang event website here.