Start at Old Mission Santa Inés, founded in 1804 and open daily, then walk to the Elverhøj Museum or the California Nature Art Museum (formerly the Wildling). Out of town, see the ostriches on Highway 246, hike to Nojoqui Falls or rent a boat on Lake Cachuma.
This week
- Nov6–8Buellton Fall Festival · Visit Buellton
Avenue of the Flags; Fri 4-10pm, Sat-Sun 12-10pm; carnival rides, live music on two stages; Ales on the Avenue beer and wine tasting Sat (tickets) · Free · by City of Buellton
- FriNov 6NatureTrack Film Festival · Visit NatureTrack Foundation
8th annual; reception 6pm, program 6:45pm at the SYV Grange Hall · $25 · by NatureTrack Foundation
- SatNov 7SYV Historical Museum Vaquero Benefit Dinner & Auction · Visit Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum
42nd annual · Tickets (early bird from Aug 1) · by Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum
- SatNov 7Alma Rosa Fall Harvest Dinner · Visit Alma Rosa Winery
Winery event; check access on the listing · Not published · by Alma Rosa Winery
Quick facts
- On this list
- 19 places in Solvang, Santa Ynez, South of Solvang, Lake Cachuma and 3 more towns
- Book online
- River Course at the Alisal, Wheel Fun Rentals Solvang and OstrichLand USA
- Good with kids
- Nojoqui Falls Park
- Open Sunday
- 9 places
- Open Monday
- 7 places
- List updated
- Oct 17, 2026
Counted from the listings below. Check hours and booking with each place.
Go for
- Watching the game: Solvang Viking Museum
- Late night: Chumash Casino Resort
- Families: Nojoqui Falls Park
- Views: River Course at the Alisal
- A picnic: Nojoqui Falls Park
Map
Map loads here. Each listing also has a Directions link.
Scroll the list and the map follows.
Solvang attractions at a glance
The mission, seven museums and the ostriches, with the hours and admission each posts on its own site. Saturday is the one day all nine are open. Walk times run from Solvang Park, the village green on Mission Drive.
| Attraction | From Solvang Park | Open | Admission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Mission Santa Inés | 7 min walk | Self-guided tours daily 9am–4:30pm; gift shop 9am–5pm | $9 adults; $7 seniors 64+; $5 ages 6–12; under 6, veterans and active military free |
| Hans Christian Andersen Museum | 2 min walk | Daily 10am–5pm | On its own site |
| Solvang Viking Museum | 2 min walk | Mon–Fri 10am–5pm; Sat 10am–5:30pm; Sun 10am–5pm | $10; $8 military & seniors; $5 ages 8–12 |
| Elverhøj Museum of History & Art | 8 min walk | Thu–Mon 11am–5pm | On its own site |
| California Nature Art Museum | 7 min walk | Mon, Thu & Fri 11am–4pm; Sat–Sun 10am–5pm; closed Tue & Wed | $7 adults; $5 seniors & teens; kids 12 and under free |
| Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum | 7 min walk | Sat–Sun 10am–4pm | $10 cash; kids 10 and under free |
| OstrichLand USA | Highway 246, toward Buellton | Daily 9am–6pm; gates close 5:45pm | On its own site |
| Santa Ynez Chumash Museum & Cultural Center | Santa Ynez, 8 min drive | Thu–Sun 10am–5pm; last tickets 4pm | $15 adults; $12 teens, seniors & military; $10 ages 3–12 |
| Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum & Parks-Janeway Carriage House | Santa Ynez, 8 min drive | Wed–Sat noon–4pm | $10 adults; kids 12 and under free |
The windmills stand outdoors along the village streets; our Solvang windmills guide maps them for a walking loop.
Which museums are worth visiting in Solvang and Santa Ynez?
The mission and seven museums: five you can walk between in Solvang and two in Santa Ynez. Opening days vary a lot, so check each one. Our Solvang museums guide covers all 11 places, adding Lompoc's museum, La Purísima Mission and a Buellton collection.
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Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0 1804 mission, museum & gardens · Solvang
Old Mission Santa Inés
Founded in 1804, the 19th of California's 21 missions, and it sits on the east end of Mission Drive, steps from the village. The self-guided tour takes in the church, the museum and the gardens. Veterans and active military get in free. Book a docent tour two weeks ahead for small groups, or a month ahead for 15 or more.
- Open
- Self-guided tours daily 9am–4:30pm; gift shop 9am–5pm
- Fee
- $9 adults; $7 seniors 64+; $5 ages 6–12; under 6, veterans and active military free
More details
- Allow
- About an hour
- Self-guided tours 9am–4:30pm
- Veterans and active military free with ID
- Closed New Year's Day, Easter, July 4, Thanksgiving, Christmas
1760 Mission Drive, Solvang, CA 93463 · 805-688-4815
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Solvang history & Danish art · Solvang
Elverhøj Museum of History & Art
The museum of how a Danish town ended up in California. It collects Solvang's history and the Danish-American immigrant story, and it shows fine art too, with a museum store open the same hours.
- Open
- Open Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday; closed Tuesday, Wednesday. Thu–Mon 11am–5pm
More details
- What's new
- Through Jan 10, 2027: "Through the Eyes of Wiinblad," works by Danish designer Bjørn Wiinblad
- Thursday to Monday, 11am–5pm
- Museum store open the same hours
1624 Elverhoy Way, Solvang, CA 93463 · 805-686-1211
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Viking ships, weapons & rune stones · Solvang
Solvang Viking Museum
Yes, there is one. It calls itself California's only Viking museum, and it holds two reproduction Viking ships built at the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde, Denmark, plus archaeological Viking weapons, rune stones and a full-scale statue of Holger Danske. Open every day on Copenhagen Drive.
- Open
- Open every day. Mon–Fri 10am–5pm; Sat 10am–5:30pm; Sun 10am–5pm
- Fee
- $10; $8 military & seniors; $5 ages 8–12
Go for The game
More details
- Two ship reproductions, Snorri and Godfred
- Dresses from the TV series Vikings: Valhalla
- Groups of 5 or more: 20% off
1660 Copenhagen Drive, Solvang, CA 93463 · 805-693-5000
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Museum upstairs at The Book Loft · Solvang
Hans Christian Andersen Museum
Upstairs at The Book Loft on Mission Drive, a small museum about the Danish writer of the fairy tales. It covers his life and work, the singer Jenny Lind and the Hollywood philanthropist Jean Hersholt, and the bookstore below sells his stories.
- Open
- Open every day. Daily 10am–5pm
More details
- Open daily 10am–5pm
- Upstairs at The Book Loft
1680 Mission Drive, Solvang, CA 93463 · 805-688-6010
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Nature art museum (formerly the Wildling) · Solvang
California Nature Art Museum
This is the museum many guides still call the Wildling Museum; it has been renamed the California Nature Art Museum and shows art about nature. Parking is in the lot on Mission Drive, half a block away. Kids 12 and under get in free.
- Open
- Open Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday; closed Tuesday, Wednesday. Mon, Thu & Fri 11am–4pm; Sat–Sun 10am–5pm; closed Tue & Wed
- Fee
- $7 adults; $5 seniors & teens; kids 12 and under free
More details
- Closed Tuesday and Wednesday
- Free for kids 12 and under, members, active military and first responders
- Museums for All: free with a CalFresh/EBT card
1511-B Mission Drive, Solvang, CA 93463 · 805-688-1082
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DocFreeman24, CC BY-SA 4.0 Vintage motorcycle collection · Solvang
Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum
Over 100 motorcycles from Virgil Elings' private collection, from a 1910 FN onward, with a lean toward racing bikes. Some rotate out every month, so a repeat visit can look different. It's in the former Brooks Brothers store at Solvang Village Square, open weekends only.
- Open
- Open Saturday, Sunday; closed Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Sat–Sun 10am–4pm
- Fee
- $10 cash; kids 10 and under free
More details
- Sat & Sun 10am–4pm
- $10 cash only; kids 10 and under free with a guardian
- Bikes rotate monthly
320 Alisal Road, Solvang, CA 93463 · 805-686-9522
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Valley history museum & carriage house · Santa Ynez
Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum & Parks-Janeway Carriage House
The museum says its Parks-Janeway Carriage House holds the largest horse-drawn vehicle collection west of the Mississippi. It's on Sagunto Street in Santa Ynez, a short walk from The Genevieve and The Victor, and covers the valley's history. It can close when it hosts a special event.
- Open
- Open Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday; closed Monday, Tuesday, Sunday. Wed–Sat noon–4pm
- Fee
- $10 adults; kids 12 and under free
More details
- Wednesday to Saturday, noon–4pm
- Closed on major holidays and some event days
3596 Sagunto Street, Santa Ynez, CA 93460 · 805-688-7889
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Courtesy of the Santa Ynez Chumash Museum & Cultural Center, Press kit Chumash museum, opened 2025 · Santa Ynez
Santa Ynez Chumash Museum & Cultural Center
The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians tells its own story here, more than 8,000 years of it, with paintings of former village sites, ceremonial regalia and recordings of elders. Buy tickets online ahead; the museum recommends it to make sure you get in.
- Open
- Open Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday; closed Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. Thu–Sun 10am–5pm; last tickets 4pm
- Fee
- $15 adults; $12 teens, seniors & military; $10 ages 3–12
More details
- What's new
- Opened May 15, 2025, after about two decades of planning (Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians)
- Thursday to Sunday, 10am–5pm; last tickets 4pm
- Advance online tickets recommended
- Gift shop with work by tribal members
3500 Numancia Street, Santa Ynez, CA 93460
What outdoor things can you do near Solvang?
A waterfall, a lake, golf, bikes and a balloon, all within the valley. For every public course and its green fees, see our golf guide; for flight prices and weight limits, see balloon rides.
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Ian Shadford, CC BY-SA 3.0 County park with a seasonal waterfall · South of Solvang
Nojoqui Falls Park
A short, shaded trail through oak woodland leads to a seasonal waterfall in a fern-lined canyon. There are picnic areas, barbecues and a playground for kids. It's south of Solvang off Alisal Road, near Highway 101. Check the county page for trail status before you go.
- Open
- Open every day. Daily 8am to sunset
- Booking
- Reservable group areas (fee)
- Getting there
- Down Alisal Rd, about 18 min by car from Copenhagen Dr in Solvang
Go with The kids
More details
- Open daily 8am to sunset
- Picnic areas, BBQ grills, playground, restrooms
3250 Alisal Road, Solvang, CA 93463 · 805-568-2460
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Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK, CC BY 2.0 County lake park: boats, camping, nature center · Lake Cachuma
Cachuma Lake Recreation Area
A reservoir on Highway 154 with boat rentals and a nature center. The county's naturalist-led lake cruises are out of service until further notice. You can't swim in the lake, since it's drinking water; the park pools are generally open in summer instead.
- Open
- Day use 6am to sunset
More details
- Lake cruises out of service until further notice (county notice)
- No swimming or wading in the lake; pools open Memorial Day to Labor Day
- Outboard, kayak and pontoon rentals; cabins and yurts to rent
2225 Highway 154, Santa Barbara, CA 93105 · 805-686-5055
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Courtesy of Alisal Ranch, Press kit 18-hole public golf course · Solvang
River Course at the AlisalBook
The public course in Solvang. The par-72 layout runs 6,830 yards along the Santa Ynez River, past four lakes and old oaks, and the River Grill on site has views of the course. It also hosts group outings.
Go for The views
More details
- 18 holes, par 72, 6,830 yards
- River Grill on site; PGA instruction
- Group outings and events
150 Alisal Road, Solvang, CA 93463 · 805-688-6042
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Bike & surrey rentals · Solvang
Wheel Fun Rentals SolvangBook
Rent a surrey to roll around downtown, or bikes for a self-guided ride out past the ostriches and llamas toward the wineries; it hands out a route map. Last rentals go out an hour before close, and everything depends on the weather.
Go if $45 and your own two legs beat a chauffeur.
- Open
- Open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday; closed Tuesday. Mon, Wed & Thu 10am–5pm; Fri 10am–6pm; Sat–Sun 10am–7pm; closed Tue
More details
- Surrey cycles and bikes; self-guided tour map
- Last rental 1 hour before close
- Open year-round, weather permitting
475 First Street, Solvang, CA 93463 · 805-688-0091
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Hot air balloon flights · Near Los Olivos
Sky's the Limit Ballooning
Champagne balloon flights over Santa Barbara wine country, in the morning or evening. Flights meet at Los Olivos Grocery on Highway 154, where you park on the west side of the building. Private flights take up to 16 passengers, which suits a wedding party.
- Getting there
- On Hwy 154 at Roblar Ave, about 2 min by car from Grand Ave in Los Olivos and 7 min from Sagunto St in Santa Ynez
More details
- Morning and evening champagne flights
- Meets at Los Olivos Grocery, 2621 Hwy 154
- Private flights up to 16 passengers
2621 Highway 154, Santa Ynez, CA 93460 · 760-802-3226
What is there to do with kids or at night?
Ostriches, an outdoor theater and the casino. For a full weekend, see our 2-day plan with kids.
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Roadside ostrich farm · Outside Solvang
OstrichLand USABook
The ostrich farm on Highway 246 between Buellton and Solvang that every road trip seems to stop at. It's open every day until 6pm, and the gates close at 5:45pm. A short, easy stop with kids.
- Open
- Open every day. Daily 9am–6pm; gates close 5:45pm
More details
- Daily 9am–6pm, gates close 5:45pm
- On Highway 246 between Buellton and Solvang
610 E Highway 246, Solvang, CA 93463 · 805-686-9696
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Troy Sankey, CC BY-SA 4.0 Outdoor theater, run by Solvang Theaterfest · Solvang
Solvang Festival Theater
An outdoor theater in downtown Solvang. PCPA performs its summer season here, and Solvang Theaterfest books shows the rest of the year. Check the calendar for shows during your trip.
More details
- What's new
- Coming up: Elf the Musical Dec 11 to 12, 2026
- Summer season by PCPA (box office 805-922-8313)
- Theaterfest box office 805-686-1789
420 Second Street, Solvang, CA 93463 · 805-686-1789
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DocFreeman24, CC BY-SA 4.0 Casino, shows & dining · Santa Ynez
Chumash Casino Resort
The valley's late-night option, on Highway 246 east of Santa Ynez, with slots, table games, poker and bingo, plus concerts in its showroom. It's also a hotel with a spa, and the closest thing to nightlife outside Solvang's bars.
Go for A late night
More details
- What's new
- New: Cafe Amri, open 7am–2pm for breakfast and lunch
- Slots, table games, poker, bingo
- Concerts and comedy; check the events calendar
3400 East Highway 246, Santa Ynez, CA 93460
Where can you take a class?
Pottery on the wheel, painting and a scavenger hunt, for kids and adults. For shops, see our Solvang shopping guide.
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Pottery studio: wheel nights and workshops · Buellton
Community Clayworks
Saturday night is BYOB Sip-N-Spin: bring a bottle of wine and friends, and staff teach you the potter's wheel from scratch. Materials and firing are included, and you pick up your piece later or have it shipped. The studio sits between Figueroa Mountain Brewing and Summerland on Industrial Way.
Go if your group wants a night off from tasting rooms that still involves wine. Sip-N-Spin is 21+.
- Open
- Sip-N-Spin Saturdays 7pm to 9pm, $90, 21+
More details
- Beginners encouraged; snacks provided
- Courses, kids' sessions and parties too
37 Industrial Way, Suite 111, Buellton, CA 93427 · 805-686-5416
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Painting classes, paint-and-sip, kids' camps · Solvang
Art Spot on Wheels
Painting classes in a downtown Solvang studio, plus Paint in the Vineyard events at wineries around the county, where you paint while you taste. Kids get their own classes, parties and summer camps. Mail goes to a Santa Ynez P.O. box; the studio is on Alisal Road.
Go if you need a rainy-day class with kids, or a paint-and-sip with friends.
More details
- Studio on Alisal Road, Solvang
- Adult classes, Paint & Sip, kids' camps
- Free online classes and DIY watercolor kits
320 Alisal Road, Suite 306B, Solvang, CA 93463 · 805-325-8092
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Scavenger hunt on foot · Solvang
Urban Adventure Quest: Solvang Scavenger Hunt
Eighteen challenges over 1.3 miles of Solvang, past the windmills and Old Mission Santa Inés, starting and ending at the public gazebo by the free lot at 482 Alisal Road. It takes 2 to 2.5 hours, and one price covers a team of up to five.
Go if you've got restless kids, or a group that wants a reason to walk the whole village.
- Fee
- $49 per team of 2 to 5
More details
- 1.3 miles, 2 to 2.5 hours, 18 challenges
- Starts at the public gazebo, 482 Alisal Road (free lot)
- No extra costs on the route
482 Alisal Road, Solvang, CA 93463
What is open on which day?
Open every day: the mission, the Hans Christian Andersen Museum, the Solvang Viking Museum, OstrichLand and Nojoqui Falls Park. Closed Tuesday: Wheel Fun Rentals. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday: Elverhøj and the California Nature Art Museum. Thursday to Sunday only: the Chumash Museum. Wednesday to Saturday, afternoons only: the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum. Saturday and Sunday only: the Vintage Motorcycle Museum. Saturday is the only day all of them are open.
Solvang Festival Theater: Theaterfest, PCPA and the season
Solvang Festival Theater, 420 Second Street, is an outdoor theater owned and run by Solvang Theaterfest, a nonprofit. Theaterfest is not PCPA. PCPA is a professional conservatory theater company on the Allan Hancock College campus in Santa Maria, and the Solvang theater is "home to some of PCPA's summer productions" [4]. Theaterfest also books its own concerts and a Summer Music in the Garden series on its Terrace Stage.
PCPA in Solvang, summer 2026: Come From Away (June 11–27), Disney's Frozen (July 5–Aug 2) and Beehive (Aug 7–23), per PCPA's Season 62 page [5]. PCPA's fall and winter shows play in Santa Maria, such as The Wizard of Oz at the Marian Theatre, Nov 5–Dec 20, 2026. Check pcpa.org for the 2027 Solvang lineup.
Coming up at the theater: Elf the Musical, a student-led show by Green Like Grass Productions, Dec 11 to 12, 2026, at 6pm [4].
After dark: the Festival Theater is a stop on The Haunt's ghost hunt, $55 nightly at 7pm or 8pm with an EMF meter for every guest. Times, prices and the daytime food tours are in our Solvang ghost tours and food tours guide.
Know before you go: Theaterfest's FAQ says shows are outdoors, rain or shine, and nights are "generally chilly," so bring a blanket. Umbrellas aren't allowed (ponchos are sold). Snacks and drinks are sold; no glass or outside drinks, but you can bring your own snacks. Children under 5 aren't admitted unless a show says otherwise. Wheelchair seating is in Row M. Parking is free on the surrounding streets and in the public lots off Mission Drive and Oak Street. Tickets are non-refundable. Box offices: Theaterfest (805) 686-1789; PCPA 805-922-8313, opening at 6pm on performance days.
Wednesday farmers market
Wednesdays, 2:30pm to 6pm, on the 400 block of First Street downtown, per the Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market Association, which runs it [6]. That's the same block as Wheel Fun Rentals. The association says all its markets take CalFresh EBT, WIC and credit cards (exchanged for tokens). Buellton has its own market on Mondays, 3–7pm, from March to October; for every market Monday to Sunday, see Santa Ynez Valley farmers markets, day by day.
Where should you shop in Solvang?
- Books and Andersen: The Book Loft, 1680 Mission Drive, has the Hans Christian Andersen Museum upstairs, open daily 10am to 5pm.
- Spices to take home: Solvang Spice Merchant, 1603 Copenhagen Drive, Suite 2, sells spices, salts, sugars and teas, in the shop and online [7]. It doesn't post shop hours on its site.
- Antiques: if an old list sends you to Solvang Antiques, its site says that after more than 40 years in a Solvang showroom, the store "is now selling exclusively online" [8].
- Pastry boxes: kringle and aebleskiver to go are in our Solvang bakeries guide.
- Antiques, vintage and gifts: eleven shops, from Danish costumes to antique clocks, in our Solvang shopping guide.
Parking is free in the village's three public lots; see where to park in Solvang.
Where can you rent bikes or e-bikes in Solvang?
Wheel Fun Rentals, 475 First Street, rents surrey cycles, bikes and e-bikes (it takes e-bike reservations), plus mobility scooters [9]. Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 10am to 5pm, Friday 10am to 6pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 7pm; closed Tuesday. The last rental goes out an hour before close, and all hours are weather permitting. Its self-guided tour map heads out past the ostriches and llamas toward the wineries. Hybrid bikes are $45 for a half day and $55 for a full day, and e-bikes are $60 and $65 [12].
Where to ride: the City of Solvang's Mobility Element describes bike lanes on Alamo Pintado Road toward Los Olivos and a separated Class I bike path along Highway 246 from Alamo Pintado Creek to Refugio Road [10]. Tasting along the way? The rooms you can walk to are in our Solvang wine tasting guide.
Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden: free, and 8 minutes away
The Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden is in Buellton, not Solvang: in RiverView Park at 151 Sycamore Drive, 4.4 miles (8 min) from Solvang. It's open sunrise to sundown, 365 days a year, admission is free (donations encouraged) and leashed dogs are welcome [11]. The garden focuses on plants native to the Santa Ynez River watershed, and it also runs a Holiday Lights Festival. Phone (805) 245-5603.
Is Solvang worth visiting?
For a weekend from Los Angeles or Santa Barbara, yes, if you want a walkable town with food, wine and some history. The 1804 mission, the Andersen museum, the Elverhøj Museum, the bakeries and the theater are all downtown, and parking is free. Solvang is about 33 miles (50 min) from downtown Santa Barbara and about 128 miles from downtown LA (getting to Solvang).
Two planning tips from the hours on this page. Come on a Saturday, the one day every museum here is open. And if you want the ocean too, Lompoc's beaches are about 50 minutes west: see Lompoc beaches, then stay for dinner in Lompoc or drive back for Solvang restaurants.
Our in-depth Solvang guides
- Solvang ghost tours and food tours: a $55 ghost hunt with real gear, a 21+ true crime wine crawl and 2-hour food walks
- Solvang hotels: 19 places to stay, with walk times to Solvang Park
- Solvang restaurants: a Bib Gourmand, Danish plates and Italian, with which kitchens are open today
- Solvang windmills: where each one stands and the best photo spots
- La Purísima Mission: a 35-minute drive to California's most completely restored mission
- Solvang pumpkin patch & Halloween 2026: patch hours, night maze dates and the Haunted House
- Nojoqui Falls: know before you go: hours, status and the short trail
- Solvang bakeries & aebleskiver: kringle, bear claws and Arne's Aebleskiver
- Solvang museums: hours & admission
- Solvang Danish Days 2027: Sept 17 to 19
- Santa Ynez Valley events calendar: every festival, ride and holiday night for the next 12 months
What else can you do in the Santa Ynez Valley?
Next door, see things to do in Buellton (6 minutes west) and things to do in Santa Ynez (7 minutes east), and check the valley weather by month before you pack. Ride a horse-drawn streetcar: the Solvang Trolley & Carriage Co. runs narrated tours of the village in a 1915 replica Danish "Honen" trolley pulled by Belgian draft horses [1]. Ride a real horse: Vino Vaqueros offers private 70-minute guided rides through the ranch and vineyard trails of Demetria Estate on the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail [2]. Every other ride, from pony rides to the beach, is in our horseback riding guide. Eat your way around: start with aebleskiver and Danish pastry, then Solvang restaurants for dinner and Solvang nightlife after. In winter, Julefest runs from late November to early January. In town for a wedding? See the wedding guest guide.
Going deeper on one stop? We have know-before-you-go guides for Mission Santa Inés, OstrichLand, Lake Cachuma, Highline Adventures ziplines, Figueroa Mountain, the Gaviota Wind Caves and dining at the Alisal.
Was Solvang on TV or in the movies?
Yes. Sideways (2004) shot its breakfast scene at Solvang Restaurant and its golf scene at the River Course at the Alisal, and the rest of the film is a short drive away: follow our Sideways filming locations tour. On reality TV, Vanderpump Rules came to town in season 7 ("So Vain in Solvang," aired February 11, 2019). Visit Solvang says the cast stayed at The Landsby and visited CrossHatch Winery and The Copenhagen House. CrossHatch has since left Solvang and now pours in Santa Barbara.
Which Solvang attractions have changed names?
Three names trip up older guidebooks. The Wildling Museum is now the California Nature Art Museum. Flag Is Up Farms, at 901 E Highway 246, now goes by the California Horse Center. It is a boarding and training facility rooted in Monty Roberts' methods, not a visitor attraction [3]. And Casa Dumetz, the Los Alamos tasting room, is now Clementine Carter Wines.
Only here for the day? Our Solvang day trip runs it hour by hour, and Solvang parking covers the free lots.
Plan your day
- MorningBreakfast first: Breakfast in SolvangDanish pancakes to bear claws
- MiddayGo tasting: Wine tasting in SolvangNebbiolo to Rhône in an adobe
- EveningBook dinner: Solvang restaurantsBib Gourmand chicken to aebleskiver
- LateNight out: Solvang happy hoursSpritzes, Industry Night, 8pm deals
- OvernightFind a bed: Solvang hotelsNordic rooms to a 1946 ranch
Good to know
Can you visit Flag Is Up Farms in Solvang? Flag Is Up Farms is now the California Horse Center, at 901 E Highway 246. It is a boarding and training facility, not a visitor attraction, so we don't list it here. For horses, Vino Vaqueros runs private 70-minute guided rides through the Demetria Estate vineyards on Foxen Canyon.
Is the Wildling Museum still in Solvang? Yes, under a new name. The Wildling Museum is now the California Nature Art Museum, at 1511-B Mission Drive. It is open Monday, Thursday and Friday 11am to 4pm and weekends 10am to 5pm, closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Adults pay $7; kids 12 and under are free.
Is Solvang Antiques still open? Online only. Its site says that after more than 40 years in a Solvang showroom, the store is now selling exclusively online.
Quick answers
What is there to do in Solvang?
Visit Old Mission Santa Inés, founded in 1804, and the Elverhøj Museum of Solvang history. See the ostriches at OstrichLand on Highway 246, rent a surrey at Wheel Fun Rentals, see a show at the Solvang Festival Theater, or hike to Nojoqui Falls.
Is the Santa Ynez Chumash Museum open?
Yes. The Santa Ynez Chumash Museum and Cultural Center opened on May 15, 2025, at 3500 Numancia Street in Santa Ynez. It is open Thursday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm, with last tickets at 4pm. Adults pay $15, and booking online ahead is recommended.
Can you swim in Lake Cachuma?
No. Lake Cachuma is a drinking-water source, so swimming, wading and any body contact with the water are not allowed. The park has swimming pools, generally open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, plus boat rentals and a nature center.
What can you do in Solvang on a Tuesday?
The mission (9am to 4:30pm), the Hans Christian Andersen Museum (10am to 5pm), OstrichLand and Nojoqui Falls are open daily. The California Nature Art Museum is closed Tuesday and Wednesday, Elverhøj is closed Tuesday and Wednesday, and Wheel Fun Rentals is closed Tuesday.
Is Solvang worth visiting?
For a weekend from LA or Santa Barbara, yes, if you want a walkable town with food, wine and history: the 1804 mission, the Andersen museum, bakeries and an outdoor theater are all downtown, and parking is free. Come on a Saturday, the one day every museum on this page is open.
What time does Solvang close?
The village never closes, but its sights keep daytime hours. Self-guided tours of the mission end at 4:30pm, the Hans Christian Andersen Museum and Elverhøj close at 5pm, and OstrichLand's gates close at 5:45pm. Most dinner kitchens close between 8 and 9:30pm, and Solvang Brewing Company stays open until 10:30pm, Wednesday to Sunday.
How much time do you need in Solvang?
One full day covers the village on foot: the mission, the Andersen museum, the Viking Museum and Elverhøj are all within an 8-minute walk of Solvang Park. Add a second day for wine tasting, Nojoqui Falls or Lake Cachuma. Saturday is the one day every museum on this page is open.
Is Solvang in Santa Barbara County?
Yes. Solvang is a small city in the Santa Ynez Valley of Santa Barbara County, California, ZIP 93463, on Highway 246. It is 8 minutes from Buellton and Highway 101, and about 33.5 miles (50 minutes) from downtown Santa Barbara over Highway 154.
Does Solvang have a beach?
No, Solvang is inland. The closest sand is Gaviota State Park, about 22 minutes south on Highway 101. Surf Beach near Lompoc is about 49 minutes west, and Jalama Beach about 70 minutes, at the end of a long country road.
Is Solvang Theaterfest the same as PCPA?
No. Solvang Theaterfest is a nonprofit that owns and runs the outdoor Solvang Festival Theater. PCPA is a professional conservatory theater company based at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria that stages some of its summer shows in Solvang.
What PCPA shows played in Solvang in 2026?
Come From Away (June 11–27), Disney's Frozen (July 5–Aug 2) and Beehive (Aug 7–23), all at Solvang Festival Theater, per PCPA.
Where can I rent bikes in Solvang?
Wheel Fun Rentals, 475 First Street, rents surrey cycles, bikes, e-bikes and mobility scooters. It is closed Tuesday; the last rental goes out an hour before close.
Are there botanical gardens near Solvang?
Yes. The Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden is in RiverView Park, 151 Sycamore Drive in Buellton, open sunrise to sundown every day, with free admission and leashed dogs welcome.
What is Solvang known for?
Being Danish. Danish-American educators founded Solvang, Danish for "sunny field," in 1911, and the village still plays the part with four wooden windmills, a Round Tower replica and bakeries selling kringle and aebleskiver. Mission Santa Inés (1804) sits at the east end of Mission Drive, and most downtown tasting rooms take walk-ins. Do the windmill walk, then grab a pastry from the bakeries.
Is Solvang Danish or Dutch?
Danish. The windmills fool people, but Solvang was founded in 1911 by Danish-American educators who planned a Danish folk school there. The giveaways are all Danish: aebleskiver, kringle, a Little Mermaid on the fountain at Mission Drive and Alisal Road, and a September festival called Danish Days. Time a trip for Danish Days, or start at the bakeries.
What to do in Solvang for a day?
Split the day: morning bakeries, windmills and Mission Santa Inés on foot, then 14 minutes to Los Olivos for walk-in tasting rooms after lunch. That is the plan we use on our Solvang day trip. If you want more options in the village only, start with things to do in Solvang.
Sources
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- Solvang Trolley & Carriage Company
- Vino Vaqueros, The Details
- California Horse Center
- Solvang Theaterfest, FAQ and calendar
- PCPA, Season 62 and PCPA home (Season 63)
- Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market Association, markets
- Solvang Spice Merchant
- Solvang Antiques, about us today
- Wheel Fun Rentals Solvang
- City of Solvang, General Plan Mobility Element
- Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden, contact and hours
- Wheel Fun Rentals Solvang, rentals and pricing
- Each place's own website, linked in its listing above.
Last updated Oct 27, 2026. We list what each place publishes, and we never copy reviews. Confirm hours before you go.
