I LOVE pastries. But I also love wine tasting. And the ocean! And ostriches?
You can imagine how stoked I was to discover a place where all these beautiful things coexist—a unique village where you can gorge yourself on authentic Danish pastries for breakfast, wine taste amid expansive vineyards in the afternoon, and watch the sun set over the Pacific Ocean in the evening! Solvang, California is a magical place.
However, this quaint Danish village can be made a bit less magical if you’re tasting chilled wine in the cold rain or sweating your way through bakeries in 100°F temperatures watching all of your chocolates melt on the spot. For the best experience, I personally believe either April and October are the best times to visit Solvang!
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, designed to allow The Unremarkable Climber (me) to earn a small commission if you choose to book through them, at no extra cost to you. This really helps support the site and lets me know you find this information valuable! That being said, all of the experiences I recommend, commission based or not, are genuine recommendations for some of my favorite activities, so I hope you enjoy them as much as I have! Feel free to drop any questions in the message box below.
Why 'shoulder season' is the best time to visit Solvang
Let me begin by saying that there is no bad time to visit Solvang, only good, better, and best times. With summer temperatures in the 90’s and winter temperatures in the 60’s, the weather in Solvang, California is pretty nice all year round.
However, the best time to visit Solvang is either in the spring or fall, but I’d recommend visiting during the ‘shoulder season’ in April or October. Temperatures during these months average 75°F with minimal rainfall, and crowds are at an all time low!
Summer is NOT the best time to visit Solvang, but it IS the busiest!
Despite scorching temperatures, most people visit Solvang in the summer and spend their days sweating out all the wine they’re drinking. The shops are packed, your chocolates melt right away, the limited street parking is a challenge, and reservations are required at many wineries.
If you can only travel during the summer, I’d recommend planning your trip for mid-week and budgeting in a few ice cream stops!
Winter is beautiful but weather can be unpredictable!
Having grown up in southern California, I’m a bit of a wimp in the cold. Although temperatures are only in the 50’s and 60’s during the winter and many days can be beautiful and sunny, wind events are common near the coast and can make sitting outside in a vineyard a bit uncomfortable.
Additionally, other activities like relaxing on the nearby beaches is much less enjoyable with windy conditions and frigid sea temperatures. Chance of rain is also higher this time of year—requiring a bit of luck for a perfect day.
Spring is vibrant and relaxing in Solvang!
When springtime arrives in Solvang, the hillsides are painted with green grasses and vibrant flowers and the temperature is ideal for wine tasting under the sun! If planning a trip for the spring, I think the best time to visit Solvang is in late April after the spring break crowds have dissipated.
The beaches will still be chilly this time of year, but the vibrant hillsides and lack of crowds in Solvang itself makes up for it.
Fall brings warm weather, colorful trees, and serenity!
Fall marks the changing of the seasons in Solvang. You’ll notice the trees changing color, but even more noticeable is the increase in parking spots and overall decrease in noise. Once the excitement of summer tourism is over, Solvang returns to its peaceful self.
I personally think fall is the best time to visit Solvang! More specifically, I’d wait until October when the temperatures have finally dropped to a more reasonable level.
October in Solvang is stunning, and the beaches in nearby Santa Barbara are vacant of summer crowds but are still boasting warm air and water temperatures!
Top 7 Things to Do in Solvang
Now that you know the best time to visit Solvang, you can start planning your trip!
As an outdoorsy person and lover of food, winding around year-round Christmas shops is not my idea of fun (though it is an option!).
Personally, I go to Solvang to get up close and personal with the baked goods, wine, and overall unique ambiance that is a Solvang: a quaint Danish village nestled within the sprawling vineyards of Santa Barbara wine country.
My Favorite Self-Guided Activities in Solvang
As a somewhat local, I can drive non-local friends and family through the Santa Barbara countryside and stop at all my favorite places on my own time. It’s actually a rather nice drive up the coast along Highway 101 from Los Angeles.
However, if you do plan to drive from Los Angeles, note that the best time to visit Solvang is late-morning, after the rush-hour traffic has subsided through Santa Barbara. Plan to stay until at least 6PM to avoid the same traffic in the evening.
Below you’ll find my favorite activities! Be sure to arrive hungry because they all involve food! If you want someone to piece it together for you, check out this walking food and photo tour of Solvang.
1. Devour Danishes at Mortensen's Danish Bakery
I cannot pass up baked goods, especially the ones at Mortensen’s Bakery. Located in the heart of downtown Solvang, this bakery offers countless flavors of Danishes (obviously) and other treats like eclairs and butter cookies!
2. Taste Olive Oil + Balsamic Vinegar at Solvang Olive Press
Maybe I love balsamic vinegar and oil more than the average person, or maybe Solvang Olive Press is just that good! I put their mango balsamic on literally everything.
3. Pile on the Sauerkraut at Copenhagen Sausage Garden
It’s not everyday you find a good sausage joint, but Copenhagen Sausage Garden fits the bill, complete with a vat of sauerkraut and over a dozen sauces to spice up your sausage!
4. Feed Ostriches at Ostrichland USA
Honestly, I almost forgot to include this one until Luke (my other half) asked “What about the ostriches??” Ah yes. The ostriches. Osrtrichland is just such a vastly different experience from the rest of Solvang that it had slipped my mind! Your trip to Solvang just isn’t complete without saying hi to 100+ ostriches and emus!
5. Sip Local Wines at Sunstone Winery
A day in Santa Barbara wine country, by default, must include a wine tasting or two. There is a seemingly endless number of wineries and tasting rooms to choose from in and around Solvang, but my favorite is Sunstone Winery because of its location and ambiance.
Personally, I want to enjoy California wine under the California sun, and Sunstone delivers! While many wineries only offer tastings indoors, Sunstone has a huge courtyard where you can sip wine and soak in the beautiful SoCal sunshine! Additionally, you feel like you’re deep in the vineyards when you’re really only a couple minutes from downtown!
**Local Tip: If you must visit on a weekend, I’d recommend reserving a tasting in advance!
Best Guided Tours of Solvang
Perhaps you don’t have access to a vehicle, or maybe you want to play it safe but still drink loads of wine! These guided tours are really fun ways to explore Solvang without the pressure of finding a parking spot or designated driver. Both tours will transport you from Santa Barbara to wine country where you can leave it to the guide to show you all the best spots!
6. Santa Ynez Valley Wine Tour: On this tour or Solvang, you’ll spend a full day sipping wine with a knowledgeable guide who will show you all the best local wineries!
7. Santa Barbara Vineyard to Table Taste Tour by E-bike: You know I love the outdoors, which is why this is my absolute favorite tour of Solvang and Santa Barbara wine country! On this tour you can expect two wine tastings, an olive oil tasting, and a picnic lunch, but let’s not forget the incredible immersion into the vineyards of wine country that you can’t quite get out the window of a passenger van!
**Local Tip: If you plan to drink a LOT of wine, either plan to stay the night in Santa Barbara or take the train from LA to downtown Santa Barbara to avoid a DUI
How to Visit Solvang: Day Trip or Vacation Hub
Should you stay in Solvang or just visit for the day? Neither are bad choices, but it’s up to YOU to decide!
A Vacation Hub
Solvang is an adorable little town with limited things to do. If your main thing is wine tasting, using Solvang as a vacation hub to access the countless wineries spread across the entire Santa Ynez Valley is a great idea! The area is quiet and the location will provide easy access to both Santa Barbara to the south and San Luis Obsipo to the north.
A Day Trip
I like wine and pastries (and ostriches), but I have a lot of other interests too, so I would personally choose to stay in Santa Barbara for my vacation, and take a day trip up to Solvang.
One day can paint a pretty complete picture of the area, and still leave time to check all of the other vacation boxes like taking a surf lesson, checking out local museums, hiking to a waterfall, spending a day at the beach, and even sea cave kayaking at the Channel Islands!
Even so, if you feel you need more SoCal wine in your life, the Funk Zone in downtown Santa Barbara is home to 17+ tasting rooms all within walking distance of the beach!
