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Capital city of California, United States
Photo: Amadscientist, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Sacramento is the state capital of California in the United States. It is the regional center for the Greater Sacramento metropolitan area, which dominates much of the surrounding Sacramento Valley and stretches into parts of Gold Country. Sacramento is the oldest incorporated city in California, settled between the confluences of the Sacramento and American rivers. The city has been the site of many important historic events that have shaped California and U.S. history, most notably the California Gold Rush and location of the original terminus of the First Transcontinental Railroad. Much of this historical legacy has been preserved, especially in the historic Old Sacramento district, where buildings and railroads from that era continue to attract visitors.
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The California State Capitol Museum includes the historical state capitol building and the surrounding 16 square city blocks, known as Capitol Park. Inside, tours of the capitol, its legislative chambers, and its restored historic offices are available daily. Outside, the public is free to visit the many gardens, memorials, and monuments throughout the 40-acre park's grounds. You can get a view up to the Capitol from the Tower Bridge at the southern end of Old Sacramento. Despite what the official website says, as of 2017 it is possible to enter the building carrying large bags (they must go through airport-style security though).
Sutter's Fort State Historic Park is the oldest restored fort in the United States. Built by John Sutter in 1840s, the fort now hosts a collection of pioneer and early California artifacts. Self-guided audio tours are available.
Contains displays of Native Californian basketry, beadwork, clothing and exhibits about the ongoing traditions of various California Indian tribes.
The oldest continuously operating museum in the West, home to a premier collection of California art.
Formerly known as Plaza Park, Cesar Chavez Park is a scenic park in the middle of downtown Sacramento that adjoins historic City Hall, the Public Library and Sacramento's Citizen Hotel. Great place to take photos of the Sacramento skyline. During the summer on Fridays, it is used as an outdoor concert venue known as Concerts in the Park.
A mid-size zoo located in William Land Park. A combination ticket with Fairy Tale Town makes for a fun day for families with young children.
Museum dedicated to California's cultural heritage with a walk of fame and numerous rotating exhibits.
19,000 sq. ft. Victorian mansion built in 1856 that is now a California State Park. Over California's history, the mansion had been central to government operations in the state.
Unique museum focused on the automobile and its legacy in California. Includes many classic cars and rotating exhibits.
A huge museum of railroad history with a large collection of old yet well-preserved trains and equipment. If possible, take Amtrak to the Sacramento station to get into a trainy mood for it. The museum also features a large majestic model train layout on the 3rd floor in 3-rail O-scale.
Operated by the Railroad Museum, these 40-minute excursions are pulled by a historic steam locomotive along the nearby river levees.
The Sacramento History Museum explores the region's history from the days before the Gold Rush to the present throughout the museum's two stories of interactive galleries. The museum also offers the perfect starting point for exploring the Old Sacramento State Historic Park!
Pony Express Terminus
Was the western endpoint of the Pony Express. The building is a National Historic Landmark and now contains the visitor center.
Great starting point for excursions throughout the Sacramento region.
The bounty of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley can be found at various certified farmers' markets throughout the metropolitan region. Each venue is unique, with some selling dairy, meat, and seafood in addition to produce, crafts, and artisan items.
monthly
Art galleries in midtown Sacramento open on the second Saturday of each month from 6PM to 9PM Garage parking is available for $2 on 17th Street between Capitol and L Street, and local restaurants stay open a little late for the art walk crowd.
weekly, May through August
Each summer, a free outdoor concert is held on Friday nights from 5PM to 9PM at Cesar Chavez Park, located at 10th and J Streets.
late May
An annual affair over the Memorial Day weekend. Bands come from all over the world to play this gig. You can hear everything from Billie Holiday to Scott Joplin to Paco Gatsby in venues set up throughout Sacramento. Venues are concentrated in Old Sacramento and in hotels near the Convention Center.
In the heat of the summer, self-guided raft trips along the Lower American River are popular (this is leisurely floating, not whitewater rapids). Inflatable rafts can be rented from companies along Sunrise Boulevard and floated down to River Bend Park, a 6-mile trip that takes 3 to 4 hours depending on river flows. Shuttle service is available to return rafters to the start point. Rafts sizes vary from 4 to 12 person, and rental fees range from $50 to $150. State law prohibits alcoholic drinks on the river during the holiday weekends of Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day.
June
First celebrated in 1984 as the Sacramento Freedom Fair, Sacramento Pride Festival and Parade has become an annual LGBT Pride Month tradition, attracting nearly 10,000 visitors from throughout Northern and Central California.
mid-July through early August
The Cal Expo fairgrounds come alive every summer as the State Fair becomes a "city within a city" that hosts nearly one million visitors. Folks come from near and far for the memorable delights of this extravaganza that began in 1854. It includes exciting exhibits, amazing attractions, live entertainment, and the Magnificent Midway.
early September
Every Labor Day weekend, Sacramento trucks dirt into its historic Old Sacramento area in downtown, where the stuff is unloaded onto the streets, the first step in setting the scene for this annual event. Music, food, and stories accompany shows and reenactments of life in the Old West for days of fun.
The Kings are the local basketball team, and they have been growing steadily in popularity. If you're able to obtain tickets to a Kings game, the experience will be a memorable one, as Golden 1 Center, where the Kings play, is widely known to be one of the loudest NBA venues in the country.
Officially known as the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail, the American River Bike Trail is a world-class bike path between Sacramento and Folsom, California. Beginning at Discovery Park in Sacramento, the trail is a 32-mile (51 km) stretch of automobile-free pavement running along lush parkland beside the American River, past Lake Natoma and ending at Folsom Lake. Plenty of picnic-spotted parks offer water and shade, convenient parking, and you may spot the occasional deer or wild turkey. The trip from Folsom to Sacramento is slightly downhill, making the return trip fairly easy. If riding after dusk, be alert in the area of the bridges near downtown. There are walkers and joggers all along the trail so it's bad manners to ride too fast.
The local Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team plays at Sutter Health Park (formerly Raley Field) in West Sacramento. The ballpark will also host Major League Baseball's Athletics from their departure from Oakland at the end of the 2024 season until their permanent Las Vegas ballpark opens in 2027 or 2028.
Historical tour that takes you underground to see and learn how Sacramento lifted itself up out of the flood waters during the 1860s and 1870s. Tours leave from the Sacramento History Museum and no photography is allowed underground.
Park with inclusive playground. Separate areas for babies, young children, and older children offer playground equipment for climbing, spinning, swinging, and rocking. Wheelchair access with ramps and handrails. Picnic areas, restrooms, swimming pool, lake with fishing piers, and tennis courts nearby. Fence along street.
A modern-day diner with a retro feel, Jack's grills and roasts meats for sandwiches and salads and offers comfort food side dishes like mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, and garlic fries. Additional locations in the greater metropolitan area.
A long-time Sac institution, still churning out tasty pizzas.
Serves a unique menu of fresh, delicious, and healthy alternatives to fast-food. Other locations in the Curtis Park neighborhood and outlying Davis.
A tiny little place with extraordinary stuffed-crust pizza. Open until 2:30AM on weekends, Pieces is a very popular spot to load up on carbs after a late-night weekend pub crawl. Several different combinations are offered, and the staff is also happy to build your pizza to order. The vegetarian pesto pizza, with sundried tomato and feta cheese, is especially good. They also offer several excellent beers on tap, including (usually) Arrogant Bastard. The decor isn't much, but the people are friendly and the food is delicious.
Designed as a retro 1950s style diner, Rick's is a popular and award-winning Midtown destination for dessert lovers. Open late for post-dinner date sugar cravings.
Quintessential Sacramento taqueria known for tacos, burritos, mulitas and more. Multiple locations in the region. An absolute must-try if looking for Mexican food in town.
A family-owned independent grocery store with a famous deli counter and an emphasis on Italian foods. They claim, not entirely without justification, that their ravioli are the oldest continuously produced food product in Sacramento, and that one of the founder's sons is almost single-handedly responsible for America's love of balsamic vinegar. Get sandwiches made for your picnic ($10 each). Not the cheapest grocery store in town, but possibly one of the best if you are looking for an unusual or special treat.
Quality vegan and vegetarian Southeast Asian dishes.
A staple in the Sacramento dining scene for over 15 years, Centro Cocina Mexicana offers the finest regional Mexican cuisine in a festive and colorful atmosphere.
Joe's Crab Shack offers a variety of favorites from all parts of the sea and shore.
Serves excellent Indian and Nepalese food—the Mismas Tarkari thali is delicious.
An old favorite serving up tasty Spanish tapas and delicious sangria. Live music on most nights, and open late.
A great breakfast spot, busy at any time of day. There's sometimes a line, but absolutely worth it. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Breakfast served 8-11AM, Monday through Friday. Brunch served 8AM-2PM, Saturday and Sunday. Voted Best Breakfast and Best Sunday Brunch in the 2009 Sacramento magazine readers poll. Voted Best Outdoor Dining and Best Breakfast in the 2008 Sacramento News & Review readers poll. Located in a historic and very interesting building, with lots of art from around the world. International, eclectic menu.
A Mexican restaurant affiliated with the legendary Ernesto's, the food is great and the place is usually busy.
Fast becoming the place to go for dim sum bypassing stalwarts New Canton and Rice Bowl. They also serve authentic Hong Kong and new style Cantonese food.
High-scale restaurant that is perfect for taking that special someone or take the whole family to celebrate any occasion. They pride themselves on cooking the most tender steak, but don't count out their seafood portion of the menu as this place has delicious food with excellent dessert! Fun fact: instead of menus, the waiter brings out a tray of all the raw meat and fish (even crab that is still alive) and explains in detail what the meat or fish is and what the dish comes with.
Ella serves its fabulous food, family-style and encourages diners to share. Their great bar serves fantastic concoctions like home made gin and tonics and "limeade," making for a perfect place for friends and family alike. The fabulous interior was created by award winning design firm, UXUS.
Chinese dimsum, received a nod from Michelin in 2020.
Gay-friendly video bar, two coin-op pool tables, covered smoking area.
Faces is a popular gay-friendly club. Pricey cover, but the good strong drinks can quickly make up the difference. Faces has now doubled in size with an upstairs and a pool in the back. Plays R&B on video floor and House on other dance floor.
This is a gay-friendly bar to go to get your night started—cheap, big, strong drinks!
This a gay-friendly club and is an offshoot of Badlands in San Francisco. It has three stories and an outdoor patio.
Q Street Bar
Casual and often-crowded dive not far from midtown. Large back area provides extra room. On busy nights, a bartender will operate in back as well. Great place for drinks, and the Mexican food next door is a popular after-the-bar stopoff.
Trendy "upscale dive" right in the heart of Sac's midtown nightlife. Not really big enough to compensate for its popularity anymore. Drinks are average range. Quieter with a more laid-back vibe on weeknights. Worth a stop, but not exactly an institution.
Classic dive, possibly the best in Sacramento. Has gotten massively popular on weekends, but manages not to become unpleasant or lose its "divey" feel. Decently priced. Darts and pitchers make for a laid-back time. Avoid the popcorn machine; rumors abound about its level of sanitation. Karaoke two nights a week draws quite a crowd.
Terrific bar with an upscale sports-bar feel mismatched with its unbeatable prices on food and drinks; nightly specials keep savvy locals coming back. Billiard tables rented hourly. Most major sporting events will be played (or, the staff is laid-back enough that they will change the channel upon request). The food, made in the kitchen of the delicious downstairs restaurant, is leagues away from typical "bar food". Drink prices are average, but the specials can and will yield incredible deals.
A basement bar in Old Sacramento that is a relic of a different era. Black ceilings, medieval chandeliers, and strong drinks make this dive bar worth visiting in Old Sacramento.
Eco-conscious and environmentally-friendly green products and housekeeping practices, and event meeting space.
Dormitory beds start at $28 for adults, $10 for children under 18. Private rooms start at $57.
An all-suite hotel with fully-equipped kitchens. Complimentary hot breakfast daily, dinner with beer and wine Monday-Thursday, and high-speed Internet.
Sacramento Suites
Architecture is a bit institutional, but rooms are comfortable with microwaves and refrigerators throughout. Complimentary breakfast is quite extensive (self-service waffle irons), and the people are nice. Ideal location for rail travelers and those interested in Old Sac. Across the street from the Amtrak and Gold Line light rail station. Complimentary WiFi and lobby business center (limited hours) with two Internet-connected computers. Prices somewhat higher (and availability very limited) during annual jazz festival.
Close proximity to the Cal Expo and the Sacramento County Fairgrounds. Includes breakfast, fitness center, outdoor whirlpool spa, complimentary self-laundry facility and 24-hour business center.
No two rooms are exactly alike. Pets are welcome at no additional cost.
It contains a Macy's department store, and numerous smaller shops.
More than 50 boutique shops in Sacramento's original street "grid" cater to a variety of interests, including fashion, beauty, gifts, specialty items, home furnishings, antiques, sporting goods, health and wellness. Shops are located throughout the Downtown and Midtown areas, but the largest cluster of shops are located within a few blocks of the intersection of 24th and J Streets.
Anchored by Nordstrom, Macy's, JCPenney, and Sears, Arden Fair Mall is home to more than 165 national retail shops, boutiques, and restaurants. The adjacent Market Square at Arden Fair is home to additional shopping and restaurants, including a movie theater and a Cheesecake Factory.
Macy's, Ross, Sport Chalet, and Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse.
It is surrounded by many chain stores and restaurants.
Largest mall in the metropolitan area. Tiffany & Co, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Juicy Couture, True Religion, Coach, and Apple.
By train
By car
Sacramento sits at the intersection of Interstate 5 (a north-south route) and Interstate 80 (an east-west route). It is also at the western terminus of U.S. Route 50.
By bus
Mundo Americano Travel at 5385 S Franklin Blvd Suite E serves as a ticket agent for several Hispanic intercity bus companies bound for Mexico via San Joaquin Valley, Los Angeles and San Ysidro.
By foot
Historic Old Sacramento, the Riverfront, and the California State Railroad Museum are all within an easy 5-minute walk of the train station.
By bicycle
The wide, flat, tree-lined streets make cycling a relaxing way to get around Downtown and Midtown Sacramento.
By car
For nearly all other getting around, you will want a car.
Public transportation
Sacramento Regional Transit is the major provider of transit service in Sacramento with connections to other inter-urban buses and the surrounding area. Services include:
By taxi
Sacramento has about 500 taxis and a taxi meter fare system regulated by the City of Sacramento.00 per hour of waiting time.
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Sacramento · International · SMF
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