Should I spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Sacramento?

Should you spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Sacramento?

Most people spend one to two days in Sacramento during their visit. The undiscovered city offers amazing highlights such as the famous sights and museums, the cuisine, the nightlife scene, and the shops and boutiques.

Sacramento is the capital of the state of California and it sits where the Sacramento River meets the American River. The city has a number of museums, particularly in Old Sacramento. While it's an important political center for the state, it is often overlooked by tourists.

Do you have 3, 4, or 5 days to visit Sacramento? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.

Is 3 days enough time in Sacramento?

Three days is more than enough time to see pretty much everything in Sacramento, as it's not as large as some other cities. You can move at your own pace and relax in your hotel. Explore the museums and famous sights, dine out at amazing restaurants, grab some drinks at a bar, and go shopping. You could also use Sacramento as a base for exploring the nearby destinations. You'll find some great day trips in the region.

How to spend 3 days in Sacramento

A number of fantastic museums and famous landmarks are found in Sacramento, so spend at least one full day exploring those that look the most appealing to you. As the state capital, you'll find a number of historical and informational museums around town. You should check out the State Capital, as well as the California State Railroad Museum, the Crocker Museum of Art, Sutter's Fort State Historic Park, and the California Automobile Museum.

You can't miss out on tasting the fantastic cuisine at one of the best restaurants in town, so make sure you find somewhere special for lunch or dinner. Casual restaurants with laid back atmospheres are what's most common around town. You'll also find a variety of international cuisines that include Korean and Vietnamese.

A few tour suggestions include:

Midtown Sacramento Arts and Food Tour ($98)
Midtown Sacramento Walking Food Tour ($125)
Downtown Sacramento Historical Food Tour ($98)

Perhaps the most famous spot in Sacramento is the California State Railroad Museum, so make sure you set aside some time to check it out. It might not be at the top of your list, but it's worth experiencing during your trip.

The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. There highest concentration of activities are found in Downtown Sacramento. You'll find bars, clubs and live music in the area. You can also head to midtown, which has performing arts and comedy shows.

A few tour suggestions include:

Sacramento Bar Hunt: Sacramento Sprint Bar Crawl ($12)

Shopping in Sacramento is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. You'll find down-to-earth vendors who have reasonable prices and a great selection. Some of the most interesting shopping is found at the Old Sacramento Waterfront or along Folsom Boulevard.

Is 4 days enough time in Sacramento?

Four days provides ample opportunity to explore the entirety of Sacramento at your own pace to experience the famous sights and museums, the cuisine, the nightlife scene, and the shops and boutiques. Then you can use this city as a convenient base for venturing into smaller destinations nearby where you'll discover exciting day trip options.

Sacramento, California

How to spend 4 days in Sacramento

Having 4 days in Sacramento will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the city.

After you've explored most of Sacramento, take a day trip to one of the many beautiful destinations nearby.

Is 5 days enough time in Sacramento?

With five days at your disposal, you'll have more than enough time to take in all that Sacramento has to offer, giving you the flexibility to unwind in your hotel or use Sacramento as a base for day trips to nearby destinations. You can relax while enjoying the famous sights and museums, the cuisine, and the nightlife scene at your own pace, as this medium sized city offers a variety of fun activities for . We have some suggestions of things to do below, too.

How to spend 5 days in Sacramento

With 5 days in Sacramento, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.

With so much time here, you should absolutely take another day trip to one of the many nearby destinations around Sacramento. Plenty of amazing options are available.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Sacramento, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.