Sacramento

Understand

Sacramento is in the southern Sacramento Valley, the northern half of the vast 450-mile (720 km) long California Central Valley, one of the world's most productive agricultural areas. While the Central Valley is mostly rural, Sacramento and its urban area seemingly arise abruptly from the surrounding farmland, a sight that is particularly notable to those driving from the west on Interstate 80 or from the south on Interstate 5 or Highway 99. Once considered a typical Central Valley backwater with the distinction of hosting the state capitol, Sacramento's growth has skyrocketed since the late 20th century due increased investment from both local and state governments to bring related jobs to the city, which in turn has attracted think tanks and other research-related sectors such as healthcare and food science. The city has a population of about 520,000 as of 2020 and almost 2.7 million in the metropolitan area. Besides Sacramento County, the metropolitan area also includes the counties of Yolo, Placer, El Dorado, Sutter, Yuba, and Nevada. The pace of life is somewhat slower than in other large Californian cities, and the people are generally warm and friendly. According to Time magazine, Sacramento is the most diverse city in the USA. The city used to be an affordable place, but it suffered from the San Francisco Bay Area's dot com rise and fall, and real estate went from undervalued to overvalued. The market is correcting itself, so property values in most neighborhoods have leveled off while others are dropping to more reasonable valuations.

History Sacramento was founded in 1839 as New Helvetia (Nueva Helvetia in Spanish) by Swiss pioneer John Sutter, having been granted permission by the Mexican government to develop a rancho settlement to bring European settlement to the Sacramento Valley area. The settlement eventually developed into Sutter's Fort, a key agricultural and trading post for settlers arriving in California after crossing the Sierra Nevada. It remained a farming community until 1848, when gold was discovered in nearby Coloma. This discovery caused Sacramento to experience explosive growth as a boomtown. With the California Gold Rush bringing in waves of migrants into the city on a seemingly daily basis, the original portion of the city (present-day Old Sacramento) popped up along the shores of the Sacramento and American Rivers. The city became the first incorporated community in the state when a city charter was enacted in 1849, with the town taking on its current name. Devastating floods in 1850, 1852, and 1862 wiped out much of

Getting there

By plane 1 Sacramento International Airport (SMF IATA). It is the main airport for Sacramento, located 10.5 mi (16.8 km or 15 minutes) northwest of downtown along Interstate 5 at the Airport Boulevard exit (Exit #528). Non-stop air service is available from Canada, Hawaii, Mexico, and all regions of the United States including intrastate flights from all major airports in Southern California. (updated Apr 2020) Nonstop flights are available with:

Terminal A: Air Canada Express, American/American Eagle, Delta/Delta Connection, JetBlue & United/United Express. Terminal B: Aeromexico, Alaska/Horizon Air, Boutique, Contour, Frontier, JetBlue, Hawaiian, Southwest, Spirit, Sun Country, & Volaris. Taxis from the airport to downtown are estimated at $34 one-way. Bus service to downtown (from Yolobus) runs hourly from 5:30AM to 10:20PM weekdays and 8:20AM to 10:20PM weekends. The fare is $2.25 and the buses do not make change. 42A runs clockwise and 42B runs counterclockwise. Be sure to get on the correct bus: 42A goes to Sacramento, 42B comes from Sacramento and goes to Davis via Woodland. SacRT offers express service to the airport with Route 142 providing service every 30 minutes to and from Downtown Sacramento. For international flights, you may be better off flying into or connecting from San Francisco International Airport (SFO). From there, take the BART subway to Oakland and then Greyhound, Amtrak or Flixbus to Sacramento.

By train

2 Sacramento Valley Station, 401 I St. Within walking distance from downtown, Old Town, and several hotels, it is the busiest train station west of the Mississippi River. Transit connections from the station include light rail (the Gold Line, running through downtown), local buses, and taxis. Train passengers can get a free transfer to the light rail; consult the ticket collector on the train for details. (updated Oct 2023) Amtrak, ☏ +1 215-856-7924, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. Operates train service around the United States of America. (updated Mar 2022) Route stopping in Sacramento: Coast Starlight operates daily between Seattle and Los Angeles. Stops include Tacoma, Lacey, Centralia, Kelso, Vancouver, WA, Portland, Salem, Albany, Eugene, Klamath Falls, Dunsmuir, Redding, Chico, Sacramento, Davis, Martinez, San Francisco (Emeryville), Oakland, San Jose, Salinas, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Simi Valley, Van Nuys, and Burbank. California Zephyr runs daily from San Francisco (via Emeryville) through Sacramento to Reno, Salt Lake City, Denver, Omaha, and Chicago. Capitol Corridor is a regional

Getting around

Sacramento is fairly easy to navigate due to the numbered and lettered streets, especially in the central district which is laid out in a grid. Numbered streets run north and south while lettered streets run east and west. South of the city center (bounded by Broadway, Front Street, and Alhambra Boulevard), the streets are named "Avenue" when the lettered streets run out.

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. The Capitol building is a pleasant 15-minute walk from Old Sacramento. Sacramento has been called the tree city, due to the density of street trees present. This makes for a pleasant walk anyone in Central Sacramento. However, the moment that you try to get out of the central core, the distances go up, and you're just trudging through suburbs that have much less shade.

By bicycle The wide, flat, tree-lined streets make cycling a relaxing way to get around Downtown and Midtown Sacramento. Most streets in the grid have bike lanes, and bike routes through the city are clearly marked. Traveling by bike also means avoiding expensive and hard-to-find parking. Additionally, the region is connected with the American River Bike Trail, one of the gems of outdoor recreation for the city. For more information about bike infrastructure and advocacy in Sacramento, check out the SABA website. While many bike rental options exist in the city, the region officially supports private bike share rentals by Lime bike. Usage is as easy as downloading the app and locating the nearest bike.

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:

Light rail - there are three lines (Gold, Blue, Green) which share tracks through downtown. Buy a ticket before boarding. Remember to press the button to open the train door, they do not open automatically. The lines radiate out of downtown to Folsom, Elk Grove and Watt/I-80. Buses - Buses serve the City of Sacramento, but generally get weaker the further you are from downtown. Many other regional agencies provide rapid or express service to downtown, but check the schedule as they are mostly limited to rush hour.

By taxi Sacramento has about 500 taxis and a taxi meter fare system regulated by the City of Sacramento. The standard taxi fare in Sacramento is $4.00 flag drop, $3.00 each additional mile, and

See

1 California State Capitol, 10th and L Streets, ☏ +1 916-324-0333. M–F 8AM–5PM, Sa Su 9AM–5PM. 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). Free. (updated Dec 2018) 2 Sutter's Fort, 2701 L St, ☏ +1 916-445-4422. Tu–Su 10AM–5PM. 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. Adult $5, youth $3, child 5 & under free. (updated Dec 2018) 3 State Indian Museum, 2618 K St (next to Sutter's Fort), ☏ +1 916-324-0971. 10AM–5PM. Contains displays of Native Californian basketry, beadwork, clothing and exhibits about the ongoing traditions of various California Indian tribes. Adults $3, youth $2, children 5 & under free. 4 Crocker Art Museum, 216 O St (an easy 20-minute walk west from the Capitol building or 15-minute walk south from Old Sacramento), ☏ +1 916-808-7000, [email protected]. W–Su 10AM–5PM, Th 10AM–9PM. The oldest continuously operating museum in the West, home to a premier collection of California art. $15. 5 Cesar Chavez Park. 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. (updated Dec 2018) 6 Sacramento Zoo. 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. 7 California Museum, 1020 O St, ☏ +1 916-653-7524. Tu–Sa 10AM–5PM, Su noon–5PM. Museum dedicated to California's cultural heritage with a walk of fame and numerous rotating exhibits. $10, Students/seniors/children $8, 5 and under free. (updated Oct 2021) 8 Leland Stanford Mansion, 800 N St. 19,000 sq. ft. Victorian mansion built in 1856 that is now a Califo

Do

1 Certified Farmers' Market, ☏ +1 916-688-0100. 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. Second Saturdays Art Walk (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. Concerts in the Park (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. Sacramento Capitol City Jazz Festival (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. River rafting. late May through September. 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. Sacramento Pride Festival and Parade (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. 2 California State Fair (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. Sacramento Gold Rush Days (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

Buy

2 Sacramento Downtown Plaza, 405 K St (in a 4 block area bounded between L & J St (north & south) and 4 & 5th Ave (east & west) net to I-5 in downtown), ☏ +1 916-273-8124. It contains a Macy's department store, and numerous smaller shops. (updated Jul 2020) 3 Shop the Grid, Midtown Sacramento (area surrounding 24th and J Streets). 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. 4 Arden Fair Mall, 1689 Arden Way (Arden Way & Alta Arden Expressway). M-Sa 10AM-9PM, Su 10AM-7PM; restaurant hours vary. 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. 5 Country Club Plaza Mall, 2310 Watt Ave. (between I-80 and Hwy 50 at Watt Avenue and El Camino), ☏ +1 916-481-6716. Macy's, Ross, Sport Chalet, and Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse. 6 Sunrise Mall, 6041 Sunrise Blvd. (in the Citrus Heights and Orangevale suburbs). It is surrounded by many chain stores and restaurants. 7 Westfield Galleria at Roseville, 1151 Galleria Blvd (20 miles northeast of downtown Sacramento), ☏ +1 916 787 2000. Largest mall in the metropolitan area. Tiffany & Co, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Juicy Couture, True Religion, Coach, and Apple. (updated Apr 2026)

Eat

The diversity of Sacramento is not only reflected in its various neighborhoods but also in the food choices you can find here. The places in the central district tend to be more trendy and hip while food establishments in their respective neighborhoods reflect the tastes of their residents. Finding unique fare in suburban Sacramento, northeast of the city limits, can be difficult as many of the establishments are dominated by national or large regional chains.

Budget 2 Jack's Urban Eats, 1230 20th St (Midtown at 20th Street and Capitol Avenue), ☏ +1 916 444-0307. 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. (updated May 2015) 3 Luigi's Pizza Parlor, 3800 Stockton Blvd, Oak Park, ☏ +1 916 456-0641. A long-time Sac institution, still churning out tasty pizzas. Pizzas $12-20. 4 Crepeville, 1730 L St, ☏ +1 916 444-1100. Serves a unique menu of fresh, delicious, and healthy alternatives to fast-food. Other locations in the Curtis Park neighborhood and outlaying Davis. 5 Pieces Pizza by the Slice, 1309 21st St (near the corner of 21st and Capitol), ☏ +1 916 441-1949. 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. $5-10. 6 Rick's Dessert Diner, 2401 J St, ☏ +1 916 444-0969. Tu-Th 10AM–midnight; F Sa 10AM-1AM; Su noon-11PM; M 10AM-11PM. 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. 7 Chando's Taqueria, 863 Arden Way, ☏ +1 916-641-8226. 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. (updated Nov 2021) 8 Corti Brothers, 5810 Folsom Blvd, ☏ +1 916 736-3800. 9AM–7PM M–Sat; 10AM–6PM Sun. 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

Drink & nightlife

Nightlife in Sacramento is vibrant if you know where to look. Stay in Downtown or Midtown. This is where most tourists are anyway. The upscale clubs and lounges tend to be on or near J Street. Just around the corner is the Capitol Garage which typically has guest DJs on Saturday and a $5 cover in a laid back atmosphere. Nearby is the Crest Theater, an independent historic movie theater that boasts art deco design. In the summer you can catch the French Film Festival here as well as the Trash Film Orgy, an all-night spectacle of old B movie flicks where locals gather in their cheesiest costumes. On most days of the year, however, the Crest is the place to catch foreign and independent films as well as traveling stand-up comedy and music acts. On 16th and R Street. you'll find the popular bar R15. This is a trendy bar/restaurant (Cafe Bernardo is attached) that has an urban industrial feel. Despite being trendy the prices are very affordable with $2 Pabst on tap and $1 pool tables. They also boast couches and big screens where you can play Xbox for free with a couple of friends. R Street corridor offers Shady Lady Saloon, R15 Bar, and restaurants. Another popular club is Mix Downtown with stiff cover charges and dress code as well, but Mix attracts an older crowd than District 30 and less pretentious crowd than the Park. On 10th and S Street, you'll find the popular indie-rock venue Old Ironsides. Local and traveling indie-rock talent showcase their music here. Every Tuesday you can catch Lipstick, a popular indie-rock dance party where you'll find mostly hip Midtown locals. Every first Saturday of the month you can catch After Dark which is like Lipstick only on a Saturday so it attracts a more varied metropolitan crowd. The Press Club on 21st and P Street is popular with the college crowd with its $5 cover charges and cheap $3 24 oz. of Pabst. It's known for playing 1980s dance music and the best nights to go are Wednesdays or Thursdays as it is a small club and, on weekends, gets unbearably overcrowded.

1 The Depot, 2001 K St (corner of K and 20th downtown.). Gay-friendly video bar, two coin-op pool tables, covered smoking area. 2 Faces, 2000 K St (Corner of K and 20th), ☏ +1 916-448-7798. 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. 3 The Mercantile Saloon, 1928 L St (20th & L St). This is a gay-friendly bar to go to get your night started—cheap, big, st

Sleep

Visitors to Sacramento should be aware that hotels in the downtown area charge more on weekday and major event stays than weekends as a lot of business travelers come during the weekdays close to the central business district.

Budget 1 Greens Hotel, 1700 Del Paso Blvd, ☏ +1 916-921-1736, [email protected]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Eco-conscious and environmentally-friendly green products and housekeeping practices, and event meeting space. (updated Feb 2026) 2 HI Sacramento, 925 H St (at 10th St), ☏ +1 916-668-6631, [email protected]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Dormitory beds start at $28 for adults, $10 for children under 18. Private rooms start at $57. (updated Feb 2026)

Mid-range 3 Homewood Suites by Hilton, 3001 Advantage Way, ☏ +1 916-263-9510, [email protected]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. An all-suite hotel with fully-equipped kitchens. Complimentary hot breakfast daily, dinner with beer and wine Monday-Thursday, and high-speed Internet. (updated Feb 2026) 4 TownePlace Suites (Sacramento Suites), 1784 Tribute Rd, ☏ +1 916-920-5400. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. (updated Feb 2026) 5 Vagabond Inn Executive Sacramento (Old Town), 909 Third St. (across I street from the train station), ☏ +1 916 446-1481, fax: +1 916 448-0364. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. 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. $79 and up. (updated Dec 2019) 6 Larkspur Landing Sacramento, 555 Howe Avenue, ☏ +1 916-646-1212, toll-free: +1-877-527-5778, fax: +1 916 646-1216, [email protected]. 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. from $95. (updated Jul 2015)

Splurge 7 The Citizen Hotel, Autograph Collection, 926 J St (J & 10th Sts), ☏ +1 916-447-2700. No two rooms are exactly alike. Pets are welcome at no additional cost. $200. (updated Oct 2016) 8 Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel, 1230 J St (Corner of J & 13th Sts), ☏ +1 916-447-1700. (updated Oct 2016) 9 The Westin Sacramento, 4350 Rivers

Go next

Part of the beauty of Sacramento is its central location. It's sometimes possible to go skiing in the morning and surfing in the afternoon. All within a couple hours by car:

15 Folsom Lake. One of Northern California's largest lakes, Folsom Lake is where many local Sacramentans go fishing, biking, sailing, kayaking or jet-skiing during the summer. It is 30 minutes east of downtown Sacramento off Highway 50 in suburban Folsom. Several eastern suburbs of Sacramento are part of Gold Country, a concentration of numerous small towns in the Sierra Nevada foothills that were the site of the California Gold Rush, with Coloma being the site of the original gold discovery. Truckee and Donner Pass, about 100 miles east of Sacramento on I-80. Be prepared in wintertime, as the elevation is over 7,000 ft. This also includes Reno/Tahoe (below), which are further east via I-80. Lake Tahoe, a gorgeous lake on the Nevada border, popular for outdoor activities year-round (skiing and snowboarding in winter, swimming and hiking in summer). Reno, a little bit o' gambling just over the border in Nevada. Accessible by Amtrak, Greyhound, or Flixbus. San Francisco, the cultural and financial center of Northern California, is approximately 85 miles to the west. An approximately 2-hour drive on Interstate 80 without traffic. It is also accessible by Amtrak, Greyhound, or Flixbus. Those with the money to spare or an aversion to driving can also take one of the handful of daily flights to the city (30-minute flight time, although the actual trip will probably be just as long as driving time given check-in and security checks). Napa Valley and the California Wine Country, gorgeous landscape and the most famous wine-tasting in the States.