Contents
Solvang | Introduction
Solvang means "Sunny Field," and we often refer to it as the Danish Village. It is a very distinctive small town. Since it was established by Danish immigrants who settled and built this village, it has left behind many Danish-style buildings and is known as the "Danish Capital of America." Visiting here feels like being in a fairy tale city, which attracts quite a number of tourists. Currently, tourism is the main economic source here.
Solvang is located about 30 miles north of Santa Barbara, which is roughly a half-hour drive. Typically, visitors spend a few hours to half a day here, wandering around and exploring. It is often combined with other nearby attractions to form a one to two-day itinerary. Nearby larger cities suitable for accommodation include Santa Barbara, Lompoc, and San Luis Obispo.
Find a stay in Santa Barbara
Solvang | Danish Village
The Danish Village is actually quite a simple attraction that doesn't require much planning. As soon as you drive into the area of the Danish Village, it won't be long before you see windmills.
The buildings here have a very European feel, primarily because it is a tourist town. The whole town is a sizeable and atmospheric attraction, and it is quite interesting to stroll around and appreciate the street scenery. The town has the Hans Christian Andersen Museum and the Little Mermaid statue, further adding to the fairy tale atmosphere.
Hamlet Square in the town center is filled with tourists, and there are also horse-drawn carriages for sightseeing. The famous Andersen Museum is nearby, all within walking distance.
If you want to buy souvenirs, a few famous Danish bakeries are good destinations, where you can buy some Danish butter cookies to try.
There are still many specialty souvenir shops to visit on the street. I particularly like this puzzle shop, which sells many puzzles featuring California attractions.
The nearby area is actually known for producing fine wine in California, so there are also some tasting rooms for wine tasting.
Old Mission Santa Ines
Tired of the crowded places and looking for some quiet? You can visit Old Mission Santa Ines not far from the bustling area of Solvang to experience tranquility. Built in 1804, Old Mission Santa Ines is a historic site and the 19th of the twenty-one early Spanish missions in California, open for visits until 5 PM. The mission faces the Santa Ynez River Valley and the San Rafael Mountains, offering beautiful scenic views outside.
Solvang Restaurant | Copenhagen Sausage Garden
- Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Price: $$
In Solvang, there are indeed many Danish restaurants; however, the best restaurant I've tried in Solvang so far is Copenhagen Sausage Garden, which serves German sausages and beer. There is a wide variety of flavors for both the sausages and the beer. If you're in a small group like us and want to try different flavors, you can order the sampler. Each one is incredibly delicious, and the Rod Posse sausage suits my taste the best. However, the most surprisingly delightful dish was actually their pretzel. Normally, I don't care for pretzels at all, but their pretzel is truly amazing.
Thank you for visiting our website.
All the content on this site is original and shared with the purpose of providing valuable information. We sustain the operation of this site through a small amount of advertising and sponsored links. If you click on links to third-party merchants on our site and make purchases, we may receive a portion of the sales as a commission. If you click on links to third-party merchants on our site and make purchases, we may receive a portion of the sales as a commission.
Find more posts on a map Here.
My recommended resources for hotel bookings.
Recommended travel credit card for US-based travelers
Travel with just a backpack!
Buy me a coffee and support my contents!
If you are interested in quoting this article or using any part of its content and images on your website or publication, please contact us via email to request permission.
