Today I want to bring you my 3-day Napa itinerary for Northern California. This county near San Francisco is known for its world-class wines, beautiful scenery, and award-winning restaurants. With a few days or a long weekend, you can discover a lot of what this part of wine country has to offer visitors. I’ve included a Napa Valley map with all the places I recommend, too.
3-Day Napa Itinerary
Napa Valley is located 50 miles northeast of San Francisco. The area is famous for its vineyards, which produce excellent Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and other grape varieties. It’s also home to famous foodie towns like Yountville, cities like Napa, and hot springs in places like Calistoga.
It’s easy to visit Napa mid-week or drive up on a Friday and spend a long weekend in wine country. With 3 days in the area you can enjoy everything from tasting rooms to towns and vineyard views. This part of California shows off some of the best things the Golden State has to offer.
My itinerary covers a range of things to do and see. It’s equally useful for first-time visitors and those who have been to the area before. You can use it to get a feel for what you can do in 3 days in Napa and adjust it to fit your specific interests. You can also take a look at my full list of Napa itineraries for more inspiration.
Where to Stay in Napa
There’s no shortage of places to stay in Napa. From luxurious resorts to hotels and house rentals, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to accommodation. Just keep in mind that Napa can be pricey, especially on weekends. Booking well in advance or traveling mid-week can help ensure you get a great place to stay and good value for money.
My top pick for accommodation in Napa is Indian Springs. Set on 17 acres of land, this historic property in Calistoga is comprised of a unique collection of cottages, bungalows, and Mission Revival-style buildings.
One of the first spas in California, the landmark resort features a mineral swimming pool from 1910, thermal waters, mud baths, and more. It also has a restaurant serving cuisine made from local wine country produce.
I’ve stayed in one of the cottages here, and I loved its cozy feel and sense of history. The spa and pool were relaxing, and the whole one-of-a-kind experience was unforgettable.
If you want to soak in the springs and indulge in a wine country retreat, you can book a room here. This is one of my favorite cool places to stay in California.
There’s lots of other good accommodation in this part of wine country, too. If you want to see more, you can find a place that fits your style here.
Day 1
After dropping off your bags or getting settled into your accommodation, there’s no better way to start your 3-day Napa itinerary than with some wine tasting. That’s what this part of Northern California is known for, after all.
Wine Tasting in Calistoga
Rivers-Marie Vineyards is a great place to do it. It’s conveniently located in Calistoga just a few minutes’ drive from Indian Springs. You can pre-book a guided experience, and when you arrive you’ll be awed by the breathtaking views of the Palisades from the glass-fronted tasting room.
As you enter, you’ll be welcomed and given an overview of the business. Owned by Thomas Rivers Brown and Genevieve Marie Welsh (hence the name Rivers-Marie), this place focuses on single-variety wines made to reflect the vineyard and vintage from which they come.
After the introduction you’ll start a wine tasting. It’s a 90-minute custom-tailored tasting of five of their current vintage wines. Sitting at a table set with glasses and tasting notes, you’ll be able to sample everything from Chardonnay to Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon.
As you sip, your host will tell you about the different vintages, growing conditions, and flavor profiles of the wines. Rivers-Marie is all about Pinot, but given it’s located in Napa, the Cabs are delicious as well.
At the end you can buy a bottle or more to take home. If you’re like me, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to see what good value they are given Napa’s reputation for higher-than-average prices.
Lunch in St Helena
After the tasting, continue your 3-day Napa itinerary by driving to lunch at Gott’s Roadside in St Helena. This beloved local chain is known for its retro diner atmosphere. It’s popular, so if you’re here on a weekend it’s a good idea to pre-order your food before you leave Rivers-Marie.
Gott’s serves California-inspired dishes using locally-sourced ingredients. The menu has everything from Baja fish tacos to classic burgers and chicken schnitzel sandwiches.
The restaurant has a big outdoor area with picnic tables that’s perfect for eating lunch al fresco on warm days. It’s the ideal place to fuel up and get ready for the next stop on your Napa itinerary.
Wine Tasting in Coombsville
From Gott’s it’s a 30-minute drive to the heart of Coombsville, an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in the Napa Valley just east of the city of Napa. Established in 2011, this less-visited part of Napa Valley covers a range of elevations. It’s known for its cooler, marine-influenced climate and red wines that are vibrant and pure-fruited with old-world elegance.
You can pre-book a tasting at Covert Estate, a secluded winery near an oak grove in the eastern hills of the Vaca Mountain Range. It offers sweeping views across the vineyards below.
Upon arrival, your host will hand you a glass of white and tell you about the winery. It’s owned by three families dedicated to the craft of winemaking.
Your wine tasting will take place in an atmospheric cave hidden away in the hill. Its contemporary decor and windows into the barrels deeper underground will make you feel like you’ve stumbled upon one of Napa’s best-kept secrets.
As you settle in, you’ll learn about the wines and taste a range of Cabernet Sauvignons. Covert Estate uses traditional Bordeaux winemaking techniques combined with Californian creativity to produce wines that aim to be elegant, delicate, and distinctive in personality.
After the tasting, your host will show you through to the room with the barrels and fermentation tanks. You’ll be able to see the inner workings of the winery and learn more about Covert’s winemaking process here.
Spa in Calistoga
When you’re done with the tour, you can continue your 3-day Napa itinerary by driving back to Calistoga and spending the rest of the afternoon indulging in the spa or swimming in the pools at Indian Springs. From mud baths to hot springs, there’s a lot you can avail yourself of here.
If you don’t feel like getting wet, you can explore Calistoga. There’s plenty to see and do here. From the Old Faithful Geyser of California to the shops and cafes on and around Lincoln Avenue, it’s a great place to discover.
Alternatively, you can drive into the city of Napa and do some shopping. From home goods stores to clothing boutiques, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to options for retail therapy.
Dinner in Yountville
Whichever you choose, continue your 3 days in Napa by heading to dinner at Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bistro in Yountville in the evening. This casual French-inspired restaurant is a great alternative to his impossible-to-get-into French Laundry (but you should still make reservations).
Bouchon Bistro is known for its fresh, seasonal ingredients and meticulous attention to detail in presentation. Whether you want the soupe du jour or oysters on the half shell, you can get it here. There’s also a great selection of wines.
The dining room will whisk you right off to France, too. With tile floors, wooden chairs, and white tablecloths, it has a classic bistro ambiance.
Day 2
The next day, continue your 3-day Napa itinerary by waking up early for a special adventure. It’ll be worth it.
Hot Air Balloon Ride in Napa Valley
This morning you can go on a hot air balloon ride over Napa Valley. This is one of the most exciting things to do in wine country, and an early start means you’ll enjoy enchanting golden light and peaceful sounds as you start your aerial journey with a certified pilot.
You’ll get a bird’s-eye view of the famous vineyards and Mount Saint Helena as you soar between 1,000 and 3,000 feet above the ground. Depending on visibility, you might even get to see the San Francisco skyline and the mountains to the east.
Yountville
After ballooning, head into Yountville. As you’ll have seen from the night before, this town is famous for its food scene. Home to acclaimed restaurants, it attracts visitors from all over the world.
You can start with a walk around town. It’s small and easy to see on foot, and you’ll be able to take in everything from the famous Bouchon Bakery to The French Laundry and its garden.
When you get hungry, you can have lunch at one of the many good restaurants in town. Whether you opt for a classic French meal at Bistro Jeanty or seasonal Midwestern fare at The Kitchen at Priest Ranch, you can’t go wrong.
Wine Tasting
After lunch, you can continue your 3-day Napa itinerary down the road at the RH Yountville compound. This place is a unique food, wine, art, and design concept in wine country.
You can pre-book a tasting at the wine vault. When you arrive you’ll be able to sit at one of the outdoor tables in the peaceful courtyard. For the next hour, you can taste wines from all over this part of Northern California and admire the creative design elements around you.
From the long table surrounded by trees to the outdoor fireplaces and landmark stone building, RH Yountville is a design lover’s dream.
Wine Tasting in Napa Valley
When you finish, you can drive over to Napa’s Silverado Trail to get to your next wine tasting. This one is at Quintessa. It’s located on the eastern edge of Rutherford at the foot of the Vaca Mountains. Spanning 280 acres, this is not only a famous winery, but also a beautiful property.
You can pre-book a tour of the vineyard-covered hills and do a tasting of its famous red blend. You’ll be able to spend the late afternoon soaking up the sunshine and sipping some of California’s best wine as you do.
It’s worth booking the Private Quintessential Experience as a special treat. You’ll arrive at the winery and meet your host in the main tasting room. They’ll lead you outside to a golf cart and whisk you off through the sun-drenched vineyards. As you go, you’ll be treated to views over the hills and across Dragon’s Lake.
Soon you’ll arrive at a private pavilion nestled among moss-draped oak trees. Its contemporary floor-to-ceiling windows will frame a picture-pretty view over the vines and the Rutherford Bench district.
After you settle in at the table, you’ll learn about the winery as you taste two Illumination Sauvignon Blancs, two vintages of Quintessa (a Cabernet Sauvignon blend), and two barrel samples of future vintages.
Dinner in Napa Valley
From Quintessa, you can continue your 3-day Napa itinerary with a 10-minute drive to The Charter Oak restaurant in St Helena. This place is known for its wood-fired grill, and you can make a reservation for dinner on the leafy outdoor terrace.
If you want to, you can start with cocktails. The drinks here are refreshing on warm evenings, and a nice break from the wine you’ll have been sampling throughout the afternoon.
Cocktails imbibed, you can dive into fluffy sourdough bread with house-cultured butter, wings, burgers, and grilled other fare. The food here is delicious, and it’s magical to dine under the tree canopy above.
Don’t forget to leave room for dessert. You can finish off your meal with the burnt vanilla soft serve with wild pecan oil. It’s been named one of the 10 best cold desserts in the Bay Area by the San Francisco Chronicle, and it lives up to its reputation.
Day 3
The next day you can spend the morning exploring Calistoga or getting spa treatments at Indian Springs before continuing your 3-day Napa itinerary with a tasting.
Wine Tasting in St Helena
This one is at a winery called Vice Versa in St Helena. It’s a 15-minute drive from Calistoga. You can pre-book an experience, and when you arrive you’ll be welcomed and given an overview of the winery.
Vice Versa was founded by Canadian Patrice Breton in 2003 after he worked alongside influential winemaker Paul Hobbs. The winery’s philosophy is all about balance, and Vice Versa’s winemaker keeps things simple and focused.
Before doing a tasting, you can go indoors to see the stainless-steel tanks where the wine is made. There you’ll learn more about the process and get excited for your first sip.
Said sip will happen in the tasting room, where a table will be set with glasses and food. You’ll enjoy a plate of fruit, crackers, and nuts as you start sampling the wines. You’ll get to try a range of Cabernet Sauvignons as you learn about the different vintages and growing conditions.
Lunch in Napa
From Vice Versa, you can continue your 3-day Napa itinerary with a drive to the city of Napa for lunch at Oxbow Public Market. This covered space is full of counters offering everything from crab cakes to cupcakes. If you’re like me, you’ll want to eat it all.
You can get lunch at one of the stalls, or head around the corner to eat at Model Bakery. This place is famous for its artisan breads, and you can order a sandwich and savor it at one of the outdoor tables.
If you didn’t explore the city of Napa on your first day in wine country, you can spend a bit of time browsing the city’s shops and boutiques before you leave. There are lots of good ones here.
Wine Tasting in Coombsville
When you’re done, continue your 3 days in Napa with a drive to Coombsville for a tasting at Palmaz Vineyards. This Napa Valley winery is known for its blend of tradition and technology. The tasting room is set in a unique 18-story underground winery cave complex, and you can take in the views over the vineyards before heading inside.
You can pre-book a private guided tour and tasting here. You’ll be greeted by your host and handed a glass of wine when you arrive. As you sip, you’ll head outside to learn about the winery and soak up the views.
Established by the doctor who invented the heart stent, Palmaz Vineyards is a 600-acre estate with 64 acres of vines that produce technology-driven vintages of everything from Cabernet Sauvignon to Muscat and Chardonnay.
After the introduction you’ll ride an elevator down into the caves. The maze of tunnels and domes carved into the rock at the base of Mount George is a feat of engineering. Your host will usher you into a domed room where fermentation tanks sit on a multi-level gallery befitting the winery’s gravity-flow system.
You can watch as all kinds of data about each tank is projected onto the ceiling. While you look up, your host will explain what the charts and graphs tell the team and how technology plays a leading role in Palmaz’s approach to winemaking.
After the tour you’ll make your way upstairs to a tasting room with a table laden with glasses and plates of hors d’oeuvres. From Riesling to Chardonnay and Cab, each wine will be paired with a small bite.
As you sip and nibble, your host will walk you through the tasting notes and answer your questions about the wines.
Dinner in Napa
After the tasting, you can drive to dinner at Boon Fly Cafe at the Carneros Resort and Spa in Napa. Situated in a rustic-chic roadhouse, the restaurant has a casual atmosphere and great food.
This place is famous for its doughnuts, so you can see if you can take some with you for breakfast the next morning before you leave. Either way, dinner here is a fun way to end your 3 days in Napa Valley.
3 Days in Napa
I hope you’ve enjoyed my 3-day wine country itinerary and that it’s shown you a variety of things to do and see in this part of Northern California. If you want more Napa inspiration, you can take a look at my itineraries for one day in Napa, a day trip to Napa, and 3 days in Napa and Sonoma.
Napa Itinerary Map
As promised, I’ve created an interactive Google map of all the places I’ve written about in my Napa itinerary. You can find it here. You can use the map to plan the perfect wine country trip of your own. Happy travels!
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