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California, United States

Sonoma

Spend a day around the historic plaza, with two winery stops and a hike in Glen Ellen. We have mapped 2 sights, 1 outdoor spot and 3 places to eat here, each with a reason to go.

Plan Sonoma with friendsBrowse 8 places
Sonoma, California, United States
Places
8

2 See · 1 Outdoors · 3 Eat · 2 Drink

Curated routes
1

California Wine Country

Best season
Apr – Oct

from our route notes

Warmest month
July

33°C / 92°F avg high

Coolest month
December

14°C / 57°F avg high

Wettest month
December

about 163 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Sonoma

8 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

2 sights worth building a day around in Downtown Sonoma.

  • Sonoma Plaza in SonomaPhoto: Carlton A. Lear · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    Sonoma Plaza

    California's largest town square, ringed by tasting rooms and shops.

    • Downtown Sonoma
    • Free
    • 60 min
    • Morning
  • Mission San Francisco Solano in SonomaPhoto: Sarbjit Bahga · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    Mission San Francisco Solano

    The last of California's 21 missions, part of Sonoma State Historic Park.

    Tip One ticket also covers the barracks and Vallejo's home.

    • Downtown Sonoma
    • $
    • 45 min

Outdoors

1 outdoor spot for fresh air in Glen Ellen.

  • Jack London State Historic Park in SonomaPhoto: Robert E. Nylund · Public domain
    Outdoors

    Jack London State Historic Park

    Ranch trails, vineyard views and the ruins of Jack London's Wolf House.

    Tip The 1.5-mile walk to the Wolf House ruins is easy.

    • Glen Ellen
    • $
    • 2.5 hr
    • Morning

Eat

Where we would book a table in Sonoma across Sonoma Plaza and Glen Ellen.

  • Basque Boulangerie Café in SonomaPhoto: Carl Mosca · Google
    Eat

    Basque Boulangerie Café

    Plaza bakery for pastries, coffee and sandwiches to take on the road.

    • Sonoma Plaza
    • $
    • 30 min
    • Breakfast
  • Glen Ellen Star in SonomaPhoto: Grant Campbell · Google
    Eat

    Glen Ellen Star

    Small wood-fired kitchen serving pizzas, roasted vegetables and local wines.

    Tip Reserve; seats are limited.

    • Glen Ellen
    • $$$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Dinner
  • The Girl & the Fig in SonomaPhoto: Sarah Stierch · CC BY 4.0
    Eat

    The Girl & the Fig

    Wine-country French cooking just off the plaza, open since 1997.

    Tip The fig and arugula salad is a signature.

    • Sonoma Plaza
    • $$$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Dinner

Drink

Our picks for a drink in Sonoma in East Sonoma.

  • Gundlach Bundschu Winery in SonomaPhoto: Gundlach Bundschu Winery · Google
    Drink

    Gundlach Bundschu Winery

    Family winery since 1858, with hillside vineyards and a relaxed tasting room.

    Tip Book a tasting ahead, especially on weekends.

    • East Sonoma
    • $$$
    • 75 min
    • Afternoon
  • Buena Vista Winery in SonomaPhoto: Matkatamiba · Public domain
    Drink

    Buena Vista Winery

    California's oldest commercial winery (1857), with historic stone cellars.

    • East Sonoma
    • $$$
    • 75 min

How to fit Sonoma into a trip

Sonoma is stop 1 of 3 on our California Wine Country route. Follow it as-is or lift Sonoma into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Sonoma month by month

Average daily highs run from 14°C / 57°F in December to 33°C / 92°F in July. December is the wettest month, with about 163 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Sonoma weather and the best time to visit →

Near Sonoma

8 other destinations from our guides within about 200 km (124 mi), measured in a straight line.

Sonoma questions, answered

How many days do you need in Sonoma?

On our California Wine Country route it is stop 1 of 3 in a 4-day trip. Split evenly, that is about a day here, an estimate rather than a rule. The listed visit times for our 8 places add up to roughly 10 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Sonoma best known for?

Spend a day around the historic plaza, with two winery stops and a hike in Glen Ellen. Standouts on our list: Sonoma Plaza (California's largest town square, ringed by tasting rooms and shops); Mission San Francisco Solano (The last of California's 21 missions, part of Sonoma State Historic Park); Jack London State Historic Park (Ranch trails, vineyard views and the ruins of Jack London's Wolf House).

When is the best time to visit Sonoma?

Our California Wine Country route is best Apr – Oct. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (33°C / 92°F), the coolest in December (14°C / 57°F) and the most rain in December (about 163 mm).

What are the best things to do in Sonoma?

Start with Sonoma Plaza, Mission San Francisco Solano and Jack London State Historic Park. Our guide lists 8 places in all, from 2 sights, 1 outdoor spot, 3 places to eat and 2 bars & cafés.

Where should a group eat in Sonoma?

Our picks: Basque Boulangerie Café (Sonoma Plaza); Glen Ellen Star; The Girl & the Fig (Sonoma Plaza). Reserve; seats are limited (Glen Ellen Star).

What is near Sonoma?

The closest destinations in our guides are Napa (about 29 km / 18 mi), Healdsburg (about 50 km / 31 mi) and The Embarcadero & Ferry Building (about 55 km / 34 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Sonoma with your crew

Open the California Wine Country route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 8 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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