This Danish-style California town has authentic bakeries, Danish architecture, and a Hans Christian Andersen Museum. Visit during Danish Days in May or Julefest in December.
Danish windmills spin above the streets of Solvang, a California village where bakeries fill the air with the scent of warm aebleskiver pastries. You'll walk past half-timbered buildings with gabled roofs and wooden beams, stop at wine tasting rooms, and might catch the Danish Days festival with its Viking reenactments or the December Julefest when thousands of lights illuminate the streets.
Walking Through Danish-Style Streets
Mission Drive runs through the center of Solvang, where buildings incorporate Danish architectural elements like steep-pitched roofs and exposed wooden beams. Four working windmills mark the skyline, while bronze statues of Hans Christian Andersen and The Little Mermaid stand along the sidewalks. The Hønen, a wooden horse-drawn streetcar, takes you on a 25-minute tour of downtown while guides point out architectural details and share stories about local landmarks.
Danish Food and Local Wine
Fresh pastries come out of the ovens at six Danish bakeries each morning. You can watch bakers prepare aebleskiver (round pancakes served with raspberry jam) and sample kransekage (ring-shaped cakes made with almond paste and marzipan). Within a four-block radius, 20 tasting rooms pour wines from Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Maria Valley, and Santa Rita Hills vineyards.
Cultural Events Throughout the Year
During Danish Days in September, folk dancers perform in the streets, Vikings march in parades, and food vendors sell Danish specialties. Julefest brings candlelit tours through December, with Christmas markets selling handmade ornaments and seasonal treats. From June through August, locals spread blankets on the grass for weekly concerts at Solvang Music in the Park.
Museums and Theater
Inside the Elverhøj Museum, black-and-white photographs document Solvang's development since 1911, alongside contemporary art exhibitions. The Hans Christian Andersen Museum, located upstairs at The Book Loft, contains first editions of the author's fairy tales and personal letters. Summer evenings bring theater performances to the 700-seat outdoor Solvang Festival Theater, from Shakespeare classics to modern productions.
Exploring Beyond Downtown
Cyclists can follow mapped routes through the Santa Ynez Valley, ranging from flat 5-mile loops to challenging 30-mile hill climbs. Bike rental shops in town provide maps and equipment. A 10-minute drive takes you to Ostrichland USA where you can feed the birds, or to Old Mission Santa Inez with its 1804 chapel and garden. Lake Cachuma, 15 minutes away, allows non-motorized boats and fishing.
Getting Around
Solvang lies 46 miles northwest of Santa Barbara. Drive Highway 101 to State Route 246, or take one of three daily Amtrak Thruway buses from Santa Barbara station. Santa Ynez Valley Transit runs buses between Solvang and nearby towns like Buellton and Los Olivos every hour from 7am to 7pm.
