3 Days in Napa Valley: Downtown Napa, Wine Train, Yountville, Oakville Cabernets & Calistoga Castle

This three-day itinerary follows the geographical rule of Napa Valley: divide the 30-mile valley into three zones (South, Central and North) and schedule 2 to 3 wineries per day so you never rush in Highway 29 traffic. Read our safe winery transport guide before Day 1.

Day 1 (Southern Valley): Carneros Sparkling Wine, Wine Train & Downtown Napa

• Morning: begin on the French château terrace of Domaine Carneros (10 minutes west of Downtown Napa) with a flight of sparkling Brut and Pinot Noir overlooking the Carneros hills.
• Midday to Mid-Afternoon: board the vintage 1915 Pullman dining cars of the Napa Valley Wine Train for a 3-hour gourmet lunch journey through the vineyards (or ride the open-air Napa Valley Wine Trolley to three wineries).
• Late Afternoon & Evening: explore walkable Downtown Napa: graze through Oxbow Public Market, stroll the culinary gardens at the CIA at Copia, and visit First Street's walk-in tasting rooms and Sky & Vine Rooftop Bar.

Day 2 (Central Valley): Sunrise Balloon, Yountville & Oakville/Rutherford Cabernets

• Dawn & Morning: float over the vines on a Sunrise Hot-Air Balloon Flight or cycle the car-free Napa Valley Vine Trail into Yountville. Grab pastries at Bouchon Bakery, walk through The French Laundry Culinary Gardens, and book a morning tasting at Chandon, RH Wine Vault or Opus One and Robert Mondavi in Oakville (stopping at the wooden Welcome to Napa Valley Sign).
• Afternoon & Evening: pick up sandwiches at 1881 Oakville Grocery, tour Coppola's 1887 château at Inglenook in Rutherford, and return south along the Silverado Trail via Mumm Napa and Stag's Leap Wine Cellars before dinner at Bistro Jeanty.

Day 3 (Northern Valley): St. Helena, Castello di Amorosa & Sterling Gondola

• Morning to Early Afternoon: drive to St. Helena to tour 1876 Beringer Vineyards, visit the 1889 castle of the CIA at Greystone, picnic on the oak lawn of V. Sattui Winery Deli (or eat at Gott's Roadside), and see the waterwheel at 1846 Bale Grist Mill.

Day 3 Afternoon & Evening: Calistoga Castles & Hot Springs

• Afternoon & Evening: ride the gondola up to Sterling Vineyards and cross the drawbridge into the 107-room castle of Castello di Amorosa (or Jade Lake at Chateau Montelena), then soak in a 38°C geothermal mineral pool or mud bath in Calistoga.