6 Tours in Napa and Sonoma to Build a Day Around

1.Napa Valley Small Group Winery Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,009 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $151Our pick

Spend about seven hours visiting three small Napa wineries by shuttle, with hotel pickup, live commentary, a picnic lunch, and tastings purchased separately. Guides such as Jason, Luis, Andy, and Courtney bring local stories and wine advice. Expect boutique tasting rooms rather than grand, famous estates, with plenty of time to ask questions and buy bottles.

“Informative and laid back pace tasting great wines, hearing from locals about the winery process. Very sociable guest and host, great experience.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Sonoma Valley Open Air Wine Trolley Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 782 reviews · from $135

Spend about six and a half hours touring Sonoma Valley aboard a replica San Francisco cable car, with stops at four wineries, lunch, and commentary on local history. Guides such as Paul and Dennis bring the route to life. Tasting fees cost about $30 to $40 per stop, and the trolley may be replaced by a shuttle or bus.

“Paul was amazing - the perfect combination. of wineries ! learned so much and the wines were great - almost as good at the friends we made”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Napa Valley Wine Trolley Classic Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 701 reviews · 6 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $135

Start at Oxbow Public Market at 10 a.m. for a six-and-a-half-hour Napa Valley tour aboard an open-air trolley modeled on an 1890s San Francisco cable car. Guides such as Paul, Omar, Richard, Mel, and Dennis have led recent trips. Expect three or four winery visits, included lunch, and tasting fees paid separately.

“This was very informative and fun. This has to be one of my favorite tours I’ve done in years. I would recommend this trip to others.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Hot Air Balloon Rides in Napa Valley

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 592 reviews · from $315

Meet before sunrise for coffee, tea, pastries, and a safety briefing, then ride in a shared basket over Napa or Sonoma, usually from tree level to about 2,000 feet. Pilots such as Bob, Jake, Chad, and Jimmy have guided past flights, sharing ballooning stories and local sights. Allow 3 to 4 hours, and dress in layers.

“Staff were friendly and helpful. The experience was amazing! I would recommend to anyone interested in hot air ballon rides.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Healdsburg Small-Group Food and Wine Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 433 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $132Best value

Start in downtown Healdsburg with guide Tammy or Leslie, then walk between a salumeria, tapas restaurant, boutique winery, tea shop, bakery, or dessert stop. Tastings include food, wine, cocktails, tea, and possibly sake. Groups cap at six, making it easy to ask questions and shape the conversation around Sonoma food and wine.

“Great food and wine tour. Our guide Tammy was delightful and knew the history of the area. Great restaurant selection and the order of restaurants was great. Very happy with the experience.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Healdsburg Wine and Food Pairing Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 400 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $139

Meet your Sonoma County tourism ambassador at Healdsburg Plaza for a four-hour, small-group walking tour. You’ll visit three or four changing tasting stops, often including boutique wineries, artisan food shops, or a tea room. Guides such as Carol, Greg, Denee, Erica, and Harold add local stories, pairing advice, and personal connections with tasting-room hosts.

“Nicely paced tour with a lot of interaction with the winemakers and knowledgeable staff. We learned a lot about wine and how it interacts with food to enhance both. Erica our guide was great and added to the experience.”

Check availability →Read our full review