Sacramento

Sacramento is a city of contrasts. It’s a former cow town where state legislators' SUVs go bumper-to-bumper with farmers' muddy, half-ton pickups at rush hour. It has sprawling suburbs, but also new lofts and upscale boutiques squeezed between aging mid-century storefronts.
Sacramento City Hall building at sunrise with tree

Getty Images

Latest Stories
Book
App
Lonely Planet App on a phone
Brand New!

Get the Lonely Planet App

World Nomads travel insurance
Trusted Partner

Dreaming of Sacramento? Protect your trip

Travel with confidence. Protect your trip and your wallet.

We don’t represent World Nomads, we receive a fee from quotes using this link. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

Book your United States (USA) trip with Lonely Planet Journeys

See United States (USA) how it's meant to be seen

Planned by local experts and tailored to you, Lonely Planet Journeys handles the logistics so you can just enjoy the trip. Tell us what you want and we'll build your United States (USA) itinerary from scratch, or browse our bookable trips to get inspired.

Start planning Browse itineraries

Top places to visit in Sacramento

Discover the best attractions in Sacramento from must-see sights to unexpected hidden gems.

Explore all

Travel Guides

Sacramento travel tips from Lonely Planet experts

Find practical guidance from our team of contributors around the world who bring their decades of first-hand travel experience to your next trip.

Best Things to Do

California's capital has something for every traveler, from breweries to river cruises. Here's the ultimate guide to the best things to do in Sacramento.

Read full article

Free Things to Do

Despite the state’s expensive reputation, a visit to the California capital doesn’t have to cost a lot. Here are the best free things to do in Sacramento.

Read full article

Best Neighborhoods

If you’re planning a trip to the capital of California, here’s a handy guide to the best Sacramento neighborhoods for every type of traveler.

Read full article

Day Trips

Located about halfway between San Francisco and Lake Tahoe, Sacramento makes some of California's most popular destinations easily accessible on day trips.

Read full article

Get a book. Get inspired. Get exploring.

Explore all books

in partnership with getyourguide

Book popular activities in Sacramento

Lonely Planet may earn a commission from affiliate links on our site. All recommendations and reviews reflect our own independent opinions.