Known as Napa Valley’s Main Street for its ritzy flare, chic boutiques, pioneering wineries, and contemporary art galleries, St. Helena is a dreamlike destination for epicures the world over.

Getting to this wine lovers’ paradise is an easy 90-minute drive from both San Francisco and Sacramento, California—a sophisticated-yet-charming spot situated between Calistoga and Yountville, just 18 miles north of Downtown Napa.

Regardless of the time of year you visit, you’ll find plenty of sights and activities to explore in St. Helena. So, when you’re ready to discover all the top spots to get pampered, cultured, wined, and dined in the viticultural Napa Valley hotspot that is St. Helena, here’s our guide to the best things to do.

Enjoy a Day of Wine Tasting

Wine lovers, we’ve got you. St. Helena is a great place to sip on some of Napa’s finest wines, whether looking to explore historic wineries, venture to hidden gem wineries, or take a Wine & Dine tour. You simply can’t go wrong. 

Perhaps one of Wine Country’s most famous wineries, Beringer Vineyards is the oldest continuously operating winery in the Napa Valley, founded in 1876. Tour their historic Rhine House, then reserve a private wine tasting at St. Helena’s gorgeous Fantesca Estate & Winery, located a short drive out of town in the Spring Mountain AVA. With its stunning surroundings, intimate tasting experience, and top-notch wines, it’s no wonder this family-owned winery is one of the best wineries in Spring Mountain to visit.

Back in town, Charles Krug Winery is another great option. While you’ll love learning about the legacy of this historic winery (Napa’s oldest winery estate), a visit is all about the famed wines. Close by is Markham Vineyards, one of our favorite stops for character-driven Merlot and Cabernet wines from Napa Valley. The Comparative Tasting is a great way to discover the winery’s acclaimed limited-production, small-lot wines.

Explore Art Galleries & Museums

Experience contemporary art outside of San Francisco in a world-class wine setting at Napa Valley’s HALL Wines St. Helena. Yes, you’ll be greeted with a 35-foot chrome rabbit (named Bunny Foo Foo) leaping out of the vineyards, but HALL Wines also has an award-winning modern art gallery that’s well worth the detour. 

When you’re finished sipping HALL’s storied Cabernets, take a tour of the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum, just off Main Street in downtown St. Helena. Loved by bibliophiles across the globe, Robert Louis Stevenson was a Scottish writer best known for his novels, Treasure Island and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. His namesake museum offers the world’s largest collection of Stevensoniana on public display.

Go Shopping

St. Helena’s charming downtown is a shopper’s paradise, home to an eclectic mix of stylish boutiques, artisan shops, and locally loved stores.

Pop into chic clothing shops like elysewalker and Daisy Clothing Boutique, or browse ACRES home+garden for elevated homewares with Wine Country flair. Don’t miss Woodhouse Chocolate, where handcrafted confections make the perfect indulgence or souvenir. From luxury finds to local treasures, shopping in St. Helena is as delightful and memorable as the handcrafted wines.

Get Pampered at a Spa

After a long day of Napa wine tasting, what’s better than unwinding with a sumptuous spa treatment? You no longer have to be an overnight guest at Meadowood Napa Valley to visit the award-winning spa to enjoy its therapeutic massages, organic facials, body scrubs, and other wellness offerings. Not only is the place stunning, but there are plenty of ways to soothe your mind and body before or after a treatment—think a dry cedar sauna, steam room, plunge pool, and outdoor rain shower. Even better, when you book a spa treatment you can stay in the relaxation lounge as long as you want. Read a book, sip some tea, even take a nap if you wish. Our favorite spot in the spa, though, is the private Tree House Retreat room complete with a gorgeous hammered copper tub for custom baths—milk, mustard, or pure sea salt.

Or, you can savor a soothing facial, therapeutic massage, or healing soak with detoxifying beverage in hand at the Spa Alila at the Alila Napa Valley in downtown St. Helena. Not in the mood for a rub-down? You and your crew can also book private yoga experiences, personalized meditation sessions, and astrology readings at this adults-only Wine Country oasis in Napa Valley.

Visit a Nearby Park

St. Helena is home to a wonderful mix of parks and outdoor spaces perfect for exploring, relaxing, or simply soaking up Wine Country’s natural beauty. Discover history at Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park, home to trails, picnic facilities, and a former mill from the late 1800s.

A short distance from Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park, you can hit the trails at Bothe-Napa Valley State Park, a lush park featuring great hiking, picnic and day use areas, and even a seasonal pool. Or, take in panoramic views of Mount St. Helena from Robert Louis Stevenson State Park, a favorite amongst more advanced hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. Closer to town, sites like Crane Park, Lyman Park, and Jacob Meily Park offer spots for picnicking, playing, and unwinding.

Eat at an Award-Winning Restaurant

You don’t have to be in San Francisco or another big city to dine at Michelin-quality restaurants with renowned chefs. Napa Valley, including quaint St. Helena, is inundated with award-winning eateries and institutions, such as the famed Culinary Institute of America at Greystone.

Grab your girlfriends and head to the Violetto restaurant in Alila Napa Valley’s restored Georgian farmhouse—the perfect setting for a breezy Wine Country brunch on its white-pillared wraparound veranda. It also serves up some of the best dinner fare in the area.

Celebratory, family-style California cooking is on full display at The Charter Oak restaurant in St. Helena, just down the road from Yountville and Calistoga. Led by chef Christopher Kostow of the former Three-Michelin-starred The Restaurant at Meadowood, The Charter Oak serves brunch and all-day fare with crops from its 3.5-acre culinary garden in St. Helena.

Another St. Helena favorite is PRESS Restaurant, where fine fare is complemented by an award-winning wine list highlighting Napa Valley gems.

Enjoy a Winery Food Pairing

Snack and sip yourself to a state of blissful oblivion with some of the best food and wine pairings you’ve had all year in St. Helena, Napa, and beyond.

Hop on over to Merryvale Vineyards for a selection of hearty, delicious food and wine pairings. Book a delightful brunch with their Seasonal Quiche & Wine Pairing, lunch with the Vino & Pizza Experience, or a hearty Burger Butler Experience with wine and burgers brought in from St. Helena’s famous Gott’s Roadside.

Serious wine enthusiasts won’t want to miss heading to Louis M. Martini for the elevated Underground Cellar Experience, an impeccably curated multi-course food and wine pairing that takes place in the moody ambiance of the 90-year-old cellar.

While not technically in St. Helena, it’s worth the four mile drive to Rutherford’s Sequoia Grove Winery for their Taste for Cabernet experience—a multi-course lunch prepared by the winery’s in-house chef that celebrates all things Cabernet. Reserve Cabernet Experience

Savor a Seasonal Event

St. Helena offers an array of fun seasonal events worth discovering, from Fourth of July fireworks to the end of year holiday fun.

During the summer months, don’t miss the St. Helena Concert Series, taking place every Wednesday in Lyman Park. In addition to live music, you can expect food vendors and family activities. In October, the Hometown Harvest Festival returns to celebrate the harvest season with a 5K race, pet parade, live music, and more.

And come December, we love catching a glimpse of the Holiday Wine Barrel Tree, a display of festive barrels on Main Street during the holiday season.