The biggest hub in the Napa Valley, ever-popular Napa is an ideal base for exploring the best of one of the world’s most famous wine regions. Although perhaps not as pretty as its smaller neighbours, Napa does offer a wonderful range of accommodation options — including everything from charming B&Bs to chic hotels, fit for a whole host of tastes and budgets — and the surrounding countryside is spectacular. Many of the best places to stay in Napa are clustered downtown, close to heaps of terrific restaurants and wine tasting rooms.
Whether you’re a keen foodie or a seasoned wine aficionado, Napa will delight with its abundance of trendy eateries, hole-in-the-wall bars and markets brimming with fresh Californian produce. Sample top locally grown fare at the Oxbow Public Market, savour a wine tasting at Vintner's Collective Napa Valley and tour some of the 400 nearby wineries, journeying between them by bicycle, by car or on horseback.
Active travellers can enjoy hot air balloon rides and helicopter trips, long treks and biking, or kayaking, fishing and boat excursions. There are some excellent golf courses in the area, as well as tennis courts, well-equipped gyms and restorative spas.
Napa itself is an intriguing historic town, best explored through a guided city walking tour. Kick back at iconic spots like the Blue Note Napa, an upscale jazz club dating back to 1879, or nab a table at a hip and happening new restaurant for an evening to remember. Nights in Napa have an appealing buzz for couples or groups of friends. For a more tranquil, romantic trip, you’ll find intimate inns aplenty on our list of the best places to stay in Napa.