Stand at the southern end of the Tower Bridge and look north: the California State Capitol closes the view at the top of the street grid, and beneath your feet the Sacramento River slides past the boardwalk of Old Sacramento. That single sightline holds most of what a first visit to Sacramento is about — a Gold Rush river town that became a state capital, with both halves still walkable.
Sacramento suits travellers who like their history at street level, who are happy to spend a morning in a museum and an afternoon on a river levee, and who would rather cover a compact downtown on foot than drive between distant sights. Families with young children will find the zoo and the railroad museum easy to build a day around.
This guide covers the museums, historic buildings, parks and seasonal events named in the source material, with the practical details you need to fit them into a trip.
Top things to do in Sacramento
1. California State Capitol
The California State Capitol Museum covers both the historic capitol building and the surrounding sixteen square blocks known as Capitol Park. Inside, tours of the capitol, its legislative chambers and its restored historic offices run daily; outside, you are free to wander the gardens, memorials and monuments across the grounds.
Pair it with a walk south afterwards — you can get a view up to the Capitol from the Tower Bridge at the southern end of Old Sacramento. The building is open Mon–Fri 8AM–5PM and Sat–Sun 9AM–5PM, and entry is free. Large bags are allowed but go through airport-style security.
2. Old Sacramento
Once the original riverfront pioneer town, Old Sacramento is now a living historic district, with boardwalk-style sidewalks and horse-drawn stagecoaches giving this small section a Western flavour. Museums, restaurants, souvenir shops and ice cream parlours all sit within walking distance of each other.
Visit in the morning or early evening, especially during the hot summers. Parking can be scarce, so use the reasonably priced parking structures at the K Street Mall; a short, safe walkway connects the mall to Old Sacramento.
3. California State Railroad Museum
A large museum of railroad history holding a collection of old, well-preserved trains and equipment, plus a majestic model train layout on the third floor in 3-rail O-scale. If you can, arrive by Amtrak at the Sacramento station to get into a trainy mood first — the museum is a five-minute walk from there.
Admission is $12 for adults, $6 for ages 6–17, and free for ages 5 and under.
4. Sutter's Fort
Sutter's Fort State Historic Park is the oldest restored fort in the United States, built by John Sutter in the 1840s and now holding a collection of pioneer and early California artifacts. Self-guided audio tours are available.
It is open Tue–Sun 10AM–5PM. Adult admission is $5, youth $3, and children 5 and under are free. The State Indian Museum sits next door, so combine the two.
5. State Indian Museum
Located next to Sutter's Fort, this museum contains displays of Native Californian basketry, beadwork and clothing, along with exhibits about the ongoing traditions of various California Indian tribes.
It is open 10AM–5PM. Adults $3, youth $2, children 5 and under free. Because it adjoins Sutter's Fort, the pair makes a natural single stop.
6. Crocker Art Museum
The oldest continuously operating museum in the West, home to a premier collection of California art. It is an easy 20-minute walk west from the Capitol building, or a 15-minute walk south from Old Sacramento.
It is open Wed–Sun 10AM–5PM, with a late Thursday closing at 9PM. Admission is $15.
7. California Museum
A museum dedicated to California's cultural heritage, with a walk of fame and numerous rotating exhibits. It is open Tue–Sat 10AM–5PM and Sun noon–5PM.
Admission is $10, with students, seniors and children at $8 and ages 5 and under free.
8. Leland Stanford Mansion
A 19,000 sq. ft. Victorian mansion built in 1856, now a California State Park. Over California's history the mansion has been central to government operations in the state.
It sits on N Street, a short walk from the Capitol area, so it fits neatly into a downtown morning.
9. Sacramento History Museum
This museum explores the region's history from the days before the Gold Rush to the present, across two stories of interactive galleries. It also offers the perfect starting point for exploring the Old Sacramento State Historic Park.
It is open 10AM–5PM. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children, and free for ages 5 and under.
10. B. F. Hastings Building (Pony Express Terminus)
The western endpoint of the Pony Express, this building is a National Historic Landmark and now contains the visitor center. It is a useful first stop in Old Sacramento, both for orientation and for the building itself.
11. Visitor Center
A great starting point for excursions throughout the Sacramento region, and free to use. Stop here before you commit your day, then walk straight out into the historic district around it.
12. California Automobile Museum
A museum focused on the automobile and its legacy in California, with many classic cars and rotating exhibits. It is open Wed–Mon 10AM–5PM.
Admission is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, military and students, $5 for youths, and free for under age 6.
13. Cesar Chavez Park
Formerly known as Plaza Park, this scenic park sits in the middle of downtown Sacramento and adjoins historic City Hall, the Public Library and Sacramento's Citizen Hotel. It is a great place to take photos of the Sacramento skyline.
During the summer on Fridays it becomes an outdoor concert venue for Concerts in the Park, held weekly from 5PM to 9PM, May through August, at 10th and J Streets.
14. Sacramento Zoo
A mid-size zoo located in William Land Park. A combination ticket with Fairy Tale Town makes for a fun day for families with young children.
15. Steam train rides
Operated by the Railroad Museum, these 40-minute excursions are pulled by a historic steam locomotive along the nearby river levees, departing from the Central Pacific Railroad Freight Depot just south of the museum.
They run hourly on weekends, April through September. Tickets are $8 for adults, $3 for ages 6–17, and free for ages 5 and under.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at the Visitor Center to orient yourself, then step into the B. F. Hastings Building (Pony Express Terminus) next door. Spend the rest of the morning in the California State Railroad Museum, and if it is a weekend between April and September, take a steam train ride from the Central Pacific Railroad Freight Depot. Old Sacramento is at its best in the morning, before the heat builds.
Afternoon: Walk south to the Crocker Art Museum, which is a 15-minute walk from Old Sacramento, and give it a couple of hours. If you would rather stay with the Gold Rush story, the Sacramento History Museum is open until 5PM and doubles as a gateway to the historic park.
Evening: Head to Cesar Chavez Park for skyline photographs, and if you are visiting between May and August, stay for the free Concerts in the Park from 5PM to 9PM. Otherwise, walk the boardwalks of Old Sacramento in the early evening, when the district is at its most comfortable.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time of day to visit Old Sacramento?
Morning and early evening are best, particularly during the hot summers. Parking can be scarce, so use the parking structures at the K Street Mall and take the short walkway across.
Can I visit the Capitol without joining a tour?
Yes. Tours of the capitol, its legislative chambers and its restored historic offices are available daily, but the public is also free to visit the gardens, memorials and monuments throughout Capitol Park on their own.
What is there for families with young children?
The Sacramento Zoo in William Land Park is mid-size, and a combination ticket with Fairy Tale Town makes for a fun day. The Railroad Museum and the steam train rides also work well, with reduced admission for children and free entry for ages 5 and under.
Do I need a car to see the main sights?
Not for the core of the city. The Crocker Art Museum is a 20-minute walk west from the Capitol building or a 15-minute walk south from Old Sacramento, and Old Sacramento is a five-minute walk from the Amtrak station.
Pick your dates around the season that suits you — a summer Friday for Concerts in the Park, or a weekend in spring for the steam train — and start building the rest of the day around it.