Top-Rated Tourist Attractions & Things to Do in Sacramento

About 93 miles northeast of San Francisco is California's lovely capital city, Sacramento. The city has several interesting museums, and Old Sacramento, with its historic buildings, shopping, and dining, is a great place for tourists to do some sightseeing or simply relax.

The best time to visit is generally between spring and fall. This is a great time of year weather-wise and is also when the city hosts some of its most prominent festivals and events.

Find the best things to see and do in this city with our list of the top attractions in Sacramento.

1. Sacramento River Fox Train: Unique Excursions Year Round

Escape the ordinary and discover Sacramento’s newest adventure as you pedal your way down the tracks on a journey unlike any other! These pedal-powered vehicles have never been offered before in Sacramento and will take you on an unforgettable riding trip along a beautiful stretch of Yolo County. This is an awesome experience you don’t want to miss.

2. California State Railroad Museum

With a floor area for exhibits of more than 200,000 square feet, the California State Railroad Museum is among the world's largest railway museums. Located in Old Sacramento, this museum is one of the premier attractions in the city. Exhibits also focus on railroad history and other related topics. Families with children will appreciate the Kids' Corner educational programs and All Aboard for Story Time book readings.

3. State Capitol

One of the top places to visit in Sacramento is the State Capitol building. This structure is an excellent example of Neoclassical architecture and was built in the 1860s. But the colorful gardens, extending over several blocks, with tall palms and numerous other species of trees and plants, make the building one of the most beautiful Capitol buildings in the United States. Several rooms are dedicated to the State Capitol Museum, with portraits and various other artworks, as well as antiques.

4. Crocker Museum of Art

The Crocker Art Museum holds an impressive collection of California art from the Gold-Rush era until the present, as well as European paintings and drawings and American photography. The original collection, which still forms the backbone of the museum, was donated by Margaret Crocker. This private collection was assembled by Judge Edwin B. Crocker from 1868 to 1872. The museum's main building is a grand Italianate Victorian-era mansion, a California Historical Landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

5. Old Sacramento

Old Sacramento covers eight blocks (28 acres) of historic buildings along the city's waterfront, designated as a National Historic Landmark. Some of the Gold Rush-era structures are now part of the Old Sacramento State Historic Park, including the Eagle Theater, built-in 1849, the B. F. Hastings Building (circa 1853), and the Big Four Building dating to 1855.

Old Sacramento includes more than 50 historic buildings, mostly from the 1850s, which represent the city's original commercial district, an area that once thrived thanks to the commerce propelled by the Pony Express and the transcontinental railroad.