Solvang, CA: Town of Sweet-Tooth Vikings

Did you know that the Danish Capital of America is actually in California? No? Now you do! 😊 Solvang is about 4.5 hours’ drive south from the San Francisco Bay Area, or about an hour drive north of Santa Barbara. And, if you are fulfilling your dream of driving along Pacific Coast Highway, it’s just a 20-minute detour inland to visit this charming Danish town of California.

Solvang, meaning “Sunny Field” in Danish, was founded around 1911 by 3 Danish immigrants heading west to California to escape the colder weather back east. Their hope was to create a village for other Danish and European immigrants to settle.

The warm sunny climate and fertile lands of Santa Ynez Valley was the ideal location, and soon they began to build. From what started as just a hotel, store, bakery, creamery, and a butcher shop — a village was born, even with a folk school for youngsters.

If you are lucky to visit Solvang mid-September, you might catch the annual Danish Days Festival, celebrated since 1936! But truly, Solvang won’t disappoint any time of the year! Even if it’s a bit overcast, like it was during our trip! 😊

Sweet Dreams of Solvang

One of Solvang’s first establishments was a bakery, offering fresh-baked goods and sweets to the people of this new town. And a century later, Solvang continues the tradition, and is known worldwide for its delectable treats.

Bakeries of Solvang

When we think of Denmark, one of the first things that comes to mind (besides windmills) is Danish Bakeries! And what are Danish bakeries known for? Well… Danishes! Originally, this flakey “bread” was created in Austria, and was called Plundergebäck. The Danes adapted this recipe, gave it a new name (after themselves), and the rest is history. Today, Danishes can be found pretty much everywhere. But in Solvang, you can get the real thing, straight from a real Danish bakery!

We counted at least 6 bakeries in town, but pretty sure there might be more. All of them have a huge selection of tasty pastries to choose from. FYI, many of the bakeries in town provide fresh pastries to hotels and make them available to you right in your room or in the lobby. If not, a bakery is sure to be within short walking distance from your room. Check out Birkholm’s Bakery & Cafe, Danish Mill Bakery, and Olsen’s Danish Village Bakery.

Unlike your typical local bakery or doughnut shop, these places are quite extravagant. It was fun to see people’s eyes light up when they walk through the door and see rows of glass cases filled with decadent goodies! Everything from Eclairs, to Cinnamon Crisps, to Cream-filled Danishes – so many to choose from! And if in doubt, just order one of each! 😊

Candy Stores of Solvang

If pastries aren’t your thing, or you just want to indulge, there is also a number of candy stores / sweet shops to check out. A couple of the more popular shops (and for good reason) are Ingeborg’s Danish Chocolates and the Old Danish Fudge Kitchen.

Ingeborg’s is a unique Danish specialty chocolatier with elegant seasonal creations, and beautifully packaged gift boxes. This place has the perfect gifts for any chocolate lover, or just something special for yourself.

Fresh fudge, anyone? The Old Danish Fudge Kitchen will definitely satisfy your fudge fetish!

They offer a wide selection of different fudges, ranging from dark to white, to with or without nuts. If you’re lucky, you’ll even get a chance to watch the fudge being formed right behind the counter. The aroma is intoxicating, so try to contain yourself!

The Fudge Kitchen also makes their own caramel apples, chocolate turtles, and warm pretzels with cheese. The turtles are highly recommended! And yes, they give SAMPLES! So, grab your Groucho Marx Disguise Glasses, because you’ll be sneaking back in for seconds!

There are many sweet shops throughout Solvang that cater to the kid in all of us. Whether it’s big nutty chocolates, chocolate-dipped strawberries, or hard candies, you’ll find something to satisfy that sweet tooth. But check them all, they’re all a little different, with their own special touch.

Aebleskivers

When in Solvang, even if you don’t have a sweet tooth, you have to try aebleskivers at least once during your visit! The best way to describe an aebleskiver is like a round puffy pancake ball topped with jam or jelly (strawberry is good), and powdered sugar. They literally melt in your mouth. We suggest ordering a side of Danish sausage to go along with it.

The restaurants, bakeries, and other shops sell aebleskiver kits, which include the special griddle and batter mix. So now you can make them in your very own home! Everyday!

Shops of Solvang

Whether you’re shopping for something special, snazzing up your wardrobe, or just looking for something fun, Solvang has a shop for it. But keep an eye out, there are many alley ways, side-streets, and cubbyholes that hide some of the best shops!

You’ll find hand-made and unique clothing and jewelry (much of which is locally made), Danish pottery, eccentric gifts, and of course, souvenirs. Even if you don’t have anything specific in mind, it’s a lot of fun to just check them all out.

Cool Attractions to Explore in Solvang

For as compact as Solvang is, you’ll be blown away by all it has to offer. The town itself is very photogenic, with traditional Danish-style buildings and windmills. Here are some of our favorite places we found while exploring Solvang:

The Elverhøj Museum of History and Art

The Elverhoy Museum, meaning “Elves on a Hill”, takes its name from Denmark’s most famous folk play.

This museum modeled after 18^th century farmhouses in Denmark fits in perfectly with Solvang’s Danish heritage.

Once inside, you’ll be whisked back in time to the days of Solvang’s early settlers.

The curators are warm and knowledgeable, and can answer any question you may have about Danish and Viking culture. Did we say Vikings? Yes, Vikings!

Denmark, followed by Norway and Sweden, is the original Viking country. In fact, many Viking-fabled stories depict the Dane warriors, who established the Danelaw in England between 9^th and 11^th century. 

The Hans Christian Andersen Museum

The Hans Christian Andersen Museum is the product of love by the Ugly Duckling Foundation. The museum is located above The Book Loft, a quaint little bookstore on Mission street towards the end of town.

It was amazing to see the first editions of his books, original letters and memorabilia in this museum. If we have to play favorites, our top three fairy tales by Hans Christian Andersen are: “The Little Mermaid”, “The Snow Queen”, and “The Steadfast Tin Soldier”. What are yours?

A replica of The Little Mermaid can be found in Denmarket Square, right across the street from the museum. It is half the size of the original in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Bethania Lutheran Church

The founders of Solvang wanted to create a Lutheran church to welcome immigrants and travelers, so in 1928 the Bethania Lutheran Church was completed and dedicated. The unique architecture was intended to represent churches in Denmark, and was Solvang’s first “Danish-style” building.

Mission Santa Ynez

Founded in 1804 by Father Estévan Tapis, Mission Santa Ynez (Santa Ines) is number 19 of the 21 Spanish Missions built in California, stretching from San Diego to San Francisco. A decade later, the mission was almost shaken down to its foundation during the earthquake of 1812.

Mission Santa Ynez is one of the most carefully restored missions in California, and is a wonderful place to visit for history buffs. Do not miss it on your journey.

Restaurants of Solvang

Danish food is revered around the world, and Solvang is the perfect place to immerse yourself in Danish culinary culture. To begin your Danish adventure, head to Arne’s Solvang Restaurant for breakfast. They’re open from 6am to 4pm, but tend to start picking up around 10 am. So, if you can, get there a little early.

A regular with locals and tourists alike, Arne’s Solvang Restaurant is our first choice for breakfast. Its bustling atmosphere and friendly staff always make us feel right at home.

If you have a hankering for hakkebøf, frikadeller, or medisterpølse (that’s Danish hamburger, Danish meatball, and Danish pork sausage), then check out the Red Viking Restaurant. This all-you-can-eat smörgåsbord is a perfect way to sample some of Denmark’s savory cuisine, right here in California.

The Viking Garden is another great choice for breakfast, lunch or dinner. At one point or another, we tried everything on the menu. The sausage sampler is our favorite! This generous combination of Bratwurst, kielbasa, Sicilian, and medisterpolse sausages is absolutely mouthwatering, and large enough to share. They also have a wide selection of local and European beers on tap, along with several ciders.

And then there’s Pea Soup Andersen’s… 😊 Solvang is only 6 minutes away from the nearby town of Buellton, home of the original and internationally known Andersen’s Split Pea Soup, served since 1924!

The only other location is a couple hundred miles north, in Santa Nella. The restaurant has several gift shops, a year-round Christmas store, and of course, a bakery. Kids love this place, and they always have a lot of unique souvenirs and goodies to stock up on. UPDATE: Unfortunately, the Buellton location has been closed since January 2024 for redevelopment.

Wine Tasting and Breweries in Solvang

Santa Ynez Valley is one of the best wine regions in California. As some of you might know, the Oscar-winning movie “Sideways” was filmed in this area, and you might even remember the Hitching Post restaurant and other familiar landmarks featured in the movie.

There are over 120 wineries in the valley and several craft breweries. Many of them have tasting rooms right in the middle of Solvang!

Pets and Other Creatures in Solvang

For those of you traveling with your furry friends, Solvang is very dog-friendly. From hotels, to restaurants with dog-friendly patios, to parks for them to run and play in — your cuddly companions will feel like they are on vacation too!

For all the animal lovers, there are quite a few places for you to visit as well. Throughout the rolling hills surrounding Solvang, there are equine centers, horse and exotic animal ranches.

The fascinating Ostrichland USA, where you can feed ostriches and emus, is only a couple miles out of town.

And we can not forget to mention the popular Quicksilver Miniature Horse Ranch (BTW, please do not call them ponies. They are miniature horses, not ponies 😊).

Ways to get around Solvang

Walking the main part of town is easily doable on foot, and can be done casually in just a couple of hours. However, there are a few different ways to get around Solvang. Here are some other options to consider:

Wheel Fun Rentals

Surrey bikes are a fun way to get around, and a great way to stay in shape. Wheel Fun Rentals has 2, 4, and 6-seater models. Other rentals include tandem and mountain bikes, baby strollers, and wheel chairs as well. And remember, everyone will know if you’re pedaling or not, so no faking it. 😊

Solvang Trolley and Carriage Tours

In our opinion, this is the best way to see the town’s main attractions and learn some fun and interesting facts about Solvang’s colorful history. For about half an hour, you’ll be clippity-clopping down the main streets of Solvang, while your friendly tour guide explains each point of interest. Solvang Trolley and Carriage Tours run Friday to Monday, from noon to 5pm. No advance tickets are required. So, grab a pretzel, relax, and enjoy the ride! But eat the pretzel first, since no food is allowed on the trolley.

Hotels around Solvang

Solvang hotels put you right in the middle of town, but availability can be low in high season. One of our favorites here is Solvang Inn & Cottages. Our cottage had a separate bedroom, with a living room and kitchenette. This hotel was a lot of fun! Kind of like having our own little place in Solvang. They have a heated pool, Danishes for breakfast, and are dog-friendly.

Since Buellton is only 3 miles down the road from Solvang, it’s another option for booking a hotel in the area. Last time we stayed at Pea Soup Andersen’s Inn (they do have a hotel next door to the restaurant). The rooms here were very neat and comfortable, with a mini fridge, microwave, and a coffee pot (essential for any room!).

They also have a heated pool and a hot tub, and a complimentary breakfast with fresh Danishes, of course! Wine-tour shuttle services are available through the hotel as well. And did we mention a coupon for 10% off Andersen’s Pea Soup?

There are so many things to do in and around Solvang, California. We couldn’t cover them all here, but we hope that this post inspired you to visit Solvang, and gave you a couple of ideas of what to do once you are in town. Our Special Thanks go to the curators of the Elverhøj museum — thank you for spending time with us, we loved learning the history of Solvang!

For more California adventures, check out some of our other posts, San Juan Bautista — The City of History, Paso Robles, CA: Small Town — Big Heart, Fun Things to Do on the Pacific Coast Highway near SF Bay Area, Fort Ross, CA: From Russia with Love, or any other ones in the “Local Discoveries” category. We love hearing from you, so please comment below! And don’t forget to subscribe to our blog!