America’s “Little Denmark” is a Basically a European Village Copypasted into SoCal Wine Country

Solvang, California

Solvang is the most wonderful Danish-Californian mashup you never knew you needed in your life. It’s just 32 miles off Santa Barbara and you can drink, dine, and shop like a tourist in Denmark without the jet lag.

It Was Founded By Danes Who Were Done With Winter

Professor P. P. Hornsyld, Reverend J. M. Gregersen, and Reverend Benedict Nordentoft founded the “Danish Capital of America.”

They were three Danish educators who were sick of freezing Midwest winters.

So they went to the Sunshine State and dropped $40 an acre for 9,000 around the Santa Inés Old Mission.

They called it Solvang or “Sunny Meadows.”

A Town Proud of Its Danish Roots

Only about 10% of Solvang’s 6,126 residents have Danish ancestry today.

But the town is still fierce about staying true to its Danish heritage. Many shop owners are second—or third-generation descendants who still visit relatives back in Denmark.

This is without a doubt, a town “founded by Danes for Danes.”

The Architecture Feels Like You’re in a Glitch

Solvang genuinely makes you feel like you left the US.

Half-timbered rural Danish-style buildings, four giant windmills, and signature European structures sit under palm trees and California sunshine.

So. Much. Danish. Pastry.

If you’re counting carbs, maybe skip this paragraph.

Solvang rocks five legit Danish bakeries all founded and operated by actual Danes or their descendants who trained with Danish bakers.

The kringles will change your life – pretzel-shaped pastries loaded with almond paste, raisins, custard, and topped with sliced nuts.

Don’t sleep on the owl eyes, which are round cookies with jam centers surrounded by marzipan, or cream-filled Danish waffles.

And those ball-shaped æbleskiver pancakes are worth the trip alone.

Their Festivals Are as Danish as It Gets

For a tiny town, Solvang knows how to throw down.

September is all about Danish Days, where locals bust out traditional costumes, horse-drawn wagons roll by, and grown adults compete in aebleskiver-eating contests.

You can also watch Viking re-enactments, which is exactly as awesome as it sounds.

Julefest in December has something called a “tree-burn” that sounds mildly alarming but is a beloved Danish tradition.

Summer nights mean free concerts in the park, because nothing pairs better with Danish village vibes than live music under the stars.

Their Museums Are Fascinating

Danish sculptor Viggo Brandt-Erichsen built the Elverhøj Museum of Art & History BY HAND around the 1950s. He lived there with his wife Martha until 1988.

The museum is a look into Danish life.

There’s also a Hans Christian Andersen Museum where you can nerd out on fairy tales, a vintage motorcycle museum for the gear-heads, and a 214-year-old Spanish mission that predates the town itself.

You Can Ride in a Horse-Drawn Trolley

Ditch the Uber and hop on “The Honen” (means “little hen” in Danish).

A horse-drawn trolley that clops through downtown while a guide drops knowledge about the town is touristy in the best possible way.

When was the last time you were chauffeured around by an actual horse?

Exactly.

There’s a Movie-Themed Bike Tour with Wine

Solvang is secretly a cycling paradise.

Options range from “easy peasy” to “my legs are on fire.” You can start with a chill 5-10 mile ride past windmills and playgrounds.

The 12.5-mile Ballard Canyon Loop is when you’re feeling slightly ambitious. And if you hate your quads, there’s the insane 41.5-mile Alisos Canyon Loop with 2,200 feet of elevation.

Our choice would be the 32-mile “Sideways” movie tour where you can drink wine and pretend you’re Paul Giamatti.

The Shopping Is Awesome

You’re in a mini Denmark, so of course the shops sell amazing Danish-inspired stuff like traditional crafts, pottery, clothes, and food.

Make some time for Solvang Toyland, The Book Loft, and First Street Leather, too. Drop by Copenhagen House for authentic Danish design and amber jewelry.

You know what, just go inside as many stores as you can.

Of Course There’s Wine

You’re still in California, after all.

There are about 20 tasting rooms in tiny Solvang alone and roughly 120 wineries in the surrounding Santa Ynez Valley. The 2004 movie “Sideways” put this region on the map (and made everyone obsessed with Pinot Noir).

Solvang Is Fun at Night, Too

When the sun goes down, Solvang still goes hard. Copenhagen Sausage Garden pours rotating craft ales alongside handmade sausages.

The Landsby serves craft cocktails with “shrubs” (fancy vinegar drinks, not bushes) in a Scandinavian-style lobby bar.

There’s even karaoke over at the Solvang Brewing Company, a family-run brewery in a restored windmill with weekend entertainment that ranges from live music to surprisingly competitive karaoke.