Your Fun 2-Day Sacramento Weekend Itinerary

While you might be familiar with Sacramento as the capital of California, you may not see it as a tourist destination compared to Los Angeles, San Francisco, or San Diego. In fact, most people make a stop in Sacramento for gas or snacks on the way to Lake Tahoe.

But you’re missing out on what this growing city has to offer; this includes access to outdoor activities, vibrant history and culture, and a fantastic food scene. 

This Sacramento itinerary will walk you through the best of the city’s attractions and eateries in the Downtown and Midtown areas, all of which you can experience on a weekend!

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2-Day Sacramento Weekend Itinerary

Day 1

Morning: Coffee and Midtown Farmers Market

Start your Sacramento itinerary by getting some coffee at Pachamama in the Midtown location, one of the best coffee shops in Sacramento. They have a wide range of drinks and specialty lattes with oat milk as the default creamer. There is so much seating indoors and outdoors.

After you get your drink, you can sit down and sip for a bit before you head to the Midtown Farmers Market a few feet away. The Midtown Farmers Market happens every Saturday from 8 AM–1 PM all year round. You can stroll to sample and buy fresh produce, window shop for works from local artists, and order grub from food trucks.

Afternoon: State Capitol

Head over to the California State Capitol, where the state legislators work. While it’s closed on the weekends, you can walk around outside the building and the State Capitol Park, which is open 24/7.

Right inside the park, you have to check out the World Peace Rose Garden, which houses over 600 roses in 140 different colors and fragrances. There are benches all around this gorgeous small garden where you can relax and smell the roses (no pun intended).

Evening: Arcades and Drinks at Coin-Op

Unleash your inner child at Coin-Op Game Room, an arcade for adults featuring retro games from the 90s and 00s. There’s also an extensive menu offering beer, specialty cocktails, appetizers, pizza, and wings. It’s basically a Chuck E. Cheese for adults that closes at 2 AM on Fridays and Saturdays!

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Day 2

Morning: Crocker Art Museum

Head over to Crocker Art Museum, the oldest art museum in the Western US. The museum is home to over 25,000 pieces of art from different periods and regions, such as Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. There’s also an extensive collective of work during and depicting the California Gold Rush from local artists.

Afternoon: Old Sacramento (Our most visited spot!)

No trip to Sacramento is complete without a visit to Old Sacramento, the most visited attraction in the area. Old Sacramento attracts over 5 million visitors a year and is located right by the waterfront next to the Sacramento River and the Tower Bridge.

You could spend all day in Old Sacramento. Check out the California Railroad Museum where you can learn about the trains that operated in the West since the 19th century. You can even go on a scenic 50-minute train ride along the river from the museum!

Or, you can go on a 90-minute cruise on the Sacramento River with some cocktails, going under Tower Bridge.

Old Sacramento also has a bunch of dessert spots, like Danny’s Mini Donuts, Sacramento Sweets Co. for ice cream, and Candy Haven for laffy taffy. Check out Sean Finnegan’s Pub for a delicious Irish coffee.

And don’t leave Old Sacramento without stopping by Evangeline’s to shop for some quirky gifts!

Evening: Downtown Commons (DOCO)

Walk over to DOCO (Downtown Commons), which is right next to Old Sacramento. You could walk there through the pedestrian tunnel that connects both of them. There are endless choices for food, shopping, and entertainment in DOCO.

For a sit-down dinner with delicious, shareable appetizers (like wings and poke nachos) and a rowdy, fun ambiance, check out Yard House! Or if you’re craving Mexican food and margaritas, head over to Polanco Cantina.

If you’re ever in Sacramento during NBA season, make sure to get tickets to see the Kings in Golden 1 Center, which is right next to DOCO! If you’re lucky to see them win, Golden 1 Center will light a purple beam in the sky.

Where to Stay for Your Sacramento Itinerary

For first-time visitors to Sacramento, I always recommend staying in Downtown or Midtown. You’re near all of the major attractions, museums, restaurants (that aren’t Olive Garden), and bars. You won’t need a car because you can just take the light rail or rent a Lime bike. Plus, most the unique hotels are in Downtown and Midtown!

• Luxury: Kimpton the Sawyer Hotel
• Mid-range: Fort Sutter Hotel
• Budget: Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown

How to Get to Sacramento

You can fly into Sacramento International Airport (SMF) and start your Sacramento itinerary there! The airport is about 15-20 minutes north of Sacramento.

Or you can fly into San Francisco International Airport (SFO), and rent a car and 2 hours to Sacramento (or you can book a one-way private transfer).

Whichever airport you choose to fly into, renting a car is a must if you want to explore beyond Downtown and Midtown. Sacramento is a sprawling city with limited public transportation; while they do have a light rail, it doesn’t go all over the city and it comes every 15 minutes. And the buses come every 30 minutes.

If you plan to only stay in Downtown or Midtown, relying on the light rail will suffice!

Frequently Asked Questions

Wrapping Up Your 2-Day Sacramento Itinerary

This 2-day Sacramento itinerary shows you the best of what the city has to offer. From the iconic California State Capitol to the weekly Midtown Farmers Market, Sacramento has so much to offer for families and couples!