Blog posted on September 1st, 2018. Updated on August 4th, 2026.
If this is your first planned trip to Calistoga, please know that you are in for a treat. This exceptional spot in Napa Valley is imbued with a history dating back to the 1800s.
Calistoga has retained its rural, laid-back feel, yet brims with modern charm. Recent renovations have delivered a lovely dose of chic to many area hotels, restaurants, and shops while still retaining the burg’s intimate mood.
48 hours in Calistoga is the ideal amount of time to experience this Napa Valley hot springs town at an easy pace, from wine tasting and mud baths to hiking and locally loved restaurants, all within a walkable downtown centered on Lincoln Avenue. Below, this two-day Calistoga weekend itinerary blends old and new, relaxation with recreation, and upscale dining with cozy casual, covering the best things to do in Calistoga for first-time visitors.
Day One in Calistoga: Brunch, Wine Tasting & Downtown Charm
Fuel up for a big day, beginning with brunch/lunch at Lovina , which serves locavore cuisine. Take a seat outside in one of the two patio spaces. Owner Jennifer Bennett and her team serve brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can tuck into favorites like avocado on toasted seeded batard with house-made ricotta and poached egg, or try the warm duck confit and kale salad with red onion, hard-boiled egg, wild mushrooms and an umami dressing.
Next door to Lovina on Lincoln Avenue are several great antique stores, so go ahead and browse a bit at Rags to Riches and make sure you don’t miss the incredible vinyl collection.
By now, you may be ready to dive into some Calistoga wine tasting. A few steps away, around the corner, is where you’ll find Tank Garage Winery on Foothill Boulevard. Both the exterior and interior are replicas of a 1930s gas station converted into a hip space. It’s decorated with clever signs like “lubrication,” and a 1947 Indian Chief Motorcycle once owned by famous racer Eddie Bratton. Every visit here is a new discovery, especially due to the fact that Tank Garage Winery’s wines are “one-offs,” meaning they’re created in small batches that are never recreated again.
Backtracking to downtown Calistoga is easy since this is an entirely walkable town. But outside of the main street, the convenience and fun of a bike ride are a fun activity. One option is to rent wheels at Calistoga Bikeshop on the main drag, the store offers route suggestions and maps and also leads guided tours of the area’s scenery and wineries. Or, if you check into Indian Springs Resort & Spa, your room or bungalow includes complimentary use of bright blue cruiser bikes to pedal all around town.
NOTE: More resorts that offer complimentary cruisers: Solage, an Auberge Resort, Calistoga Motor Lodge & Spa, or Golden Haven Hot Springs Spa & Resort. For a fee, you can also rent an on-property bicycle at Roman Spa Hot Springs Resort.
Indian Springs Resort is a destination unto itself and a historic property boasting mud baths, natural mineral pools, and hot springs. Its rooms are designed with luxury in mind, with views of a Buddha pond, a capped geyser, and gardens. Retro-cool lawn games include bocce ball, shuffleboard, croquet, and giant checkers, or you can just kick back and sway the day away in the hammock garden.
Keeping the same lawn-game theme, dinner might be at neighborhood favorite, Palisades Eatery, where you can dig into their pizzas, tacos, or salad options. For something more lavish, Evangeline is a favorite for folks from all over who crave fine French-Creole fare. The best seats are on the garden patio at this fashionable bistro, and regulars know to get the shrimp étouffée with hush puppies, or silky duck confit gussied with red-wine-spiced prunes.
Day Two in Calistoga: Mud Baths, Hiking & Local Dining
Rise and shine before breakfast at Sam’s Social Club, the restaurant at Indian Springs Resort. Order the “Egg in a Hole”, a pure bliss item on the menu. This thick slab of house-made brioche is coated in Parmesan cheese and soaked in butter. The chef cuts a hole in the center, drops in an egg, and then pan-fries the bread to a golden crunch outside, while the egg cooks to a runny, pepper-sprinkled perfection with yolk oozing into the sides of roasted potatoes, mushroom fondue, and arugula.
A Calistoga visit isn’t complete without a mud bath, and the treatment at Spa Solage is void of the usual mess of the “authentic” mud bath and replaces it with a controlled, luxurious “mud slide” experience. The “mud bar” is set in a sleek white bathhouse with a fire pit lounge, geothermal pools, eucalyptus steam rooms, a cool plunge and options like exotic massages and facials.
You’re on Silverado Trail now, so head southeast half a mile and stop at Brian Arden Winery. Call ahead to confirm current tasting availability, enjoyed on the 10-foot wraparound patio. Make sure you take a moment to admire the winery’s culinary garden.
If you’re feeling energetic post-pampering, head west, just past Lincoln Avenue, to Oat Hill Mine Trail for a brisk hike or short stroll. The scenery is stunning, following 8.3 miles of an old stagecoach route. The sometimes rough and rocky path gets challenging as it leads up to a 1,500-foot elevation amid oak, Douglas fir, gray pine, and cypress forests. Even if you don’t venture much past the grasslands and interesting rock formations along the foothills entry, you can imagine miners long ago navigating the course with their mules and packs.
A light, late lunch will sound good right about now, and back on Lincoln Avenue, you can indulge in Mexican food, healthy style. The brightly colored, fiesta décor Pacifico Restaurante Mexicano tempts with signatures like enchiladas Mazatlan of sautéed shrimp rolled in a whole wheat tortilla drizzled in creamy tomatillo sauce alongside rice and sautéed corn.
Head back to your room at Indian Springs Resort and change into your swimsuit. The two swimming pools are famous for their naturally heated thermal waters with temperatures ranging from 82 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit, heated by the hot springs below.
After lounging and perhaps a few laps in the main pool, an Olympic-sized mineral pool built in 1913 and one of the largest pools in California, you might move over to the newer adult pool. Here, you can enjoy cocktails, wine, or Sam’s Social Club’s own house-brewed draft beer.
As dinnertime nears, take a stroll (or ride your cruiser bicycle) to window shop on Lincoln Avenue. Many stores stay open until 6 p.m., including the marvelous Blackbird of Calistoga, an emporium of coveted home accessories focusing on gardening and outdoor recreation.
You’re probably already planning your next trip to Calistoga, so check out the digs at The Calistoga Inn on Lincoln Avenue. You might want to stay here during your next visit to enjoy the intimate mood of a Craftsman home with just 17 rooms that have been modernized in bright white and cream colors. The on-site restaurant and its trellised patio in particular are popular with visitors and locals alike. The patio overlooks the Napa River, with a historic water tower that is now home to Napa Valley Brewing Company. Just two of the standout dishes include a salad of mixed greens with endive, fresh pear, candied walnuts, gorgonzola & pear vinaigrette, and the ricotta-potato gnocchi tumbled with summer squash, roasted corn, mixed mushrooms, wilted spinach, cherry tomatoes, and a corn truffle puree.
Frequently Asked Questions About 48 Hours in Calistoga
Is 48 Hours in Calistoga Enough Time?
48 hours in Calistoga is enough time to experience the highlights of this compact, walkable Napa Valley town without feeling rushed. Most visitors comfortably fit in one winery, a mud bath or spa treatment, a hike or bike ride, and two to three notable meals across a two-day stay. Calistoga’s downtown core sits along a single main strip, Lincoln Avenue, so many of its best restaurants, tasting rooms, and shops are within a short walk or bike ride of one another. This makes a 48-hour Calistoga weekend itinerary realistic even without a car for much of the day. Visitors who want to add wine cave tours, additional wineries, or a full spa day may prefer a three-day trip, but two days is the standard length recommended for a first visit. For help building your own schedule, visit our Plan Your Visit page for lodging, dining, and activity options across town.
What Is the Best Time of Year to Visit Calistoga?
The best time to visit Calistoga is during the shoulder seasons of spring (March–May) and fall (September–November), when daytime temperatures are mild and the wine country scenery is at its best. Fall brings harvest season, with grape picking and crush activity at area wineries, plus cooler evenings ideal for patio dining. Spring offers blooming mustard fields, green hillsides, and comfortable hiking weather on trails like Oat Hill Mine Trail. Summer (June–August) is popular but can bring temperatures above 90°F, making mid-day mud baths and mineral pools especially appealing for cooling off. Winter is the quietest, most affordable season, with fewer crowds at spas and tasting rooms, though some outdoor patios may be tented or closed depending on the weather. Whichever season you choose, Calistoga’s geothermal hot springs and indoor spa treatments remain available year-round, making it a strong destination any time of year.
Where Is the Best Place to Go Wine Tasting in Calistoga?
Calistoga wine tasting spans everything from playful, one-off pours to intimate, family-run tasting rooms. Tank Garage Winery, set inside a converted 1930s gas station on Foothill Boulevard, is known for small-batch wines that are never recreated, so every visit offers a different lineup. Brian Arden Winery on Silverado Trail offers a more traditional flight on a 10-foot wraparound patio with mountain views, though it’s worth calling ahead to confirm current booking availability before visiting. Beyond these two, Calistoga’s downtown tasting rooms make it possible to sample several wineries on foot in a single afternoon. For a full list of options, from boutique producers to wine caves, see our Calistoga wineries page to plan tastings around your 48-hour itinerary.
Where Can I Experience Mud Baths in Calistoga?
Calistoga mud baths are one of the town’s signature experiences, made possible by its natural geothermal hot springs. Indian Springs Resort & Spa offers a classic mud bath treatment alongside natural mineral pools, while Spa Solage takes a more modern approach with a controlled “mud slide” treatment served in a sleek white bathhouse next to geothermal pools, a eucalyptus steam room, and a cold plunge. Both experiences pair volcanic ash with warm mineral water to create the area’s famous therapeutic mud, a Calistoga tradition since the 1860s. Most spas recommend booking mud bath treatments in advance, especially on weekends, since appointment slots fill quickly during peak wine country season. A mud bath is commonly paired with a massage or facial for a half-day spa experience. For more options, visit our Calistoga spas page to compare treatments before your trip.
Where Should I Eat in Calistoga?
Where to eat in Calistoga depends on the meal and the mood. For brunch, Lovina serves locavore dishes like avocado toast and duck confit kale salad on its patio, while Sam’s Social Club at Indian Springs Resort is known for its “Egg in a Hole” breakfast dish. For dinner, Evangeline offers French-Creole fare like shrimp étouffée on a garden patio, Palisades Eatery is a casual option for pizza and tacos, and The Calistoga Inn serves elevated American dishes overlooking the Napa River. Pacifico Restaurante Mexicano is a good midday stop for healthier Mexican fare between activities. Most of these restaurants sit along or just off Lincoln Avenue, Calistoga’s main downtown strip, making it easy to walk between wine tasting, shopping, and meals without a car. For the full list of dining options by meal and cuisine, see our Calistoga dining page.