A Brief History Of Solvang: SoCals Danish Town

Wandering the streets of Solvang, it’s easy to forget you’re a mere 45 minutes from Santa Barbara and not in a town in Denmark. Solvang is Southern California’s very own Danish utopia—home to traditional Danish buildings with gabled roofs, a replica of Copenhagen’s Little Mermaid statue, and not just one, but four windmills.

So, venture into this charming Danish oasis in Southern California, where time seems to slow down, and every corner reveals a touch of enchantment. Let Solvang’s quaint architecture, delightful attractions, and warm hospitality whisk you away to a place that is both timeless and contemporary, offering a delightful escape into a world that feels straight out of a storybook. Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.

At first, Solvang’s infrastructure resembled any other Western town in California with a Main Street. The Lutheran church, built in 1928, was the first building to incorporate traditional Danish architecture, and in the 1930s, residents started building their homes in the Danish medieval style, which is characterized by half-timber facades. Since residents could not all afford to use real timber, they mixed cement with brown dye to give homes the appearance of wooden beams.

It wasn’t until the 1940s that the idea of constructing Solvang in a Danish provincial style really took hold. Ferd Sorensen, a local plumber, metalsmith, and woodworker, built Solvang’s first windmill next to his home. Eventually, Main Street became Copenhagen Drive, and faux storks (an emblem of good luck), started to peak out from the rooftops.

In 1936, Solvang held a festival to celebrate its 25th anniversary. The three-day celebration included a parade, barbecue, and concert. In the years since, this festival has become an annual tradition known as Danish Days, which is celebrated each September.

Solvang gained national recognition in 1947 when the Saturday Evening Post published a feature about the city, calling it a “spotless Danish village that blooms like a rose in California’s charming Santa Ynez Valley.”

Most recently, the 2004 movie Sideways was filmed in Solvang and the Santa Ynez Valley, bringing a newfound fame to the city as a wine destination. Today, Solvang boasts more than 20 wine tasting rooms, along with charming inns, restaurants, and adjacent vineyards.

But staying true to its roots, Solvang has maintained ties with Denmark, even welcoming Danish royalty on several occasions. Most notably, Prince Henrik visited in 2011 during Solvang’s centennial celebration.

Visit the Official Solvang Visitor Guide to learn more and for information on upcoming festivals and events.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.