The Napa Valley Wine Train
With no riverboat to sail the valley, the dining train is the classic way to see it slowly.
Ask About a Wine Country CruiseWine Country by Rail
Travelers looking for a Napa Valley river cruise often end up on the Wine Train instead, and for good reason: it offers what a riverboat would — a slow, scenic journey through the vineyards with a meal and a glass of wine — on the valley’s historic rail line.
The cars
Restored vintage railcars, including dome cars with wide windows.
The journeys
Lunch and dinner trips of about two and a half to three hours, and longer excursions with winery visits.
The station
In the city of Napa, on McKinstry Street near downtown.
Experiences change through the year, with seasonal and special-event journeys. Book directly or ask our advisors to include it in a Napa package.
How It Compares With a River Cruise
- Pace: both slow travel; the train runs a few hours, a river cruise a week.
- Scenery: the train runs up the middle of the valley through vineyards; the 2023 riverboat saw the bays and Delta.
- Wine: train journeys center on meals and tastings; river cruises add winery excursions.
- Overnight: the train is a day trip; you stay in a Napa hotel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Napa Valley Wine Train?
A dining train of restored vintage railcars that runs through Napa Valley from its station in the city of Napa, with multi-course meals and, on some journeys, winery visits.
How long is the trip?
Journeys run from about two and a half hours for dinner trips to about six hours for the longest, which include winery stops.
Can I combine the Wine Train with a cruise?
Yes, as part of a Napa stay before or after a cruise from San Francisco. It is too long for most port-day excursions.
Putting Together a Napa Stay
A good wine-country stay mixes the train, a riverfront evening in downtown Napa, a gondola or small-boat ride on the river and one or two winery visits booked ahead. Add it to the start or end of a cruise from San Francisco, and you have the wine-country trip many travelers imagine when they search for a Napa river cruise. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise can build the cruise and the land days together.
Practical Tips
- Book ahead for weekends, harvest season and holiday journeys, which fill first.
- Allow time to reach the Napa station; it is a short ride from downtown hotels.
- Check what each journey includes — some include wine, others sell it by the glass.
- Dress is smart casual; a layer helps in the air-conditioned cars.
If you are pairing the train with a cruise from San Francisco, put it on a full day in Napa rather than on arrival or departure day.
Add Napa to Your Cruise
Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will build a Napa stay around your sailing.
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