Cheap flights to Sacramento from £288

City overview

Sacramento has moved on from its past as a pioneer town to a modern metropolis that celebrates its history but prefers its more up-to-date image. This new spruced up reality is in evidence with its City of Trees nickname but, more importantly, is rooted in the number of green spaces scattered about the city.

Sacramento is the capital of California and is among the ten fastest-growing areas in the U.S. Although its population is just less than 500,000, it is part of a greater region that encompasses more than two million inhabitants, though even that makes it merely the fourth largest in the state after Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego.

Within Old Sacramento everything is housed within vintage 19^th-century buildings. Little more than a stone’s throw away, the American River cuts through the heart of the city and offers several outdoor leisure activities such as river rafting and fishing.

Regardless of whether it is the great outdoors or the history of the Gold Rush that draws you here, you will not be disappointed.

Sacramento climate

Despite its California location, Sacramento has a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot and dry summers. However, the summer heat is not accompanied by humidity, making it a lot easier to take and is a great time to book flights to Sacramento. The local rainy season falls between November and March.

Getting around Sacramento

Sacramento is a typical American city with an extensive road and freeway system connecting it to other cities, but unlike many other American cities it also has a widespread network of bicycle and pedestrian paths. Getting around by car is the most convenient, but the traffic can get very slow in the city centre. Rental car offices can be found at the airport and in the city centre. Local buses cover the city and surrounding areas with reliable, cheap service, but they can be slow. The light rail system connects the city to its surrounding suburbs.     

Getting from the Airport to the City

Flights to Sacramento International Airport (SMF) will leave you with a short 10 mile (16km) journey to the centre of Sacramento. There are airport shuttle bus transfers readily available at the airport to whisk you off to the city. Alternatively, you can take a taxi or hop on the Yolobus which is an efficient and affordable way of reaching the city.

What is good to know if travelling to Sacramento?

• The most popular attraction in the city is the National Historic Landmark of Old Sacramento. The area is frozen in a time in the late 19^th century and features many restored historic buildings, wooden sidewalks and horse-drawn carriages. Rides on steam-powered historic trains and paddle steamers are also available.
• No visit to Sacramento is complete without partaking in an activity that involves the American River. Whether it’s river rafting or fishing, the river provides the setting for many of the local pastimes and is also the backdrop for a cycling trail that runs from the centre of Sacramento to Folsom. The nearby town’s correctional facility is the setting for Johnny Cash’s Folsom Prison Blues and is the site of a museum.
• If you are travelling with children, be sure to visit Fairytale Town, near the city’s zoo. An old-fashioned amusement park, Fairytale Town takes a low-tech approach to its attractions featuring fairy-tale themes including the boot from The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe as well as a pirate ship and puppet shows.
• Visit Sutter’s Fort for a glimpse of life in the American West during the early 19^th century. Founded in 1839 by John Augustus Sutter, a Swiss immigrant, local attractions include a period blacksmith shop and bakery as well as living quarters.
• The Delta King is a five-deck riverboat that once transported passengers and supplies between Sacramento and San Francisco, however it has since been transformed into a floating restaurant and hotel.

Sacramento airport overview

Sacramento International Airport is 16km (10 miles) from Sacramento, California.

Southwest Airlines accounts for more than half the flights at Sacramento International; the low-cost pioneer carries about 4.6 million passengers each year. Flights to Sacramento International come in from destinations across the US such as Denver, Charlotte, Phoenix, San Francisco, Chicago, Salt Lake City, Atlanta, Detroit, Dallas, San Jose, Houston and Washington, as well as Guadalajara in Mexico.

This small, easy-to-use airport can nonetheless get overcrowded at peak times, so head for the check-in counters early as most shops, restaurants and other facilities are after security.

Sacramento is the state capital of California, founded at the confluence of two rivers, and has a long and interesting settler history. Be sure to check out the many museums during your stay.