USA West Coast: Los Angeles, Big Sur & San Francisco
Hollywood and the beaches of Los Angeles, the cliffs of Highway 1 through Big Sur, Carmel and Point Lobos, then the Golden Gate, Alcatraz and the vineyards of Napa from San Francisco.
- Best time to go
- April to June and September to October. Summer brings fog to San Francisco and Big Sur; September and October are often the sunniest months on the coast.
- Flying from India
- Non-stop flights connect San Francisco with Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru (about 16 to 17 hours; schedules vary). Los Angeles is usually one stop via Asia, Europe or the Gulf.
- Visa for Indian passports
- Indian passport holders need a US B1/B2 visitor visa, with an interview at a US embassy or consulate in India. Appointment waits can be long, so apply several months before travel; an existing valid visa can be used.
- Currency
- US dollar (USD). Tipping of 18 to 20% is expected in restaurants.
USA West Coast at a glance
Los Angeles is spread out, so plan by area: Hollywood and the Griffith Observatory for the views, Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive, the Getty Center's art and gardens, and the beaches of Santa Monica, Venice and Malibu. A studio tour or Universal Studios suits families.
The drive north on Highway 1 is one of the world's great road trips: Santa Barbara's Spanish Mission town, the elephant seals at Piedras Blancas, Bixby Bridge and the cliffs of Big Sur, then Point Lobos, Carmel-by-the-Sea and 17-Mile Drive at Pebble Beach. San Francisco ends the trip with the Golden Gate, Alcatraz, cable cars and Fisherman's Wharf, plus day trips to Muir Woods' redwoods and the Napa Valley.
Must-see
- Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood Sign
- Santa Monica and Malibu
- Highway 1 through Big Sur
- The Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz
- Napa or Sonoma wine country
Food to try
- Fish tacos
- In-N-Out Burger (veggie on request)
- Sourdough and clam chowder in San Francisco
- Farm-to-table California cuisine
- Napa wines
Where to shop
- Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills
- Abbot Kinney, Venice
- Carmel-by-the-Sea galleries
- Union Square, San Francisco
- Ferry Building Marketplace
Where to Stay
Areas and styles of stay we book most often. We shortlist specific hotels once we know your dates and budget.
Los Angeles, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica
Hills and beach hotels
Hotels in Beverly Hills and West Hollywood for shopping and dining, or by the beach in Santa Monica for ocean views and sunset walks.
Carmel and Big Sur
Coastal inns and cliff-top lodges
Inns in Carmel-by-the-Sea and lodges in the redwoods or on the cliffs of Big Sur, with ocean views and quiet evenings.
San Francisco, Nob Hill and Union Square
City hotels with bay views
Hotels on Nob Hill and around Union Square, on the cable car lines, with views across the city to the bay.
Signature Experiences
Moments we build USA West Coast journeys around
Griffith Observatory
Free entry to the hilltop observatory, with views of the Hollywood Sign and the whole of Los Angeles, best at sunset.
The Getty Center
Hilltop galleries of European art, with a famous central garden and views to the ocean. Entry is free, by timed reservation at busy times.
Alcatraz
A ferry to the former federal prison on its island in the bay, with an award-winning audio tour. Tickets sell out weeks ahead in summer.
Muir Woods
Walk among coast redwoods over 60 metres tall, 30 minutes north of the Golden Gate. Parking or shuttle reservations are required.
Napa Valley
A day of tastings at family wineries and grand estates, with lunch among the vines, or a hot-air balloon at sunrise.
Yosemite extension
Four hours from San Francisco: granite cliffs, giant sequoias and waterfalls. Tunnel View shows El Capitan, Half Dome and Bridalveil Fall at once.
Planning Your Journey
Timing, routing and what our specialists tell every USA West Coast traveller
When to visit
March to June
Green hills, wildflowers and waterfalls in Yosemite; some morning fog on the coast in June.
July and August
Hot inland and in LA, foggy on the coast; busy national parks.
September to November
The sunniest, clearest coastal weather and the wine harvest in Napa.
Getting there and around
International
Into Los Angeles and home from San Francisco (non-stop to India), or the reverse.
Driving times
Los Angeles to Santa Barbara about 2 hours, Santa Barbara to Big Sur about 4 hours with stops, Big Sur to San Francisco about 3 hours.
Insider notes
Check Highway 1 before you go
Landslides close sections of Highway 1 through Big Sur from time to time. We check current status and reroute inland via Highway 101 when needed.
Drive north
Driving from Los Angeles to San Francisco puts you on the ocean side of the road, for the best views and easy pull-outs.
Layers for San Francisco
Summer fog can make San Francisco cool, even when Los Angeles is hot. Pack a warm layer.
Allow for LA traffic
Group sights by area and avoid rush hours. A private driver saves a lot of stress.
USA West Coast: Common Questions
Nine to ten days covers Los Angeles, the coast drive and San Francisco. Twelve to fourteen adds Yosemite or Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon.
Plan your USA West Coast journey
Speak to a specialist.
Share a few details and one of our USA West Coast specialists will get in touch, usually within a working day.
Journeys from here
Itineraries that include USA West Coast
Journey · Road Journey
California Coast, LA to San Francisco
Journey · City & Coast
Los Angeles, Coast & Canyons
Journey · City & Wine
San Francisco & Napa Weekends
Ready to plan USA West Coast?
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. We reply with a costed, day-by-day plan you can change as much as you like.