California Coast in 8 Days: San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego

The California coast in 8 days at a glance

• Days 1–3: San Francisco
• Day 4: Drive south
• Days 5–6: Los Angeles
• Days 7–8: San Diego

Day 1: Alcatraz and downtown

Start with the island. Ferries leave from Pier 33 and sell out days or weeks ahead in high season, so book first and plan the rest of the day around your departure time.

• Alcatraz Island: the cellhouse audio tour is included with the ferry ticket.
• San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) in SoMa, a short walk from Union Square.
• Grace Cathedral on Nob Hill.

Day 2: Golden Gate Park

Two of the city’s big museums face each other across the park’s Music Concourse, so you can cover both in one day.

• de Young Museum: American art and a free observation tower.
• California Academy of Sciences: aquarium, planetarium and a four-storey rainforest under one roof.

Day 3: The Presidio and Lands End

• The Walt Disney Family Museum in the Presidio, close to the Golden Gate Bridge.
• Legion of Honor: European art above the Lands End trail.
• Aquarium of the Bay at Pier 39, if you are back on the waterfront in the evening.

Day 4: San Francisco to Los Angeles

You have two options. Highway 1 through Big Sur is one of the great coastal drives, but it is a long day with frequent stops; check road conditions first, as sections close after landslides. The inland route on the I-5 takes around six hours.

Days 5–6: Los Angeles

LA is spread out, so group your visits by area. Museum Row on Wilshire Boulevard and Exposition Park fill one day; Griffith Park and the coast fill the other.

• Griffith Observatory: entry to the building is free; planetarium shows are ticketed. Come for sunset over the city.
• La Brea Tar Pits and Museum on Museum Row.
• Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, next door on Wilshire.
• Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County in Exposition Park.
• Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, about 40 minutes south.

Days 7–8: San Diego

San Diego is about two hours south of LA. Spend one day in Balboa Park and downtown, and the other on the coast or inland at the Safari Park.

• San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park; arrive at opening for the most active animals.
• San Diego Museum of Art, also in Balboa Park.
• USS Midway Museum: an aircraft carrier on the downtown waterfront.
• Birch Aquarium in La Jolla, with views over the Pacific.
• San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, about 45 minutes inland.

Practical tips

• Rent a car in San Francisco and drop it in San Diego; one-way fees vary, so compare before booking.
• In San Francisco you will not need the car until day 4: parking is expensive and public transport covers every stop above.
• Coastal fog is common in the mornings, even in summer. Pack layers.