San Francisco
22 hostels · dorms from $23
A compact, hilly city with the Golden Gate Bridge and distinctive neighbourhoods.
Points of interest
- Golden Gate Bridge
- Alcatraz
- Cable cars
- The Mission
- Golden Gate Park
State guide
Things to do in California
San Francisco's hills and Golden Gate, Los Angeles' beaches and studios, San Diego's surf, the Highway 1 road trip down the Big Sur coast, and the granite valley of Yosemite.
67
Hostels across its 5 main cities
7.9
Average, from 89,148 reviews
2
Weeks for the highlights
The Golden State
California is the most populous state in the USA and one of the most varied places on earth. In a single trip you can go from foggy San Francisco to the sunny beaches of Los Angeles and San Diego, from the redwood forests of the north to the deserts of Joshua Tree and Death Valley, and from the Pacific coast to the granite cliffs and waterfalls of Yosemite in the Sierra Nevada.
San Francisco is compact, hilly and full of character, with the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars and distinctive neighbourhoods. Los Angeles is huge and spread out, built for driving, with Hollywood, Venice Beach, world-class museums and the best Mexican food in the country. San Diego has a relaxed beach culture and great weather all year. Between them, Highway 1 follows the Big Sur coast, one of the most famous road trips in the world, and it reopened through Big Sur in January 2026 after landslide repairs.
Give California two weeks to see the highlights: a few days each in San Francisco and Los Angeles, the coast road between them, and Yosemite. It is good all year, with spring and autumn the best for most of the state and summer ideal for the mountains.
Where to base yourself
San Francisco and Los Angeles for most of the trip, with nights on the coast and in the parks.
Los Angeles
29 hostels · dorms from $21
A huge city of beaches, Hollywood and great food.
Points of interest
- Griffith Observatory
- Santa Monica
- Venice Beach
- Getty Center
- Hollywood
San Diego
12 hostels · dorms from $32
A sunny beach city with a relaxed surf culture.
Points of interest
- Balboa Park
- La Jolla
- Gaslamp Quarter
- Old Town
Yosemite
2 hostels · dorms from $29
Gateway lodging for the national park in the Sierra Nevada.
Points of interest
- Yosemite Valley
- Half Dome
- El Capitan
- Yosemite Falls
South Lake Tahoe
2 hostels · dorms from $21
A mountain town on a huge alpine lake.
Points of interest
- Emerald Bay
- Hiking
- Skiing
- Lake beaches
Regions of California
A long state with coast, mountains and desert. Most trips link San Francisco and Los Angeles, with a detour inland to Yosemite.
San Francisco Bay Area
City, culture, foodSan Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley and the wine country to the north.
The Central Coast
Big Sur, road tripSanta Cruz, Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur and Highway 1.
Los Angeles
Beaches, film, nightlifeA huge city of beaches, studios and neighbourhoods.
San Diego
Surf, beaches, sunshineA relaxed beach city near the Mexican border.
The Sierra Nevada
Yosemite, Tahoe, hikingMountains with Yosemite, Sequoia and Lake Tahoe.
The Deserts
Joshua Tree, Death ValleyPalm Springs, Joshua Tree and Death Valley.
Northern California
Redwoods, wild coastRedwood forests, Mount Shasta and a wild, empty coast.
Things to do
Things to do in California
In San Francisco, walk or cycle across the Golden Gate Bridge, ride a cable car up Nob Hill, take a ferry to Alcatraz (book well ahead), and explore the Mission, Chinatown and Haight-Ashbury. In Los Angeles, see the Hollywood Sign from Griffith Observatory, walk the boardwalk from Santa Monica to Venice Beach, and visit the free Getty Center. San Diego has Balboa Park, the beaches of La Jolla, with sea lions, and good surfing.
Drive Highway 1 between San Francisco and Los Angeles, stopping in Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel and Big Sur, with Bixby Bridge and McWay Falls, and the elephant seals near San Simeon.
Inland, Yosemite has Half Dome, El Capitan and some of the highest waterfalls in North America, best in spring. Sequoia National Park has the largest trees on earth, Lake Tahoe has hiking in summer and skiing in winter, and Joshua Tree and Death Valley are spectacular desert parks, best from autumn to spring.
More on things to do in California
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
The Getty Center in Los Angeles is free, apart from parking, and Griffith Observatory and its grounds are free. Walking the Golden Gate Bridge, Venice Beach, the Santa Monica Pier and San Diego's beaches costs nothing.
San Francisco's neighbourhoods, Golden Gate Park and the views from Twin Peaks are free. Balboa Park in San Diego is free to wander, and some museums there have free days.
The national parks charge entry, and from 2026 international visitors pay an extra $100 per person at Yosemite and Sequoia and Kings Canyon.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
California's food is fresh, health-conscious and heavily influenced by Mexico and Asia. Eat tacos from street stands and taco trucks in Los Angeles and San Diego, fish tacos by the beach, and a Mission-style burrito in San Francisco. In-N-Out Burger is a California institution.
San Francisco has sourdough bread, Dungeness crab and some of the best restaurants in the country, and Los Angeles' Koreatown and San Gabriel Valley have excellent Korean and Chinese food. Farmers' markets are everywhere.
Napa and Sonoma, north of San Francisco, are famous wine regions. Remember tipping and sales tax.
Nightlife
Going out
Los Angeles has big clubs in Hollywood, bars in Silver Lake and Echo Park, and live music on the Sunset Strip. San Francisco's Mission and SoMa districts have bars and clubs, and the Castro is a historic centre of LGBTQ+ nightlife. San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter and Pacific Beach are lively at weekends.
Bars close at 2am across the state. Drinks are expensive, and tipping applies to every round.
In Los Angeles, plan how to get home: distances are long and rideshares are the easiest option.
Getting around
Getting around
California is big and built for cars, and a hire car is the best way to see the coast and national parks. San Francisco has good public transport: Muni buses, streetcars and cable cars, and BART trains to the airport and Oakland. Los Angeles has a metro, but distances are huge and most people drive or use rideshares.
The main airports are San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. Amtrak's Coast Starlight and Pacific Surfliner run along the coast, and buses link the main cities.
Yosemite is reached by car or by YARTS buses from towns around the park.
More on getting around in California
Costs
What California costs
California is expensive, especially San Francisco and Los Angeles. Dorm beds start around $35 to $60, and much more in summer. Food from taco stands and markets is cheap; restaurants are not.
Sales tax starts at 7.25 per cent and is over 9 per cent in many cities, including Los Angeles and San Francisco. Tip 18 to 22 per cent in restaurants. Petrol is more expensive than in most of the USA.
National parks charge entry, plus $100 per person for international visitors at Yosemite and Sequoia and Kings Canyon from 2026. The $250 annual pass for international visitors covers them.
Safety
Safety and scams
California's tourist areas are generally safe. In San Francisco, car break-ins are very common: never leave anything visible in a parked car. Parts of the Tenderloin and Skid Row in Los Angeles have visible homelessness and drug use; walk around rather than through at night.
In the outdoors, the Pacific is cold with strong currents, so swim with lifeguards. Desert parks are dangerously hot in summer. Wildfires can close roads and parks, especially from late summer to autumn, and earthquakes are possible.
Health insurance is essential in the USA. In an emergency, call 911.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Festivals, film premieres and Pride.
Staff pick
11 Sep – 31 Oct
Howl-O-Scream
San Diego
Shriek and scream as pulse-pounding horrors are around every corner during Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld San Diego. The event features sweat-inducing haunts, exhilarating rides, an…
Staff pick
11 Sep – 2 Nov
SeaWorld Halloween Spooktacular
San Diego
Pick out your favorite costume to trick-or-treat through Key West and around Dolphin Theater at the SeaWorld Halloween Spooktacular. The event features a trick-or-treat…
Staff pick
17–18 October
Bella Vita Fest
San Diego
Bella Vita Fest brings the spirit of Italy to San Diego’s Little Italy, blending art, culture, food, and music into a vibrant celebration. Visitors…
Staff pick
30 Oct – 1 Nov
L.A. Comic Con
Los Angeles
Gather at the ultimate destination for comics with thousands of like-minded fans at the L.A. Comic Con. The event features over 200 panels and…
Staff pick
13 Nov – 3 Jan
SeaWorld's Christmas Celebration
San Diego
Soak up the holiday cheer as the park is transformed into a winter wonderland during SeaWorld's Christmas Celebration. The event features over three million…
Staff pick
4–5 December
December Nights
San Diego
Experience a family-friendly event that brings San Diegans together to enjoy amazing food, sounds, lights, and attractions during December Nights. The event features choir…
Staff pick
13–20 December
San Diego Bay Parade of Lights
San Diego
Make your spirits bright at the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights, a time-honored holiday tradition brought to San Diego by the boating community.…
Staff pick
9 May – 4 Nov
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
San Francisco
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival in San Francisco, California, transforms downtown into a lively hub of music, dance, theater, and cultural expression each year. This…
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated hostels across California's main cities, straight from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
Orange Drive Hostel
Los Angeles
Dorms from $40 a night
See dates and book
ITH Pacific Tradewinds Hostel
San Francisco
Dorms from $37 a night
See dates and book
ITH Mission Beach Backpacker Hostel
San Diego
Dorms from $35 a night
See dates and book
Mellow Mountain Hostel
South Lake Tahoe
Dorms from $21 a night
See dates and book
HI San Diego - Downtown
San Diego
Dorms from $32 a night
See dates and book
ITH Hermosa Beach Surf Hostel LAX
Los Angeles
Dorms from $43 a night
See dates and book
Green Tortoise Hostel
San Francisco
Dorms from $40 a night
See dates and book
Samesun San Diego OB
San Diego
Dorms from $34 a night
See dates and book
Banana Bungalow West Hollywood
Los Angeles
Dorms from $30 a night
See dates and book
HI Los Angeles - Santa Monica
Los Angeles
Dorms from $36 a night
See dates and book
Yosemite International Hostel
Yosemite
Dorms from $32 a night
See dates and book
California Dreams Hostel - Pacific Beach
San Diego
Dorms from $32 a night
See dates and book
When to go
California is good all year. Spring and autumn are best for most of the state. Summer is ideal for Yosemite and Tahoe but foggy in San Francisco. Winter is mild in the south, with skiing in the mountains and the deserts at their best.
Jan
Mild, deserts at their best
Feb
Mild
Mar
Spring flowers in the desert
Apr
Spring, waterfalls in Yosemite
May
Pleasant, waterfalls peak
Jun
Morning fog on the coast
Jul
Hot inland, busy
Aug
Hot, wildfire risk
Sep
Warm, fewer crowds
Oct
Warm and clear
Nov
Mild
Dec
Mild, skiing in the mountains
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs for Los Angeles, rounded. San Francisco is cooler, the deserts much hotter.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on San Francisco and Los Angeles prices.
Treat these as a guide. Car hire and park fees cost extra.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
California questions
The ones we get asked most.
How many days do you need in California?
Around two weeks for San Francisco, the coast road, Los Angeles and Yosemite.
Is Highway 1 open through Big Sur?
Yes. The section at Regent's Slide reopened in January 2026. Check Caltrans for any new closures before you go.
Do I need a car in California?
For the coast and national parks, yes. San Francisco can be done without one.
Do I need a reservation for Yosemite?
Not for entry in 2026, but international visitors pay an extra $100 per person on top of the entrance fee. Campsites still need booking.
Is San Francisco or Los Angeles better?
San Francisco is walkable and compact. Los Angeles has beaches and sunshine. Most people do both.
When is the best time to visit California?
April to June and September to October for most of the state.
Is California expensive?
Yes, especially the big cities. Taco stands, hostels and free museums help.
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