California rewards travelers who like contrast: fog and sunshine, hills and beaches, Gold Rush roots and silver screen dreams. In 10 days, you’ll taste the city-by-the-bay’s artisan food scene, sail past storied islands, stroll beneath ancient redwoods, and trace LA’s cinematic spine from Hollywood Boulevard to the Pacific.

San Francisco rose on a tidal wave of 1849 gold fever, then reinvented itself with cable cars, counterculture, and tech. Its neighborhoods are villages with distinct flavors—Chinatown’s dim sum lines, North Beach espresso, Mission murals. Just beyond the bridges lie giants: Muir Woods’ redwoods and Yosemite’s granite cathedrals.

Los Angeles is a constellation of neighborhoods stitched together by sunshine. Studios still hum in Burbank. Food crawls from taco trucks to Michelin darlings. Expect microclimates and moods—bring layers. Book timed attractions early, consider ride-shares for nights out, and always build a little buffer into your schedule for traffic, fog, or a spontaneous side street that insists you wander.

San Francisco

San Francisco is compact yet endlessly layered. Ride a cable car up Nob Hill, breathe in eucalyptus in the Presidio, then watch the sun drop behind the Golden Gate while a sourdough bowl warms your hands. The fog has a name (Karl); locals will tell you to dress for it.

• Top sights: Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, North Beach, Mission District, Golden Gate Park.
• Classic experiences: Bay cruise at sunset, dim sum in Chinatown, espresso in North Beach, redwoods at Muir Woods, day trip to Yosemite.
• Where to eat: Swan Oyster Depot (seafood counter), Tony’s Pizza Napoletana (award-winning pies), La Taqueria (Mission-style tacos), Tartine Bakery (morning buns), House of Prime Rib (old-school indulgence).

Where to stay (Hotels.com & VRBO): Browse citywide stays on Hotels.com San Francisco or VRBO San Francisco. Specific picks: The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco (elegant, walkable to Chinatown/Union Square), Hotel Nikko San Francisco (sleek rooms, indoor pool), Hotel Zephyr (playful waterfront by Pier 39), or budget-friendly HI San Francisco Downtown Hostel.

Getting there: Fly into SFO or OAK via Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. From the airport, BART or ride-share gets you downtown in ~30–40 minutes.

Day 1 — Arrive and Meet the Bay

Afternoon: Land and settle in near Union Square. Stretch your legs along Maiden Lane, then ride a Powell–Hyde cable car up to Nob Hill for sweeping views of the Bay.

Evening: Make your first meal a neighborhood classic. Options: House of Nanking (bold, saucy Cantonese), Good Mong Kok Bakery (grab-and-go dim sum), or North Beach’s Original Joe’s (red-sauce Italian) followed by cannoli at Stella Pastry or a nightcap at Tosca Cafe.

Day 2 — Waterfront to North Beach, Alcatraz by Night

Morning: Coffee at Blue Bottle Ferry Building, then browse Acme Bread and Heath ceramics pop-ups. Stroll the Embarcadero to Pier 39 to greet the sunbathing sea lions.

Afternoon: Chinatown and North Beach tasting wander: dumplings at China Live’s market bar, hand-pulled noodles at House of Xian, espresso at Caffè Trieste, and a slice at Tony’s Pizza Napoletana. Climb Telegraph Hill’s Filbert Steps to Coit Tower for Art Deco murals and city views.

Evening: Sail to “the Rock” after dark on the Alcatraz Visit with Night Option and SF Bay Cruise. The sunset crossing, cell door demonstrations, and ranger talks bring eerie history to life.

Day 3 — Redwoods, Sausalito, and a City Lights Cruise

Morning: Cross the Golden Gate to ancient trees on the Muir Woods and Sausalito Morning Tour (Small-Group Half Day). Walk hushed trails among 1,000-year-old coastal redwoods, then continue to bayside Sausalito.

Afternoon: Lunch on the water in Sausalito—try Fish. for sustainable seafood or Scoma’s for crab cioppino—then return to the city for the Presidio’s Crissy Field and the Palace of Fine Arts.

Evening: Toast twilight on the San Francisco City Lights Cruise (2-hours). You’ll slip under the Golden Gate and orbit Alcatraz as the skyline flickers on.

Day 4 — Yosemite in a Day

Leave urban edges behind on the Yosemite Highlights & Giant Sequoias Day Tour from San Francisco. See Tunnel View, El Capitan, Bridalveil and Yosemite Falls, and (seasonally) a sequoia grove. It’s a long, unforgettable day—pack snacks, layers, and a power bank.

Day 5 — Painted Ladies, Golden Gate Park, and the Mission

Morning: Brunch near Alamo Square (Brenda’s Meat & Three for biscuits and fried chicken), then admire the Painted Ladies with the skyline backdrop.

Afternoon: Golden Gate Park: choose the de Young Museum’s tower for city views, the Japanese Tea Garden for tranquil paths, or the Conservatory of Flowers for a tropical stroll. Coffee at Andytown in the Sunset.

Evening: Mission District murals at Clarion and Balmy alleys before dinner. Picks: La Taqueria (no-rice tacos), Liholiho Yacht Club (Hawai‘i-by-way-of-SF), or Delfina (Italian). Finish with soft-serve at Bi-Rite Creamery or a mezcal at ABV.

Los Angeles

Los Angeles is where myth meets freeway. One hour you’re tracing stars on the Walk of Fame, the next you’re watching surfers at Malibu or tacos al pastor kissed by a trompo flame. The city excels at reinvention—so does its dining scene.

• Top sights: Hollywood Boulevard, Griffith Observatory, Santa Monica Pier, Venice Canals, The Getty, Downtown LA (Broad, Historic Core), studio backlots.
• Signature experiences: Studio tour in Burbank, theme-park thrills at Universal Studios, coastal bike ride from Santa Monica to Venice, taco crawl in Koreatown or Highland Park.
• Food to find: Koreatown BBQ (Park’s BBQ), Arts District Italian (Bestia), Middle Eastern at Bavel, pastries at République, breakfast burritos from Cofax or Sons of Thunder.

Where to stay (Hotels.com & VRBO): Browse Hotels.com Los Angeles or VRBO Los Angeles. Specific picks: Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel (beachfront, great for sunset), Loews Hollywood Hotel (by the Walk of Fame), Freehand Los Angeles (stylish DTLA value, rooftop pool), splurge at The Beverly Hills Hotel. Prefer the San Gabriel Valley/Pasadena area? Consider The Langham Huntington, Pasadena or DoubleTree by Hilton Los Angeles – Rosemead.

Getting there from San Francisco: Fly SFO–LAX/BUR/SNA in ~1h25 via Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com; typical one-way fares run ~$49–129 if booked early. Driving the Pacific Coast Highway is spectacular but takes 8–10 hours with stops (consider splitting it with an overnight in Santa Barbara or Pismo Beach).

Day 6 — Travel to LA, Santa Monica & Venice

Morning: Fly to LAX or Burbank. Aim for a mid-morning departure to maximize beach time.

Afternoon: Check in, then rent bikes for the Marvin Braude Bike Trail. Pedal from Santa Monica Pier to Venice Boardwalk and the Venice Canals. Coffee at Menotti’s or Great White; late lunch at Gjusta (smoked fish platters) or Casablanca (tableside margaritas, fresh tortillas).

Evening: Sunset on the Santa Monica Pier. Dinner at Cassia (Southeast Asian flavors with California seafood) or Rustic Canyon (market-driven). Nightcap at Élephante rooftop or The Bungalow’s patio vibes.

Day 7 — The Icons in One Sweep

Cover the greatest hits with the Full-Day Iconic Sights of LA, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Beaches and More. In ~7.5 hours you’ll stop at Santa Monica, Venice, Hollywood Boulevard, Griffith Observatory, and Rodeo Drive—ideal for first-timers.

Evening: Feast in Koreatown: Park’s BBQ (benchmark galbi) or Sun Nong Dan (braised short rib with cheese “volcano”). Drinks at The Normandie Club or a speakeasy-style bar like Lock & Key.

Day 8 — Studio Magic & DTLA Flavors

Morning: Go behind the scenes on the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood. Sit on the Friends couch, stroll backlots, and peek into soundstages when productions allow.

Afternoon: Join the Downtown Los Angeles Food Tour for a flavorful walk through the Historic Core—think tacos, French dips, and sweet bites—plus architecture stories of early LA.

Evening: Head to Griffith Observatory for golden-hour views over the city and the Hollywood Sign. Dinner nearby at Little Dom’s (Los Feliz) or Bestia (Arts District, book ahead).

Day 9 — Universal Studios Day

Spend a full day at Universal Studios Hollywood—ride Studio Tour trams through working sets, battle Decepticons, and sip butterbeer in the Wizarding World. Go early for Super Nintendo World, and consider Express access on peak dates for shorter lines.

Evening: Dinner in Studio City: Sushi Note (refined omakase) or Black Market Liquor Bar (small plates, cocktails). If you still have gas in the tank, stroll Ventura Boulevard for dessert.

Day 10 — Arts District Brunch & Departure

Morning: Brunch in DTLA’s Arts District or Grand Central Market. Try egg sandwiches at Eggslut, Filipino comfort at Sari Sari Store, or pastrami at Wexler’s-style delis if available. Coffee at Verve or Blue Bottle in the neighborhood.

Afternoon: Last-minute browsing at The Last Bookstore or ROW DTLA before heading to the airport for your afternoon departure.

Logistics & Tips

• Flights: Book inbound to SFO and outbound from LAX to avoid backtracking—search via Trip.com or Kiwi.com.
• SF↔LA travel time: Flight ~1h25 plus airport time; driving the coast is scenic (8–10 hours with stops), US-101 is faster (~6–7 hours).
• Weather: SF microclimates demand layers year-round; LA days are warm, nights cooler—carry a light jacket.
• Bookings: Reserve Alcatraz nights and studio/theme park tickets well in advance. Prime restaurants in both cities book up 2–3 weeks out.

Featured Viator activities used in this itinerary (with images):

• San Francisco: Alcatraz Night Option; Muir Woods & Sausalito Morning; San Francisco City Lights Cruise; Yosemite Highlights & Giant Sequoias Day Tour.
• Los Angeles: Full-Day Iconic Sights; Warner Bros. Studio Tour; Downtown LA Food Tour; Universal Studios Hollywood General Admission.

Ten days on California’s coast is a lesson in contrasts: salt air and studio backlots, redwood hush and neon glow. You’ll leave with ferry whistle earworms, taco-truck loyalty, and a camera roll that swings from granite monoliths to palm-framed sunsets. Come hungry, book the big-ticket items early, and let the state’s easy drama do the rest.