Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in San Francisco
Morning Arrivée à l'aéroport de San Francisco et transfert
Land at SFO and take BART (30 min) to downtown. First glimpse of the skyline and the bay's signature fog. Check in near Union Square or Fisherman's Wharf.
Afternoon Golden Gate Bridge et Presidio
Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge — 2.7km with spectacular views of the bay, Alcatraz, and the skyline. Explore the Presidio park and Baker Beach for the best photo spots.
Evening Dîner à Fisherman's Wharf et coucher de soleil
Dinner at Fisherman's Wharf. Clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl is a local institution. Watch the sea lions at Pier 39 and enjoy the sunset over the bay with Alcatraz and the Golden Gate in view.
Day 2 San Francisco — hills, cable cars and neighborhoods
Morning Cable car et Chinatown
Ride a historic cable car, the world's last manually operated cable car system. Explore Chinatown, the oldest outside Asia, with its temples, herbalists, and authentic dim sum.
Afternoon Alcatraz Island
Visit Alcatraz prison, the island fortress in San Francisco Bay. The 15-min ferry offers superb city views. The audio guide, narrated by former inmates and guards, is gripping. Explore cells, the mess hall, and the prisoners' garden.
Evening Dîner dans le Mission District
The Mission District is SF's most vibrant neighborhood — colorful murals, authentic taquerias, and trendy bars. Dine at legendary taquerias like La Taqueria or El Farolito for California's best burritos.
Day 3 San Francisco — parks, street art and Victorian neighborhoods
Morning Haight-Ashbury et Golden Gate Park
Explore Haight-Ashbury, birthplace of the 1960s hippie movement, with colorful Victorian houses and vinyl record shops. Then enter Golden Gate Park for the California Academy of Sciences — aquarium, planetarium, and rainforest under one roof.
Afternoon Les Painted Ladies et Twin Peaks
Photograph the Painted Ladies, the row of Victorian houses facing Alamo Square — SF's postcard view with the skyline behind. Then climb Twin Peaks for a 360° panorama of the city, bay, both bridges, and the Pacific.
Evening Dîner à North Beach — Little Italy
North Beach, SF's Italian quarter, is packed with authentic trattorias and old-school cafés. Visit City Lights Bookstore (Beat poets HQ). Dinner at Trattoria Contadina or Tony's Pizza Napoletana (world champion pizzaiolo).
Day 4 Coastal drive — Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz
Morning Départ et route vers Half Moon Bay
Pick up your rental car and take Highway 1 south. Half Moon Bay is a charming coastal village known for its cliffs, pumpkin fields (autumn), and Mavericks surf break. Stop at Sam's Chowder House for ocean views.
Afternoon Santa Cruz — boardwalk et surf
Arrive in Santa Cruz, a surf town with bohemian vibes. The Beach Boardwalk is California's oldest seaside amusement park (1907). Steamer Lane is the legendary surf spot. West Cliff Drive offers views of surfers and sea otters.
Evening Dîner fruits de mer à Santa Cruz
Fresh seafood dinner on the Santa Cruz wharf. Restaurants serve Dungeness crab, local oysters, and fish & chips with Monterey Bay views. Santa Cruz's laid-back surfer-artist vibe makes every evening pleasant.
Day 5 Monterey and 17-Mile Drive
Morning Monterey Bay Aquarium
Visit Monterey Bay Aquarium, one of the world's best. The jellyfish gallery, playful sea otters, and shark tunnel are mesmerizing. Built on a former sardine cannery on Steinbeck's famous Cannery Row.
Afternoon 17-Mile Drive — Pebble Beach et Lone Cypress
Drive the 17-Mile Drive, a private scenic road between Monterey and Carmel through cypress forests along wave-battered cliffs. The Lone Cypress, perched on a rock facing the Pacific, is one of the world's most photographed trees.
Evening Dîner à Carmel-by-the-Sea
Carmel-by-the-Sea is a fairytale village with stone cottages, art galleries, and a white sand beach. No street numbers — every house has a name. Dine at one of the village's intimate restaurants. La Bicyclette serves excellent French-Californian cuisine.
Day 6 Big Sur — the world's most spectacular coastline
Morning Route de Big Sur et Bixby Bridge
Take Highway 1 south for the most spectacular stretch of California coastline. Bixby Creek Bridge, an elegant concrete arch spanning a vertiginous ravine, is Big Sur's iconic image. The road winds between sheer cliffs and coastal redwood forests.
Afternoon McWay Falls et Pfeiffer Beach
McWay Falls is a 24-meter waterfall dropping directly onto an isolated beach — a unique sight. Continue to Pfeiffer Beach with its natural stone arch (Keyhole Rock) and rare purple sand from cliff manganese.
Evening Nuit à Big Sur — dîner sous les séquoias
Stay overnight at a Big Sur lodge. Nepenthe, perched on a cliff 250 meters above the Pacific, offers dinner with one of California's most incredible views. The Ambrosia Burger and walnut pie are classics.
Day 7 San Simeon and road to Santa Barbara
Morning Hearst Castle
Visit Hearst Castle, the extravagant palace of press magnate William Randolph Hearst. This 165-room estate blending Spanish Renaissance and Gothic styles perches on a hill above the Pacific. The Neptune and Roman pools are breathtaking. Inspired Citizen Kane.
Afternoon Route côtière vers Santa Barbara
Continue Highway 1 south through Cambria and Morro Bay (iconic volcanic rock). Pass through Central Coast wine country — Sideways' Pinot Noir region. Stop at San Luis Obispo for lunch and the famous Bubblegum Alley.
Evening Dîner sur State Street à Santa Barbara
Arrive in Santa Barbara, the 'American Riviera.' State Street is lined with restaurants in Spanish Mission architecture. Dine in the Funk Zone, a trendy district of converted warehouses with galleries, wine bars, and restaurants.
Day 8 Santa Barbara and road to Los Angeles
Morning Plage et mission de Santa Barbara
Start with Mission Santa Barbara (1786), the 'Queen of Missions' with elegant architecture and peaceful gardens. Then hit East Beach for a Pacific swim. Stearns Wharf offers views of the Santa Ynez mountains and Channel Islands.
Afternoon Malibu — plages et culture surf
Drive south via Highway 1 to Malibu. Stop at El Matador Beach, a secret beach below cliffs with spectacular rock formations. Malibu Pier is an iconic surf spot. The Getty Villa, a Greco-Roman art museum in a Pompeii-inspired villa, is stunning.
Evening Arrivée à Los Angeles — dîner sur le rooftop
Arrive in Los Angeles. Check in at Hollywood, Santa Monica, or Downtown LA and enjoy a rooftop dinner with city skyline views. Perch LA atop DTLA offers a panoramic view. LA nightlife barely starts before 9pm.
Day 9 Los Angeles — Hollywood and culture
Morning Hollywood Boulevard et Griffith Observatory
Walk Hollywood Boulevard with the Walk of Fame (2,700+ stars) and TCL Chinese Theatre. Then climb to Griffith Observatory for the iconic view of the Hollywood Sign and LA sprawling to the ocean.
Afternoon The Getty Center et Beverly Hills
Visit the Getty Center, a spectacular art museum perched in the Brentwood hills. Richard Meier's architecture, gardens, and collection (Van Gogh, Monet, Rembrandt) are exceptional — entry is free. Then cruise through Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive.
Evening Dîner et soirée à West Hollywood
West Hollywood (WeHo) is LA's trendiest dining and nightlife district. Sunset Strip has legendary clubs (Viper Room, Whisky a Go Go). For dinner, try Gracias Madre (upscale vegan Mexican) or Craig's (celeb hotspot).
Day 10 Santa Monica, Venice Beach and the coast
Morning Santa Monica Pier et plage
Start at Santa Monica Pier, the official terminus of Route 66. The Pacific Park Ferris wheel offers 360° bay views. Santa Monica Beach is perfect for relaxation. The boardwalk to Venice Beach runs 5km along the sand.
Afternoon Venice Beach et Abbot Kinney
Venice Beach is LA's most eccentric neighborhood — bodybuilders at Muscle Beach, skaters, street artists, and the famous boardwalk. Venice Canals, inspired by Italy, are a peaceful residential gem. Abbot Kinney Blvd is LA's trendiest street.
Evening Coucher de soleil et dîner à Venice
End with a Venice Beach sunset — surfers, palms, and blazing sky create the quintessential California scene. Dinner at The Rose Venice for modern Californian cuisine in a chic-casual setting. The neighborhood comes alive after dark.
Day 11 Yosemite — nature's cathedral
Morning Route vers Yosemite et arrivée dans la vallée
Long drive (4-5h) from LA to Yosemite National Park, one of America's natural treasures. The Tunnel View entrance reveals THE park's most famous panorama: El Capitan left, Half Dome center, Bridalveil Fall right. Breathtaking.
Afternoon Yosemite Valley — cascades et sentiers
Explore Yosemite Valley on foot. The Lower Yosemite Falls trail is short and easy (1.6km round trip) with views of North America's tallest waterfall (739m total). Continue to Mirror Lake for a perfect Half Dome reflection. El Capitan's 1000m granite wall is mesmerizing.
Evening Dîner au lodge et ciel étoilé
Dine at Yosemite Valley Lodge or the historic Ahwahnee Hotel (now The Majestic Yosemite Hotel). Built in 1927 with massive beams and cathedral windows, it's a monument. After dinner, Yosemite's starry sky is spectacular — zero light pollution.
Day 12 Yosemite — summits and giant sequoia forest
Morning Glacier Point — panorama sur Half Dome
Drive to Glacier Point for one of the world's most beautiful panoramas. Half Dome rises before you, framed by the Sierra Nevada. Below, Yosemite Valley unfolds with its forests and waterfalls — Yosemite, Nevada, and Vernal Falls visible simultaneously.
Afternoon Mariposa Grove — les séquoias géants
Visit Mariposa Grove, Yosemite's largest giant sequoia forest. The Grizzly Giant, 1,800 years old and 63 meters tall, is stunning. The California Tunnel Tree, hollowed for 19th-century stagecoaches, shows the trees' immense scale. The 3km walk is easy and magical.
Evening Route retour vers la côte et dîner en route
Leave Yosemite via Highway 140 through Merced. The road descends through golden hills typical of inland California. Reach the coast by evening. Dinner at a stopover town — authentic American steakhouse or burger bar.
Day 13 San Diego — sun, beaches and Mexican culture
Morning Balboa Park et San Diego Zoo
Explore Balboa Park, America's largest urban cultural park with 17 museums and botanical gardens in stunning Spanish Colonial architecture. San Diego Zoo, one of the world's best, houses 3,500+ animals in naturalistic habitats.
Afternoon La Jolla et plages de San Diego
Drive to La Jolla, San Diego's coastal gem. La Jolla Cove is a renowned snorkeling spot with sea lions and seals visible from the cliffs. Children's Pool Beach is taken over by seals. Torrey Pines State Reserve offers cliff-top hikes above the Pacific.
Evening Dîner et soirée dans le Gaslamp Quarter
The Gaslamp Quarter is San Diego's historic nightlife district — restored Victorian streets with restaurants, bars, and clubs. Mexican cuisine here is exceptional thanks to Tijuana's proximity. Try San Diego's signature fish tacos.
Day 14 Departure — last California morning
Morning Coronado Beach et dernier brunch
Cross the spectacular Coronado Bridge to Coronado Island and its beach, ranked among America's best. Golden sand stretches before the historic Hotel del Coronado (1888), where Marilyn Monroe filmed Some Like It Hot.
Afternoon Transfert vers l'aéroport de San Diego
Head to San Diego Airport (SAN), conveniently located 3km from downtown. Return your rental car and prepare for your flight home. The airport offers beautiful views of the bay and San Diego skyline during takeoff.
Evening Vol retour — souvenirs de Californie
Your return flight marks the end of two unforgettable weeks in California. From San Francisco to San Diego via Big Sur, Yosemite, and Los Angeles, you've experienced the Golden State's incredible diversity — ocean, mountains, desert, sequoia forests, and legendary cities.