Expert Californian travel guides and holiday advice
The USA's Golden State lives large in the imagination across the globe as the home of sunshine, surf and the silver screen. Whether you're inspired by the glitz and glamour of Hollywood boulevard, a desert trip to Joshua Tree National Park and Palm Springs, or a culture trip to San Francisco, our travel guides will help you plan the perfect holiday. From where to stay, what to see and where to eat, make sure your stay in California is a memorable one.
Top three cities in California
Los Angeles
Star-spangled, sprawling LA is the second largest city in the US and packs in world-famous neighbourhoods Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Silverlake and Bel Air. Discover filming locations on a studio tour, wander the Hollywood Walk of Fame or check out the Griffith Observatory.
San Francisco
North Cali’s big-hitting city is packed with eclectic architecture and iconic features, including the Golden Gate Bridge, historic cable cars to navigate its steep streets by, and world-famous former prison-turned-national park Alcatraz.
San Diego
This southernmost Californian city just before the Mexican border offers up year-round warm weather, a plethora of beaches and more than 400 parks, including the 1,200-acre Balboa Park, site of the renowned San Diego Zoo, as well as art galleries, museums and gardens.
FAQ travel questions about California
Los Angeles
From the Hollywood hills to Santa Monica beach, discover what the city of angels has to offer.
Top three attractions in California
The Golden Gate Bridge
Crossing the Golden Gate, the one-mile-wide strait connecting San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean, the Golden Gate Bridge is considered one of the most beautiful bridges in the world. Both the longest and the tallest suspension bridge on Earth when it first opened in 1937, the engineering marvel is also known for its distinctive red-orange hue.
Hollywood
This LA neighbourhood is synonymous with the film and entertainment industry and has plenty to keep starry-eyed visitors occupied, from the TCL Chinese Theatre and star-studded Walk of Fame to historic music venues like the Hollywood Bowl, from the world-famous Hollywood sign to Starline bus tours of celebrity haunts.
Yosemite National Park
Set in the Sierra Nevada mountains, Yosemite is renowned for its magnificent giant sequoia groves, with trees that grow up to 256ft tall. It’s also a rock climber’s playground, with granite cliffs such as El Capitan rising 3,593ft above the valley floor.
San Francisco
From the Golden Gate Bridge to the Bay Area, there's plenty to explore in San Francisco.
Top three beaches in California
Santa Monica
Route 66 from Chicago reaches a triumphant conclusion at the Pacific shore, just where Santa Monica pier pokes out into the ocean. While greater Los Angeles sparkles with beaches, this is a favourite thanks to its amusement park rides and relaxed atmosphere.
Huntington Beach
With miles of pristine beaches, great weather and a wide variety of entertainment options, Huntington Beach is on the shore closest to the original Disneyland at Anaheim, and makes an excellent ocean escape from the theme park.
Pfeiffer Beach
Located in the rugged Big Sur region, this off-the-beaten-track beach is famed for Keyhole Rock, an arch in the cliff which photographers flock to to snap the sun setting behind it. This bucket-list beach also boasts unique purple sand, courtesy of the manganese garnet rocks in the cliffs.
