Located along the west coast of the United States, California enjoys a great diversity of landscapes, which will appeal to travelers in search of adventure as well as seaside pleasures.
Pleasant all year round with its subtropical climate, the
Golden State
is best visited between April and October, when average temperatures range between 19°C and 23°C, with a peak of 27°C in July.
To discover
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Weather, climate, activities… The best period by region
When is the best time to go to Los Angeles?
Spring and summer are pleasant for discovering Los Angeles.
Nick Fox
Los Angeles enjoys a sunny, Mediterranean climate all year round, with an average temperature fluctuating between 19°C and 25°C.
Spring and summer are pleasant, although temperatures can rise to 30°C in August.
Winters are mild, with a temperature close to 15°C, and some risk of rain in January and February.
If you want to visit
Death Valley
northeast of the city, choose fall or spring, because temperatures can reach 50°C in summer, which makes hiking and exploring very unpleasant, even inadvisable.
Los Angeles is a bustling city that will immerse you in the world of the seventh art with its unmissable
Walk of Fame
on Hollywood Boulevard, and its Warner Bros and Universal studios that you can visit.
Stroll Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive, take Mulholland Drive, and in the evening watch the sun set over the city from the Griffith Observatory.
The Venice Beach district will offer you a bohemian and relaxed atmosphere, typically Californian.
In winter, you will swim in water at 14°C, and 21°C in summer.
Driving along the beach, you will come to the town of Santa Monica, famous for its Pacific Park amusement park and its waves popular with surfers year-round.
To the south, San Diego is best visited for its historic Gaslamp Quarter, its impressive Balboa Park and its zoo, which is among the largest and most famous in the world.
Do not miss to visit Jolla, a picturesque and calm beach,
Read alsoWhat to see, what to do in Los Angeles: our must-sees
When is the best time to go to San Francisco?
San Francisco is best discovered from April to September, the sun being present almost constantly and the thermometer displaying an average of 22°C.
Frederic Prochasson
In northern California, San Francisco experiences temperatures that vary little throughout the year.
The city of seven hills is best discovered from April to September, because the sun shines almost constantly and the thermometer shows an average of 22°C.
In summer, a fog comes to cover the city during the afternoons, and thus bring a humidity and a freshness very typical of the zone.
Temperatures drop gently in autumn, reaching 19°C.
Finally, the winter remains pleasant thanks to the influence of the Pacific Ocean with an average of 12°C, although sometimes rains occur in November and December.
Take one of the Cable Cars, the city's old streetcars, and explore the districts: Chinatown, Union Square, North Beach, not forgetting the
unmissable Lombard Street in the Russian Hill district.
Head to Pier 39 at Fisherman's Wharf and admire the Golden Gate Bridge, with Alcatraz nearby.
Perhaps you will be lucky enough to spot sea lions, which took up residence on the wharf in 1989.
Read alsoFrom San Francisco to Los Angeles, five stops not to be missed on Highway 1
When is the best time to go to Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada?
Open all year round, Yosemite National Park is best visited from April to October to make the most of the hikes.
Scott Bufkin
Located in eastern California, the Sierra Nevada is a mountain range with a continental climate.
Temperature differences are significant between the seasons, with an average of -5°C in winter and 25°C in summer.
Also note that during the summer period, the nights are cool.
Ski enthusiasts can enjoy 150 runs in Mammoth Lakes, not to mention the towns of Reno, Park City and the Lake Tahoe resorts on the Nevada border, which offer great hiking in the summer.
Another must-see is Yosemite National Park, which is organized around Yosemite Valley, a green valley made up of rivers and waterfalls, where more than 400 species of animals live.
Open all year round, the park is best visited from April to October, but note that in August drought can affect the waterfalls.