First Trip to the US West Coast: Los Angeles vs San Francisco

How the two cities differ

Both cities have flights from Incheon (check current routes with the airlines), with straight-line distances of about 9,630 km to Los Angeles and 9,090 km to San Francisco. Check exact flight times and recent fares on the route pages below.

The biggest difference is size and how you get around. LA is sprawling and car-centric, so group your days by area; San Francisco is compact and easy to explore on foot and by public transport.

Los Angeles — beaches, movies and theme parks

Hollywood, the view from Griffith Observatory, Santa Monica and Venice beaches, a film-studio theme park and big theme parks nearby — all in one city. Koreatown makes Korean food easy to find.

A rental car is the easiest way to cover several areas; without one, mix ride-hailing and Metro Rail. Freeways jam at rush hour, so allow plenty of time.

Best for: families who love theme parks, travelers after beaches and sunshine, and those happy to drive. Add days if you plan theme parks.

• Los Angeles travel guide →
• Incheon → Los Angeles flights →

San Francisco — a walkable city by the bay

The Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars climbing steep hills, waterfront piers and the island prison tour are the classics. Ferries to seaside towns nearby make great side trips.

BART rail gets you downtown from the airport in about 30 minutes, and the city works on foot and by public transport, so you rarely need a car. Bring comfortable shoes for the hills.

Best for: travelers who would rather walk than drive, and lovers of city views and photography. The island prison tour often sells out, so book early and only through the official operator listed by the National Park Service.

• San Francisco travel guide →
• Incheon → San Francisco flights →

Side by side

Choose by your travel style. Plan at least four nights in either city.

• Getting around: LA by rental car and ride-hailing; San Francisco on foot and by public transport
• Airport to downtown: LA about 30-60 min depending on traffic; San Francisco about 30 min by BART
• Weather: LA is mild, most pleasant March-May and September-November; San Francisco is sunniest in September-October, foggy and chilly in summer
• Feel: LA is beaches, theme parks and movies; San Francisco is hills, bridges and piers
• Clothing: mornings and evenings in San Francisco are cool all year — bring a jacket

Visiting both

With enough time, many travelers combine the two. How to travel between them (domestic flight, train, bus or driving) and how long it takes vary by season and schedule, so check official information from each transport company before deciding.

Flying into one city and out of the other saves you from backtracking.

Check before you go

Entering the US requires prior authorization such as ESTA. Check and apply only on the official US government site, and see the US Embassy's information too.

• In both cities, never leave bags or belongings visible in a car (car break-ins are very common in San Francisco)
• Stick to main streets at night and use ride-hailing late
• Tipping is normal — check whether a service charge is already on the bill
• Wildfires can break out around LA in dry, windy conditions (not only late summer and autumn, but winter too) — check local conditions before you go
• If renting a car, check driving requirements and parking costs in advance

FAQ

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