7 days in San Francisco & Seattle Itinerary

San Francisco is a top holiday destination featuring scenic beauty and great ethnic and cultural diversity.

Get some cultural insight at Alcatraz Island and Fisherman's Wharf. Get outdoors at Point Reyes Safaris and Sonoma Coast State Beach. Venture out of the city with trips to Stephen & Walker Winery (in Healdsburg), Safari West (in Santa Rosa) and Tule Elk Preserve (in Point Reyes National Seashore). There's still lots to do: snap pictures at Golden Gate Bridge.

To see traveler tips and tourist information, refer to the San Francisco road trip planning site.

Washington to San Francisco is an approximately 12-hour flight. You can also drive. The time zone difference moving from Eastern Standard Time (EST) to Pacific Standard Time (PST) is minus 3 hours. Expect slightly colder weather when traveling from Washington in May: highs in San Francisco hover around 69°F, while lows dip to 53°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 16th (Sun) so you can fly to Seattle.

Nicknamed the "Emerald City" because of its abundant evergreen trees, Seattle is the cultural and business center of the Pacific Northwest, as well as a popular holiday destination.

Start off your visit on the 17th (Mon): examine the collection at The Museum of Flight, get a taste of the local shopping with Pike Place Market, then admire the masterpieces at Chihuly Garden and Glass, and finally look for gifts at Elliott Bay Book Company. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 18th (Tue): take a stroll through Pioneer Square, kick back and relax at Alki Beach, and then make a trip to Space Needle.

To find out how to plan a trip to Seattle, use our trip itinerary maker.

Fly from San Francisco to Seattle in 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. In May, daily temperatures in Seattle can reach 68°F, while at night they dip to 52°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 19th (Wed) early enough to go by car back home.