Northern California

California

Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2026

Shop

Get even more with a Lonely Planet guide.


Shop Book
500px Photo ID: 119821001 - Foggy Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco

Dmitry Vinogradov / 500px

Why visit Northern California

With soaring peaks, vast coastline and the tallest of the world's trees, Northern California inspires all who visit to dream that much bigger.

Lonely planet’s trusted travel insurance provider

Dreaming of Northern California? Protect your trip

Travel with confidence. Protect your trip and your wallet.

LEARN MORE

We don’t represent World Nomads, we receive a fee from quotes using this link. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

Take your United States (USA) trip with Lonely Planet Journeys

Pick one of our ready-to-book trips or fully customize your own with help from our local experts.

bookable trip

Alsaska: Glimmering Glaciers, Brown Bears, and Fantastic Fjords

10 days / 9 nights

Lonely Planet Journeys takes you there with fully customizable trips to top destinations – all crafted by our local experts.

Explore more trips

Want our experts to design a custom trip for you?
start planning

Top places to visit in Northern California

Discover the best attractions in Northern California from must-see sights to unexpected hidden gems.

Northern California and beyond