San Diego, CA

Travel Guide

Ocean Beach showing general coastal views and a coastal town
Japanese Friendship Garden which includes a park
San Diego which includes swimming and a sunset as well as a small group of people
Balboa Park which includes a pond
San Diego showing a city

Feel the warmth of San Diego, whether you’re swimming at postcard-perfect beaches, tasting your way through every taco truck in town or soaking up the city’s arts and culture scene.

Bright, sunny and optimistic, San Diego lives up to its nickname, “America’s Finest City.” With 70 miles (113 kilometers) of coastline, rich cultural experiences and a laid-back SoCal atmosphere, it’s easy to smile here. From charming Coronado Island to posh La Jolla, popular Mission Beach to artsy Encinitas, the things to do in seaside San Diego attract vacationing families, romance-seeking couples and a fair share of surfers. Come for the impressive museums in Balboa Park and the ocean lifestyle of Seaport Village; stay for the hyper-local artifacts at the California Surf Museum and the night-sky views from Palomar Observatory atop its namesake mountain.

The best areas for accommodation in San Diego

The lively, 16-block Gaslamp Quarter in the historic heart of the city is one of the best places to stay in San Diego for first-timers. The neighborhood is an enticing blend of the historic and modern, with over 100 restaurants, nightclubs, theaters, stores and art galleries. You’ll also find the Balboa Theatre and the Davis-Horton House here, plus the New Children’s Museum in neighboring Marina. Nearby, Downtown San Diego is a convenient base, as well.

La Jolla is a favorite among couples seeking the best place to stay in San Diego. This upscale neighborhood boasts an enchanting coastline, scenic beaches, beautiful waterfront restaurants and boutique shopping. Look for accommodations in The Village, La Jolla Shores and Torrey Pines. For something quieter, head to Coronado and its renowned and historic resort, “The Del.” For a trendy vibe, try North Park.

For beach-loving families, the best places to stay in San Diego are Mission Beach and Ocean Beach. You’ll be spoiled for choice at Mission Beach, with an array of water sports, picnic areas and playgrounds, plus Belmont Park’s boardwalk and carnival rides. For a typical beach town feel, stay in Ocean Beach north of the historic Old Point Loma Lighthouse.

Best time to visit San Diego

  • Spring (April to June): This is the sweet spot for comfortable, sunny weather, smaller crowds and outdoor festivals.
  • Summer (July to September): One of the best times to visit San Diego for surfing, paddleboarding, swimming and boating.
  • Fall (October to November): A great time for San Diego travel for a quieter atmosphere and warm beach days.
  • Winter (December to March): A pleasant time for biking, hiking and beach walks, with cooler air and sea temperatures and some rain.

How many days to spend in San Diego

To truly appreciate San Diego’s top attractions, local cuisine and beautiful beaches, plan to stay three to five days. Stay five to seven days to visit Tijuana, south of the border, hike at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park or experience Temecula Valley Wine Country.

The vibe of San Diego

San Diego’s casual lifestyle is contagious, making it easy to cast aside work for the waves. Sun-kissed beaches and vibrant communities along the San Diego coast are complemented by a rich cultural landscape and a deep appreciation of the surrounding natural beauty. Cuisine, driven by a diverse population and access to fresh ingredients, and an eclectic music scene, are a big part of the city’s personality. Life is lived outdoors for the most part, thanks to a temperate climate that lures visitors and residents to hiking, biking and surfing spots. Effortless, barefoot chic rules the day here in one of the oldest and most captivating cities on the West Coast.

What is San Diego famous for?

This year-round outdoor playground is known for more than its surf breaks. Famous theme parks, a satisfying Baja-Med culinary scene, excellent museums and laid-back neighborhoods make it easy to decide what to do in San Diego. From the historic Gaslamp Quarter to stunning Balboa Park, visitors find a variety of sightseeing options. Yet perhaps it’s the more unexpected claims to fame that are the most eye-opening. Over 150 craft beer breweries reflect San Diego’s part in the modern microbrew movement, while the USS Midway Museum speaks to a deep-rooted military presence. Old Town celebrates its role as California’s birthplace, while Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is one of only two places in the country where America’s rarest pine tree grows naturally.

Events in San Diego

Go beyond the beaches to attend annual San Diego events that attract everyone from cosplayers to cinephiles. July’s Comic-Con International is a pop culture extravaganza for fans of comics, movies and television. The summer San Diego County Fair, one of the largest in the country, offers family-friendly entertainment. Artists show off at the annual Art San Diego (November), chefs plate their best meals during San Diego Restaurant Weeks and directors try to make the cut at the San Diego International Film Festival (October).

Top attractions in San Diego

First-time San Diego visitors can find lots of things to do in Balboa Park. The massive urban oasis offers numerous museums, cultural centers and restaurants. Don’t miss the historic Spanish Village Art Center for vibrant local art and charming studios. Or head to the water for a harbor tour to embrace the city’s oceanside lifestyle.

The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego is a cultured choice for couples seeking things to do in San Diego. Perched in the tiny community of La Jolla, the museum contains more than 4,000 pieces, including Andy Warhol paintings. Consider, too, a gondola along Coronado’s waterways or some of the best San Diego views from Kate Sessions Memorial Park in Pacific Beach.

Families looking for things to do in San Diego can start at ocean-adjacent Belmont Park for thrilling rides like the Giant Dipper, arcade games and staggering Pacific views. For young nature-lovers, Torrey Pines offers easy hiking trails with more great views, while Coronado Beach is ideal for sandcastles and splashing in gentle waves​.

On the sun-drenched Pacific coast, this Southern California city provides great beaches, a famous zoo, historic sites and exciting nightlife.

Where to stay in San Diego

US Grant Hotel

Downtown San Diego

4.5/5(8,497 area reviews)

Cultural and financial hub, Downtown San Diego boasts the Symphony, Opera, theaters, museums, and historic sites like Gaslamp Quarter. Enjoy diverse shops, dining, nightlife, and convenient public transport options.

Downtown San Diego
Belmont Park showing rides and a garden

Mission Beach

Spanning nearly two miles of oceanfront, this sandbar community offers sunbathing, surfing, and beach volleyball, with nearby attractions like Belmont Park's Giant Dipper Roller Coaster and SeaWorld in Mission Bay Park.

Mission Beach
Pacific Beach Park showing a beach

Pacific Beach

4/5(1,422 area reviews)

Boasting a lively nightlife scene, Pacific Beach offers miles of sandy shores, a bustling 3.2-mile boardwalk, and attractions like Crystal Pier and Kate Sessions Park. Enjoy local shops, bars, and eateries along the vibrant walkway.

Pacific Beach
Gaslamp Quarter showing signage, night scenes and street scenes

Gaslamp Quarter

Downtown San Diego's historic district boasts Victorian-era buildings, now housing vibrant restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues. Stroll from Broadway to Harbor Drive, and 4th to 6th Avenue, admiring the newly installed gaslamps at Market Street.

Gaslamp Quarter
Ocean Beach

Ocean Beach

4/5(290 area reviews)

Ocean Beach is known for its stunning beaches, and with sights like Ocean Beach Pier and Ocean Beach, you won't get bored spending a day wandering around this part of San Diego.

Ocean Beach
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park featuring general coastal views, a coastal town and rocky coastline

Point Loma

3.5/5(3,808 area reviews)

This seaside hilly peninsula offers marine recreation, yachting, and whale watching. Explore Cabrillo National Monument, Old Point Loma Lighthouse, and Sunset Cliffs Natural Park. Enjoy local shops and eateries at Liberty Station and Point Loma Village.

Point Loma
Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
4 out of 5
333 W Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA
$242 nightly
The price is $281 total per night from Jun 26 to Jun 27
$281 total
Jun 26 - Jun 27
Total includes taxes and fees
Book a stay at this spa hotel in San Diego. Enjoy 2 outdoor pools, a full-service spa, and 5 restaurants. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,698 reviews)
"Great property and great service"

Reviewed on Jun 11, 2025

Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego
Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego
4 out of 5
1 Market Pl, San Diego, CA
$256 nightly
The price is $297 total per night from Jun 26 to Jun 27
$297 total
Jun 26 - Jun 27
Total includes taxes and fees
Book a stay at this eco-certified hotel in San Diego. Enjoy free WiFi, 6 restaurants, and 3 bars/lounges. Our guests praise the pool and the bar in our reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (2,780 reviews)
"Recently renovated room with great view. & great lighting in the room. Did not like: Self parking was too expensive at $49/night & unable to watch local Padre game in room."

Reviewed on Jun 12, 2025

Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego
Kings Inn San Diego
Kings Inn San Diego
2.5 out of 5
1333 Hotel Cir S, San Diego, CA
$116 nightly
The price is $133 total per night from Jun 18 to Jun 19
$133 total
Jun 18 - Jun 19
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this hotel in San Diego. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 restaurants, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool in our reviews. Popular ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (3,260 reviews)
"This is a good family oriented, budget friendly hotel. It is very clean and convenient. Staff is friendly and courteous. I would stay here again."

Reviewed on Jun 13, 2025

Kings Inn San Diego
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Uptown Inn by Vantaggio - Limited Service Apart-Hotel
Uptown Inn by Vantaggio - Limited Service Apart-Hotel
2.5 out of 5
819 University Ave, San Diego, CA
Stay at this aparthotel in San Diego. Enjoy free WiFi, laundry facilities, and housekeeping. Popular attractions San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park are located ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (173 reviews)
Small but clean
"Wide angle camera photos made the room appear to be much much larger. The space is very small."

Reviewed on Jun 12, 2025

Uptown Inn by Vantaggio - Limited Service Apart-Hotel
Little Italy Inn - Limited Service Apart Hotel
Little Italy Inn - Limited Service Apart Hotel
2.5 out of 5
1736 State St, San Diego, CA
Stay at this aparthotel in San Diego. Enjoy free WiFi, parking (surcharge), and a 24-hour front desk. Popular attractions Port of San Diego and USS Midway Museum ...
10/10 Exceptional! (3 reviews)
"The staff was incredible. The place is very well located - a nice walk to the Convention Center [25min] and close to the shoreline [5min]. Clean and at a reasonable price. The only missing items in the room are a microwave oven and a small desk with a chair."

Reviewed on May 27, 2025

Little Italy Inn - Limited Service Apart Hotel
Kasa Little Italy San Diego
Kasa Little Italy San Diego
4.5 out of 5
1331 Columbia St, San Diego, CA
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury aparthotel in San Diego. Enjoy free WiFi, a 24-hour fitness center, and parking (surcharge). Popular attractions Port of San Diego ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (214 reviews)
"We had a great stay here. Just have two complaints: one of the the two key fobs didn’t work; and the cheap plastic wastebasket in the bathroom smelled like urine."

Reviewed on Jun 6, 2025

Kasa Little Italy San Diego
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Food in San Diego

All that running from one beach to another fuels a hearty appetite. Artsy Barrio Logan is one of the tastiest San Diego places to visit, particularly for street tacos and horchata craft beer. Hop over to Little Italy and its India and Kettner streets, lined with authentic Italian eateries. North Park offers beer gardens, breweries, restaurants, artisanal bakeries and food trucks. The locavore movement (folks who love to eat locally grown food) is big here, so there’s an abundance of eats to sample at the city’s farmers markets. Chef-owned and Michelin-starred fine-dining restaurants offer multicultural menus that impress discerning palates. Be sure to indulge in fresh seafood and Baja-style fish tacos.

Nightlife in San Diego

The choices for how to fill one’s day don’t disappear when the sun sets during your San Diego trip. Whether you’re up for a night with the San Diego Symphony or an A-list rock ’n’ roll show, the music scene is an impressive display of local, national and international talent. Catch up-and-coming performers at long-time fixtures like The Casbah in Midtown or independent bands at small Solana Beach venues. The Gaslamp Quarter is a nightlife favorite for its rooftop bars and cool clubs. North Park, around 30th Street and University Avenue, attracts night owls to lively bars and dance clubs, while Hillcrest comedy clubs are a sure bet for a laugh.

Shopping in San Diego

This is Southern California, where the sun shines most of the year, so a warm-weather wardrobe when you visit San Diego is in order. Pick up new fits in high-end boutiques, independent stores and local markets, from La Jolla Cove to Fashion Valley Mall. While you’re in La Jolla, be sure to flip through the books at Warwick’s, one of the country’s oldest family-run bookstores. Browse clothing and homewares in Hillcrest, the hub of San Diego’s LGBTQ+ community, as well as neighboring University Heights. Don’t overlook the museum shops at Balboa Park’s Spanish Village Art Center and San Diego Museum of Art, brimming with curated art pieces, prints and jewelry.

Best beaches in San Diego

Across the San Diego-Coronado bridge from downtown, Coronado Beach is one of the best beaches in San Diego for swimming. Wide sandy shores and gentle waves offer a family-friendly setting, particularly at Central Beach along Ocean Boulevard and Glorietta Bay, with a grassy park and playground. Don’t miss Hotel del Coronado, a National Historic Landmark and star of the 1959 Marilyn Monroe film Some Like It Hot.

Take a peek under the waves at some of San Diego’s best beaches for snorkeling. La Jolla Shores and La Jolla Underwater Park offer clear waters with colorful fish and other aquatic locals all the way from the cove to the ancient sea caves. Just south of there, check out La Jolla Beach on the eastern edge of the ecological reserve.

Getting around San Diego

Getting around San Diego is easy thanks to a well-connected network of public transportation and ride-sharing services. The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) offers buses and trolleys, including the bright-red San Diego Trolley, which connects major attractions with central San Diego. A waterfront shuttle runs on summer weekends along the Bayfront from Harbor Island to the South Embarcadero near the San Diego Convention Center.

San Diego currency and budget

The tipping etiquette in San Diego is around 15%-20% for dining and a few dollars for hotel staff. Planning for approximately $150-$250 USD per day for accommodations, food, transport and attractions will keep you satisfied here. Here are some indicative prices of what you can expect to pay:

  • A meal at an inexpensive restaurant = $22.00 USD
  • A pint of domestic beer = $8.00 USD
  • A medium cappuccino = $5.45 USD
  • A meal for two at a mid-range restaurant = $85.00 USD

*Prices are provided for informational purposes and are subject to change.

Reviews of San Diego

4.6
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
11076
5 - Excellent 62%
4 - Good
5655
4 - Good 32%
3 - Okay
843
3 - Okay 5%
2 - Disappointing
112
2 - Disappointing 1%
1 - Terrible
68
1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

I love this place and love living here.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

We love San Diego, its definitely a yearly trip for our family!

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Definitely recommend trying out Wonderland Ocean Pub!

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

Please call Police and remove street people loitering on and next to property. Its a safety issue.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

I really enjoyed the visit to the Del Mar village. Many places to go there and loved the fact that they have a dog beach there. Perfect place.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Is nice traveling to San Diego, nice weather

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