San Diego sits on the sunny shores of Southern California and offers a unique mix of golden beaches, vibrant city life and diverse cultural experiences. Known as “America’s Finest City” (the most beautiful city in America, no less), San Diego is a great destination at any time of year, for any kind of family. In this San Diego travel guide we’ve researched the most important places to see and things to do in and around San Diego, so all you have left to do is buy a plane ticket!
In this article
Essential Information for Travelers in San Diego
Here you’ll find everything you need to know to decide when to visit San Diego, how best to get there, how to get around and what to do about money during your trip.
Getting to Know San Diego
San Diego was founded under Spanish rule and passed to Mexico before becoming part of the United States. To this day, its location on San Diego Bay, right next to the Mexican border, means you’ll find plenty of Hispanic influences. The city has more than a million residents and is the eighth-largest city in the US. It has several universities and quite a few military bases.
Downtown
Downtown is just a short drive from the airport and boasts many skyscrapers, cultural institutions and an excellent food scene. The historic Gaslamp Quarter, in the heart of downtown, is known for its Victorian-era architecture, eclectic galleries, rich nightlife and trendy boutiques. It’s named after the gas lamps that line its streets. Here you’ll find the open-air Petco Park, home of the local baseball team, the San Diego Padres, which also hosts various concerts. The eastern part of downtown is East Village, a revitalized area with a trendy, lively social scene of cafés and bars and an electric atmosphere.
West of there, on the bay, is the beautiful waterfront promenade (the Embarcadero), the Maritime Museum and the aircraft carrier USS Midway, home to a fascinating museum. From here you can also head out on a bay cruise or enjoy the many shops and restaurants of the picturesque Seaport Village shopping center.
In the northern part of downtown is the local Little Italy, where you’ll be happy to hear there’s a street nicknamed “the best chefs’ alley”, with a range of excellent restaurants. East of there is the huge Balboa Park, a must for lovers of art, science or history. Besides being a green lung, the park has no fewer than 18 museums and 16 unique gardens, including a peaceful Japanese garden and a rose garden, the city zoo, a children’s playground and more.
Other Areas
For those looking for a taste of Mexican culture without crossing the border, San Diego’s historic Old Town, northwest of the park, offers a glimpse into the early days of European settlement in California. It has 2 historic parks with beautiful preserved 19th-century buildings, shopping areas with Mexican souvenirs and excellent Mexican restaurants – and also San Diego’s first synagogue.
Head further north and you’ll discover the beach neighborhoods of La Jolla and Pacific Beach, with amazing beaches, upscale shops and trendy beachfront bars. La Jolla Cove is especially recommended for nature lovers, thanks to its stunning cliffs and the seals and sea lions that live there. With a bit of patience you may even see dolphins playing in the water.
South of downtown, on the waterfront, you’ll find Barrio Logan, a neighborhood with Mexican roots. At its heart is Chicano Park, with dozens of murals depicting community life. On Logan Avenue you’ll find galleries, Mexican restaurants and trendy breweries.
Across San Diego Bay, on a peninsula, is the town of Coronado, with a pleasant beach and a shopping and entertainment center called Coronado Ferry Landing. You can get here by car over the (toll-free) Coronado Bridge, or by ferry, which docks right at the shopping center! West of Coronado is another peninsula, Point Loma, reaching into the sea from the north. At its tip is Cabrillo National Monument, which tells the story of European settlement on the US West Coast, beginning with the arrival of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo in 1542. There’s an impressive statue of him, a lighthouse that’s worth the climb, views all the way to Mexico and lots of nature.
When to Visit
San Diego has a Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and warm, dry summers. Most of the rain falls between December and March, but temperatures are pleasant all year round. The average daytime temperature is around 20°C in winter and around 25°C in summer, so you can visit the city at any time of year. Note, however, that the weather can change completely and unexpectedly because of the city’s topography and microclimates, so always dress in layers and take a light jacket just in case. In summer the city celebrates with various festivals, so it’s a great time to visit, but in autumn and spring you’ll enjoy more pleasant weather and fewer tourists.
Local Currency
The currency in San Diego, as everywhere in the US, is of course the US dollar. Credit cards are widely accepted, and ATMs are easy to find.
Getting to and Around San Diego
As mentioned, San Diego’s airport is right next to downtown. You can combine a visit to San Diego with a trip around California and fly into Los Angeles instead, which has far more international flights.
To get from the airport to the city, take the free shuttle called The San Diego Flyer, which will take you to Old Town, where you can continue to your destination on the light rail, known here as the Trolley.
If you prefer a private transfer waiting for you at the airport when you land to take you to your hotel in style, you can book a driver who will wait just for you and take you straight to your hotel.
The Trolley, with four lines, is also the main public transport for getting around the city. There are also buses and trains running to the suburbs and neighboring towns.
Downtown you can of course also walk, or use taxis or the Uber and Lyft ride apps.
And if you’re in favor of the freedom your own car gives you, book it in advance and save yourself the hassle of comparing prices and looking for a reliable rental agency during your trip. You can search for cars on Paapm Paapm, a car rental price comparison site. Free shuttles will take you to all the rental companies at the airport.
Compared to other big cities, parking is relatively easy, though you usually won’t find free parking. As in any city, there are traffic jams at rush hour, but if you’ve come to San Diego as part of a road trip, don’t be afraid to drive into the city.
Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley in San Diego
If you want to see all of San Diego’s must-see sights easily, the best and most efficient way is to hop on one of the city’s Hop-On Hop-Off trolleys. San Diego’s tourist trolley takes you to all the most interesting places without too much hassle. The ticket for the trolley – actually a minibus “dressed up” as a vintage trolley – is valid for 24 or 48 hours (depending on the ticket you choose), and you can get on and off as often as you like at any of its 12 stops. The stops include Old Town, Balboa Park, Petco Park, Little Italy, Coronado, Barrio Logan, the waterfront and more. The tour is accompanied by guides who tell the story of each place, with a fun mix of trivia and humorous stories.
San Diego has loads to see and do, from strolling the historic downtown or Old Town and exploring the history of settlement here, to spending time in the many museums or parks, and of course on the wonderful beach (although the Pacific is much colder than the Mediterranean and not for the faint-hearted). There are also activities for kids, cruises to watch the marine life that visits the area, and as in any big city, no shortage of opportunities for shopping and fine dining.
City Tours
Besides the trolleys that will take you to all the important sights, you can also rent a bike, hop on a cruise or join a guided tour. All of them are great options in San Diego!
Touring the City by E-Bike
Why make the effort when you can rent an e-bike that takes you around the city and the beaches quickly and easily? Bikes are rented every day from 09:00 to 17:00 at the Unlimited Biking store downtown.
A wide range of guided tours are offered in the city’s various neighborhoods.
The most recommended of all is the Balboa Park tour, the park that is home to amazing gardens, lovely walking trails and a wealth of cultural gems, including museums, theaters and more. On the tour you’ll get a comprehensive overview of the park that has become the city’s symbol, its rich history and its hidden gems. Were the city’s founders really so good at predicting the future that they set aside such a huge area for a public park?
Another wonderful tour is a food tour of San Diego’s Old Town, or as it’s called, the “Tacos and Tequila tour”. Because what’s more fun than learning about history on a full stomach with a little alcohol? Note that the tour also passes through the local cemetery and the Whaley House, known for being haunted!
And speaking of ghosts and spirits, this tour in the Gaslamp Quarter focuses on solving an old murder mystery while you get to know the city’s main sights, with a particularly sweet ending. It’s for the strong-hearted who love thrillers. And if you’re into a more “serious” historical tour of the Gaslamp Quarter, click here.
Art lovers should join a tour of Barrio Logan, see the murals and understand their cultural context. The tour also includes some tastings at local restaurants. And for those who prefer Italian food, a food tour of Little Italy is just for you!
To get up close to San Diego’s wild nightlife, you can join a special club crawl that sets off every Friday and Saturday. The tour takes you to some of the best clubs in the city, including VIP entry, so you won’t get stuck in line at the door.
Boat Trips
As befits a waterfront city, there’s a wide choice here too. To see the rich marine life up close – and not in a zoo – I warmly recommend a dolphin and whale watching cruise. San Diego is one of the best places to watch whales all year round: in winter there are gray whales migrating from Alaska, and in summer you can see blue whales feeding near the coast. The cruise takes about 4 hours, and you’ll learn a lot about San Diego’s underwater life.
Another popular cruise is the San Diego Bay cruise, which passes interesting landmarks such as the Coronado Bridge and the USS Midway aircraft carrier, and you’ll also see cute seals sunbathing! During the cruise you can also enjoy the bar on board.
For the adventurous – join an amphibious bus tour, on a bus that turns into a boat! It takes you on a tour both on land and on the water. This tour has a bit of everything: you see the city’s main sights and get a close look at what’s happening in the bay, including the navy ships and the seals.
And for real adrenaline lovers, try a speedboat ride. The view of the bay and the city is just an excuse for stunts, sharp turns and spins with the boat – enjoy every moment.
As mentioned, San Diego has a museum for everyone – you just need to find your favorite. To get into museums and a range of other attractions with significant savings on admission, it’s worth getting the San Diego Explorer Pass, which is valid for two months and lets you choose between 2 and 7 attractions to visit.
The museum is in Balboa Park, of course, in a beautiful building with a garden and a restaurant, and has art exhibitions from all over the world. For art lovers, this is the place to be in San Diego! It’s open every day except Wednesday, from 10:00 to 17:00, and on Sundays from 12:00.
Natural History Museum
An impressive museum in an impressive building, with many models of dinosaurs and other animals, a giant shell, skeletons, stuffed animals and skulls – in short, everything you need to learn about nature and life. Don’t forget to visit the especially sparkling gem exhibition. For parents’ convenience there’s also a play area for the littlest ones. The museum is open every day from 10:00 to 17:00.
This Balboa Park museum has a huge collection of cars and motorcycles from the early 20th century to the present day, including rare sports cars, Mustangs, Lamborghinis and Harley-Davidson motorcycles. The museum is open every day except Monday, from 10:00 to 17:00.
A unique museum on board the aircraft carrier anchored in San Diego Bay, inviting visitors to learn about the long history of the ship, which served longer than any other aircraft carrier of the 20th century in the US Navy. The museum is open every day from 10:00 to 17:00 and has fascinating exhibits on life at sea, flight simulators and even a chance to sit in the cockpit of one of the aircraft! Recommended for young and old!
This museum is a little north of the aircraft carrier and consists of several restored historic ships, including some that appeared in films, the world’s oldest active sailing ship, a ship that sailed around the world 21 times and more. Beyond the experience of visiting the ships, the museum gives fascinating explanations about the steam revolution that changed the world, submarine building and more. A must for anyone who has ever dreamed, or still dreams, of being a pirate. The museum is open every day from 10:00 to 17:00.
This museum is actually downtown, near the waterfront, and it’s a wonderful place to spend a few fun hours with the kids. It has a variety of exhibits from the world of children and activities including climbing, crafts and more. The museum is open from 9:00 to 16:00.
Fleet Science Center
Another activity center for kids, in Balboa Park, perfect for kids who love science. They can carry out exciting experiments with electricity, create clouds and sounds, and try making their own art. There’s also a “Kid City” for children under 6. The center is open every day from 11:00 to 17:00.
Other activities for kids near San Diego include Sesame Place San Diego, which offers a range of rides and water slides themed on the beloved series; Belmont Park in the north of the city, in the Mission Bay area, with shops, food stands and vintage-style rides on the beach; and LEGOLAND California, north of San Diego in the nearby city of Carlsbad – a theme park with a range of rides where everything is LEGO-themed.
Recommended Hotels in San Diego
I recommend choosing a hotel downtown, so you’re close to all the interesting sights, including Balboa Park and the waterfront, and a range of shops and restaurants. But make sure the hotel doesn’t suffer from noise at night because of its central location, and that the rooms aren’t tiny, as is often the case in big cities.
Here are our recommended hotels in San Diego:
Pendry San Diego
For those who want to treat themselves and are willing to pay for it, this is one of the few 5-star hotels in San Diego, with a restaurant, bar, swimming pool and gym. It’s downtown, surrounded by shops and restaurants. The rooms are luxurious and spacious and the service is wonderful.
A 4-star hotel in a historic building right downtown, in the Gaslamp Quarter. Every room has a fridge, microwave and coffee machine. The hotel has a restaurant and gym, a highly praised bar and staff who really go out of their way to give heartfelt service.
Another centrally located 4-star hotel, part of the popular Hard Rock chain. The hotel has a music theme, of course, with a rooftop pool and guitars to borrow for guests! There’s a bar and restaurant and an emphasis on lively nightlife. The rooms are relatively spacious, pleasant and stylish.
A 3-star hotel in a great downtown location. The hotel offers free bike use and cheerfully designed, pleasant and quiet rooms. Go for one of the larger rooms or suites if you don’t like cramped spaces. The hotel offers free drinks to guests, and the service is wonderful.
I'm the owner of the Check In/Out travel blog, where I document my trips in Israel and around the world. You'll find lots of recommendations on what to do in each destination, cool attractions, great places to stay, fun tours, nature trails you shouldn't miss, restaurants with vegetarian food and more. Happy travels, Shir-Yam
