Although people don’t often talk about this city, don’t be fooled: there’s certainly a lot to see and do in San Diego. It’s considered one of the best cities in the United States to live in, and it’s no surprise.
Thanks to its perfect weather, great street life, amazing beaches and warm people, San Diego is not only an idyllic city to live in, but also the perfect travel destination. In addition to its myriad of historical, cultural and leisure attractions, San Diego offers activities to suit all tastes. If you want to find out more about this city, keep reading this post!
Things to do in San Diego
San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo is, without a doubt, the most iconic sight to see in the city and one of its main economic engines due to the large number of travellers it attracts throughout the year.
The Zoo is located in Balboa Park, occupying up to 40 hectares of the park. Inside you can enjoy a wide variety of species, but what makes this zoo especially characteristic is that it is one of the few to have a giant panda outside China. You can enjoy a different kind of day getting to know all the animals in one of the most important zoos in the United States while you move around inside the zoo with its comfortable transport systems. You can’t miss it!
Old Town
Like every city in the world, San Diego also has an incredible old town, also known as Old Town. Located on the west side of the San Diego River, here you will find the historical elements and sites of this beautiful city.
We recommend you head to the area and spend a morning wandering the streets as you take in some of the original buildings and monuments of the old city. Among them is the heritage of the city that was once founded by Gaspar Portolà. Meanwhile, you can enjoy the purest essence of San Diego in its streets and get to know the liveliness of the area thanks to its restaurants, shops and cultural activities.
Pacific Beach
Pacific Beach is located to the north of the city and is, without a doubt, one of the nicest neighbourhoods to see in San Diego. It has some of the most famous beaches in the city, and it’s no wonder why. As well as being a favourite spot for surfers thanks to the incredible waves it offers, it’s also a very busy area due to its nightlife.
Whether you come to Pacific Beach for a sunny morning in the water or a night out, you’ll find endless nightlife options. You will find endless nightlife options, such as nightclubs, bars and restaurants. There’s a strong university atmosphere, making it the ideal place to visit if you’re looking to meet new people. A 100% recommended visit.
Coronado Island
Coronado Island, or Coronado Island, is one of the main places to see in San Diego. As one of the most prestigious and expensive areas of the city, it will make you feel like you are in a city within a city. You can get there by crossing the impressive Coronado Bridge.
Once there, you will be able to do different activities. First of all, we recommend a visit to the spectacular viewpoint, from where you can look out over the extensive San Diego Bay. Once you have finished photographing the city’s skyline, you can go to the extensive Coronado beach, where you can enjoy a walk of more than 2.5 kilometres of white sand. It’s sure to become one of your favourite places in San Diego.
USS Midway Museum
Considering the important relationship San Diego shares with the US Navy and Army, you can visit its impressive museum housed in the former aircraft carrier USS Midway.
At one time, the USS Midway was the largest warship in the world, having participated in some of the most important wars in history. This impressive floating museum earned its name in homage to the famous Battle of Midway. Inside you can enjoy a tour of approximately 3 hours during which you will learn what life was like on this immense naval base, passing through areas from prisons to the command room – a visit to this iconic museum is not to be missed!
La Jolla Cave
La Jolla Cave is one of the most beautiful natural wonders to see in San Diego. This large cove is made up of several beaches that offer an idyllic setting that will leave you speechless.
On these beaches you will find a large number of caves and cliffs. It is also the ideal place for lovers of water sports and activities, as it is a very popular place for both locals and travellers to go scuba diving, surfing or swimming. You’ll find magic in every corner, both outside and under the sea. And if that’s not enough, you’ll find families of walruses basking in the sun – don’t forget your camera!
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park is, as the name suggests, a huge natural park by the Pacific Ocean and one of the most beautiful parks to see in San Diego. It was opened in 1983 and is located in a neighbourhood with which it shares its name.
You’ll be able to enjoy a dreamlike natural setting with spectacular views of the ocean, and it’s the ideal place to watch one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world. During your visit to the park you can enjoy different activities, such as walking through caves on land or underwater, as well as contemplating the large number of migratory birds that fly to this area every year. One of the best places to go if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery
Located just 16 kilometres from downtown San Diego, Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery is a large military cemetery. You’ll see a myriad of graves from the former US Marines, a sight that is sure to leave you in awe.
As it sits on top of a hill, from up there you can enjoy breathtaking views of the entire city and, consequently, the sea. It occupies land that was formerly occupied by the army’s coastal artillery station. It has been considered a California Historical Landmark, and it is a place that will undoubtedly generate all kinds of sensations. Don’t hesitate to visit this special place just outside San Diego.
Carlsbad Flower Fields
The Carlsbad Flower Fields is one of the busiest places in San Diego, both for locals and travellers. This huge field offers a vast space filled with flowers of all colours and scents that will leave you totally enchanted.
You can lose yourself in its enormous flower maze, which covers more than 20 hectares, either on foot or on a wagon that you can take on a tour. Once you have finished your visit, you can buy some of the freshly cut flowers. Don’t forget to visit the garden in spring, when the flowers are at their peak. And if that wasn’t enough, admission is completely free!
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
What to do in San Diego with kids?
Balboa Park
This spectacular park is undoubtedly one of the must-see places to visit in San Diego, especially if you’re travelling with the little ones. It was created in honour of the Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa and is the largest urban park in the country.
It covers an area of almost 5 square kilometres filled not only with nature, but also offers a wide variety of cultural venues such as theatres and museums, among other activities. After a pleasant stroll, you can sit and relax in one of its gardens while the kids play around or you can even have a drink in one of its restaurants to recharge your batteries. You’ll have a great time!
Legoland San Diego
If you are travelling to San Diego with children, you can’t miss a visit to Legoland for anything in the world. In this park you will be able to live an adventure as a family and you will certainly enjoy both the big ones and the little ones.
During your visit to the park, you will be able to choose from more than 60 attractions for all ages, as well as attend different shows and interactive games. Meanwhile, you’ll be fascinated by the number of giant Lego figures you’ll find all over the park. And, in case you’re still hungry for more, you can also access the Legoland Water Park or the Sea Life Aquarium, two equally fun options attached to the main park.
Itineraries for your trip to San Diego
What to see in San Diego in 1 day?
- Visit Jolla Cave
- Stroll along Pacific Beach
- See San Diego’s Old Town
- Go to Coronado Island
- Walk through Balboa Park
What to see in San Diego in 2 days?
- Visit the San Diego Zoo
- Visit Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
- See Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery
- Spend a day at Legoland
- See the USS Midway Museum
Frequently Asked Questions
Adult general admission to the Zoo is €42.50 while children’s admission is €33.50.
– First up is Coronado Beach, located in the middle of San Diego Bay. This beach is ideal for those who want to learn to surf as the waves are gentle.
– Second is Pacific Beach. This beach is especially famous for its strong university atmosphere, its great nightlife and its famous wooden boardwalk.
– Third, but not least, is La Jolla Cove beach, a wonderful sandy cove where you can enjoy the sun and sea in an idyllic setting shared with species such as seals and sea lions.
– Coronado Island can be reached by bus, on foot or by taxi.To get to Coronado Island by bus, take bus number 901 for around €2/€5 for a 20-minute ride.
– To go on foot, you have to walk for about 1h10, covering 6 kilometres.
– To go by taxi, you can take it from any point you like and the journey takes around 7 minutes. However, the prices are higher.
How to organise your itinerary of places to see in San Diego?
Download the Passporter app to plan your San Diego itinerary in the most convenient and intuitive way.
You can draw inspiration from the experiences of other travellers, as well as archive websites that can help you. You can also save tickets and create routes easily with the help of Google Maps. Finally, you can choose the means of transport that best suits your needs and, the best part, you can post photos of your trip to France so that other people can visit your traveller profile.
If you want to know more about the Passporter app, don’t hesitate to check out the details in our post: How to create a travel itinerary on Passporter.
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