Best Things to Do in San Diego: Our 2026 First-Timer’s Guide

Quick take: Two to four days is the sweet spot for first-time visitors. The non-negotiables are the USS Midway, Balboa Park (zoo and museums), Coronado Beach and La Jolla. On 2 days, skip SeaWorld and don’t try to combine the zoo and Coronado in the same afternoon. On 3 days, you can add SeaWorld or LegoLand if you’re with kids. For passes, the San Diego CityPASS (SeaWorld + 3 attractions, $169 adult) usually wins for families; the Go City All-Inclusive Plus ($149 adult/day starting) makes sense if you’re attraction-stacking three or more days.

Pass-decision at a glance. A scenario-resolved comparison before you read the rest, with current pricing as of late May 2026 (passes go on sale regularly, so do check):

Trip shape	Pay-as-you-go (adult)	Best pass (adult)	Verdict
Couple, 2 days, museums-heavy USS Midway + Balboa Park museums (2 of them) + a harbour cruise	~$140	CityPASS SeaWorld + 3 = $169 (if you swap in SeaWorld) or pay as you go	Pay as you go. The pass needs you to want SeaWorld or LegoLand to pay back.
Family of 4, 3 days, zoo + SeaWorld + Midway + trolley tour + harbour cruise	~$1,400 (4 × ~$350)	CityPASS SeaWorld + LEGOLAND + 3 (4 × $239 = $956) or CityPASS SeaWorld + 3 (4 × $169 = $676 if you skip LegoLand)	Buy the CityPASS. Skip LegoLand if you’re under-7s or only have 3 days. Saving on a family of four is $400+.
Solo / couple, 2 days, free-things-skewed Balboa Park + Coronado + La Jolla + a beach walk	~$40 (USS Midway only)	No pass	No pass. San Diego’s best stuff is free or cheap if you’re attraction-light.
Family of 4, 4 days, zoo + Safari Park + Midway + LegoLand	~$1,800	Go City All-Inclusive Plus 3-day or 4-day (starts $149 adult/day, lower per-day on multi-day tiers)	Run the live numbers on Go City’s site before booking. The Plus tier is the only product that includes both zoos + LegoLand + SeaWorld.
Pass-curious but uncertain (you don’t know yet what you’ll do)	Variable	None until you’ve planned	Build the day plan first, then back into the pass. Passes punish indecision.

We’ve been back to San Diego a few times now and the city is one of the easier US destinations to plan around. The geography helps: the beach towns, the downtown core, Balboa Park and Coronado are all roughly twenty minutes apart, and there’s a working public transport system if you’d rather not drive. What follows is our pick of what to do, where to stay, how to get around and how to spend two or three days as a first-time visitor.

We’ve put this together for first-time visitors. If you’re returning, you’ll already have your own favourites; this guide is shaped around getting you to the right ones on a short trip without wasting half a day on geography mistakes.

 

Top Things to do in San Diego

The shortlist below is what we’d send any first-time visitor to. Where it matters, we’ve tagged each entry with a quick family rating and added a photographer’s note for the spots where there’s a non-obvious shot worth getting. Pricing is current as of late May 2026; passes change regularly so always check directly before booking.

 

USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum

One of our favourite museums to visit in San Diego is the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum. This museum is found, as the name suggests, on an actual US Navy aircraft carrier, the USS Midway.

The USS Midway is a Midway-class aircraft carrier, which was commissioned in 1945 and saw 47 years of active service. That included service in the Vietnam War and the first Gulf War. She was decommissioned in 1992, and opened as a museum in San Diego in June 2004.

Today, the USS Midway is one of the most popular attractions in San Diego, and the most-visited naval warship museum in the USA. As well as the aircraft carrier herself, which is an incredible place to explore, she is also home to a great many aircraft on the flight deck and in the hangar bay.

A visit includes a self-guided audio tour narrated by former sailors which takes you all around the ship. There are also many information panels, volunteer-led talks, videos, a theatre and a number of flight simulators. All in all, this is a wonderful place to while away at least half a day, and well worth the experience.

Current ticket prices (2026): $39 adult / $29 youth (4-12) online, slightly higher at the gate. Veterans pay $26; active-duty military, reservists and under-4s are free. The audio tour is included in admission. The ship is on the same waterfront strip as Maritime Museum and the harbour cruises, so it’s easy to combine.

Family rating: Yes, ages 6+. Younger kids enjoy the planes and flight deck; the cockpit experiences in the hangar bay are a hit with anyone over about eight.

Photographer’s note: The classic shot is from the waterfront walkway looking up at the ship’s bow, with the Coronado Bridge in the background. Late afternoon gets you side-lighting on the hull. Once you’re aboard, the flight deck looking forward over the aircraft is the iconic shot, especially with someone in frame for scale.

You can book tickets for the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum online in advance here. It’s also included on the Go City San Diego passes and the San Diego CityPASS choose-3 menu.

 

San Diego Zoo

San Diego Zoo is the most-visited zoo in the United States, and for good reason. It’s one of the largest zoos in the world by number of animals, with over 12,000 animals across 680+ species and subspecies. At 100 acres, it’s also pretty big in terms of land.

The San Diego Zoo pioneered the concept of zoo habitats being closer to real-life than more traditional enclosures. This results in a better experience for both the animals and visitors.

With so many animals and exhibits, you could easily spend an entire day at San Diego Zoo. It’s big, but you can get around by guided bus tour and on the Skyfari aerial tram which carries you over the animal enclosures. This is definitely an attraction to consider adding to your list, especially if you are visiting San Diego as a family as it’s really popular with kids.

Current ticket prices (2026): $78 adult / $68 child (3-11) on standard days, $73 / $63 on the zoo’s Value Days. Under-3s are free. The 1-Day Pass includes the guided bus tour, the Express Bus, the Skyfari tram and all exhibits.

Family rating: Yes, all ages. This is the easiest big-ticket attraction to do with kids in tow. Plenty of shade, frequent stops, the bus tour lets you cover ground without exhausting small legs.

On the geography: The zoo is geographically inside Balboa Park but it’s a whole-day commitment, not a Balboa Park add-on. Don’t try to combine the zoo with Coronado, the USS Midway or the harbour on the same day. You’ll spend half of it in transit and queueing.

You can book tickets for San Diego Zoo online in advance here. It’s also included on the Go City All-Inclusive Plus pass and is one of the two zoo choices on the CityPASS menu.

 

Balboa Park

When you visit San Diego Zoo, you will already be inside Balboa Park. However, the zoo only takes up a small part of this 1,200-acre historic park. It’s also home to around 17 museums (sources vary between 16 and 18, depending on whether you count the smaller ones), theatres, recreational zones, gardens, walking paths, gift shops and restaurants.

There is a lot to see and do in the park, covering a variety of interests, from outdoor recreation to museum-hopping. The park land itself was set aside as public space back in 1868, but the area was primarily wilderness until the Panama-California Exposition, which opened in December 1914 and ran through 1915.

This world’s fair event led to the creation of the majority of the structures in the park today, which are built in a Spanish Colonial Revival style. From then to the present day, the park has continued to evolve, with another major exposition in the 1930s leading to the creation of more buildings.

Today the park is one of the most popular free destinations in San Diego, with millions of visitors a year. With everything on offer from archery to museums to live performances, we’re sure you’ll find something to enjoy when you visit too.

Entry to the park is free, but many of the museums and performances do have an entry fee. Several are included on the Go City San Diego passes; we cover the individual ones below.

Family rating: Yes, all ages. The gardens, the koi ponds, the carousel and the open green spaces give kids room to run between museum stops. We’d budget half a day minimum if you’re combining museums with the green-space loop.

Photographer’s note: The California Tower is the postcard shot, framed through the El Cid statue plaza or from the Botanical Building’s lily pond reflection. Go before mid-morning for soft side-light on the tower without the harsh overhead sun on the tiles. The Botanical Building itself, particularly when the orchids are out, repays a slow walk-through.

 

Museums in San Diego

San Diego has an incredible wealth of museums. So much so in fact that it would have been easy to just list ten museums in this guide and be done. Instead, here’s the cluster we’d recommend you actually consider, with current pricing.

As well as the USS Midway above, the other museums we’d flag are:

• San Diego Air and Space Museum – found in Balboa Park, this museum is great for aviation and space enthusiasts with everything from Apollo command modules to exhibits spanning the history of flight. $35 adult / $22 child (3-11); under-2s free. Open daily 10:00-16:30. Included on the Go City San Diego passes.
• Maritime Museum of San Diego – found on the San Diego waterfront just north of the USS Midway, this museum has one of the largest collections of vintage ships in the USA. $28 walk-up or $30.36 online; daily 10:00-17:00. Tickets also available here; included on the CityPASS choose-3 menu.
• San Diego Museum of Art – art lovers will want to include this museum on their list when visiting San Diego. Found in Balboa Park, visitors can expect to see a wide range of art from 5000 BC right up to modern times. $25 adult; under-17s, students and military free. Open Mon-Tue and Thu-Sat 10:00-17:00, Sun 12:00-17:00; closed Wednesdays. The museum is also celebrating its centennial in 2026 with special programming. Included on the Go City San Diego passes.
• Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House – this museum is found in the Gaslamp Quarter, within the oldest residence in the district at 410 Island Avenue. Various exhibits tell the story of the area’s Stingaree-era vice-district past and Victorian-era restoration. Open Wed-Sat 10:00-16:00 (last tour 15:30); closed Sun-Mon. Included on the Go City San Diego passes.
• San Diego Model Railroad Museum – this museum in Balboa Park is the largest model-railroad museum in North America. There’s 27,000 square feet of exhibit space with some impressive model-railway layouts to enjoy. Open Wed-Sun 11:00-16:00; under-12s free with a paying adult. Included on the Go City San Diego passes.
• San Diego Natural History Museum – another of the museums in Balboa Park, this museum features exhibits all about our natural world. Expect to find everything from dinosaurs to present-day birds and mammals. Included on the Go City San Diego passes, tickets also available here.

As you can see, there are plenty of museums to choose from, and this is just a selection of our favourites. Many of these are also included on the Go City San Diego passes, so you can save money on admission if you opt for one of those.

 

Coronado Island

If you’re looking for a bit of a break from the hustle and bustle of downtown San Diego, head to Coronado. It’s only 10-15 minutes from downtown by car via the Coronado Bridge, and this small resort city has been a popular recreation retreat for decades.

The most iconic destination on Coronado is the Hotel del Coronado, found on the long sweep of Coronado Beach. This beach is consistently voted one of the top beaches in the USA, with its wide golden sands and Pacific-facing aspect.

The Hotel del Coronado itself sits right on the beach and dates from 1888. It’s a Victorian-style wooden beach resort, and is the second-largest wooden structure in the USA. The property just emerged from a six-year, $550 million Belle Époque restoration completed in summer 2025, and was named to TIME’s 2026 World’s Greatest Places list, so this is the best time to visit it in many years. You can stay here, or you can drop in for meals or drinks at one of the various restaurants, especially around sunset.

We love to stay on Coronado when we visit San Diego as it has a laid-back vibe but is still within easy reach of all the attractions in the city. There are also plenty of dining and retail options here. You can find the historic downtown area along Orange Avenue.

You don’t need a car on Coronado as the island isn’t that big. You can walk around or rent a bike to get around. Coronado has more than 15 miles of dedicated bike paths and is a popular place for cyclists.

Note that there is an active naval airbase located on Coronado, so some parts of the island are restricted to non-military personnel. You are likely to see and hear aircraft taking off and landing while on the island.

It’s free to visit Coronado, and you can get here easily by car, by bus, or via the Coronado Ferry operated by Flagship, which runs hourly from Broadway Pier from 9am to around 9 or 10pm depending on the day. The ferry is $9 per person each way; under-3s travel free. You can also take the San Diego hop-on hop-off trolley tour, which is the only hop-on hop-off tour that crosses the bridge to Coronado.

Family rating: Yes, all ages. The beach is family-friendly with gentle surf at the Hotel del Coronado end; the bike paths and ice cream on Orange Avenue do the rest.

Photographer’s note: The most-photographed angle of the Del is from the beach at the south end of the property, looking north along the wooden Victorian turrets with the sand in the foreground. Best in early evening as the light warms; the property faces west so sunset frames it beautifully.

 

Visit the Gaslamp Quarter

One of the most popular areas of downtown San Diego is the Gaslamp Quarter, usually just referred to as “The Gaslamp.” This historic district is home to more than 90 preserved Victorian-era commercial buildings, most dating from the 1880s.

A quick history correction we want to flag, because it travels around the internet and even appeared in the old version of this article: the Gaslamp Quarter was not rebranded from “Arclight Quarter.” The district was originally developed in the 1860s as Alonzo Horton’s “New Town,” and from the 1880s through 1916 it was known as the Stingaree, San Diego’s notorious vice district of saloons, gambling halls, brothels and opium dens. The Stingaree was cleared by anti-vice campaigns by 1916. The district was rebranded as the Gaslamp Quarter in the 1980s during the city’s downtown preservation push. The “arc lights, not gas lamps” detail is a fun footnote about historical street lighting, but it was never the area’s actual name.

Of course, there’s more to do here than learn about historical lighting technologies. There are tours you can take to learn about the history, as well as museums and other attractions. For more on the area’s past, the Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House is the natural starting point.

Most people come here for the social and cultural side though. There are bars and restaurants aplenty, and the district plays host to multiple events throughout the year. If you’re looking for live music, a place to sink a beer or have a bite to eat, this is a good area to gravitate to. It’s also a good place for a guided walking food tour with drinks, like this.

Family rating: With caveats. Daytime is fine for any age: restaurants, shops, the architecture. After dark it skews towards adult-oriented bars and clubs, so it’s not the evening base if you’re with kids under about 14.

 

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park

Another popular neighbourhood in San Diego for visitors is Old Town. This part of town predates the Gaslamp Quarter and is where San Diego, in its modern form, began.

Within the Old Town neighbourhood is the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. Established in 1968, this State Historic Park is a living-history museum, and one of the most popular State Parks in California.

The state park is home to a number of buildings which date from 1820 to 1870, including five original adobe buildings and historic structures including a blacksmith, newspaper office and schoolhouse.

There are also original-style homes and shops from the early to mid-19th century. Many of these are set up as museums and can be visited. Old Town San Diego State Historic Park is free to visit, the Visitor Center is open 10:00-17:00 (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas), and you can find out more on the official park website here.

Adjacent to the state park is Heritage County Park, which features several restored Victorian homes and the city’s first synagogue.

There are also various restaurants and shops throughout the historic park and in the wider Old Town area. This is also a good place to take a guided walking tour like this to get more out of the history of the area.

Family rating: Yes, ages 5+. The blacksmith, the schoolhouse demonstrations and the ice cream at the Mexican stalls work well with kids; younger ones get bored of the adobe interiors quickly.

On timing: Old Town is a 30 to 45-minute stop, not a half-day. The “historic park” is small, the buildings are quickly walked through, and you’ll have seen the place properly before lunch. Lunch at one of the Mexican restaurants on the square is the natural extension; if you want longer than that here, take a guided walking tour to add depth. A few competitor articles position Old Town as a major time-sink. It isn’t.

 

San Diego Beaches

San Diego has over 70 miles of coastline so it is easy to find a beach that you’ll love. You’ll find golden sand beaches, pebble beaches, and rugged coves.

One really popular beach destination is the seaside neighbourhood of La Jolla. La Jolla offers seven miles of coastline, and you’ll find both La Jolla Shores Beach and La Jolla Cove here. It is an easy area to enjoy swimming, sunbathing, surfing, and other water sports.

La Jolla Shores Beach is a mile-long sandy beach with lifeguards and a large paid car park. It’s a popular place for kayaking and learning to surf.

La Jolla Cove is a small cove with a pebble beach which is well known as being home to a population of California sea lions and seals. The waters here are a protected marine reserve, and it’s a great spot to get some lovely views of these marine mammals. Just be sure to keep a respectful and safe distance.

On the Children’s Pool. A short walk south of the Cove is the Children’s Pool, a small beach that’s the prime sea-lion pupping site. The beach itself is closed to the public from December 15 through May 15 every year to protect the pups (the peak pupping window is roughly February 8 to March 8). You don’t need to be on the beach to see them, though. The cliff path above the Children’s Pool gives you the best views year-round, and during pupping season it’s the only way to see them. The path is the right vantage point even when the beach is open. Bring a long lens (we’d suggest at least 200mm) for any close shots, and don’t get too close.

But you have dozens of other beach options. Other popular beach destinations in San Diego include Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, Coronado Beach, and Ocean Beach.

Ocean Beach Pier, the long concrete pier off the end of the beach, has been closed to the public since October 2023 because of storm damage and structural deterioration. The City confirmed in 2025 that the pier will be demolished and replaced rather than repaired, with construction not expected to start until 2027 at the earliest. Until then the pier is visible from the beach but not walkable. California public piers don’t require a fishing license, so once the replacement opens you’ll be able to drop a line off it.

A final note for sunset: Sunset Cliffs, just south of Ocean Beach, lives up to the name. Drive out late in the afternoon and walk the cliff-top path. The cliffs run roughly north-south so they face directly into the setting sun, and the rock formations give you something to compose around. There is no beach access from most of the cliffs themselves; the viewing is the point.

Family rating: Yes, all ages, with the usual beach caveats. Coronado Beach is the gentlest for younger kids; La Jolla Shores is the easiest for swimming and learning to surf; the Children’s Pool is closed half the year. Ocean Beach is the most laid-back and the dog-friendliest.

 

Little Italy (Quick Acknowledgement)

We haven’t covered Little Italy in the depth it probably warrants. On our trip we ran out of time and ate elsewhere, so we don’t want to put words in our mouths about restaurants we haven’t actually sat down in. What we can tell you from the planning side: Little Italy is the walkable downtown neighbourhood immediately north of the Gaslamp, anchored around India Street, with a Saturday Mercato farmers’ market that draws locals, dozens of well-regarded Italian and Californian restaurants, and a craft brewery scene. If you’re looking for a foodie evening with a calmer pace than the Gaslamp, this is where to head.

We’ll cover Little Italy properly next time we’re back. If you’ve eaten somewhere brilliant there, drop a comment below. We read them and use them to shape the rebuild on our next visit.

 

Family Attractions in San Diego

Most of the attractions in this guide are family-friendly, which is why we’ve tagged each one with an inline family rating above. The few attractions below are the ones that are designed specifically with kids in mind:

• Belmont Park – If your family likes vintage thrills, head to Belmont Park on Mission Beach. This seaside amusement park is home to various rides and arcades, plus an original 1925 wooden roller coaster, the Giant Dipper, which is on the National Register of Historic Places and still runs. Free to enter and free parking, but you pay for the rides. The Ride & Play Pass (unlimited day rides) runs $39.95 to $51.98 online depending on dates, or $64.95 at the gate.
• Birch Aquarium – Originally found in the boathouse of the Coronado Hotel, this aquarium is now found in a beautiful hilltop location in La Jolla Shores. There are over 3,000 animals on display, and the cliff-top setting means you get an ocean view between exhibits.
• New Children’s Museum – this downtown museum is all about stimulating imagination, creativity and critical thinking skills in children (and their parents). There are large art installations for kids to play and explore on, and the whole family should enjoy themselves here.
• SeaWorld San Diego – Part theme park, part aquarium, this was the original SeaWorld location. There are rides, animal encounters and shows. SeaWorld tickets run roughly $90 to $130 per adult depending on when you book; gate price tops out around $127 and online discounts dip into the $90s in normal trading, with promo periods (Memorial Day, summer launches) pushing lower.

On SeaWorld. SeaWorld is a full-day commitment. On a 2-day trip, that’s half your time gone on one attraction; we’d skip it and pick it up on a longer return trip. On a 3-day trip, it’s optional and worth it if your kids specifically want it. On a 4-day-plus trip with kids, it’s a yes. The opportunity cost matters: a SeaWorld day is roughly the same dollar value as the zoo plus the USS Midway combined.

Each of the four attractions above is included on the Go City San Diego passes, though SeaWorld is only on the All-Inclusive Plus tier (not the base All-Inclusive). So the passes can help save families money if you’re planning to visit several of these places while in San Diego.

Outside of the city itself, the major family attractions are LegoLand California in Carlsbad, Sesame Place San Diego in Chula Vista, and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido. These are each about 30 minutes to an hour’s drive from downtown, so you’ll need a car or to arrange transport. All three are included on the Go City All-Inclusive Plus pass, and Safari Park is one of the two zoo choices on the CityPASS choose-3 menu.

 

Try the Food

San Diego has been named one of the top food cities in the United States and the city is home to a number of well-regarded restaurants and bars. So you are definitely going to want to spend some of your time in the city eating.

San Diego is surrounded by farms which produce fresh local food including citrus fruit, avocados, tomatoes, strawberries, mushrooms and poultry. Being right on the sea there’s also a lot of fresh seafood. You can buy the local produce in the farmers’ markets (check for market days and times on the San Diego visitor bureau market list here), or enjoy it being served at the many restaurants in the city.

The local food scene is home to a lot of different types of cuisine, particularly Mexican, southeast Asian, Californian, and Mediterranean. Dining options in San Diego range from street tacos to fine dining, and everything in between. It is also easy for vegetarians and vegans to find dining options in San Diego.

So, whether you are hankering after ceviche, a wood-fired pizza, a gourmet salad, a maple-glazed donut, fish tacos, or Korean-style chicken wings, San Diego has something for you to try. San Diego is also home to a number of craft breweries making it a great destination for both craft-beer lovers and California-wine lovers.

If you can’t decide what to eat first, or would like to try a few options, consider hopping on a food tour. There are a few to choose from, such as this one in the Gaslamp Quarter, or this one in San Diego’s Old Town.

 

Get on the Water

San Diego occupies a great location on the Pacific Ocean, with seventy miles of coastline. At some point during your visit you’ll want to do something involving the ocean.

There are plenty of water-based activities to choose from, so you should find something to suit. This might be something as simple as going for a swim, or a bit more adventurous like learning to surf. You might prefer something more relaxing like a sunset cruise or a wildlife-focused whale-watching tour. Whatever you are into, San Diego likely has an option to suit. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• A harbour sightseeing cruise like this. A similar cruise is included on the Go City San Diego passes and on the CityPASS choose-3 menu (as City Cruises Best of the Bay).
• A whale and dolphin-watching cruise which also offers the opportunity to see seabirds, sea lions and dolphins.
• A kayaking tour of the sea caves near La Jolla. The protected marine reserve here is one of California’s most popular snorkelling spots, and most operators rent equipment or include it on a combined kayak-and-snorkel trip.
• A surf lesson in La Jolla.

If you invest in a city attraction pass, it’s also worth checking what these include. For example the Go City attraction passes include activities like snorkel rental, kayak rental, whale-watching cruises and stand-up paddle board rental.

 

Take a Walking Tour or Sightseeing Bus Tour

One of our favourite ways to start a visit to a new city is with a walking tour or sightseeing bus tour. It’s a quick way to get oriented and to learn about some of the highlights and history of the city before you start exploring on your own.

San Diego has a number of walking and bus-tour options to choose from, depending on your interests.

• The Go City San Diego passes include both a hiking tour and a city walking tour, so if you are considering one of these passes this is an option to consider.
• This hop-on hop-off narrated trolley tour has 11 stops across a 25-mile loop covering Little Italy, the Gaslamp Quarter, Old Town, Balboa Park, Coronado and downtown. It’s the only hop-on hop-off in San Diego that crosses the bridge to Coronado.
• This food-focused walking tour in the Gaslamp Quarter covers the history of the area (including the Stingaree past) and includes a number of food and drink stops.
• This tour of San Diego’s Old Town also includes food stops, plus the history of Old Town and a stop at California’s most haunted house.
• This 3-hour guided bus tour has you visiting Coronado, the Gaslamp Quarter, and Balboa Park.
• This 2-hour Balboa Park walking tour with a local guide covers the architecture, history and gardens.
• This 2.5-hour walking tour covers the highlights of Coronado, including the Hotel del Coronado and the beach.
• If you’d prefer to give your feet a rest, consider taking a Segway tour. Here’s one in Balboa Park, one in Coronado and one in the Gaslamp Quarter.
• This trolley tour focuses on the dark side of San Diego, and visits the Whaley House exterior, Old Town and two cemeteries.

As you can see, there are lots of options to choose from.

 

Where to Stay in San Diego

San Diego is a large city with a great choice of accommodation. Most options sit in the mid-range to high-end price points, although it is possible to find lower-cost accommodation if you book ahead.

The right neighbourhood to base yourself in depends on what you plan to do. To save you scrolling, here’s our quick neighbourhood-by-trip-shape call (each links through to Booking.com listings for that neighbourhood):

• Coronado – laid-back, family-friendly, beach on your doorstep. Slight cost premium because Coronado is its own resort city. Choose this if your trip is built around the beach and you want a calmer evening base. We stay here most often.
• Gaslamp Quarter – walkable downtown, restaurants and bars at street level, best for nightlife and a no-car trip. Skip if you’re with kids under about 14 and want a calm evening.
• Mission Bay / Pacific Beach – the beach-first base for families with younger kids. SeaWorld, Belmont Park and Mission Beach are within walking distance of much of the area.
• La Jolla – splurge option. Coastal, upscale, the seaside neighbourhood feel. Best if La Jolla itself is high on your list (it should be) and you don’t mind a 15 to 20 minute drive to downtown.

If you are coming for museums and the zoo, basing yourself near Balboa Park works too.

If you are travelling by car, it’s worth checking if the accommodation you choose has parking facilities and if there’s a fee for parking, which can significantly affect the price. Most downtown properties charge for parking and rates can be steep.

Here are our specific picks for San Diego, organised by price from low to high:

• Nomad Haus by ITH (Downtown San Diego, Little Italy) – this hostel was previously branded as International Travelers House Adventure Hostel, but it’s been rebranded as Nomad Haus by ITH. The link still resolves. It’s a well-rated, centrally-located hostel offering both private and dormitory accommodation, with luggage storage, kitchen and breakfast included. Paid parking nearby. Now positioned a few blocks from the Little Italy restaurant scene.
• HI San Diego Downtown Hostel – located on Market Street in the Gaslamp Quarter, this is another well-rated hostel in San Diego. Private and shared accommodation is available, there’s an on-site laundrette and kitchen. Note that a Hostelling International membership is required, which can be purchased on site. Paid parking available nearby.
• El Rancho Motel – this is a well-rated motel offering free parking on Coronado. Rooms are air-conditioned and en-suite and offer a kitchenette area with fridge, kettle and microwave. The cheapest way to base yourself on Coronado.
• Samesun Ocean Beach – 3 minutes’ walk from Ocean Beach, this hostel offers private and shared accommodation as well as a shared kitchen. Breakfast is included, and there’s low-cost parking nearby.
• La Jolla Riviera Inn – 10 minutes’ walk from La Jolla Shores, this well-reviewed inn makes a great base for exploring the attractions of La Jolla as well as downtown San Diego. En-suite rooms feature kitchens with ovens, microwaves and fridges. There are also rooms with pull-out sofa beds making this a great family option. Parking is available. (Not to be confused with the separate “La Jolla Inn” on Prospect Street, which has closed.)
• Hotel Z, Gaslamp Quarter – this well-reviewed hotel is conveniently located in the Gaslamp Quarter and offers good value pet-friendly accommodation. Nearby paid parking garages are available.
• Best Western Cabrillo Inn – well located for access to both downtown San Diego and the majority of Balboa Park attractions like San Diego Zoo, this is a great value and popular 3* option. A continental breakfast is included and paid parking is available on site.
• 1906 Lodge – we stayed at this lovely Four Sisters property on Coronado on one of our visits. We loved the comfortable, uniquely-decorated rooms and landscaped garden, as well as the lovely breakfast buffet. It’s nine minutes’ walk from the beach and there’s free on-site parking. One of our favourite spots in San Diego.
• Pacific Terrace Hotel – located right on Pacific Beach, this well-reviewed four-star property is in a good location between La Jolla and Downtown San Diego. A range of accommodation options are available, from double rooms to suites, many offering coastal views. Paid parking is available on-site.
• Pendry San Diego – this is a well-reviewed five-star hotel in downtown San Diego. It has everything you need, whether you are visiting San Diego for business or pleasure, including a hot tub, swimming pool, spa and wellness centre. Paid parking is available on site. A solid high-end option in downtown San Diego.
• Hotel Del Coronado – this historic five-star hotel was built in 1888 and is set on a beach on Coronado. Lots of famous guests have stayed here over the decades. The property just emerged from a six-year, $550 million Belle Époque restoration completed in summer 2025, and was named to TIME’s 2026 World’s Greatest Places list. We’ve dined at the hotel several times, and the renovation has noticeably reset the experience. The new restaurants and refreshed rooms are now the best they’ve been in a decade. Paid parking is available on-site, and the property has all the amenities you’d expect of a five-star property.

There are many more options for accommodation across San Diego. We recommend taking a look at the listings on Booking.com for San Diego here. We nearly always use Booking.com when booking accommodation, as we like the reviews and ability to filter by things like budget and amenities.

If you’d prefer an apartment, then as well as the Booking.com apartment listings we suggest checking out Plum Guide. They list only the best apartment rentals, and we’ve used them on a number of stays around the world. You can read our Plum Guide review here, and see their listings for San Diego here.

 

How to Get Around San Diego

San Diego is a city where many of the attractions are a fair distance apart. As such, it’s worth planning how you are going to get around and see the attractions you want to see.

The most cost-effective way of getting around the city is via the public transport system, operated by San Diego MTS. The MTS network includes buses and light-rail trolleys as well as regional commuter trains.

Fares are simple: a standard adult single fare is $2.50 one way, with a daily cap of $6.00. Pay as you go on PRONTO and the day-cap kicks in automatically once you’ve paid the equivalent of a day pass. Reduced fares with an eligible ID are $1.25 one way / $3.00 day cap. Worth knowing for families: youth aged 18 and under ride MTS (and NCTD) free under California’s Youth Opportunity Pass program. Rapid Express and Premium services cost more ($5 / $12 day cap). MTS services will get you from La Jolla to Coronado, Balboa Park, Ocean Beach and most other points of interest in the city.

You can of course drive around San Diego, which is what we sometimes do when visiting the city. Driving gives you more flexibility in terms of where you go and when, but you will likely have to pay for parking. Most major attractions have on-site parking available, but it can fill up and be expensive. Pricing at Balboa Park is generally free, but Coronado, downtown and beach lots can run $15 to $30 a day in season.

For getting to Coronado specifically, the Coronado Ferry operated by Flagship runs hourly from Broadway Pier ($9 per person each way; under-3s free), and every 30 minutes from the Convention Center route. The ferry is the most enjoyable approach to Coronado on a clear day.

Another option to consider if you’d like your transport to be a bit more entertaining is to take the Old Town Trolley hop-on hop-off tour of the city. This is the only hop-on hop-off in San Diego that crosses the bridge to Coronado, with stops in Little Italy, the Gaslamp Quarter, Old Town, Balboa Park, Coronado and downtown (11 stops on a 25-mile loop). Tickets start at around $48.45 for an adult one-day pass when booked online. The trolley is also included on the Go City passes and the San Diego CityPASS choose-3 menu, which is the cheapest way to get it included.

 

Saving Money in San Diego with Attraction Passes

Like many large cities, San Diego can be expensive to visit, especially if you plan on visiting a number of attractions in the city. Several of these can be quite pricey, especially if you are visiting as a family or group.

The good news is that there are a number of attraction passes which might save you money. We’ll cover the three main ones, but first, an important note for returning readers: the pass landscape has shifted in 2026. Both major pass operators restructured their products this year, so if you read about the “Explorer Pass” or a single “All-Inclusive Pass” elsewhere on the web, the names below are now correct.

The three passes worth considering for San Diego:

• San Diego CityPASS – the CityPASS is now sold in three packages: SeaWorld + 3 attractions ($169 adult / $149 child), LEGOLAND + 3 attractions ($186 / $166), or SeaWorld + LEGOLAND + 3 attractions ($239 / $219). The “choose 3” is from a menu of: San Diego Zoo or Safari Park (pick one), USS Midway, City Cruises Best of the Bay, Birch Aquarium, Old Town Trolley, and Maritime Museum. The pass is valid for 9 days from first use. This is our default recommendation for families that want both a major park and the zoo.
• Go City San Diego All-Inclusive Pass – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7 consecutive days. Includes 39 attractions but excludes the major parks (SeaWorld, San Diego Zoo, Safari Park, LEGOLAND, Knott’s Berry Farm). Starts at $99 adult / $69 child for 1 day; multi-day tiers scale up from there (check live pricing on Go City when booking, as the multi-day numbers shift with promos).
• Go City San Diego All-Inclusive Plus – same 39 attractions plus the 5 major parks. Starts at $149 adult / $139 child for 1 day; multi-day tiers scale up. This is the only pass that gets you SeaWorld + zoo + Safari Park + LEGOLAND on the same pass.

A note on Go City’s old “Explorer Pass”: Go City restructured the choose-your-own-attractions product in 2026. The old “Explorer Pass” with 2/3/4/5/7 attraction choices no longer exists in its old form. The current equivalent is the Essentials Pass (1 premium + 2 standard attractions, fixed at three choices) at $149 adult. If you’re comparing this article to older write-ups online that mention the Explorer Pass with sliding tiers, that product is gone.

Which pass will work for you depends on what you want to do, how long you are visiting San Diego for, and how many attractions you want to visit each day.

 

2 Days in San Diego Itinerary Example

Here’s a worked 2-day example for a couple or solo traveller. The numbers below use current adult pricing as of late May 2026. Passes go on sale, so always check.

Day 1 (downtown + waterfront): USS Midway in the morning ($39), Old Town Trolley hop-on hop-off in the afternoon to cover the city ($48.45), evening in the Gaslamp Quarter.

Day 2 (Balboa Park + Coronado evening): Half a day at Balboa Park including the San Diego Zoo ($78) plus one Balboa Park museum (Air & Space at $35, or Natural History; pick one), then the ferry over to Coronado in the late afternoon for the beach and dinner.

Total cost paying as you go: roughly $200 per adult before food and the ferry. The day-1 trolley + Midway + a harbour cruise combination is exactly what the CityPASS choose-3 menu covers: USS Midway, City Cruises (the harbour cruise), and Old Town Trolley are three of the six choose-3 options. Plus you’d need to add SeaWorld or LEGOLAND as the anchor.

For this 2-day shape, the CityPASS (SeaWorld + 3) would cost $169 adult and cover USS Midway + Old Town Trolley + harbour cruise + SeaWorld. The catch: you’d need to want to visit SeaWorld for the pass to pay back, and on a 2-day trip that’s a half-day commitment we’d normally skip. Practical verdict: pay as you go on a 2-day trip unless you specifically want SeaWorld.

Don’t try to combine the zoo and Coronado on the same day. They’re at opposite ends of the city. The zoo is in Balboa Park inland, Coronado is across the bay, and getting between them eats most of a morning or afternoon. Anchor the zoo to Balboa Park (because the museums are right there), and anchor Coronado to a different day.

 

3 Days in San Diego Itinerary Example

With a third day, the math changes, and so does which pass wins.

Day 1 (downtown + waterfront): USS Midway in the morning, Old Town Trolley hop-on hop-off in the afternoon, evening in the Gaslamp Quarter.

Day 2 (Balboa Park): San Diego Zoo in the morning (allow 4-5 hours), then one or two Balboa Park museums in the afternoon. Stay for the sunset on the California Tower.

Day 3 (Coronado + La Jolla): Ferry over to Coronado in the morning, walk the beach and brunch at the Hotel del Coronado, then drive or transit up to La Jolla for the afternoon (sea lions from the cliff path, La Jolla Shores) and Sunset Cliffs at dusk.

Or, if you’d swap day 3 for a family-with-kids version: SeaWorld for the full day, with Belmont Park or Mission Beach for the evening.

Paying as you go on the kids-day-3 version, you’re looking at roughly $400 to $450 per adult across the three days. The CityPASS SeaWorld + 3 ($169 adult) covers Day 1’s three attractions plus SeaWorld on Day 3, saving roughly $80 per adult. The CityPASS SeaWorld + LEGOLAND + 3 ($239) only pays back if you’re adding LEGOLAND California (typically a Day 4 add-on for kids 3-12). For a 3-day shape without the major theme parks, the CityPASS still wins via the choose-3 menu alone, even if you skip SeaWorld.

For a 3-day attraction-heavy non-theme-park family shape (zoo + museums + USS Midway + harbour cruise + trolley + maybe Birch Aquarium), the Go City All-Inclusive Plus 3-day pass is the alternative, but you’ll need to run the live numbers, because the per-day Plus pricing scales with demand.

Practical verdict for 3 days: if your shortlist includes SeaWorld or LegoLand, the CityPASS is usually the cleanest choice. If it doesn’t but you’re hitting 5+ attractions across the three days, the Go City All-Inclusive Plus 3-day is the alternative; check it for promo discounts before settling on the CityPASS.

 

Which Sightseeing Attraction Pass is Best for San Diego

The main takeaway is that all the passes can save you significant money, but the best one comes down to which attractions you plan to visit. Not all passes cover all the attractions.

If you plan to visit a few of the higher-value attractions like the San Diego Zoo, the Old Town Trolley, SeaWorld or LegoLand California, then the savings with a pass can be very significant.

Our default pick for San Diego is the San Diego CityPASS, especially for families that want SeaWorld + the zoo + a couple of waterfront attractions. The 9-day window gives you flexibility to spread the visits across a longer stay, and the savings on the family-of-four arithmetic can be $400 or more compared to paying as you go.

We definitely recommend planning out the attractions you want to visit to see which pass would work for you, and checking for sales on passes, as promo discounts can move the answer between products.

 

Best Time to Visit San Diego

San Diego’s claim to “America’s Finest Weather” isn’t far off. You can visit comfortably any month of the year, but the shape of the visit changes depending on when you come.

Summer (June to August) is peak season for families and beach trips, with average highs of 24-26°C, low rainfall and warm ocean. It’s also the most expensive and the most crowded, especially at the major attractions. School holidays mean queue times double or worse, and parking in Coronado and the beach towns can be painful.

Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are our preferred windows. Temperatures sit in the 18-23°C range, the crowds are thinner outside spring break, and the beaches are still swimmable from late May. May has the so-called “May Gray” overcast mornings which clear by lunchtime; September and October are typically dry, warm and quiet.

Winter (December to February) is the cheapest season, with mild days (15-19°C) and cool evenings. The water is too cold for casual swimming but fine in a wetsuit. December 15 to May 15 is also the Children’s Pool sea-lion pupping closure season, so plan around that if seal-viewing is high on the list (the cliff path above the beach stays open all year).

If you’re flexible, late September through mid-November is when we’d go.

 

Things to Know Before You Visit San Diego

A short list of the trip-planning calls that will save you the most time and money on a first visit. We’ve flagged each of these inline throughout the guide; this is the at-a-glance summary.

• Don’t combine the zoo and Coronado on the same day. They’re on opposite sides of the city; getting between them eats most of a morning.
• Old Town San Diego is a 30 to 45-minute stop, not a half-day. The historic park is small and quickly walked through; lunch nearby is the natural extension.
• The Children’s Pool sea-lion beach is closed December 15 to May 15 for pupping. The cliff path above stays open all year and gives you the best views regardless.
• SeaWorld is a full-day commitment. On a 2-day trip we’d skip it. On a 3-day trip it’s optional. On a 4-day-plus trip with kids, it’s a yes.
• Don’t buy a pass until you’ve planned the day. Passes punish indecision; build the day plan first, then back into the right pass.
• Ocean Beach Pier has been closed to the public since October 2023 and will be demolished and replaced rather than reopened. The beach itself is open as always.

 

San Diego FAQ

A few of the most-asked questions we get about visiting San Diego.

 

Is San Diego worth visiting?

Yes. San Diego punches above its weight on the things that actually matter for a short trip: beaches, weather, museums, a major zoo, a walkable historic downtown, and a strong food scene. The geography (everything within 20 minutes of everything else) makes it one of the easiest US cities to enjoy on a 2-4 day visit, even without a car if you base yourself well.

If you’re coming from outside the US, San Diego is a softer landing than San Francisco or LA: calmer pace, better weather, and the city itself is more compact and easier to get around.

 

How many days do you need in San Diego?

Two days covers the highlights: USS Midway, Balboa Park (zoo or museums, not both), Coronado, and one of the beach areas. You’ll miss things.

Three days is the sweet spot. You can do USS Midway and the downtown, a full Balboa Park day (zoo plus museums), and a Coronado-plus-La-Jolla day with sunset cliffs.

Four days gives you breathing room to add SeaWorld or LEGOLAND California for kids, do a day trip to the Safari Park, or just slow down. Five-plus days makes sense if you’re attraction-stacking with a family or want to add beach time.

 

Which pass is best for San Diego?

For most first-time visitors, the San Diego CityPASS (SeaWorld + 3 at $169 adult) is the cleanest choice. It covers SeaWorld plus three picks from a six-attraction menu, and the menu includes the most popular non-theme-park attractions: zoo or Safari Park, USS Midway, harbour cruise, Birch Aquarium, Old Town Trolley and Maritime Museum.

If you’re skipping the major theme parks but doing five or more attractions across three days or more, the Go City All-Inclusive (no theme parks) or All-Inclusive Plus (with theme parks) is the alternative. Run the live numbers on Go City when booking.

If you’re attraction-light (one or two stops in two days), no pass pays back. Pay as you go.

 

Where should first-time visitors stay in San Diego?

Match the neighbourhood to the trip shape. Coronado for laid-back family beach time. Gaslamp Quarter for walkable downtown and nightlife. Mission Bay or Pacific Beach for beach-first with kids. La Jolla if you’re splurging or La Jolla itself is a major draw.

We stay on Coronado most often, because the bridge or ferry crossing puts us in downtown in 10-15 minutes but the evening is calm and beach-anchored. With younger kids, Mission Bay is the easier base.

 

Is San Diego family-friendly?

Very. The major attractions (the zoo, USS Midway, Balboa Park, the beaches, SeaWorld, LegoLand) are family-built. Public transit is easy to use, MTS rides are free for under-18s, and the beaches generally have lifeguards and family-friendly facilities. Coronado specifically is one of the easiest US destinations to visit with kids: safe, calm, walkable, with the beach on the doorstep.

The only kid-skews-older neighbourhood for an evening base is the Gaslamp Quarter after dark.

 

When is the best time to visit San Diego?

Late September through mid-November is our preferred window: warm, dry, quiet and cheaper than summer. Spring is the alternative if you can’t do autumn, with the caveat that May tends to be cloudy in the mornings. Summer works if you’re tied to school holidays but expect crowds and higher prices. Winter is mild and the cheapest, with the trade-off of cool ocean temperatures.

 

Further Reading

That’s it for our guide to things to do in San Diego. Before you head off though, we wanted to share some more resources we’ve put together to help you plan your trip to the city, and travel in California and the USA in general.

• We have a two-week California road trip itinerary, as well as a south-western USA road trip itinerary which covers the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas and the highlights of California.
• Wondering how much a visit to San Diego might cost? Check out our guide to how much it costs to travel in the USA to help you plan your trip budget.
• I’ve written a guide featuring some of my top tips for driving in the USA to help get you going on the road.
• We have a guide to things to do in Las Vegas to give you some ideas for your time in the city.
• Jess has a guide to driving the Pacific Coast Highway, which will give you lots of ideas if you’re visiting San Diego as part of that adventure.
• If you’re interested in California’s wine country, see our guide to visiting Napa Valley.
• Route 66 ends in California, just a little north of San Diego in Los Angeles. Take a look at our guide to planning a Route 66 trip, as well as our detailed 2-week Route 66 itinerary and 1-week Route 66 itinerary.
• Fodor’s Guide to California, which also includes details on a number of road trips.
• The Lonely Planet USA Guide is great for broader US trip planning if San Diego is one stop on a longer route.
• My guide to things to do in Redding California, if you decide to head to northern California.
• Getting online when travelling in a foreign country can be daunting. Check out our guide to getting online when travelling to help you figure out the best options for your trip.
• We’ve visited a lot of other cities in the USA. See our guides to things to do in Huntsville, things to do in Savannah, things to do in Charleston, things to do in Albuquerque, visiting New Orleans during Mardi Gras, things to do in Cambria, things to do in Houston, things to do in Dallas, things to do in Omaha, and things to do in Santa Fe to get started.
• And if you’re looking for inspiration for the rest of the USA, check out our USA section, which includes a Deep South itinerary and lots more.

As always, we’re happy to answer any questions you might have. Pop them in the comments below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.