General Travel
GetYourGuide
Excursions, transportation, activities and tours.
California · USA
San Diego Travel Guide: My Favorite Things to Do
San Diego is one of those cities where you can go from beaches and coastal views to museums, neighborhoods and incredible food all in the same day. This guide brings together some of my favorite places I personally visited around San Diego.
Things to do
In and around San Diego
La Jolla
Coast + Views · One of my favorite areas to explore along the San Diego coast — a beautiful coastline, sea lions and seals, and a walkable waterfront area.
La Jolla Sea Cave
Coast + Views · A unique La Jolla experience: you descend the stairs inside The Cave Store to reach the sea cave.
Cardiff State Beach
Coast + Views · A beautiful coastal stop north of central San Diego.
Torrey Pines Gliderport
Coast + Views · One of my favorite places for dramatic coastal views. Great for watching paragliders and taking in the cliffs and the Pacific Ocean.
Mt. Soledad
Coast + Views · A panoramic viewpoint overlooking San Diego and the surrounding coastline.
Santa Clara Beach Cove
Coast + Views · A beach and coastal stop that I visited around sunset.
Mission Bay
Coast + Views · A huge waterfront recreation area with beaches, paths and water activities.
San Diego Zoo
Iconic San Diego · One of San Diego’s most famous attractions and a place I personally visited.
Balboa Park
Iconic San Diego · A must-see San Diego destination filled with architecture, gardens, museums and outdoor spaces — including the beautiful Botanical Building.
USS Midway Museum
Iconic San Diego · A historic aircraft carrier museum along San Diego’s waterfront.
San Diego Harbor Cruise
Iconic San Diego · A great way to experience San Diego from the water and see the skyline and harbor.
Little Italy
Neighborhoods to Explore · A walkable neighborhood filled with restaurants, cafés and a lively atmosphere.
Old Town San Diego
Neighborhoods to Explore · A historic area worth exploring for its architecture, shops, restaurants and San Diego history.
🥗 Looking for vegetarian food in San Diego?
I’ve put all of my San Diego food finds into a separate guide.
See my San Diego Vegetarian-Friendly Food Guide →
Vegetarian food
Eating well in San Diego
Practical
Apps I use when traveling in San Diego
The apps I rely on here, plus the general travel apps I use everywhere.
Travel resources
Helpful Travel Resources
Tools and services I personally use that may make your trip easier.
Stay Active While Traveling
I use ClassPass when I travel because a traditional gym membership tied to one location doesn’t work well with how often I’m away from home. I’ve used it for workouts around the U.S., including Georgia, Colorado and Oregon.
Try ClassPass — Get 15 Workouts → (opens in a new tab)Referral link · availability varies by city
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