How To Spend 3 Amazing Days In San Diego, California

San Diego is an outdoorsy, laid back and trendy city boasting the best tacos in the US. If you like museums, beaches, history, food or sunsets, you’re going to love San Diego. We spent 3 full days exploring America’s Finest City from dawn to dusk and it instantly became one of our favorites. Trust us, this is a place you’ll visit on vacation, fall in love with and start thinking about the logistics involved with a move to southern California.

In this guide we walk you through the perfect 3 days in San Diego itinerary for your first visit, based on our own experiences.

Our Experience

San Diego was the final destination on our drive down California’s Pacific Coast Highway back in the late fall of 2019. We made so many fantastic stops between San Francisco and San Diego, and it was a truly unforgettable experience. But we didn’t realize we were saving the best for last until we arrived. San Francisco and Los Angeles are amazing cities to visit, but there’s just something special about San Diego.

We ticked off all of San Diego’s top attractions during our three day stay. It was one of the most action packed itineraries we’d created for any US city outside of New York, and we enjoyed every minute of it. We had our car so it was really easy to get around, tick off attractions and be back in town for dinner. We’re going to show you how to plan the perfect first time San Diego itinerary, and if you follow it exactly you’ll see the top highlights at a nice relaxed pace. Read more about us.

3 Days In San Diego Itinerary Map

Click or touch the map below to activate. Zoom in and out, move around the map and you’ll see the attractions and routes for each day. You can also click on the view larger map icon in the top right to expand the map, which is much easier to see.

Map key:

• Day 1 – Red icons
• Day 2 – Green icons
• Day 3 – Orange icons
• Daily routes – Blue lines

Note: Days 1 and 3 are driving routes, whereas day 2 is a walking route. On day 1 you could use a taxi or ride share because the distances are short, but on day 3 you’ll need to hire a car or use your own vehicle.

Okay, let’s get into the itinerary!

Day 1: Balboa Park, Old Town + Little Italy

Balboa Park

The best place to begin your first day is Balboa Park, a sprawling green space filled with museums, gardens, theaters, art and of course the famous San Diego Zoo. The zoo opens at 9:00am, so we recommend arriving around that time. We’re not always the biggest fans of zoos but this was one of the better zoos we’ve walked around, and if you’re traveling as a family you’ll definitely be going.

Afterwards, you have lots of great museums and gardens to choose between. We could have spent a full day walking around Balboa Park, but there are other places to see around San Diego so you’ll need to prioritize. (If you don’t go to the zoo, you’ll have more time to explore Balboa Park).

Here are the other top attractions in Balboa Park:

• Air and Space Museum
• Automotive Museum
• Comic-Con Museum
• Fleet Science Center
• Natural History Museum
• Model Railroad Museum
• Mingei International Museum
• Museum of Art
• Alcazar Garden
• Japanese Friendship Gardens
• Spanish Village Art Center
• Spreckels Organ (2:00pm Sundays)
• Old Globe Theater

Like we said, there’s a lot going on in Balboa Park! We went to the air and space museum, Spreckels organ pavillion, the Japanese gardens, the alcazar gardens and the Spanish village. All attractions in the park are connected by pedestrian only walking paths, so wear comfy shoes and plot your route.

Old Town

Once you’re museum’ed out, drive 5 miles to San Diego Old Town and grab a late lunch at Casa de Reyes or Casa Guadalajara. Spend the next hour or two walking around Fiesta de Reyes, Plaza de las Armas and old town’s various colonial buildings. Known as the birthplace of California, Old Town is the exact site where Europeans first settled back in 1769 and it’s definitely worth visiting.

We really enjoyed walking around the quiet and quaint historic site, browsing the colorful stores, art exhibits and unique souvenir shops. It’s not going to blow you away, but Old Town is an easy and quick stop you should make. One thing we didn’t do but looks like a lot of fun is an old town ghost tour in the evening. So you might want to come back here once darkness falls over San Diego.

Little Italy

If you haven’t gotten lost in an old town cocktail bar, drive to Little Italy (or go directly back to your hotel and walk or ride share to Little Italy) for dinner and drinks. This famous San Diego neighborhood comes alive in the evening, with tons of excellent restaurants and bars to choose between. We ate delicious chicken sandwiches at Crack Shack and had a cold beer at Ballast Point Brewery.

After dinner you can take a slow walk down the Embarcadero with an ice cream, head into the lively Gaslamp Quarter or stick around in Little Italy for more drinks. We actually drove back to a bridge in Balboa Park to capture long exposures of car light trails on I-5 with the San Diego city skyline behind.

Day 2: Embarcadero, Coronado + Gaslamp Quarter

Gaslamp District (Part 1)

Most people choose to stay in the Gaslamp Quarter on a first visit to San Diego. If this includes you, start by fueling up for the day at Breakfast Republic or Richard Walker’s Pancake House. Take a look around the iconic Gaslamp Quarter and stop in at Ghirardelli’s for an ice cream, chocolates or even a hot chocolate if it’s a cool morning. (On Sundays you can’t miss the artisan market in Gaslamp.)

Head south to the convention center but walk around or over it to the marina. When we visited San Diego there were America’s Got Talent auditions inside and security guards posted all around the building. No, we didn’t try out!

Embarcadero

Once you arrive at Marina Park South, start walking northwest along the bay front. As you walk along the Embarcadero you’ll pass by lots of restaurants and shops, especially around Seaport Village. The first major stopping point is the USS Midway, but just before you get to it, check out the statue of unconditional surrender and see if you can replicate it with your partner.

Next, it’s time to board the enormous aircraft carrier and spend a few hours learning about its service and checking out jets. If you’re interested in military or maritime history you can’t miss the nearby Star of India and Maritime Museum just a little further north from Midway. Also, if you haven’t been to Joshua Tree National Park, you can see a few Joshua Trees near the unconditional surrender statue.

Coronado

With car – Jump in your car and drive over the impressive curving Coronado Bridge. Park up near Coronado Beach, take a walk along the coast, spot the famous Hotel del Coronado, grab dinner and stick around for sunset from the beach. After sunset drive 1.5 miles to Centennial Park to see the San Diego skyline lit up at night across the bay.

Without car – If you don’t have a car or you don’t want to go back to your hotel to get it (we hear you!), simply take the ferry from Broadway Pier to Coronado Ferry Center. You can take bus #904 to the beach, hire a bike or walk it instead. Don’t forget to check out the skyline from Centennial Park before boarding your ferry back to Embarcadero, trust is, it’s worth it.

Gaslamp (Part 2)

Once you’re back, head back out into the Gaslamp Quarter for cocktails, a Padres ball game or a theater show. We found Gaslamp to have a chilled but fun vibe with plenty of great places to stop in for a beer. If you didn’t eat in Coronado, now’s the time to grab a late dinner and you’re spoiled for choice in this part of town.

Day 3: La Jolla, Beaches + Sunset Cliffs

Torrey Pines

After spending two days in the city, it’s time to get some fresh coastal air and a bit of exercise to blow the cobwebs off. Start at the furthest point away from San Diego at Torrey Pines. If you’re into golf, you can play for a few hundred bucks or check out the famous club house for free. Next, watch people run off the edge of cliffs from the Gliderport (or have a go yourself!) and enjoy views over Blacks Beach.

A few miles south you should stop at Scripps Pier. The beach is quiet and we loved taking tunnel-like photos from right underneath the pier. If you’re with the family, you can’t miss the highly rated Birch Aquarium just a few minutes from the pier. Or this could be a great time for a brisk walk along the sand.

La Jolla

Continuing south back towards San Diego, your next stop is the glamorous area of La Jolla. If you haven’t already grabbed lunch, now’s a great time because there’s lots of top rated eateries with views looking out across the ocean. After lunch don’t forget to check out the fancy boutique stores in town.

Next, walk down to the coastline at La Jolla Cove to watch seals and sea lions playing or sunbathing. You can hire gear to kayak, SUP, snorkel or surf around the cove and beach areas, which would be awesome in warmer weather. We really liked La Jolla and would spend more time there next time we’re in town.

Beaches

After the ritzy La Jolla, it’s time to go full surfer and chill at Pacific Beach, Mission Beach and Ocean Beach. Pacific Beach has beachfront living, a college party feel and places to grab a drink on Garnet Ave. Mission Beach is quieter and more family friendly with fewer places to eat out. And Ocean Beach is more hippie and bohemian with lots of places to eat on Newport Ave.

The beach areas can be a bit gritty, so only visit if you feel comfortable. We watched surfers riding waves at Ocean Beach and grabbed a quick drink, before heading down to Sunset Cliffs to watch the sun setting over the distant Pacific Ocean horizon. It was a beautiful sunset and we shared it with hundreds of others who were also lining the cliffs. Check sunset times so you know when to arrive.

Note: SeaWorld San Diego and Belmont Amusement Park are located next to Mission Beach. You might prefer to spend this third day at one or both if you’re traveling with kids.

2 Days In San Diego Itinerary

If you only have 2 days or a weekend in San Diego, how do you condense those 3 action packed days into 2? Well, you start by cutting, compromising and prioritizing. What are you most comfortable leaving out? The zoo? The beaches? Old Town?

Here’s how we would plan a 2 day trip:

Day 1

• Balboa Park – Spend the morning exploring the zoo or alternatively pick three or four attractions in the park.
• Little Italy – Instead of waiting until dinner time, we’d go straight to Little Italy for brunch or early lunch after leaving Balboa Park.
• Embarcadero – Walk along the bay front, spend a few hours exploring the USS Midway and take a ferry to Coronado.
• Coronado – Take a bus, walk or hire a bike to reach Coronado Beach, see the skyline from Centennial Park.
• Gaslamp – Ferry back to Embarcadero, then spend the evening with dinner and drinks in the Gaslamp Quarter.

Day 2

• Old Town – After breakfast, spend a few hours walking around old town and Fiesta de Reyes.
• Torrey Pines – Drive up to the Gliderport and work down to Scripps Pier or the aquarium.
• La Jolla – Grab lunch and spend the early afternoon at La Jolla Cove.
• Beaches – Pick a beach or two to walk on the sand, watch surfers and grab a beer.
• Sunset Cliffs – Watch a stunning sunset from the peaceful cliffs.
• Dinner – Head out into Gaslamp Quarter or Little Italy for dinner and drinks.

One Day San Diego Itinerary

Now, how about if you only have one day to see San Diego’s highlights? The good news is you have plenty of options, but the bad news is you’re going to miss out on a lot of great spots. It’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to fit in too many things, so we recommend you pick a theme and stick to it.

Here are a few of our ideas on how you could spend one day in San Diego:

1. Downtown Day

Spend the entire day walking around the Gaslamp Quarter, Downtown San Diego, Little Italy and Embarcadero. By following this option you wouldn’t have to use your car or hire a car for the day, and there’s plenty to keep you occupied.

2. Coastal Day

Stop for an hour at Old Town, then spend the whole day driving along the coastline from Torrey Pines to Sunset Cliffs. Stop at the beaches and La Jolla for lunch. Then after sunset go out into Gaslamp Quarter or Little Italy for dinner.

3. Museum Day

Spend the entire day in Balboa Park, including visiting the zoo and the various museums on offer. Afterwards you can head out into Little Italy or Gaslamp Quarter for dinner. This would be easy to do with just one or two ride share trips.

4. Maritime Day

Spend a day by the water by visiting Coronado in the morning, before doing both USS Midway and the Maritime Museum along the Embarcadero in the afternoon. You wouldn’t need a car for this either.

San Diego Attractions Pass

If you like to tick off lots of attractions when you visit new places, you should seriously consider buying an attractions pass for San Diego. If you’ve never used one before, they’re basically a great way to save money by bundling attractions together. We’ve used these passes in cities like New York, Paris, London and Rome because our travel style is to see and do as much as we can, and we like saving money.

Here are the two passes you can buy for San Diego:

• Go City San Diego Pass
• San Diego CityPASS

Go City San Diego Pass

You can buy a pass for a specific number of attractions you want to do (2-7) or a specific number of days you want unlimited access to all attractions (1-7). There are more than 50 attractions available, including most of the museums in Balboa Park, the zoo, SeaWorld and Legoland. So it’s even better if you’ll be visiting with kids.

San Diego CityPASS

You can only buy a pass for a specific number of attractions (they don’t offer day based passes) at a set price point. They only include the most popular attractions which is great for a first visit, but you won’t find any quirky off the beaten path options. This is a better pass if you only want to do a few attractions like SeaWorld or Legoland without having to rush around.

Where To Eat

Along with places like Vermont and Asheville in North Carolina, San Diego is one of America’s best craft beer destinations with more than 150 breweries. So if you like beer, you might struggle to board that flight out of San Diego!

Now, there are so many wonderful places to eat and drink around town, and we only managed to try a few. But here are some of our top recommendations to include in your San Diego itinerary:

Gaslamp

• The Lion’s Share – Less common meat selection and cocktails
• Taka – Popular sushi and Japanese restaurant
• Meze – Awesome Greek and Mediterranean food
• Werewolf – Top rated brunch and Karaoke bar
• Hodad’s – Very popular burger joint

Little Italy

• The Crack Shack – Amazing southern fried chicken
• Kettner Exchange – Popular brunch, dinner and cocktails
• Juniper & Ivy – Award winning fine dining
• Mona Lisa – Highly rated family-style Italian restaurant

La Jolla

• Duke’s – Hawaiian food with sea views
• Catania – Excellent Italian food with rooftop views
• Bistro du Marche – French bistro gastronomy fusion
• Nine-ten – Award winning fine dining

Where To Stay

San Diego receives around 35 million tourists each year, so there’s no shortage of hotel rooms available for your visit. Here’s what we recommend when planning your San Diego itinerary:

• Families – La Jolla, Coronado and the resorts around Mission Bay are quiet, high end and clean.
• Foodies – Gaslamp Quarter, Little Italy or near the Embarcadero for easy access to lots of dining options.
• Coast – Choose between La Jolla, Pacific Beach and Ocean Beach for instant access to the sand.
• Nightlife – Stay in Gaslamp Quarter if you want to be in the busiest and liveliest part of town.

We stayed at a hotel on the very far north of the Gaslamp Quarter, which was a good but not amazing location. Next time, we’d book a hotel on the south side of Gaslamp Quarter, on the Embarcadero, in Coronado or in La Jolla.

Here are some of the top rated hotels you can book:

• Staypineapple (Gaslamp)
• Hotel Pendry (Gaslamp)
• Tower 23 (Pacific Beach)
• Pantai Inn (La Jolla)

READ: 20 excellent hotels in San Diego

The Morgan Conclusion

What we like: We really enjoyed visiting San Diego and we’ll definitely be back again in the future. After spending time in San Francisco and L.A., we found San Diego to be far more relaxing and easy to explore. Balboa Park is fantastic and the food scene was amazing. If the cost of living wasn’t so incredibly high in California, we’d put San Diego into our shortlist of places we’d like to live.

What we don’t like: Some of the beach areas around Pacific, Mission and Ocean were a bit grittier than we expected. We never had any issues but we much preferred La Jolla from a tourist perspective. If we were being picky we’d say there’s not a huge amount of bucket list style attractions to tick off, but that’s what keeps San Diego from being too overcrowded so it’s also a positive.

Is San Diego worth visiting? Yes, San Diego is definitely worth visiting if you enjoy beaches, museums, food and sunsets. Despite being a large city by area, it’s really easy to get around so you only need a few days to see San Diego’s highlights, which makes it perfect for a long weekend or midweek trip.

More From California

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• Fun things to do in San Francisco
• How to plan a San Francisco itinerary
• Our review of the Alcatraz tour
• Top Golden Gate Bridge viewpoints
• Things you can’t miss in LA
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Want more California content? Head to our California Travel Guides to explore national parks, popular road trips and things to do in major cities of the Golden state.

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We hope our San Diego itinerary helps with planning your trip to SoCal!

Please let us know if you have any questions in the comments below.

Happy Travels,

Mark and Kristen

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