Known for its US Navy sites, Spanish history, and beautiful year-round climate, San Diego is a city that appeals to a range of personalities. From its famous museums and tourist attractions to the long sandy beaches, "the birthplace of California" has something for everyone, whether you’re organizing a once-in-a-lifetime vacation or a weekend getaway with friends. With a population of almost 1.5 million people over a 372 square mile area, San Diego is up there with the top ten most popular cities of the United States, so where would you even begin planning a trip to a destination like that? To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite experiences, activities, attractions and restaurants in our favorite San Diego neighborhoods, providing a starting point for you to explore the city and build your itinerary. With everything from farmers markets to surfing lessons, you’re sure to find unique California experiences that will please even the most fussy of tourists!
| Core-Columbia
To kick things off, we’re heading to one of the most popular neighborhoods in Downtown San Diego; Core-Columbia. With towering hotels, lively nightlife options, and trendy art galleries lining the streets, the neighborhood has everything you’d expect from a Downtown region. Our favorite way to explore Core-Columbia? The San Diego Brewery Tour! California has a fantastic craft beer industry, and this tour allows you to get behind the scenes to sip, savor, and soak up the knowledge of expert brewers at a selection of the city’s best breweries. A fun an relaxed way to get your bearings in a new neighborhood, and a great experience gift for beer lovers!
| Gaslamp Quarter
Bordering Core-Columbia is the Gaslamp Quarter (Gaslamp District to the locals), a historic Downtown neighborhood that hosts many of the city’s biggest events including Mardi Gras and ShamROCK. While there are plenty of option for evening entertainment, our top pick for a night out in the Gaslamp Quarter is the Balboa Theatre, a beautifully restored 1920s playhouse where you can catch musicals, comedy shows, magicians and illusionists, concerts, live performances and lots more. Combine with a pre-theatre dinner or after-show cocktails at the ThEATre Concessions bar and you’ve got yourself an epic San Diego night on the town!
| Balboa Park
From Balboa Theatre to Balboa Park; we bring you San Diego’s number one tourist attraction. Although not technically a neighborhood, a San Diego destination guide wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the sprawling 1,200-acre park that features no less than seventeen museums, a Japanese Garden, several golf courses, and the world-famous San Diego Zoo. One of the largest zoos in the world, here you can witness everything from reindeer in the Northern Frontier to hippopotamus in the Lost Forest. There are also bus tours, botanical tours, incredible animal shows, the 4D Theater, and the Skyfari Aerial Tram. San Diego Zoo is fun for the whole family, just make sure you set aside a full day of your trip to explore everything!
| Little Italy
There’s a Little Italy in almost every major US city, but we think San Diego’s Little Italy is one of the best in terms of scenery, quaint curb side cafes, and tourist friendly waterfront parks and piazzas. If you’re planning a weekend trip to San Diego, be sure to visit the Little Italy Mercato, a local farmers market operating every Saturday throughout the year. Markets are always wonderful experiences for mixing with locals, people watching, and picking up wares from independent sellers, and the Little Italy Mercato is no exception. Treat yourself to fresh baked goods, artisanal candy, organic fruit and veg, vegan cookies and loads more!
| Coronado
If golden sand, sparkling ocean, and spa resorts are more your thing, you’ll definitely want to check out Coronado. Crossing the Coronado Bridge is an experience in itself that offers unparalleled views of the San Diego skyline, but you can also access the peninsula from the mainland via the Silver Strand Boulevard, passing Coronado Cays Park and Fiddlers Cove on the way. To truly appreciate the beauty of the San Diego Bay, we recommend a scenic kayak tour with a knowledgeable local guide. Spend two hours paddling along the Coronado shoreline taking in sensational views of the skyline, the Embarcadero, and the famous Hotel del Coronado resort. A wonderful outdoor activity for your San Diego trip!
| Mission Hills
North of the San Diego International Airport overlooking the San Diego Bay is Mission Hills, a historic neighborhood settled by Mexicans after gaining independence from Spain. In the northern region you’ll find the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, a family-friendly 19th century themed open-air museum where you can catch live performances, dine in authentic Mexican restaurants, shop for traditional handmade trinkets, and visit the haunted Whaley House Museum that houses Lincoln’s life mask. Ghost tours are offered regularly, and the Historic Park is the first stop on the Old Town Trolley Tour – our favorite sightseeing tour of San Diego!
| Pacific Beach
Head north past SeaWorld and Belmont Park and you reach Pacific Beach, San Diego’s resident laidback hipster neighborhood. The boardwalk cafes, trendy bars and boutiques, golden sand and perfect waves make Pacific Beach a haven for surfers, so why not give it a go? Pacific Surf offer beginners lessons to even the most novice of surfers, and guarantee you’ll stand up by the end of the session. All equipment is provided by fully qualified instructors, so there’s really no excuse to not have a try – surfing in California is a lifestyle as well as a water sport, so come see what all the fuss is about!
| Harborview
Back to Little Italy, but this time we’re going right to the water’s edge where you’ll find the Maritime Museum of San Diego and our next destination; the Hornblower Pier in Harborview. As the name suggests, Harborview sits on the San Diego Bay below the airport, and is the departure point for the Hornblower gourmet cruises. From the options available our favorite is the Sightseeing Brunch Cruise, featuring everything a proper brunch should; sparkling wine, breakfast dishes, entrees, tea, coffee and desserts. With live music and incredible views across the bay, we can’t think of a better way to relax in the California sunshine and enjoy the San Diego skyline!
| Bankers Hill + Spruce Street Suspension Bridge
Balboa Park’s entire western side comprises the Bankers Hill neighborhood, a mostly residential area with plenty of bars and restaurants for those looking to escape Downtown San Diego for a while. Here is also where you’ll find the Spruce Street Suspension Bridge, a free and quick tourist attraction that provides some great photo opportunities! Our top pick for evening drinks or dinner out is Barrio Star on Fifth Avenue, a Mexican Soul Food restaurant that has an impressive cocktail list and an even better food menu. Try the tamal de maíz, tortilla soup, and whitefish tacos washed down with a mezcal mule – you won’t be disappointed!
| Embarcadero
Last but not least, San Diego’s famous Embarcadero. Simply walking along the waterfront is a highly recommended activity for your California vacation, but the Embarcadero is also home to the San Diego Convention Center, the SeaPort Village shopping mall, the iconic Unconditional Surrender Statue, and the USS Midway Museum. San Diego is famous for its maritime industry, so what better way to discover and explore the fascinating history than with a tour round an enormous naval aircraft carrier? Climb inside the cockpits of restored WWII aircrafts, see the Admiral’s Cabins and walk along the Bridge, explore the crew quarters to see how they lived, and experience interactive exhibitions on the Hangar Deck. The USS Midway Museum is a true San Diego icon, the ultimate day out for aviation history enthusiasts!
If all you know about San Diego is from the Anchorman movie, then hopefully we’ve convinced you there’s more to the city than wine mixers and jazz flutes. San Diego is a varied and vibrant destination with an amazing food scene, fascinating history and friendly community feel, so whether you’re planning a family vacation or a California road trip, you’ll feel right at home in America's Finest City!
| Thanks For Reading!
If all you know about San Diego is from the Anchorman movie, then hopefully we’ve convinced you there’s more to the city than wine mixers and jazz flutes. San Diego is a varied and vibrant destination with an amazing food scene, fascinating history and friendly community feel, so whether you’re planning a family vacation or a California road trip, you’ll feel right at home in America's Finest City!
