San Diego is such a great city for any kind of vacation. Here is our itinerary for those who only have couple of days to spend in San Diego.
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San Diego is a lovely city in Southern California, where businessmen go surfing on their lunch breaks and kids play in the tide pools. San Diego is widely known for its year-round perfect weather, beaches, and laid-back lifestyle.
San Diego is a popular vacation destination, not only because of the sunny weather but also thanks to its many amusement parks. Families from all over come to visit LEGOLAND California, the San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld, but there are many other interesting things to see in San Diego as well.
We have visited San Diego several times, as it is easy to add to a trip to Los Angeles. The distance between these cities is only about 125 miles (200 km), and it takes roughly two hours to drive.
If you choose to fly to San Diego, you will find that the airport is very close to downtown. It’s surrounded by tall buildings, and landing there, especially in the dark with the city lights around you, is pretty amazing. It is said to be quite a challenging airport for pilots.
On this trip, we stayed in San Diego for two full days and toured the most important sights. We saw some historical places, walked around downtown, visited a few beaches and enjoyed local food.
San Diego is the southernmost city in California and borders Mexico. There are about 1.5 million inhabitants in San Diego, about 30% of whom are Latino.
Two-day itinerary for San Diego
Day 1; Cabrillo National Monument, Old Town San Diego, Mission San Diego de Alcalรก and La Jolla
Start your day by visiting Cabrillo National Monument, located at the tip of the Point Loma peninsula.
In 1542, European explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo stepped onto American soil at this very spot. His notes about encounters with the native people have provided historians with valuable insights.
Today, Cabrillo National Monument is part of the National Park Service. While there, you can also visit the historic Old Point Loma Lighthouse, located within the park grounds.
Point Loma offers stunning views of the Pacific Oceean, the city of San Diego, the Navy base and even across the border into Mexico. Along the coastline, you can spot the New Point Loma Lighthouse which was featured in the Top Gun movie, as well as some tide pools that appear during the winter months.
๐Location: 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive, San Diego, CA 92106.
From there, head over to Old Town San Diego, a must-visit for every San Diego traveler! It’s known as the birthplace of California and has charming, historic atmosphere. By the time you arrive, it should be close to lunchtime and the local shops and restaurants will be open.
Old Town San Diego was the original site of California’s first mission, which operated there for five years before being moved to a new location with better soil for producing food. A Spanish settlement remained at the original site, and during this time Old Town San Diego was born. Before the Spanish arrived, the area was primarily inhabited by Native American tribes.
Today, Old Town is protected state historic park and a popular tourist destination. There are several museums, artisan shops and historic buildings to explore. It’s also a great spot to stop for lunch at one of the many charming restaurants.
๐ Location: San Diego Avenue and Twiggs St, San Diego, CA 92110
From there, we drove to Mission San Diego de Alcalรก to see the actual mission that once stood in Old Town. It was only about a 7.5-mile (12 km) drive.
The mission along the California coast were communities established by Spanish missionaries in the 18th and 19th centuries. The missionaries were Franciscan friars, and along with their religion, they also brought their culture to California.
Mission San Diego was the very first mission built before the missionaries continued northward, and is therefore considered the birthplace of Christianity in the United States. It was founded by Junรญpero Serra in 1769.
Today, most of the missions serve as active churches and museums. There are 21 missions in California, many of which are funded largely through tourism.
๐Location:10818 San Diego Mission Road, San Diego, CA 92108.
For the evening, head out the beautiful neighbourhood of La Jolla to enjoy the beach, explore the shops and have dinner at one of the many local restaurants.
La Jolla truly captures the San Diego vibe with its picturesque downtown; “The Village”, sandy beaches and steep coastal cliffs. Surrounded by the ocean on three sides, it’s a favorite destination for snorkelers, divers and kayakers. You can often spot seals lounging on the rocks or swimming near the shore.
Day 2; Gaslamp Quarter, balboa Park and Coronado
On your second day, start by exploring the Gaslamp Quarter, located in downtown San Diego. This historic district is known for its charming Victorian-era buildings and vibrant atmosphere.
The Gaslamp Quarter was established in 1867, when Alonzo Horton installed gas lamps there in an effort to shift the downtown area closer to the ocean. We saw similar gas lamps in Vancouver, Canada where they are used in the famous Gastown.
Today, the Gaslamp Quarter is famous for its nightlife, events and excellent restaurants. After strolling through the area, you can stop for lunch at one of the many spots nearby. Or, if you are a movie fan, you might want to visit Kansas City Barbeque just few blocks away, as it is one of the filming locations from Top Gun.
Balboa Park is located near downtown and is a great place to spend time after lunch. It’s the cultural heart of San Diego, home to many of the city’s museums and the entrance to the famous San Diego Zoo.
Choose from a variety of museums or gardens, or spend a couple of hours exploring the zoo. If you need a snack, head over to El Prado, where you’ll find food vendors, or enjoy a cup of tea at the Tea Pavilion in the Japanese Friendship Garden.
We visited Balboa Park specifically to see the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages. These charming little houses, mostly open on weekends, are a wonderful way to experience different cultures from around the world.
๐Location: Balboa Park, San Diego, CA 92101
For the rest of the day and dinner, Coronado is the perfect choice! Itโs a small island right next to San Diego, and you can reach it by crossing a scenic bridge. Coronado is a popular vacation spot and thrives on tourism.
Coronado is best known for its iconic resort, Hotel del Coronado. Itโs the second-largest wooden building in the United States and was built in Victorian style. The hotel opened in 1888.
Many famous people, such as presidents, movie stars, and athletes, have stayed at Hotel del Coronado. The list is long, but some notable names include Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin, King Kalฤkaua of Hawaii, Keanu Reeves, and Madonna.
The island is also home to Naval Base Coronado and the Naval Air Station. Many scenes from the movie Top Gun were filmed there.
Where to stay in San Diego
I recommend choosing your hotel based on what you plan to do in San Diego. Many attractions are outside of downtown, and most downtown hotels don’t always offer guest parking.
If you decide to stay downtown, the fun and quirky Stayinpineapple; Hotel Z is a great option. Located right in the Gaslamp Quarter, this pineapple-themed hotel offers guests complimentary bicycle rentals during their stay.
The nicest area to stay at is Mission Bay area. There are many nice hotels there right down by the beach but the The Wayfarer San Diego is our favorite.
On this trip though wanted to stay walking distance from downtown. Wyndham San Diego Bayside offered us free breakfast and parking, and we had an amazing bay view. For those who don’t want to walk to downtown, San Diego Trolley runs right by the hotel.
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These suggestions are based on our own San Diego itinerary, but you can easily mix things up, swap activities or skip some in favor of others.
Many families visit San Diego for Legoland, which easily takes up a full day, so plan accordingly. If you are visiting in the spring, don’t miss The Flower Fields right next to Legoland. You’ll see stunning fields of ranunculus flowers stretching as far as the eye can see. It’s truly a magical sight!
If you are planning a visit to Legoland, consider staying in Carlsbad. Legoland has two fun LEGO-themed hotels, but if those are out of budget, Carlsbad by the Sea Hotel is within walking distance from the park.
Have you been to San Diego? What is that you like about it the most?
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