48 Best Things to Do in San Diego in 2024 (By a Local)

👉 Jump to:Best Things to Do in San Diego | Sites & Attractions | Beaches & Areas | Free Stuff | Fun & Unique

San Diego brings to mind spectacular beaches and great weather. But, while those are certainly highlights, you may be surprised by how many more fun things to do in San Diego you can find … if you know where to look! 

I’m a San Diego local who is here to guide you through what to do in San Diego, including the best activities, popular attractions, and hidden local gems.

This is a big city, but it’s really characterized by the numerous quirky San Diego beach towns, each with its own individual flavor and activities. Whether you’re visiting San Diego or a resident craving new experiences, an outdoor enthusiast, or a city lover, America’s Finest City is sure to capture your heart!

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Best Things to Do in San Diego, CA

Go Wild at the San Diego Zoo

The San Diego Zoo is located in Balboa Park and is one of the largest and top-rated zoos in the world.

📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily | San Diego Zoo Entrance: $72, adults, $62 ages 3-11 | 👉Book Tickets to the San Diego Zoo

The world-famous San Diego Zoo, located in the heart of the city in Balboa Park, is one of the largest and top-rated zoos in the world. Once you step inside, there’s really no question as to why! 

The San Diego Zoo will make you feel like you’re strolling through the African desert with elephants, or hanging out with the koalas down under. Or maybe you’ll feel like getting a bird’s eye view of the park from the Skyfari Aerial Tram, a lift that transports you from one side of the park to another. 

👉 Pro Tip: In addition to tickets for the San Diego Zoo, be sure to also get tickets to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. It is inland from the city and an offshoot of the main zoo. The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is really special because you can actually take open-air truck safaris through the animals’ spacious enclosures.

Snorkel or Kayak La Jolla Cove

Take a kayak or snorkeling tour La Jolla Cove to explore the hidden sea caves and search for elusive marine life.

📍 Google Maps | 👉 Browse La Jolla Adventure Tours on Viator

La Jolla Cove creates a protected marine habitat for tons of wildlife, including playful sea lions, seabirds, fish, and even sea turtles. Take a kayak or snorkeling tour of the area to explore the hidden sea caves and search for elusive marine life in otherworldly kelp forests. If you’re lucky you’ll spot a friendly leopard shark or two!

👉 Pro Tip: The orange fish found in the cove, called Garibaldi, is the state fish of California.  It also inspired the fish in La Jolla resident Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat. See if you can spot anything else in La Jolla that appears in his stories!

Whale Watching

Between the grey whale migration in Winter and Spring and blue whales in Summer and Fall, San Diego has whales off the shore almost year round.

👉 Reserve Tickets for the San Diego Whale & Dolphin Watching Adventure

San Diego is a prime place to go whale watching, as it’s right in the path of grey and blue whales migrating to and from Mexico. And, between the grey whale migration in Winter and Spring and blue whales in Summer and Fall, we’re lucky enough to have whales off of San Diego almost year-round.

If you pay close attention, you can even see their water spouting while standing on the shore! But I definitely recommend getting a closer view of the giant animals, and the best way to do that is by taking a whale watching tour. This highly-rated tour is 3.5 hours, and also offers the opportunity to potentially spot sea lions and dolphins.

Explore Balboa Park

A 1,200-acre park that contains a whole Spanish-style village of museums, galleries, and gardens.

📍 Google Maps| 👉 Browse Tours of Balboa Park on Viator

Balboa Park is a 1,200-acre park that contains a whole Spanish-style village of museums, galleries, and gardens. You could easily spend days exploring here. Most of the park’s infrastructure was constructed in the early 1900s and much of the current architecture sprung up for the Panama-California Exposition, in celebration of the opening of the Panama Canal. 

My favorite spots in the park are the serene Spanish-inspired Alcazar garden, the lily pond in front of the domed botanical garden building, and the colorful Spanish Village Art Center (which is a space that is as much a piece of art as those held in the collection of art galleries within). 

Watch Sunset from Point Loma

A peninsula separating Mission Bay and San Diego Bay that features the best place to watch the sunset in the city. 

📍 Google Maps | Monument Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily 

The Point Loma peninsula juts out into the Pacific and separates Mission Bay and San Diego Bay. Although it’s small, there are tons of things to see in the neighborhood including the rugged Sunset Cliffs Natural Park, which is widely considered the best place to watch the sunset in the city. 

Point Loma also boasts the Cabrillo National Monument, which pays tribute to Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, the first European to set foot in California.

The Cabrillo National Monument also offers spectacular views of the bay and the San Diego skyline. Just past the monument lies the picturesque Point Loma lighthouse and tide pools, where you can hunt for hidden sea life. 

Old Town San Diego

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park is San Diego’s oldest town and the first European settlement in California.

📍 Google Maps | 👉Book a GoCars Mini-Car Tour of Old Town

As you might have guessed from the name, Old Town San Diego State Historic Park is indeed San Diego’s oldest town and the first European settlement in California. Located in the center of San Diego, the quaint streets and Spanish-style architecture will transport you to 1769 where you can take in some Hispanic culture, art, and food.

For a unique way to explore Old Town San Diego, you can book this fun 2-person mini car tour!

👉 Love the Paranormal? Be sure to keep your eye out for Old Town’s famous ghosts, especially near the infamously haunted Whaley House.

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

A preserved piece of San Diego’s natural beauty that contains some of the last remaining undeveloped California coastlines in the city.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (858) 755-2063 | Website | Hours: 7:00 am – 5:00 pm daily | Entrance: $10-25 per vehicle 

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve lies just north of La Jolla and is a preserved piece of San Diego’s natural beauty that contains some of the last remaining undeveloped California coastlines in the city. The reserve is full of incredible clifftop views of the Pacific and hiking trails that give you a sense of what the San Diego chaparral must have looked like before it was settled. 

If hiking isn’t accessible to you or you want to experience the views without the hiking, you can also drive into the reserve and take in the views just off the central parking lot. 

Visit the Embarcadero & The USS Midway Museum

Visit the walkway that runs along the San Diego Harbor and a museum featuring 10 acres worth of exhibits.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (619) 544-9600 | Museum Website | Hours: 10 am – 4 pm daily | Entrance: $32, adults, $22 under 12 and veterans | 👉Book Your USS Midway Museum Tickets Here

The Embarcadero is a walkway that runs along the San Diego harbor near downtown. It showcases the naval and maritime history of San Diego.

The Maritime Museum of San Diego also docks and displays its collection of restored historic ships, the most famous of which is the Star of India, which is the world’s oldest operating ship.

The USS Midway Museum calls the Embarcadero home, which consists of 10 acres worth of exhibits and 30 restored aircraft all housed on a retired aircraft carrier ship harbored at the Navy Pier.

While wandering the harborfront, you’ll also find Seaport Village, a colorful assortment of shops and seafood restaurants looking out over the harbor.

Sites & Attractions in San Diego

Balboa Museums and Fleet Science Center

Visit Balboa Park’s 17 museums and cultural centers that will satisfy everyone from gem aficionados to miniature train enthusiasts. 

📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm daily

Besides beautiful scenery and architecture, Balboa Park also contains 17 museums and cultural centers that will satisfy everyone from gem aficionados to miniature train enthusiasts. 

My personal favorites are the Fleet Science Center which, as a kid, sparked my love of science, The San Diego Natural History Museum, The San Diego Air & Space Museum, The San Diego Museum of Art, and the Japanese Friendship Garden. Check out my full guide to the best museums in San Diego for more info.

👉Pro Tip: If you know you’ll want to hit multiple museums in San Diego, consider purchasing a Balboa Park Explorer Pass for discounts. 

Belmont Park

A historic amusement park in the Mission Beach neighborhood that was built by sugar magnate John D. Spreckels back in 1925.

📍 Google Maps | Website | Entrance: $60, over 48 inches, $55 under 48 inches | 👉 Book a Belmont Park Ride & Play Pass (Unlimited Rides)

Belmont Park is a historic amusement park in the Mission Beach neighborhood that was built by sugar magnate John D. Spreckels back in 1925.

Belmont Park has tons of San Diego character, especially its iconic old wooden roller coaster, the Giant Dipper. At the top of the roller coaster, you can take in the views of Mission Beach and Mission Bay. The amusement park also has a boardwalk with restaurants, rides, an arcade, and shops, so you can easily spend the day here.

You can book your Ride & Play Pass here (which gets you unlimited rides in Belmont Park).

San Diego Botanic Garden

Check out 37 acres worth of rare, native, and foreign plant species.

📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily, Closed Tuesdays | Entrance: $18, adults, $10 youth 3-17, $12, Seniors and Military

The San Diego Botanic Garden boasts 37 acres worth of rare, native, and foreign plant species. Walking through the gardens will transport you from a desert climate to a lush tropical forest in minutes. You will leave feeling refreshed after spending time amid so much greenery and vibrant colors. It’s definitely one of the best things to do in Encinitas.

Looking for things to do this weekend? Check out San Diego Botanic Garden’s events calendar.

🛏️ Need a Place to Stay in San Diego? Check out my ultimate local guide to where to stay in San Diego. It covers all the best San Diego areas and neighborhoods.

Birch Aquarium

Visit the aquarium that celebrates San Diego’s unique marine life and its habitat.

📍 Google Maps | Website | Entrance: $24.95, adults, $19.95 ages 3-17, $22.95, Seniors 

Mix fun and science with a visit to the Birch Aquarium, which is the education and outreach center for the world-renowned research institution, Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The aquarium celebrates San Diego’s unique marine life and its habitat. You’ll find exhibits such as a two-story kelp forest, a tank with leopard sharks, and outdoor interactive pools. 

The aquarium is perched atop a tall cliff in La Jolla that looks out over the Pacific Ocean, which makes it hard to decide if the highlight of the aquarium is the inside or outside!

Legoland

Embrace your inner child at a park constructed almost entirely of legos.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 888-690-5346 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Mon-Thurs, 10 am – 6 pm Fri & Sun, 10 am – 7 pm Sat | Entrance: $99, theme park, $105, theme park & water park | 🎟️ Book Legoland Admission Tickets

Legoland is one of the top attractions in San Diego for anyone with kids, or if you just want to unleash your inner child for the day! The park is constructed almost entirely of legos, which makes just wandering the park an adventure in itself. Legoland also contains a variety of rides and interactive activities (such as building with legos of course), and also contains a water park.

You can book your Legoland California tickets here.

The Old Globe Theatre

Catch a show at this venue is known for its award-winning performances.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (619) 234-5623 | Website

The Old Globe Theatre is located in Balboa Park and is modeled after Shakespeare’s Old Globe in London. The beautiful theater is an attraction on its own, but the highlight, of course, is the performances put on inside. The venue is known for its award-winning performances and many have even gone on to Broadway and received Tony awards. 

Seeing Dr. Seuss’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas at The Old Globe Theatre as a kid is one of my personal favorite memories to this day! 

Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial

Watch the sunset from this memorial honoring all veterans from the Revolutionary War up until the present.

📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 7 am – 10 pm daily | Entrance: Free 

The Veterans Memorial at Mt. Soledad is one of the most unique in the country as it honors all veterans, both living and deceased, starting from the Revolutionary War up until the present. It’s an emotionally moving scene to see all of the names and portraits carved into a wall. 

The monument sits atop a hill in La Jolla from which you get panoramic views of the city, La Jolla Cove, and La Jolla Shores, making this San Diego site one of the top places to visit in San Diego for sunset watching!

Carlsbad Flower Fields

Visit this 50-acre flower garden that transforms an entire hillside into a vibrant explosion of color created by Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (760) 431-0352 | Website | Hours: Seasonal 

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to wander through a physical rainbow, then the Carlsbad Flower Fields are for you! For the last 60 years in Spring, the 50-acre flower garden has transformed an entire hillside into a vibrant explosion of color created by Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers. I think it is really a breathtaking sight and is the perfect place to celebrate springtime in San Diego.

Make sure to check the website for updates, as the fields are only open in Spring. 

👉 Read Next: 33 Best Things to Do in Carlsbad

Barona Cultural Center and Museum

Visit this San Diego reservation museum that interprets and shares the rich culture and history of the Kumeyaay and their land. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (619) 443-7003 ext. 219 | Website | Hours: 12 pm – 5 pm Thurs & Fri, 10 am – 4 pm Sat, Closed Sun-Wed | Entrance: Free 

Long, long before the Spanish began colonizing what is now San Diego in 1769, the region was inhabited by the Kumeyaay people, called Diegueños by the Spaniards. Located in East County, Barona Cultural Center is the first museum on a San Diego reservation that interprets and shares the rich culture and history of the Kumeyaay and their land. 

This is an awesome way to both learn about San Diego’s important history, as well as support the Center’s efforts to preserve and share the Kumeyaay culture and way of life! Check out their website for upcoming events and activities!

Presidio Park

Check out the first European settlement and mission in what is now the Western United States.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (619) 232-6203 | Website

Presidio Park, officially El Presidio Real de San Diego, was established in 1769 and was the first European settlement and mission in what is now the Western United States. The fort served as the base for the Spanish conquest of California until Presidio Hill was eventually abandoned.

The historic park was later restored by a private owner in 1925 who also founded the Junipero Serra Museum and constructed new buildings in the Spanish Revival style. Nowadays, the park is a gorgeous setting to stroll through and enjoy a beautiful San Diego day!

👉 Read Next: 23 Best San Diego Weekend Getaways

Old Poway Park

A picturesque outdoor area that has grassy fields, shaded trees, meandering pathways, and historic buildings.

📍 Google Maps | Website

The Old Poway Park is a picturesque outdoor area that has grassy fields, shaded trees, meandering pathways, and historic buildings. To give you an idea of how lovely it is, I had my family photos and high school graduation photos taken here! 

On weekends, Old Poway Park will transport you to 20th century Poway with a ride on the historic Poway Midland Railroad, and a tour of the Heritage Museum and the historic Nelson House.

Liberty Station

What was once a naval training and housing center has now been converted into a and trendy commercial center with galleries, shops, events, and even small museums.

📍 Google Maps

Liberty Station was once a naval training and housing center that’s now been converted into a and trendy commercial center with galleries, shops, events, and even small museums. One of the main attractions in Liberty Station is The Liberty Public Market, a large space that contains a collection of food, cocktails, breweries, art, and shops.

Best Beaches & Areas

La Jolla Coast and Beaches

Spend your days on a long, sandy beach perfect for spending a day lounging in the sun or surfing.

📍 Google Maps | 👉 Browse Tours Offered in La Jolla

Exploring La Jolla is one of my favorite San Diego activities. It is one of the best San Diego beaches and should be on every visitor’s itinerary! Even if you don’t want to get wet snorkeling or kayaking in La Jolla Cove, there’s still plenty to see.

La Jolla Shores is a long, sandy beach perfect for spending a day lounging in the sun or surfing. Or head south towards the cove and the California coast becomes more rugged, cliffy, and full of wildlife. 

Have a picnic overlooking the cliffs at Ellen Browning Scripps Park. From there keep heading south a few blocks to check out the La Jolla Children’s Pool Beach, where a concrete wall creates a protected swimming area and a favorite sea lion hangout.

Pacific Beach

A beachy neighborhood that features surf shops, laid-back eateries, and an assortment of quirky bars.

📍 Google Maps

Pacific Beach, locally known as “PB,” is a beachy neighborhood that embodies all things San Diego, what with its numerous surf shops, laid back eateries, and an assortment of quirky bars, most of which are beach or surf themed.

The popular San Diego beach town is mostly claimed by local college students and recent graduates who head to the beach during the day and then (maybe) put on a shirt and some shoes and hit the bars in the evening. 

If you’re looking for some rowdy San Diego nightlife where flip-flops are encouraged, PB is the place for you!

🍽️ Hungry? Head to Oscar’s Mexican Seafood to sample some mouthwatering tacos!

The Gaslamp Quarter

A downtown area featuring a unique mixture of skyscrapers and historical Victorian-style buildings that contain trendy restaurants, bars, and clubs.

📍 Google Maps | Website | 👉 Browse the Best Gaslamp Quarter Tours on Viator

The historical Gaslamp Quarter was the second San Diego neighborhood to be developed after Old Town and was named for its ahead-of-the-times 50 gas lamps that lit the streets.

Now the downtown area is a unique mixture of skyscrapers and historical Victorian-style buildings that contain trendy restaurants, clubs, and bars that explode to life in the evenings.

Little Italy

A trendy pedestrian area is full of a wide variety of trendy restaurants, bars, music venues, and boutiques.

📍 Google Maps | Website | 👉 Check Out Tours of Little Italy on Viator

Travel to Italy without leaving San Diego County! The neighborhood of Little Italy, part of downtown San Diego, is a trendy pedestrian area full of a wide variety of trendy restaurants, bars, music venues, and boutiques. On Saturdays from 8 am to 2 pm, the Little Italy Mercato farmer’s market takes over the streets with a wide variety of fresh produce and local vendors.

Tijuana Day Trip

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📍 Google Maps | Website | 👉 Browse Tijuana Tours on Viator

Although not technically in San Diego, Tijuana is so close that it may as well be. Just a short trip over the border into the bustling and vibrant border city and you get to experience Mexican culture, food, and cheap beer.

Not sure you’re quite up for it solo? For a fun, guided experience that relieves you of the planning and hassle, check out this highly-reviewed day tour to Tijuana.

👉 Want more fun excursions outside of San Diego? Check out my top suggestions for day trips from San Diego.

Windansea Beach

A beach just south of downtown La Jolla is known for its unique mix of sandy beach and rocky cliffs.

📍 Google Maps | Website

Windansea is a stretch of beach just south of downtown La Jolla known for its unique mix of sandy beach and rocky cliffs. During low tide, there are plenty of San Diego beaches to sunbathe and hang out on, but at high tide, the waves will dramatically slam into the rocks, both of which make for some beautiful scenery. 

Plus there’s the iconic Windansea Surf Shack. It might just look like 4 pillars with a thatched roof perched on a rock, but it’s actually one of the oldest and most well-known beach landmarks in San Diego. The hut was constructed in 1946 and has been destroyed a couple of times by storms and fire, but it still stands proud today!

👉 Read Next: 23 Best Things to Do in Long Beach (By a Local)

Coronado Island

A resort town just off the coast that features sandy beaches, boutique shops, and restaurants. 

📍 Google Maps | Website| 👉 Recommended Coronado Island Tours on Viator

Coronado Island is a resort town that lies just off the coast and is one of San Diego’s gems. The beautiful sandy beaches on the west side of the peninsula (Coronado Island is in fact a peninsula, despite the name) draw surfers and beach-goers throughout the summer, and the town contains tons of boutique shops and restaurants. 

Coronado is also the home of the famous Victorian Hotel Del Coronado, which was established in 1888 and is still a top San Diego attraction, both for dining and sleeping.

👉 Pro Tip: A great way to see the town is by electric beach cruiser!

Del Mar

A charming San Diego village with a European feel and lots of small shops and restaurants.

📍 Powerhouse Park

Del Mar is a charming San Diego seaside village with beautiful sandy beaches that inspire a day lounging by the ocean. The town itself is a quaint little spot filled with lots of small shops and restaurants. The European feel to it gives out a unique German-mountain-village-meets-beach-town vibe and has lots of small shops and restaurants. 

I love grabbing a coffee or a smoothie and sitting on a bench in Powerhouse Park, which perches on top of the cliffs overlooking the ocean, and trying to spot passing whales and dolphins. 

⛱️ Want More Beaches? I wrote an EPIC guide to the best beaches in and around San Diego. Check it out here.

Free Stuff to Do in San Diego

💸 Bookmark my full guide to 41 free things to do in San Diego!

Hiking

Stretch your legs by tackling one of San Diego’s famed trekking routes.

You’ll find a ton of great hikes in San Diego. Here are just a few of my favorite hikes around San Diego:

• Annie’s Canyon: A trail in Solana Beach bordering a wetland that features an awesome slot canyon, the length of which depends on your starting point.
• Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve: One of the many hikes in the reserve is the 3.3 mile long Torrey Pines State Beach and Broken Hill Trail Loop, which showcases the beautiful La Jolla scenery.
• Potato Chip Rock via Mt. Woodson Trail: A 7.3 mile hike, and one of San Diego’s most photographed hiking destinations because of the famous potato-chip-like rock that juts into the air.

Bookmark my full list of the best San Diego hikes for a dozen more of my favorite trails!

Torrey Pines Gliderport

Fly above the San Diego cliffs and beach by taking a tandem paraglide with a pro.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (858) 452-9858 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 6 pm daily 

If you’re a thrill-seeker, check out paragliding at the Torrey Pines Gliderport, where you can take classes or go on a tandem glide with a pro. The Gliderport sits atop the Torrey Pines cliffs and if you take to the air you’ll get a breathtaking experience flying above the cliffs and over the beach.

If you’re more risk-averse, it’s still a pretty incredible sight to see all the high-fliers swooping around above the cliffs, especially near sunset.

Stand Up Paddle Board in Mission Bay

Test your balance by going for a paddle in San Diego’s Mission Bay.

Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) is one of my favorite activities in San Diego because you can get out on the water without getting wet (unless you struggle with balance like I do), making it one of the few year-round water activities in San Diego. 

There are tons of places to paddle, but one of my favorites is in Mission Bay, where you can peruse the sailboats and yachts and check out the seals lounging on the docks. Plus there are quite a few sandy beaches around the bay that you can stop and hang out on. Mission Bay has plenty of places where you can launch from, but a couple of my favorites are Ventura Cove,Santa Clara Point, and Crown Point Shores.

👉 Don’t Have a Paddle Board? No worries, you can rent one from San Diego SUP Rentals here!

Ocean Beach Farmers Market

An evening farmers market that sells the usual market fare and has a ton of interactive events and performances.

📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 4 pm – 8:30 pm Wed, 7 pm – 9 pm Fri

The Ocean Beach (OB) farmers market is unlike any farmers market I’ve been to and fully embraces the hippie vibes of the neighborhood. Like most, the market consists of a couple of blocks filled with stands selling food, produce, and arts and crafts. 

What makes it unique is that it starts in the late afternoon/evening, and though it ends at 8:00 pm, the party often continues down at the boardwalk where performers dance, sing, fire toss, and make art. It’s a super fun place to grab dinner and catch some entertainment on Wednesdays! 

Sunset Trivia

Compete in a fierce game of trivia at one of the events around the city.

🌐 Website

Grab a group of friends or family and embrace your competitive spirit at a local San Diego trivia night! Sunset Trivia hosts the free game night at various bars around San Diego almost every evening of the week.

Winners even get a gift card prize to whatever establishment they’re at, and if your team is extra brilliant, you may even get a chance to compete in the winner’s tournament. Check the Sunset Trivia website to find times and locations. 

Outdoor Yoga Class

Experience the great outdoors by taking a yoga class.

What better way to celebrate San Diego’s many incredible outdoor locations than a serene yoga session? Whether you’re an experienced yogi or a beginner, you’ll be welcome in one of these drop-in classes. Classes happen all over the city, some on the beach or in a park, so check out this meetup page to find a location that works for you!

Volunteer for a Beach or Community Cleanup

Give back to the community by participating in an organized cleanup.

🌐 Website

If you love San Diego as much as I do, you might be interested in giving back by keeping it clean! Volunteering is also a great way to connect with the community and to feel good about taking care of this beautiful city and the surrounding oceans.

Check out this awesome organization where you can find local cleanups, or plan your own!

Fun & Unique San Diego Activities

San Diego Padres at Petco Park

Cheer on the Padres baseball team at this energetic stadium.

📍 Google Maps | Website

Whether you’re a baseball fan or just want to experience the high energy and quality stadium food, hitting a Padres game is one of the top activities in San Diego.

I like to describe Petco Park as a baseball stadium for people who don’t like baseball because there are so many restaurants, beverage stations, and activities to do inside, including a nightclub! Check the game schedule here to plan ahead.

Want to get behind the scenes? Book a Petco Park tour to see the park from angles only players and staff see.

Trolley Tour

Hop on a trolley and see all of San Diego’s top attractions in one day.

👉 Book Your Trolley Tour Here

San Diego’s vintage trolley is a fun and unique way to get around the downtown San Diego and Old Town San Diego areas. If you book a one or two day tour, you can hit many of San Diego’s top attractions, many of which are mentioned in this post, and a guide will tell you about the history and interesting facts about each destination. 

GoCar Tour of Down Town San Diego

See San Diego your way with one of these fun GoCar tours.

👉 Book a GoCar Tour Here

Tour San Diego in style… in your very own go-car! The tiny cars act as both vehicle and tour guide and will lead you on a 2 hour sightseeing route that covers both downtown San Diego and Old Town San Diego, with speakers that tell you stories and facts about each place you visit.

Boating in San Diego Bay

Take a tour or rent a boat and get out on the San Diego Bay for an afternoon.

📍 Google Maps

The San Diego Bay is a well-known destination for boating and when the conditions are right, it fills with boaters living their best Southern California lives. If you don’t happen to have your own vessel here are a few options for how to get out on San Diego Bay:

Take an intimate sunset sailing tour around the bay. This is a perfect way to celebrate two of San Diego’s staples – water sports and world-class sunsets.

For a more adrenaline-filled experience, you can also take a Patriot jet boat thrill ride that should satisfy your need for speed. 

Or if you have a small group that’s itching for a party, you can also be your own captain and rent out a duffy, a small, canopied boat that comes equipped with speakers and coolers.

Humphrey’s Concerts By the Bay

Watch a musical performance at this open-air San Diego venue.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (619) 224-3577 | Website

Humphrey’s By The Bay is a beloved open-air San Diego venue located on Shelter Island in the heart of San Diego Bay. The stage lies right next to the marina, making for spectacular sunset shows. The theater hosts a wide variety of musicians and bands of all genres as well as comedy shows from April through October. 

👉 Local secret: If your favorite artist is sold out, grab a kayak or a paddle board and float up to the edge of the theater where you can still get great views of the stage.

San Diego Harbor Cruise

See all the San Diego sites from the water by taking a boat tour around San Diego Harbor.

📍 Google Maps | 👉 Book a 2 Hour San Diego Harbor Yacht Cruise

Taking a boat tour around San Diego Harbor is one of the best ways to see all of the sights that San Diego has to offer.

Flagship’s highly-rated 2 hour cruise has 5 daily sailings to choose from. You’ll get to see lots of San Diego landmarks along the way, including sweeping vistas of the San Diego skyline, the iconic San Diego Coronado Bridge, and the harbor where the restored historic naval ships are docked.

Microbrewery Tour

With over 150 microbreweries in San Diego, you’ll have more than enough options for sampling the best brews in the city.

👉 Browse Microbrewery Tours on Viator

San Diego is the self-proclaimed craft beer capital of the United States, and it’s tough to dispute that title. You’ll find over 150 microbreweries in San Diego. The city is the birthplace of the hoppy West Coast IPA. You can spend countless weekends trying to hit all of San Diego’s awesome beer halls, but for a condensed sample, try taking a beer tasting tour!

✈️ Planning a trip to San Diego? If you need help deciding not just what to do in San Diego, but also when to go, check out my guide to the best time to visit San Diego. It includes a month by month breakdown of all the best festivals!

Sunset Hot Air Balloon Ride

Get a unique vantage point of San Diego by going up in a hot air balloon.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 760-704-7407 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 7 pm daily 

Floating high above Del Mar in a hot air balloon is undeniably the best way you can take in the views of America’s Finest City and watch one of San Diego’s world-renowned sunsets.

As a little kid, I used to watch excitedly for all of the balloons taking to the sky in late afternoons. So, in my opinion, this is one of the most iconic, and probably most romantic, activities in San Diego. Check out the company page for booking information.

👉 Read Next: Is San Diego Safe for Travel?

Drive-In Theater

Watch a movie under the stars at one of San Diego’s two drive-in movie theaters.

Put a fun spin on a typical dinner-and-a-movie night and go watch a movie at one of San Diego’s two drive-in theaters. If you aren’t familiar with the concept, you park your car in front of a giant outdoor movie screen, tune your radio to the indicated channel, and enjoy! This works perfectly well in a normal car but people get pretty creative with their setups, like putting a blow-up mattress in a truck bed, for example.

San Diego County is home to two drive-in theaters, one in Santee and another in South Bay.

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Belly Up Tavern

Go to a concert at this staple 600-capacity San Diego music venue.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (858) 481-8140 | Website

The Belly Up Tavern has been a staple San Diego music venue since the 70s and is still popular today for its intimate and casual atmosphere. Located in Solana Beach, the venue holds about 600 people, has a mixture of seating and standing, and serves beer and some bar food.

They have live music almost every night and feature a wide variety of artists and genres that you can check out here.

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Kobey’s Swap Meet

Search for treasures at this massive San Diego flea market.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (619) 226-0650 | Website | Hours: 7 am – 3 pm Fri-Sun | Entrance: $1 Fri, $2 Sat & Sun, Free 11 years and under  

If you love thrifting, rummaging at garage sales, or just hunting for a good deal, then you’ll definitely want to check out the Kobey Swap Meet. The flea market takes up the entire San Diego Sports arena, so be prepared to get happily lost in a maze of vintage furniture, unique art, second-hand clothes, and jewelry stands. 

Unlike many flea markets that are only open for a day, the Kobey Swap Meet happens every Friday through Sunday from 7 am to 3 pm. People can get pretty excited and competitive, so get there early before the best items get picked off! 

👉 Pro Tip: Make sure to bring cash as some vendors don’t accept credit cards.

Carlsbad Strawberry Company

Harvest your own buckets of some of the sweetest strawberries you’ll ever taste. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (760) 603-9608 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily 

You’ve heard of apple picking in the Fall, but San Diego has strawberry picking in Summer! The Carlsbad Strawberry Company, a family-owned business and staple of Carlsbad, allows visitors to come and harvest their own buckets of some of the sweetest strawberries you’ll ever taste. 

Although the strawberry season ends in late summer, the fields still have other events and attractions year-round, including a pumpkin patch, an open air market, and festivities. Check their events calendar to see what’s coming up!

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The list could go on forever, but I’ll leave it to you to visit San Diego and explore and enjoy all the city has to offer. I hope I helped you figure out what to do in San Diego!

What did you think? Scroll down and leave a comment with your favorite San Diego destination, experience, or attraction!

👉 Want more? Don’t miss my list of the best day trips around San Diego!

Have fun enjoying all the fun things to do in San Diego!