What is worth your time in San Diego
Balboa ParkDo not miss
1,200-acre cultural heart of the city with 17 museums, Spanish-Colonial architecture, and gardens in one walkable zone.
Park · 4.5 hr4.8
Cabrillo National MonumentDo not miss
Point Loma headland with sweeping bay-and-skyline views, the 1855 lighthouse, and tide pools below.
Historic Site · 2.5 hr4.8
La Jolla CoveDo not miss
Sheltered turquoise cove with sea lions, snorkeling, and the cliffside coast walk above it.
Beach · 2.3 hr4.8
Sunset Cliffs Natural ParkDo not miss
Dramatic Point Loma sandstone cliffs that are the city's signature sunset-watching spot.
Viewpoint · 1.5 hr4.8
Torrey Pines State Natural ReserveDo not miss
Clifftop trails through rare Torrey pines dropping to the beach, with the coast's best easy-hike payoff.
Nature · 2.8 hr4.8
USS Midway MuseumDo not miss
Walk the flight deck and hangar bays of a real WWII-era aircraft carrier on the downtown Embarcadero.
Museum · 3.3 hr4.8
Coronado BeachDo not miss
Wide golden, mica-flecked sand fronting the Hotel del Coronado, regularly ranked among the US's best beaches.
Beach · 2.3 hr4.7
Old Town San Diego State Historic ParkDo not miss
Birthplace of California, with preserved adobes, Mexican markets, and the city's best old-school Mexican food.
Historic Site · 2.3 hr4.7
San Diego ZooDo not miss
World-famous zoo in Balboa Park with pandas-era pedigree, 3,500 animals, and lush canyon habitats.
Activity · 5 hr4.7
Gaslamp QuarterDo not miss
16-block Victorian-era district that is downtown's dining, rooftop-bar, and nightlife core.
Neighborhood · 2.3 hr
Coronado Ferry Landing
Hop the bay ferry to a marketplace of shops and patios with the best skyline view across the water.
Market · 1.5 hr4.8
Mission Trails Regional Park
One of the country's largest urban parks, with the Cowles Mountain summit hike and the Old Mission Dam.
Nature · 3 hr4.8
Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial
360-degree panorama over La Jolla, the coast, and the city from the memorial cross hilltop.
Viewpoint · 45 min4.8
Shelter Island San Diego
Point Loma marina peninsula with a shoreline park, the best framed views of the downtown skyline across the bay.
Viewpoint · 1.1 hr4.8
And 31 more, which the planner picks between based on your dates, pace and what you are into.