What to See in San Diego

Overview

Sites, Monuments, and Architectural Landmarks

Coronado ★
This is a "beach-resort neighborhood" in San Diego. Rather upscale and residential, the area is also known for the Hotel del Coronado, a magnificent Victorian-style luxury wooden hotel built in the late 19th century.

Gaslamp Quarter ★★
This historic district, with its late 19th- to early 20th-century Victorian buildings, is also famous for its nightlife and shops along 5th Avenue.

Mission San Diego de Alcalá ★
Founded in 1769, this was the first Spanish mission in California to be built.

Old Town San Diego ★★
Officially a state historic park, Old Town San Diego is located northwest of the current city center. Several buildings constructed between 1820 and 1870 are preserved here around a parade ground.

Seaport Village ★
A collection of shops, bars, and restaurants by the bay, built in the style of small, colorful wooden houses. The area is quite busy and lively.

Museums

Maritime Museum ★★
Several historic ships docked here, dating back to the 19th century, along with two submarines to explore. Nearby, you can also visit the USS Midway aircraft carrier, now a museum.

Parks, Gardens, and Natural Spaces

Birch Aquarium at Scripps ★★★
Perched on a cliff overlooking the ocean, this state-of-the-art aquarium is one of the largest in the country and is located on the outskirts of San Diego, in La Jolla. Visitors can discover 5,000 fish swimming in over 60 habitats typical of the Pacific, from the California coast to Mexico.

Cabrillo National Monument ★★
This park is dedicated to the Portuguese navigator Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, who was the first to land here in 1542. Beyond a commemorative statue, you can also see an old lighthouse-museum. But the real highlight is the panoramic view of the bay and the city from the 120-meter-high promontory.

Balboa Park ★★★★
Nearly 5 km² of nature in the heart of the city, along with cultural attractions, several museums, theaters, shops, restaurants, and the San Diego Zoo. Naturally, the place is well-loved and busy.

San Diego Beaches ★★★
This is what has made the city a tourist hotspot. San Diego boasts stunning beaches around its sheltered bay. You can enjoy surfing and other water activities as well as swimming.

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve ★
North of San Diego, this natural spot by the ocean offers a few hikes and a lovely coastal panorama.

SeaWorld San Diego ★★
It has long been one of the city’s top attractions (despite the cost). The venue is both an aquarium and, above all, a marine-themed park with shows (orcas, dolphins, etc.) and Disneyland-style attractions.

San Diego Zoo ★★
One of the world's most renowned zoos, home to thousands of animals and hundreds of species in vast, recreated habitats. It is associated with the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, located about fifty kilometers away.

Nearby

On the other side of the Mexican border...

Tijuana ★
Bordering California, the city receives 300,000 people daily from the USA for business, shopping, or simply partying.

Additional Information