Choose from 63 Fun Things to Do in San Diego
Embarcadero
- See the Embarcadero as part of a small-group or private city tour or harbor cruise.
- A must-do for families with kids and first-time visitors.
- Wear comfortable shoes, especially if you’re visiting the museums.
- Bring a hat or sunglasses, as there’s little shade along the waterfront.
- Parking is plentiful throughout the area.
Model Railroad Museum
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El Campo Santo Cemetery
- See the old cemetery as part of a San Diego tour.
- Visit with a guide to hear tales of spooky ghost sightings and odd paranormal occurrences.
- Wear comfortable shoes suitable for walking over uneven surfaces.
Downtown San Diego
Pacific Beach
Maritime Museum of San Diego
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Heritage Park
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Natural History Museum
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Ocean Beach Pier
Between the South Mission Jetty and Pacific Beach Point stretch 3 miles (5 kilometers) of pure, unadulterated sun-kissed southern California beach scene. The center of this scene is Ocean Beach Pier, the largest concrete pier on the West Coast, perfect for strolling, fishing, and just watching the waves.
Amid the swimsuit-clad crowd and the anglers, Ocean Beach Pier invites people-watching. Along the pier, you’ll find a café, benches, and bait and tackle shops should you want to try your luck with the fish. Under the pier, skillful surfers slalom the pilings.
Ocean Beach Pier is part of Ocean Beach, San Diego’s most bohemian seaside community. You can get tattooed, shop for antiques, and walk into a restaurant barefoot. Ocean Front Walk bristles with joggers, in-line skaters and cyclists. Back from the beach, Mission Boulevard consists of block after block of surf shops, burger joints, and beer busts.
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Ocean Beach Pier lies southwest of downtown San Diego, just across the San Diego River from SeaWorld. The area is best accessed by car. After you visit Ocean Beach Pier, spend some time strolling Ocean Beach.
If you’re here on a Wednesday afternoon, stop by the Ocean Beach farmers market.
Green Flash Brewing Company
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Balboa Park
- Explore the area on foot or use the free Balboa Park Tram, which loops continuously around the main areas of the park daily from 9am to 6 or 8pm.
- Balboa Park is kid-friendly, with a miniature train, playgrounds, and play areas in most museums.
- With so many options, it’s best to prioritize your desired stops in the park. You can pick up a park map at the Balboa Park Visitors Center in the House of Hospitality.
- Free concerts on the Spreckels Organ are held every Sunday at 2pm, and on Monday evenings at 7:30pm from late June through August.
- Eating options abound throughout the park. Be sure to check out the Prado for diverse cuisine and museum-inspired decor.
Coronado
- The town is only about 1 mile (1.6 kilometer) wide—it’s best explored on foot or by bike.
- Bike rentals are available around town; children are required to wear helmets.
- If you want to spend time on the beach and visit some of the attractions, plan for a whole day in Coronado.
- Metered parking and paid parking lots can be found around town.
Belmont Park
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New Children's Museum
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Mission Beach
Mission Beach is a cozy, beachside community that rests on a sandbar between the Pacific Ocean and Mission Bay. It’s a perfect spot to indulge in a myriad of outdoor activities including sunbathing, horseshoes, surfing, bicycling, skateboarding, and tossing a Frisbee. With courts available for both, beach volleyball and basketball are also popular draws to the beach.
For activities away from Mission Beach, there’s SeaWorld in Mission Bay Park and historic Belmont Park in South Mission Beach, which features the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster as well as other rides including the FlowRider, Chaos, Vertical Plunge, Krazy Kars, and Tilt-a-Whirl. Also here is the the Mission Beach Plunge, once the largest saltwater (now freshwater) pool in the world and the only remaining structure left from the original Belmont Park structures.
Water activities at Mission Beach include sailboat, rowboat, and kayak rentals, as well as charter boats. On shore, gray whales pass San Diego from mid-December to late February on their way south to Baja California, and again in mid-March on their way up to Alaska.
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Mission Beach is 15 minutes northwest from downtown San Diego. The beachside community is bounded by the San Diego River estuary on the south, Mission Bay Park on the east, and the community of Pacific Beach on the north. A boardwalk runs along the beaches on both the ocean and bay sides of the community.
The main artery through Mission Beach is Mission Boulevard. The community is divided into South Mission, a peninsula, and North Mission. At the south end of the beach a jetty, with grass, parking and a walk, extends into the ocean.
Forte de Monte Serrat
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Ballast Point
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Point Loma
- Point Loma is a must-visit for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.
- Wear comfortable shoes suitable for walking over uneven surfaces.
- Remember to bring sun protection and plenty of water, as there’s little shade in the park.
- Arrive early if you want to beat the crowds and avoid traffic.
La Jolla
Immaculately landscaped parks, white-sand coves, upscale boutiques, and cliffs above deep, clear blue waters make it easy to understand why La Jolla translates from Spanish as “the jewel.”
La Jolla Village sits atop cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean on three sides. Girard Avenue and Prospect Streets are where you’ll find some of San Diego’s best restaurants and certainly its best boutique shopping. For a bit of old La Jolla, head to the La Jolla Historical Society and check out the vintage photos and beach memorabilia. La Jolla’s Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego gets ever-changing world-class exhibitions.
Outdoor enthusiasts will have plenty to indulge in at La Jolla. A wonderful walking path skirts the shoreline, beginning at the Children’s Pool, where a jetty protects the beach from big waves. You can watch sea lions up close as they lounge on the shore. Atop Point La Jolla, at the path’s eastern end is Ellen Browning Scripps Park, a tidy expanse of green lawns and palm trees. The area north of northeast of here is simply called “The Shores.” This is the spot where La Jolla’s cliffs meet the wide, sandy beaches north to Del Mar.
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La Jolla lies 20 minutes northwest of San Diego, along Interstate 5. A bus takes you from downtown and stops at many sights en route. The surrounding area is home to the University of San Diego and several research institutes. There is plenty of shopping and restaurants in the Village, so plan on spending an afternoon here, longer if you’re staying for dinner.
Gaslamp Quarter
- The Gaslamp Quarter is a must-see area for shoppers, nightlife enthusiasts, and travelers who like to explore on foot.
- If you’re traveling with kids, it’s best to visit this area during the day—things can get a little rowdy at night.
- For a break from the bustling streets of the Gaslamp Quarter, head over to Third Avenue—the historic heart of San Diego’s Chinese community.