In this trendy section of downtown San Diego, you can truly immerse yourself in the vibrant city atmosphere. Gaslamp Quarter offers an abundance of activities and it can be challenging to determine where to begin! Whether you prefer to unwind at a bar or club, or discover one of the area’s distinct architectural landmarks, there is no shortage of options for every taste.
The Gaslamp Quarter is roughly two square miles and boasts a range of funky shops, fantastic restaurants, top-notch hotels, and lots of nightlife options. It’s also home to posh shopping boutiques – there’s something for all tastes here!
With so much to see and do in the Gaslamp Quarter, you’ll want to plan a full day exploring this hidden jewel! Read on for our list of things to do in the Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego
The 97 Most Popular Things To Do In Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego
97. Athenaeum Music & Arts Library
4.6 (16 reviews)
Credit: Jim Balderrama, Google Maps
Location: 1008 Wall Street La Jolla CA
Tel: 858 454 5872
Web Address: http://ljathenaeum.org/
96. Silver Strand
4.6 (22 reviews)
95. Central Beach
4.4 (31 reviews)
Credit: Steve Boland, License, Flickr
94. Port of San Diego
4.2 (52 reviews)
Credit: Wayne Hsieh, License, Flickr
Location: 3165 Pacific Hwy San Diego CA
Tel: 619 686 6200
Web Address: https://portofsandiego.org/
93. ICA San Diego – Central
4.5 (113 reviews)
Credit: RUXANDRA PREDESCU, Google Maps
Location: 1439 El Prado San Diego CA
Tel: 619 236 0011
Web Address: http://icasandiego.org/
92. San Diego History Center
4.5 (135 reviews)
Credit: Aditya Karyakarte, Google Maps
Location: 1649 El Prado San Diego CA
Tel: 619 232 6203
Web Address: http://sandiegohistory.org/
91. Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
4.3 (140 reviews)
Credit: Victor Angelo, Google Maps
Location: 700 Prospect Street La Jolla CA
Tel: 858 454 3541
Web Address: http://mcasd.org/
90. Marston House
4.8 (148 reviews)
Credit: Lotty Soulatha, Google Maps
Location: San Diego CA
Web Address: https://balboapark.org/museums/marston-house
89. Junípero Serra Museum
4.4 (160 reviews)
Location: 2727 Presidio Dr San Diego CA
Tel: 619 232 6203
Web Address: https://sandiegohistory.org/serramuseum/
88. Manta
4.6 (160 reviews)
Location: 500 Sea World Dr San Diego CA
Web Address: https://seaworldparks.com/seaworld-sandiego
87. California Tower
4.7 (169 reviews)
Credit: Visitor7, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: California Tower 1350 El Prado San Diego CA
Tel: 619 239 2001
Web Address: https://museumofus.org/exhibits/california-tower/
86. Mission Bay
4.7 (204 reviews)
Credit: Visitor7, License, Wikimedia commons
85. Coronado Historical Association
4.6 (228 reviews)
Credit: Coronado Historical Association, Google Maps
Location: 1100 Orange Ave Coronado CA
Tel: 619 435 7242
Web Address: https://coronadohistory.org/
84. Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego – Downtown
4.2 (229 reviews)
Location: 1100 Kettner Blvd San Diego CA
Tel: 858 454 3541
Web Address: http://mcasd.org/
83. Soledad Mountain
4.8 (240 reviews)
82. The Veterans Museum at Balboa Park
4.7 (245 reviews)
Location: 2115 Park Blvd San Diego CA
Tel: 619 239 2300
Web Address: http://veteranmuseum.org/
81. Sunny Jim’s Sea Cave
4.2 (286 reviews)
Credit: Genna Suchomel, Google Maps
Location: 1325 Coast Blvd La Jolla CA
Tel: 858 459 0746
Web Address: http://cavestore.com/
80. Lake Murray
4.6 (291 reviews)
79. Mingei International Museum
4.6 (305 reviews)
Credit: Mingei International Museum, Google Maps
Location: Balboa ParkPlaza de 1439 El Prado San Diego CA
Tel: 619 239 0003
Web Address: http://mingei.org/
78. Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery
4.9 (312 reviews)
Location: 1700 Cabrillo Memorial Dr San Diego CA
Tel: 619 553 2084
Web Address: http://cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/ftrosecrans.asp
77. Cowles Mountain
4.7 (325 reviews)
76. Windansea Beach
4.8 (331 reviews)
75. Tourmaline Surf Park
4.6 (424 reviews)
Credit: Tịnh Quán Tâm, Google Maps
Web Address: http://sandiego.gov/lifeguards/beaches/northpb
74. Coronado Tidelands Park
4.8 (438 reviews)
Location: 2000 Mullinex Dr Coronado CA
Tel: 619 725 6001
Web Address: https://portofsandiego.org/wonderfront/coronado/coronado-tidelands-park
73. Museum of Photographic Arts
4.5 (467 reviews)
Location: 1649 El Prado San Diego CA
Tel: 619 238 7559
Web Address: http://mopa.org/
72. Giant Dipper Roller Coaster
4.5 (472 reviews)
Location: 3146 Mission Blvd San Diego CA
Tel: 858 488 1549
Web Address: https://belmontpark.com/ride/giant-dipper-roller-coaster/
71. Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Pier
4.8 (480 reviews)
Location: 8650 Kennel Way La Jolla CA
Web Address: https://scripps.ucsd.edu/
70. Comic-Con Museum
4.0 (492 reviews)
Credit: K. Flewelling, Google Maps
Location: 2131 Pan American Plaza San Diego CA
Tel: 619 546 9073
Web Address: http://comic-conmuseum.org/
69. San Diego Bay
4.8 (498 reviews)
68. Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve
4.5 (553 reviews)
Location: 301 Caspian Way Imperial Beach CA
Tel: 619 575 3613
Web Address: http://trnerr.org/
67. Dog Beach
4.7 (575 reviews)
66. Coronado Bridge
4.6 (588 reviews)
Location: CA 75 Coronado CA
Tel: 619 688 6699
Web Address: http://dot.ca.gov/
65. Ellen Browning Scripps Park
4.8 (616 reviews)
Location: 1100 Coast Blvd La Jolla CA
Tel: 619 235 1169
Web Address: https://sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/parks/regional/shoreline/ebscripps
64. Coronado Island
4.8 (719 reviews)
Credit: Sergei Gussev, License, Flickr
63. Alcázar Garden
4.7 (731 reviews)
Location: 1363 El Prado San Diego CA
Tel: 619 239 0512
Web Address: https://balboapark.org/gardens/alcazar
62. Timken Museum of Art
4.6 (733 reviews)
Credit: Timken Museum of Art, Google Maps
Location: 1500 El Prado San Diego CA
Tel: 619 239 5548
Web Address: https://timkenmuseum.org/
61. San Diego Model Railroad Museum
4.6 (766 reviews)
Credit: Brian Keenan, Google Maps
Location: 1649 El Prado San Diego CA
Tel: 619 696 0199
Web Address: http://sdmrm.org/
60. Living Coast Discovery Center
4.6 (776 reviews)
Credit: Living Coast Discovery Center, Google Maps
Location: 1000 Gunpowder Point Dr Chula Vista CA
Tel: 619 409 5900
Web Address: http://thelivingcoast.org/
59. Border Field State Park
4.5 (797 reviews)
Location: 1500 Monument Road San Diego CA
Tel: 619 575 3613
Web Address: https://parks.ca.gov/
58. Fiesta Island Park
4.6 (903 reviews)
Location: 1590 E Mission Bay Dr San Diego CA
Tel: 619 525 8213
Web Address: https://sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/parks/regional/missionbay/fiestaisland
57. Spreckels Park
4.7 (1,039 reviews)
Credit: Nan Palmero, License, Flickr
Location: 601 Orange Ave Coronado CA
Tel: 619 522 7342
56. Star of India
4.7 (1,079 reviews)
Location: 1492 N Harbor Dr San Diego CA
Tel: 619 234 9153
Web Address: http://sdmaritime.org/star-of-india/
55. Coronado Beach
4.8 (1,222 reviews)
54. Tecolote Canyon Natural Park and Nature Center
4.6 (1,273 reviews)
Credit: Ken Kondo, Google Maps
Location: 5180 Tecolote Road San Diego CA
Tel: 858 581 9944
Web Address: https://sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/parks/osp/tecolote
53. Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala
4.7 (1,346 reviews)
Location: 10818 San Diego Mission Road San Diego CA
Tel: 619 283 7319
Web Address: http://missionsandiego.com/
52. San Diego Automotive Museum
4.4 (1,393 reviews)
Credit: San Diego Automotive Museum, Google Maps
Location: 2080 Pan American Plaza San Diego CA
Tel: 619 231 2886
Web Address: http://sdautomuseum.org/
51. Presidio Park
4.6 (1,460 reviews)
Location: 2811 Jackson Street San Diego CA
Web Address: https://sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/parks/regional/presidio
50. Whaley House Museum
4.4 (1,517 reviews)
Location: 2476 San Diego Ave San Diego CA
Tel: 619 786 1143
Web Address: https://whaleyhousesandiego.com/
49. The San Diego Museum of Art
4.6 (1,789 reviews)
Location: 1450 El Prado San Diego CA
Tel: 619 232 7931
Web Address: http://sdmart.org/
48. Spanish Village Art Center
4.7 (1,916 reviews)
Location: 1770 Village Pl San Diego CA
Tel: 619 233 9050
Web Address: https://spanishvillageartcenter.com/
47. Museum of Us
4.3 (1,965 reviews)
Location: 1350 El Prado San Diego CA
Tel: 619 239 2001
Web Address: http://museumofus.org/
46. Old Point Loma Lighthouse
4.7 (1,974 reviews)
Location: 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr San Diego CA
Web Address: https://sandiego.gov/digital-archives-photos/old-point-loma-lighthouse
45. Little Italy Mercato Farmers’ Market
4.7 (2,025 reviews)
Location: 600 W Date Street San Diego CA
Tel: 619 233 3901
Web Address: http://sandiegomarkets.com/
44. San Diego California Temple
4.8 (2,027 reviews)
Credit: Visitor7, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 7474 Charmant Dr San Diego CA
Web Address: https://churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/details/san-diego-california-temple
43. Mormon Battalion Historic Site
4.8 (2,133 reviews)
Credit: Gregory Schmidt, Google Maps
Location: 2510 Juan Street San Diego CA
Tel: 619 298 3317
Web Address: https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/subsection/historic-sites/mormon-battalion-historic-site
42. La Jolla Cove
4.8 (2,138 reviews)
41. The New Children’s Museum
4.6 (2,304 reviews)
Credit: Sebastian Wallroth, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 200 W Island Ave San Diego CA
Tel: 619 233 8792
Web Address: http://thinkplaycreate.org/
40. Spruce Street Suspension Bridge
4.7 (2,365 reviews)
Location: W Spruce Street San Diego CA
39. San Diego Natural History Museum
4.6 (2,749 reviews)
Location: 1788 El Prado San Diego CA
Tel: 619 232 3821
Web Address: http://sdnat.org/
38. Fleet Science Center
4.5 (3,031 reviews)
Credit: Fleet Science Center, Google Maps
Location: 1875 El Prado San Diego CA
Tel: 619 238 1233
Web Address: https://fleetscience.org/
37. Maritime Museum of San Diego
4.7 (3,380 reviews)
Location: 1492 N Harbor Dr San Diego CA
Tel: 619 234 9153
Web Address: http://sdmaritime.org/
36. North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
4.3 (3,558 reviews)
Credit: juan carlos cuervo marulanda, Google Maps
Location: 2050 Entertainment Cir Chula Vista CA
Tel: 619 494 5600
Web Address: https://livenation.com/venue/KovZpa2WZe/north-island-credit-union-amphitheatre-events
35. la Jolla Shores Beach
4.7 (3,573 reviews)
34. Chicano Park
4.6 (3,617 reviews)
Credit: Kasem Marifet, Google Maps
Location: San Diego CA
Web Address: http://chicanoparksandiego.com/
33. Sesame Place San Diego
4.1 (3,642 reviews)
Credit: Sesame Place San Diego, Google Maps
Location: 2052 Entertainment Cir Chula Vista CA
Tel: 619 943 3566
Web Address: https://sesameplace.com/san-diego/
32. Silver Strand State Beach
4.6 (3,870 reviews)
Location: 5000 CA 75 Coronado CA
Tel: 619 435 5184
Web Address: http://parks.ca.gov/
31. San Diego Air & Space Museum
4.6 (3,983 reviews)
Location: 2001 Pan American Plaza San Diego CA
Tel: 619 234 8291
Web Address: https://sandiegoairandspace.org/
30. Mission Beach Boardwalk | Ocean Front Walk
4.7 (4,120 reviews)
Location: W Mission Bay Dr San Diego CA
Tel: 619 232 3101
Web Address: https://sandiego.gov/
29. Botanical Building
4.7 (4,158 reviews)
Location: 1549 El Prado San Diego CA
Tel: 619 239 0512
Web Address: https://balboapark.org/gardens/botanical-building
28. Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial
4.8 (4,166 reviews)
Location: 6905 La Jolla Scenic Dr S La Jolla CA
Tel: 858 459 2314
Web Address: https://soledadmemorial.org/
27. Liberty Public Market
4.7 (5,144 reviews)
Credit: Liberty Public Market, Google Maps
Location: 2820 Historic Decatur Road San Diego CA
Tel: 619 487 9346
Web Address: https://libertypublicmarketsd.com/
26. Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography
4.5 (5,853 reviews)
Location: 2300 Expedition Way La Jolla CA
Tel: 858 534 3474
Web Address: https://aquarium.ucsd.edu/
25. Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
4.8 (5,986 reviews)
Location: Ladera Street San Diego CA
Tel: 619 525 8213
Web Address: https://sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/parks/regional/shoreline/sunset
24. La Jolla Shores Park
4.7 (6,668 reviews)
Location: 8300 Camino Del Oro La Jolla CA
Tel: 619 221 8899
Web Address: https://sandiego.gov/lifeguards/beaches/shores
23. Japanese Friendship Garden
4.6 (6,678 reviews)
Location: 2215 Pan American Road E San Diego CA
Tel: 619 232 2721
Web Address: http://niwa.org/
22. Mission Trails Regional Park
4.8 (7,261 reviews)
Location: 1 Father Junipero Serra Trail San Diego CA
Tel: 619 668 3281
Web Address: http://mtrp.org/
21. Children’s Pool La Jolla
4.7 (7,325 reviews)
Web Address: https://sandiego.gov/lifeguards/beaches/pool
20. Coronado Ferry Center
4.7 (7,832 reviews)
Location: 1201 1st Street Coronado CA
Tel: 619 435 8895
Web Address: http://coronadoferrylanding.com/
19. Waterfront Park
4.7 (8,171 reviews)
Credit: Sergei Gussev, License, Flickr
Location: 1600 Pacific Hwy San Diego CA
Tel: 619 232 7275
Web Address: http://sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/parks/Waterfrontpark.html
18. Ocean Beach Pier
4.6 (8,493 reviews)
Location: 1850 Ocean Front Street San Diego CA
17. Cabrillo National Monument
4.8 (9,965 reviews)
Location: 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr San Diego CA
Tel: 619 557 5450
Web Address: http://nps.gov/cabr/
16. Coronado Beach & Dog Park
4.7 (11,658 reviews)
Location: Ocean Blvd Coronado CA
Tel: 619 522 7342
15. Belmont Park
4.5 (14,331 reviews)
Location: 3146 Mission Blvd San Diego CA
Tel: 858 488 1549
Web Address: http://belmontpark.com/
14. Hotel del Coronado, Curio Collection by Hilton
4.5 (16,307 reviews)
Location: 1500 Orange Ave Coronado CA
Tel: 619 435 6611
Web Address: https://hoteldel.com/
13. Petco Park
4.7 (16,714 reviews)
Credit: Chris Lee, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 100 Park Blvd San Diego CA
Tel: 619 795 5025
Web Address: https://mlb.com/padres
12. Seaport Village
4.6 (23,210 reviews)
Location: 849 W Harbor Dr San Diego CA
Tel: 619 530 0704
Web Address: http://seaportvillage.com/
11. Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
4.7 (24,330 reviews)
Location: 4002 Wallace Street San Diego CA
Tel: 619 220 5422
Web Address: http://parks.ca.gov/
10. USS Midway Museum
4.8 (37,632 reviews)
Location: 910 N Harbor Dr San Diego CA
Tel: 619 544 9600
Web Address: https://midway.org/
9. SeaWorld San Diego
4.4 (40,139 reviews)
Location: 500 Sea World Dr San Diego CA
Tel: 619 222 4732
Web Address: https://seaworld.com/san-diego
8. Balboa Park
4.8 (64,750 reviews)
Credit: RightBrainPhotography, License, Flickr
Location: San Diego CA
Tel: 619 239 0512
Web Address: http://balboapark.org/
Our Top picks
7. Yuma Building
3.6 (9 reviews)
Credit: Gary J. Wood, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 631 Fifth Ave San Diego CA
6. Gaslamp Quarter Sign
4.7 (19 reviews)
Credit: Dietmar Rabich, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 199 Fifth Ave San Diego CA
5. Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House Museum
4.1 (106 reviews)
Credit: Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House Museum, Google Maps
Location: 410 Island Ave San Diego CA
Tel: 619 233 4692
Web Address: http://gaslampfoundation.org/
4. Spreckels Theatre
4.5 (485 reviews)
Credit: Nathan Rupert, License, Flickr
Location: 121 Broadway #600 San Diego CA
Tel: 619 235 9500
Web Address: http://spreckels.net/
3. Gaslamp Quarter – The Historic Heart Of San Diego
4.6 (677 reviews)
Location: 614 Fifth Ave San Diego CA
Tel: 619 233 5227
Web Address: http://gaslamp.org/
2. Balboa Theatre
4.6 (1,332 reviews)
Credit: MARELBU, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 868 Fourth Ave San Diego CA
Tel: 619 615 4000
Web Address: https://sandiegotheatres.org/
1. San Diego Zoo
4.7 (46,854 reviews)
Credit: Angi English, License, Flickr
Location: 2920 Zoo Dr San Diego CA
Tel: 619 231 1515
Web Address: https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/
Final Words:
Thank you for reading our list of the best things to do in Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego! We hope it helped you plan the perfect itinerary for your next trip to this fantastic destination. Happy travels!
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