Whether it’s your passion or not, San Diego offers the chance to pursue it. Take a step out of your comfort zone and uncover all the thrilling activities and sights this city has to present.
With the perfect combination of excellent dining options, a vibrant nightlife scene, and lively art culture, San Diego truly earned its name as California’s beach city. With perfect year-round weather and stunning shores, you can enjoy whatever summer activities your heart desires and indulge in the Cali Baja cuisine of the area.
San Diego serves as the ideal family holiday destination, with an abundance of thrilling attractions and stunning scenery to make for an exciting trip. View the list below to discover the top attractions this Californian gem can offer.
The 98 Most Popular Things To Do In San Diego, Usa
98. Grand Del Mar Court
5.0 (3 reviews)
97. Camino De La Costa
5.0 (5 reviews)
96. Cowles Mountain
5.0 (13 reviews)
95. Silver Strand
4.6 (22 reviews)
Credit: Official Navy Page, License, Wikimedia commons
94. Central Beach
4.4 (31 reviews)
93. Port of San Diego
4.2 (51 reviews)
Credit: Dietmar Rabich, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 3165 Pacific Hwy San Diego CA
Tel: 619 686 6200
Web Address: https://portofsandiego.org/
92. Cardiff State Beach
4.7 (97 reviews)
Credit: Sergei Gussev, License, Flickr
91. Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House Museum
4.1 (106 reviews)
Location: 410 Island Ave San Diego CA
Tel: 619 233 4692
Web Address: http://gaslampfoundation.org/
90. 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/
89. San Diego History Center
4.5 (134 reviews)
Location: 1649 El Prado San Diego CA
Tel: 619 232 6203
Web Address: http://sandiegohistory.org/
88. Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
4.3 (139 reviews)
Credit: Roman Eugeniusz, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 700 Prospect Street La Jolla CA
Tel: 858 454 3541
Web Address: http://mcasd.org/
87. Swami’s Beach
4.7 (145 reviews)
Credit: Sergei Gussev, License, Flickr
Location: Encinitas CA
86. Junípero Serra Museum
4.4 (158 reviews)
Credit: MARELBU, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 2727 Presidio Dr San Diego CA
Tel: 619 232 6203
Web Address: https://sandiegohistory.org/serramuseum/
85. Manta
4.6 (159 reviews)
Credit: Greg Goebel, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 500 Sea World Dr San Diego CA
Web Address: https://seaworldparks.com/seaworld-sandiego
84. California Tower
4.7 (167 reviews)
Credit: Dietmar Rabich, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: California Tower 1350 El Prado San Diego CA
Tel: 619 239 2001
Web Address: https://museumofus.org/exhibits/california-tower/
83. Coronado Historical Association
4.6 (228 reviews)
Location: 1100 Orange Ave Coronado CA
Tel: 619 435 7242
Web Address: https://coronadohistory.org/
82. Lake Hodges
4.6 (233 reviews)
Credit: License, Wikimedia commons
81. Soledad Mountain
4.8 (239 reviews)
Credit: C. C. Pierce, License, Wikimedia commons
80. Sunny Jim’s Sea Cave
4.2 (285 reviews)
Credit: Genna Suchomel, Google Maps
Location: 1325 Coast Blvd La Jolla CA
Tel: 858 459 0746
Web Address: http://cavestore.com/
79. Lake Murray
4.6 (286 reviews)
78. Mingei International Museum
4.6 (304 reviews)
Location: Balboa ParkPlaza de 1439 El Prado San Diego CA
Tel: 619 239 0003
Web Address: http://mingei.org/
77. San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve and Nature Center
4.6 (320 reviews)
Location: 2710 Manchester Ave Cardiff CA
Tel: 760 634 3026
Web Address: http://sdparks.org/content/sdparks/en/park-pages/SanElijo.html
76. Cowles Mountain
4.7 (324 reviews)
75. Windansea Beach
4.8 (330 reviews)
Credit: Intelligence3, License, Wikimedia commons
74. Orfila Vineyards and Winery
4.5 (387 reviews)
Credit: Orfila Vineyards and Winery, Google Maps
Location: 13455 San Pasqual Road Escondido CA
Tel: 760 738 6500
Web Address: http://orfila.com/
73. Torrey Pines State Beach
4.7 (415 reviews)
Credit: Phier, License, Wikimedia commons
72. Bernardo Winery
4.6 (446 reviews)
Credit: Nvvchar, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 13330 Paseo Del Verano Norte San Diego CA
Tel: 858 487 1866
Web Address: http://bernardowinery.com/
71. Museum of Photographic Arts
4.5 (467 reviews)
Credit: License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1649 El Prado San Diego CA
Tel: 619 238 7559
Web Address: http://mopa.org/
70. Giant Dipper Roller Coaster
4.5 (469 reviews)
Credit: photolibrarian, License, Flickr
Location: 3146 Mission Blvd San Diego CA
Tel: 858 488 1549
Web Address: https://belmontpark.com/ride/giant-dipper-roller-coaster/
69. Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Pier
4.8 (478 reviews)
Location: 8650 Kennel Way La Jolla CA
Web Address: https://scripps.ucsd.edu/
68. San Diego Bay
4.8 (497 reviews)
Credit: Dietmar Rabich, License, Wikimedia commons
67. Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve
4.6 (512 reviews)
Location: 12020 Black Mountain Road San Diego CA
Tel: 619 525 8213
Web Address: http://sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/parks/osp/lospenasquitos/index.shtml
66. Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve
4.5 (552 reviews)
Location: 301 Caspian Way Imperial Beach CA
Tel: 619 575 3613
Web Address: http://trnerr.org/
65. Dog Beach
4.7 (573 reviews)
Credit: Andyarms, License, Wikimedia commons
64. Black’s Beach
4.7 (586 reviews)
Credit: Roman Eugeniusz, License, Wikimedia commons
63. Coronado Bridge
4.6 (586 reviews)
Credit: Luciof, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: CA 75 Coronado CA
Tel: 619 688 6699
Web Address: http://dot.ca.gov/
62. Ellen Browning Scripps Park
4.8 (612 reviews)
Location: 1100 Coast Blvd La Jolla CA
Tel: 619 235 1169
Web Address: https://sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/parks/regional/shoreline/ebscripps
61. Self-Realization Fellowship Meditation Gardens
4.9 (713 reviews)
Credit: Wonderlane, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 215 W K Street Encinitas CA
Tel: 760 753 1811
Web Address: http://encinitastemple.org/
60. Coronado Island
4.8 (714 reviews)
59. Timken Museum of Art
4.6 (731 reviews)
Credit: Roman Eugeniusz, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1500 El Prado San Diego CA
Tel: 619 239 5548
Web Address: https://timkenmuseum.org/
58. San Diego Model Railroad Museum
4.6 (758 reviews)
Credit: Sergei Gussev, License, Flickr
Location: 1649 El Prado San Diego CA
Tel: 619 696 0199
Web Address: http://sdmrm.org/
57. Living Coast Discovery Center
4.6 (776 reviews)
Location: 1000 Gunpowder Point Dr Chula Vista CA
Tel: 619 409 5900
Web Address: http://thelivingcoast.org/
56. Border Field State Park
4.5 (796 reviews)
Credit: Tony Webster, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1500 Monument Road San Diego CA
Tel: 619 575 3613
Web Address: https://parks.ca.gov/
55. Annie’s Canyon Trail
4.8 (891 reviews)
Credit: Mohammad Ahmed, Google Maps
Location: 498 450 Solana Hills Dr Solana Beach CA
Tel: 760 436 3944
Web Address: https://thenaturecollective.org/location/annies-canyon-trail/
54. Fiesta Island Park
4.6 (893 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
53. Star of India
4.7 (1,074 reviews)
Credit: Alen Ištoković, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1492 N Harbor Dr San Diego CA
Tel: 619 234 9153
Web Address: http://sdmaritime.org/star-of-india/
52. Coronado Beach
4.8 (1,214 reviews)
Credit: Adam Jones, License, Wikimedia commons
51. Balboa Theatre
4.6 (1,328 reviews)
Credit: Daderot, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 868 Fourth Ave San Diego CA
Tel: 619 615 4000
Web Address: https://sandiegotheatres.org/
50. Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala
4.7 (1,339 reviews)
Credit: Prayitno / Thank, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 10818 San Diego Mission Road San Diego CA
Tel: 619 283 7319
Web Address: http://missionsandiego.com/
49. San Diego Automotive Museum
4.4 (1,383 reviews)
Credit: Tomás Del Coro, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 2080 Pan American Plaza San Diego CA
Tel: 619 231 2886
Web Address: http://sdautomuseum.org/
48. Presidio Park
4.6 (1,453 reviews)
Credit: MARELBU, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 2811 Jackson Street San Diego CA
Web Address: https://sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/parks/regional/presidio
47. San Elijo State Beach
4.6 (1,481 reviews)
Credit: Sergei Gussev, License, Flickr
Web Address: http://parks.ca.gov/
46. Whaley House Museum
4.4 (1,511 reviews)
Credit: Joe Mabel, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 2476 San Diego Ave San Diego CA
Tel: 619 786 1143
Web Address: https://trolleytours.com/san-diego/whaley-house
45. The San Diego Museum of Art
4.6 (1,781 reviews)
Credit: Tuxyso, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1450 El Prado San Diego CA
Tel: 619 232 7931
Web Address: http://sdmart.org/
44. Spanish Village Art Center
4.7 (1,909 reviews)
Credit: Davric, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1770 Village Pl San Diego CA
Tel: 619 233 9050
Web Address: https://spanishvillageartcenter.com/
43. Museum of Us
4.3 (1,961 reviews)
Credit: Daderot, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1350 El Prado San Diego CA
Tel: 619 239 2001
Web Address: http://museumofus.org/
42. Old Point Loma Lighthouse
4.7 (1,963 reviews)
Credit: Dietmar Rabich, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr San Diego CA
Web Address: https://sandiego.gov/digital-archives-photos/old-point-loma-lighthouse
41. Torrey Pines Golf Course
4.7 (2,215 reviews)
Credit: Roman Eugeniusz, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 11480 N Torrey Pines Road La Jolla CA
Tel: 858 552 1662
Web Address: https://sandiego.gov/torrey-pines
40. The New Children’s Museum
4.6 (2,293 reviews)
Credit: Omar Bárcena, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 200 W Island Ave San Diego CA
Tel: 619 233 8792
Web Address: http://thinkplaycreate.org/
39. Spruce Street Suspension Bridge
4.7 (2,363 reviews)
Credit: eltpics, License, Flickr
Location: W Spruce Street San Diego CA
38. Fletcher Cove Beach Park
4.8 (2,485 reviews)
Credit: Sergei Gussev, License, Flickr
Location: 111 S Sierra Ave Solana Beach CA
Tel: 858 720 2400
Web Address: http://ci.solana-beach.ca.us/index.asp
37. Potato Chip Rock
4.7 (2,659 reviews)
Location: Ramona CA
Tel: 858 668 4772
Web Address: http://poway.org/502/Trails-Hiking
36. San Diego Natural History Museum
4.6 (2,747 reviews)
Credit: MARELBU, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1788 El Prado San Diego CA
Tel: 619 232 3821
Web Address: http://sdnat.org/
35. Fleet Science Center
4.5 (3,026 reviews)
Credit: Roman Eugeniusz, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1875 El Prado San Diego CA
Tel: 619 238 1233
Web Address: https://fleetscience.org/
34. Maritime Museum of San Diego
4.7 (3,372 reviews)
Credit: Dietmar Rabich, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1492 N Harbor Dr San Diego CA
Tel: 619 234 9153
Web Address: http://sdmaritime.org/
33. North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
4.3 (3,526 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
32. la Jolla Shores Beach
4.7 (3,567 reviews)
31. Sesame Place San Diego
4.1 (3,615 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/
30. Chicano Park
4.6 (3,615 reviews)
Credit: Roman Eugeniusz, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: San Diego CA
Web Address: http://chicanoparksandiego.com/
29. Silver Strand State Beach
4.6 (3,864 reviews)
Location: 5000 CA 75 Coronado CA
Tel: 619 435 5184
Web Address: http://parks.ca.gov/
28. San Diego Air & Space Museum
4.6 (3,963 reviews)
Credit: Tomás Del Coro, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 2001 Pan American Plaza San Diego CA
Tel: 619 234 8291
Web Address: https://sandiegoairandspace.org/
27. Mission Beach Boardwalk | Ocean Front Walk
4.7 (4,118 reviews)
Location: W Mission Bay Dr San Diego CA
Tel: 619 232 3101
Web Address: https://sandiego.gov/
26. Botanical Building
4.7 (4,156 reviews)
Credit: MARELBU, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1549 El Prado San Diego CA
Tel: 619 239 0512
Web Address: https://balboapark.org/gardens/botanical-building
25. Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial
4.8 (4,158 reviews)
Credit: Wayne S. Grazio, License, Flickr
Location: 6905 La Jolla Scenic Dr S La Jolla CA
Tel: 858 459 2314
Web Address: https://soledadmemorial.org/
24. Liberty Public Market
4.7 (5,129 reviews)
Credit: Liberty Public Market, Google Maps
Location: 2820 Historic Decatur Road San Diego CA
Tel: 619 487 9346
Web Address: https://libertypublicmarketsd.com/
23. Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
4.8 (5,975 reviews)
Credit: Tuxyso, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Ladera Street San Diego CA
Tel: 619 525 8213
Web Address: https://sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/parks/regional/shoreline/sunset
22. Japanese Friendship Garden
4.6 (6,657 reviews)
Credit: Roman Eugeniusz, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 2215 Pan American Road E San Diego CA
Tel: 619 232 2721
Web Address: http://niwa.org/
21. La Jolla Shores Park
4.7 (6,660 reviews)
Location: 8300 Camino Del Oro La Jolla CA
Tel: 619 221 8899
Web Address: https://sandiego.gov/lifeguards/beaches/shores
20. Mission Trails Regional Park
4.8 (7,262 reviews)
Credit: Stickpen, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1 Father Junipero Serra Trail San Diego CA
Tel: 619 668 3281
Web Address: http://mtrp.org/
19. Children’s Pool La Jolla
4.7 (7,323 reviews)
Web Address: https://sandiego.gov/lifeguards/beaches/pool
18. Coronado Ferry Center
4.7 (7,809 reviews)
Location: 1201 1st Street Coronado CA
Tel: 619 435 8895
Web Address: http://coronadoferrylanding.com/
17. Waterfront Park
4.7 (8,137 reviews)
Credit: Roman Eugeniusz, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1600 Pacific Hwy San Diego CA
Tel: 619 232 7275
Web Address: http://sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/parks/Waterfrontpark.html
16. Ocean Beach Pier
4.6 (8,469 reviews)
Credit: rvd5star, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1850 Ocean Front Street San Diego CA
15. Coronado Beach & Dog Park
4.7 (11,633 reviews)
Location: Ocean Blvd Coronado CA
Tel: 619 522 7342
14. Torrey Pines State Reserve
4.8 (12,749 reviews)
Credit: Roman Eugeniusz, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 12600 N Torrey Pines Road La Jolla CA
Tel: 858 755 2063
Web Address: https://parks.ca.gov/
13. Belmont Park
4.5 (14,293 reviews)
Credit: Roman Eugeniusz, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 3146 Mission Blvd San Diego CA
Tel: 858 488 1549
Web Address: http://belmontpark.com/
12. Petco Park
4.7 (16,648 reviews)
Credit: Adam Jones, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 100 Park Blvd San Diego CA
Tel: 619 795 5025
Web Address: https://mlb.com/padres
11. Seaport Village
4.6 (23,139 reviews)
Location: 849 W Harbor Dr San Diego CA
Tel: 619 530 0704
Web Address: http://seaportvillage.com/
10. Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
4.7 (24,266 reviews)
Credit: Adam Jones, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 4002 Wallace Street San Diego CA
Tel: 619 220 5422
Web Address: http://parks.ca.gov/
Our Top picks
9. La Jolla Cove
4.8 (2,121 reviews)
Credit: Rhododendrites, License, Wikimedia commons
8. Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography
4.5 (5,830 reviews)
Credit: Stickpen, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 2300 Expedition Way La Jolla CA
Tel: 858 534 3474
Web Address: https://aquarium.ucsd.edu/
7. Cabrillo National Monument
4.8 (9,942 reviews)
Credit: MARELBU, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr San Diego CA
Tel: 619 557 5450
Web Address: http://nps.gov/cabr/
6. Hotel del Coronado, Curio Collection by Hilton
4.5 (16,277 reviews)
Location: 1500 Orange Ave Coronado CA
Tel: 619 435 6611
Web Address: https://hoteldel.com/
5. San Diego Zoo Safari Park
4.7 (21,344 reviews)
Credit: Carodean Road Designs, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 15500 San Pasqual Valley Road Escondido CA
Tel: 619 231 1515
Web Address: http://sdzsafaripark.org/
4. USS Midway Museum
4.8 (37,504 reviews)
Credit: Dietmar Rabich, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 910 N Harbor Dr San Diego CA
Tel: 619 544 9600
Web Address: https://midway.org/
3. SeaWorld San Diego
4.4 (39,964 reviews)
Credit: pelican, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 500 Sea World Dr San Diego CA
Tel: 619 222 4732
Web Address: https://seaworld.com/san-diego
2. San Diego Zoo
4.7 (46,701 reviews)
Credit: pelican, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 2920 Zoo Dr San Diego CA
Tel: 619 231 1515
Web Address: https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/
1. Balboa Park
4.8 (64,612 reviews)
Credit: Roman Eugeniusz, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: San Diego CA
Tel: 619 239 0512
Web Address: http://balboapark.org/
Final Words:
Thank you for reading our list of the best things to do in San Diego, Usa! We hope it helped you plan the perfect itinerary for your next trip to this fantastic destination. Happy travels!
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