26 Impressive Sightseeing Places and Fun Things to Do in San Diego, California

November 13, 2022 Mustafa Natalwala 1619 Views

San Diego is a city in the California State of the United States of America. The city sits on the southern coast of the state and faces the Pacific Ocean. Some of the most fun things to do in San Diego, California are along the coast of the city. It has pristine beaches, cliffs, and a natural reserve. You will come across some of the most beautiful things to see in San Diego on the coast. These sights include sea caves, rock formations, wave cliffs, forests, and so on.

You can also come to the coast to enjoy wonderful sunset views, picnics, nature trails, beach activities, and adventure activities. It is also one of the best places to visit in San Diego, California for scuba diving, boat cruise, whale-watching tours, snorkeling, swimming, kayaking, and more. On the other hand, popular San Diego activities in the cities include shopping, entertainment, leisure, food tours, and amusement.

The city is best known for its amusement parks and entertainment venues. The city’s zoo is among the largest in the country. It is popular among San Diego tourist attractions for the animals, interactive activities, and safari experience. You will also come across a lot of theme parks during San Diego vacation. The city has Lego Land, SeaWorld Marine Park, Aquariums, Water Parks, and many more.

The next largest bunch of San Diego attractions comprise museums. The city has museums dedicated to natural history, maritime history, anthropology, art, culture, automobiles, science, and more. You can also check out museums about the city and famous people who lived here during San Diego sightseeing.

Once you have explored the urban jungle, you can also enjoy wonderful natural landscapes during San Diego travel. Just outside the city, you can explore mountains, forests, canyons, and coastal terrains.

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Table of Contents

Top 26 Tourist Places to Visit in San Diego, California in 6 Days (Trip Itinerary)

Day 1

1. San Diego Zoo

This zoo is considered the best Zoo in the world. It has more than 37,000 animals from 650 species. The zoo is divided into different segments based on types of wilderness. Some of the highlight animals of this zoo include elephants, lions, tigers, bears, deers, crocodiles, cheetahs, wolves, and more. Though the zoo is best known for fun things to do in San Diego, California. You can watch animals feeding and even interact with a few of them. You will need 2 to 3 hours to tour this zoo.

I suggest you should get your 1 Day Pass Ticket to San Diego Zoo in advance.

2. Natural History Museum

Also known as “The Nat”, this museum focuses on various natural sciences including zoology, botany, biology, geography, and many more. You will see fossils of dinosaurs, exhibits concerning climate change, skeletons of different animals, and more. It is one of the best places to visit in San Diego, California for family tourists. The Nat has interactive exhibits and activities for children. You will need about an hour to tour this museum.

I suggest you should get your Entry Ticket to Natural History Museum in advance.

3. Museum of Us (Museum of Man)

This anthropological museum focuses on the evolution of mankind and civilization. The museum has exhibits pertaining to different parts of the world. But it specifically focuses on the early history of western Americas. You will find many interesting things to see in San Diego concerning the evolution of native American cultures. You will need about an hour to tour this museum.

4. Automotive Museum

This museum exhibits the collection of Briggs Cunningham, a well-known race car driver, and automobile collector. Some of the highlight vehicles of this collection include Louis Mattar’s 1947 Cadillac, 1928 Studebaker, Model 30 Touring, 1925 Bentley, and 1990 Ferrari Testarossa. It is one of the most popular San Diego tourist attractions. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to explore this museum.

I suggest you should book your Ticket to Automotive Museum in advance.

5. Air & Space Museum

This museum outlines the history of human flight. You will see life-size airplanes and space crafts. It is one of the most fascinating San Diego attractions. The collection includes Apollo 9 Command Module, Fokker D.I., Sopwith Pup, Fleet Model 2, Albatros D. Va, and Boeing GPS-12 Satellite. You will need about an hour from San Diego sightseeing to tour this museum.

Day 2

1. Gaslamp Quarter

This quarter is spread over 16 blocks and has 94 buildings from the Victorian era. You can admire the classical architecture, signboards, and designs. It used to be the hub of gambling dens and saloons during the 1880s. The area is also known for many cool things to do in downtown San Diego. You will find entertainment venues, restaurants, cafes, shopping stores, art galleries, and more. It will take you 30 to 45 minutes to explore this area.

Here I am suggesting a couple of Top-Rated Tours that you should try in the Gaslamp Quarter

2. USS Midway Museum

This maritime and aviation museum is housed in the USS Midway aircraft carrier. This aircraft carrier was the largest of its kind during the second world war. You can tour many rooms of the carrier to see how the soldiers lived during that time. It is one of the most interesting San Diego tourist spots for its guided audio tours and flight simulator exhibits. You need 2 hours to tour this museum.

I suggest you should get your Skip-the-Line Ticket for USS Midway Museum in advance.

3. Maritime Museum

This museum has the largest collection of historical naval vessels in the world. It is one of the most fascinating places to go in San Diego. Some of the highlight ships in the collection include Star of India, HMS Enterprise, Californian, and more. The museum also has different exhibits concerning sailing, steam engines, maritime exploration, and so on. You will need an hour from San Diego travel to tour this museum.

I suggest you should get your Entry Ticket for Maritime Museum in advance.

4. Old Town San Diego State Historic Park

This park looks into the history of Old Town San Diego. The majority of the buildings in the area were built during the 1800s. It is one of the most important historical sites to explore during San Diego vacation. You will feel that you are transported to the Wild West while exploring this place. You will need 2 hours to explore this historical park when you visit San Diego.

Day 3

1. Sunset Cliffs Natural Park

Spread over 68 acres, this nature park opens to the great Pacific Ocean. The park has varying coastal topography. It has beaches, caves, cliffs, rock formations, and more. It is also popular for hiking, swimming, and other outdoor San Diego activities. It is also one of the best sunset points in the city. You will need about 2 hours to explore this place.

2. SeaWorld San Diego

This park is an oceanarium, marine park, and theme park. It is best known for animal shows featuring seals, dolphins, killer whales, and so on. SeaWorld also has several animal interaction activities. Among them, the Beluga Whale experience is a must-do in San Diego. You will need about 2 hours to enjoy this park.

I suggest you should get a Skip-the-Line Admission Ticket of SeaWorld in advance.

3. Mission Bay Park

Spread over 4,200 acres, this is the largest man-made marine park in the USA. Half of the park is a saltwater lagoon. The park is known for a variety of top things to do in SB, California. You will find beaches, green spaces, sports facilities, swimming pools, clubs, and more. You can also enjoy windsurfing and water skiing at Mission Bay. You can easily spend a couple of hours enjoying several San Diego activities in this park.

4. Belmont Park

This historical amusement park has been around since 1925. You get to enjoy a few rides that have remained operational since the park’s birth. It is one of the best places to visit in San Diego, California to let loose. The park has thrill rides, games, roller coasters, themed areas, restaurants, and more. You will need at least 2 hours to enjoy this park.

I suggest you should get an Unlimited Ride Pass of Belmont Park in advance.

Day 4

1. Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala

Built-in 1769, this is the first mission church in California State. It is widely considered the birthplace of Christianity in the USA. It is one of the most important historical things to see in San Diego. The church has a small museum that sheds light on its history. You will need 20 to 30 minutes to visit this church.

2. Mount Soledad

This hill is home to several San Diego tourist attractions. You will see the Easter Cross, Korean War Memorial, Dr. Seuss Childhood House, and so on. Though it is best known for panoramic views of the city. You will need about an hour to explore the hill and its tourist spots.

3. La Jolla Underwater Park Ecological Reserve (La Jolla Cove)

This oceanside reserve and park is popular for a variety of San Diego activities. It is one of the finest points for scuba diving, swimming, and snorkeling. The park of this reserve has green spaces, picnic areas, viewpoints, and more. The Cove of this park has one of the best beaches in San Diego. You will need at least an hour to enjoy this place.

I suggest you should go for a Guided Tour of Sea Cave Kayaking.

4. Birch Aquarium

This aquarium houses more than three thousand aquatic animals belonging to 380 species. You will see sea horses, whales, jellyfish, sharks, rays, and several other marine animals. The complex also has wave pools where you can interact with certain animals. It is among the most popular San Diego attractions for family tourists. You will need about an hour to explore this place.

Day 5

1. San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Spread over 1,800 acres, this park gives you a wildlife safari experience in the middle of the city. The park has 300 different species of animals including tigers, buffalos, giraffes, lions, and many more. It is also home to several species of birds native to different parts of the world. Different parts of the park recreate different natural environments. The animals are enclosed in environments that are similar to their native lands. This safari is one of the best things to do in San Diego. You will need 2 to 3 hours for this safari.

I suggest you should get a 1 Day Pass Ticket to San Diego Zoo Safari Park in advance.

2. Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

Spanning 2,00 acres this natural reserve has a canyon, beaches, cliffs, streams, a lagoon, and other landscape features. It is one of the best places to go in San Diego for hiking and camping. Three of the most popular trails in this reserve are Guy Fleming Trail, Beach Trail, and Razor Point Trail. The reserve is also known for its amazing viewpoints. You will need about 2 hours to explore this area.

3. Cabrillo National Monument

This monument is dedicated to Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo. It marks the spot where he first landed on the US West Coast. This park has several San Diego tourist spots including a lighthouse, museum, WWII historical sites, and more. You will need about an hour to tour this park.

4. Old Point Loma Lighthouse

This lighthouse was built in 1855 and is part of a military base. Though the lighthouse pre-dates the encampment. This lighthouse was used to guide ships into the bay during the second world. After restoration, the monument recreates the life of a lighthouse keeper during the 1980s. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to tour this historical monument.

5. The San Diego Museum of Art

This museum exhibits historical artworks and artifacts. The oldest exhibit of this museum dates back to 5000 BCE. You will works of European masters as well as American artists. The museum exhibits artworks by Giambattista Pittoni, Gustav Klimt, William Meritt Chase, Otto Dix, and many more. You will need an hour from San Diego travel to tour this museum.

6. Reuben H. Fleet Science Center

The science center educates, engages, and entertains people with its interactive exhibits and shows. The complex has IMAX Dome, a Planetarium, and Eight Galleries featuring more than 100 exhibits. These galleries focus on different streams of science and technology. You will learn about physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy and so on. You will need about an hour from San Diego sightseeing to explore this place.

Day 6

1. Balboa Park

This cultural park has museums, art galleries, gardens, sports facilities, clubs, and entertainment venues. It is home to the Comic Cone Museum, Museum of Photographic Arts, Railroad Museum, and many more. It also has a Japanese Garden, Botanical Garden, Zoro Garden, and so on. It has some of the coolest things to do in SD, California. It also has several venue centers for visual arts, performance arts, music concerts, sports, and more. You will need 4 to 5 hours to tour this entire park.

I suggest you should go for a Guided Walking Tour of Balboa Park.

2. LegoLand

This amusement park is centered around the theme of legos. It has games, rides, thrill rides, roller coasters, entertainment venues, and more. Some of the highlights of LegoLand include the Deep Sea Submarine Adventure ride, Ninja Training game, Dragon Coaster, and Lego Movie World. It is one of the fun places to enjoy during San Diego vacation. You will need about 2 to 3 hours to explore this amusement park.

I suggest you should get your 1 Day Ticket Pass to LegoLand in advance.

3. Boat Cruise / Whale Watching Cruise

There are a variety of boat tours you can enjoy when you visit San Diego. Among these whale-watching cruises, sunset sailing and harbor cruise are the most popular. You can also enjoy the waves in yachts, speedboats, wooden boats, and so on. Any tour requires at least an hour of time.

There are different types of Boat Cruise Tours in San Diego. Here below I am suggesting some of the Top Rated Boat Cruises and Whale Watching Cruise Tours:

If you are looking for more places to see in San Diego, check out the sections below. We have put together an exhaustive list of attractions and activities you can enjoy in downtown San Diego and around the city.

Things to do in San Diego

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in San Diego

USS Midway Museum
Cabrillo National Monument
San Diego Museum of Art
Old Town San Diego State Historic Museum
San Diego Air & Space Museum
San Diego Natural History Museum
Maritime Museum of San Diego
Whaley House Museum
Museum of Us
Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala
The New Children’s Museum
Old Point Loma Lighthouse
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
San Diego Model Railroad Park
Museum of Photographic Arts
Mingei International Museum
San Diego History Center
Timken Museum of Art
Spanish Village Art Center
Star of India
San Diego Automotive Museum
St. Soledad Memorial Veterans Memorial
Balboa Theatre
California Tower
Junipero Serra Museum
Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery
Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum
Old Town San Diego

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in San Diego

La Jolla Underwater Ecological Park
Torrey Pines State Reserve
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
Children’s Pool La Jolla
Mission Trails Regional Park
Cowles Mountain
Potato Chip Rock
Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve
Sunny Jim’s Sea Cave
Lake Hodges
Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve
San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve and Nature Center
Border Field State Park
Lake Murray
Annie’s Canyon
Cleveland National Forest
Anza-Borrego Desert Park
Joshua Tree National Park
Salton Sea
Mt. San Jacinto State Park

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in San Diego

San Diego Zoo
Balboa Park
Hotel del Coronado
SeaWorld San Diego
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Cabrillo National Monument Park
Birch Aquarium
Belmont Park
Petco Park
La Jolla Shores Park
Fleet Science Center
Japanese Friendship Garden
San Diego Botanical Garden
Torrey Pines Gold Course
Waterfront Park
Sesame Place San Diego
Chicano Park
Fiesta Island Park
Orfila Vineyards and Winery
Living Coast Discovery Center
Ellen Browning Scripps Park
Giant Dipper Roller Coaster
Presidio Park
Coronado Ferry Center
Grand Del Mar Court
Bernardo Winery
Fletcher Cove Beach Park

Shopping in San Diego

Seaport Village
Gaslamp Quarter
Fashion Valley
Little Italy
Old Town
Horton Plaza
La Jolla
Liberty Public Market
Westfield UTC
Coronado Ferry Center
Hillcrest
Las Americas Premium Outlets
Balboa Park
Liberty Station

Beaches & Islands in San Diego

La Jolla Cove
Coronado Beach
Windansea Beach
Sunset Cliffs
Black’s Beach
La Jolla Shores Beach
San Diego Bay
Torrey Pines State Beach
San Elijo State Beach
Dog Beach
Silver Strand State Beach
Tourmaline Surf Park
Mission Beach Boardwalk
Cardiff State Beach
Swami’s Beach
Del Mar Dog Beach

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventures in San Diego

Hiking
Trekking
Scuba Diving
Snorkeling
Boat Cruise
Whale Watching Cruise
Camping
Wildlife Safari

Sightseeing in San Diego

Seaport Village
Old Town
Coronado Island
Coronado Bridge
Fiesta Island
Soledad Mountain
Spruce Street Suspension Bridge
Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Pier
Camino de la Costa
Ocean Beach Pier
North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
Port of San Diego

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in San Diego

Little Italy
Dija Mara
Point Loma
Wrench and Rodent
Herb & Wood
Jeune et Jolie
Ironside Fish & Oyster
Campfire
Bencotto
George’s at the Cove
Kettner Exchange
Menya Ultra
Davanti Enoteca
Wayfarer Bread & Pastry
Juniper & Ivy
Tuetano Taqueria
Buon Appetito
Fort Oak
Civico 1845
Tribute Pizza
Extraordinary Desserts
Isola Pizza Bar
Cucina Urbana
Pappalecco
Cori Pastificio Trattoria

Where to Stay in San Diego?

Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-Range, and Budget Hotels in San Diego. You can check the below listed hotels for your perfect stay in San Diego.

Luxurious Hotels

Mid-Range Hotels

Budget Hotels

Custom Tours Package in San Diego

How to Reach San Diego?

By Air

The city is served by San Diego International Airport. The airport is located about 8 km northwest of the city. You can get direct flights to visit San Diego from Toronto, Vancouver, Boston, Honolulu, San Jose, El Paso, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, London, Atlanta, Detroit, Las Vegas, Seattle, Tokyo, San Francisco, Calgary, Washington DC, and several other cities. You can get a bus, shuttle buses, and cabs to get from the airport to the city.

By Road

There is only one Amtrak route that connects to San Diego. The Pacific Surfliner route connects the city to San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Los Angles, and Anaheim.
You can also get direct buses to visit San Diego from several cities in the USA. But, if you are traveling from far away, you should first head for the train station. If you can’t get a direct train to San Diego. You can also use the Amtrak station in Los Angeles for San Diego travel. Both cities are connected by trains and buses.

If you are planning to reach San Diego by road, you should head for highway routes I-5, I-8, or I-15.

By Water

You can visit San Diego as part of several cruise tours. You can get frequent cruises from Los Angeles and Baja in Mexico.

Image Reference

San Diego Zoo – genielutz / PixaBay
Natural History Museum – Nathan Rupert / Flickr
Museum of Us (Museum of Man) – Adam Jones / Flickr
Automotive Museum – Marcin Wichary / Flickr
Air & Space Museum – Kevin Baird / Flickr
Gaslamp Quarter – Thomas Hawk / Flickr
USS Midway Museum – Tomás Del Coro / Flickr
Maritime Museum – Stacy Spensley / Flickr
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park – Jasperdo / Flickr
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park – Sergei Gussev / Flickr
SeaWorld San Diego – ray_explores / Flickr
Mission Bay Park – Sergei Gussev / Flickr
Belmont Park – Simon / Flickr
Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá – Bernard Gagnon / Wikimedia Commons
Mount Soledad – Wayne S. Grazio / Flickr
La Jolla Underwater Park Ecological Reserve (La Jolla Cove) – PrettyKateMachine / Flickr
Birch Aquarium – Relaxed7 / Flickr
San Diego Zoo Safari Park – Ryan Summers / Flickr
Torrey Pines State Reserve – slworking2 / Flickr
Cabrillo National Monument – Allie_Caulfield / Flickr
Old Point Loma Lighthouse – Iulian Ursache / PixaBay
The San Diego Museum of Art – Tim Evanson / Flickr
Reuben H. Fleet Science Center – GualdimG / Wikimedia Commons
Balboa Park – David Mark / PixaBay
LegoLand – Jason Lander / Flickr
Boat Cruise / Whale Watching Cruise – maduarte / Flickr