At its heart, San Diego is a big beach town. It is more chill than the California cities to the north, and it has a lot of influence from its Mexican neighbor—this is where the California burrito was invented, after all. It is a college town, a Navy town, a brewery town, and a surf town. I hope The San Diego Guide gives you a jumping-off point to explore the eighth-largest city in the country.
I have to admit that although I have visited San Diego many times, I am just starting to know it. This guide will include a list of recommendations like those I would give to clients who want a more comprehensive list of restaurants and things to do. (See rates & services.) These include my favorite restaurants, bars, and things to do in San Diego.
The 411: San Diego
Transportation
Planes
SAN—San Diego is served by the San Diego International Airport (SAN.)
Is there a train from the airport?
Not really. There is a shuttle bus to Old Town (North), and you can take other transportation to Downtown San Diego (South.) It seems more trouble than it is worth.
Trains
Amtrak and regional trains serve San Diego. I have taken the Pacific Surfliner several times, and the ride along the coast is beautiful. From San Diego, you can travel to Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo.
Does an Amtrak vacation interest you? Contact me.
Boats
This is a new one for my list. San Diego has an active cruise port with several cruises, with ships leaving weekly to ports in Mexico and the Hawaiian Islands.
I know one of the few hotels in San Diego that has both an airport and cruise shuttle.
Did you know that there are over 150 independent craft breweries in San Diego County?
This is one of the best towns for beer lovers. From sours to IPA of all regions, you have a lot to choose from.
Public Transportation
Streetcars and buses connect the downtown core. I can’t personally speak to their reliability, but I am leaning on the experts in this article from the San Diego Tourism Board.
Rideshare
You can find Uber and Lyft in San Diego, as well as taxis
Currency
USD—United States Dollar
Language
English is the official language in the United States. San Diego is only thirty minutes away from the Mexican border, which adds a lot of Spanish speakers to the city’s population. There are also large Italian and Ukrainian communities in the city.
The best time to visit
San Diego has one of the best climates in the country, with many sunny and warm days. I have to admit that the weather is even better than in Los Angeles.
Worst time to visit
Like Los Angeles to the north, you will experience May Gray and June Gloom. Other than that, I would avoid early November for Fleet Week. This event will drive up hotel prices and make getting reservations harder.
Minimum number of days to spend in San Diego
2+ exploration days.
I know this seems short, but hear me out. San Diego is a great starting point for exploring Southern California beach cities. Personally, I would stay in the area longer and do a week of beach town hopping.
When is San Diego open?
San Diego is open seven days a week with plenty of late-night dining options.
Do you need to rent a car?
Getting around San Diego is easy on foot and by rideshare. If you want to visit beach towns like Carlsbad or Oceanside, Amtrak is the best way to go. Many hotels in the Downtown and Gaslamp areas charge a lot for parking. If you work with me, I can give you the location of a parking garage with great rates.
Recommended hotels by budget
Let’s talk about the perfect San Diego hotel for you.
Are you coming to San Diego for a cruise? Do you want front-row views of PetCo Park? Are you bringing your pet? Do you want to eat at a three-Michelin-starred Addison?
I have a lot of recommendations that will fit your budget and your needs.
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San Diego already in your plans?
I have curated a list of tours to experience San Diego’s art, history, and cuisine. Contact me to get the list.
Food Tour San Diego to Los Angeles
All the things you should do and places you should eat on a journey from San Diego to Los Angeles.
Cover image of San Diego by Zichuan Han all other photos by Kristen Fung unless otherwise noted.