A Perfect Weekend In San Diego – Things To See, Do, And Eat

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San Diego, where the sun shines brighter, the hair is blonder and the tacos taste even better! I can’t get enough of this laid-back city and if you’re looking for a weekend of sandy beaches, high vibes, and a little Baja flavor, then my friend, you’ve stumbled upon the ultimate guide.

Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned Californian, this itinerary will have you saying ” Oh my gosh, like, why didn’t we totally do this earlier?” (You think I’m joking, but the accent is very catchy, ha!) So grab your sunglasses, slather on some sunscreen, and let’s dive into the perfect weekend itinerary for San Diego!

Weekend Itinerary For San Diego

Imagine yourself relaxing on beautiful beaches, enjoying the best fish tacos you’ve ever tasted in the sun, and walking down palm tree-lined streets while the sky turns to deep shades of pink and orange. This is everyday life in San Diego! Seriously, the people that live here are definitely the chosen ones.

This itinerary promises sun-kissed beach days, a little bit of history, and so many “Should I move here?” moments. Embrace the laid-back charm of San Diego as you discover this Southern California gem.

Day 1

Hopefully, you can make your weekend getaway a full 3 days in San Diego, but if not, no worries! You can still pack a lot into 2 and a bit days.

Balboa Park

For your first day, whether you start at 10 am or 2 pm, head straight to Balboa Park. Trust us on this one.

Balboa Park is one of the largest urban parks in the United States and is home to 17 museums, multiple gardens, performing arts venues, and even a zoo. It’s literally double the size of Central Park in New York City, so you can spend the whole day exploring!

But with only one day, we recommend highlighting a few must-sees. The San Diego Museum of Art is a great place to start if you’re an art enthusiast, showcasing works from around the world spanning over 4000 years. If you prefer history and science, the San Diego Natural History Museum, also known as “The Nat,” is a must-visit.

And of course, the famous San Diego Zoo is a must-see. More on that next!

The park’s design revolves around the iconic El Prado pedestrian walkway, where you can stroll surrounded by stunning Spanish-Renaissance-style buildings! Many of these beauties were built for the Panama-California and the California-Pacific International Exposition, making it a historic and cultural gem in San Diego.

Take your time exploring the park, there is so much to see. And if you start to feel a little peckish, don’t worry, there are plenty of options for food and drink within the park. Our favorite is Panama 66, it’s right next to the Museum of Art and has a lovely outdoor seating area perfect for people-watching. Plus, their craft beer selection is top-notch!

San Diego Zoo

You can’t go to San Diego, and not visit the famous San Diego Zoo. That would be like going to London and not seeing Big Ben! And since we are already in Balboa Park, it makes it the perfect activity to do after exploring the park.

The San Diego Zoo is home to over 3,500 animals from all over the world, making it one of the most diverse and largest zoos in the world. The zoo is known for its conservation efforts and has successfully bred endangered species such as Giant Pandas, California Condors, and African Black Rhinos.

The San Diego Zoo is world-renowned for its conservation efforts with many endangered animals, and houses over 3,500 animals from over 650 species. And if walking around all day isn’t your thing, you can hop on the guided bus tour or take the aerial tramway for a bird’s eye view of the zoo. Ha, it’s called Skyfari, which we found very clever.

This is one of the top family-friendly attractions in San Diego and for a good reason. Kids will love the interactive animal exhibits such as the Elephant Odyssey, where they can learn about the history of elephants and see them up close.

For adults, don’t miss out on visiting the Conrad Prebys Africa Rocks exhibit which features African animals like leopards, baboons, and lemurs in their natural habitats. For a unique experience, check out the koalas at the Australian Outback exhibit or visit with giant pandas at Panda Ridge.

La Jolla

After an afternoon at the zoo, it’s time to grab a bite to eat and head to one of the most popular beach areas in San Diego—La Jolla. Pronounced “La Hoya”.

Every time we visit San Diego, we always make sure to visit La Jolla. Known for its extraordinary beauty, come here to say hello to the local sea lions and seals that make the beaches, tide pools and coves their home for a good part of the year, stroll along the rugged coastline, relax on the sandy beach of La Jolla Cove, shop the posh boutique shops that line the village, and eat at one of the many waterfront restaurants.

If you can come to La Jolla shores during the day, one of the must-visit spots in La Jolla is the Cove, a small beach surrounded by cliffs that offer some of the best swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving in San Diego. The calm waters are full of marine life including colorful fish, sea lions, and even harmless leopard sharks during certain times of the year.

Grab a bite to eat at Dukes La Jolla, it’s laid back with some gorrrrgeous views. The menu is Hawaiian-inspired so expect to find lots of seafood. The vibes are unmatched here, order a Mai Tai, head out to the deck, and soak up the last bit of sunshine for the day.

My friends over at The Atlas Heart have a great piece on things to do in San Diego and the beaches of La Jolla and adventurous activities like paragliding are other things you’ll find in this neighborhood.

La Jolla is the kind of place where you can have a vacation within a vacation.  You can easily spend your whole weekend here or you can make a day trip here.

Pro Tip: Be careful to keep your distance from the sea lions and seals as I’ve seen way too many tourists uncomfortably close. Remember they are wild animals and this is their territory, we shouldn’t disturb them. The coast can also be a dangerous place, especially with the splashing high tide in the evening.

Day 2

Coronado Island

Image via Unplash by Marius Christensen

Life is lived outdoors in San Diego, so get ready to spend your day in the sunshine! In the morning, head to Clayton Coffee Shop for breakfast. It’s the perfect place to have an authentic American Diner experience and I mean who doesn’t want that? Enjoy pancakes with eggs, bacon, and toast – it’s everything you could want for breakfast!

Then make your way to Coronado Island to enjoy some beach time and see the famous Hotel Del Coronado. The beach has soft sand, gentle waves, and stunning views of the San Diego skyline. If you’re looking for the best beach in San Diego to catch a tan or catch a wave, this is it!

If getting all sandy isn’t your thing, you can rent bikes and ride around the island, explore the small-town shops, or grab a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants. This is the best way to experience the city like a true local, just having some laid-back fun in the sun.

For lunch, grab some delicious tacos at Taco Surf PB before heading over to Mission Beach. Rent a kayak or stand-up paddleboard and explore the calm waters of the bay. You may even spot some sea lions swimming alongside you!

Pro Tip: We mapped out all the best places to stay in our Coronado post, so be sure to take a peek!

Gaslamp Quarter

You’ll most likely want to head back to your hotel to freshen up before sunset. Have a little rest because tonight you are headed to the Gaslamp Quarter for the evening.

The Gaslamp Quarter is right in the heart of San Diego and it covers 16.5 blocks of the downtown core.  We recommend coming a couple of hours before sunset to explore the area. There’s a lot of amazing architecture and history steeped here and if you take the Old Town Trolley Tour through here, you’ll learn about where the Victorian-era and Art Deco buildings originated and how someone by the name of Alonzo Horton purchased the land that nobody wanted and turned it into New Town which is most of what downtown San Diego is today.

But you’ll quickly realize that the neighborhood has transformed into an urban playground that is home to over 100 restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and live music venues. You can find everything from craft cocktails to rooftop bars to delicious street food in the Gaslamp Quarter. It’s definitely one of the best places in San Diego for nightlife. For some epic rooftop vibes, head to Rustic Root. (They also do a fun boozy brunch on the weekend!)

Day 3

Old Town

Image via Unplash by Kara Peak

San Diego is more than just beach bums and tan lines. There’s a rich history and culture here that is worth exploring, and the Old Town area is the perfect place to start. In the morning, have breakfast at the Old Town Mexican Cafe. I’m talking fresh off-the-griddle tortillas, savory meats, and all the fixings for the perfect breakfast burrito.

After that, take a stroll through the historic neighborhood that is home to some of the oldest buildings in San Diego, including the Whaley House which has been deemed one of America’s Most Haunted Houses. You can also take a walk through Old Town State Historic Park where you’ll find preserved buildings from California’s early days. It’s pretty cool, the park has recreated the early American and Mexican life from 1821-1872.

USS Midway

After having a look into the early days, it’s time for one of my favorite attractions in San Diego. This US Navy super-carrier-turned-museum might just be the most thorough exhibit of military aviation and what it is like to live and work on a ship that’s practically its own city.

Commissioned right after the end of World War II, the USS Midway was named after one of the most famous battles fought in the Pacific Theater of War.  As the largest ship in the world until 1955, it was brought into battle during the Vietnam War and was instrumental during Operation Desert Storm.

As accomplished as it was in battle, it is equally impressive as a museum.  Featuring exhibits on the hangar, flight deck, below deck, simulators, theaters, and tons of aircraft to explore, this is easily a full-day event if you want to cover every corner of the ship.

Make sure not to miss the guided island tour which takes you up to the command center of the ship including navigation, the bridge, air operations, the captain’s at-sea cabin, and Pri-fly.  It’s well worth the wait.

What also makes this experience so special is the fact that it is practically entirely run by volunteer veterans of the Navy.  Whether it’s at the information desk, feature guests, ushers, guides, or special presenters, everyone you meet there has a story to tell.  It’s truly amazing that they continue to give back to the community and the country.

Maritime Museum Of San Diego

Conveniently located right next to the USS Midway and the pier where Hornblower Cruises departs from is this waterfront museum which contains an eclectic mix of ships that are steeped with fascinating history.  From tall ships to submarines, there’s quite a bit of exploring to do here for the young and the old. This isn’t a traditional museum where you enter a building to see remnants of famous ships. Instead, this is an open-air waterfront museum where boats are docked and you go hopping from one boat to the next and get to walk through the entire ship, bow to stern.

All of the ships here are stars in their own right but one of the most impressive ships in this collection is the Star of India. This ship holds the esteemed title of being the oldest active merchant sailing ship in the world. With sails flying high and still sea-worthy, you can stroll across her decks and uncover the different lives she has lived. If you’re a fan of history or just curious about ships, this will rock your world.

Another ship shrouded in intrigue is the B-39 submarine where you can descend into the Cold War era in this Soviet Navy diesel-electric attack submarine. This “Foxtrot” class submarine is a brilliantly put-together interactive and educational museum where as you walk through the cramped quarters, you get to learn about the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Continuing onwards, there are many more vessels to learn about including a replica of the galleon, San Salvador, which is the first-recorded European vessel in San Diego, and the steam ferryboat Berkeley which shows touches of Victorian elegance that operated in the San Francisco Bay.

Edgewater Grill At Seaport Village

Image via Unsplash by Isaias

After an afternoon of exploring the various vessels at the museum, you can take a short 10-minute walk over to the SeaPort Village located along the San Diego Bay. This cool waterfront shopping and dining spot has a bunch of unique shops, restaurants, and fun things to do.

I always make sure to stop at the Edgewater Grill for some of the best views of the bay while enjoying some delicious seafood. They have one of the best happy hours in town, so be sure to catch it if you can!

When you’re done, make sure to explore the rest of Seaport Village which has a ton of souvenir shops, Ben & Jerry’s, and a merry-go-round for the kids!

Little Italy

Image via Unsplash by Kara Peak

For your last night in the city, we gotta go somewhere we haven’t been yet! And that place is Little Italy. This charming and historic neighborhood is known for its authentic Italian food (go figure!), mom-and-pop wineries, and of course, the melt-in-your-mouth gelato.

But like any little neighborhood, there is way more than just the food and drinks! Little Italy is full of history and culture. You can see an up-close look at the Italian American experience and the way it’s molded the neighborhood. We could see the warmth of a small town in a big city, all while being surrounded by delicious scents and incredible wines.

We were able to listen to live music at the Piazza della Famiglia, and with so many events going on in this neighborhood, there’s always something to do. We stumbled upon the Little Italy Mercato Farmers Market on a Saturday afternoon and were able to snag some fresh produce and homemade pasta.

For your last meal in San Diego, you have to get some of the best Italian food in the city at Bencotta. This is one of those meals that you never want to end. With the parmesan wheel pasta (yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like) and the authentic Gnocchi, it will feel like you’ve stepped out of San Diego and gone straight to heaven.

After dinner, make sure to take a stroll around the neighborhood and admire the charming cafes and boutique shops that line the streets. And if you have room for dessert (which I always do), be sure to grab a big cone of gelato from Salt and Straw. It’s out of this world.

Back to the top

What Is The San Diego Region?

San Diego is a dream boat destination located on the Southern California coast. Neighboring the Mexican border to the south and Los Angeles to the north, the city is a melting pot of Mexican and American cultures.

San Diego has 70 miles of gorgeous coastline, offering stunning beaches, dramatic cliffs, and soft sandy bays perfect for sunbathing, surfing, and exploring. It’s no wonder it’s called “America’s Finest City”.

Known for its mild year-round climate, San Diego enjoys an average temperature of around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, making it the ultimate destination if you want to be outside enjoying mother nature. It’s also the perfect winter escape for anyone living in colder climates, which is most of us—again, they are the chosen ones!

While so many people associate San Diego with blonde bimbo surfer types, it’s actually quite the cultural hub. With a heavy influence from Mexico and some really progressive art and food scenes, it’s a place of constant inspiration.

San Diego County has over 3 million residents, making it the second most populated county in California after Los Angeles. The main city, also named San Diego, is home to around 1.4 million people and yes, that’s a lot of people, but somehow it still maintains a small-town charm. The city is divided into different neighborhoods, each with its unique vibe and character. You can find everything from quaint beach towns like La Jolla (our fave) to trendy urban areas like North Park or Little Italy.

And if you’re a busybody like us, San Diego won’t disappoint. There is literally always something going on! It could be a random Tuesday in January and there will still be a street fair or a food festival happening somewhere in the city.

Map Of San Diego

Below is an interactive Google Map with every location featured in the San Diego itinerary pinned which will help with your trip planning.

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What To Pack For San Diego

San Diego has a mild climate most of the year, and can even be pretty hot in the summer months. With that in mind we recommend packing light. Below are some suggestions, but for more ideas take a peek at our Utah and Arizona 10 Day Itinerary with Packing List we posted!

• Comfortable shoes: This one is always first on our list, but we do a ton of exploring on our trips so they are an absolute must! Don’t let aching feet put a damper on your trip!
• Ball cap: Keep the sun off your head and out of your eyes with this breathable, yet fashionable cap.
• Buff Headwear: Highly recommend one of these. We take these on every trip. The buff is so versatile, wear it on your wrists or around your head to wick the sweat away! See our complete review of Buff Headwear and why we love these so much.
• Sunglasses: The Maui Jim Chee Hoo line of sunglasses are our ultimate favorite. Protect those eyes while still looking stylish.
• Sunscreen – The sun gets pretty strong so make sure your skin is well protected. A good sports sunscreen is recommended so you don’t sweat it off.
• Swimsuit and towel: There are a couple of beaches to relax at and enjoy during your weekend in San Diego trip.

A Magical Weekend Spent In San Diego

I will never get tired of visiting San Diego! The sun, sand, and I mean did you see all those ships? It’s just a perfect weekend getaway. While there is more than enough to do, 3 days is the perfect amount to see the highlights and get a taste of what this amazing city has to offer.

Whether you’re looking for relaxation, adventure, or just some really delicious food, this city has something for everyone. From the cliffs of La Jolla to a night out at Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego is the type of place you head out of your hotel in the morning and you don’t come back till late. It’s a place to soak up the sunshine, try new foods, and fully enjoy the California dream!

Frequently Asked Questions