Looking for nice actions and sights in San Diego? Our San Diego itinerary is all that you must plan the right journey!
It’s no marvel San Diego is called America’s Most interesting Metropolis and one of many high locations in any California itinerary.
The pristine seashores, world-class family-friendly sights, famend museums, and impactful historic monuments are all spectacular options that make many want to discover this enjoyable metropolis.
Plus, the optimum local weather appeals to everybody. The delicate, sunny climate presents a possibility to bask within the number of outside actions obtainable within the metropolis with out struggling frigid chilly or insufferable warmth temperatures.
There are many issues to do on this respected Southern California metropolis if you realize the place to look.
Are you looking for what to do for 3 days in San Diego? Are you questioning methods to spend a weekend in San Diego?
We’re right here to announce the perfect San Diego sights that may widen your eyes in awe, enchantment to your extra refined senses, and draw you in for an exciting journey with the right three-day San Diego itinerary.
3 days in San Diego is loads of time to see all the perfect sights, from Balboa Park to La Jolla shores to Little Italy, and past.
Learn Subsequent: In search of extra actions so as to add to your itinerary? Take a look at our put up on all the perfect issues to do in San Diego!
The way to Spend 3 Days in San Diego Itinerary
The right vacation spot for numerous outside and indoor actions, we’ve created the right 3 days in San Diego itinerary for a productive and stimulating time exploring town. We’ll embody the perfect of San Diego’s highlights, from museums to outside actions.
Put together your self for an array of actions, from kayaking in La Jolla to hitting up Ocean Seashore or procuring and sightseeing.
To save cash on a few of San Diego’s costlier sights, contemplate getting the CityPASS. It can get you discounted entry to the zoo, museums, Outdated City excursions, and quite a few different sights.
Day 1 in San Diego
On the primary day of your San Diego itinerary, begin with a go to to Balboa Park and all it has to supply. Discover the museums and the zoo, and finish the day by watching a basic Cali sundown on the cliffs.
Day 1 Morning – Discover Balboa Park and the San Diego Artwork Museum
Only a few folks have visited San Diego with out stopping in Balboa Park. Open 24 hours a day, daily, Balboa Park is an city park with historical past, sights, and nature.
Begin the day with some peaceable strolls alongside the strolling paths and thru the gardens.
Balboa Park is a cultural oasis with 1,200 acres, so there isn’t any scarcity of issues to do right here.
Additionally ensure you cease by the San Diego Museum of Artwork, a world-renowned tremendous arts museum.
Searching for to encourage, educate, and domesticate curiosity, the San Diego Museum of Artwork is the area’s oldest and largest artwork museum internet hosting practically half 1,000,000 guests yearly.
The broad assortment of Spanish and Italian artwork hosted at this revered museum options the native historical past to showcase the influence artwork has bestowed upon the magnificent metropolis of San Diego.
Spend your first morning in San Diego exploring Balboa Park and having fun with this fascinating artwork museum.
- Artwork Museum Opening Hours: Closed Wednesdays, 10 AM-5 PM (Monday-Tuesday, Thursday-Saturday), 12 PM-5 PM (Sunday)
- Admission: Free
- Deal with: 1450 El Prado
Day 1 Afternoon – Traverse The Intensive San Diego Zoo
Whereas exploring Balboa Park, make a while to go to this world-famous zoo.
Most vacationers to San Diego will agree that the San Diego Zoo is the perfect zoo they’ve ever had the pleasure of exploring. So, skip the traces with this admission ticket and prepare to have a blast.
Over 100 acres in measurement, this well-known zoo is understood for its spectacular and plush naturalistic habitats which are usually mixed with extraordinary animal encounters.
Residence to over 4,500 uncommon and endangered animals just like the Platypus and the Amur Leopard, the world-famous San Diego Zoo hosts quite a lot of displays that friends can traverse as they study these endangered species and the way conservation efforts are attempting to save lots of these distinctive species.
The Polar Bear Plunge and the Elephant Odyssey are however a couple of thrilling displays the place many could be educated on these enigmatic species’ spectacular qualities and traits.
In the event you’re feeling daring, we advocate venturing over to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park for an up-close and private take a look at nature’s most refined predators and prey.
- Opening Hours: 9 AM-9 PM
- Admission: $65/Grownup, $55/Little one, Free/Infants
- Deal with: 2920 Zoo Drive
Additionally take a look at our information to the perfect actions in San Francisco, if you’re exploring extra of Cali!
Day 1 Night – Unwind At Sundown Cliffs Pure Park
To finish your first day in San Diego, make a journey to Sundown Cliffs Pure Park. Carry a towel or blanket to relaxation and unwind overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
This pure cliff space presents unparalleled views of the California coast and is understood for its superb sunsets. Sadly, the photographs by no means do justice, so be sure that to delight in the actual factor whilst you can!
Sundown Cliffs Nationwide Park is amongst many in style issues in San Diego. The 68-acre resource-based park stretches alongside the Pacific Ocean to frame the western fringe of Level Loma.
Packed onto this intensive outside location is a 50-acre hillside part designated as a species conservation space and hyperlinks to the 640-acre Level Loma Ecological Reserve.
We extremely advocate stopping by Sundown Cliffs Pure Park for a free exercise in San Diego. First, calm down for the final word unwind with a shocking 1.4-mile clifftop path to stroll as you breathe the contemporary air and nice vibes.
Then, simmer all the way down to bask within the well-known San Diego sundown whereas gazing throughout the ocean. Visiting San Diego wherever from December to April gives you the possibility to see grey whales embark on their annual migration.
When you’ve got time, you might even head additional south down the peninsula and take a look at Level Loma Lighthouse, the Level Loma tide swimming pools, or the Cabrillo Nationwide Monument.
- Opening Hours: Open 24 Hours
- Admission: Free
- Deal with: Ladera Avenue
Day 2 in San Diego
Begin day two of your San Diego itinerary by touring the longest-serving plane service of the twentieth century at the united statesMidway Museum.
Subsequent, be part of a narrated tour of San Diego Outdated City, the primary European settlement in California. Lastly, finish the day with world-famous Little Italy’s greatest meals and drinks!
Day 2 Morning – Tour The usMidway Museum
The usMidway served because the longest-serving plane service of the twentieth century from 1945 to 1992.
Roughly 200,000 sailors served on this monumental plane service identified for its naval aviation breakthroughs and humanitarian missions. So it’s no marvel the united statesMidway Museum is a worthy cease throughout your go to to San Diego!
Positioned on the Naval Pier in downtown San Diego, the united statesMidway Museum homes near 10 acres of displays, over 30 restored plane, and shows that inform historical past.
Throughout your tour of this San Diego museum, climb aboard actual cockpits, peer by means of restored WWII-era plane, and witness a robust historic manufacturing within the Battle of Halfway Theater.
There are family-oriented actions obtainable all through the museum, similar to flight simulators and quick movies. Able to study some historical past?
A heads up: loads of strolling, bending, and climbing is concerned when visiting the united statesMidway Museum. The WWII-era U.S. Navy ship has low ceilings, cramped hallways, and loads of slender stairways that may be tough for some folks to navigate.
Fortunately, a number of elevators can be found, and about 60% of the displays are wheelchair accessible.
- Opening Hours: 10 AM-5 PM Day by day
- Admission: $25/Grownup, $18/Little one, $18/Veterans
- Deal with: 910 N Harbor Dr
Heading north alongside the Pacific coast? Take a look at this checklist of the perfect issues to do in Portland, Oregon!
Day 2 Afternoon – Be part of A Narrated Tour Of Outdated City San Diego
Go to the place the place California started! Calm down for a narrated tour of Outdated City San Diego, the primary European settlement in California!
A hub spot for historical past, Outdated City properties acres of Mexican heritage, colourful retailers and eating places, and historic websites ready to be explored. The birthplace of California’s legacy, Outdated City commemorates the early days of San Diego county.
Get able to expertise Outdated City’s vibrancy on the Hop-On Hop-Off Tour of Outdated City San Diego. This tour makes it simple to “hop on and hop off” at any of the tour’s 12 boarding factors.
As well as, friends may have the chance to expertise over 100 fascinating tour factors in Coronado Island and San Diego all at their very own tempo.
We advocate starting the tour at Outdated City San Diego State Historic Park, the place friends will have the ability to soak within the sights of authentic adobe properties and artifacts preserved from the earliest Mexican settlements.
The subsequent cease is Seaport Village, the place refreshments, procuring, and leisure are ready. And it doesn’t cease there. This tour retains chugging alongside to satiate effervescent curiosity and the hunt for information of America’s Most interesting Metropolis!
- Opening Hours: 10 AM-5 PM Day by day
- Admission: $10/Grownup. $8/Seniors/Navy, Little one
- Deal with: 4010 Twiggs St
Day 2 Night – Style Little Italy’s Well-known Treats On A Meals Strolling Tour
If you wish to style the perfect food and drinks whilst you discover San Diego, Little Italy’s famend treats on this meals strolling tour are the way in which to go!
Certainly one of San Diego’s high sights, Little Italy, was a hub spot for Italian fishermen and their households within the Nineteen Twenties.
Initially often called the “tuna capital” because of the metropolis’s major tuna trade, it inspired over 6,000 immigrant households to maneuver to San Diego to partake.
Little Italy is understood worldwide for its pedestrian-friendly neighborhood that boasts brewpubs, eating places, indie music venues, and weekly Little Italy Mercato Farmer’s Market.
This guided meals strolling tour takes friends by means of the bustling neighborhood of Little Italy, with the primary cease resting at Sorrento Ristorante & Pizzeria.
This energetic family-owned Italian restaurant brags conventional do-it-yourself dishes like Pappardelle Bolognese and calamari. The strolling meals tour makes its final cease at Pappalecco, a conventional Italian bistro the place friends can take pleasure in house-made gelato in an array of accessible flavors.
Get a glimpse of eating places and bars which have turn into well-known as a result of their ties to gangsters and members of the Rat Pack. However watch out, or you might find yourself sleeping with the fishes!
Day 3 in San Diego
Prepare for a enjoyable final day of exploring San Diego! On the final day of your San Diego itinerary start the day kayaking at a world-famous dive website in La Jolla.
Subsequent, sightsee San Diego Harbor aboard a yacht as you consumption enjoyable historical past information. Lastly, finish your final day in San Diego, splurging at Seaport Village or watching the sundown on the seaside.
Day 3 Morning – Kayak La Jolla Cove
A world-famous dive website, La Jolla Cove is an ecological protect and San Diego’s high swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and diving spot.
The calm waters make for an ideal outside day spent within the water and the solar. Discover La Jolla’s Ecological Reserve and Seven Sea Caves on this guided kayak tour to style this favored outside San Diego spot.
La Jolla has a small cove a part of a protected marine reserve. Joined by an hooked up seaside surrounded by spectacular cliffs, this picturesque location makes for a preferred spot for scuba divers, snorkelers, swimmers, kayakers, or any that merely wish to bask within the stunning open air.
The seashores at La Jolla have white sand that many beachgoers wish to sunbathe on and waves that make it a success browsing spot for surfers from everywhere in the world. Some folks come to La Jolla to watch the ocean lions and seals that mix in with the human sunbathers.
Throughout your kayak tour, you possibly can observe the ocean lions sunbathing on heat rocks as dolphins, whales, and turtles swim lazily by means of the pleasing blue waters.
In the event you time your San Diego journey in the summertime or fall months, you might have the chance to see innocent leopard sharks swim previous.
Day 3 Afternoon – Sightsee San Diego Harbor On A Cruise
Put together to sail the San Diego Harbor in fashion on this Harbor Sightseeing Cruise!
The San Diego Harbor is a pure harbor and deepwater port positioned close to the USA and Mexico border. Many individuals cease by this spectacular port to stroll as they observe cruise liners, ships, and vessels coming and going.
For this cruise, friends can select a one-hour or two-hour cruise. They’ll have the ability to cruise on a yacht whereas soaking within the sights of the united statesS. Halfway Plane Provider, the U.S. Navy Floor Fleet, the San Diego Coronado Bridge, and the Naval Amphibious Base Coronado.
Different inclusive sights embody historic ships within the Maritime Museum and North Island Naval Air Station, in addition to the complete San Diego skyline.
Maintain your ears perked! The skilled crew enriches the cruise with informative commentary in regards to the native and army historical past and different factors of curiosity in the course of the voyage of San Diego Bay.
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Day 3 Night – Store At Seaport Village or Hit The Seashore
Frequented by locals and vacationers alike, put together your self — and your checking account — for an intensive procuring spree at Seaport Village!
This waterfront procuring and eating complicated is settled adjoining to San Diego Bay in downtown San Diego. With a choice of greater than 70 retailers, eateries, and galleries, Seaport Village is understandably a preferred procuring spot. The waterfront views make the procuring expertise much more worthwhile!
- Opening Hours: 10 AM-10 PM Day by day
- Deal with: 849 W Harbor Dr
Another choice for the final night of your San Diego weekend getaway is to hit the seaside. Seize some meals and drinks and head to the sand to look at the sundown!
Mission Seashore, Ocean Seashore, Coronado Seashore, and Pacific Seashore are a few of San Diego’s greatest seashores.
Log on or play volleyball at Mission Seashore. Or benefit from the nightlife surrounding Ocean Seashore. Coronado Seashore is nice for sightseeing, as there are many fancy mansions lining Ocean Boulevard behind the sand.
Pacific Seashore is a laid-back neighborhood with a boardwalk and boutique retailers. It doesn’t matter what seaside you go to, ending your San Diego weekend itinerary on the seaside is an ideal thought.
San Diego Journey Information
Now that you realize what to do with the right three-day San Diego itinerary, listed here are some useful San Diego journey suggestions and knowledge that may aid you perceive the perfect time to go to, methods to get round, and the place to remain.
When is the Finest Time to Go to San Diego
Like wherever on this planet, there’s at all times a really useful time to go to, whether or not or not it’s to keep away from poor climate or oppressive crowds.
So when seeking to go to San Diego, we advocate planning your journey to America’s Most interesting Metropolis both from March to Might or September to November.
Throughout these really useful months, the air is extra breathable as you’ll be avoiding the warmth of summer season. There are additionally fewer crowds, making the sights extra pleasant.
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Getting Round San Diego
Earlier than you get began exploring your San Diego itinerary choices that you must work out methods to get round.
Fortunately, getting round this nook of Southern California isn’t as tough as you may assume as a vacationer.
The general public San Diego Trolley is straightforward to catch or hitch a trip on if you happen to’re staying in or close to downtown San Diego.
Nonetheless, if you happen to’re seeking to discover a lot of San Diego’s beautiful coastal areas, we advocate hopping on the Coaster practice that connects downtown San Diego and Outdated City.
Uber or Lyft are nice choices if you happen to’re seeking to put money into rare journeys that aren’t close to your keep in San Diego.
Renting a automotive can also be nice, because it offers you the pliability to discover at your leisure. A rental automotive can also be the best choice for taking day journeys into nature, similar to Joshua Tree Nationwide Park or Torrey Pines State Park.
In any other case, make investments on this Non-public Switch to/from San Diego Airport for a stress-free switch from the San Diego Worldwide Airport to your vacation spot in San Diego.
One of the simplest ways to get round is to hire a automotive and discover by yourself! We advocate Rental Vehicles, which has the biggest vary of autos for the perfect worth in the marketplace.
The place to Keep in San Diego
In the event you’re questioning the place to remain throughout your journey to San Diego, our suggestions for the perfect lodging will aid you select the highest spot to your price range!
Finest Hostel in San Diego: Hello San Diego
Get settled within the coronary heart of the Gaslamp Quarter within the classiest hostel San Diego has to supply!
At HI San Diego, friends are welcomed to a freshly renovated city hostel with a major location to expertise the center of San Diego.
Finest Mid-Vary Lodge in San Diego: Motel6
Positioned solely ten minutes from SeaWorld San Diego, this Motel6 is a 100% smoke-free facility. Entry to prime spots just like the Style Valley Procuring Mall is simply a 5 minutes drive.
As well as, friends can entry free Wi-Fi, laundry services, and a 40-inch flat-screen TV with over 60 channels.
Finest Luxurious Lodge in San Diego: Lodge del Coronado
A historic, beachfront resort, the Lodge del Coronado boasts ocean views, a backyard, outside pool, and beautiful rooms with terraces and balconies.
First inbuilt 1888, Lodge del Coronado combines historical past with luxurious. With a restaurant and bar proper on the seaside as effectively, there isn’t any higher place to remain for a stunning journey to San Diego.
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