2 days in San Diego

Day by day

1. Day 1: Balboa Park and San Diego Zoo

   Balboa Park, San Diego Zoo, USS Midway Museum and La Jolla Cove, then Gaslamp Quarter in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Balboa Park

      The Botanical Building with its lily pond, the Spanish Village Art Center and the Japanese Friendship Garden are all within a short walk of each other.

   2. Late morning

      San Diego Zoo

      The Skyfari aerial tram crosses the park, and a guided double-decker bus tour gives a useful overview of the hilly grounds.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: California burrito

      Independent taco shops across the city, especially in Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach and North Park.

   4. Afternoon

      USS Midway Museum

      Visitors explore the flight deck lined with restored aircraft, the island bridge, crew quarters and engine rooms, often with commentary from volunteer veterans.

   5. Late afternoon

      La Jolla Cove

      Sea lions haul out on the rocks beside the cove, and harbour seals use the nearby Children's Pool, especially during pupping season.

   6. Evening

      Gaslamp Quarter

      Walk Fifth Avenue in the early evening when the street lamps come on, before the late-night crowds arrive.

2. Day 2: Hotel del Coronado and Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

   Hotel del Coronado, Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, Cabrillo National Monument and Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, then Gaslamp Quarter in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Hotel del Coronado

      Non-guests can walk the lobby, the historic corridors and the beachfront in front of it, which is one of the widest stretches of sand in the city.

   2. Late morning

      Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

      The Guy Fleming Trail is an easy loop with ocean views; the Beach Trail descends to the sand below Flat Rock.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Baja fish tacos

      Beach-area taco counters in Ocean Beach and Pacific Beach, and seafood restaurants on Point Loma's Shelter Island.

   4. Afternoon

      Cabrillo National Monument

      It has the restored 1855 Old Point Loma Lighthouse, wide views over the bay and downtown, and rocky tide pools on the ocean side.

   5. Late afternoon

      Old Town San Diego State Historic Park

      Mexican restaurants and craft shops surround the central plaza.

   6. Evening

      Gaslamp Quarter

      Rooftop bars, nightclubs and late-night restaurants along Fifth Avenue, busiest on weekends and after Padres games.

Before you go

• San Diego Zoo: Buying tickets online saves time at the gate on weekends and in school holidays.

If it rains

• Swap in Maritime Museum of San Diego (Embarcadero): Ask about short bay cruises on the museum's historic boats, which leave from the same dock.
• Swap in Birch Aquarium at Scripps (La Jolla): Pair it with a calm-water swim or tide-pooling at La Jolla Shores just below.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 22–30 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10 hours in December to 14.3 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Tram. The MTS San Diego Trolley runs light-rail lines linking downtown with Old Town, Mission Valley, the San Ysidro border crossing and, on the Blue Line, the UC San Diego area near La Jolla.

More or fewer days

• One day in San Diego
• 3 days in San Diego
• 5 days in San Diego

Questions travellers ask