3 days in San Diego

Day by day

1. Day 1: Balboa Park and San Diego Zoo

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

   1. Morning

      Balboa Park

      Built largely for the 1915–16 Panama–California Exposition, Balboa Park lines El Prado with Spanish Colonial Revival buildings housing museums including the San Diego Museum of Art, the Museum of Us, the Fleet Science Center and the Natural History Museum.

   2. Late morning

      San Diego Zoo

      Arrive at opening, ride the bus tour first to get your bearings, then walk the canyons before the midday heat.

   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

      The aircraft carrier USS Midway served from 1945 to 1992 and is now moored on the downtown waterfront.

   5. 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: La Jolla Cove and Birch Aquarium at Scripps

   La Jolla Cove, Birch Aquarium at Scripps and Hotel del Coronado, then Gaslamp Quarter in the evening.

   1. Morning

      La Jolla Cove

      Keep a respectful distance from the sea lions and seals; rangers and signs mark the closed areas.

   2. Late morning

      Birch Aquarium at Scripps

      Run by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the aquarium has a three-storey kelp forest tank, seahorses, a shark reef and exhibits on ocean science.

   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

      Hotel del Coronado

      Take the ferry to Coronado, rent a bike at the landing and ride the flat streets to the hotel and beach.

   5. Evening

      Gaslamp Quarter

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

3. Day 3: Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve and Cabrillo National Monument

   Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, Cabrillo National Monument and Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, then Pacific Beach in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

      Clifftop trails wind through eroded sandstone and stands of the rare Torrey pine, one of the least common pine species in the United States, before dropping to Torrey Pines State Beach.

   2. Late morning

      Cabrillo National Monument

      Check the tide tables and visit the tide pools at low tide, usually best in winter afternoons.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Carne asada fries

      The same 24-hour taco shops that sell California burritos.

   4. Afternoon

      Old Town San Diego State Historic Park

      The park preserves the first settled area of San Diego, with restored adobe and wooden buildings from the Mexican and early American periods, a blacksmith, a schoolhouse and small free museums.

   5. Evening

      Pacific Beach

      Beach bars and casual clubs along Garnet Avenue and the boardwalk, popular with a young crowd.

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.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Gaslamp Quarter keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Little Italy ($$$) suits food lovers, couples and first-timers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 24–32 hours of visiting over 3 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.

More or fewer days

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

Questions travellers ask