For couples · San Diego · United States
Romantic things to do in San Diego
Ideas for a couples' trip, from small moments to a special day out.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Unknown author, Public domain
Quick answer
Romantic San Diego is about the coast at the ends of the day: sunsets from the cliffs, a ferry across the bay and dinner with a sea view in La Jolla or on Coronado. Couples tend to stay in Little Italy.
Key facts
- Romantic ideas
- 6
- Couple-friendly sights
- 2
- Area for couples
- Little Italy
- Best months
- April–May and September–October
Romantic ideas
1.Sunset at Sunset Cliffs
Find a spot on the clifftop paths south of Ocean Beach and watch the sun set into the Pacific.
2.Coronado by ferry and bike
Take the ferry across the bay, cycle to the Hotel del Coronado and stay for a drink at the beachfront.
3.Kayaking the La Jolla sea caves
Guided kayak tours paddle along the cliffs to the sea caves, often with sea lions alongside.
4.Dinner in La Jolla
Prospect Street and the cove have restaurants with ocean views for a long dinner at sunset.
5.Torrey Pines at golden hour
Walk the Guy Fleming Trail late in the afternoon, then descend to the beach as the light fades.
6.Harbour cruise
Evening cruises from the Embarcadero pass the skyline, the Coronado Bridge and the naval docks.
Sights couples love
Architecture · Coronado
Hotel del Coronado
Take the ferry to Coronado, rent a bike at the landing and ride the flat streets to the hotel and beach.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Architecture
- Couples
- History
Viewpoint · Point Loma
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
Stay back from the cliff edges, which are unstable and unfenced in places.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
Where couples should stay
$$$ · Best for food lovers, couples and first-timers
Little Italy
Little Italy grew from a community of Italian tuna fishermen and is now downtown's food district, with Italian delis, wine bars and modern restaurants on India Street and Kettner Boulevard. The Little Italy Mercato fills Date Street every Saturday morning, and Piazza della Famiglia is the neighbourhood's open square. The waterfront and County Administration Center are a few blocks west.
- Good
- Some of the city's best restaurants; Quieter than the Gaslamp at night; Close to the airport
- Watch out
- Aircraft noise on the flight path; Street parking is hard to find
- Nearby
- Little Italy Mercato, Waterfront Park, Maritime Museum of San Diego
Romantic day trips
- Encinitas and the North County coast (About 35 minutes by car or Coaster) — A string of surf towns north of the city: Del Mar's beach and racetrack, Solana Beach's cliffs, and Encinitas with Swami's surf break, the Self-Realization Fellowship meditation gardens and a main street of cafés.
- Julian (About 1 hour 15 minutes by car) — A former 1870s gold-mining town in the Cuyamaca Mountains, known for apple pie, autumn apple picking and an old-west main street.
- Temecula Valley wine country (About 1 hour by car) — Dozens of wineries line Rancho California Road and De Portola Road in Riverside County, many with tasting rooms, restaurants and views over the vines.
For dinner
Share local specialities such as Mariscos and aguachile, Fresh local seafood and Asian food on Convoy Street. Many beach-area restaurants are casual enough to arrive in flip-flops; upscale La Jolla and downtown places expect smart-casual.
Questions travellers ask
+Is San Diego romantic?
Romantic San Diego is about the coast at the ends of the day: sunsets from the cliffs, a ferry across the bay and dinner with a sea view in La Jolla or on Coronado.
+What is the most romantic thing to do in San Diego?
Sunset at Sunset Cliffs: Find a spot on the clifftop paths south of Ocean Beach and watch the sun set into the Pacific.
+Where should couples stay in San Diego?
Little Italy: Restaurant terraces, a Saturday farmers' market and harbour views along India Street.