San Diego in 3 Days: The Perfect Itinerary
While perfect weather and idyllic beaches make San Diego one of the most desirable cities to live in for Americans, it’s often skipped by tourists when they visit the West Coast.
I almost made the same mistake when I came to California for the first time years ago. I wanted to live in Los Angeles but due to some complications, my school was only able to transfer me to San Diego so I decided to give it a go anyway. Little did I know that I was going to make San Diego my base later in life. San Diego turned out to be a pretty fun place with plenty of things to do.
For tourists, it could be the perfect place for a weekend getaway so here is my proposed itinerary for San Diego in 3 days.
Itinerary for San Diego in 3 Days
3 days is a great length of time to spend in San Diego if you’re visiting for the first time as you can see all the main sites without being too rushed.
Of course, if you have more time there are countless things to do in San Diego (or the whole of Southern California) and I have included some bonus suggestions in the itinerary below for you as well.
San Diego can also be a great stop on a full road trip along the Pacific Coast Highway. I have another itinerary specifically for that trip too!
Day 1: Downtown and Seaport
Morning – Little Italy Market
If you’re visiting San Diego for the weekend, on Saturday morning you should head to Little Italy for the farmers market.
Over 40 vendors will happily let you try samples of cheeses, bread spreads, cookies, and fresh juices and of course, you can also bring some home. Trust me, even if you think you can resist and not sample anything, you most likely will. The market is especially worth your time if you’re a foodie.
After your brunch at the market, you’ll be stuffed so you can take your time to explore San Diego. San Diego’s renovated turn-of-the-century Victorian architecture is home to boutiques, art galleries, specialty shops, and more.
Afternoon – USS Midway, Balboa Park & Zoo
Time for a little history! The USS Midway Museum is a naval aircraft carrier museum located on an actual ship (the USS Midway) which was the longest-serving aircraft carrier of the 20th century in America.
The ship remains as it was during active duty and you can walk all through the different parts of it. What’s more, there are actual aircraft onboard which you can climb into and flight simulators to try.
Afterward, take the afternoon to discover Balboa Park, a huge park just minutes north of downtown San Diego.
This park, ranked among one of the best in the world, offers a lot of venues, botanical gardens, stunning colonial architecture, and even the biggest zoo in the US (San Diego Zoo). If you decide to go to the zoo give the wombats (my favorite animal) a hug from me!
Evening – Point Loma sunset
End an action-packed first day of exploration by relaxing at Point Loma to watch a beautiful sunset over the Pacific Ocean.
Located just 15 mins west of Downtown, Point Loma is the perfect place to say goodbye to the day surrounded by beautiful sandstone cliffs. If visited in the winter, you may even spot gray whales here.
Sunset Cliffs is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike to watch the sunset so bring a picnic and enjoy the atmosphere.
And if you want to continue the party back in town, on 3rd and 4th streets there are a lot of bars where you can let your hair down after a whole day of sightseeing.
Day 2: La Jolla
Morning – Seals and Kayaking
Today we are heading north to the affluent town of La Jolla as there are a lot of things to do for both adventure seekers and those wanting to just sunbathe on the sand.
With 17 miles of coastline, San Diego gives you a lot of beaches to choose from but La Jolla Cove is famous for its many sea lions that chill out on the rocks during the day. If you’re lucky you can walk up quite close to them.
Once you’ve had a friendly welcome, it’s time for some adventure. Another popular activity at La Jolla Cove is kayaking among the sharks in the caves. You can join a tour of the 7 caves where all the gear is included and a guide with show you the way.
Don’t get scared, sharks in San Diego are leopard sharks and their mouths are smaller than an orange, so even if they wanted to bite you they couldn’t even grab your finger. They’re actually very cute so a close encounter is highly recommended!
But if kayaking sounds a little too much, you can also simply hike around above the beach and watch paragliders throwing themselves from the cliffs.
Once you’re done with the beach, head to La Jolla village and find a nice restaurant overlooking the ocean. La Jolla has a lot of places to eat so it’s not a problem to find a good lunch spot.
Afternoon – Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
After lunch, it’s time for a little more exercise. Still in La Jolla, head to Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. Here you can explore 1,750 acres of coastal wilderness featuring beautiful pine forests and sandstone canyons.
Set on the cliffs above Torrey Pines Beach, there are countless hiking trails to explore here for all levels of experience, all with breathtaking views.
The park is home to around 3,000 of America’s most rare pine trees which only grow in two places (here being one of them).
Two great trails to try here are the Guy Fleming Trail which is an easy 0.7-mile loop with ocean views. Or the Razor Point Trail which is a more difficult 1.4-mile track with dramatic ravines and ocean viewpoints.
Evening – Harbor Cruise
End another action-packed day back in San Diego with a beautiful evening harbor cruise. There are a number of different lengths and types of cruises available to you but each one offers a unique view of the city in the perfect dusk light.
You’ll see many of the famous landmarks you may have walked by on foot, sail under the Coronado Bridge, and even have the chance to spot sea lions and whales.
I recommend this 2.5-hour dinner cruise or this 1-2 hour cruise if you’re short on time.
Day 3: Coronado Island or Mission Beach Boardwalk
For your final day, you have a choice. If you still have plenty of energy and are looking for one last adventure, we’re heading to Coronado Island.
Alternatively, if you prefer to relax for your last day in San Diego, spend your time enjoying the boardwalk at Mission Beach.
Option 1: Coronado Island
Coronado Island is one of the poshest areas of the city and probably has the most beautiful beach in San Diego: wide, sandy, and only moderately crowded.
You can take a ferry to Coronado from Seaport Village, downtown, right after you try one of their delicious freshly baked cookies. It’s a cute little place that will make you feel like Alice in Wonderland even if just for 5 minutes.
When you reach Coronado Island you can rent a bike to get to the beach and see the famous Hotel del Coronado.
This historic Victorian beach resort is the second-largest wooden structure in the United States and it was a temporary home to many famous people in American history. It’s definitely worth a stroll around!
Option 2: Mission Beach Boardwalk
There’s a little bit of everything along Mission Beach Boardwalk including shops, water activities, Sea World, and even an amusement park.
The best way to enjoy Mission Beach Boardwalk is simply to wander along at your own pace, stopping at anything that takes your fancy.
If you’re feeling adventurous you can even take surf lessons or rollerblade along the path.
The boardwalk follows the entire coast on both the bay beach and ocean beach side of the peninsula so you also have your choice of waves if you want a relaxing dip or waves to play in.
End Your Day with a Drink or Two
To celebrate your last night in Sand Diego, why not enjoy a drink (or two) in the classic San Diego way?
If you’re looking for a lesser-known bar in San Diego, I recommend the rooftop bar at the W Hotel. Why do I recommend you to go to a hotel? Simply because it’s the only bar that has a rooftop beach and it won’t break your budget.
However, if you plan your weekend in San Diego in advance you can try an alternative bar. By making a reservation at Noble Experiments you’ll be told to go to a specific location if there’s an event happening. When you arrive, you’ll be taken through the neighborhood bar via a secret door or a bathroom to get to a special secret bar.
If you’re a young wild soul and these options don’t seem crazy enough for you, head to Pacific Beach. If you’re visiting San Diego on a Wednesday you might even participate in a goldfish race. How cool is that?
Recommended places to stay in San Diego
Hotel Del Coronado – The best place to stay on Coronado Island. Some consider it haunted.
Hilton San Diego Bayfront – A luxury hotel with a beautiful outdoor pool.
La Jolla Cove Suites – If you prefer to stay in La Jolla that’s the right spot.
Enjoy San Diego! If you have any questions drop me a message in the comments below!
San Diego is a gorgeous place! These reccomendations look so fun 🙂 One interesting thing to do is make a bonfire on the beach and roast s’mores– I’ve heard Mission Beach is great for this sort of thing
Can you even do a bonfire anymore? I heard it’s forbidden now butnever tried 🙁
Wow, you take such beautiful photos! San Diego sounds like an absolute dream! It really does seem like you are having a blast visiting all of these places xx
Thank you uso much Sam!
I would add that Tijuana is a must once in San Diego. Forget about the now dead spring-breaker scene, now there are a lot of great places for foodies, music fans and more. The best part is that you can leave your car on the US side border, Uber to wherever you’d like in Tijuana, get back to San Diego the same day.
I was thinking about it, but then I thought ekhm… nope since the post is about San Diego 😛
Looks like a good time! We go down every month for a few days
Yes! San Diego is amazing. I think you made a good list for just two days. I think it’s key to spend the morning at the beach, most definitely.
I haven’t been to San Diego yet. It looks like a great place to walk the beach. Did you find any great signature tequila drinks there?
Tequila drinks hmmm… not really, but Tijuana is like 20 minutes away 😀
San Diego is one of the only other cities in the world I’d consider living. I had a very similar itinerary when I went earlier this year, except spent a good amount of time in Ocean Beach. The seafood in La Jolla and the hiking by the cliffs in Torrey Pines won me over!
Greig
This is a great article Anna! What about green hotels and vegan places to have fun?
Yes actually! There are many vegan restaurants in Hillcrest 🙂