Best Places To Visit in San Diego

Published June 21, 2020 · Updated September 9, 2020

Recognized as a sunny city, San Diego boasts several natural as well as artificial wonders. Whether it is theme parks, cultural attractions or serene beaches, tourist attractions in San Diego definitely stand out in the world. No matter at what time of the year you are traveling to San Diego, the city has something or other to fulfill your traveling cravings. In fact, planning your San Diego vacation is a bit challenging due to its plethora of offerings. Here is a San Diego travel guide that will make your job easy. It includes some of the best places to visit in San Diego California that you must add in your upcoming tour to this incredible city.

The oldest town in California is the sea-facing city of San Diego. Known for its warm and Mediterranean weather and of course its beaches, the city is located in Southern California. San Diego is a city of parks and beaches but also has a rich history, offered via museums and monuments, topped with cultures presented via theatres and various sites of heritage and historical significance.

If San Diego tourism is next on your list, then check out the following list of some of the best places to visit in San Diego to help you plan better and smarter.

Top Tourist Attractions of San Diego:

Balboa Park
San Diego Museum of Art
USS Midway Museum
Point Loma
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
Mission Beach
Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
Sunset Cliff Natural Park
Whale watching cruise
Legoland
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Gaslamp Quarter:

Why you must-visit these travel destinations?

Balboa Park:

This site is one of the most famous San Diego tourist spots that offers everything in one place together, be it museums, historical buildings and sites, beautiful gardens, and even various exhibitions. You can find many various museums inside the campus and also visit the San Diego Zoo. You can spend an entire day watching giant pandas, leopards, rhinos, polar bears and many other exotic animals. The Balboa park in its structure is influenced by Spanish architecture and is very famous for the various botanical parks and the lily pond.

It is one of the most sought after San Diego tourist attractions where people gather in huge numbers. It is the largest cultural park in America where you can spot several unique museums along with art centers. The park also features lawn bowling, biking trails, golf course, dog parks, Japanese Friendship Garden much more. With so much to discover here, you will find Balboa Park added in all of the San Diego vacation packages

San Diego Museum of Art:

One of the many famous museums and incredible San Diego places to visit is the San Diego Museum of Art. It is the place of the culmination of history, art and culture. You will find a lot of amazing artwork by Spanish painters and many artworks exhibits by Spanish artists displayed. The various artifacts can be dated back to thousands of years from all around the world. If you are a history and art liver, then this museum is one of the ideal tourist attractions in San Diego that you shouldn’t miss.

USS Midway Museum:

This is the highlight of the city’s military history. The USS Midway has been the longest-serving aircraft carrier in the world and is moored at San Diego. If you are intrigued by how it served and how much military personnel has embarked on this vessel, you can go inside and take up a self-guided tour into various exhibits and understand the history and importance of this vessel. You can experience real stories via various documentaries, simulations and by visiting the cockpit.

Without any doubt, the USS Midway Museum is listed in the best places to visit in San Diego. It is centered on an aircraft carrier, USS Midway. The museum was made open to the public in the year 2004 that lets tourists enjoy an audio tour. The museum features everything from sickbay, machine shops, engine room to the jail of the ship. Events are also organized on a regular basis at the museum that features concerts, screening lectures, and fireworks. If you are a history lover then you should add this destination in your San Diego vacation package.

Point Loma:

Located in the western part of the city, Point Loma offers breathtaking views of the Pacific. Right from the journey to the site to all the various spots to explore, you can enjoy views and nature’s beauty in the warm air. Along with a few museums about the history of the place, you can visit the old lighthouse to soak in the sea view and get postcard-perfect photos. If the weather and clear skies permit you can spot even Mexico! Tourists have also spotted dolphins and whales in the sea during occasions. No wonder, it is listed amongst one of the top places to visit from San Diego to make your journey memorable.

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park:

This is a trip right back to the old days with multiple resorted buildings and replicas from the early Mexican and American periods. The site shows the culmination of the cultures of Mexico and America. There are multiple activities to do and the admission and most of the attractions are free.

Mission Beach:

This two miles long Pacific beach is known for the Southern California party vibe and is well known amongst youngsters as a place to hang out. There people who love to stroll, jog or walk around. But the blonde sand makes for excellent activities like beach sports, volleyball, surfing, picnics, cycling and much more. Right there is the Belmont Park which is an amusement park full of restaurants, rides and thrill. There are many mini-golf courses and smaller attractions too for children with many food and ice cream stalls. If you are looking for one of the best places to visit in San Diego CA where you can find peace of your life then come to Mission beach.

Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala:

This was the first mission in California and has a lot of religious history. It is one of the historic tourist spots in San Diego which has been attracting several tourists from different corners of the world. You can go here to find out tranquility. You can learn a lot about its history here, take a stroll in the gardens, visit the old church and its beautiful bell tower. There are museums too which offer an insight into their culture and ancestry.

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve:

Sea facing and high cliffs on the plateau- This place is the epitome of views in San Diego. You can trail along here and reach untouched and barely populated beaches of San Diego. This is one of the cool places to visit at San Diego, which has the growth of Torrey Pines and hence the name. The Torrey Pines Gliderport in the reserve is the prime location for hand gliding and paragliding off of the cliffs. You will also find many golf courses in the reserve for all the golf lovers.

Sunset Cliffs National Park:

Just like the many Pacific facing tourist spots in San Diego, this is one of the prime destinations to enjoy a Southern Californian sunset. The area is blessed with ocean caves and bluffs, tidepools, arches and cliffs right off the shore with the sound of the waves and the colors of the sky. If you are lucky, you can spot the grey whales migrating. The top of the cliffs are the most ideal spot of romantics.

Whale Watching Cruise:

December through April, in San Diego, is the prime season to spot various species of whales and other sea creatures like dolphins, seals, orcas and many more. In order to spot them and learn more about them and other marine life creates, you can board a whale-watching cruise. It is an almost 5-hour cruise with food and drinks that gives you a memorable sailing experience and a chance to get up close with the many sea creatures that are local to the city if San Diego.

Legoland:

If you are visiting San Diego with your kids then you should keep this destination as your first priority. It is one of the most entertaining San Diego sights to see that features several thrilling rides, live shows, themed zones and shops. Some other highlights of Legoland include Sea Life Aquarium, Star Wars mini-land, water park, submarine ride and much more. Check out any San Diego travel guide and you will find this travel destination listed in it without fail.

San Diego Zoo Safari Park:

If you are traveling in San Diego for memorable vacation then you shouldn’t miss a visit to this fabulous park. Here you will get an opportunity to experience amazing fauna of the city. The park features more than 250 animal species of 3,000 animals. The botanical garden and wildlife sanctuary will surely add an element of excitement to your San Diego travel vacation. If you want to try something thrilling then opt for a ride on hot air balloon which will offer you a perfect glimpse of the park.

Gaslamp Quarter:

If you are done exploring natural San Diego visit places, it’s a time to enjoy its incredible nightlife. Here you can experience a perfect blend of classic and modern life of the city. Gaslamp Quarter features several pubs, bars, hotels, shops, lounges, and restaurants for your amusement. If you are visiting San Diego for the first time then you will love trying unique cuisine served at the nearby restaurants.

What’s next waiting for you?

San Diego is one of California’s oldest and yet striking coastal cities that not only embrace their history and culture proudly but also preserves it. The gorgeous seaside views and the cliffs coupled with trees and sunsets are a calling to all the beach lovers who want to explore such calming and eye-catching waters around the world. If you are looking forward to cover some of the top places to visit near San Diego then use this guide to plan your San Diego trip in order to catch all the hotspots and scenic beaches.

Whether you are traveling to San Diego for the first time or you are occasional travelers, the best places to visit in San Diego mentioned above are worth visiting. The city has a lot to explore and you need to plan your journey judiciously to cover maximum sightseeing locations in less time. If you are planning to visit a few more popular cities in North America then check out our other travel guides.

About Author: PAREESHA VAJANI