Looking for nice actions and sights in San Diego? Our San Diego itinerary is all it’s worthwhile to plan the proper journey!
It’s no surprise San Diego is named America’s Best Metropolis.
The pristine seashores, world-class family-friendly sights, famend museums, and impactful historic monuments are all spectacular options that make many need to discover this enjoyable metropolis.
Plus, the optimum local weather appeals to everybody. The gentle, sunny climate gives a chance to bask within the number of out of doors actions out there within the metropolis with out struggling frigid chilly or insufferable warmth temperatures.
There are many issues to do on this respected California metropolis if you understand the place to look.
Are you looking for what to do for 3 days in San Diego? Are you questioning find out how to spend a weekend in San Diego?
We’re right here to announce the perfect San Diego sights that may widen your eyes in awe, attraction to your extra refined senses, and draw you in for an exciting journey with the proper three-day San Diego itinerary.
3 days in San Diego is loads of time to see all the perfect sights, from Balboa Park to La Jolla shores to Little Italy, and past.
Learn Subsequent: Searching for extra actions so as to add to your itinerary? Try our put up on all the perfect issues to do in San Diego!
Easy methods to Spend 3 Days in San Diego Itinerary
The proper vacation spot for varied out of doors and indoor actions, we’ve created the proper 3 days in San Diego itinerary for a productive and stimulating time exploring the town. We’ll embrace the perfect of San Diego’s highlights, from museums to out of doors actions.
Put together your self for an array of actions, from kayaking in La Jolla to hitting up Ocean Seaside or procuring and sightseeing.
To economize on a few of San Diego’s dearer sights, think about getting the CityPASS. It can get you discounted entry to the zoo, museums, Outdated City excursions, and quite a few different sights.
Day 1 in San Diego
On the primary day of your San Diego itinerary, begin with a go to to Balboa Park and all it has to supply. Discover the museums and the zoo, and finish the day by watching a traditional Cali sundown on the cliffs.
Day 1 Morning – Discover Balboa Park and the San Diego Artwork Museum
Only a few folks have visited San Diego with out stopping in Balboa Park. Open 24 hours a day, day by day, Balboa Park is an city park with historical past, sights, and nature.
Begin the day with some peaceable strolls alongside the strolling paths and thru the gardens.
Balboa Park is a cultural oasis with 1,200 acres, so there isn’t a scarcity of issues to do right here.
Additionally ensure you cease by the San Diego Museum of Artwork, a world-renowned high-quality arts museum.
Looking for to encourage, educate, and domesticate curiosity, the San Diego Museum of Artwork is the area’s oldest and largest artwork museum internet hosting practically half 1,000,000 guests yearly.
The broad assortment of Spanish and Italian artwork hosted at this revered museum options the native historical past to showcase the impression artwork has bestowed upon the magnificent metropolis of San Diego.
Spend your first morning in San Diego exploring Balboa Park and having fun with this fascinating artwork museum.
- Artwork Museum Opening Hours: Closed Wednesdays, 10 AM-5 PM (Monday-Tuesday, Thursday-Saturday), 12 PM-5 PM (Sunday)
- Admission: Free
- Handle: 1450 El Prado
Day 1 Afternoon – Traverse The In depth San Diego Zoo
Whereas exploring Balboa Park, make a while to go to this world-famous zoo.
Most vacationers to San Diego will agree that the San Diego Zoo is the perfect zoo they’ve ever had the pleasure of exploring. So, skip the strains with this admission ticket and prepare to have a blast.
Over 100 acres in measurement, this well-known zoo is thought for its spectacular and plush naturalistic habitats which are usually mixed with extraordinary animal encounters.
House to over 4,500 uncommon and endangered animals just like the Platypus and the Amur Leopard, the world-famous San Diego Zoo hosts quite a lot of reveals that visitors can traverse as they find out about these endangered species and the way conservation efforts try to avoid wasting these distinctive species.
The Polar Bear Plunge and the Elephant Odyssey are however a number of thrilling reveals the place many could be educated on these enigmatic species’ spectacular qualities and traits.
Should you’re feeling daring, we suggest venturing over to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park for an up-close and private have a look at nature’s most refined predators and prey.
- Opening Hours: 9 AM-9 PM
- Admission: $65/Grownup, $55/Youngster, Free/Infants
- Handle: 2920 Zoo Drive
Additionally take a look at our information to the greatest actions in San Francisco, in case you are exploring extra of Cali!
Day 1 Night – Unwind At Sundown Cliffs Pure Park
To finish your first day in San Diego, make a journey to Sundown Cliffs Pure Park. Convey a towel or blanket to relaxation and unwind overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
This pure cliff space gives unparalleled views of the California coast and is thought for its wonderful sunsets. Sadly, the images by no means do justice, so be sure to take pleasure in the true factor whilst you can!
Sundown Cliffs Nationwide Park is amongst many in style issues in San Diego. The 68-acre resource-based park stretches alongside the Pacific Ocean to frame the western fringe of Level Loma.
Packed onto this in depth out of doors location is a 50-acre hillside part designated as a species conservation space and hyperlinks to the 640-acre Level Loma Ecological Reserve.
We extremely suggest stopping by Sundown Cliffs Pure Park for a free exercise in San Diego. First, quiet down for the last word unwind with a surprising 1.4-mile clifftop path to stroll as you breathe the contemporary air and nice vibes.
Then, simmer all the way down to bask within the well-known San Diego sundown whereas gazing throughout the ocean. Visiting San Diego anyplace from December to April will provide you with the possibility to see grey whales embark on their annual migration.
You probably have time, you possibly can even head additional south down the peninsula and take a look at Level Loma Lighthouse, the Level Loma tide swimming pools, or the Cabrillo Nationwide Monument.
- Opening Hours: Open 24 Hours
- Admission: Free
- Handle: Ladera Avenue
Day 2 in San Diego
Begin day two of your San Diego itinerary by touring the longest-serving plane service of the twentieth century at the united statesMidway Museum.
Subsequent, be part of a narrated tour of San Diego Outdated City, the primary European settlement in California. Lastly, finish the day with world-famous Little Italy’s greatest meals and drinks!
Day 2 Morning – Tour The usMidway Museum
The usMidway served because the longest-serving plane service of the twentieth century from 1945 to 1992.
Roughly 200,000 sailors served on this huge plane service recognized for its naval aviation breakthroughs and humanitarian missions. So it’s no surprise the united statesMidway Museum is a worthy cease throughout your go to to San Diego!
Positioned on the Naval Pier in downtown San Diego, the united statesMidway Museum homes near 10 acres of reveals, over 30 restored plane, and shows that inform historical past.
Throughout your tour of this San Diego museum, climb aboard actual cockpits, peer by way of restored WWII-era plane, and witness a strong historic manufacturing within the Battle of Halfway Theater.
There are family-oriented actions out there all through the museum, similar to flight simulators and quick movies. Able to study some historical past?
A heads up: a number of strolling, bending, and climbing is concerned when visiting the united statesMidway Museum. The WWII-era U.S. Navy ship has low ceilings, cramped hallways, and a number of slim stairways that may be troublesome for some folks to navigate.
Fortunately, a number of elevators can be found, and about 60% of the reveals are wheelchair accessible.
- Opening Hours: 10 AM-5 PM Day by day
- Admission: $25/Grownup, $18/Youngster, $18/Veterans
- Handle: 910 N Harbor Dr
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Day 2 Afternoon – Be a part of A Narrated Tour Of Outdated City San Diego
Go to the place the place California started! Calm down for a narrated tour of Outdated City San Diego, the primary European settlement in California!
A hub spot for historical past, Outdated City houses acres of Mexican heritage, colourful retailers and eating places, and historic websites ready to be explored. The birthplace of California’s legacy, Outdated City commemorates the early days of San Diego county.
Get able to expertise Outdated City’s vibrancy on the Hop-On Hop-Off Tour of Outdated City San Diego. This tour makes it simple to “hop on and hop off” at any of the tour’s 12 boarding factors.
As well as, visitors can have the chance to expertise over 100 attention-grabbing tour factors in Coronado Island and San Diego all at their very own tempo.
We suggest starting the tour at Outdated City San Diego State Historic Park, the place visitors will be capable to soak within the sights of authentic adobe houses and artifacts preserved from the earliest Mexican settlements.
The subsequent cease is Seaport Village, the place refreshments, procuring, and leisure are ready. And it doesn’t cease there. This tour retains chugging alongside to satiate effervescent curiosity and the search for information of America’s Best Metropolis!
- Opening Hours: 10 AM-5 PM Day by day
- Admission: $10/Grownup. $8/Seniors/Navy, Youngster
- Handle: 4010 Twiggs St
Day 2 Night – Style Little Italy’s Well-known Treats On A Meals Strolling Tour
If you wish to style the perfect food and drinks whilst you discover San Diego, Little Italy’s famend treats on this meals strolling tour are the way in which to go!
Certainly one of San Diego’s prime sights, Little Italy, was a hub spot for Italian fishermen and their households within the Nineteen Twenties.
Initially generally known as the “tuna capital” because of the metropolis’s main tuna trade, it inspired over 6,000 immigrant households to maneuver to San Diego to partake.
Little Italy is thought worldwide for its pedestrian-friendly neighborhood that boasts brewpubs, eating places, indie music venues, and weekly Little Italy Mercato Farmer’s Market.
This guided meals strolling tour takes visitors by way of the bustling neighborhood of Little Italy, with the primary cease resting at Sorrento Ristorante & Pizzeria.
This energetic family-owned Italian restaurant brags conventional home made dishes like Pappardelle Bolognese and calamari. The strolling meals tour makes its final cease at Pappalecco, a standard Italian bistro the place visitors can get pleasure from house-made gelato in an array of obtainable flavors.
Get a glimpse of eating places and bars which have develop into well-known resulting from their ties to gangsters and members of the Rat Pack. However watch out, or you possibly can find yourself sleeping with the fishes!
Day 3 in San Diego
Prepare for a enjoyable final day of exploring San Diego! On the final day of your San Diego itinerary start the day kayaking at a world-famous dive website in La Jolla.
Subsequent, sightsee San Diego Harbor aboard a yacht as you consumption enjoyable historical past info. Lastly, finish your final day in San Diego, splurging at Seaport Village or watching the sundown on the seaside.
Day 3 Morning – Kayak La Jolla Cove
A world-famous dive website, La Jolla Cove is an ecological protect and San Diego’s prime swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and diving spot.
The calm waters make for an ideal out of doors day spent within the water and the solar. Discover La Jolla’s Ecological Reserve and Seven Sea Caves on this guided kayak tour to style this favored out of doors San Diego spot.
La Jolla has a small cove a part of a protected marine reserve. Joined by an connected seaside surrounded by spectacular cliffs, this picturesque location makes for a well-liked spot for scuba divers, snorkelers, swimmers, kayakers, or any that merely need to bask within the stunning outdoor.
The seashores at La Jolla have white sand that many beachgoers wish to sunbathe on and waves that make it successful browsing spot for surfers from everywhere in the world. Some folks come to La Jolla to look at the ocean lions and seals that mix in with the human sunbathers.
Throughout your kayak tour, you’ll be able to observe the ocean lions sunbathing on heat rocks as dolphins, whales, and turtles swim lazily by way of the pleasing blue waters.
Should you time your San Diego journey in the summertime or fall months, you possibly can have the chance to see innocent leopard sharks swim previous.
Day 3 Afternoon – Sightsee San Diego Harbor On A Cruise
Put together to sail the San Diego Harbor in fashion on this Harbor Sightseeing Cruise!
The San Diego Harbor is a pure harbor and deepwater port positioned close to the USA and Mexico border. Many individuals cease by this spectacular port to stroll as they observe cruise liners, ships, and vessels coming and going.
For this cruise, visitors can select a one-hour or two-hour cruise. They are going to be capable to cruise on a yacht whereas soaking within the sights of the united statesS. Halfway Plane Provider, the U.S. Navy Floor Fleet, the San Diego Coronado Bridge, and the Naval Amphibious Base Coronado.
Different inclusive sights embrace historic ships within the Maritime Museum and North Island Naval Air Station, in addition to your entire San Diego skyline.
Maintain your ears perked! The skilled crew enriches the cruise with informative commentary regarding the native and army historical past and different factors of curiosity through the voyage of San Diego Bay.
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Day 3 Night – Store At Seaport Village or Hit The Seaside
Frequented by locals and vacationers alike, put together your self — and your checking account — for an intensive procuring spree at Seaport Village!
This waterfront procuring and eating complicated is settled adjoining to San Diego Bay in downtown San Diego. With a number of greater than 70 retailers, eateries, and galleries, Seaport Village is understandably a well-liked procuring spot. The waterfront views make the procuring expertise much more worthwhile!
- Opening Hours: 10 AM-10 PM Day by day
- Handle: 849 W Harbor Dr
An alternate possibility for the final night of your San Diego weekend getaway is to hit the seaside. Seize some meals and drinks and head to the sand to observe the sundown!
Mission Seaside, Ocean Seaside, Coronado Seaside, and Pacific Seaside are a few of San Diego’s greatest seashores.
Go online or play volleyball at Mission Seaside. Or benefit from the nightlife surrounding Ocean Seaside. Coronado Seaside is sweet for sightseeing, as there are many fancy mansions lining Ocean Boulevard behind the sand.
Pacific Seaside is a laid-back neighborhood with a boardwalk and boutique retailers. It doesn’t matter what seaside you go to, ending your San Diego weekend itinerary on the seaside is an ideal concept.
San Diego Journey Information
Now that you understand what to do with the proper three-day San Diego itinerary, listed below are some useful San Diego journey ideas and knowledge that may allow you to perceive the perfect time to go to, find out how to get round, and the place to remain.
When is the Finest Time to Go to San Diego
Like anyplace on the earth, there’s at all times a really helpful time to go to, whether or not or not it’s to keep away from poor climate or oppressive crowds.
So when seeking to go to San Diego, we suggest planning your journey to America’s Best Metropolis both from March to Might or September to November.
Throughout these really helpful months, the air is extra breathable as you’ll be avoiding the warmth of summer season. There are additionally fewer crowds, making the sights extra pleasing.
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Getting Round San Diego
Earlier than you get began exploring your San Diego itinerary choices it’s worthwhile to work out find out how to get round.
Fortunately, getting round this nook of Southern California isn’t as troublesome as you would possibly assume as a vacationer.
The general public San Diego Trolley is simple to catch or hitch a journey on for those who’re staying in or close to downtown San Diego.
Nevertheless, for those who’re seeking to discover lots of San Diego’s gorgeous coastal areas, we suggest hopping on the Coaster prepare that connects downtown San Diego and Outdated City.
Uber or Lyft are nice choices for those who’re seeking to spend money on rare journeys that aren’t close to your keep in San Diego.
Renting a automobile can also be nice, because it offers you the pliability to discover at your leisure. A rental automobile can also be the simplest possibility for taking day journeys into nature, similar to Joshua Tree Nationwide Park or Torrey Pines State Park.
In any other case, make investments on this Non-public Switch to/from San Diego Airport for a stress-free switch from the San Diego Worldwide Airport to your vacation spot in San Diego.
One of the best ways to get round is to hire a automobile and discover by yourself! We suggest Rental Automobiles, which has the most important vary of automobiles for the perfect worth available on the market.
The place to Keep in San Diego
Should you’re questioning the place to remain throughout your journey to San Diego, our suggestions for the perfect lodging will allow you to select the highest spot in your finances!
Finest Hostel in San Diego: Hello San Diego
Get settled within the coronary heart of the Gaslamp Quarter within the classiest hostel San Diego has to supply!
At HI San Diego, visitors are welcomed to a freshly renovated city hostel with a major location to expertise the center of San Diego.
Finest Mid-Vary Resort in San Diego: Motel6
Positioned solely ten minutes from SeaWorld San Diego, this Motel6 is a 100% smoke-free facility. Entry to prime spots just like the Vogue Valley Buying Mall is just a 5 minutes drive.
As well as, visitors can entry free Wi-Fi, laundry amenities, and a 40-inch flat-screen TV with over 60 channels.
Finest Luxurious Resort in San Diego: Resort del Coronado
A historic, beachfront resort, the Resort del Coronado boasts ocean views, a backyard, out of doors pool, and gorgeous rooms with terraces and balconies.
First in-built 1888, Resort del Coronado combines historical past with luxurious. With a restaurant and bar proper on the seaside as effectively, there isn’t a higher place to remain for a beautiful journey to San Diego.
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