3 Day San Diego Itinerary: Your Guide to America’s Finest City

If there were a Heaven on Earth (err, I mean, in America), that would be San Diego.

With fantastic (and mild) weather all year round, spectacular beaches and hiking trails, delicious food, a world-class zoo, and a thriving arts scene, there’s a reason millions travel to San Diego yearly and why it’s nicknamed America’s Finest City.

My sister-in-law lives in San Diego (I swear I’m not jealous…okay, maybe a tad bit), so my husband Cecilio and I go there frequently to dogsit her Dachshund when she goes out of town. Also, we just love traveling there, and we would live there if given the opportunity.

This 3 day San Diego itinerary is the Goldilocks of itineraries; not too short where you miss the biggest attractions, but not too long where you get bored and spend too much money.

I promise that you’ll never get bored in San Diego, no matter how long you stay; you’ll never run out of things to do, and it’ll warrant repeat visits to try to do, see, and eat everything! This itinerary highlights San Diego’s top attractions and activities for culture seekers, foodies, and nature lovers.

Disclaimer: This post uses affiliate links, which means I make a commission if you book through this post. If you do decide to book using my links, thank you so much for your support!

Your 3 Day San Diego Itinerary

Day 1: Balboa Park and North Park

San Diego Zoo

No matter how many times you visit San Diego, you have to visit the zoo at least once. The San Diego Zoo is one of the best zoos in the world, attracting 4 million visitors yearly.

Located in Balboa Park, the zoo is around 100 acres and houses 3,700+ animals of 650+ species. This includes elephants, sloths, capybaras, giraffes, a variety of birds, and giant pandas. There are even manatees now (although I recommend seeing and swimming with them in the wild in Florida).

Expect to wait in line to see the giant pandas in the zoo, as they are one of the most popular animals. The wait is worth it though!

The exhibits in the zoo feature different terrain types around the world, recreating a specific environment for animals living in it.

While the San Diego Zoo isn’t the largest in the world, it’s large enough to have a sky-high aerial tram called the Skyfari that takes you from one end to the other. This is perfect after a long day of walking and when your feet are in pain.

Plan to spend at least 4 hours in the zoo, if not all day.

A single-day ticket for adults to the San Diego Zoo is $76, and $66 for children ages 3–11.

You can also purchase the Go City San Diego All-Inclusive pass for $159, which includes admission to the zoo, Safari Park, and other attractions such as Legoland, Belmont Park, USS Midway Museum, Japanese Friendship Garden, and Birch Aquarium at Scripps. The pass also includes activities like whale watching, scenic cruises, bike and kayak rentals. The pass is valid for 3 days only (which makes it PERFECT for your 3 day San Diego itinerary).

Other parts of Balboa Park

While the zoo is in Balboa Park, there are other attractions you’ve got to visit. This includes:

Balboa Park Botanical Building

This building is basically a large greenhouse, housing over 2,000 plants and flowers. The building is made out of lath, a thin strip of wood, and is one of the largest lath structures in the world!

Admission to the Botanical Building is free, making it a budget-friendly activity. Outside the building, there is a large lily pond with some koi fish living in it. There are also benches and grassy areas where you can relax and have a picnic lunch.

Spanish Village Art Center

Artists (Professional and aspiring ones like me) and art lovers will love the Spanish Village Art Center. It’s a semi-enclosed area (but still free to visit!) modeled after a 20th-century village in Spain.

The stone floors are painted bright colors, making the “village” a fun and eclectic attraction. Inside each building is an art gallery, with professional artists working on their craft. This includes painters, photographers, sculptors, jewelry makers, glass blowers, woodworkers, printmakers, and colored pencil artists.

Japanese Friendship Garden

You don’t have to travel all the way to Japan to experience the beauty and zen of their gardens, when you have the Japanese Friendship Garden, where you can marvel over the plants, the koi pond surrounded by stones, and sip green tea.

The best time to go to the Japanese Friendship Garden is during the spring when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. They even host the annual Cherry Blossom Festival!

House of Pacific Relations International Cottages (HPR)

In Balboa Park, there’s a small village of cottages representing a country (marked by a sign and/or a flag). Inside each cottage, there are pamphlets about the country and its culture. The interiors are also decorated with art and crafts from that culture (I believe art is a powerful tool to get to know a culture beyond the surface).

Some cottages also host educational and cultural programs.

These cottages are a way to express unity and goodwill, especially in a world where everything feels so divisive. The village even hosts an annual Ethnic Food Fair!

Just a heads up: HPR is closed on weekdays. Cecilio and I stumbled across this place on a Friday while strolling through Balboa Park, and I was pretty disappointed. HPR is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am–5 pm.

Dinner in North Park

North Park is just a few minutes away from Balboa Park, and while it’s a residential area, it’s hip, walkable, and there is no shortage of fantastic places to eat and drink. It’s not the easiest to park, but it’s easier than parking in Downtown San Diego or Gaslamp, and the restaurants are much better.

From budget-friendly tacos to fancy sit-down Italian restaurants, you’ll be spoiled for choice with eateries all over North Park!

Here are a few recommendations:

• Grand Ole BBQ y Asado: Hailed as the best BBQ in San Diego, Grand Ole BBQ makes mouthwatering smoked meats that rival those of Kansas City and Texas.
• The Taco Stand: Since San Diego is close to the Mexico border, you’ll find taquerias on every corner. The Taco Stand is no exception, with tacos, burritos, and quesadillas inspired by the Tijuana area. With the delicious tacos, extensive salsa bar, and modest prices, it’s no wonder the place gets jam-packed at night!
• Tribute Pizza: This bougie sit-down pizzeria was renovated from an old post office. Expect a long wait, not just because the pizza is that good (it is, trust me), but also because they make and toss their own dough in a traditional wood oven. They purchase their flour and topping from local millers and farms, resulting in bubbling hot, crusty Neapolitan-style pizza. They also have a robust cocktail menu; get yourself an espresso martini!
• Alexander’s on 30th: If you have the means, treat yourself to this upscale Italian restaurant. It’s the perfect romantic date night spot with spacious outdoor seating and hanging fairy lights that twinkle at night. Alexander’s serves a variety of pizza, pasta, and meat-based dishes, pairing perfectly with a glass of wine.

Day 2: Little Italy and Beaches

Breakfast at Parakeet Cafe in Little Italy

Before strolling the streets of Little Italy, make sure to have a healthy, energizing breakfast at Parakeet Cafe. This aesthetic coffee shop serves avocado toasts (and mushroom and salmon on toast), sandwiches, granola bowls, and egg-based dishes.

And of course, there’s no shortage of coffee, from simple drip coffee and espresso to fancy lattes topped with art. If you don’t drink coffee, there are other drinks such as matcha, chai, tea, and kombucha. While not necessarily “healthy”, they also serve mimosas for those who want to start the day with a buzz.

Little Italy Farmers Mercato (Wednesdays and Saturdays only)

When planning your 3 day San Diego itinerary, try to visit Little Italy on a Wednesday or a Saturday, when the farmers market is buzzing with visitors and vendors spanning 6 blocks across West Date Street.

You’ll get to see and support vendors selling fresh produce, flowers, dairy, jams, meat, bread, pastries, and art.

Lunch at Civico 1845 (or take a food tour)

You don’t go to a place called “Little Italy” without eating your weight in pasta, pizza, gelato, and the like.

There are so many fantastic restaurants and food halls in Little Italy, that it feels a bit overwhelming to choose. Consider taking a walking food tour with a local guide to sample the best bites and sips that Little Italy has to offer!

Or if you’d rather sit down and dine, take it from me and have lunch at Civico 1845, an authentic Italian restaurant inspired by cuisine from the Calabrian region. The two owners, Dario and Pietro Gallo (both of whom are brothers) grew up and studied in Italy before setting roots in San Diego.

To start, Cecilio and I ordered fritto di mare, which is an assortment of calamari, fried shrimp, and zucchini with a side of garlic aoli sauce to dip in. As for my entree, I ordered the fusilli alla norma, a homemade pasta dish with tomato ricotta basil sauce and topped with eggplant and ricotta cheese. It was absolutely delicious and paired well with my white wine.

Treat yourself to gelato from Bobboi

Located next to the Little Italy fountain and in a food hall, Bobboi is a gelataria serving delicious frozen treats fusing Italian techniques with California-inspired flavors. The ingredients are natural, organic, and only the highest quality sourced from local farms and suppliers.

In Bobboi, you have classic flavors like stracciatella (Italian vanilla with chocolate chips), bacio (dark chocolate and hazelnuts from organic milk base), moka (espresso, dark chocolate and chocolate chips), salted caramel, and pistachio. But they also serve unexpected flavors like lavender, olive oil, and charcoal vanilla!

Bobboi also has a dairy-free selection featuring the classics along with other flavors like strawberry, blood orange, coconut coffee, and dragon lemon. The dairy-free gelatos are made from an oat milk base,

Hit the beach

San Diego is famous for its world-class beaches with 70 miles of coastline, but the three main beaches are Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, and Ocean Beach. All three beaches have completely different vibes, and you could either visit all three or spend ample time in one or two of them.

Option #1: Mission Beach

For a family-friendly atmosphere, consider visiting Mission Beach. Of the three, Mission Beach is the most spacious and has the most amount of sand, making it ideal to park your beach essentials and make sandcastles.

Right next to Mission Beach lies Belmont Park, a 100-year-old amusement park best known for its wooden roller coaster, the Giant Dipper. And right around the corner, there’s a public indoor pool, Plunge, that has inflatable obstacles and hosts parties and swimming lessons.

Belmont Park and Plunge make Mission Beach the perfect spot for families with small children.

Option #2: Pacific Beach

Pacific Beach is San Diego’s most popular beach, and it embodies the quintessential SoCal beach with a large pier (known as Crystal Pier), surfers gliding through high waves, and surf shops.

Young adults (especially college students) love Pacific Beach because there are a lot of restaurants, bars, and clubs, making it the perfect nightlife spot. People also do bonfires at night.

Stop by Crystal Pier for sweeping views of the ocean on one side, and the city on the other. There are also a lot of fishing rental shops at the pier, so you can go fishing if that’s what you’re into!

Option #3: Ocean Beach

Of the three, Ocean Beach is by far my favorite. It doesn’t get as much traffic and love as Mission and Pacific Beaches, but that’s why I love it. There are fewer crowds (and it’s mostly locals who visit), and the scenic beauty is unmatched. Unlike the other two, Ocean Beach has cliffs where you can picnic and sunbathe.

There are paths down the cliffs leading you to the sand and the water, where you can dip your toes in the water. This is another great photo angle for photographers.

Walk further down the path on the right side of the entrance, you’ll see some tide pools too!

Day 3: La Jolla

Hike at Torrey Pines State Reserve

Located in La Jolla, Torrey Pines State Reserve is one of San Diego’s most gorgeous hiking trails and beaches. As a set of sandstone cliffs, it is home to one of the rarest pine trees in the country, the pinus torreyana (hence, the name Torrey Pines). There are also wildflowers and salt marshes, and as you trek higher up, be prepared for the dramatic views of the beach to take your breath away.

You’ll also see some wildlife like California quails, and sometimes rattlesnakes (be careful!).

Breakfast at The Cottage

After a semi-strenuous hike at Torrey Pines, treat yourself to breakfast or brunch at The Cottage, a charming New American restaurant serving delectable dishes such as their signature lemon ricotta pancakes, egg scrambles, omelets, breakfast sandwiches, chilaquiles, and French toast. For drinks, treat yourself to a smoothie, coffee, or mimosa.

Visit the sea lions and seals at the beach

La Jolla’s beaches are best known for their epic caves you can kayak under, and the abundance of sea lions and seals (yes, they are two different creatures!). You can mostly find them in La Jolla Cove Beach, the Children’s Pool, and near Ellen Browning Scripps Park.

Descend into a cave underneath a gift shop

One of the coolest things Cecilio and I have done in La Jolla was visit Sunny Jim’s Sea Cave, a gift shop with a gateway of stairs (145 steps, to be exact) inside a cave, leading to a pier right next to the shore. Depending on the waves, you might get a little misty or completely soaked. You might even see some seals!

While it’s free to visit the gift shop, entrance to the caves is $10 (it was $7 when Cecilio and I visited in 2021).

Want more time in San Diego? Here are day trip ideas

Los Angeles

Typically, a drive from San Diego to LA takes 2 hours (barring the infamous LA traffic, which could be longer). LA is the epicenter of the arts and entertainment industry, with Hollywood. There are also beautiful beaches, a robust food scene (from fancy celebrity-approved restaurants to street food in the ethnic enclaves).

Tijuana

San Diego is right on the border near Tijuana. You can easily drive or walk to the Mexico border (just don’t forget your passport!). So it’s not surprising that many San Diego tour companies have guided tours to Tijuana. In fact, this is actually safer than visiting on your own, since you’re with a group of people and less likely to be targeted from crime. In Tijuana, try the street food, art galleries, and stop by the beach, Playas de Tijuana.

Ensenada

Most people visit Ensenada when they go on a cruise, but it is only a 2-hour drive from San Diego. Ensenada is also safer than Tijuana. You’ve got to visit La Bufadora, the largest marine geyser in the world, or get a margarita at Bar Andaluz (where the beloved cocktail originated!). If you have extra time, have lunch at the restaurant Anthony Bourdain visited and had the best tostadas (and Cecilio tried the seafood dish dedicated to him).

Carlsbad

Just 30 minutes north of San Diego, Carlsbad is a charming beach town, most known for two things: Legoland and Carlsbad Flower Fields, one of the largest ranunculus fields. Carlsbad also has rugged cliffs overlooking its stunning beaches, such as South Carlsbad State Beach and Tamarack Beach.

Ramona

Nestled in the Santa Maria Valley, Ramona is located 40 minutes east of San Diego overlooking Mount Woodson. As an AVA (American Viticultural Area), Ramona is a small town with an underrated wine scene, with roughly 60 vineyards and 30 wineries. One of the places I’ve stayed was in a glamping lodge in a Ramona winery, where I could do some serious tasting before checking in!

How to get to San Diego

By plane

The easiest way to visit San Diego is by flying into San Diego International Airport (SAN). It’s located right next to Downtown San Diego, so it’s not uncommon to see planes ascending from every angle. The airport is pretty small, so it’s slightly more expensive flying in and out of there.

Here are some alternative airports nearby:

• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX): 2 hours away
• Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR): 2 hours away
• John Wayne Airport (SNA): 1 hour 30 minutes away

By car

If you’re coming from Northern California, the best way to go to San Diego is by taking I-5 South or I-15 (and then exit to I-8 West). You’re going to want to take I-8 West if you’re coming from Arizona or anywhere east.

How to get around

Renting a car

While San Diego doesn’t get as much traffic as Los Angeles, it’s still a pretty car-centric (and sprawling) city, and I do recommend a car if you want to visit all the top attractions.

If you are 21 or over, consider renting a car through Discover Cars, where you can find amazing deals on car rentals around the world (especially if they’re not in the airport, as they will cost more).

Take the trolley

The trolley is a light rail train that is a part of San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (along with the buses). It has four lines and takes you to different parts of the city and neighboring areas, including San Ysidro, which borders Tijuana.

To purchase tickets, download the PRONTO app or purchase them at the nearest station machine. You can also load as much money as you need in the app and tap to pay your fares once you get in the trolley. Or you can purchase a 2-hour pass or an all-day pass,

Below is the map for the trolley system:

Where to stay

Mission Valley

Mission Valley is located in East San Diego, bordering Old Town. It is known for its large shopping malls, especially Westfield Mission Valley, and its row of hotels called the Hotel Circle. It’s also close to major freeways like I-8, I-15, I-805, and 163.

Accommodations in the Hotel Circle tend to be more affordable because they aren’t centrally located in Downtown or by the beach.

• Budget: Handlery Hotel
• Mid-range: Town & Country Resort
• Luxury: Hilton San Diego Mission Valley

Downtown San Diego/Gaslamp Quarter

If you’re not renting a car, staying in Downtown is a great idea so that you don’t have to worry about finding (and paying for) parking.

Downtown San Diego and Gaslamp Quarter (which are next to each other) are walkable with no shortage of restaurants and bars. And unlike most downtown areas, there are plenty of greenery and spacious parks.

Petco Park is located in the heart of Gaslamp Quarter overlooking San Diego Bay, where you can catch a concert or a Padres game during the summer.

• Budget: Bristol Hotel
• Mid-range: Moxy San Diego Gaslamp Quarter
• Luxury: Pendry San Diego

Mission Bay

The calm waters of Mission Bay connect to Mission Beach; the bay is lined with large, luxurious poolside resorts. These resorts are perfect for lounging around and relaxing. Most of them are equipped with snorkeling, paddleboarding, and kayaking equipment for those who want to wade the waters of Mission Bay.

The resorts and hotels in Mission Bay tend to be more expensive than the ones further away from the beach.

• Budget: GreenTree Inn San Diego Mission Bay
• Mid-range: Paradise Point Resort & Spa
• Luxury: Mission Bay Inn San Diego

Frequently Asked Questions

Wrapping up your 3 day San Diego itinerary

Ideally, I would prefer to spend at least 4 days in San Diego, especially for a first timer. But you can hit the major attractions (especially the zoo, landmarks, and beaches) in a 3-day span.

San Diego has a blend of gorgeous nature with bustling city life, fantastic eateries, and kid-friendly entertainment. As a result, it’s a city EVERYONE can enjoy; couples, solo travelers, girl groups, and families. It’s also way more laid back than its more famous sibling, LA.

So if a trip to San Diego is somewhere in your future, make sure to bookmark this post! Or if you want a completely customized itinerary, check out my custom travel planning services to make your dream trip come to life.

Did you find this post helpful? Share it on Pinterest!

Hannah Padilla

Website

Hannah is a travel writer, graphic designer, and the founder/editor of Hannah on Horizon. She is based in Sacramento, California, living with her husband and two adorable dogs. She shares tips on how to experience luxury travel on any budget, and how to maximize time at each trip or destination, no matter what your budget or amount of vacation time at work. She enjoys making you feel like you have visited each destination with her through her storytelling and informative writing style.