One Day in San Diego, California
San Diego is one of California’s biggest cities – and most popular tourist destinations! Set on the Pacific coast, San Diego is known for its ocean views, warm weather, and authentic food scene. Continue reading to learn our recommendations for how to spend one day in San Diego to make the most of your trip.
1. Walk Around Old Town
To start your day, we recommend checking out the Old Town neighborhood of San Diego. This western styled area will make you feel like you’ve walked right onto the set of an old western film, as it’s architecture is influenced by Hollywood movie settings.
In Old Town San Diego, you will be able to explore museums, shop around for souvenirs, and hop on a trolley tour to learn about the region’s history. It’s historical value actually brings in more tourism to San Diego than any other attraction in the city!
Old Town is free to visit & explore.
2. Lunch at Cafe Coyote
When you’re done exploring town, grab a bite to eat at the Cafe Coyote in Old Town San Diego. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner all year round, Cafe Coyote is one of the best Mexican food restaurants in all of San Diego.
The cafe has both indoor and outdoor seating as well as a bar and shopping area. Reservations are recommended but you should be able to get a table as a walk-in due to its size.
Cafe Coyote is located at 2461 San Diego Avenue.
3. Explore Balboa Park
After lunch, we recommend heading over to Balboa Park. Honestly, this park could take days to truly explore in depth. It is home to over a dozen museums and more than 1000 acres in size. You can find anything from a botanical garden to a space museum to the famous San Diego Zoo within its bounds.
If you’re just in the city for a day, we recommend walking around the park and seeing what peaks your interest the most. Hopefully you can find some good weather, some live street music, and a snack or two to enjoy while taking in the scenery.
Balboa Park is free for entry.
4. Sunset Cliffs
After the park, we recommend making your way to the coast to enjoy the views at Sunset Cliffs. This area of San Diego is directly along the Pacific Ocean and offers relatively flat walking paths along the water.
The walking paths are free for entry. Hopefully you luck out with a bit nicer weather than we had during your visit 🙂
5. Dinner at Hodad’s
Last but not least, we recommend ending your day with a casual dinner at Hodad’s in Ocean Beach. This burger joint is walkable from the Sunset Cliffs, and famous for its delux burgers and milkshakes. They also offer a veggie burger if you do not eat meat!
Hodad’s is located at 5010 Newport Ave.
Let us know what your favorite thing to do in San Diego was in the comments below!
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About the Author: Hi, I’m Jill! I am a biomedical & mechanical engineer who loves traveling during my free time. My hope is to help make it easier for others to plan their dream trips by providing firsthand experience from the places I’ve been! Read More.
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I think I need to hit up cafe coyote!