San Diego California Travel Guide

San Diego, California is an easy destination to travel to as it has it’s own international airport right in the downtown. San Diego International Airport (SAN) is larger in size and has a wide array of airlines and flights to choose from.

Many people get to San Diego simply by driving, as California (and the U.S. as a whole) has a great highway system. Though Southern California is known to have issues with traffic during peak driving hours. You may also find yourself in San Diego as a stop or starting point for a cruise ship trip. San Diego is now welcoming more and more cruises, such as Disney Cruises and Carnival Cruises. And lastly, San Diego is a convenient stop for train travel on the Amtrak connection in Los Angeles.

If you fly into San Diego International Airport, the best option to get to where you are staying is either a taxi or rideshare pickup right outside your terminal. Or, if you will be exploring beyond the downtown, a car rental is a great option. There is a free shuttle that will pick you up and take you to San Diego Airport’s Consolidated Rental Car Center where you can pick up your rental from any of the local rental agencies.

San Diego is the perfect place to get out and enjoy the sunshine on a 5-star rated whale watching cruise, taking a trolley tour of the Downtown Gaslamp District, taking a sunset sail around the harbor, and so much more!

This zoo is by far my favorite (outside of their sister park called the Safari Park, located in the northeastern area of San Diego County, and well worth the drive to visit). The San Diego Zoo is 100 acres and if full of amazing animal habitats. Each habitat is created with such care to replicate their natural surroundings and much larger than typical zoos. You can see animals being rehabilitated and the efforts in repopulating endangered species. There are also so many interactive shows and live teaching events that you can spend the whole day here and not get to everything.  You don’t want to miss this stop!

This vast park is the heart of San Diego. It includes 16 of the city’s top museums, incredible gardens (like the not-to-be-missed Japanese Friendship Garden), and is home to the San Diego Zoo. On top of these iconic landmarks within the park, there are also countless events happening throughout the year. You’ll want to check out the event calendar to see which festivals, events, and performances may be happening during your trip.

No trip to San Diego is complete without an excursion out on the water of the harbor. If you like adventure, you can rent a sail boat and explore. If you want a unforgettable memory, you’ll want to go whale watching. Or if you want to enjoy a beautiful sunset with delicious food and service, a dinner cruise is for you. No matter what you decide, spending time enjoying the harbor views and breeze will be well worth the stop.

A great place for a weekend stroll to soak in the quaint side of San Diego. Walk along the water for incredible views of Coronado Island and all of the yachts and military ships going through the harbor. Get lunch with an incredible view and then shop at the small boutiques and local vendors the setup along the grass. This is also a great spot to rent a scooter or bike.

San Diego was the first English settlement in California and Old Town is the location of the original Presidio. So much history is preserved in Old Town, from the original inhabitants (the Kumeyaay tribe) to the first American settlers. You can wander the old adobe structures, make candles by hand, visit a blacksmith and pan for gold. A fan favorite is to stop by The Whaley House for a tour. This home has been called the Most Haunted Home in America by the Travel Channel, so keep an eye out!

One of the most amazing things about San Diego is the weather. It is often said that they have two seasons – Summer and Spring. This means that there is no real bad time to visit San Diego in terms of weather.

If you want to avoid the heavy tourist season, then you won’t want to plan your visit for Summer. During Summer you will need to make reservations for your dinners out and book tours in advance. But that does mean you will miss out on those ideal beach days.

Often, people don’t think about San Diego as a Winter destination. However, there are so many spectacular events like December Nights, and award-winning performances like watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas at the Old Globe Theatre, that you may want to consider it for your vacation. And where else can you Ice Skate by the Sea?

San Diego is a large city that you will need a blend of walking shoes and a car to see it all. If you are staying downtown, everything is very walkable. You will be able to find places to eat, shop, and entertain all within walking distance downtown. The local trolley can also get you to a lot of further destinations. However, if you want to explore more of what San Diego has to offer you will need a car or to call an Uber/Lyft.

The U.S. has a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) that allows citizens of participating countries to travel for under 90 days within the U.S. without a Visa. Canadian, Australian, and UK citizens are among the countries that are part of the VWP and would not need a Visa. To check if you need a Visa to travel to U.S., checkout iVisa.