A San Diego 1 Day Itinerary to Maximize Your Time

What is a visit to California without making a stop in San Diego? San Diego is one of the most popular counties in the state to travel to. Known for their beautiful beaches and serene laid back atmosphere, SD is a fantastic place to visit.

Whether it’s a stop on a California road trip or simply a Southern California day trip, San Diego is the perfect destination to explore beautiful beaches, visit museums and parks and eat good food! There are many things to do here so let’s get started and see what you can do in San Diego in a day.

San Diego 1 Day Itinerary

Stop #1: La Jolla Cove

9am-11:30pm (2.5 hrs)

La Jolla Cove is one of the most photographed beaches in SoCal. When you see it, you’ll know why. The notable sandstone cliffs paired with the likes of seals and sea lions, La Jolla Cove is a must see in this San Diego day trip.

There are many beautiful views from the shore. Because the area is a bit enclosed, the waters are fairly calm if you stay closer to shore. It’s a nice place to snorkel, scuba dive and swim. It’s also a good place to just people (or seal and sea lion) watch.

But you can also do other water sports like kayak, parasail, paddle board and even surf lessons. There are many day activities in San Diego, especially by the water. So if you enjoy any of these there are 1-2 hour tours you can join. 

Because La Jolla Cove is a part of the San Diego La Jolla Underwater Park Ecological Reserve, much of the marine life is preserved. If you snorkel, you might see different types of fish, kelp and sea grass.

But be forewarned, the water won’t be warm. So either rent a wet suit, bring your own, or be brave and fare the cold waters. Otherwise, opt for an activity where you don’t get completely wet. There are also lifeguards on duty for your safety.

And just so you know, there are restrooms and showers available so you can rinse off after any water activity. You will want to do this as you still have the rest of the day ahead of you.

If you are not into the water activities, you can sit and relax, enjoy the views, have a breakfast picnic or just take a walk on the Coast Walk Trailhead. There are picnic tables there for your convenience.

For viewing the sea lions, you cannot get too close. While the area from Point La Jolla to Boomer Beach has been closed off to people to protect the wildlife and give them their space, you can still see them from the cove. 

La Jolla Cove is family friendly as well, so kids will enjoy the beach, water activities and watching the sea lions. It can get crowded here though, so be sure to keep an eye on little ones. 

The good news is that visiting La Jolla Cove is free as it’s a public beach. The bad news is that parking can be pretty bad. That’s why this stop is first. The earlier you go, the better the chances you’ll find decent parking.

If possible, find free parking on the street. But weekends and holidays are really busy so go as early as possible. Otherwise, you may be walking a decent distance. You can also pay for parking in designated lots or park at the La Jolla Village.

Stop #2: La Jolla Village for Lunch 

11:30pm-1pm (1.5 hr)

Walkable from La Jolla Cove is La Jolla Village. But don’t get this confused with the Shops at La Jolla Village. These are 2 different places. At the La Jolla Village close to La Jolla Cove are a variety of restaurants and food establishments, ample shopping, art galleries and theaters. Visit the library or see a museum. There might just be some live entertainment there as well if you’re lucky. 

For lunch at the La Jolla Village, I recommend these places:

Havana Kitchen – For an authentic Cuban meal, try a Cubano sandwich, Cuban roast pork platter or savor some empanadas. The food is fresh and delicious. And honestly, who can say no to plantains! My mouth is watering already. 

Sugar and Scribe – Here you can indulge in breakfast or lunch. And don’t forget your coffee. Get pancakes, eggs, a skillet, eggs benedict or lunch choices such as soup, salad and sandwiches. The food is so beautifully plated you almost feel guilty for eating it. This place has a tendency to get busy, so be sure to go early if you want to try it. 

If you’re not feeling these places, perhaps you can get a head start and make your way down to Balboa Park (your next stop) for lunch instead.

Here are a couple of suggestions for restaurants closer to Balboa Park:  

Common Stock – This New American restaurant is popular for hot chicken, brussel sprouts and crispy chicken sandwich. They open on the later side during the week so if this 1 day itinerary falls on a weekday, you may have to choose a different place.

Goi Cuon – If you need a little Asian food in your life, Goi Cuon can satisfy your Vietnamese craving. They have spring rolls, banh mi, pho, vermicelli bowls and more. This is the healthiest option of the bunch. 

Drive to Balboa Park and park 

1pm-1:30pm (allow 30 min)

Stop #3: Balboa Park 

1:30pm-5:30pm (4 hrs)

Continuing on with this one day itinerary, Balboa Park is also a must-do in San Diego. Spanning over 1,200 acres, it’s filled with museums, performing arts, parks, gardens, trails, food, shopping and tours. There might even be a special event going on there, so check the calendar on the Balboa Park website for an up-to-date schedule of events.

And by the way, this place is totally kid friendly so bring the whole family. It’s also dog friendly! So if you have your furry companion, they are welcome at the park, but maybe not in the museums. There are also plenty of public restrooms.

Explore the botanical building and various gardens which are all free. The Botanical Building and Timken Museum of Art are Free. You can also do shopping at the gift shops, enjoy the architecture, frequent the food places or take a tour. One of my favorite gardens is the Japanese Friendship Garden, so be sure check that one out. 

What is not free are the remaining 15 museums. This makes Balboa Park in San Diego a museum mecca. There are so many museums here it’s pretty amazing! It can be overwhelming to figure out which ones to visit, but I’ll help you out. 

Balboa Park offers various Explorer Pass options to save on admission to multiple museums. The only one that would make sense for 1 day in San Diego is the Limited Pass where you can pick up to 4 participating museums to see in one day. 

It’s likely you won’t be able to get your money’s worth if you’re only spending 4 hours here. The Limited Pass is better suited for someone who will spend the whole day here. And by the way, the Explorer Passes do not include the San Diego Zoo. This is a separate admission. 

You are better off picking 1 museum to explore and see the gardens, architecture and walking the trails. For kids, you can visit the carousel and the miniature railroad. See where everything is located with this Balboa Park map.

Evaluate the cost of individual admission into the museums you’re interested in and see if the Limited Pass is a better deal. Some museums are quite costly so the cost of 2 museums could cost more than the Limited Pass price. 

Since the most popular museums are quite extensive with a lot to see, you could easily spend a few hours at just 1 museum. Additionally, the price of admission to many of these museums is a bit costly, so you you’ll want to get your money’s worth and take your time with just one good museum. At least that’s my take on it.

If you’re not sure which museum(s) you want to go to, here are a few suggestions.

Some of the most popular museums are: 

San Diego Air & Space Museum – This is a great museum to learn about the history of flying. See planes from the early days of flying to space crafts. It’s great for the kids and the whole family.

San Diego Model Railroad Museum – Enter a world of miniature railroads and trains! Whether you’re young or old, everyone can find something magical here. The incredible detail of the model landscapes will take you to another world. There’s a lot of ground to cover here so make sure you have time to see it all.

San Diego Natural History Museum – Who doesn’t love a good natural history museum? The prehistoric animals and current specimens of today are all on display here. If you decide to go here, this will probably be all you’ll have time for. There’s so much to see! 

Another museum option that deserves a quick mention is the Fleet Science Center. This is a great place for kids as it’s a science museum and planetarium. It’s a great way for kids to learn about science in a fun and interactive way.

If you’d rather forego the museums and just get a deeper appreciation of Balboa Park itself, you might want to take this walking tour which dives deep into the park’s history, gaining highlights with a cup of coffee:

Other than the scenery, the other beautiful thing about Balboa Park is that parking is free! There are 11 free parking lots you can choose from. You can also take the free park tram ‘Green Shuttle’ to take you from the parking lot to the top spots around the park. See which lot you should park at to be closest to the attractions you’re most wanting to see.

When you feel like you’ve experienced Balboa Park, take a short drive to Little Italy. 

Drive to Little Italy and park

5:30pm-6pm (allow 30 min)

Stop #4: Little Italy for Dinner

6pm-9pm (3 hrs)

Enter this cute Italian area filled with restaurants, cafes, shops, galleries, hotels and more. It’s the biggest Little Italy in the United States. So yeah, you gotta go! You know you’re there when you see the large ‘Little Italy’ sign. And when you start roaming the streets at night for a yummy Italian meal, you’ll wonder how you’ll ever choose.

This itinerary for San Diego would not be complete without a fantastic Italian meal. There is a lot of competition here for the best Italian food. While I’m sure many of them serve amazing food, know that you’re in the presence of some top chefs. 

Here are a few picks for a lovely Italian dinner after a long day. But I will advise that if you like dessert to save room for an alternate location. I touch upon dessert after the dinner recommendations. 

Ristorante Illando – Solid food, cute homey atmosphere. You might not initially noticed it’s there since you have to go up a flight of stairs to get to it. It’s a bit hidden but worth finding. There is indoor and outdoor seating and there are plenty of options from pasta to pizza to chef specials. 

Vinarius Wine Bar – If you’re a fan of wine bars and charcuterie, you may fancy this place. It’s a great place for just ordering appetizers and small dishes with a glass of wine. You can also get entrees here too, but you might just be happy with some flatbread, meatballs and a side salad. 

Civico 1845 – This place has a traditional menu with appetizers, first and second dishes as well as salads. They also have a vegan menu. Some popular dishes are the short rib pasta, vegan lasagna and tiramisu. 

If you would rather get a taste of Little Italy by sampling various dishes in the area and gaining historical knowledge of the area, take this food tour. You won’t be hungry by the end of this tour.

Just be aware that this tour is 3 hours 30 minutes which will put you over the allotted time. Also, they only offer this tour at 4pm so it will cut into your time at Balboa Park.

And now for the good stuff. If you still have room after a hearty Italian meal and saved room for dessert, my most absolute favorite dessert place in San Diego is Extraordinary Desserts. 

Extraordinary Desserts – It’s dessert heaven. With many choices from cakes, cookies, cupcakes, pastries, tarts, bread pudding and more, it’s hard to choose. Give your sweet tooth something to smile about. They have a couple of locations. This one is much bigger than the other one. 

For your last stop, head over to the Historic Gaslamp Quarter. Parking is paid and will not be cheap. You’ll likely have to park in a parking structure around the area if you’re driving. There are also outdoor paid lots. Be sure to read signs carefully when parking.

Alternatively, use Uber or Lyft to get to and from Gaslamp, especially if you plan on drinking alcohol. It can also save you from having to search for parking which can be a pain if it’s a busy night.

Drive to Gaslamp Quarter and park 

9pm-9:30pm (allow 30 min)

Stop #5: Historic Gaslamp Quarter 

9:30pm+ 

If you still have energy for some nightlife, hit the Gaslamp Quarter. End your one day in San Diego with some live music, a lounge, a show or other source of entertainment. There are theaters, bars, clubs and more to keep you entertained. Especially on the weekends, the Gaslamp Quarter is vibing with energy. 

Keep in mind that a number of places will have a cover charge. Some places are free as well. 

Here are some recommendations, all of which are very different from each other but with fun vibes:

Moonshine Flats – One of my personal favorites is Moonshine Flats which is a country bar with live music and line dancing. You don’t have to be a country fan or a dancer to have a good time. Grab a drink, people watch, ride the bull and get out on the dance floor. 

The Shout! House – If country is not your thing, or you’d like something not so lively, take it a step down with the Shout! House piano bar. While it’s still energetic, you get to see some talented pianists and listen to some great music. The pianists engage the crowd, take requests and play a variety of songs from all genres. One thing is for sure, you will be entertained. 

Prohibition – For that speakeasy lounge vibe, come here to join an intimate club with live music and cocktails. It’s a cozy 1920’s themed venue. Try to dress appropriately and stick to their dress code. You don’t need reservations to enter, just show up. Those who know, know. But try to get there before 9pm if you’re there on a Friday or Saturday. 

This San Diego 1 day itinerary is packed with the most important and most visited places. You get a little bit of the ocean, a little bit of nature, a little bit of Italy and a little bit of the city life. But as you can see a 1 day trip is not enough.

San Diego has so much more to offer so if you can stay a bit longer, check out my 3 day San Diego itinerary which to me is an adequate number of days to really get a taste of San Diego. In my 3 day itinerary and beyond, you’ll get to explore so much more!

Some of these places are the USS Midway Museum, Sunset Cliffs Natural Park, Point Loma Peninsula, Old Town San Diego, Seaworld, the San Diego Zoo, Belmont Park and Coronado Island. Sunset Cliffs is one of my favorite beach areas in San Diego. 

And if you’re into the paranormal you’ll get to check out the Whaley House Museum and do a Whaley House Guided Tour in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. The Whaley House is considered to be one of the most haunted houses in the United States. Hotel del Coronado is also considered to be haunted as well.

In Point Loma you can visit the Cabrillo National Monument which is a monument that celebrates Cabrillo who discovered the San Diego Bay. All this and more in my upcoming San Diego itineraries. This is to get you pumped about exploring San Diego just a little bit longer!

What to Wear in San Diego

San Diego is known for cooler weather. It can be foggy, chilly, windy and just cool in general. It can also warm up but most of the time it’s on the cooler side. With this in mind, be sure to bring layers and check the weather ahead of time.

The summers are warm, but generally not too hot. Winters are cool. All year round the average high temperatures are in the 60 and 70 degree F range.

Also, bring a good pair of walking shoes since much of this itinerary requires a lot of walking. If you decide to do any water activities, be prepared for that. Bring a wet suit, bathing suit, water shoes and other appropriate clothing.

Have sunblock ready if necessary and bring sunglasses and a hat if the weather looks like it will be sunny. The evenings are generally pretty cool. Since San Diego is right by the water, it gets the breeze off the ocean so keep that in mind.

Where to Stay in San Diego

The best places to stay in San Diego are around Mission Beach, La Jolla, Coronado, Little Italy and Gaslamp Quarter. The first 3 are great for families and those that want more peace and quiet. Here are a couple of recommendations:

Another good pick is Humphrey’s Half Moon Inn. It almost makes you feel like you’re in Hawaii with their tropical theme. It’s quieter and sits away from the busy downtown area. It’s best known for its:

• Relaxing tropical atmosphere
• Spacious rooms
• Friendly attentive staff

 San Diego 1 Day Itinerary FAQ

Can you do a day trip to San Diego?

Sure, you can do a one-day trip to San Diego but what you can do will be limited. If you’re wondering what to see in San Diego in one day, you can either follow this itinerary to see what can be done or if there’s something specific that you want to do in San Diego, plan additional stops around that activity. 

Is a day in San Diego enough?

A day in San Diego is enough to see a few places, but you really won’t get a true feeling of the city. To get a good grasp of what San Diego has to offer, spend at least 3 days here. Here’s what to see in San Diego in 3 days.

What to do in San Diego that doesn’t involve a lot of walking?

If you don’t want to do a lot of walking, one way to see a lot of the city is to get a day pass to this San Diego Trolley and take the Blue Line and Green Line. You can stop at various places like Seaport Village or Old Town. Or just hang out at the beach, find a spot to sit and people watch. You could also go to the Hotel del Coronado or Cabrillo National Monument.

What is the best part of San Diego to stay in?

Mission Beach is safe and family friendly. La Jolla and Coronado are safe but these areas will be more expensive and a little harder to navigate. Little Italy and Gaslamp are ok options if you’re younger and like the nightlife. 

Can you do the whole San Diego Zoo in one day?

Yes, you can if you are only doing the zoo. If you want to do the safari, allocate a separate day for that. 

Can you enjoy San Diego without a car?

You can enjoy San Diego without a car with rideshare services like Uber and Lyft or other forms of public transportation like the trolley and bus. Seeing San Diego in 1 day is fine without a car, but if you’re staying for 3 days or more, I would suggest renting a car. 

Is San Diego a walkable city?

San Diego is pretty big so you will need a car or some form of vehicle to get you from place to place. But within each place such as Balboa Park, Gaslamp District or Coronado Island, you can walk around these places.

Why is San Diego so expensive?

San Diego has always been a more expensive place to live and visit due to its desirable location. Being a coastal city with beautiful views and limited land, housing prices are some of the highest in the nation. Taxes are also higher in California as well. These factors drive up the cost of living in San Diego.

Is it safe to walk downtown San Diego at night?

Walking at night in downtown San Diego is generally safe, but there may be pockets that are less safe. For your safety it’s best to stay in the main Gaslamp area where there are a lot of people and don’t walk alone at night. 

What is the best month to go to San Diego?

Like many places, the best months to visit San Diego to avoid crowds are October through April. The best time to visit San Diego for weather is in the fall (late September, October, November) and spring (March-May). The cheapest months to visit San Diego are January-March which is their rainy season. So it depends what your priorities are: less crowds, weather or cost.