16 Famous Tourist Attractions in San Diego Worth Visiting

There are no shortage of tourist attractions in San Diego. This coastal city is packed with world-famous attractions, beautiful beaches, must-see landmarks, and historical sites.

Take in the history as you walk on the USS Midway Museum or enjoy the lively Gaslamp Quarter. Whether you are into relaxing on the beach, sampling beers, or looking for family-friendly activities, there is something for everyone.

In this post, I’ll share some of my recommended tourist attractions in San Diego, that will guarantee you get the most out of your trip. Feel free to add a few of these attractions or all of them to your San Diego travel itinerary.

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Tourist Attractions in San Diego Worth Visiting

There is a laundry list of things to do in San Diego. With an abundance of attractions and sites to see, how do you pick what to add to your San Diego Itinerary?

Whether this is your first time in San Diego or you’ve been several times, here are my recommended attractions that are a must when visiting San Diego.

1. Balboa Park

Balboa Park is one of San Diego’s top tourist attractions and a must-visit. Balboa Park offers a nice blend of culture, nature, and history. In Balboa Park you can find great museum, beautiful gardens, stunning architecture and of course the San Diego Zoo.

Balboa Park is best explored on foot. I walked through Balboa Park from the San Diego Zoo to the Comic-Con Museum. Combined with the zoo, you can easily spend an entire day at Balboa Park.

2. Spanish Village Art Center

The Spanish Village Art Center is located in Balboa Park, but I feel it should get its own shout-out and added to any San Diego travel itinerary.

Upon exiting the San Diego Zoo and making my way through Balboa Park, I couldn’t help but fall in love with the colorful courtyards, art studios, and craft shops at the Spanish Village Art Center.

3. San Diego Zoo

One of my most recommended things to do in San Diego is a visit to the zoo. The San Diego Zoo is considered to be one of the world’s best zoos.

The San Diego Zoo has more then 12,000 animals, including a pair of Giant Pandas. The zoo is perfect for those traveling with children as there are a lot of family-friendly exhibits and attractions like the Wildlife Explorers Basecamp.

My advice for visiting the San Diego Zoo is go early and try going on a weekday to avoid crowds.

For a complete in depth dive about the San Diego Zoo, feel free to read my blog post here.

4. Waterfront

The San Diego Waterfront is one of the best places and most scenic spots to be at almost any time of the day. You get incredible bay views, attractions, and coastal vibes. Some of the best restaurants I tried in San Diego have been along the waterfront.

Along the San Diego Waterfront, you can visit the USS Midway Museum, check out the Maritime Museum, walk around Seaport Village, and so much more. You can also look into taking harbor cruises.

5. USS Midway Museum

A must-visit tourist attraction in San Diego is the USS Midway Museum. I would say, this is the #1 attraction in San Diego and has to be added to your itinerary.

Step onboard and wander around the historic aircraft carrier turned museum. You can explore the Hangar Deck, Below Decks, and the Flight Deck.

On the flight deck there are dozens of aircraft, some you can even walk on or sit in. The below deck offers visitors a chance to see the galley/kitchen, engine room, brig, sleeping quarters, and so much more.

I have a dedicated post to the USS Midway Museum with more information, here.

6. Maritime Museum

A few minutes from the USS Midway Museum along the waterfront is the Maritime Museum of San Diego.

The Maritime Museum is home to one of the world’s best collections of historic ships, including the Star of India. According to the museum, the Star of India is a three masted bark and is the oldest iron-hulled merchant ship afloat.

Visitors can step aboard and explore the ships on display to include a submarine and steam powered vessels.

7. Seaport Village

Seaport Village is a must-visit waterfront destination and cute area full of fun shops and great restaurants.

Seaport Village is within walking distance from other attractions like the USS Midway Museum or the Gaslamp District.

Seaport Village is the perfect place to relax, do some sightseeing, and just enjoying California’s laid-back coastal atmosphere.

8. Little Italy

Little Italy in San Diego is a neat neighborhood, perfect for those that want to try delicious food and experience a completely different culture.

Little Italy is not far from downtown and near the Waterfront Park. This lively district is filled with Italian Restaurants, cafes, farmers markets, and so much more.

If you are looking for delicious ice cream, I recommend trying a few flavors at Salt & Straw, located at 1670 India Street in Little Italy.

9. Gaslamp Quarter

The Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego is definitely the place to be if you are looking for nightlife. At the Gaslamp Quarter you can find amazing restaurants, bars, clubs, cigar bars, breweries, late night pizza stands, the list goes on and on.

The Gaslamp Quarter is a large area full of trendy restaurants, rooftop bars, live music, and interesting shops. The architecture of the buildings within the Gaslamp Quarter is an attraction on its own, they are gorgeous.

10. Petco Park

When visiting San Diego, why not catch a Padres baseball game? If you are a sports lover, definitely see when the Padres are in town an enjoy the game.

If you can’t make a game, it’s in the offseason, or if the Padres aren’t in town you can still enjoy the park. Check out this Behind-the-Scenes at Petco Park Tour.

I never did catch a Padres game while staying in San Diego. But I was on a business trip to San Diego and the conference I was at opened up the stadium to us. I got to be on the field and even go inside the locker rooms.

11. Old Town San Diego

Old Town San Diego feels like its own village away from the modern hustle and bustle of new city life.

This historic district is packed with preserved adobe buildings, fun shops, and authentic Mexican restaurants.

Old Town is one of the best places to visit in San Diego for a unique and completely different experience then other attractions throughout the city.

12. Mission Beach

If you are looking for the perfect spot in San Diego for sun, surf, and classic California vibes, then I recommend heading to Mission Beach.

Mission Beach is a lively neighborhood beachfront area known for its sandy beach, boardwalk, and attractions.

13. Mission Churches

If visiting San Diego to learn more about its history, I recommend visiting some of its historic Missions. Mission San Diego de Alcala is the most famous of the Missions in the San Diego area.

Mission San Diego de Alcala was founded in 1769 and is still active.

14. Coronado

A day trip to Coronado from San Diego is a must if time allows. Just a short drive or ferry ride across the bay, Coronado is famous for its beaches, small-town feel, and the iconic Hotel del Coronado.

There is quite a bit to do and see on Coronado from spending the day on Coronado Beach and strolling down Orange Avenue looking at boutique shops to exploring new cafes and biking along the waterfront.

When I visited Coronado, I took the Coronado – Convention Center ferry to Coronado and the Coronado – Broadway Pier ferry back.

From the Coronado Ferry Landing, I walked Orange Ave directly to Hotel del Coronado. I walked the beach for a bit to include the dunes and then I took Orange Ave back to the Coronado Ferry Landing.

While waiting for the ferry, there are a bunch of shops and restaurants at the ferry terminal that are worth it to kill time.

15. La Jolla

I think one of the best tourist attractions in San Diego is actually not in San Diego, but La Jolla. A day trip to La Jolla from San Diego is a must if you are looking to see beautiful coastal scenery and wildlife.

Known for its dramatic cliffs and abundance of sea lions, La Jolla is the perfect destination for both casual and adventure travel.

There is so much to do in La Jolla. Check out La Jolla Cove, kayak the sea caves, shop in the village, or take to many photos of sea lions and birds, like me.

Visiting La Jolla makes for a great day trip from San Diego and well worth the effort if you have that extra travel day in your San Diego itinerary.

16. Breweries

If you are like me and love craft beer, then San Diego is for you. San Diego is a craft beer lover’s paradise. Many award-winning breweries call San Diego home and the beer culture is superb!

You can find downtown taprooms and great breweries all over San Diego. There is even a Stone Brewery Taproom at the San Diego Airport.

Make sure to visit one of the Stone Brewery locations, the atmosphere is probably the best I’ve been to. Besides Stone Brewery, sample a flight of beer at Ballast Point and grab a pint at Bay City Brewing in the Gaslamp District.

Conclusion

I really enjoyed my time in San Diego, it truly does have it all. The scenic parks, beautiful waterfronts, a world-class zoo, and an abundance of historical attractions.

I only listed 16 tourist attractions in San Diego worth visiting, but there are so many more! If you want to share anything I missed or other local attractions in San Diego, please share in the comments. Thanks!

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