A 3 Day Weekend in San Diego Itinerary You’ll Want to Steal
Last Updated on 2nd July 2023 by Sophie Nadeau
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Visiting the west coast and planning to spend a long weekend in San Diego? We have you covered, this intense 3 day itinerary is packed with unique experiences and must-visit attractions that you cannot miss when checking out one of the most vibrant areas in California.
Read on and bookmark this post to know where to go, how to move around in town, where to stay, and even what beaches to enjoy and which hiking trails to hit when visiting San Diego!
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Where is San Diego?
San Diego is in the state of California, close to the border with Mexico. Located on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California, it is one of the largest cities in the state thanks to a population of over 1.4 million people.
The only larger city in the state which is larger is Los Angeles. For even more Californian inspiration, be sure to check out these top hidden gems of California. San Diego also happens to be one of the best spots in the USA for a romantic getaway.
Best time to visit San Diego
As with any seaside destination, summer is the best time to visit if you are interested in spending plenty of time out and about. Ideally, San Diego’s warm summer temperatures allow for hiking, biking, and swimming as well as outdoor sports and visits.
Springtime (from late March until May) and fall (from September to early November) are also good seasons to visit. Less crowded and oftentimes more affordable although it can get a bit chilly to spend long hours at the beach.
The city is interesting during winter, although not ideal to enjoy the many local outdoor activities available in warmer weather.
Moving around in San Diego
Moving around San Diego is quite easy as there are plenty of transport options available. If you are planning to explore the surrounding area, consider a car rental option. Check car rental comparison prices here.
This will perhaps turn out to be cheaper than public transport and offer further freedom to explore. Be careful though because driving in the city center can lead you to be stuck in traffic for long minutes.
Instead, if you just want to move around town, the metro, trains, trolleys, and buses are affordable and easy to navigate. Taxis can be on the expensive side but are perfect to get from the airport to the city center.
Where to Stay in San Diego
There are several interesting accommodation options in town, from apartments to rent to gorgeous hotels, and for all budgets, these are the places I recommend checking out when it’s time to book your vacation.
Affordable accommodation in San Diego
Stay Classy is a top-rated yet affordable hostel in downtown San Diego featuring rooms with private bathrooms, a shared lounge, and kitchen facilities. Check prices and availability here.
Mid-range accommodation in San Diego
Sonder The Baker is an original downtown property offering rooms with a desk and a flat-screen TV, featuring nonsmoking rooms and BBQ facilities. Check prices and availability here.
Luxury accommodation in San Diego
Cosmopolitan Hotel is a beautiful place to stay in San Diego, located in a historic building from 1869, this Old Town San Diego hotel offers guests rooms with Victorian-style furnishings and features an on-site restaurant and bar. The restaurant serves American and Mexican-inspired cuisine and offers a daily happy hour. Check prices and availability here.
Best Things to Do in San Diego in Three Days
San Diego Day One: Outdoor Landmarks
Often described as America’s Finest City, San Diego houses one of the most famous zoos in the world, and this is exactly the first place we will visit during our first day in town.
The San Diego Zoo is a non-profit organization that puts animals’ well-being at its core, offering much more than just entertainment.
Animal conservation and research are at the core of its activities thus offering the opportunity to observe species living in environments as similar to their natural habitats as possible. As a consequence, and featuring dozens of different habitats that have been perfectly reproduced, the zoo occupies quite a big area with space for over 600 species (more than 4,000 animals).
The attraction is educational and entertaining for visitors of all ages who can experience forests, jungles, deserts, and other exotic environments.
To visit the area more efficiently, I suggest considering the Skyfari Aerial Tram that connects the different parts of the book offering an interesting view of the animals and their natural spaces.
San Diego Zoo is arguably the most popular attraction in the city, booking a timed-entrance ticket in advance will avoid the hassle of wasting time in line and it’ll save you precious time in town.
If you’re wondering where to head next to have a great lunch but also do some more sightseeing, I’ve got you covered. Balboa Park is just about the right place to check out after the zoo.
The park is a short walk from the zoo and houses some incredible eateries for a quick and affordable snack. Inside this eclectic area covering almost 5,000 square meters, the structure includes charming walking paths, theatres, amazing gardens, and some fantastic outdoor cafés modeled in European fashion.
Inside Balboa Park, don’t miss the iconic California Tower, which was built back in 1915 for the international Panama-California Exposition that promoted San Diego as the first port in the States for people intending to cross the newly-built Panama Canal. Inside the park, do not forget to check out the Spanish Village Art Center or the Alcazar Garden.
If a beach escape is a reason why you want to visit San Diego, then spend the rest of the day in the fantastic After the visit. If beaches are a plan, it’s a good idea to leave the park in the early afternoon and drive to Coronado island to spend a few hours at Coronado Beach.
This historic resort area of San Diego features an impressive sand beach with mineral deposits that under the warm rays of the sun reflex the light and produce a magical glimmering effect, specially enhanced during sunset.
This is the perfect time for a walk and even a cocktail overlooking the sea.
Right after, head to Orange Avenue to enjoy the vibe of the seaside resort, explore old vintage shops and modern, boutiques, and experience some of the most fantastic restaurants in the area.
San Diego Day Two: Short Day Trips
Exploring the area surrounding downtown San Diego can be truly rewarding. There are some incredible places to visit not far from the city center and getting there won’t be a problem if you’re not renting a car. There are buses connecting the most important nearby destinations.
One such place is Potato Chip Rock, a landmark that made its way through Instagram feeds and reels becoming one of the most visited places in the area. Thanks to social media, nobody traveling to San Diego wants to miss hiking the Potato Chip Rock trail.
Located about an hour from San Diego, the hike is considered quite difficult and only for those who have already had some hiking experience in the past. From the summit of Mount Woodson, the panoramic views of the Pacific coast will be something that you won’t easily forget from your San Diego adventure.
If you’re not a seasoned hiker, then Torrey Pines will be an easier and still rewarding option for an outdoor experience. Here, you will find a variety of fairly short, easy, and very rewarding trails to explore.
This state reserve was specially created for the protection of the unique Torrey pines species, the rarest species of pine in the world.
Devote the afternoon to La Jolla, another gorgeous beach area where you will also be able to bump into some of the best art galleries in California, incredible restaurants, beautiful mansions, and amazing sunset views.
The beaches in the area are perfect for people into water sports, including scuba diving and snorkeling. To add more thrill to the experience, check out this kayaking tour to spot whales off the coast of La Jolla. If you have more time to spare, then check out our suggestions for one day in La Jolla.
San Diego Day Three: Historic District and more…
Begin the last day in San Diego heading to Gaslamp Quarter, the city’s historic downtown district is an excellent place to spend any time of the day. I’d even recommend getting back here at night for a traditional Mexican-style dinner after a day out and about.
Over here, reach Chiefy Café for a delicious breakfast. This pet-friendly coffee shop serves pet treats and pastries baked daily and the place is open also for lunch.
The place is ideal to admire some of the most traditional buildings in town as well as to be surrounded by the most authentic atmosphere. This quintessential San Diego district is perfect to go shopping and discover some of the best malls in California.
Stay around until it’s lunchtime to explore the local gastronomic scene, and enjoy some of the best restaurants in town. In the district, during the weekends, you can check out the Gaslamp Artisan Market featuring clothing, accessories, pet items, art, wellness products, and other hand-crafted treasures.
There’s one more historic place to discover in San Diego and we’ll do so right after lunch. Mission Bay is San Diego’s top adventure destination. Ideal both for those who enjoy an afternoon on a SUP paddle board or those of you who simply want to lay on the warm sand and enjoy the sea breeze.
Around the area, you can even head to the Fiesta Bay Wildlife Reserve and admire unique salt marshes, quite an unexpected view only minutes from the city center.
Finally, and before heading to the Gaslamp Quarter for dinner, cocktails, or more entertainment opportunities, reach the so-called Sunset Cliffs to witness one of the most beautiful sunsets on the west coast.
Back in Gaslamp Quarter, check out some of these restaurants:
- Tacos El Cabrón serves authentic Mexican Street Tacos in the downtown San Diego market in the heart of the Gaslamp. The place is known for serving the best Spicy Shrimp Tacos in all of San Diego.
- Old Spaghetti Factory is an Italian family-run restaurant and a popular landmark in the district that has been proudly serving deliciously affordable 3-course meals since 1969.
- Sadaf is both a Persian restaurant and a stunning nightclub in the Gaslamp Quarter that you don’t want to skip. Ideal place if you’re in the mood for some authentic Iranian kebab with spice sauces and hot, aromatic rice.
- Taste and Thirst is the place to go to taste some good, old comfort American food, including hamburgers, savory pancakes, chicken rolls, salads, chicken wings with barbecue sauce, bacon-wrapped hot dogs, and some of the most incredible tacos you might find in town.
A final note on visiting San Diego
Plenty of sunshine, thrilling water sports, adventurous trails, and lush gardens are only part of this unique destination, perfect for a weekend away or even a whole week’s escape. San Diego is an exhilarating city break destination… are you visiting any time soon?
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Gabi Ancarola is a journalist and travel writer who has lived over 20 years in Italy, and has been living in Crete for the last five years. She hosts culinary tours, translates and writes for her Crete travel blog The Tiny Book. She’s written for Greek Reporter and published several travel guides about Greece.
