How to Spend the Perfect One Day in La Jolla Itinerary
Last Updated on 2nd July 2023 by Sophie Nadeau
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A gorgeous area by the sea, La Jolla is a wonderful place to visit. This upscale area in San Diego is well worth a visit, especially if you’re visiting San Diego already. There are lots of activities from hiking to shopping to snorkeling. What should you do if you only have one day in La Jolla? Keep reading for the perfect itinerary for visiting La Jolla.
La Jolla is known for its rugged coastline and perfect weather—with an average temperature of 70.5 °F (21.4 °C). It’s home to the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and award- winning culinary creations. La Jolla is also the gateway to the Torrey Pines State Reserve, a great place for lovers of the outdoors.
While I lived in California, I loved my visit to La Jolla. If you’re looking for more state inspiration, be sure to check out our guide to the best things to do in California. And if you want to go more off the beaten path, here are the best secret spots in California.
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When to Visit La Jolla
With great weather year-round (La Jolla has 266 sunny days a year), I’m not sure you can go wrong with this. However, there is a higher chance of rain and cooler temperatures from November through March.
Generally, July through to October has weather you can count on when the days are longer and the sun is almost always shining. It’s usually in the 70s and 80s during the day and the 60s at night.
How to Get There
The closest airport is the San Diego International Airport, which is about 25 minutes away, depending on traffic. If you drive, you can take the 5 (I-5) north, and the same goes for coming from downtown San Diego.
If you’re driving from the north, you’ll take I-5 South, and if you’re coming from the east, you can take I-8 W to I-5 N. If you need to rent a car, check car rental comparison prices here in advance.
Another option is the 30 bus from any bus stop in downtown San Diego, Old Town, or North County. Get off the bus at the Silverado and Herschel stop in downtown La Jolla. From there you can walk to the restaurants and shops on Girard and Prospect and to La Jolla Cove.
Where to Stay
La Jolla has many great options for hotels, though a lot of them are a bit pricey and so you’ll want to stay somewhere else in San Diego if you’re looking for a more budget accommodation (interesting fact: the average price for a home in La Jolla is among the highest in the US).
If you want a 5-star experience for your stay in La Jolla, the Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa is a 5-star hotel just south of La Jolla. This hotel is just a hundred yards from the ocean and features an outdoor pool and full-service spa.
Another good option is Pantai Inn, a 4-star hotel with a Balinese theme. It’s right next to the beach, and the rooms are truly luxurious with amenities such as a fireplace in the room.
Inn by the Sea at La Jolla is a great 3-star option. It’s close to the beach and has beautiful views of the sunset. It also has a heated pool and fitness center. It’s right next to a lot of shops, restaurants, and bars.
One Day in La Jolla suggested itinerary
Here’s how I recommend you spend one day in La Jolla!
Morning in La Jolla
Start your day with a delicious breakfast. There are so many places to choose from, so I’ll narrow it down for you. Caroline’s Seaside Café has an excellent view, sitting on the cliff above La Jolla Shores Beach. It has lots of healthy choices, and all of it is organic and from sustainable sources.
Or you can try Brockton Villa. Housed in one of the area’s original cottages, Brockton Villa is known for its Coast Toast, which is brioche French toast soaked in cream, and they have lots of other delicious options.
Next, you’ll want to get out to the water. You have some options for this: going to the beach, kayaking, or snorkeling (or a combination).
We chose snorkeling at La Jolla Cove, which of the two places we snorkeled was definitely the better option. There were lots of people on the little beach and lots of seals and sea lions too!
They aren’t afraid to lay out on the beach or swim right next to you in the water! The lifeguards were warning people not to get too close though.
We saw lots of little fish in the cove. At first, we thought the water wasn’t clear enough that day, but then we realized we swam out too far. There are lots of fish not too far from the beach! Sometimes you can see rays or leopard sharks, but we didn’t see any.
We just rented snorkeling gear and asked around for the best spots, but you can book a snorkeling tour. Alternatively, you can book a snorkeling and kayaking tour like this one or just a kayaking tour of the 7 caves like this one.
If you don’t want to snorkel, you can simply enjoy the beach at La Jolla Cove. It is a bit small, so if it’s too crowded you can head over to the larger La Jolla Shores Beach. We also snorkeled at La Jolla Shores, but we didn’t see much there. Another option is to book a surfing lesson like this one.
Afternoon
After some fun in the sun, head back in for some lunch. We ate at Duke’s La Jolla, which is also a good dinner option. We hadn’t changed out of our wet suits, and they were kind enough to let us sit on the patio (which overlooks the ocean, so a win-win in my opinion).
Duke’s serves Hawaiian-inspired dishes, and everything we tried was great. We started with the Crab Wontons, had the Ribs & Chicken Plate for the main course, and finished it off with the Hula Pie, which we loved!
I’ve also heard that The Cheese Shop is a great spot to grab a gourmet sandwich and its famous oatmeal cookies. The shop has been around since 1972, and it’s conveniently located by La Jolla Shores Beach.
After lunch, you can go back to the beach for some more fun and relaxation, or you can change it up.
Wandering around the town is a great way to get to know La Jolla at a more local level. If you prefer to explore together with a local guide, then you can book a guided tour like this one.
After exploring the town, it’s time for shopping. La Jolla, unsurprisingly, has some of the best shopping in San Diego. You can find everything from darling boutiques to sophisticated brands.
The bulk of shopping is found in downtown La Jolla, also called the Village of La Jolla. Make sure you check out these stores while you’re there:
Balboa Candy: for those with a sweet tooth
Geppetto’s: a toy store that’s been part of San Diego’s traditions for 40 years
Warwick’s: founded in 1896, this is the nation’s oldest continuously operating family- owned bookstore
Evening
Check when the sun sets, because you’ll want to make sure you can see it. And it’s a great time to take pictures as well. Scripps Pier, Ellen Browning Scripps Park, and La Jolla Cove are all great places for pictures at sunset.
You may also be able to see the sunset from wherever you eat dinner. For dinner, you might try Puesto La Jolla, after all, you have to have some fish tacos while you’re in San Diego. Puesto is a popular spot for unique artisanal takes on tacos, bowls, and salads made to order.
Some favorites include chicken al pastor and Baja fish tacos. If you’re looking for fine dining, head to The Marine Room, which is right on the sand of La Jolla Shores Beach.
This restaurant brings surf and sophistication together, serving seafood with a French spin. If you’re there at high tide, you’ll feel as if you’re on the water as you look out at the ocean through their big windows.
NINE-TEN Restaurant & Bar is another great option with a farm-to-table menu. The restaurant is inside the Grande Colonial hotel. Some of their most popular dishes include short ribs, Jamaican jerk chicken, and half-baked chocolate cake.
The rest of the night is yours. You can continue wandering around downtown La Jolla, head back to your hotel to soak in the hot tub, have drinks at a bar like Hennessey’s Tavern, go to a nightclub like Onyx Room Nightclub, or enjoy a late-night comedy show at The Comedy Store.
Whatever you choose, relish that fresh ocean air one last time before you head home.
A final note on planning a trip to La Jolla
From chilling on the beach to shopping to exploring the aquarium to all the delicious food you can try, we hope you enjoy your time in La Jolla, California. if you have more time in San Diego to spare, then be sure to check out our suggested San Diego itinerary.
Happy traveling!
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About the author: Lexi Cooper is a freelance editor and writer. Her parents taught her a love for traveling, seeing new sights, and learning about the world. Along with her passion for travel, she loves stories and dreams of spending her days reading and writing books and wandering the globe.
