San Diego

Understand

Like much of California and the Southwestern United States, English is the predominant language with Spanish the second most widely spoken. Store signs are written in English or both languages, and many businesses have bilingual employees who speak English and Spanish.

History

The area was long inhabited by the native Kumeyaay people (also known as the Diegueño by the later Spanish settlers), who lived off the land and created a proud culture. The first time a European visited the region was in 1542, when Portuguese explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, sailing under the Spanish flag, claimed the bay for the Spanish Empire and named the site San Miguel. In November 1602, Sebastián Vizcaíno was sent to map the California coast. Arriving with his flagship "San Diego", Vizcaíno surveyed the harbor and what is now Mission Bay and Point Loma, renaming the area for the Spanish Catholic saint, St. Didacus (more commonly known as San Diego). San Diego was established in 1769 as the first European settlement and Spanish mission in California, at the present site of Old Town. However, due to the poor nature of soils in the Old Town area, the mission was eventually relocated about 5 miles up river in Mission Valley. The mission had a troubled history, seeing bloodshed between the Spanish missionaries and natives resisting conversion, and the settlement didn't grow far beyond a few hundred people owing to the fact that it was too far from navigable water. In the 19th century, San Diego passed from Spanish to Mexican to American hands. In 1850, a few years after the United States gained control of California, San Diego was officially designated a city. But with much of the westward expansion to California centered on the gold rush around San Francisco, American influences were slow to come to San Diego. Eventually they did, however, and in the 1860s Downtown was established on the shores of the bay, soon exploding in growth when the railroad arrived in the 1880s and developing into a major port. The city celebrated the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914 with a huge exposition touting San Diego's prominence and history; the fairgrounds, buildings, and exhibits of that expo formed the basis for today's Balboa Park and San Diego Zoo. The U.S. Navy discovered San Diego in the early 20th century, and constructed a coaling station on Point Loma in 1907. Ten years later, the Naval Air Station on Coronado island was established, and in later years the military would take on an increasingly important role in the city's economy, peaking with World War II, when the city's ship

Getting there

By plane See also: San Diego International Airport 1 San Diego International Airport (SAN IATA) (less than 10 minutes from downtown San Diego). The descent into the airport from the east comes remarkably close to downtown buildings, which can be a bit alarming for first-time visitors. Alaska Airlines and Southwest are the dominant airlines at San Diego. The airport has international flights, mostly from Mexico and Canada but also Munich, London–Heathrow, Tokyo–Narita, and Zurich. Visitors to California from other countries will most likely travel through Los Angeles (LAX IATA) or San Francisco (SFO IATA). However, San Diego has non-stops from Hawaii (via Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Southwest Airlines), most major American hubs including Atlanta, Chicago–O'Hare, Dallas, Houston, New York–JFK, and some smaller non-hubs. If traveling from Mexico, it may be advantageous to fly into Tijuana on a domestic flight and then take the CBX Pedestrian Bridge directly from the airport into San Diego. This allows you to skip the border crossings in San Ysidro with its lengthy delays. (updated Apr 2020) Terminal 1 – Has two concourses, East and West, plus the annex for gates 1 and 2. If you are connecting on Southwest, keep in mind there are three separate secure gate areas. Should you have to transfer aircraft, you might have to go through security again. Terminal 1 West – Low-cost carriers including Allegiant Air, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, and Sun Country Airlines Terminal 1 East – Southwest Terminal 2 – Terminal 2 has two concourses, East and West. Terminal 2 East – Served by American Airlines and Alaska Airlines Terminal 2 West – Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, United Airlines, all international carriers, and international arrivals on U.S. airlines (even if you departed from Terminal 1) Airport shuttle companies handle transportation to and from the San Diego airport. They generally cost around $15 per person. MTS bus #992 The Flyer ($2.25 per boarding or $6 for a day ticket to transfer to another bus or trolley) takes 10 minutes to travel from both terminals to Santa Fe Depot in downtown San Diego, where you can connect to other MTS bus routes, the Coaster commuter train, the Trolley, and Amtrak. There is also a direct free shuttle from both terminals to the Old Town Transit Center & trolley stop where passengers can connect to Greyhound, additional MTS buses/trains, or walk over to visit the famous Old Town. The 2 Airport Consolidated Car Rental Center is on the opposite side of the airport from the terminals, at 3355 Admira

Getting around

The San Diego metropolitan area is large and sprawling. Car travel is the most efficient way of navigating the city and county. If you want to "see it all", rent a car. For less ambitious itineraries, public transportation may be used with enough planning and time allotted for travel. Most San Diego addresses do not include the cardinal directions of north, south, east, and west. This is because the address grid north of Mission Valley is totally separate from that to the south, and nearly everything is east of the ocean. The exception is in the downtown area, where streets west of 1st Avenue are designated "west." For example, 234 Broadway in downtown is assumed to be East Broadway, while 234 West Broadway would never drop the word "west." Unlike the greater Los Angeles area, the freeways go by their route numbers and not their names. Although most of the San Diego freeways do in fact have names, in practice, they're almost never used.

By car Throughout the Downtown and beach communities, on-street parking is metered. Parking meters accept coins, pre-paid Parking Meter Cards, and some newer meters accept credit cards. For more information on parking meters and enforcement, or to purchase a pre-paid meter card, visit the City of San Diego Parking Administration website. Gas/petrol prices tend to be higher than elsewhere in the U.S., but gas is cheapest in the outlying communities of El Cajon, Santee, Lemon Grove, Poway, and Chula Vista. Many intersections with a traffic signal allow U-turns. If making a right turn on red, look both ways beforehand. All the major rental car companies operate at the San Diego Airport, though most require you to take a 2½-mile shuttle which goes behind the terminal and runway. To get to the I-5 freeway, turn right at Sassafras Street, then cross the railroad tracks. Do not mistake the railroad crossing for Kettner Blvd./I-5 south as a few visitors have done (mostly after dark) over the years. These tracks are heavily used by Amtrak and other rail services, and there's a good chance of being hit by a train if you make a wrong turn. Likewise, the car rental returns are near the railroad tracks, so don't blindly follow your GPS before making a turn. Parking in the city center can be expensive and difficult to find, so using ride-sharing apps like Uber or Lyft is often more convenient.

By public transit

Bus The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) operates bus service to large portions of the county, although service in many areas is sparse and infrequent. The weakest points in the transit system are suburb-to-suburb trav

See

Individual listings can be found in San Diego's district articles See San Diego with children for travelers with children. A couple of combination passes are available which offer discounted admission to multiple attractions:

Go San Diego Card. Covers admission and express entry to over 40 attractions, including Sea World San Diego, Legoland California, San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, USS Midway Museum, Birch Aquarium, and all Balboa Park museums. Southern California CityPass. Gives you one day each at SeaWorld San Diego, Legoland California, and a 3-day park hopper ticket for Disneyland, as well as one-day admission to either the San Diego Zoo or the San Diego Zoo Safari Park for an additional fee if purchased online.

Zoological

One of San Diego's main claims to fame is its array of renowned zoological attractions which are at the forefront in the wildlife conservation movement. Of them, the most respected is the San Diego Zoo, a massive zoo that encompasses over 100 acres of Balboa Park and is possibly the premier zoo in North America. One of the earliest adopters of naturalistic animal exhibits, this is also one of the most gorgeous zoos in the world. Animal shows run constantly, and there are creatures here that aren't visible in any other zoo on the planet. It's definitely worth a visit, but you need a full day to really do it justice. The sister park to the San Diego Zoo and another stellar attraction in its own right, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park covers 1800 acres of the San Pasqual Valley, about 30 miles (50 km) north of Downtown San Diego near Escondido. Here the wide open expanse of the desert valley has enabled the creation of stunningly huge exhibits that resemble African savanna, where herds of animals roam and drink from watering holes. Like the Zoo, the Safari Park is also well worth a trip, but also requires a full day to take it in. Considerably smaller but also important in its own right is the Birch Aquarium in La Jolla, the public face of the renowned Scripps Institute of Oceanography. The Birch holds fantastic exhibits which cover physical oceanography and plenty of beautiful aquarium fish, with highlights including a touchpool and a massive kelp tank that is a simulation of ocean life just off the San Diego coast. Less scientifically renowned but popular in its own right is Sea World on Mission Bay, the California branch of the marine theme park chain with its numerous animal shows and enclosures showcasing sharks, penguins, polar bears, dolphins, and killer whales among other marine animals. Also in the area and

Do

Individual listings can be found in San Diego's district articles

Beaches

Along San Diego's coast you can find miles of beaches providing excellent opportunities for swimming, surfing, and general beach-going. Each beach is unique, ranging from popular white sand beaches to harsh surf spots to the clothing-optional Black's Beach in La Jolla. Surf conditions vary by beach, and there are numerous surf schools throughout the San Diego area. Among San Diego's beaches, Mission Beach and Pacific Beach are the most popular, with a connected boardwalk popular with bicyclists and roller bladers and plenty of shops, restaurants and bars catering to the huge crowds that show up, as well as a pier in Pacific Beach and a seaside amusement park on Mission Beach. This area tends to be the center of the Spring Break scene and has some of the calmest ocean swimming and surfing in San Diego, albeit also the most crowded. To the south, Ocean Beach draws a more local crowd, with a large sandy beach, a fishing pier, and designated surfing and swimming zones, as well as a dog beach at the northern end, making it a good place to come if you want to get a taste of the local beach culture away from the crowds of Mission and Pacific Beaches. Further to the south, Coronado's main beach is noteworthy for its gleaming white sands and mostly family crowd, while the Silver Strand extending between Coronado and Imperial Beach has some excellent swimming and surfing spots. To the north, La Jolla has some of the most scenic beaches around, including the popular La Jolla Cove, frequented by swimmers, snorkelers and scuba divers. Surfing is not allowed in the Cove, but the nearby Windansea Beach and Marine Street Beach are proven places to test your mettle against some rough surf. La Jolla Shores has some of the gentlest waves anywhere in San Diego, while Torrey Pines State Beach is arguably the most scenic, set against steep cliffs and a splendid place to get away from the crowds. Even further north, the coast of Northern San Diego County offers multiple scenic and popular beaches.

Water recreation

San Diego Bay offers amble opportunities for sailors to enjoy boating, with plenty of anchorages and marinas catering to all boaters. Launch ramps and marinas are located in Point Loma, Downtown, Coronado, National City and Chula Vista (see separate pages for specific places). Some anchorages require a permit, while others do not. If a permit is required, it can be obtained at the Shelter Island Harbor Police Facility in Point Loma (1401 Shelter Island Drive, ☏ +1 619-686-6272). There a

Buy

Individual listings can be found in San Diego's district articles San Diego is dotted with major shopping centers and upscale boutiques catering to nearly every style of dress and expression. The most well-known shopping centers in the area are Fashion Valley and Westfield Mission Valley in Mission Valley and Westfield UTC near La Jolla. In addition to these, one can find numerous other malls and outlet centers across the city. If you're more interested in smaller shops and more local businesses than you'd ordinarily find in your average mall, Downtown, Hillcrest, and the beach neighborhoods (Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach, La Jolla, etc.) offer a slightly more unique shopping scene. San Diego County has some unique antique markets, with a treasure trove of high end stores, as well as a host of second hand shops, bric a brac, and vintage stores.

Groceries and other basics The major supermarket chains in San Diego are Ralph's (which is owned by Kroger), Vons (which is owned by Albertsons), Smart & Final, and Grocery Outlet. In addition many specialty and organic supermarkets such as Whole Foods Market, Jimbos, Sprouts Farmers Market, and Trader Joe's can also be found throughout the area along with ethnic supermarkets catering to San Diego's sizable immigrant populations including Mexican, Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipino, Italian, and many others.

Eat

Individual listings can be found in San Diego's district articles Like any large metropolitan area, San Diego offers a wide variety of national and international cuisine. Food representing almost every world cuisine can be found somewhere in the city, and major restaurant chains are found in almost every district. Some of the best districts for fine dining are Downtown, Hillcrest, and La Jolla, which all offer extensive options that cater to both a local and tourist crowd. Pacific Beach also has a bustling — albeit more laid-back — dining scene, while the neighborhoods of Mid-City (particularly Kensington and North Park) have plenty of great restaurants that cater to a more local crowd. Other food scenes of note in San Diego are the concentration of Italian restaurants and delis in Little Italy in Downtown and the numerous Southeast Asian restaurants and markets that serve the large Asian-American population in Kearny Mesa. Given the proximity to the border, it should come as no surprise that Mexican food is abundant in San Diego. Be sure to look beyond the touristy (and generally overpriced) concentration of Mexican restaurants in Old Town; this city offers endless options for Mexican food, from hole-in-the-wall taco joints to fine dining. Ask a local for their opinion; every San Diegan has their favorite place. A local specialty is rolled tacos, which consist of beef or chicken tightly rolled into a corn tortilla and fried until crispy, then served with guacamole and shredded cheese piled on top. You can find them all over Southern California, but the best ones are to be found in San Diego, where they're ubiquitous. Other quintessential San Diego menu items not to be missed are fish tacos and the carne asada burrito; unlike other regional burrito varieties that tend to use rice and beans as filler, the San Diego variety is typically jam-packed with chunks of carne asada steak with some guacamole and pico de gallo mixed in, making for an immensely satisfying meal. A variant of the carne asada burrito is the California burrito, which contains carne asada, French fries, cheese, and some combination of cilantro, pico de gallo, sour cream, onion, or guacamole.

Drink & nightlife

Individual listings can be found in San Diego's district articles Bars and clubs can stay open past 2AM but are not permitted to sell alcohol after this time. Expect beer bars to be open until midnight and bars and clubs to call last call around 1:30-1:50AM. A medium-sized beer generally costs $4-5 in a restaurant. The best bar scenes in San Diego are in the Gaslamp Quarter area of Downtown and in Pacific Beach. San Diego is well-known for its craft-brewing scene, with an emphasis on highly-hopped beers. Local brewers of distinction include AleSmith Brewing Company, Stone Brewing Company, Karl Strauss Brewing Company, Green Flash Brewing Company, Coronado Brewing Company, Ballast Point Brewing Company, and Port Brewing Company. Craft beer can generally be found at nearly every bar in San Diego. In addition, many specialty craft beer bars are scattered throughout San Diego, boasting some of the best and most unique selections of beer in the country. Happy hour specials are very popular in San Diego, offering some of the best and cheapest deals on food and drink in the city. The Pacific Beach and Downtown areas are particularly known for their numerous bars and restaurants offering deals during happy hour.

Sleep

Individual listings can be found in San Diego's district articles San Diego offers a wide range of accommodation and a wide range of price levels. If you don't mind splurging, there are luxury highrise hotels in Downtown and many beachside (and bayside) hotels and lavish resorts along the coast in Coronado, Ocean Beach, Point Loma (along the bayside), Mission Beach/Bay, Pacific Beach, and La Jolla. There are also many vacation rentals and beach cottages available for the traveler, most of which can be found along the shores of Mission Beach and Pacific Beach. For travelers with a smaller budget, San Diego also has a few downtown hostels and many chain motels scattered across the city. A high concentration of the chain motels are along Hotel Circle in Mission Valley. Comic-Con is a massive celebration of geek culture. Lodging, even well outside of downtown, becomes expensive and scarce during this time, so if this isn't your scene, you probably want to check the website for when it's going on and avoid San Diego.

Public County Campgrounds The County of San Diego Parks & Recreation offers nine public campgrounds in the San Diego county, not all of which are within the districts highlighted above. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends. The full list of these campgrounds as of 2022 is:

Agua Caliente County Park - offers tent camping and cabins Dos Picos County Park - offers tent camping and ADA-accessible cabins Guajome Regional Park - tent camping, RV camping, and one cabin Lake Morena County Park - good for angler fishing, BYO drinking water, near Pacific Crest Trail - tent camping and some cabins Oakoasis County Park - youth groups only Potrero County Park - near Tecate border crossing - offers hiker/biker campsites, regular tent camping, two cabins Sweetwater Summit County Park - popular with people who ride horses, most common campsite pests are ants and squirrels - offers tent campsites, RV campsites, and camping sites with horse corrals Tijuana River Valley Regional Park - popular with people who ride horses, near San Ysidro border crossing - tent campsites, yurts Vallecito County Park - offers tent campsites and campsites with horse corrals William Heise County Park - at 4000+ feet - offers tent campsites and cabins All county campgrounds use shower tokens, you should get them when you check in, the person checking you in may not remember to remind you and then you'll need them when you go to shower in the morning and the booth is closed.

Go next

San Diego is probably the best city in America for making a quick trip to Mexico. Tijuana, which sits directly across the US - Mexico border, can be reached by public transit. The San Diego Trolley's Blue Line provides service from downtown San Diego to the border. The trip on the trolley takes about 45 minutes from downtown. Once you reach the end of the line (San Ysidro), follow the people and signs to the border crossing. It takes less than five minutes from the trolley stop to the border. Once across, it is either a 20-minute walk or a 5-minute cab ride to reach Av. Revolucion, the main tourist shopping street in Tijuana. If you take a car, avoid driving hassles and long waits when returning by parking in pay lots near the border and walking across. This also saves you the added expense of purchasing Mexican insurance on the US side before you drive into Mexico. Be warned: it is illegal to drive your car or a rental car into Mexico without this type of insurance. Otherwise, taxis, buses, and private car hires are all available. If traveling to Tijuana Airport, the Mexican airline Volaris operates a bus service between that airport and San Diego's Santa Fe Train Depot. For a delightful, low-key alternative, drive 60 minutes on the American side to the small border crossing of Tecate (home of the Tecate brewery). It's a short walk to the town square. Coming back, the line is usually shorter here at the pedestrian crossing. You can easily combine a trip to the train museum in nearby Campo with a quick trip across the border for lunch! The greater San Diego County has a lot of smaller, more private beaches to the north (e.g., Del Mar and Encinitas). Del Mar has the largest county fair in the nation (June-early July), and horse racing mid summer to fall, plus November. There are also some great small towns to stay in and explore. Carlsbad, about 30 miles (50 km) north on I-5, is home to the popular Legoland California theme park. Further east, the Imperial Valley and the California Desert give a change of scenery. Julian is the largest and most popular mountain community in San Diego County. Also, nearby is Cuyamaca Rancho State Park and Palomar Mountain which has a large observatory. Beware, on hot summer days, the mountains are actually warmer than the city (as they're next to the desert). Temecula Wine Country is located about 60 minutes northeast of San Diego on I-15 and makes a good day trip. There are about 30 wineries (with tasting rooms) fairly close to each other. One hour further is the mountain resort of Idyllwild which features shopping and