May 31, 2024
7 min read
The Best Neighborhoods to Visit in and Around San Diego
They call San Diego "America's Finest City" and oh-so-fine it is. We've all heard about the idyllic beaches, sublime climate, and to-die-for Mexican food, but San Diego is also home to a historic gayborhood, endless family activities, and a protected ocean kelp forest. There's a lot of information out there, so we've pulled together everything you need to know about the best neighborhoods in and around San Diego from the travel mavens we all know and trust.
Embarcadero
San Diego's Embarcadero is home to business centers and historical city landmarks.
"San Diego's Embarcadero is a waterfront wonderland where the sea kisses the skyline... Set off on whale-watching tours or catch a scenic ferry ride...As the day fades, The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, an open-air amphitheater, lights up the night, hosting performances under a canopy of stars." -
Conde Nast Traveler"The bustle of Embarcadero comes less these days from the activities of fishing folk than from the throngs of tourists, but this waterfront walkway, stretching from the Convention Center to the Maritime Museum, remains the nautical soul of the city." -
Fodor'sLittle Italy
Little Italy is a hip area in Downtown San Diego with a vibrant food and shopping scene.
"Little Italy was once home to the tuna fishing industry and Italian families who settled there. Now the lively neighborhood is filled with restaurants, pubs, art galleries, and boutiques. India Street is the main thoroughfare, and Kettner Street is the place for new, popular restaurants." -
Travel + Leisure"More than 6,000 Italian families once lived and worked in Little Italy, mostly fishermen and their families...it’s no longer the quaint Italian-led neighborhood—although plenty of delicious Italian eateries can still be found—and more of the hip place to find the newest restaurants, bars and nightlife." -
Time Out"...Little Italy is a charming jumble of bars, trattorias, shops, and markets—and it’s one of those rare neighborhoods that’s as lively during the day as it is in the evening. Spend the day window-shopping and checking out the local galleries, stop for a virtuous lunch at Café Gratitude, stroll down to Waterfront Park..." -
Goop
Mission Beach
Mission Beach is home to many outdoor and water activites, great for families.
"...Mission Bay is a hotbed for water sports and all kinds of outdoor recreational activities...it attracts a diverse range of visitors: families, honeymooners, and weekenders who want to kite surf by day and knock back a few craft brews by night. On land, you’ll find five-star resorts, theme parks, restaurants..." -
Thrillist"Mission Beach is the quintessential boardwalk beach town, boasting nearly two miles of oceanfront promenade buzzing with bikers, skaters, and people watchers. Belmont Park ups the ante with its vintage rollercoaster and seaside amusements, while Beach House, an outdoor restaurant, bar, and live music venue, is a great spot for an after-hours night out..." -
Conde Nast TravelerHillcrest
Hillcrest is a historic gayborhood with a vibrant nightlife scene.
"Thanks to a mixture of cheap rent, abundant space and its out-of-the-way location, Hillcrest's gay community began congregating here in the late 1960s. The city's first Gay Pride parade was held here in 1975 and today the annual event is one of the largest Prides in the US, attracting more than 300,000 people." -
BBC"Hillcrest is located next to Balboa Park, minutes from downtown. The hub of San Diego's LGBTQ+ community, Hillcrest is known for eclectic nightlife, casual dining, chic boutiques, and vintage clothing stores. The main thoroughfares are University Avenue and tree-lined Fifth Avenue." -
Travel + Leisure"Hillcrest holds gay-friendly bars, restaurants, and boutiques, as well as The Center—the heart of San Diego’s LGTBQ+ community since 1971." -
National Geographic
La Jolla
La Jolla is an upscale hipster area in San Diego with a small beach town vibe, perfect for foodies and shoppers.
"La Jolla offers beautiful beaches, outdoor recreation, luxury hotels, and outdoor recreation. La Jolla Underwater Park and Ecological Reserve thrives with marine life, and in Torrey Pines, there's hiking and an array of native wildlife. Internationally recognized Torrey Pines Golf Course is nearby." -
Travel + Leisure"In addition to its postcard-perfect coastlines, this seaside village is brimming with high-end boutiques, art galleries, antique shops, and restaurants. Although it’s one of the most affluent neighborhoods in San Diego, everyone still shows up in T-shirts and flip-flops, ensuring the area retains its relaxed beach town charm." -
Thrillist"La Jolla Shores is a destination for both adrenaline seekers diving into the kelp forest abyss and little ones splashing in gentle waves...At dusk, La Jolla Shores comes alive with bonfires dotting the sand, inviting beachgoers to gather and savor the glow of day's end—first dibs on fire pits, so arrive early and linger late." -
Conde Nast Traveler
Old Town & Mission Valley
The Old Town and Mission Valley neighborhoods are home to rich history and landmarks.
"Historic neighborhoods east of downtown include Old Town, the first European settlement in California, where you can drop by the 19th-century adobe Casa de Estudillo. In nearby Mission Valley, explore California’s first church: the serene, whitewashed Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá." -
National Geographic"Situated next to a state park, Old Town is a living history book with 32 historic sites, quaint shops, and the Presidio—the cradle of California's first mission. Here, the past is palpable, from adobe walls rich with Mexican pueblo tales to galleries and boutiques brimming with curiosities." -
Conde Nast Traveler
Gaslamp Quarter
The Gaslamp Quater is a hip area and a haunt for the best food, shopping, and nightlife in San Diego.
"Historic Gaslamp Quarter, with its Victorian-style flickering streetlights, is the city’s nightlife hub. Dance to hip-hop and electronica at Bloom or soak up the views of the bay from Altitude Sky Lounge. " -
National Geographic"Named after the lanterns that once lit the streets, this energetic, eclectic neighborhood is best known for its fine dining and trendy nightlife...preserved Victorian-era landmarks and other historic buildings (nearly 100 of them!)... lend architectural charm to this bustling urban stretch." -
Thrillist"Gaslamp Quarter is a 16-block area in the historic heart of downtown San Diego, a lively dining, entertainment, and shopping district. More than 100 restaurants, 40 bars and nightclubs, theaters, art galleries, and shops as well as luxury hotels make it a popular destination." -
Travel + LeisureCoronado
Coronado is home to many shops, restaurants, and iconic landmarks of San Diego.
"Cross the bridge or take a ferry over to Coronado Island, if only just to see the Hotel Del Coronado and more charming Victorian homes. Or spend the day on any one of its white sand beaches: Coronado Central Beach, Coronado Dog Beach, Glorietta Bay Beach, Silver Strand State Beach, and the Ferry Landing Marketplace." -
Vogue"Coronado is located across the bay from downtown San Diego. Beaches, shops, and the historic Hotel del Coronado attract visitors. Orange Avenue, Coronado's main thoroughfare, is lined with restaurants, galleries, and theaters." -
Travel + Leisure"…the dreamy city of Coronado, an island (technically a peninsula) stronghold of hotels, resorts, beach-front restaurants…and family-friendly hangouts like MooTime Creamery, so it's a big draw for families…Right next to the ferry landing is Centennial Park, a small waterfront park with stunning views of the bay and San Diego skyline…" -
Conde Nast Traveler
Carlsbad
Carlsbad is a city north of San Diego, home to many family-friendly activities.
"Nicknamed “The Village by the Sea,” Carlsbad is a tranquil coastal city where visitors will find beautiful beaches, golf courses, five-star resorts, and a quaint downtown that remains true to its small-town image. The walkable Carlsbad Village is home to small businesses of all kinds, including coffee shops, artisanal donut sellers, and brewpubs" -
Travel + Leisure"...a perennial family favorite. For starters, there are beautiful beaches like South Carlsbad State Beach and Tamarack Surf Beach...Carlsbad is also the home of the Legoland California theme park. There's also the seasonal Flower Fields celebration at Carlsbad Ranch, which transforms 60 acres...into sprawling flights of floral fantasy every spring." -
The Points Guy
Encinitas
Encinitas is a hipster beach town north of San Diego with a great food scene.
"To say that Encinitas eats, breathes, and sleeps surfing is no exaggeration. Spend any morning at Swami's Beach — named for Paramahansa Yogananda, who founded the ashram on the cliffs above — and you'll see dozens of surfers of all ages." -
Travel + Leisure" [Encinitas is a] sleepy beach town that screams ‘grab your long board’, Encinitas is now a top dining destination with celebrity chef Brian Malarkey’s Herb & Sea and Eurobistro-wine bar Valentina...When you’re not soaking in the view, stroll into town for the farmer’s market or other coffee shops and cafes." -
Pure WowDel Mar
Del Mar is an upscale residential area north of San Diego loved by locals for its coastal serenity, and popular with travelers for the Del Mar Racetrack.
"It's one of the most upscale communities in the greater San Diego area, yet Del Mar somehow manages to maintain a casual, small-town ambience that radiates personality and charm. Come summer, the town swells as visitors flock in for the thoroughbred horse-racing season and the county's San Diego Fair." -
Frommer's"Home to the Del Mar Racetrack...this beach town springs to life during summer racing season as the rich and famous descend to place their bets. Year-round, the family-friendly beaches and Torrey Pines State Park provide visitors and residents with plenty of outdoor fun. Upscale shopping and fine dining keep residents and visitors entertained." -
USA Today
