How to Spend a Weekend in San Diego | Itinerary and Guide

Discover how to have a perfect weekend in San Diego with this itinerary and guide! I'll take you through where to stay, the best time to visit, top restaurants and coffee shops, sights to see, and the best order to do it all in!

San Diego is a favorite weekend getaway for Jake and me. It's perpetually sunny (outside of Grey May and June Gloom), the airport is 10 minutes from downtown, the restaurant/coffee shop scene is a solid 10, and there are several side trips nearby to escape the city.

The easy layout of the city, nearby coastal towns, and laidback vibe make spending a weekend in San Diego a breeze.

With this San Diego itinerary, you'll split your time between downtown San Diego and La Jolla/Del Mar, enjoy a few delicious meals and coffee breaks, shop along Prospect Street, spot the famous La Jolla sea lions, take in the ocean views, sip on sunset cocktails, and more!

Before we get into the itinerary we'll discuss when to visit, where to stay, and if you need a car.

This map shows everything included in this San Diego weekend itinerary. Click the icon at the top left for a list view of each pinned location. Click the top right button to enlarge the map. Click the star to save to your own Google Maps account. To access this map once saved (after clicking the star), open Google Maps (on your phone/computer/tablet), click the menu button, go to "your places", select "maps", and you will see this map listed.

• Black - recommended hotels
• Blue - San Diego itinerary DAY 1
• Purple - San Diego itinerary DAY 2

Getting to San Diego

San Diego is one of the easiest cities to fly into...which makes it perfect for a quick, weekend getaway. The airport, SAN, is a mere 10 minutes from downtown.

This means cheap Uber rides to and from the airport and minimal traffic delays to account for. 

Parking in San Diego – Why you shouldn’t get a rental car

Parking is terrible in San Diego. If you’re staying in downtown San Diego, definitely skip the rental car. If you're staying outside of downtown and your hotel offers free (or cheap) parking, that may be a different story.

Hotels downtown charge a minimum of $50 per night to park your car. You could park at a nearby garage or lot for $20 to $25 per night, but there are no in-and-out privileges.

The street parking is all metered, the majority with 2-hour time limits. Sundays and most holidays are free but the hassle you'll go through on Friday/Saturday (finding an open spot, having to go back and pay every 2 hours, and walking to and from said spot) isn’t worth the flexibility of having a rental car.

What you think would be a convenience quickly becomes a burden. 

Downtown is fairly compact and walkable (depending on where you stay). Ubers are plentiful and cheap. San Diego also has shared Ubers which helps lower the cost. 

This makes skipping the rental car a no-brainer. It will be cheaper in the end to use Uber. Trust me…I’ve done the math. And that includes day trips to La Jolla AND Del Mar.

You'll also save precious time skipping the rental car counter (and shuttle) at the airport. 

The coffee shop scene in San Diego/La Jolla is on point

SAN DIEGO COFFEE SHOP GUIDE | TOP 5 SAN DIEGO CAFES

TOP 5 COFFEE SHOPS IN LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA

Where to stay for your weekend in San Diego

Since you only have a weekend in San Diego, it helps if your hotel is centrally located and walkable.

For those opting to stay in downtown San Diego, I recommend sticking to the Little Italy area.

Some of the best restaurants, San Diego coffee shops, and bars are located in this neighborhood. You are also close to Balboa Park and Waterfront Park. The best outdoor market in San Diego is also found in Little Italy. 

One of my favorite hotels is Hotel Republic. It’s part of the Autograph Collection by Marriott, which means free breakfast/club lounge access for members with platinum status or higher. The design is sleek and beyond Instagrammable and the location is just 2 blocks outside of Little Italy. 

If you want less of the downtown feel, you could always opt to stay in La Jolla and do a day trip to downtown San Diego instead of the other way around. 

I personally prefer staying in La Jolla because it's conveniently located between downtown San Diego and Del Mar. It's also more charming and extremely walkable.

I recently discovered the brand-new Orli La Jolla and fell in LOVE! It's a tiny property, so booking in advance is a must. The design and the attention to detail (like complimentary kombucha/cold brew on draft and collagen packets for your coffee) are above and beyond.

La Valencia and The Grand Colonial are two well-known hotels in La Jolla. While nice, both are a bit tired.

If you’re looking for a romantic getaway and willing to spend some extra cash on a posh stay, look at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar.

It’s less convenient in terms of location. La Jolla is 20 minutes north of downtown and the Fairmont Grand Del Mar is a further 30 minutes.

Still doable to make trips to downtown San Diego and La Jolla but what you gain in staying at one of the best resorts in San Diego with the best pool, you lose in added car time.

A rental car is a must if you stay here.

The Best time to visit San Diego

San Diego sees temperatures in the 60s and 70s year-round. July through November are the best months to visit San Diego. April is nice as well.

May and June have a reputation for being overcast, hence the naming of Gray May and June Gloom.  Winter and early spring see the most rain, but it still beats the weather elsewhere in the US.

While summer is a lovely time to visit San Diego, it's also peak tourist season and the prices reflect that. 

I prefer fall and late spring.

SEE THE BEST TIME TO VISIT SAN DIEGO | A MONTH BY MONTH GUIDE for more details

Now that we’ve got the basics out of the way, let’s get into the good stuff; your San Diego itinerary listing where to eat and what to do for a weekend in San Diego. 

San Diego itinerary - Day 1 

Saturday is the day to spend in downtown San Diego. You’ll find plenty to keep you busy between the outdoor market, Balboa Park, and hopping between restaurants and cafes.  

Morning walk or jog

Begin your weekend in San Diego with a healthy start! Enjoy the morning breeze and take a walk or jog along N Embarcadero. It’s a car-free, paved walkway along the waterfront that will take you past some of the top sights.

You’ll see several historic vessels like the Star of India; the oldest ship that still sails regularly, the USS Midway Museum; located in a giant aircraft carrier, and the “Embracing Peace Statue”.

Continue South along the walkway to see Seaport Village; a cute shopping village, and the North and South Embarcadero Marinas filled with millionaire yachts.

Get that extra burn by running up the steps of the convention center and you’ll be rewarded with wonderful views of Coronado Island and the Coronado Bridge.

Coffee break

Stop at my favorite San Diego coffee shop; Lofty Coffee Co. The open-air concept and large patio fit perfectly with the SoCal vibe. Be sure to order the made-from-scratch cinnamon rolls (only offered on weekends) and try the Nola iced coffee.

See my San Diego coffee shop guide – TOP 5 San Diego cafes to read more. 

Outdoor market

Once you’ve finished your morning latte, walk 2 minutes to reach the best market in San Diego, Little Italy Mercado. It’s open on Saturdays from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm and has over 200 tents featuring produce, flowers, local crafts, and street food.

Brunch

If you didn't fill up on snacks from the market, head to Queenstown Public House. 

Balboa Park

This 1,200-acre park has enough to keep you busy for the entire weekend.

You could spend the rest of the afternoon at the San Diego Zoo, have a picnic surrounded by the many gardens, ride a bike and admire the Spanish architecture found throughout the park, or just pick an area to walk around to get a quick escape from the city.

There are also 17 museums, a botanical garden, and many garden trails. This itinerary gives you a 60-90 minute highlights tour of the park.

Definitely stop by the Alcazar Gardens, one of the most picturesque spots.

Coronado Island

If you didn’t spend your entire afternoon at the park, grab an Uber to Coronado Island. I recommend visiting Coronado Beach over Mission Beach and Pacific Beach. 

Coronado's 1.5-mile stretch of sandy shoreline is cleaner and the water is calmer. The crowd levels don't seem as bad here either.

There are plenty of bathroom and shower facilities at the beach and you’ll get to admire the historic Hotel del Coronado and gorgeous mansions dotted along Ocean Boulevard. Stay for sunset if you can.

Dinner

Head back to Little Italy for some solid restaurant options.

Some of my favorites in the heart of Little Italy are:

• Barbusa
• Civico 1845
• Juniper and Ivy
• Born and Raised

If you're looking for the best sushi in San Diego and don't mind venturing back towards Balboa Park (just a few blocks from Little Italy) head to Azuki Sushi.  Make reservations in advance.

Switch Balboa Park and Coronado Island on your itinerary if you decide to eat at Azuki.

Drinks in downtown San Diego

End the night at one of the top rooftop bars in Little Italy; the Kettner Exchange. If you want to go bar hopping, head over to the Gaslamp Quarter. It’s filled with bars and clubs. 

San Diego itinerary - Day 2

A weekend in San Diego is not complete without a trip to La Jolla. Day 2 of your San Diego itinerary will focus on exploring both Del Mar and La Jolla.

Morning jog or walk

Hit up my favorite beach in the area, Del Mar. The 2-mile stretch of shoreline is perfect for a morning workout.

The town of Del Mar is tiny and worth a quick wander to and from the beach.

Coffee and brunch

Head to La Jolla and take a moment to relax at one of the many cute La Jolla coffee shops. One of my favorites is Elixir Espresso Bar.

If you want something a bit more substantial, The Cottage is a very popular brunch spot, though the wait can sometimes be long. If so, go to Sugar & Scribe across the street for an alternative.

Explore La Jolla

Take your time wandering and shopping around La Jolla Village.

Walk along the bluffs (use Ellen Browning Scripps Park as a starting point) to take in the ocean views. Watch the sea lions at La Jolla Cove.

Shop along Prospect and the streets connecting to Prospect. You’ll find plenty of boutiques and art galleries. 

If you want to do more than just stroll, you can snorkel or do a kayak tour that takes you into the La Jolla Sea Caves.

To see the inside of one of the sea caves without getting in the water, you have one option. There's an entrance to the Sunny Jim Sea Cave at The Cave Store.

For $10 you can climb through an old smugglers tunnel into the sea cave. I'm 50/50 on whether the 15-minute experience is really worth $10 a person. 

Stop by La Jolla Cove before dinner. It’s a great spot to watch the sunset unless you would rather enjoy golden hour paired with cocktails.

Sunset cocktails

A weekend in San Diego is not complete without at least one night of sunset cocktails in La Jolla.

The most popular spot is George’s. Head up to the aptly named Level2 bar.

Another solid option is right next door at Eddie V’s. They also have great happy hour prices from 4:00 to 7:00 every day. 

Dinner in La Jolla

End your night in La Jolla at my favorite restaurant, La Catania.

It’s coastal Italian, has a marvelous rooftop with great views overlooking the city and skyline, and is the perfect ambiance for your last dinner in SoCal.

My favorite menu items are the duck sugo orecchiette pasta, peach prosciutto bruschetta, and the Nutella semi freddo. 

Ideas for extending your weekend in San Diego

Consider golfing or hiking Torrey Pines. You could also stretch this weekend guide to a 3 or 4 day San Diego itinerary by slowing down and spending more time relaxing at the beaches.

In summary

I hope this guide helps plan your weekend in San Diego. You’ll get a taste of not just downtown San Diego but also La Jolla Village, Coronado Island, and Del Mar with this San Diego itinerary, 

Now when you return, you'll know which area you gravitate towards and where to spend more time for your next San Diego weekend getaway.

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A Weekend in San Diego | Itinerary and Guide

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