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

• Beaches – Along San Diego's coast one can find miles of beaches for swimming, surfing, and general beach-going. In the San Diego area, one can find good beaches at Imperial Beach south of San Diego, Coronado, the beach towns of Ocean Beach, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, La Jolla, and up the coast of Northern San Diego County. Each beach is unique, ranging from popular white sand beaches to harsh surf spots to the clothing-optional Black's Beach in La Jolla.
• Surfing – San Diego's miles of beaches provide excellent opportunities for surfing. Conditions vary by beach. There are also numerous surf schools throughout the San Diego area.
• Sailing – Mission Bay and San Diego Bay are excellent places for sailing, windsurfing, and jet skiing.
• Boating - San Diego Bay offers amble opportunities for sailors to enjoy the water, with plenty of anchorages and marinas catering to all boaters (see Point Loma, Downtown, Coronado and Chula Vista for specific places). Boat launch ramps are located at Shelter Island (Point Loma), Coronado, National City and Chula Vista. 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, 1401 Shelter Island Drive (Point Loma), +1 619 686-6272. There are also several moorings located throughout the Harbor for vessels ranging from two to 65 feet in length. See the SD Mooring Company Office, 2040 N. Harbor Island Drive (Point Loma), +1 619 291-0916, [21] for a mooring application.
• Whale-watching – California gray whales migrate south along the coast each February. There are some great places along the coast to view the migration, such as the overlook in Cabrillo National Monument (in Point Loma), and several private companies offer sailing tours during the migration season that bring you much closer to the whales.
• Scuba diving – San Diego features some great dives including the Yukon, Ruby E and others in Wreck Alley. You'll see kelp beds and much more. In addition, several dive boat operators have regular runs to the Coronados Islands off the Mexican coast where you can dive with sea lions. Please be aware that diving here is usually considered cold water diving and the visibility is not always the greatest.
• Hang gliding – At the edge of cliffs towering above the Pacific Ocean, the Torrey Pines Glider Port in La Jolla allows anyone to soar over one of the most pristine sections of coastline in southern California. Training and tandem glides with an expert are offered.
• Golfing – There are many public and private golf courses scattered throughout San Diego. The Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla hosts the PGA Tour Buick Invitational annually in Jan or Feb.
• Hiking & biking - San Diego’s near perfect climate, unique landscape, and low-crime rate make it one of the most pleasant places in the country to enjoy outdoor exercise. Because of this, visitors and locals alike will have no trouble finding a biking, hiking, or walking trail to suit their needs. There are numerous hiking trails and bike paths to choose from - big and small, highly visible or hidden. Information on some of the most popular individual trails can be found in the district articles.
• Rock climbing - San Diego offers some unique opportunities for rock climbing both outdoor and indoor. Although San Diego is really considered a destination climbing area, specialist climbing companies offer guided rock climbing from professional climbers for the beginner to the experienced climber. All the climbing companies provide all the required equipment such as helmets, shoes and harnesses, and usually require an orientation meeting the week of the climb for all participants. Most good climbing spots are located either in Northeastern San Diego or Inland San Diego County.
• Kayaking - San Diego Co. has numerous areas to kayak including Mission Bay, Sunset Beach, Kearny Mesa, Oceanside and La Jolla. Kayaking La Jolla Shores is great for all ages. You can see leopard sharks, dolphins, sea turtles, sea lions and pelicans. The area is famous for its seven caves and overall beauty.

Sports

• San Diego Chargers – Qualcomm Stadium (in Mission Valley is near the intersection of I-15 and I-8). [22]. San Diego's professional football team can wow the fans by being bad one year and then great the next. They play in the massive Qualcomm Stadium, located in Mission Valley. Tickets $54-$92.

• San Diego Padres – PETCO Park (in Downtown, near the Gaslamp district), [23]. See the Major League Baseball Padres play at the brand new PETCO Park in downtown. Price ranges for seats vary widely, from $5 for a spot on the grassy lawn beyond the outfield wall to nearly $50 for a seat behind home plate. $5-$60.
• San Diego State University Aztecs – Cox Arena (in Mid-City; exit I-8 at College Avenue and turn right on Canyon Crest Drive), [24]. The college basketball team plays their home games at the Cox Arena in the SDSU campus. The Aztecs college baseball team plays at Tony Gwynn Stadium (also on the SDSU campus) and the college football team plays at Qualcomm Stadium.
• University of San Diego Toreros – Jenny Craig Pavilion (in Mission Valley; exit I-8 at Morena Blvd and turn right on Linda Vista Road), [25]. The Toreros have college basketball, baseball, and football teams which play at facilities located on the USD campus.

See San Diego with children for travelers with children.

A couple of discount passes offer admission to a number of places:

• Go San Diego Card [19] – This enables free admission and express entry to over 50 attractions.
• Southern California CityPass [20] – Gives you one day each at SeaWorld San Diego and the San Diego Zoo, another day at Universal Studios Hollywood, and a 3 day park hopper ticket for Disneyland.

These are just the most significant sights. More specific information may be found under the individual District articles.

• Balboa Park – Here you'll find an expansive campus of museums, parks, gardens and arboretums. Neo-classical Spanish architecture, flowering gardens, a beautiful clock tower and intriguing museums make visiting Balboa Park a must.
  • San Diego Zoo. – Located in Balboa Park. Possibly the premier zoo in North America, the San Diego Zoo encompasses over 100 acres of displays and habitats. Animal shows run constantly, and there are creatures here that aren't visible in any other zoo on the planet. Definitely worth a visit, but you need a full day to really do it justice.  edit
• Wild Animal Park. – The sister park to the San Diego Zoo. The park covers 1800 acres and is located about 30 miles north of San Diego near Escondido, in the San Pasqual Valley in Northeastern San Diego.  edit
• Sea World. – Home of Shamu. Sea World San Diego allows visitors a chance to interact with aquatic animals in an exciting way. Through shows, displays and enclosures people can learn about the worlds oceans and the creatures that inhabit them. See the Mission Beach article.  edit
• La Jolla – An upscale coastal community of San Diego, La Jolla includes secluded coves, beaches and ocean cliffs to explore. There are dozens of coffee shops, restaurants and high-end shopping outlets to be explored in La Jolla.
  • Harbor seals, Children's Cove. Originally a small beach built for children, this scenic little spot has become a breeding ground for harbor seals.
  • Birch Aquarium – Fantastic exhibits include physical oceanography, standard aquarium fish, and a massive kelp tank.

• Point Loma Lighthouse, Cabrillo National Monument – From the high vantage point of Point Loma visitors can get a panoramic view of the Naval Air Station, downtown San Diego, the Coronado Bridge and the distant mountains. The lighthouse is a short walk and allows stunning sunset views of the Pacific Ocean and off-shore islands. Cabrillo National Monument commemorates the landing of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo's expedition for Spain of California in 1542.
• Old Town – This area includes preserved buildings and icons of the Spanish heritage of San Diego and the Old West, from 19th century cannons to the haunted Whaley House. Shopping and restaurants dot this historic district and living history performances regularly take place.
• Downtown – The urban center of the city, with plenty of restaurants, shopping, and nightlife.
  • San Diego Maritime Museum – Home to a collection of 19th century sailing ships including the Star of India, the world's oldest active sailing ship, as well as a steam ferryboat and a former Soviet Union attack submarine.
  • USS Midway Museum – A former aircraft carrier of the US Navy, it is now open for tours and home to a collection of former naval aircraft housed on her expansive flight deck. Guided tours and displays offer the public a unique look into the life aboard a powerful, old warhorse.
• Mission San Diego de Alcala. – Located in Mission Valley Mission San Diego is the oldest of the California missions.  edit
• Hotel Del Coronado. – Located in Coronado, this gorgeous hotel was constructed in the late 1800's and is located at the beach. Offers high class shops and service on one of San Diego's most beautiful and clean beaches.  edit

By plane

San Diego International Airport (IATA: SAN) [2] is less than 10 minutes from downtown San Diego. The descent into the airport from the east is remarkably close to downtown buildings, which can be a bit alarming for first-time visitors. It is served by legacy carriers such as American Airlines [3], Delta Airlines [4], Continental Airlines [5], United Airlines [6], and US Airways [7], as well as major low fare carriers including JetBlue [8] and Southwest Airlines [9]. Beware that even discounted coach airfares between San Diego and Los Angeles (about 120 miles/190 km) can cost nearly as much a trip to the east coast. Many Angelenos, making San Diego a weekend get-a-way, opt for Amtrak. Detailed Amtrak data is below. (Flying will usually be greatly discounted or even free for connecting flights if it's part of the overall routing, but you must leave LAX within four hours for domestic flights or 24 hours international.) The only international flights from the airport go to Mexico and Canada. Visitors from other countries would most likely travel through Los Angeles or San Francisco. Fixed point ground transportation between LAX and San Diego is extremely limited and taxi/van service is more costly than flying (except for groups of about six or more). If arriving at Los Angeles Airport, always know the method and cost of how you're getting to San Diego in advance.

There are a number of airport shuttle companies that handle transportation to and from the airport. They cost around $15 per person. Metro bus #992 The Flyer ($2.25) travels 10 minutes to downtown San Diego, and connects to the Coaster commuter train, the Trolley, and the Amtrak station.

Driving out of the airport can be a little confusing. Unless you're headed to Point Loma or Harbor Island, you want to go east towards downtown. The first left turn after the airport is Laurel Street to Balboa Park. The second one is Grape Street, and this has access to all the freeways. Caution: Do not run the red light, or an automated camera will issue a citation of at least $340! For the I-5 north freeway, stay in the left lane of Grape St., or the right lane for I-5 south. The 163 north and 94 east freeways are via I-5 south. Remain in the right freeway lanes for the 163 and 94 as these exits will come very quickly. If going downtown, Petco Park (baseball), Seaport Village, or the Convention Center, just stay on Harbor Drive from the airport. However, for the east side of downtown (except at rush hour), it may be easier to use the 10th Ave. exit from I-5 south, which is the furthest right lane of the 163 freeway exit.

McClellan-Palomar Airport (IATA: CLD) is the other commercial passenger airport in San Diego County. Commercial operations are limited to one commuter airline, United Express, which provide service to Los Angeles. The airport is located in the city of Carlsbad, about 35 miles north of downtown San Diego. Exiting the airport by car, turn right onto Palomar Airport Road and proceed onto Interstate 5 southbound to reach San Diego proper. There is an AVIS car rental facility on-site.

Tijuana International Airport (IATA: TIJ) is within the vicinity of San Diego and offers numerous flights from Mexico and recently additionally long-haul service from Shanghai and Tokyo, allowing many tourists from the Pacific Rim, the option of bypassing Los Angeles International Airport and making it easier to connect to the San Diego area.

Private pilots will prefer the nearby general aviation airports, Montgomery Field (ICAO: KMYF) in Clairemont Mesa, Gillespie Field (ICAO: KSEE) in El Cajon, or Brown Field (ICAO: KSDM) east of San Ysidro. Some air taxi and air charter firms offer specials to the San Diego area from local airports, including from many smaller Los Angeles airports and from the San Luis Obispo area.

By train

Amtrak, +1 800 872-7245, [10], operates from the historic Santa Fe Depot, located in downtown at 1050 Kettner Blvd. The station is the southern terminus of Amtrak's frequent Pacific Surfliner [11] route, which runs north to Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo. The depot is within walking distance of downtown hotels and situated near San Diego Bay. The city operates a bus line (Route 992, the "Airport Flyer") between the train depot and San Diego International Airport.

There is also a secondary rail station located at the Old Town San Diego Historic Park. It is used mainly for travel within San Diego County, although Amtrak also serves it on weekends and holidays.

Other rail services include the COASTER, +1 800 262-7837, [12], a commuter train that runs north from downtown along the coast into northern San Diego County all the way to Oceanside where it meets the Metrolink rail service from Los Angeles and the Sprinter rail service from Escondido. Service is mostly limited to the weekday rush hours, with limited service on Saturdays, and none on Sundays. Fares are based on how far you ride; a one-way fare will be in the range of $4-$5.50. Tickets must be purchased from the ticket vending machines located at each station.

By car

San Diego is easily accessible by car using any one of the three major interstate roadways, the 5, 8, and 15 Freeways.

• I-5 begins in San Ysidro, at the US-Mexico border crossing, and continues northward through Los Angeles and Central California to Oregon and Washington, terminating in Blaine, Washington at the US-Canadian border crossing.

• I-8 begins near the coast in Ocean Beach and continues eastward through eastern San Diego and Imperial Counties into Arizona, where it connects with Interstate 10.

• I-15 begins in southern San Diego County and continues northward into the California deserts, through Nevada, Utah, and Idaho, eventually terminating at the US-Canadian border in northern Montana.

Additionally, there are numerous other freeways that crisscross the county, making access to most places in San Diego relatively easy. However, be advised that traffic is frequently congested during daytime hours.

By bus

• Greyhound, [13], +1 619 515-1100, has a station in downtown San Diego on Broadway Street. Private charter lines operate service between other California cities (especially Los Angeles) and Mexico.

• LuxBus, [14], offers four daily trips to and from Anaheim, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas.

By boat

The Cruise Ship Terminal [15] in downtown San Diego currently only services excursions departing from San Diego to Baja Mexico and Los Angeles. These include dinner cruises, three-day gambling cruises and 'party excursions' to the Mexican coastal ports of Baja.

Public transportation exists and can be used to get around effectively. Some buses run late at night (up to around midnight) but this doesn't apply to all routes so it requires significant planning. Read the Bus section below. Taking the bus will also significantly increase the amount of time you spend traveling from place to place. Overall, renting a car will significantly add to your enjoyment of a trip to San Diego if you want to "see it all".

By car

The San Diego metropolitan area is large and sprawling. If possible, car travel is the most efficient way of navigating the city and county. 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 parking meters and enforcement, or to purchase a pre-paid meter card please visit the City of San Diego Parking Administration website.

By public transit

Bus

The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) [16] operates bus service to almost all parts of the county, although service in many areas is sparse and infrequent. The weakest points in the transit system are suburb-to-suburb travel and poor links between some of the individual coastal communities, both of which often require long trips to one of the transit hubs. If you will be mainly in the areas around downtown, the bus may be suitable, but service is weaker in outlying areas.

There is bus service every 15 minutes or more frequently (at least on weekdays) between Downtown San Diego and a number of destinations useful to tourists. These include the Airport, the Zoo, and neighborhoods such as Hillcrest, North Park, and La Jolla (about an hour ride). There is frequent service to Sea World from the Old Town Transit Center, where the trolley stops. Service from Downtown to Coronado and Ocean Beach is only once every 30 minutes.

The fare is $2.25 for local/neighborhood routes, $2.25 for urban routes, and $2.50 for express routes. Transfers are not available. Day passes (which also include rides on the Trolley and a $2 discount on Coaster fares) cost $5. All downtown buses intersect with Broadway at some point. During the day all kinds of people will be taking the bus. At night some people might feel a little less comfortable, but generally not unsafe on the main parts of downtown. The MTS has offices in downtown, on Broadway.

Trolley (light rail)

The San Diego Trolley [17] is a light rail system operated by the MTS which mainly serves tourists and people living in the southern and eastern parts of the city that need to get to downtown areas. There are three trolley lines: blue, green, and orange. The Blue Line operates from the US-Mexico border at San Ysidro and runs to Old Town, via Chula Vista, National City, and Downtown. The Green Line travels from Old Town east to Santee, via Mission Valley and SDSU. The Orange Line connects the eastern cities of El Cajon and La Mesa with Downtown (generally not as usable for tourists except for getting around parts of downtown). Trains run from at least 5AM-12AM every day. Frequency varies, but the trolley usually runs every 15 minutes, with service reduced to every 30 minutes for late-night, weekend, and holiday service.

Standard one-way fares run from $1.25 to $3 depending on how far you travel. Day passes (which include bus service) run at $5, and there are 2, 3 and 4 day passes available. Tickets have to be purchased from the vending machines at the station before you board the train. There's no formal system to check if you've purchased a ticket, but there are trolley guards that may come around and ask to see your ticket, and the fine is normally around $120 for not having a ticket.

By Bike

The weather in San Diego is ideally suited for bicycle riding, and bikes are a good way to explore the beach side communities. Many of the beach side community's residents use bikes to get around their neighborhood because of the parking situation. A good lock is a necessity though. The beach areas are flat and some beach cruiser rental spots can be found along the boardwalk areas in Mission/Pacific Beach. In other parts of the city, cycling is a much more difficult with the numerous difficult-to-cross freeways, as well as the hills, valleys and older streets, but is possible for the avid cyclist. A bicycle map of San Diego is available.[18]

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 Horton Plaza in Downtown, 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.

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

The district sections of San Diego offer more details on local places to eat. Food representing almost every world cuisine can be found somewhere in the city.

Like other large metropolitan areas, San Diego carries a wide variety of national and international food. Major restaurant chains are found in almost every district.

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 1:30-1:50 AM A medium-sized beer generally costs 4-5 USD in a restaurant. The best bar scenes in San Diego are in the Gaslamp Quarter area of Downtown and in Pacific Beach.