Best activities in San Diego
Check out the top activities in San Diego, reviewed and ranked by the city’s locals
1. Balboa Park
1. Balboa Park
1115 local reviews
ParkMuseumPoint of interest
As one traveler put it: "This is the green and leafy heart of the city where a multitude of activities and…
The nation's largest urban cultural park. Home to 15 major museums, renowned performing arts venues,…
Balboa Park is another one of my top 10 places in San Diego. It is close by, has more than 17 museums,…
1. Balboa Park
1. Balboa Park
1115 local reviews
Gina
As one traveler put it: "This is the green and leafy heart of the city where a multitude of activities and nearby attractions await. But if…
Bob
The nation's largest urban cultural park. Home to 15 major museums, renowned performing arts venues, beautiful gardens and the San Diego…
Jean
Balboa Park is another one of my top 10 places in San Diego. It is close by, has more than 17 museums, beautiful gardens, restaurants,…
2. San Diego Zoo
2. San Diego Zoo
1068 local reviews
ZooPoint of interestEstablishment
The roar of a lion from the Panama-California International Exposition in 1915 inspired Dr. Harry Wegeforth to…
The San Diego Zoo is a must-see attraction in our city! If you can get over the sticker shock, it is worth the…
A must-see for visitors! I highly recommend checking out the Safari Park in Escondido (if I had to pick…
2. San Diego Zoo
2. San Diego Zoo
1068 local reviews
Gina
The roar of a lion from the Panama-California International Exposition in 1915 inspired Dr. Harry Wegeforth to start a zoo in San Diego. Now…
Renee
The San Diego Zoo is a must-see attraction in our city! If you can get over the sticker shock, it is worth the price and a great all-day…
Wagma
A must-see for visitors! I highly recommend checking out the Safari Park in Escondido (if I had to pick between the two, definitely the…
3. Mission Bay
3. Mission Bay
126 local reviews
Mission Bay, San Diego
NeighborhoodPolitical
This 4,600-acre aquatic playground is surrounded by 27 miles of meandering shoreline, with a variety of…
Mission Bay is breathtaking and offers many outdoor activities. There are parks and bbqs (1st come 1st…
A beautiful bay with excellent jogging and walking paths and all kinds of water activities. One of my favorite…
3. Mission Bay
3. Mission Bay
126 local reviews
Mission Bay, San Diego
David
This 4,600-acre aquatic playground is surrounded by 27 miles of meandering shoreline, with a variety of waterways, inlets and islets to…
Wendy
Mission Bay is breathtaking and offers many outdoor activities. There are parks and bbqs (1st come 1st serve). A bike path. A kite flying…
Andy
A beautiful bay with excellent jogging and walking paths and all kinds of water activities. One of my favorite spots!
4. The New Children’s Museum
4. The New Children’s Museum
44 local reviews
MuseumPoint of interestEstablishment
If you have kids under the age of 10, this museum is an amazing place to go. Lots of art, exploration, and…
If you're looking for something to do with the kids, this place is AMAZING (we have an annual membership). …
Have some young ones who love to explore and learn? This is the place you want to take them too. Many…
4. The New Children’s Museum
4. The New Children’s Museum
44 local reviews
Cecil And Sue
If you have kids under the age of 10, this museum is an amazing place to go. Lots of art, exploration, and physical activity. So many things…
Shawn And Rachel
If you're looking for something to do with the kids, this place is AMAZING (we have an annual membership). Creative play, two extensive…
Melvin And Nina
Have some young ones who love to explore and learn? This is the place you want to take them too. Many activities to keep them busy &…
5. Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography
5. Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography
139 local reviews
AquariumPoint of interestEstablishment
Their World Awaits! See more than 5,000 fish in 60+ habitats plus a museum featuring cutting edge research…
See more than 5,000 fish in 60+ habitats plus a museum featuring cutting edge research from Scripps…
19 mins, 15.6 miles | More than 5,000 fish in 60+ habitats. Spectacular panoramic ocean views, get hands on…
5. Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography
5. Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography
139 local reviews
Jomo & Meredith
Their World Awaits! See more than 5,000 fish in 60+ habitats plus a museum featuring cutting edge research from Scripps Institution of…
Lily
See more than 5,000 fish in 60+ habitats plus a museum featuring cutting edge research from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San…
Ray
19 mins, 15.6 miles | More than 5,000 fish in 60+ habitats. Spectacular panoramic ocean views, get hands on with interactive activities, see…
6. Belmont Park
6. Belmont Park
258 local reviews
Amusement parkPoint of interestEstablishment
If there is a place in San Diego that resembles the atmosphere of Coney Island, it would be the Belmont Park. …
Belmont Park is a historic oceanfront amusement park in Mission Beach. There is a carousel, amusement park…
Family recreation - includes the world famous roller-coaster, arcade games, carnival games, and other…
6. Belmont Park
6. Belmont Park
258 local reviews
Victor
If there is a place in San Diego that resembles the atmosphere of Coney Island, it would be the Belmont Park. Located at the center of…
Cesar
Belmont Park is a historic oceanfront amusement park in Mission Beach. There is a carousel, amusement park rides, the Giant Dipper roller…
Jeremy & Gisenyi
Family recreation - includes the world famous roller-coaster, arcade games, carnival games, and other fun-filled activities.
7. Balboa Park
7. Balboa Park
409 local reviews
Balboa Park, San Diego
NeighborhoodPolitical
Not to be missed amazing park with performing arts and international culture organization, museums,…
Visit the expansive Balboa Park, one of the largest parks in america as the place to venture out to for all…
Features the famous SD Zoo, Aerospace Museum, Art Museums, Spreckles Organ Pavilion (music), and Activity…
7. Balboa Park
7. Balboa Park
409 local reviews
Balboa Park, San Diego
David
Not to be missed amazing park with performing arts and international culture organization, museums, restaurants, zoo, gardens, hiking and…
Adam
Visit the expansive Balboa Park, one of the largest parks in america as the place to venture out to for all types of cultural activities and…
Daniel
Features the famous SD Zoo, Aerospace Museum, Art Museums, Spreckles Organ Pavilion (music), and Activity Center. There's also a number of…
8. SeaWorld
8. SeaWorld
193 local reviews
SeaWorld, San Diego
Bus stationTransit stationPoint of interest
SeaWorld's San Diego California theme park offers roller coasters, rides, shows, tours, attractions &…
SeaWorld has many aquariums, shows, activities, rides and animal encounters. So many things to do you'll want…
All the aquatic animals and fun activities for a family on vacation.
David
SeaWorld's San Diego California theme park offers roller coasters, rides, shows, tours, attractions & family-friendly activities for thrill…
Tiffany
SeaWorld has many aquariums, shows, activities, rides and animal encounters. So many things to do you'll want to plan the entire day there.
Miriam And Dennis
All the aquatic animals and fun activities for a family on vacation.
9. Morley Field Disc Golf Course
9. Morley Field Disc Golf Course
44 local reviews
Point of interestEstablishment
Morley Field is 1.3 mi from Aptmt & a nice doable walk from the Aptmt. There is an entire Sports Complex here…
Popular disc-golf course. Great afternoon activity. There is a $3-4 fee to play person. If you don't have…
This is a very group friendly activity, most people come here with a 12-pack and somethin' else. Bring kids at…
9. Morley Field Disc Golf Course
9. Morley Field Disc Golf Course
44 local reviews
Heather
Morley Field is 1.3 mi from Aptmt & a nice doable walk from the Aptmt. There is an entire Sports Complex here with many activities. In…
Marian
Popular disc-golf course. Great afternoon activity. There is a $3-4 fee to play person. If you don't have discs, rent for $1.50. Or buy…
Colleen
This is a very group friendly activity, most people come here with a 12-pack and somethin' else. Bring kids at your own risk. Friendly…
10. Mission Beach Boardwalk | Ocean Front Walk
10. Mission Beach Boardwalk | Ocean Front Walk
15 local reviews
ParkPoint of interestEstablishment
Mission Beach is San Diego’s lively take on the classic boardwalk beach town with nearly two miles of…
17 mins, 10.5 miles | The Mission Beach – Pacific Beach Boardwalk, also known as Oceanfront Boardwalk, is a…
Great area to sight see, walk the boardwalk, permanent amusement park with carnival games and fun activities…
10. Mission Beach Boardwalk | Ocean Front Walk
10. Mission Beach Boardwalk | Ocean Front Walk
15 local reviews
Laurissa
Mission Beach is San Diego’s lively take on the classic boardwalk beach town with nearly two miles of oceanfront boardwalk, numerous rental…
Ray
17 mins, 10.5 miles | The Mission Beach – Pacific Beach Boardwalk, also known as Oceanfront Boardwalk, is a concrete walkway that spans…
Nesrin
Great area to sight see, walk the boardwalk, permanent amusement park with carnival games and fun activities for kids and even a wooden…
11. La Jolla Cove
11. La Jolla Cove
470 local reviews
La Jolla Cove, San Diego
Natural featureEstablishment
From its breathtaking sunsets and majestic sea lions to seaside restaurants and kids activities, this…
La Jolla Cove is home to an underwater park and nature reserve. Enjoy the iconic scenery here as you spend a…
Activities include awesome shopping, good restaurants, amazing beaches, snorkeling around the cove and seeing…
11. La Jolla Cove
11. La Jolla Cove
470 local reviews
La Jolla Cove, San Diego
Janet & Scott
From its breathtaking sunsets and majestic sea lions to seaside restaurants and kids activities, this beautiful setting offers a slice of…
Neha
La Jolla Cove is home to an underwater park and nature reserve. Enjoy the iconic scenery here as you spend a morning observing sea lions…
Spencer
Activities include awesome shopping, good restaurants, amazing beaches, snorkeling around the cove and seeing the sea lions.
12. La Jolla
12. La Jolla
149 local reviews
La Jolla, San Diego
NeighborhoodPolitical
Consistently voted one of the top beach destinations in the world, La Jolla offers a wide range of museums and…
Downtown La Jolla – San Diego’s European-inspired, North coastal town – offers a plethora of activities for…
Upscale community with a beautiful beach and lots of beach/ocean activities. Rent kayaks, paddle boards, surf…
12. La Jolla
12. La Jolla
149 local reviews
La Jolla, San Diego
Belinda
Consistently voted one of the top beach destinations in the world, La Jolla offers a wide range of museums and art galleries, one-of-a-kind…
Gabrielle
Downtown La Jolla – San Diego’s European-inspired, North coastal town – offers a plethora of activities for locals and visitors alike. From…
Peter
Upscale community with a beautiful beach and lots of beach/ocean activities. Rent kayaks, paddle boards, surf boards, etc. Great people…