# Best things to do in San Diego

Beaches, Balboa Park and sea lions: San Diego's top experiences according to Lonely Planet, U.S. News and AAA.

- 54 votes · 12 items
- Sep 9, 2025 · Madison Daniels
- https://even.best/en/l/563/best-things-to-do-in-san-diego

## Top 10

1. **Old Town San Diego** (6 · ▲7 ▼1) — State historic park on the site of California's first European settlement.
2. **Cabrillo National Monument** (5 · ▲6 ▼1) — Point Loma viewpoint with a historic lighthouse and tide pools. <https://www.nps.gov/cabr/>
3. **Balboa Park** (4 · ▲6 ▼2) — 1,200-acre park with 17 museums, Spanish Revival architecture and gardens.
4. **Gaslamp Quarter** (4 · ▲4 ▼0) — Victorian downtown district of restaurants and nightlife next to Petco Park.
5. **Little Italy** (4 · ▲4 ▼0) — Restaurants and the Saturday Mercato farmers' market.
6. **San Diego Zoo** (3 · ▲5 ▼2) — World-famous zoo in Balboa Park with more than 12,000 animals. <https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/>
7. **La Jolla Cove** (3 · ▲4 ▼1) — Small cove where sea lions and seals lounge, with sea caves and kayaking.
8. **USS Midway Museum** (3 · ▲3 ▼0) — Aircraft carrier turned museum on the downtown waterfront. <https://www.midway.org/>
9. **Mission Beach and Belmont Park** (2 · ▲3 ▼1) — Boardwalk beach with the 1925 Giant Dipper roller coaster.
10. **Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve** (2 · ▲2 ▼0) — Clifftop trails above the Pacific through rare Torrey pines.
11. **Coronado Beach and Hotel del Coronado** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Wide golden beach in front of the Victorian 1888 hotel.
12. **Barrio Logan and Chicano Park** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Neighbourhood of murals under the Coronado Bridge and taco shops.

How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.