2 days in San Diego Itinerary: Perfect for sightseeing!

San Diego, often overshadowed by Los Angeles, is a beautiful coastal city in Southern California. It has stunning white sand beaches like Mission and Pacific Beach, La Jolla, and Coronado, historic sites like Old Town, and lively neighborhoods like Little Italy and Gaslamp Quarter.

San Diego enjoys excellent temperate weather throughout the year, and it’s not uncommon to have 70-degree F days in the winter months. I often tell my husband that we should move to San Diego when we retire and enjoy the pleasant weather in winter.

I have been to San Diego several times over the years. When my kids were young, we often came for the theme parks—Seaworld, San Diego Zoo, and Legoland.

We have also visited with friends and families for sightseeing or to chill at a beachside resort. Most recently, I went to San Diego with my group of girlfriends for a girls’ trip. It was so much fun!

Here’s a two-day itinerary focused on exploring some of San Diego’s best spots, which are popular with tourists.

San Diego Itinerary: Quick Overview

Here’s a quick overview of how to spend 2 days in San Diego exploring its top attractions.

Please note that this itinerary does not focus on the theme parks in San Diego but more on sightseeing. Also, this 2 day itinerary does not include places like Balboa Park and La Jolla, as those typically require a full day on their own.

You can easily add a day in your San Diego trip to visit one of your favorite theme parks – Seaworld, San Diego Zoo, and Legoland. Each theme park visit typically requires a full day.

Day 1:

• Morning: Explore Old Town
• Afternoon: Stroll through Embarcadero and Seaport Village
• Evening: Dinner at the Gaslamp Quarter

Day 2:

• Morning: Visit Cabrillo National Monument
• Afternoon: Explore Coronado Island and Mission Beach and Boardwalk
• Evening: Dinner at Little Italy

We typically drive to San Diego from the San Francisco Bay area and have our car to visit all these spots. Most recently, we flew to San Diego on our girls’ trip and did not rent a car.

We stayed in Old Town and took an Uber to all the places in this itinerary. So, it is possible to visit all of these places by Uber/Lyft if you are not planning to rent a car. You can also take the San Diego Hop On Hop Off Trolley to visit most of these places.

Day 1: Old Town, Embarcadero, Seaport Village, Gaslamp Quarter

On Day 1, we will explore San Diego’s Old Town area and then walk along the Embarcadero waterfront to Seaport Village. We will end the day at the Gaslamp Quarter for dinner.

On my recent trip we were staying in Old Town in this spacious vacation rental so it was easy for us to walk to the Old Town Market.

Old Town

I love visiting old town areas in cities, as they are rich in history and contain some unique old buildings with original architecture.

The Old Town in San Diego is a state historic park and is considered California’s birthplace. This is where the first European settlement on the West Coast was established.

Today, it is a great place to stroll around and immerse yourself in Mexican culture, walking tours, souvenir shopping, and delicious Mexican food. There are also many great photo ops here.

Our friends group started with a nice meal at Casa De Reyes, a Mexican restaurant in Old Town. The food and drinks were amazing.

Later, we loved walking around and exploring all the shops. My friends and I had a great time at Temecula Olive Oil Company, tasting the various flavors of olive oil. We bought several bottles of oils and vinegars, which they happily shipped home for us.

The Mexican tile store here was beautiful, and so was the outdoor garden shop with bright, colorful pottery and garden decor.

If you have time, you can visit the Whaley House Museum, a historic 19th-century home known for its rich history and reputation for being haunted. The museum offers daytime and evening tours.

After exploring the Old Town area, you can take an Uber to the next stop or hop on the Old Town Trolley, which starts from Old Town.

➡️ Check my detailed post about things to do in Old Town San Diego.

Embarcadero and Seaport Village

Next, make your way to the Embarcadero, a scenic waterfront area filled with iconic landmarks and beautiful views. The Old Town Trolley stops here after Old Town.

We started near the Maritime Museum, where the Star of India ship is docked, and walked all the way to Seaport Village. It’s a very pleasant walk along the harbor, with many popular attractions along the way.

The Star of India ship looks stunning with its many sails. It’s the world’s oldest active sailing ship, and you can tour its decks and learn about its fascinating past voyages.

Just a short walk away, the Unconditional Surrender Statue, also known as the “Kissing Statue,” stands as a tribute to the end of World War II and is a popular photo spot. It’s really huge and can be seen from the Midway. I got a small replica of the statue as a keepsake.

Gaslamp Quarter

If you keep walking south on Harbor Dr from Seaport Village, you will come across the large Gaslamp Quarter sign at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and L Street.

The Gaslamp Quarter is a historic district in downtown San Diego known for its Victorian-era buildings, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. The Gaslamp Quarter Arch marks the entrance to this 16-block area, where you’ll find a mix of dining spots, bars, and shops.

On our recent visit, we encountered some homeless people in the area. There was also a strong smell of weed on the streets, so keep that in mind when walking around. Unfortunately, this is common in any big city’s downtown area.

Below are some top restaurant recommendations in the Gaslamp quarter. San Diego is known for its delicious Mexican food, so make sure to visit at least one Mexican restaurant on your trip.

• La Puerta – A local favorite for street-style tacos, handcrafted margaritas, and a laid-back atmosphere.
• barleymash – A lively sports bar vibe with craft beer and creative American comfort food.
• The Old Spaghetti Factory – A family-friendly restaurant serving classic Italian dishes in a vintage-style setting.
• Fogo de Chão – A Brazilian steakhouse offering an all-you-can-eat experience with premium cuts of meat carved tableside.
• Cafe Sevilla – A well-known spot for Spanish tapas.
• The Nolan – A popular rooftop bar with skyline views, craft cocktails, and a modern American menu.

Day 2: Cabrillo Monument, Mission Beach, Coronado Island, Little Italy

On Day 2, we will start our day visiting the Cabrillo Monument and then Mission Beach and Coronado Island. If you only want to visit one of the two beaches, I recommend Mission Beach and Boardwalk. Finally, end your day at Little Italy for dinner.

Cabrillo Monument

Begin your day with a visit to the Cabrillo National Monument. Located at the tip of the Point Loma Peninsula, this site celebrates the landing of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo in 1542.

The monument offers panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and the city skyline, along with walking trails and tide pools to explore.

On the morning we visited, it was drizzling slightly and very foggy. Unfortunately, the fog obstructed the ocean views. We didn’t explore the walking trails here as it was quite windy.

But if you happen to visit on a clear sunny day, you can walk up to the Old Point Loma Lighthouse and the Whale Overlook here. There are also trails from here that lead to the New Point Loma Lighthouse and the tide pools.

I hope to be able to go back and explore the trails and views on a sunny day.

Coronado Island

Next, head to Coronado Island, a short drive over the scenic Coronado Bridge. Or you can take the Coronado Ferry from Broadway Pier on Embarcadero. If you arrive by ferry, make sure to check out the San Diego city skyline views from Centennial Park.

The best thing to do at Coronado Island is to spend time at Coronado Beach, known for its soft, golden sand, and walk around the lobby and gardens of the famous Hotel del Coronado, a historic beachfront resort with stunning architecture.

The hotel has hosted celebrities and dignitaries since 1888 and is beautiful to look at, especially around the holidays. The hotel’s exterior facade was undergoing renovation when we visited.

There is a nice, paved walking path next to the Del to soak in the beach views. Serẽa at the Hotel Del is a great restaurant if you are looking for an upscale coastal dining experience.

Sun Deck at the Del is a nice place for a casual lunch, with ocean views. Clayton’s Coffee Shop is a bit farther away from the Del on Orange Ave but is highly popular for casual diner-style meals and pies.

Mission Beach

After Coronado, drive to Mission Beach, one of San Diego’s popular beach neighborhoods.

Stroll along the oceanfront paved boardwalk, which goes on for miles, relax on the beach, or visit Belmont Park, a beachfront amusement park featuring the historic Giant Dipper Roller Coaster.

Make sure to watch the famous Pacific coast sunset from the beach.

Pacific Beach is at the north end of Mission Beach. We once stayed here for a weekend getaway at Pacific Terrace Hotel, which I highly recommend.

There are a lot of vacation rentals in the Mission Beach / Pacific Beach area for a beach vacation in San Diego.

Little Italy

Finally, make your way to Little Italy for dinner, one of San Diego’s best dining districts. Walk through the Piazza della Famiglia, a lively public square, and choose from top Italian restaurants. You can walk around the place, look at the menus, and make your pick.

We went to Filippi’s Pizza Grotto, a classic, family-run Italian spot known for its hearty portions of pasta, thick-crust pizzas, and nice decor. The pizzas and pastas we tried were really delicious and full of authentic flavor. The tiramisu was delicious, too. There is a store attached to the restaurant where we bought some Italian goods like sauces, pasta, and chocolates to bring home.

More places to visit in San Diego

If you have some extra days on your trip to San Diego, here are a few more popular places to visit in San Diego. Each of these requires mostly a full day to visit, except Sunset Cliffs, which is popular at sunset time.

• Balboa Park – A massive urban park with beautiful gardens, museums, and the famous San Diego Zoo. Each of the gardens, museums, and zoo can take a full day each to explore.
• San Diego Zoo Safari Park (Located in Escondido) – The Safari Park is different from the San Diego Zoo and is an open, safari-like experience where animals roam in natural settings. I highly recommend taking a safari ride here.
• La Jolla – An upscale coastal area known for La Jolla Cove, where you can see sea lions, kayak through sea caves, or snorkel in clear waters.
• Torrey Pines State Reserve – A coastal hiking area with scenic trails overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The Guy Fleming Trail is an easy hike with fantastic views.
• Sunset Cliffs – A stunning spot for ocean views, especially at sunset. Walk along the rugged coastline or find a quiet place to sit and watch the waves.
• SeaWorld San Diego – A family-friendly marine park with orca and dolphin shows, thrill rides, and interactive animal encounters.
• Legoland California – Located in Carlsbad, this theme park is great for families, featuring Lego-themed rides, a water park, and impressive Lego sculptures.

Travel Tips for Visiting San Diego

Below are some tips to make the most of your visit to San Diego.

How to get to San Diego?

San Diego International Airport (SAN) serves numerous domestic and international flights, making air travel convenient. Interstates 5 and 8 provide direct routes into the city for those driving. Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner offers scenic train journeys down the coast, starting from San Luis Obispo.

How many days do you need in San Diego?

While this itinerary covers the highlights in 2 days, spending 3 to 4 days allows for a more relaxed experience and the opportunity to explore additional attractions. If you also want to visit the theme parks in San Diego, add one day for each theme park to your itinerary.

Is San Diego worth visiting?

I think San Diego is the perfect coastal city in California, with a mix of everything! With its diverse historical and cultural attractions, beautiful beaches, theme parks, and year-round pleasant climate, San Diego is a chill place to be and should be part of every California road trip.

Is San Diego safe?

San Diego is one of the safest large cities in California. I have visited with my family several times over the years and have never felt unsafe. As with any destination, it’s advisable to stay aware of your surroundings and follow common safety practices, like not leaving anything visible in the car to avoid break-ins.

Final Takeaways: San Diego 2 day Itinerary

I hope this two-day itinerary gives you a good overview of San Diego’s top attractions and neighborhoods and encourages you to come back for more.

San Diego is always a great beach getaway for me, and I love the laid-back lifestyle of this coastal city. Plus, excellent Mexican food options are always a treat!