La Jolla San Diego: Top 9 Things to Do in This Beautiful Coastal Village
La Jolla, one of San Diego’s most beautiful coastal neighborhoods, is known for its dramatic ocean cliffs, small beaches, sea caves, sea lions, and upscale village feel. From scenic coastal walks and oceanfront views to shops, restaurants, and beaches, there is plenty to enjoy in this beautiful part of San Diego.
I have visited San Diego several times over the years, but on a recent weekend trip, we stayed in La Jolla and finally spent more time exploring this area. We walked by the water, stopped by The Cave Store, explored the village, and took in those classic Southern California coastal views.
I was excited to see why La Jolla is considered one of the most scenic spots in San Diego, and honestly, it did not disappoint. The turquoise water is beautiful, and the sea lions are a treat to watch from a distance. Being there gave off a relaxed Southern California vibe.
The only thing I would do differently next time is not drive to La Jolla Cove on a weekend. Parking was a nightmare, and we wasted precious time trying to find a spot. If you are visiting on a sunny weekend, taking an Uber to the Cove area is a much better idea.
Read on to find out about the top things to do in La Jolla San Diego based on my visit.
Top 9 Things to Do in La Jolla San Diego
We spent most of our time exploring the area around La Jolla Cove and the village on foot, which ended up being the best way to experience this part of San Diego.
A lot of La Jolla’s main attractions are close to each other, so it is easy to turn this into a relaxed half day or full day outing. Along the way, you will come across coastal viewpoints, sea lions, beaches, shops, restaurants, and walking paths without needing to drive around constantly.
Below are some of the best things to do in La Jolla San Diego based on our visit. We explored these spots in roughly this order, so this list can also help you plan your day around La Jolla Cove and the village area.
1. Visit La Jolla Cove
La Jolla Cove is the most famous spot in La Jolla, and honestly, it completely lived up to the hype for me. The combination of turquoise water, rocky cliffs, sea lions, and walking paths makes this one of the prettiest coastal spots in San Diego.
We started our visit here and spent quite a bit of time just walking around and taking in the views. Even on a busy weekend, the scenery was impressive. The water near the Cove was such a bright shade of turquoise that it almost did not look real in some spots. It reminded me of Point Lobos near Carmel, which also has similar turquoise water.
One thing that surprised me was how compact the Cove area is. The beach itself is fairly small, but the surrounding coastline and viewpoints are what make this area special. There are steps to go down to the beach.
This area can get extremely crowded on sunny weekends, especially in the afternoon. Parking near La Jolla Cove was honestly frustrating during our visit, and next time I would probably take an Uber directly to the Cove area instead of wasting time driving around looking for a spot.
I also recommend taking your time here instead of rushing through it. Some of my favorite moments in La Jolla were simply walking along the coastline and stopping to admire the ocean views.
2. Watch the Sea Lions Near La Jolla Cove
One of the highlights of visiting La Jolla is seeing the sea lions along the rocky coastline near the Cove. At La Jolla Cove, there are steps that lead down to a small beach, and this is where we spotted the most sea lions lounging on the rocks near the water.
Although I am quite used to seeing sea lions at Pier 39 in San Francisco, they seemed much closer here because of the small beach cove setup. We spotted several more resting on the ocean bluffs while walking along the coastal trail nearby.
3. Walk Along Coast Boulevard and the Coast Walk Trail
One of my favorite parts of visiting La Jolla was simply walking along Coast Boulevard and stopping at the different viewpoints along the way. This coastal road runs right past La Jolla Cove and connects many of the main attractions in the area.
Near The Cave Store, we also walked part of the Coast Walk Trail, a short scenic trail that runs along the coastline above the ocean bluffs. This was another great area for spotting sea lions resting on the rocks below and enjoying the coastline.
4. Stop by The Cave Store and Sunny Jim Sea Cave
The Cave Store is one of the most unique attractions in La Jolla and an easy stop while exploring the Cove area. From the outside, it looks like a small gift shop, but inside there is a tunnel that leads down to Sunny Jim Sea Cave, a sea cave carved into the sandstone cliffs below.
We stopped by The Cave Store during our visit, but the line was extremely long because of the holiday weekend, so we decided to skip it this time. Visiting Sunny Jim Sea Cave is definitely still on our California bucket list for a future trip to La Jolla.
The Cave Store is also located right near the Coast Walk Trail, so it is easy to combine both while exploring this part of La Jolla.
Another popular way to explore the La Jolla sea caves is by taking a guided kayak tour. We did not get a chance to do this during our visit, but it could be a fun activity to consider if you enjoy kayaking and want to explore the sea caves up close.
➡️ I recommend this La Jolla Sea Caves Kayak Tour For Two (Tandem Kayak) with an experienced guide
5. Relax at Ellen Browning Scripps Park
Located right next to La Jolla Cove, Ellen Browning Scripps Park is a small oceanfront park with grassy areas, palm trees, benches, and beautiful coastline views.
This is a nice place to slow down for a bit after exploring the Cove area. During our visit, we saw people sitting on the grass, taking photos, and simply enjoying the sunny weather and ocean views.
6. Explore La Jolla Village
After spending time by the water, we walked through La Jolla Village, which is filled with restaurants, cafes, boutiques, galleries, and small shops. The area felt upscale and very walkable.
There were plenty of people shopping, eating outdoors, and enjoying the sunny weather during our weekend visit. It is a nice area to slow down, grab a meal or dessert, and take a break from the coastline for a bit.
Some popular spots in the village include George’s at the Cove and Duke’s La Jolla, The Taco Stand for casual tacos, and Bobboi Natural Gelato for gelato.
7. Visit Children’s Pool Beach
Children’s Pool Beach is another popular stop in La Jolla located a short walk from the Cove area. Although the beach was originally created as a protected swimming area for children, it is now mainly known for the harbor seals that rest on the sand.
One of the coolest parts of visiting this area is the narrow sea wall built above the beach that people can walk on. We saw quite a few people walking along it during our visit. If the waves are strong, there is a good chance you will get splashed or even wet while walking on the sea wall.
8. Visit La Jolla Shores Beach and Scripps Pier
If you have extra time in La Jolla, La Jolla Shores Beach is another popular area to visit. Compared to the smaller beach at La Jolla Cove, this beach is much larger and better suited for relaxing, swimming, kayaking, and surfing.
Nearby, the iconic Scripps Pier is one of the most photographed spots in La Jolla. The pier sits right on the beach with dramatic ocean views and is especially popular for sunset photos.
During low tide, you can also explore tide pools in parts of the La Jolla coastline. We did not get a chance to do this during our visit, but it is a popular activity if you are visiting during low tides.
9. Watch the Sunset Along the La Jolla Coastline
La Jolla is a beautiful place to catch the sunset, especially around the Cove and coastal walking areas.
We stayed until sunset during our visit, and it was a great way to end the day in La Jolla. Many people gathered along the viewpoints and walking paths to watch the sun go down over the ocean.
Where to Stay in La Jolla
We stayed in a vacation rental during our visit since we were traveling with a large family group, and it worked well for us. However, after exploring La Jolla, I think staying closer to the Cove and village area would be a much better experience if you want to be within walking distance of the restaurants, coastline, and main attractions.
If you are looking for an upscale stay near the water, La Valencia Hotel is one of the most iconic hotels in La Jolla and is located in a prime spot on Prospect Street. I am definitely bookmarking this hotel for a future special occasion trip to San Diego.
For a more mid range option within walking distance of the village and coastline, Inn by the Sea La Jolla is a popular choice with a great location for exploring La Jolla on foot.
If you are looking for a beachfront stay, La Jolla Shores Hotel is a popular option located right by La Jolla Shores Beach.
➡️ Check out my complete guide about where to stay in San Diego
Final Takeaways
Exploring La Jolla ended up being one of my favorite things to do in San Diego. Between the turquoise water, sea lions, coastal walks, beaches, and the lively village atmosphere, it is easy to see why this area is so popular.
What I liked most about La Jolla was that many of the main attractions are close together, so you can explore the area on foot once you get there. Just try to avoid driving into the Cove area on a busy weekend afternoon unless you are prepared to spend time looking for parking.
Next time, I would love to stay closer to the Cove area, try more restaurants in the village, and hike nearby Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. I am already looking forward to visiting La Jolla again.
I definitely recommend adding La Jolla to your San Diego itinerary, even if you only have half a day to explore.
