Old Town San Diego: Top 8 Things to do in this historic neighborhood
Old Town San Diego is called the birthplace of California. It was the site of the first permanent Spanish settlement on the west coast in the 18th century, and being here still feels like a step back in time.
With its preserved adobe buildings, museums, lively Mexican restaurants, unique shops, and colorful street decor, this historic neighborhood is one of the best places to experience San Diego’s early days.
On my most recent visit to San Diego, I had the opportunity to stay in Old Town, just steps away from the State Historic Park. I had a great time exploring the Old Town.
If you’re planning a trip, here’s everything you need to know about what to do in Old Town San Diego.
Top 8 things to do in Old Town San Diego
On my most recent visit to San Diego with my friends in February 2025, I stayed in Old Town for 3 nights in this spacious vacation rental. I loved walking around the Old Town area and checking out all the unique buildings and shops.
1. Explore Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
If you only have time to do one thing in Old Town, I highly recommend walking around the Old Town State Historic Park. It is at the San Diego Ave and Twiggs St intersection and goes on for a couple of blocks. Plan to spend at least a couple of hours here.
This park is the heart of the Old Town, with restored buildings from the 1800s that now house museums, shops, and restaurants. You can walk through old homes, a blacksmith shop, and even the first San Diego courthouse.
When we visited, many museums were open. Docents dressed in period costumes added to the old-world feel.
2. Take the Old Town Trolley Tour
The Old Town Hop On Hop Off sightseeing trolley starts in Old Town at the intersection of Calhoun St and Twiggs St. It goes to all the major sightseeing attractions in San Diego, including Little Italy, Seaport Village, Gaslamp Quarter, Balboa Park, and Coronado Island.
On a previous trip to San Diego, we took the trolley tour, and it was very convenient and informative. This narrated tour covers the history of San Diego while making stops at popular spots.
I highly recommend taking the trolley tour on your first visit to San Diego. You can explore all the main places, hopping on and off at the places you want to see.
➡️ Check out the tickets here for San Diego Trolley Hop On Hop Off Tour
3. Dine at the Mexican Restaurants
Old Town is home to some of the best Mexican food in San Diego. Restaurants like Casa Guadalajara, Case de Reyes, Café Coyote, and Old Town Mexican Café serve up fresh tortillas, delicious tacos, and giant margaritas in festive settings.
I dined with my friends at Casa de Reyes, and it was a great experience. The outdoor seating area was beautifully decorated, and the drinks and food we ordered were delicious.
I got a vegetarian enchilada platter, and the portion size was huge. The grilled corn was yummy, as were the freshly made tortilla chips and the mango Margherita.
On my next visit, I want to try the Casa Guadalajara restaurant here as it has amazing reviews.
4. Try Olive Oil Tasting
Wandering around, I checked out Temecula Olive Oil Company with my friends. This was my first time trying olive oil tasting, and let me tell you that it is a unique experience and worth trying.
The single-source fresh olive oils here had so much flavor and actually tasted delicious by themselves. I even tried several vinegars, and they were all full of flavor.
I bought four bottles to take home with me! Plus some seasonings. They happily shipped them home for us, so we didn’t have to carry the glass bottles in flight.
They also have handmade body butters, lotions, and lip balms. Overall, it is a fun shop and worth a visit.
5. Visit the Whaley House Museum
One of the most famous haunted houses in the U.S., the Whaley House, is a must-see for history buffs and ghost hunters alike. Even if you don’t believe in ghosts, the house itself is a fascinating look at San Diego’s past.
They have self-guided tours during the day and guided tours in the evenings. I am easily spooked and avoid ghost tours, but this is on my list for when I visit again with my teen kids. I am sure they will love a tour here, as they like spooky things. My husband can take them, not for me!
6. Shop for Unique Souvenirs
The State Historic Park and the Old Town Market have several unique shops worth exploring. From handcrafted pottery to traditional Mexican clothing and toys, Old Town’s shops are filled with unique finds.
I went to El Centro Artisano, an outdoor garden decor shop that had unique pottery and other decor items. I plan to come back here when we drive to San Deigo and can carry some garden decor back home in our car.
The Mexican tile shop at Fiesta De Reyes had such beautiful items made with tile. The wooden trays were really cool. I got some tile coasters from here.
Toby’s Candle and Soap Shop had some great bath and body products and candles.
Bazaar del Mundo is also great to browse for gifts and decor.
7. Take a Walking Tour
Visit the Robinson Rose Visitor Center to learn about the day’s events, including the walking tours and open museum exhibits.
8. Check out Presidio Park
If you have extra time, you can also head up to Presidio Park, where you’ll find great views of the city and a monument marking the site of the first European settlement in California. The Junipero Serra Museum here has Spanish Revival-style architecture and historical information about the first Spanish Settlement in the 18th century.
How to get to Old Town
Old Town is easy to reach from anywhere in San Diego. If you’re driving, there are free parking lots in the State Historic Park area, though they can fill up on weekends.
Uber and Lyft are easily available in San Diego, and we were able to get to our vacation rental in Old Town via Uber.
San Diego Trolley stops right in Old Town, making it a convenient way to visit without worrying about parking.
Old Town Tours
- San Diego Hop On Hop Off Trolley Tour – Perfect for first-time visitors to San Deigo to get a narrated tour and get to 11 San Diego attractions.
- San Diego Old Town Tales, Tacos and Tequila Small Group Tour – Great if you want to learn the history of Old Town and try some Mexican street food.
Where to stay in Old Town
I find Old Town to be very centrally located in San Diego, within 5 miles of SeaWorld, Little Italy, Gaslamp Quarter, Seaport Village, and Balboa Park. It is ideal to stay here for a sightseeing trip. But if you are looking for a beach vacation, Mission Beach, La Jolla, or Coronado Island will be better.
There are several options to stay in Old Town, and it can be slightly cheaper to stay here than at more popular places like Seaport Village and Mission Beach.
Below are my top recommendations:
Hilton Garden Inn Old Town – Comfortable stay with family-friendly amenities, conveniently located near Old Town’s attractions, SeaWorld, and popular Mexican restaurants like Casa Guadalajara.
The Cosmopolitan Hotel is a historic 19th-century boutique with charming period decor and all modern amenities right inside the Old Town historic state park. From the outside, it looks like something out of an old-world movie set. There is a restaurant on-site, and the staff is known for their exceptional service.
Vacation rentals – We stayed at this unique vacation rental, which can be booked as a one, two, three, five, or six-bedroom unit. It is very modern and clean inside. We booked their five-bedroom unit, which had a swimming pool. We could walk to the historic park from here.
Is Old Town safe?
Yes, Old Town is generally very safe. We were returning late at night from our dinners, and we didn’t come across anything suspicious. I would consider it safer than the Gaslamp Quarter.
Like any popular tourist spot, it’s always good to be aware of your surroundings, especially at night, but overall, it’s a family-friendly area where you can feel comfortable exploring.
Final Takeaways: Visiting San Diego’s Old Town neighborhood
Old Town San Diego is a must-visit for anyone interested in California’s history, great Mexican food, and a lively atmosphere. Whether you’re strolling through historic buildings and museums, shopping for handcrafted goods and souvenirs, eating fresh-made tortillas, or joining a ghost tour, there’s something for everyone.
If you’re planning a trip to San Diego, make sure Old Town is on your list. I am definitely going to visit again!
More about San Diego
Here are some more of my San Diego posts:
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