Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in San Diego?

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in San Diego?

Most people spend at least 3 or as many as 5 days in San Diego during their visit. The outdoorsy coastal city offers amazing highlights such as the beaches, the famous sights and museums, the hiking, and the cuisine.

San Diego is a laid-back city on the Pacific coast that has beautiful beaches and a youthful atmosphere. The city has plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy, but there are also great restaurants and many family-friendly attractions such as the famed San Diego zoo or the many amusement parks in the area.

Do you have one or two days to visit San Diego? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.


Is one day enough time in San Diego?

The very popular coastal city of San Diego has many activities and attractions for visitors. Given only one day, you will likely find yourself hurrying to experience the key highlights such as the beaches, the famous sights and museums, and the hiking. To truly savor all that the coastal city boasts, a more generous amount of time is advisable. Many travelers opt for three to five days to thoroughly relish the wonders of the coastal city. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations for making the most of your visit.

How to spend a day in San Diego

The beautiful beaches await you in San Diego, so spend the day (or several, if you can) relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water. The city has great beaches with tidal pools and interesting sea life at low tide. Adults and kids alike will enjoy hitting the beach when the tides are out and looking for local critters in the tidal pools. Popular beaches in the area include La Jolla Cove Beach, Coronado Beach, and Pacific Beach.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Cali Dreaming Electric Bike Tour of La Jolla and Pacific Beach ($99)
  • Glow Nightime Pedal Boat Rental in San Diego Bay ($99)
  • San Diego Harbor Cruise on the largest Catamaran in San Diego! ($55)

You'll absolutely want to spend some time enjoying the food scene in this coastal city, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine for a meal or two. The city has great seafood and a diversity of cuisines. There are many casual dining options that serve informal foods like burgers or salads, but there are also award-winning fine dining restaurants with elegant atmospheres. Popular local dishes include fish tacos and California burritos.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Private Wine Tasting Tour in Valle de Guadalupe ($109)
  • Seaport Village Food Tour in San Diego ($99)
  • San Diego Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours ($95)

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in San Diego?

Since it's a medium-sized city, you'll probably need more than a weekend to take advantage of everything to do in San Diego. Two or three days still gives you a good amount of time to explore, though, as you'll have a chance to experience at least some of the major attractions. In addition to the great beaches and fun museums and landmarks, visitors can enjoy the food, nightlife, and live music by staying for a weekend.

Balboa Park, San Diego Balboa Park, San Diego

How to spend 2 days in San Diego

Having a weekend (two to three days) in San Diego will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the coastal city.

Don't miss the San Diego Zoo during your trip to San Diego, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.

This coastal city is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. The heart of the city's nightlife scene is in the Gaslamp District, which is filled with bars, clubs, and music venues. There's a young student population that keeps the nightlife scene casual and fun.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt: Slammin' San Diego Bar Crawl ($13)

More Info

If you're looking for more information about San Diego, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.

Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.

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