United States

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San Diego

Mild beaches, big zoo, border city

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Best time to visit: Apr, May, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Currency: USD
Time zone: UTC-7
Country: United States

Photo: Nserrano, CC BY-SA 3.0

San Diego is a Pacific coast city in Southern California known for its mild Mediterranean climate, long beaches, Balboa Park and the world-famous San Diego Zoo, and its position right next to the Mexican border at Tijuana.

Largest cities

New York
Los Angeles
Chicago
Houston
San Francisco
Miami

Quick facts

Figures are rounded recent official estimates.

Country: United States
Capital: Washington, D.C.
City population: 1.4M
Population of United States: 340M
Country area: 9,833,520 km²
Official language: English
Currency: US Dollar (USD) · 1 USD ≈ 1 USD
Time zone: UTC-7
Calling code: +1
Drives on the: Right
Elevation: 17 m
Plugs: A / B · 120V
Emergency numbers: 911
Best time to visit: Apr, May, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Temperatures through the year

Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.

Temperatures through the year

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High	18°	18°	18°	19°	20°	22°	24°	25°	25°	24°	21°	18°
Low	8°	9°	10°	12°	14°	16°	18°	19°	18°	15°	11°	9°

Best time to visitOther months

Approximate daily cost

Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.

ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$88
HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$190
LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$435

Plan a trip to San Diego

Top things to do

Free
Balboa Park and its museums
Walk the Spanish colonial courtyards and gardens left from the 1915 and 1935 expositions, then pick one museum such as the Museum of Art or the Natural History Museum; park entry is free but individual museums charge.
- Half day
- Balboa Park
- Good for kids
≈ $74
San Diego Zoo
The zoo grew out of the menagerie of the 1915 exposition and now holds thousands of animals across canyon terrain; buy tickets online and start early, as the hilly paths take most of a day.
- Full day
- Balboa Park
- Good for kids
≈ $26
USS Midway Museum
Tour the flight deck and below-decks spaces of a retired aircraft carrier moored on the downtown waterfront; allow two to three hours and wear closed shoes.
- Half day
- Downtown and the Gaslamp Quarter
- Good for kids
- Indoors
Free
Gaslamp Quarter evening walk
Stroll the restored Victorian blocks of the Gaslamp Quarter for bars, restaurants and live music; it is busiest and safest on weekend evenings.
- Half day
- Downtown and the Gaslamp Quarter
- Good in the evening
Free
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
See adobe buildings, the first European settlement site in California and Mexican-era shops and restaurants; the free park is easy to combine with the nearby transit center.
- Half day
- Old Town
- Good for kids
Free
La Jolla Cove and tidepools
Watch sea lions and harbour seals from the cliffs and walk down to the protected cove for swimming and snorkelling; parking fills early, so arrive before mid-morning.
- Half day
- La Jolla
- Good for kids
≈ $10
Cabrillo National Monument
Climb to the 1542 landing site of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo for sweeping views over the bay, the city and the naval base, plus the old Point Loma lighthouse; the tidepools below are best at low tide.
- Half day
- Point Loma and Harbor Island
- Good for kids
Free
Day trip to Tijuana
Cross at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the busiest land border crossing in the world, for Avenida Revolución, markets and food; bring a passport and expect long queues on the return, or use the CBX bridge from Tijuana airport.
- Full day
- Downtown and the Gaslamp Quarter

Before you go

Entry and visas

Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries, including the UK, most of the EU and Qatar, need an approved ESTA, which costs $40 since 30 September 2025; apply at least 72 hours before travel on the official CBP site. Others, including Indian, Saudi and Emirati citizens, need a visitor visa, and appointment waits can be long.

Official website

From the airport

San Diego International Airport (SAN) sits less than 10 minutes from downtown; MTS bus 992 'The Flyer' reaches Santa Fe Depot in about 10 minutes for $2.25, and a free shuttle runs to the Old Town Transit Center. Rideshares and taxis take roughly 10–15 minutes to downtown.

Getting around

The MTS Trolley and bus network covers downtown, Old Town, Mission Valley and the border, while the Coaster commuter train links coastal towns north of the city.

Local tips

English is the main language and Spanish is widely spoken; bilingual signs and staff are common.
Tipping is expected: 15–20% at restaurants and a dollar or two per drink at bars.
May and June are often cloudy ('May Gray', 'June Gloom'); September and October are the warmest, driest months.
Coastal evenings can be cool even in summer, and mid-September to October carries wildfire risk during Santa Ana winds.