San Diego

The area was long inhabited by the native Kumeyaay people (also known as the Diegueño by the later Spanish settlers), who lived off the land and created a proud culture. The first time a European visited the region was in 1542, when Portuguese explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, sailing under the Spanish flag, claimed the bay for the Spanish Empire and named the site San Miguel. In November 1602, Sebastián Vizcaíno was sent to map the California coast. Arriving with his flagship "San Diego", Vizcaíno surveyed the harbor and what is now Mission Bay and Point Loma, renaming the area for the Spanish Catholic saint, St. Didacus (more commonly known as San Diego).

San Diego was established in 1769 as the first European settlement and Spanish mission in California, at the present site of Old Town. However, due to the poor nature of soils in the Old Town area, the mission was eventually relocated about 5 miles up river in Mission Valley. The mission had a troubled history, seeing bloodshed between the Spanish missionaries and natives resisting conversion, and the settlement didn't grow far beyond a few hundred people owing to the fact that it was too far from navigable water.

In the 19th century, San Diego passed from Spanish to Mexican to American hands. In 1850, a few years after the United States gained control of California, San Diego was officially designated a city. But with much of the westward expansion to California centered on the gold rush around San Francisco, American influences were slow to come to San Diego. Eventually they did, however, and in the 1860s Downtown was established on the shores of the bay, soon exploding in growth when the railroad arrived in the 1880s and developing into a major port. The city celebrated the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914 with a huge exposition touting San Diego's prominence and history; the fairgrounds, buildings, and exhibits of that expo formed the basis for today's Balboa Park and San Diego Zoo.

The U.S. Navy discovered San Diego in the early 20th century, and constructed a coaling station on Point Loma in 1907. Ten years later, the Naval Air Station on Coronado island was established, and in later years the military would take on an increasingly important role in the city's economy, peaking with World War II, when the city's ship building yards and naval base made San Diego one of the busiest ports on the west coast. San Diego is still home to the Navy's Pacific Fleet and is a favorite leave location for many sailors.

Growth in San Diego has exploded and the economy has shifted away from its maritime and military roots. The defense industry still plays a big role here, but it is now rivaled by tourism, trade, biomedical laboratories and research, with many corporations moving their headquarters here amid the huge influx of residents. San Diego is a favorite destination for retirees and tourists, drawn by the balmy weather and the many attractions the city has to offer.

The San Diego area can be an incredible place to visit almost any time of the year. With coastal temperatures around 75 °F (24 °C) most of the time, the weather is ideal. The climate of Southern California is rather complex, however, and temperatures change rapidly as one travels from the coast eastward. In the summer during the day, the temperature might increase as much as one degree Fahrenheit for each mile going east. In the winter, especially at night, eastern areas are usually relatively cooler. Some valleys and other areas have significantly different weather due to terrain and other factors. These are often referred to as "micro-climates".

If you're coming to San Diego expecting sunny weather, avoid coming in May or June, when San Diego is covered in clouds most days, a phenomenon referred to by the locals as "May Gray" or "June Gloom". September is usually the hottest month of the year in the daytime. Mid-September through October are labeled as the most at-risk months for wildfires, because of the long absence of any substantial rainfall. Along the beach during the warmer half of the year, it can get surprisingly cool after dark, even when it's not too cold a short distance inland. The months of March and April typically see the strongest winds. Along the coast, fog is most common September through April; it is not uncommon to experience 3-7 foggy days per month.

During the late summer and fall there is a reversal of the usual climate conditions, when hot, dry air blows from the desert to the coast. These winds are called the Santa Ana winds. Milder Santa Ana winds can result in excellent dry air conditions, but powerful ones can last days on end, significantly raising temperatures, creating tremendous fire danger, and making the outdoors unpleasant.

• International Visitor Information Center, 1140 North Harbor Drive (in Downtown, in front of the B Street Cruise Ship Terminal), ☏ +1 619-236-1212. Jun-Sep: daily 9AM-5PM; Oct-May: daily 9AM-4PM. 
• La Jolla Village Information Center, 1162 Prospect Street, ☏ +1 858-454-5718. Summer: daily 10AM-6PM; winter: daily 11AM-4PM. 

See also: San Diego International Airport

• 🌍 San Diego International Airport (SAN ^IATA) (less than 10 minutes from Downtown San Diego). The descent into the airport from the east comes remarkably close to downtown buildings, which can be a bit alarming for first-time visitors. Alaska Airlines and Southwest are the dominant airlines at San Diego. The airport has international flights, mostly from Mexico and Canada but also Munich, London–Heathrow, Tokyo–Narita, and Zurich. Visitors to California from other countries will most likely travel through Los Angeles (LAX ^IATA) or San Francisco (SFO ^IATA). However, San Diego has non-stops from Hawaii (via Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Southwest Airlines), most major American hubs including Atlanta, Chicago–O'Hare, Dallas, Houston, New York–JFK, and some smaller non-hubs. If traveling from Mexico, it may be advantageous to fly into Tijuana on a domestic flight and then take the CBX Pedestrian Bridge directly from the airport into San Diego. This allows you to skip the border crossings in San Ysidro with its lengthy delays. (updated Apr 2020)
  • Terminal 1 – Has two concourses, East and West, plus the annex for gates 1 and 2. If you are connecting on Southwest, keep in mind there are three separate secure gate areas. Should you have to transfer aircraft, you might have to go through security again.
    • Terminal 1 West – Low-cost carriers including Allegiant Air, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and Sun Country Airlines
    • Terminal 1 East – Southwest
  • Terminal 2 – Terminal 2 has two concourses, East and West.
    • Terminal 2 East – Served by American Airlines and Alaska Airlines
    • Terminal 2 West – Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, United Airlines, all international carriers, and international arrivals on U.S. airlines (even if you departed from Terminal 1)

Airport shuttle companies handle transportation to and from the San Diego airport. They generally cost around $15 per person. MTS bus #992 The Flyer ($2.25 per boarding or $6 for a day ticket to transfer to another bus or trolley) takes 10 minutes to travel from both terminals to the Santa Fe Depot in Downtown San Diego, where you can connect to other MTS bus routes, the Coaster commuter train, the Trolley, and Amtrak. There is also a direct free shuttle from both terminals to the Old Town Transit Center & trolley stop where passengers can connect to Greyhound, additional MTS buses/trains, or walk over to visit the famous Old Town.

The 🌍 Airport Consolidated Car Rental Center is on the opposite side of the airport from the terminals, at 3355 Admiral Boland Way directly off of Pacific Highway north of Downtown; from I-5 take the Sassafras Street exit and head towards the airport. The terminals are located along Harbor Drive between Downtown and Point Loma. Free shuttles run regularly between the airport terminals and the rental car center.

There is a separate 🌍 USO Neil Ash Airport Center, at opposite side of the road from the international arrivals doors, for military personnel and their families transiting into or out of the area and for travelers reporting for duty to the USMC Boot Camp (Recruit Depot). The USO is accessed via the Eastern Skybridge from Terminal 2.

For international travelers, flying into Los Angeles (LAX) and then taking ground transportation may be cheaper. Take the LAX Flyaway bus to Union Station, then Amtrak or Greyhound to San Diego.

🌍 General Abelardo L. Rodríguez Airport or Tijuana International Airport (TIJ ^IATA) in Mexico is not far from San Diego, and may be an option especially if traveling to/from Mexico as the fares would be less expensive as a domestic flight than if flying between Los Angeles or San Diego and Mexico. It offers numerous domestic flights from many destinations in Mexico. This allows many tourists from the Pacific Rim to bypass the Los Angeles or San Francisco airports when connecting to Latin America or arriving closer to San Diego. Tokyo flights now go direct to Mexico City. As this airport is not in the United States, travelers will need to make sure that they have the proper documentation such as passports or visas for their respective nationality to travel through Mexico into the United States. However, you may access the Tijuana Airport from the U.S. side of the border at the 🌍 Cross Border Express Terminal (CBX). A 120 m (390 ft) airport border-crossing pedestrian only bridge connects the CBX terminal into the main terminal in the Mexican side of the border. Passengers pay a US$19.95 to $26.95 toll each way (or $37.95 to $49.95 return), depending on season and direction, to walk across the bridge from the CBX terminal to the main terminal for departures and to enter the US for arrivals. The bridge is privately owned, and part of the fee pays for the U.S. Customs and Immigration inspectors. This is much faster than going through the vehicle inspection lanes, which often have hours-long delays. There's a shuttle that connects passengers from the downtown Santa Fe Station and from the Las Americas Premium Outlet Mall in San Ysiro to the CBX terminal. On return they offer drop off at the San Diego Airport on request. A cheaper but longer way going south is the 'UC San Diego Blue Line' trolley down to San Ysidro, cross the border on foot into Mexico and a taxi over to the airport in the Mexican side. The White & Orange 'Libre' Taxi is cheaper than the solid yellow taxis. Taxis of other color combinations are shared ride taxis operating on a fixed route like a bus. If coming to the United States it would be quicker to walk across the bridge into the second CBX terminal and take the CBX shuttle to downtown San Diego or San Ysidro bus station. This avoids the wait times for pedestrians and vehicles going into the United States as the wait times are longer going into the U.S. than to Mexico.

Private pilots will prefer the nearby general aviation airports, 🌍 Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport (MYF ^IATA) in Clairemont Mesa, 🌍 Gillespie Field (SEE ^IATA) in El Cajon, or 🌍 Brown Field Municipal Airport (SDM ^IATA) east of San Ysidro. There are several more in North County, including 🌍 McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD ^IATA) in Carlsbad which is also served by SurfAir as the only small commercial carrier. If you are flying to the San Diego area from the east, watch out for the 5,722-foot (1,744-m) Volcan Mountain near Julian. Private aircraft have flown straight into the mountain at night, often with deadly results. Some air taxi and air charter firms offer specials to the San Diego area from local airports, including from many smaller Los Angeles airports and from the San Luis Obispo area.

See also: Rail travel in the United States

Amtrak, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. Amtrak operates from the historic 🌍 Santa Fe Depot, downtown at 1050 Kettner Blvd. The station is the southern terminus of Amtrak's frequent Pacific Surfliner route, which runs north to Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo. The depot is within walking distance of downtown hotels and near San Diego Bay. 

There are also secondary rail stations in Old Town and Sorrento Valley, used mainly by the Coaster (Commuter) Train. The trolley stops at Old Town and the downtown Santa Fe Station while the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner stops at Old Town, Solana Beach and Oceanside. Check if your train stops at the Old Town stop (OLT), if you plan to get off there. If you are coming from or going to areas of San Diego north of downtown, such as La Jolla or Mission Valley, the Old Town station is much easier to access than the Downtown (SAN) train station.

Coaster, ☏ +1-800-262-7837. A commuter train that runs north from downtown along the coast into northern San Diego County all the way to Oceanside where it connects to the Metrolink commuter rail service from Los Angeles and the Sprinter light rail service from Escondido. Fares are based on how far you ride; a one-way fare will be in the range of $4-5.50 ($2-2.75 seniors, July 2018). Tickets must be purchased from the ticket vending machines located at each station. 

San Diego is easily accessible by car via the 5, 8, and 15 interstate freeways:

• Interstate 5 (I-5) begins in San Ysidro, at the US-Mexico border crossing, and continues northward through Los Angeles and Central California to Oregon and Washington, terminating in Blaine, Washington at the US-Canadian border crossing.
• I-8 begins near the San Diego coast and continues eastward through eastern San Diego and Imperial Counties into Arizona, where it connects with Interstate 10 in Casa Grande, about half way between Phoenix and Tucson. From the Phoenix area, AZ Hwy 85 to I-8 at Gila Bend is often faster than I-10 to I-8, except from the eastern suburbs. On I-8, a mountain pass of about 4,200 ft (1,300 m) lies between the desert and coastal area. Closures or restrictions due to snow or wind happen on rare occasion, and there's a Border Patrol checkpoint just west of the Buckman Springs Rest Area (westbound lanes only).
• to I-15 begins in southern San Diego County and continues northward into the California deserts, through Nevada, Utah, and Idaho, eventually terminating at the US-Canadian border in northern Montana. The southernmost stretch of highway, between I-5 and I-805 within San Diego, is marked "California 15" as it is not up to interstate standards, but it's the same highway.

Additionally, there are numerous other freeways that crisscross San Diego County, making access to most places in San Diego relatively easy. However, traffic is frequently congested during the weekday morning and evening commuting hours.

If you are coming from Mexico, keep in mind that Mexican rental cars cannot be driven across the border into the U.S. Driving a Mexican car into the U.S. is possible if have your own car, but you will need to purchase addition U.S. insurance, as Mexican insurance does not cover the U.S. In the reverse direction, it is possible to drive U.S. rental cars into Mexico if they were rented in one of the border states, and provided you inform your car rental company in advance, but you will need to purchase additional Mexican insurance as U.S. insurance does not cover Mexico. You will also be restricted to driving in the border region, and cannot drop your car off in Mexico.

The closest thing to a central bus station is in San Ysidro just north of the US inspection station, behind McDonald's. From there, there are numerous bus and shuttle services, including Greyhound, going up to Huntington Park, Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Fresno, Stockton, Sacramento etc. The next one is the bus station just south of the border next to the roundabout at Amistad & Frontera, west of the freeway with buses going up to the U.S. and to nearby areas in Baja California (Ensenada, Rosario, etc). Otherwise the bus companies maintain their separate stations and stops all over the city:

• Flixbus, (old town bus stop) 2728 Congress St (Bus will board at the white curb across from the Old Town Transit Center at the southeast corner of Congress St and Telegraph Way), ☏ +1 855 626-8585. They also have another stop on Presidents Way near the Pan American Plaza in Balboa Park. (updated Jun 2018)
• El Paso Los Angeles Limousine Express, (bus stop) CBX Terminal @ 2745 Otay Pacific Dr, ☏ +1-213-623-2323, +1-323-265-3232, toll-free: +1-866 691-9732. Connects the CBX Terminal (Tijuana Airport) to downtown Los Angeles, Huntington Beach and El Monte on separate routes via Santa Ana. Some of their buses may go towards the Inland Empire east of L.A. (updated Apr 2016)
• 🌍 Greyhound & Crucero USA, (bus station) 4005 Taylor St (Bus will board at the southbound white curb on Congress St outside of the MTS Old Town Transit Center.), ☏ +1 619-515-1100, toll-free: +1-800-231-2222. Daily 6:30AM-8PM. Travels primarily on Interstate 5 (San Diego-Los Angeles and San Diego-Tijuana on two separate routes), a separate route also goes from downtown San Diego to the Tijuana airport; I-8/I-10 (Calexico-Yuma-Tucson-El Paso, with some variations of the route diverging from Yuma to Phoenix instead) and I-15 (San Diego-Riverside-San Bernardino-Las Vegas). Passengers can transfer to other Greyhound/Crucero buses in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Tucson, El Paso or Phoenix to get to other cities in the U.S. and in Tijuana, Calexico/Mexicali, and El Paso/Ciudad Juarez to get to other cities in Mexico. 
• 🌍 Hoang Express, bus stop at Lucky Seafood Supermarket, 9326 Mira Mesa Blvd (Mira Mesa Blvd and Black Mountain Rd, NW of the Mira Mesa Blvd & I-15 junction (Exit 16 from I-15)), ☏ +1 714 839-3500, toll-free: +1-888-834-9336. Travels between SoCal (San Diego, El Monte, Los Angeles, Westminster); northern California (San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland and Sacramento) and Arizona (Phoenix, Chandler and Tempe). $60-65 to Bay Area; $80 to Sacramento. 
• 🌍 International Bus Lines (formerly Intercalifornias), bus stop at 723 E San Ysidro Blvd., San Ysidro (parking lot behind McDonald's Restaurant, next to the San Ysidro Blue Line trolley station).), ☏ +1 619-428-8259, toll-free: +1-888-834-9336. Buses goes up to Los Angeles, San Fernando, Bakersfield, Fresno, and San Jose/Stockton (route splits/joins in Madero) and down to Tijuana. Prices vary depending on your destination. 
• El Paso Los Angeles Limousine Express, (bus stop) CBX Terminal @, ☏ +1-213-623-2323, +1-323-265-3232, toll-free: +1-866 691-9732. Serves as the 'CBX' Shuttle from the CBX Terminal (Tijuana Airport at American side) to downtown Los Angeles, El Monte and Huntington Beach. (updated Apr 2016)
• 🌍 Rapid Connection Llc, 727 E San Ysidro Bvld, San Ysidro (parking lot behind McDonald's Restaurant, next to the San Ysidro Blue Line trolley station), ☏ +1 619-428-1900. Buses between Sacramento and Tijuana via Lodi, Madera, Stockton, Modesto, Fresno, Bakersfield, San Fernando, Los Angeles, Santa Ana, San Ysidro and several other places along SR-99/I-5. (updated Jul 2017)
• 🌍 Tufesa, bus stop at 727 E San Ysidro Blvd., San Ysidro (parking lot behind McDonald's Restaurant, next to the San Ysidro Blue Line trolley station.), ☏ +1 619-662-1730. Buses going down into Mexico and across the American southwest (California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah). Prices vary depending on your destination. 
• LuxBus, bus stops; hotel pick-up/drop-off on request, toll-free: +1-800-610-7870. Travels up to Anaheim. Transfer in Anaheim to get to Las Vegas. $44 one-way or $72 round-trip per person to Anaheim. 
• 🌍 SDTJ Passport (operated by Ticketon, formerly Mexicoach), depot at 3020 E Beyer Blvd, ☏ +1 619-253-8291, +1 619 428-0111. Daily 7AM-6PM Check schedules. Picks up at the border station parking lot west of I-5 and then travels down to their station on Av Revolucion #1020b between 6a & 7a in Zona Centro and a separate run to Rosarito from San Ysidro. US$5 ow to TJ and US$20 ow ($35 RT) to Rosarito. 
• 🌍 CBX Shuttle, bus stop at Santa Fe Depot, 1050 Kettner Blvd (Kettner & Broadway in front of the train station), toll-free: +1-888 CBX-INFO (229-4636). The Volaris Airlines Shuttle had ceased service as of June 1, 2016 and has been replaced by the 'CBX Shuttle' US$10 to/from downtown San Diego and $5 to San Ysidro. Another $16 to walk across the bridge each way or $55 for a group or family of up to four people or $75 for six people.. 

See By bus under Get in of the San Ysidro article for a list of additional bus and shuttle companies serving the area and in the Tijuana article for list of additional bus companies continuing south of the border.

• 🌍 B Street Cruise Ship Terminal, 1140 N Harbor Dr, ☏ +1 619-683-8966. The B Street Pier in Downtown San Diego serves as a port of call and home port for many major cruise lines. Voyages include: Mexican Riviera, Hawaii, South America, and Trans Panama Canal. 

Throughout the Downtown and beach communities, on-street parking is metered. Parking meters accept coins, pre-paid Parking Meter Cards, and some newer meters accept credit cards. For more information on parking meters and enforcement, or to purchase a pre-paid meter card, visit the City of San Diego Parking Administration website. Gas/petrol prices tend to be higher than elsewhere in the U.S., but gas is cheapest in the outlying communities of El Cajon, Santee, Lemon Grove, Poway, and Chula Vista. Many intersections with a traffic signal allow U-turns. If making a right turn on red, look both ways beforehand.

All the major rental car companies operate at the San Diego Airport, though most require you to take a 2½-mile shuttle which goes behind the terminal and runway. To get to the I-5 freeway, turn right at Sassafras Street, then cross the railroad tracks. Do not mistake the railroad crossing for Kettner Blvd./I-5 south as a few visitors have done (mostly after dark) over the years. These tracks are heavily used by Amtrak and other rail services, and there's a good chance of being hit by a train if you make a wrong turn. Likewise, the car rental returns are near the railroad tracks, so don't blindly follow your GPS before making a turn.

The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) operates bus service to large portions of the county, although service in many areas is sparse and infrequent. The weakest points in the transit system are suburb-to-suburb travel and poor links between some of the individual coastal communities, both of which often require long trips to one of the transit hubs, then back out. If you will be mainly in the areas around downtown, the bus may be suitable, but service generally gets weaker the farther you are from the central area. A few newer and wealthier communities have no public transportation at all, such as Carmel Valley (east of Del Mar).

There is bus service every 15 minutes or so (at least on weekdays) between Downtown San Diego and a number of destinations useful to tourists. These include the Airport, the Zoo, and neighborhoods such as Hillcrest, North Park, and La Jolla (about an hour ride). There is frequent service to Sea World and Pacific Beach from the Old Town Transit Center, where the trolley stops. Service from Downtown to Coronado and Ocean Beach is about once every 30 minutes. All downtown buses intersect with Broadway at some point. During the day all kinds of people will be taking the bus; at night some people might feel a little less comfortable, but generally not unsafe in the main parts of downtown.

MTS buses and the Trolley (see below) use an electronic fare system called PRONTO. Money can be loaded onto a physical card (which costs $2 to purchase) or a virtual card via a smartphone app for iOS or Android (no additional charge). The card is tapped or a QR-like code on the app is scanned on boarding. The fare for standard and Rapid buses is $2.50 and includes free transfers (including to the Trolley) for 2 hours after first use (Rapid Express buses cost $5.00 but are mainly catered to commuters). Taking $6.00 worth of trips on a single day automatically "earns" a day pass, making additional rides that day free.

The San Diego Trolley is a light rail system operated by the MTS which mainly serves tourists and people living along the lines who need to get to downtown areas. There are three trolley lines: Blue, Green, and Orange.

• The Blue Line operates from the US-Mexico border at San Ysidro and runs to Downtown via Chula Vista and National City, then continues northward to University City and UCSD, ending at the Westfield UTC mall.
• The Green Line travels from Downtown east to Santee, via Old Town and Mission Valley and SDSU. This line passes closest to the Convention Center, while the Blue and Orange lines run through the downtown core.
• The Orange Line connects the eastern cities of El Cajon and La Mesa with Downtown (generally less useful for tourists).

Trains run from at least 5AM-midnight every day. Frequency varies, but the trolley usually runs every 15 minutes, with service reduced to every 30 minutes for late-night, weekend, and holiday service.

Ticket vending machines are located on the platforms at each station. Just as with MTS buses (see above), Trolley fares and passes are paid using PRONTO. A new card costs $2 and can be purchased at vending machines at Trolley stations, or a free smartphone app can be downloaded. Trolley rides cost $2.50, which includes free transfers to buses and other trolley lines for 2 hours after first use. Taking $6.00 worth of trips on a single day automatically "earns" a day pass, making additional rides that day free. Riders must load their card/app with funds and either tap their card or scan their app at one of the purple PRONTO readers on the platform before boarding the train. There are no faregates at stations or validators on the trains, but there are trolley guards who may come around and ask to see your PRONTO card/app to make sure that you tapped/scanned it prior to boarding. Riders without a valid fare may be fined or told to get off the train at the next stop.

The weather in San Diego is ideally suited for bicycle riding, although a good lock is a necessity.

Bikes are a good way to explore the beachside communities. Many of the beach side community's residents use bikes to get around their neighborhood because parking is tight. The beach areas are flat and some beach cruiser rental spots can be found along the boardwalk areas in Mission/Pacific Beach.

In other parts of the city, cycling is much more difficult with numerous difficult-to-cross freeways, as well as hills, valleys and older streets, but is possible for the avid cyclist. A bicycle map of San Diego is available online.

San Diego is significantly better than the Los Angeles area at offering campgrounds to people traveling by bike, though there's still extremely limited hiker/biker camping.

One of San Diego's main claims to fame is its array of renowned zoological attractions which are at the forefront in the wildlife conservation movement. Of them, the most respected is the San Diego Zoo, a massive zoo that encompasses over 100 acres of Balboa Park and is possibly the premier zoo in North America. One of the earliest adopters of naturalistic animal exhibits, this is also one of the most gorgeous zoos in the world. Animal shows run constantly, and there are creatures here that aren't visible in any other zoo on the planet. It's definitely worth a visit, but you need a full day to really do it justice.

The sister park to the San Diego Zoo and another stellar attraction in its own right, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park covers 1800 acres of the San Pasqual Valley, about 30 miles (50 km) north of Downtown San Diego near Escondido. Here the wide open expanse of the desert valley has enabled the creation of stunningly huge exhibits that resemble African savanna, where herds of animals roam and drink from watering holes. Like the Zoo, the Safari Park is also well worth a trip, but also requires a full day to take it in.

Considerably smaller but also important in its own right is the Birch Aquarium in La Jolla, the public face of the renowned Scripps Institute of Oceanography. The Birch holds fantastic exhibits which cover physical oceanography and plenty of beautiful aquarium fish, with highlights including a touchpool and a massive kelp tank that is a simulation of ocean life just off the San Diego coast. Less scientifically renowned but popular in its own right is Sea World on Mission Bay, the California branch of the marine theme park chain with its numerous animal shows and enclosures showcasing sharks, penguins, polar bears, dolphins, and killer whales among other marine animals. Also in the area and something of a hidden gem is the Living Coast Discovery Center, a nature center in the marshes of San Diego Bay in Chula Vista with a lot of interactive exhibits on the native wildlife.

In addition to the zoo, Balboa Park is home to an expansive campus of intriguing museums, flowering gardens and beautiful arboretums set amidst neo-classical Spanish architecture, making it a must-visit for any trip to San Diego. Among the highlight attractions are the San Diego Museum of Art, merely the largest of several art museums within the park, the San Diego Museum of Man with its exceptional anthropological exhibits, the San Diego Air and Space Museum with its numerous historical aircraft and full-scale models, the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center and the San Diego Natural History Museum with their kid-friendly interactive exhibits, and the very fun San Diego Model Railroad Museum.

Amidst Downtown San Diego's restaurants and nightlife is the historical district of Gaslamp Quarter, home to plenty of Victorian-era buildings that have been re-adapted to other uses. Nearby along the Downtown waterfront are two museums devoted to the city's maritime heritage: the San Diego Maritime Museum, with a collection of lovingly restored 19th-century sailing ships, a steam ferryboat, and a submarine, and the USS Midway Museum, a former aircraft carrier of the US Navy that is now open for tours and home to a collection of former naval aircraft housed on the ship's expansive flight deck. Across the bay from Downtown is the independent community of Coronado, home to a major naval facility and very charming streets, as well as the gorgeous Hotel del Coronado, a high-class hotel constructed in the late 1800s and sitting on one of San Diego's cleanest beaches.

Old Town is the city's main historical district, with preserved buildings and icons of the Spanish heritage of San Diego and the Old West, from 19th-century cannons to the haunted Whaley House. Shopping and restaurants dot the area and living history performances regularly take place. Up Mission Valley from Old Town and another reminder of the city's Spanish heritage is the Mission San Diego de Alcala, the oldest of the California missions, founded in 1769 by Junipero Serra.

The San Diego coastline is rife with scenic attractions. Among the most spectacular is the view from Cabrillo National Monument at the tip of Point Loma. Created to commemorate the first California landing of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo's expedition for Spain in 1542, the monument is situated atop a high vantage point at the mouth of the San Diego Bay, where visitors can get a panoramic view of Downtown San Diego, the bay, the ocean, and the distant mountains, as well as tour a historic former lighthouse and the remnants of WWII-era coastal defense structures. To the north, near Ocean Beach, is a stretch of scenic coastline known as Sunset Cliffs, with some secluded beaches and tidepools beneath the steep ocean cliffs.

However, few places in Southern California can match La Jolla for coastal scenery. An upscale coastal community with dozens of coffee shops, restaurants and high-end shopping outlets, La Jolla also holds many secluded coves, beaches and ocean cliffs to explore, including the popular Children's Cove that has become a breeding ground for harbor seals. Just to the north of La Jolla proper is the scenic Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, situated atop a plateau with steep ocean cliffs overlooking the beautiful (and relatively secluded) Torrey Pines State Beach; hiking trails lead you through the park to the beach below.

Further inland, away from the coast, the rugged, scrubby terrain of Northern San Diego offers some understated scenic attractions, including the Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve with its interesting rock formations and Mission Trails Regional Park, a hidden jewel that contains San Diego's highest point and a small gorge popular with rock climbers.

Along San Diego's coast you can find miles of beaches providing excellent opportunities for swimming, surfing, and general beach-going. Each beach is unique, ranging from popular white sand beaches to harsh surf spots to the clothing-optional Black's Beach in La Jolla. Surf conditions vary by beach, and there are numerous surf schools throughout the San Diego area.

Among San Diego's beaches, Mission Beach and Pacific Beach are the most popular, with a connected boardwalk popular with bicyclists and roller bladers and plenty of shops, restaurants and bars catering to the huge crowds that show up, as well as a pier in Pacific Beach and a seaside amusement park on Mission Beach. This area tends to be the center of the Spring Break scene and has some of the calmest ocean swimming and surfing in San Diego, albeit also the most crowded.

To the south, Ocean Beach draws a more local crowd, with a large sandy beach, a fishing pier, and designated surfing and swimming zones, as well as a dog beach at the northern end, making it a good place to come if you want to get a taste of the local beach culture away from the crowds of Mission and Pacific Beaches. Further to the south, Coronado's main beach is noteworthy for its gleaming white sands and mostly family crowd, while the Silver Strand extending between Coronado and Imperial Beach has some excellent swimming and surfing spots.

To the north, La Jolla has some of the most scenic beaches around, including the popular La Jolla Cove, frequented by swimmers, snorkelers and scuba divers. Surfing is not allowed in the Cove, but the nearby Windansea Beach and Marine Street Beach are proven places to test your mettle against some rough surf. La Jolla Shores has some of the gentlest waves anywhere in San Diego, while Torrey Pines State Beach is arguably the most scenic, set against steep cliffs and a splendid place to get away from the crowds. Even further north, the coast of Northern San Diego County offers multiple scenic and popular beaches.

San Diego Bay offers amble opportunities for sailors to enjoy boating, with plenty of anchorages and marinas catering to all boaters. Launch ramps and marinas are located in Point Loma, Downtown, Coronado, National City and Chula Vista (see separate pages for specific places). Some anchorages require a permit, while others do not. If a permit is required, it can be obtained at the Shelter Island Harbor Police Facility in Point Loma (1401 Shelter Island Drive, ☏ +1 619-686-6272). There are also several moorings throughout the harbor for vessels ranging from two to 65 feet in length; see the SD Mooring Company Office on Harbor Island (near the airport; 2040 N. Harbor Island Drive, ☏ +1 619-291-0916) for a mooring application.

San Diego Bay and the calmer man-made inlet of Mission Bay are also excellent places for sailing, windsurfing, and jet skiing, with rentals and lessons offered on Mission Bay. The calm waters of Mission Bay also make it an excellent place for kayaking, with numerous rental places. Kayaking is also superb at La Jolla Shores, where you can see leopard sharks, dolphins, sea turtles, sea lions and pelicans, and explore ocean caves.

San Diego also features some great scuba diving, including the "Wreck Alley" where you can see kelp beds and explore the shipwrecks of the Yukon and the Ruby E. In addition, several dive boat operators offer regular runs to the Coronados Islands off the Mexican coast where you can dive with sea lions. Diving here is usually considered cold water diving and visibility is not always the greatest.

If you're looking for a more casual way to get on the water, there are also whale watching cruises. California gray whales migrate south along the coast each February, and there are some great places along the coast to view the migration, such as the overlook in Cabrillo National Monument (in Point Loma). Several private companies offer sailing tours during the migration season that bring you much closer to the whales.

• Hang gliding – At the edge of cliffs towering above the Pacific Ocean, the Torrey Pines Glider Port in La Jolla allows anyone to soar over one of the most pristine sections of coastline in southern California. Training and tandem glides with an expert are offered.
• Golfing – There are many public and private golf courses scattered throughout San Diego that suit nearly every budget. The Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla hosts the PGA Tour Farmers Insurance Open annually in January or February.
• Hiking & biking - San Diego’s near perfect climate, unique landscape, and low-crime rate make it one of the most pleasant places in the country to enjoy outdoor exercise. Because of this, visitors and locals alike will have no trouble finding a biking, hiking, or walking trail to suit their needs. There are numerous hiking trails and bike paths to choose from - big and small, highly visible or hidden. Information on some of the most popular individual trails can be found in the district articles.
• Rock climbing - San Diego offers some unique opportunities for rock climbing both outdoor and indoor. Although San Diego is rarely considered a destination climbing area, specialist climbing companies offer guided rock climbing from professional climbers for the beginner to the experienced climber. All the climbing companies provide all the required equipment such as helmets, shoes and harnesses, and usually require an orientation meeting the week of the climb for all participants. Most good climbing spots are located either in North San Diego or Inland San Diego County.

San Diego sports fans have always had a hard time of it. Despite being one of the largest cities in the country and blessed with beautiful weather, no major league professional team in San Diego has won a championship, and neither of the city's two current major college teams have won a national title in a popular sport.

San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball, who play at the lovely Petco Park in Downtown San Diego is San Diego's lone professional team. Over their history have cultivated greats like Dave Winfield, Trevor Hoffman, and—of course—Tony Gwynn, have come closest to winning that elusive championship with two trips to the World Series, unfortunately being blown out both times.This is also the birthplace of the San Diego Chicken, a widely beloved mascot whose popularity inspired a wave of cartoony mascots throughout American professional sports. The city became home to a National Women's Soccer League team, San Diego Wave FC, in 2022. San Diego is also home to a minor league hockey affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks, the San Diego Gulls, who play in the American Hockey League, as well as a men's soccer team in the second-level USL Championship, San Diego Loyal SC.

In collegiate sports, the San Diego State Aztecs, representing San Diego State University, are the city's most notable NCAA program, with the basketball team playing their home games at Viejas Arena on the SDSU campus in Mid-City, the baseball team playing at Tony Gwynn Stadium (also on the SDSU campus) and the football team opening the new Snapdragon Stadium in Mission Valley in 2022. Also in the city are the San Diego Toreros of the University of San Diego, with college basketball, baseball, and football teams playing at facilities located on the USD campus in Mission Valley. Loyal SC has played at USD's Torero Stadium since that team started play in 2020. Wave FC started its first season at Torero Stadium, but moved to Snapdragon Stadium once it opened.

The major supermarket chains in San Diego are Ralph's (which is owned by Kroger), Vons (which is owned by Safeway), Smart & Final, and Grocery Outlet. In addition many specialty and organic supermarkets such as Whole Foods Market, Jimbos, Sprouts Farmers Market, and Trader Joe's can also be found throughout the area along with ethnic supermarkets catering to San Diego's sizable Asian and Latino immigrant population.

The County of San Diego Parks & Recreation offers nine public campgrounds in the San Diego county, not all of which are within the districts highlighted above. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends. The full list of these campgrounds as of 2022 is:

• Agua Caliente County Park - offers tent camping and cabins
• Dos Picos County Park - offers tent camping and ADA-accessible cabins
• Guajome Regional Park - tent camping, RV camping, and one cabin
• Lake Morena County Park - good for angler fishing, BYO drinking water, near Pacific Crest Trail - tent camping and some cabins
• Oakoasis County Park - youth groups only
• Potrero County Park - near Tecate border crossing - offers hiker/biker campsites, regular tent camping, two cabins
• Sweetwater Summit County Park - popular with people who ride horses, most common campsite pests are ants and squirrels - offers tent campsites, RV campsites, and camping sites with horse corrals
• Tijuana River Valley Regional Park - popular with people who ride horses, near San Ysidro border crossing - tent campsites, yurts
• Vallecito County Park - offers tent campsites and campsites with horse corrals
• William Heise County Park - at 4000+ feet - offers tent campsites and cabins

All county campgrounds use shower tokens, you should get them when you check in, the person checking you in may not remember to remind you and then you'll need them when you go to shower in the morning and the booth is closed.

San Diego is served by a professional police force as well as a county sheriff department. Additional protection is offered on the major highways by the California Highway Patrol (CHP). To report a non-emergency within city limits, call ☏ +1 619-531-2000.

The city of San Diego fire department offers fire protection, emergency medical care, hazardous waste cleanup, and search and rescue functions. If you dial 911 for an emergency the first responders will be the San Diego Fire Department. Urban brush fires are always a risk during the summer and fall, but rarely affect tourists.

Rip currents are notorious in San Diego for their strength and sudden appearance. Do not go out in the water without lifeguard supervision or at night. At La Jolla Shores, rip currents can be so strong that people standing (not swimming) in waist-deep water have been pulled out over their heads -- sometimes with deadly results (especially for non-swimmers). Except for sunbathing, avoid low tide like the plague at this beach. (This means the largest of the two daily tide cycles. Check newspaper weather page for Scripps Pier, or view the Weather Channel.) All of the major beaches have lifeguards on duty in the summertime, with only the more popular beaches having lifeguards year round.

Many of the ocean cliffs are made of a compressed sandstone and are prone to collapse, even in dry weather. If walking along the cliffs at the beach, be 25 to 40 feet away, as they are unstable and dangerous. Obey all signs. Every year, there are a few serious injuries, and sometimes fatalities. Heavy rain may cause rising bacteria and chemical levels in the ocean waters. Care should be taken to read the newspapers or call the county health office to see if the water is safe for swimming. Generally, most people stay out of the water at the beaches for 24 to 72 hours after rain.

Access to the beaches is safely made by using any of the public stairways provided; they are well maintained (except at Black's Beach) and free. The stairs at Black's Beach are in disrepair, so use at one's own risk. Wear sturdy shoes, and don't try unless you are in very good physical condition and able to climb the 300 ft (91 m) back from the beach. Beware of the false trails going down the cliffs, as every year a few people get stuck (or worse!). The trailhead begins at the southern corner of the unpaved glider port parking lot. Take a little time to familiarize yourself with the area and observe where others are going. Though a long walk, you can also get in from the north via Torrey Pines State Beach. ($10-12 Monday-Thursday; $12-20 Friday-Sunday and Holidays, or free along the highway.) High tide will cut off this route, so plan ahead.

The bridge that connects Torrey Pines (north of Black's Beach) with Del Mar (former Hwy US 101) is old and in need of repair. Avoid walking directly underneath, as pieces of concrete occasionally fall off. It's still considered safe enough to drive over for now. If concerned, access this area from the south via I-5 and Genesee Avenue (exit #29) which soon becomes N. Torrey Pines Rd. Always supervise children very closely at places such as Sunset Cliffs and the Torrey Pines Glider Port above Black's Beach. It may be necessary to hold their hand at all times. If you have unruly kids, don't go there.

Thefts do occur at the beach and can ruin a perfectly wonderful day. Do not leave any purses or other personal items of value alone on the beach or in an open car. Vehicle burglaries are more prevalent in most beach communities and take place in broad daylight. If possible, do not leave anything of value in your car even when locked. Most kayak and beach rental shops offer safe boxes free of charge, and will store your valuables while renting.

In addition, take caution when around certain beach areas, as you may wander (inadvertently) onto a military installation, where security is tight and beaches are either reserved for military patrons and their families or training centers.

Alcohol is banned on all public beaches and coastal parks in the city of San Diego. Violators can be given up to a $250 fine, with repeat offenders fined up to $1,000 and six months in jail. The ban applies also to any sidewalk or street in the city of San Diego.

San Diego has no history of any major destructive earthquakes in modern times. The large San Andreas Fault that threatens San Francisco and Los Angeles runs far to the east here, and is actually closer to the Arizona border. Nevertheless, the smaller Rose Canyon Fault does run through San Diego. This has scientists concerned due to its proximity, even though it cannot produce a top-tier quake. When the "big one" hits LA, San Diego will be affected to some extent. Even if local damage is minimal, there will be supply shortages. You should take the same precautions as you would in any other area that potentially could have an earthquake someday.

• San Diego Union-Tribune – The Union-Tribune is San Diego's main daily newspaper.
• San Diego Reader – A free weekly publication and the largest alternative paper in the city.
• San Diego CityBeat – An alternative free weekly paper.
• Voice of San Diego – A nonprofit, independent online newspaper.
• UCSD Guardian – A free student-operated newspaper at the University of California San Diego, published twice a week.
• North County Times – A daily paper focusing on issues facing the communities of Northern San Diego County.
• San Diego Magazine - A monthly publication.

There are numerous public and private hospitals in San Diego. These range from state funded institutions such as UCSD-Hillcrest and Thorton to private, world-renowned hospitals of Scripps La Jolla and the Children's Hospital. Non-profit Sharp Health Care also owns several hospitals, and has many "Urgent Care" centers for non-serious injuries such as a broken arm (daytime and early evening only). First-rate, world-class medical care can be found at any of these hospitals, as well as interpreters for more than a dozen languages.

San Diego is home to some of the most cutting edge health research in the country. The University of California, San Diego Medical Center is known for its world class research. Some residents head to Mexico for cheaper health care, but this can be risky, and it would be more wise to use San Diego hospitals and clinics. Many of the institutions have doctors of all nationalities so language may not be a problem for some whose English skills may not be so good.

Smoking is banned in all restaurants, bars, public offices, and other places by order of California law, although smoking is allowed in tobacco shops and in coffee shops where tobacco is sold. There is a county wide ban on smoking in all state parks and there are city wide bans in San Diego, Del Mar, and Solana Beach that forbids smoking on public parks and beaches. El Cajon bans all outdoor smoking in public places. Smoking is also prohibited within 25 feet of any MTS transit station or bus stop, and those caught smoking near transit facilities will face a fine of $75.

Most consulates are honorary which means they offer limited services to travelers and their nationals living in the area and usually available by appointment only. They are typically located in downtown but can be elsewhere too. The nearest cities for additional foreign consulates are in Los Angeles and San Francisco:

• Canada (Trade Office), 402 W Broadway Ste 400, ☏ +1 619-615-4286, fax: +1 619-615-4287, sndgo-td@international.gc.ca. 
• Denmark (Honorary), 135 Liverpool Drive, Suite C, Cardiff, ☏ +1 760-942-9431, danishconsul@farnaeslaw.com. (updated Apr 2016)
• Germany (Honorary), 1620 5th Avenue, Suite 500, ☏ +1 619-321-0606, fax: +1 619-744-7463, office@german-consulate.org. 
• Mexico, 1549 India St, ☏ +1 619-231-8414, fax: +1 619-231-4802. 
• Netherlands (Honorary), sandiego@nlconsulate.com. 
• Norway (Honorary), 1940 Garnet Avenue, Suite 300, ☏ +1 858-274-3422, norwegianconsul-sd@kcmgroup.net. 
• Sweden (Honorary), 8880 Rio San Diego Drive, Suite 800, ☏ +1 619 209-6170, sandiego@consulateofsweden.org.