1 Day in San Diego: A Guide to the Perfect Day in San Diego
After spending a week in San Diego, I have put together the ultimate guide to see San Diego in One Day. Before jumping into this itinerary for the perfect day in San Diego, let me start by acknowledging that one day is simply not enough to see this wonderful city. There are so many beaches, shopping strips, and nature preserves among many other super cool spots that you could easily spend a week here.
Nevertheless, if you only have one day to see San Diego, its important that you make the most of it with some of the coolest sights around the city.
This guide is intended to help you craft an itinerary that mixes beaches, nature exploration, historical elements, shopping and delicious food all into one day. It would be easy to get lost in the San Diego Zoo or on a beach all day, but I have hand picked out spots that you can check off your San Diego bucket list in a couple hours in order to maximize your trip.
Morning: Breakfast and a Hike
Breakfast:
Its important to fuel up in the morning because this is going to be a long, fun-filled day. There are so many cute brunch spots around San Diego that it is hard to pick just one to start off our day with.
I highly recommend The Trails Eatery located on the east side of San Diego. The Trails Eatery is a breakfast/lunch place with a variety of incredibly delicious breakfast options including pancakes, french toast, waffle, and egg scrambles. I loved this place so much that I went twice on my last trip to San Diego.
For my gluten free readers: they have an extensive gluten free menu and strict kitchen protocols to prevent cross contamination.
This “Sin-A-Mon” roll pancake was easily one of the most delicious pancakes I have ever eaten. If I lived in San Diego I would eat one of these every single day. Can you believe this is gluten free?
Not to mention, if you are looking for some boozy brunch options you can find plenty here. I highly recommend trying the Strawberry Lavender mimosa. Be careful not to drink too much though because next up on the agenda is a hike at Torrey Pines Natural Reserve!
Torrey Pines Natural Reserve
Torrey Pines is the perfect oasis away from the hustle and bustle of San Diego. This state park is right along the beach in the northern La Jolla neighborhood. There are tons of hikes and walks around the reserve with unrivaled views of the ocean.
You will se these drop-dead gorgeous views of the ocean when you first arrive. Feel free to stop at the bottom of the preserve and enjoy the view before driving up the road to the hiking trails.
As you drive up, you will see a few different places to park and get out and hike. I recommend checking out the trail map ahead of time to decide what length and intensity level of a hike you are up for. Note that entrance into the park is $20, but well worth it and the only attraction on my list with an admission fee!
We chose the Beach Trail which was a moderately easy hike (sans the steep upward ascent at the beginning of our hike back) and only 3/4 miles to the beach (1.5 miles round trip). Plus, there was parking right next to the trailhead.
The trail twists you down to the beach fully immersing you in the San Diego wildlife. This allows you to imagine what San Diego looked like before it was settled and developed. Towards the end of the hike, there is a stretch of steep, narrow stairs to get down to the beach. If you have any physical impairments, this part of the hike may be difficult and I would recommend choosing a different trail.
Once at the bottom of the hike, the trail opens up to the beach. Take some time to walk along the beach, enjoy the breezy air, and soak in the sunshine. My friends and I packed a little snack to take down to the beach with us and found some comfy boulders to enjoy our picnic on!
For my fellow gluten free travelers, if you need picnic snack recommendations check out my list of all the best easy-to-pack gluten free travel snacks here.
Once you have refueled, head back on up to the top because we are headed off to our next stop!
Afternoon: Exploring San Diego
For the afternoon, we are going to hit up two of my favorite spots: Old Town and Pacific Beach. These two areas are vastly different but equally fun and both give you a good taste of San Diego.
This part of the day will be a choose your own adventure in regards to what order you do them in. Both offer food and drink options, so it will depend on your preference for lunch.
Note: Old Town San Diego State Historic Park closes at 4PM Mon-Thurs and 5PM Fri-Sun.
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
Our itinerary continues by walking back in time with Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. This was arguably my favorite place I visited on my trip to San Diego. Plus, it’s free!
While I am starting with Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, feel free to jump ahead to the Pacific Beach section and come back to this if you would rather visit them in reverse order. However, if you finish your hike in the afternoon, I would recommend starting with Old Town since it closes at either 4PM or 5PM depending on the day.
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park (which I will refer to as Old Town) was the first area settled in California in the mid-18th century. It was originally settled by Spain, later to become a hub for Mexican government until it became part of the United States post the Mexican-American war.
Given the park’s history, Old Town represents a blend of Mexican culture with early American settlement. Today, it remains a glimpse into San Diego’s past with several restored original historic buildings, museums, a blacksmith shop, a candle making shop, among other small shops and restaurants.
If you are visiting after your hike at Torrey Pines Natural Reserve, I would recommend grabbing a bite to eat. There are several restaurants and cafes in the park. Unfortunately, when I visited I wasn’t able to eat at any of the restaurants because of my dietary restrictions. However, as a spectator the restaurants seemed vibrant with music and traditional Mexican decor and seemed like they would be an extremely memorable, unique experience while visiting San Diego for the day.
If you are interested in dining in the park, take a look at their list of eateries here.
After enjoying a meal in the park, its time to explore the rest of what the park has to offer. Here is a list of places to keep an eye out for while in the park:
- Check out the Robinson-Rose House (aka the Visitor Center)
- Go shopping in Old Town Market
- Buy some sweets at La Dulceria (I got FANTASTIC honey flavored cotton candy here)
- Visit the Sheriff’s Museum
- Watch a live demonstration at the Blacksmith shop
For a complete list of all Old Town San Diego has to offer, read on here.
My favorite part of my visit to Old Town was the market. I bought some beautiful tiles from one of the shop that have been purposed in my home as coasters and bookshelf decorations.
If you get lucky, you may even be able to catch a show at the outdoor stage, Fiesta De Reyes. The stage features a mariachi band and folklorico dancers every weekend in addition to a variety of other shows throughout the year.
You cannot find a more inviting and intimate stage than Fiesta De Reyes. Located right in the middle of Old Town Market, the wooden benches and colorful flags are sure to illuminate an unforgettable performance.
Once you’ve finished exploring Old Town Historic San Diego State Park, it’s time to hop in the car and head to Pacific Beach!
Pacific Beach
Pacific Beach has earned the title of one of the best beaches in San Diego for its clean beaches and beautiful ocean views. Plus, this beach is free! Take some time to sit on the sand, breathe the salty air, and relax because you have had a long day.
Beach hours vary depending on time of year as they are generally open from 9AM until dusk.
Once you are recharged, I highly recommend taking a walk down the boardwalk. On the boardwalk, you can find vendors selling goods, plenty of dogs, skateboarders, bikers, and everyone in between. I bought a beautiful ring from one of the vendors on my stroll.
Much of Pacific Beach’s popularity is due to its food and drink scene. There are tons of bars and restaurants dotted along the boardwalk. If you are doing Pacific Beach first, I recommend popping in to one to grab lunch (and a drink!). If you are doing Pacific Beach second and are ready to wrap up your day, you will have plenty of options for dinner.
Here is a list of restaurants to check out if you are interested in dining at Pacific Beach.
For those not ready to end their day, keep reading because I have an extended itinerary for you!
The Perfect End to Seeing San Diego in One Day: Sunset Cliffs and Dinner
We will wrap up our day with a visit to Sunset Cliffs to watch the sun go down over the water, then head to the hopping Gaslamp District for dinner and drinks.
Sunset Cliffs
Regrettably, this is one of the spots I didn’t make it to on my trip to San Diego. However, my close friend who I was visiting in San Diego, along with basically everyone else who has visited San Diego, says this is one of the best, most beautiful places to visit in the city. Plus, this is another free attraction!
Sunset Cliffs is a natural park that provides the best views to watch the sun go down over the Pacific Ocean. There is parking available, however it tends to fill up around sunset in which case you would have to look for street parking.
If you get there with some time to spare before the sun goes down, there is a one mile out and back trail that you can hike (though if you are traveling with children this is not recommended).
Or you can head straight for the park on the Cliffs to watch the sun go down. You can bring a picnic blanket and cozy up on the rocks and just enjoy. Don’t forget to snap a couple pictures while you’re here!
Dinner in Gaslamp Quarter
Gaslamp Quarter is in the heart of San Diego’s downtown. At night, it comes to life with bars, restaurants, live music, comedy lounges, clubs- you will not be bored if you end your one day in San Diego here.
During my stay, I went to Las Hadas Bar and Grill and don’t have enough kind words to say about this place. The staff was friendly (gave my friends and I free drinks for my birthday!), the food was delicious, and the atmosphere was lively.
For my fellow Celiac and gluten free friends, rest assured that they will take good care of you. Much of their menu is gluten free and they have strict protocols in the kitchen to prevent cross contamination.
We started off with guacamole and toasted corn tortillas (the gluten free option) to accompany our delicious margaritas. Then, I opted for the steak fajitas and can say that they were one of the best fajita dishes I have had in my life.
If you are looking to try somewhere else in Gaslamp Quarter, read on here for more restaurant recommendations in the area.
As I mentioned before, if you are looking to continue your night out after dinner, you will find no shortage of bars, clubs, and other entertainment in the area! If you are looking for a night out in San Diego, this is a great area to be in.
Final Thoughts on Seeing San Diego in One Day
I loved my trip to San Diego. I was pleasantly surprised by the blend of cultures, nature, and historical elements woven into the soul of this city. Coming from New York City, its nearly impossible to fit going on a hike on a hike, to the beach, shopping, walking around a historic neighborhood, and hitting up downtown all in one day.
While we can accomplish a lot in just one day in San Diego, it goes without saying that one day is not nearly enough to see the entirety of what this city has to offer! Consider this itinerary to be merely a highlight reel of my favorite attractions I visited during my week there.
Don’t Stop Exploring Here!
Check out my other itineraries for more travel inspiration!
- 5 Once in a Lifetime Things to Do in Los Angeles
- Ultimate NYC 4 Day Itinerary
- How Many Days in Venice is Enough? Itinerary + Recommendations for a 1, 2, or 3 Day Stay
- How Many Days in Rome is Enough? The Perfect Itinerary for 2, 3, or 4 Days
Gluten Free like Me?
It’s uber important to always travel prepared! No matter where you are going, its important to always travel with some gluten free snacks on hand!
Click here to learn more about my favorite gluten free travel snacks!
Looking for more gluten free travel inspiration? Check out my other posts!
