Central San Diego

Travel Guide

San Diego, California cityscape at the Gaslamp Quarter.; Shutterstock ID 446681584
Central San Diego
Ahhh, the marvelous buildings of Balboa Park. If you're ever in San Diego, this is a must visit! It's so relaxing and has beautiful architecture.

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Still not over the beautiful architecture at this park! Definitely a spot to visit if you're in the area!

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#Balboa Park #BotanicalBuilding #SanDiego

Situado no Balboa Park em San Diego, o Jardim botânico é uma das mais de 20 atrações do parque. Está muito bem cuidado e tem uma grande variedade de plantas. Quando visitei o jardim botânico ele tinha, também, uma exposição de orquídeas.

Situated in Balboa Park in San Diego, the Botanical Building is one of more than 20 attractions in the park. It is very well maintained and has a great variety of plants. When I visited the Botanical Building I saw a beautiful exhibition of orchids.

Where to stay in Central San Diego

Closeup of the Adobe walls of the historic Mission De Alcala San Diego California

Mission Valley

4/5(240 area reviews)

Boasting major shopping malls like Fashion Valley Mall and Westfield Mission Valley, this area offers entertainment and historic sites such as Mission San Diego de Alcalá and Presidio Park. Easily accessible via the San Diego Trolley system's Green Line.

Mission Valley
I didn’t go in as I felt the outside was pretty great already. Good area of town for a self-guided walking tour.

Old Town San Diego

4/5(48 area reviews)

The ample dining options and beautiful seaside views are top of the list for many visitors to Old Town San Diego. A stop by Old Town San Diego State Park or Whaley House Museum might round out your trip.

Old Town San Diego
SanDiego_NorthPark_6346499_001

North Park

4/5(3 area reviews)

North Park is well-liked for its restaurants. You can also take some time to explore sights in the surrounding area like San Diego Zoo and San Diego Natural History Museum.

North Park
Gossip Grill

Hillcrest

3.5/5(2 area reviews)

Visitors to Hillcrest enjoy its restaurants, and if you want to do some exploring, Marston House is worth a stop.

Hillcrest
Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden featuring a park and wildflowers

Bankers Hill

If you're spending some time in Bankers Hill, Mo'olelo Performing Arts Company and Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden are top sights worth seeing.

Bankers Hill
Late winter afternoon at park on Mission Bay, San Dieg

Clairemont

4/5(30 area reviews)

Restaurants, beaches, and shopping are some highlights of Clairemont. You might stop by Mission Bay or Fashion Valley Mall while you're in the area.

Clairemont
Best Western Seven Seas

Best Western Seven Seas

3 out of 5
411 Hotel Circle South San Diego CA
Fully refundable
The price is CA $112 per night from Mar 25 to Mar 26
CA $112
CA $129 total
Mar 25 - Mar 26
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in San Diego. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 2 hot tubs. Our guests praise the pool and the restaurant in our ...
7.8/10 Good! (3,319 reviews)
There was no internet and was not able to connect the tv to watch Netflix. No continental breakfast.

Reviewed on Mar 22, 2026

Best Western Seven Seas
Handlery Hotel

Handlery Hotel

3.5 out of 5
950 Hotel Cir N San Diego CA
The price is CA $150 per night from Apr 13 to Apr 14
CA $150
CA $173 total
Apr 13 - Apr 14
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in San Diego. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 restaurants, and 2 bars/lounges. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (2,342 reviews)
Great and easy!

Reviewed on Mar 21, 2026

Handlery Hotel
Days Inn by Wyndham San Diego Hotel Circle

Days Inn by Wyndham San Diego Hotel Circle

3 out of 5
543 Hotel Circle S San Diego CA
The price is CA $147 per night from Apr 5 to Apr 6
CA $147
CA $169 total
Apr 5 - Apr 6
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in San Diego. Enjoy free WiFi, a fitness center, and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and ...
8/10 Very Good! (2,562 reviews)
Let me start with prefacing this review by saying “you get what you pay for”. The photos online are VERY deceiving. The property looks like it was recently renovated but if you take a closer look, you can tell that it was budget friendly and poorly done. The entry/exit situation is confusing for ...

Reviewed on Mar 22, 2026

Days Inn by Wyndham San Diego Hotel Circle
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Uptown Inn by Vantaggio - Limited Service Apart-Hotel

Uptown Inn by Vantaggio - Limited Service Apart-Hotel

2.5 out of 5
819 University Ave San Diego CA
Stay at this aparthotel in San Diego. Enjoy free WiFi, a 24-hour fitness center, and parking (surcharge). Popular attractions San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park are ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (321 reviews)
It is a clean place to stay and budget friendly. Unfortunately the noise from the road can make it hard to sleep.

Reviewed on Mar 19, 2026

Uptown Inn by Vantaggio - Limited Service Apart-Hotel
City24 Hotel Little Italy Mission Hills

City24 Hotel Little Italy Mission Hills

4.5 out of 5
2801 India St San Diego CA
Book a stay at this luxury aparthotel in San Diego. Enjoy free WiFi, a rooftop terrace, and parking (surcharge). Popular attractions Port of San Diego and San ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (131 reviews)
City 24 exceeded all of our expectations! The location is unbeatable, the property is absolutely beautiful, and Galeano went above and beyond to make us feel truly welcome. We had such an amazing stay and can’t wait to come back to San Diego to City24!!! A special thank you to Mathew for making us ...

Reviewed on Mar 19, 2026

City24 Hotel Little Italy Mission Hills
Family Game Room with Wet Bar, Pool Table/ Ping Pong Darts and more!

Family Game Room with Wet Bar, Pool Table/ Ping Pong Darts and more!

San Diego CA
Book a stay at this family-friendly vacation home in San Diego. Enjoy a fitness center, a garden, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions San Diego Zoo and ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (181 reviews)
Everything was good for what we needed. Close to the places that we wanted to go to. The host was easy to get a hold of and responsded promptly to any questions we had.

Reviewed on Jan 12, 2026

Family Game Room with Wet Bar, Pool Table/ Ping Pong Darts and more!
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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