Beginning of main content

Top 177 Things to do in San Diego, California

Trip Type
Flight 1
Flight 2
Flight 3
Flight 4
Flight 5

Explore thousands of activities with free cancellation and no added fees.

Design your experience with airport transfers, excursions, day tours & more.

Get an insider's look in what to book before you travel.

Top things to do in San Diego

See all 177 things to do in San Diego

#1Go San Diego All-Inclusive: Over 40 Attractions in 1 Pass

Visit the critters at San Diego Zoo, take the family to USS Midway Museum or LEGOLAND®, or sail out on a whale-watching cruise. The Go San Diego card lets yo...

recommend72% of travellers recommend

Free Cancellation Free Cancellation

C$129
per adult
Go San Diego All-Inclusive: Over 40 Attractions in 1 Pass

#2San Diego Zoo

Immerse yourself in the animal kingdom at the 100-acre (40-ha) San Diego Zoo, home to more than 4,000 animals across 800 rare and exotic species. Spend quali...

recommend92% of travellers recommend

Free Cancellation Free Cancellation

C$76
per adult
San Diego Zoo

#3USS Midway Museum with Skip-the-Line Entry

Climb on board the USS Midway, known for serving in both Operation Frequent Wind in 1975 and Operation Desert Storm in 1991. Skip the lines with express entr...

recommend96% of travellers recommend

Free Cancellation Free Cancellation

C$30
per adult
USS Midway Museum with Skip-the-Line Entry

#4SeaWorld San Diego - Skip-the-Line Admission

Uncover aquatic adventures at SeaWorld® San Diego, where thrilling rides and spectacular live animal shows are sure to entertain visitors young and old. Take...

recommend72% of travellers recommend

C$154
C$139
per traveller
Save!
SeaWorld San Diego - Skip-the-Line Admission

#5LEGOLAND® California Resort

AWESOME AWAITS at LEGOLAND® California Resort, where families can have a hands-on, interactive experiences to make memories that last a lifetime! The Resort ...

recommend82% of travellers recommend

Free Cancellation Free Cancellation

C$168
C$133
per traveller
Save!
LEGOLAND® California Resort

#6San Diego Old Town Trolley Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

With this hop-on hop-off trolley tour, you can explore parks, the waterfront, and interesting districts at your leisure. Turn back the pages of history and l...

recommend94% of travellers recommend

Free Cancellation Free Cancellation

C$57
per adult
San Diego Old Town Trolley Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

#7City Harbour Sightseeing Cruise

Cruise past massive battleships, under winding bridges and alongside bustling waterfronts on this whirlwind excursion through San Diego’s inviting harbour. C...

recommend92% of travellers recommend

C$38
per adult
City Harbour Sightseeing Cruise

#8San Diego SEAL Tour

This 90-minute fully-narrated journey departs from Seaport Village located on Harbour Drive at the Embarcadero. Enjoy learning about San Diego's past and pre...

recommend90% of travellers recommend

Free Cancellation Free Cancellation

C$57
per adult
San Diego SEAL Tour

#9La Jolla and San Diego Beaches Tour

Discover why so many flock to San Diego's pristine beaches and breath-taking coastline on this day tripper bus tour. Jump on an authentically styled beach tr...

recommend90% of travellers recommend

Free Cancellation Free Cancellation

C$53
per adult
La Jolla and San Diego Beaches Tour

#10San Diego Segway Tour

Cruise around the historic neighbourhoods and the contemporary waterfront sites of San Diego on a fun and effortless Segway tour. Roll along the famous Gasla...

recommend100% of travellers recommend

Free Cancellation Free Cancellation

C$133
C$101
per adult
Save!
San Diego Segway Tour

Top things to do by category

Adventures (18) Air, Balloon & Helicopter Tours (8) Attractions (16) Cruises & Water Tours (30) Day Trips & Excursions (9) Family friendly (44) Food & Drink (20) Hop-on Hop-off (1) Likely to sell out (25) New on Expedia (5) Nightlife (5) Private Transfers (14) Private tours (26) Shared Transfers (5) Sightseeing Passes (3) Theme parks (4) Tours & sightseeing (68) Walking & Bike Tours (26) Water activities (12)

This city by the sea is a coveted vacation destination for anyone with wanderlust. San Diego has it all: natural beauty, a buzzing nightlife, plenty of food, and more adventure sports than you can tackle in one trip. Whether you’re hoping to soak in some sun on the beaches or eat your way through the Gaslamp District, travelers of all types can find fun things to do in San Diego, CA. From the mountains to the sea, San Diego activities appeal to the heart of anyone eager to experience Southern California.

Areas & Neighborhoods

San Diego neighborhoods cover the gamut of city attractions and vibes. From historic sites in Old Town to trendy wine bars in South Park, all visitors will feel right at home in America’s Finest City.

North Park — This central neighborhood is teeming with new restaurants and trendy craft breweries. It’s also quite walkable, so you can park near 30th Street and University Avenue and trek until you find a place that looks appetizing.

Balboa Park — Balboa Park has more than a dozen museums and plenty of public gardens. It’s also home to restaurants, event venues, and the San Diego Zoo.

La Jolla — Whether you want to hit up some of the more hidden-away patches of sand along the San Diego coastline or check out trendy boutiques, La Jolla is a good pit stop for your itinerary. Of course, you can also jump off a cliff during a hang-gliding session here.

Hillcrest — This gay-friendly neighborhood is full of local coffee shops, lots of nightlife, and unique eateries. You’ll be sharing the sidewalks with plenty of San Diegans, but the vibrancy of the area makes the crowded conditions well worth it.

East Village — Sitting east of the famous Gaslamp District , East Village is the place to go if you want to catch a San Diego Padres™ game or attend a free community event for bloggers. It’s also within walking distance to many downtown clubs and restaurants.

What to See in San Diego

Before you get busy with water sports and other active pursuits, check out some of the fun things to see in San Diego. Go to the Cabrillo National Monument to view the best panoramic scene of the city and then head down the mountain to look at sea life in the tide pools. Watch the sunset from the shores of Coronado in front of the famed Hotel Del Coronado, or spend time on just about any other local beach. Attending the Old Globe Theater is a relaxing way to end your day, or you can watch the nightly fireworks going off over SeaWorld® in the summer months.

Things to Do & Attractions in San Diego

While a day at the beach is practically obligatory here, fun things to do in San Diego also include visiting the world-famous zoo , hiking Torrey Pines State Reserve, and meandering through sensory pleasing farmers markets in nearly every neighborhood. San Diego amusement parks also abound, ranging from the oceanfront rides at Belmont Park in Mission Beach to LEGOLAND® in North County. Cap off any day with dinner in the Gaslamp District or a sunset cocktail at La Jolla Shores. You’ll find that San Diego has activities up its sleeve for all types of visitors.