Neighborhoods

Coronado Beach in front of the red-roofed Hotel del Coronado on a sunny day

San Diego isn’t one place, it’s a bunch of very different neighborhoods that happen to share a freeway. Picking the right one changes your whole trip: beach town, foodie hub, fancy seaside village or arty barrio.

Here’s the quick vibe check for each area, with the hidden spots nearby. More neighborhood guides are on the way.

The La Jolla sea caves carved into the sandstone cliffs above the ocean

La Jolla

Sea lions, sea caves and the fanciest ice cream line you’ll ever stand in.

2 hidden spots →

A couple standing on the sandstone edge of Sunset Cliffs, looking out at the Pacific

Point Loma

Cliffs, tide pools and the best free sunsets in the city.

2 hidden spots →

Wide lawn and trees at Kate Sessions Park with a view toward Mission Bay

Pacific Beach

Boardwalk, beach bars and a lot of people on rented scooters.

1 hidden spot →

The All the Way to the Bay mural painted on freeway pillars in Chicano Park

Barrio Logan

Murals, art galleries and some of the best food in town.

1 hidden spot →

The Spruce Street Suspension Bridge stretching across a leafy canyon in Bankers Hill

Bankers Hill

Leafy streets next to Balboa Park, plus a bridge that wobbles.

1 hidden spot →

White picket fences and wooden crosses at El Campo Santo cemetery in Old Town

Old Town

Where San Diego started. Now with more margaritas.

1 hidden spot →

San Elijo Lagoon at golden hour, the nature reserve where Annie's Canyon Trail starts

Solana Beach

A relaxed beach town up north, with a slot canyon next door.

1 hidden spot →

A food stall piled with flatbreads at the Ocean Beach Wednesday farmers market

Ocean Beach

Surf shacks, dogs everywhere and the most relaxed people in San Diego.

2 hidden spots →

Coronado Beach in front of the red-roofed Hotel del Coronado on a sunny day

Coronado

Sparkly sand, a fairytale hotel and a ferry ride from downtown.

2 hidden spots →