Where To Stay In San Diego: 10 Best Areas & Neighborhoods

A shimmering city on the ocean, San Diego is a refreshing stop for any traveler. Though far less glamorous than its neighbor to the North, San Diego has just as much to offer even if it doesn’t have a giant name sign. Each of the city’s seventeen neighborhoods offers something intrinsically different, providing travelers with something new to experience upon every visit.

San Diego is home to the internationally renowned San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park. Its stunning San Diego Bay and Pacific Ocean vistas are enough to make any traveler swoon.

Popular San Diego neighborhoods are often known as beach towns. Art galleries, shops, boutique hotels, and restaurants comprise a bustling downtown San Diego. But once you venture out from downtown, you’ll discover other parts of San Diego.

Luxury resorts and casual beachfront properties are both abundant here. You certainly don’t have to stay downtown to experience all that San Diego has to offer — where you stay can completely depend on your personal travel focus. You’ll never have to go far to get what you need in San Diego.

TL;DR: Our Top Picks for Accommodation

• Luxury Hotel – The Lodge at Torrey Pines
• Mid-Range Hotel – Sonder The Marin
• Budget Hotel – Samesun Ocean Beach
• Vacation Rental – Iconic Landmark House
• Resort – Bahia Resort Hotel
• Family-Friendly Hotel –  Hotel del Coronado
• Pet-Friendly Hotel – Hilton San Diego Bay Front

Best Areas to Stay in San Diego

From the beachy La Jolla to the historical and night owl haven that is the Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego has a little bit of everything. Let this Pacific Ocean-facing city show you what California living is all about.

PRO TIP: San Diego is chock-full of terrific attractions and landmarks, many of which charge admission. This can get expensive after a while, so you may be compelled to cherry-pick attractions. If however, you decide to go for a San Diego All-Inclusive Pass from Go City, you can save a mint on tickets and admission fees!

• For first-timers/tourists – Old Town
• For budget travelers – Mission Beach
• For luxury travelers – La Jolla
• For families – Ocean Beach
• For nightlife – Gaslamp Quarter
• For Young People – Pacific Beach

Where to Stay in San Diego

1. Old Town

As the oldest neighborhood in San Diego and the first European settlement in California, Old Town, San Diego lives up to its name. It’s actually considered the birthplace of California. So not only is it perfect for first-time San Diego visitors, it’s perfect for anyone seeing California for the first time too.

It’s perfect for these visitors because so much of the city’s history is condensed into this single neighborhood. It’s where you’ll find the most historic sites, museums, and cultural activities in San Diego. While staying in Old Town, you can learn more about the settlers and the Kumeyaay people, who were the original inhabitants of the area dating back more than 10,000 years.

It’s highly walkable and has nearly three dozen sites or museums in the neighborhood, like the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, a living history museum that demonstrates life in San Diego from the 1820s to the 1870s.

Visitors can see several preserved buildings from the area and on-site museums to learn more. Admission is always free here and at several other historic sites in the neighborhood.

Learn more about the area with a twist through the San Diego Old Town Tales, Tacos, and Tequila Tour. Or embark on a haunted tour of the city’s oldest neighborhood with a paranormal investigation group.

Old Town’s dining scene is firmly embedded in the area’s historical ties to Mexican culture. Because of this, many area restaurants specialize in authentic Mexican cuisine, which is also why a tequila and tacos tour makes so much sense here. Or you can hang out at Oculto 477 for a new style of speakeasy bar near the Campo Santo Cemetary.

Here you have everything you could need on a vacation. You can find everything from food to shopping in Old Town, but when you inevitably want to see other parts of the city, it’s easy to get around via public transit.

Highlights of the Old Town area:

• Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
• Casa de Reyes
• Casa Guadalajara
• Junipero Serra Museum
• Old Town Trolley Tours
• Bazaar Del Mundo

Our favorite accommodations in the Old Town area:

• Budget Hotel in Old Town: Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant
• Mid-Range Hotel in Old Town: Old Town Inn
• Luxury Resort in Old Town: Hilton Garden Inn San Diego Old Town
• Vacation Rental in Old Town: This Historic Studio

See Related: Do You Need a Car in San Diego? Things to Know

2. Mission Beach

A charming, laid-back beachfront neighborhood, Mission Beach is perfect for budget travelers. San Diego is pretty budget-friendly, though Mission Beach is a little budget-friendly because of the beachfront views, amenities, and vibe.

Water sports are huge in Mission Beach, too because of the beach access. Whether you want to snorkel, scuba dive, paddleboard, surf, or any other water sport, Mission Beach is a great place to do it. This is one reason twenty-somethings and families find paradise in this relaxed neighborhood.

For thrill-seekers, Belmont Park is an iconic Californian boardwalk amusement park. Formerly known as the Mission Beach Amusement Center, the park is an institution in the neighborhood.

It’s home to the beloved Giant Dipper Roller Coaster and thirteen other rides. There are also tons of games, places to eat, and views of the nearby ocean at Belmont Park. This neighborhood is also where you’ll find SeaWorld San Diego.

You can go on whale and dolphin-watching excursions, or just take a casual bike tour guided or on your own to see what you can see. The best time of year to see whales is from mid-December until mid-March. They’re also usually the most active between 11 am to 3 pm. So keep that in mind when scheduling your tour.

Just because this neighborhood has a chill vibe doesn’t mean you can’t have an elevated vacation dining experience here. Restaurants like Oceana Coastal Kitchen and Red Marlin are fine-dining seafood restaurants in the neighborhood. Being so close to the ocean how can you say no to some tasty fresh seafood?

Fishers in particular love Mission Beach, specifically South Mission Beach Park, because of the incredible access to the water. There are even sunken ships turned artificial reefs off of the beach park area that snorkelers and divers love to explore. This neighborhood offers all of the waterfront fun without the city living atmosphere of other parts of San Diego.

Highlights of the Mission Beach Area:

• Belmont Park
• USS Midway Museum
• Moe’s
• SeaWorld San Diego
• Mizu
• Mission Beach Boardwalk
• Oceana Coastal Kitchen
• Red Marlin

Our favorite accommodations in the Mission Beach area:

• Budget Hotel in Mission Beach: ITH Mission Beach Backpacker Hostel
• Mid-Range Hotel in Mission Beach: Bahia Resort Hotel
• Luxury Hotel in Mission Beach: The Wayfarer San Diego
• Vacation Rental in Mission Beach: This Two-Story Oceanfront Townhome

3. La Jolla

La Jolla is a beloved part of San Diego. Along the coastline, this neighborhood is known for its pristine beaches. It is home to both the University of California, San Diego, and the Salk Institute. Even so, nothing beats the beaches in La Jolla, which are considered some of the best in the world.

You can find ten different beaches in La Jolla. The most popular ones include La Jolla Shores Beach, La Jolla Cove Beach, and Shell Beach. However, each one has a slightly different aesthetic than the others.

For fans of the show Grace and Frankie, the name La Jolla may be familiar because that’s where the characters lived. You may remember Martin Sheen’s character Robert frequently talking about La Jolla Playhouse, a renowned theater in the neighborhood.

Visitors can take advantage of La Jolla’s primo landscape with a kayaking tour of some sea caves or a snorkeling tour. Take a La Jolla coast walking tour to examine the rugged terrain up close or even go sightseeing for sea lions. That’s right, the sea lions want to live that luxe life, too!

Beyond the stunning surroundings, La Jolla also has some of the best dining experiences in San Diego. Many of the spiffiest, spendiest spots in the city are in La Jolla. You’ve got your bases covered from seafood at eateries like The Marine Room or Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, French fine dining at Maitre D’ Restaurant, or heightened Americana food at A.R. Valentien.

When nighttime rolls around, take in a show at the iconic La Jolla Playhouse or see the San Diego Harbor transform into the colors of a sunset with a dinner cruise. Whatever you decide to do in La Jolla, you can do it in style.

Highlights of the La Jolla area:

• La Jolla Cove
• Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography
• Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
• The Marine Room
• Eddie V’s Prime Seafood
• La Jolla Playhouse
• A.R. Valentien
• Children’s Pool La Jolla

Our favorite accommodations in the La Jolla area:

• Budget Hotel in La Jolla: Sands of La Jolla
• Mid-Range Hotel in La Jolla: La Jolla Shores Hotel
• Luxury Hotel in La Jolla: The Lodge at Torrey Pines
• Vacation Rental in La Jolla: This Iconic Landmark House

See Related: Best Restaurants in San Diego

4. Point Loma

Point Loma’s fame stems from its historical context in the development of the United States. It was where the first Europeans landed when they “discovered” the area. You can see where that happened at the Cabrillo National Monument. You’ll also find the Old Point Loma Lighthouse there. There are still two significant military bases in the neighborhood, though it has its touristy side too.

There aren’t swimmable beaches here. However, the spectacular ocean views from the neighborhood will help you forget that mild inconvenience. Incredible tidepools, cliffs, and vistas of the water await all those who pay a visit. But just because you can’t lounge at the beach all day doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the water! Climb aboard a road and water-friendly Seal vehicle for a city tour, go whale-watching or stick to the land with a GoCar tour.

You can also take a variety of cruises from here as well. Dinner cruises with music around the bay, sightseeing harbor cruises, and even pedal boat rentals make seeing things from the water a relaxing adventure. Perhaps, in keeping with the historical ties of the neighborhood, you’ll make a few “discoveries” of your own while exploring the neighborhood.

In addition to nature experiences, this neighborhood also has tremendous shopping, varied food options, and the opportunity to disconnect. Despite the city skyline views, Point Loma is removed enough from downtown San Diego to get the small-town experience even from within the city boundaries.

Head downtown for the full San Diego experience, but retreat to this neighborhood for the calm you seek on vacation. For a more relaxed atmosphere, take in a romantic sunset from Island Prime or Cesarina.

Highlights of the Point Loma area:

• Liberty Public Market
• Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
• Liberty Station
• Tide pools
• Women’s Museum of California
• Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern

Our favorite accommodations in the Point Loma area:

• Budget Hotel in Point Loma: Hotel Aqua Mar
• Mid-Range Hotel in Point Loma: The Monsaraz San Diego
• Luxury Hotel in Point Loma: Kona Kai Resort and Spa
• Vacation Rental in Point Loma: This Gorgeous Bay View Apartment

5. Ocean Beach

If you’re looking for that classic SoCal beach lifestyle, look no further than Ocean Beach. Hang out at Ocean Beach Pier, swim, visit the Ocean Beach Farmers Market, and watch the sunset over San Diego Bay. Embrace your inner California surfer chic even if you’ve never touched a board.

This is also a neighborhood where you don’t necessarily have to plan your days down to the minute. Why not embrace spontaneity and take activities as they come? There’s no better way to relax than to let the vacation unfold as it will.

Find your inner peace with beach yoga, learn about life at the beach, or take a tour of the local beach bars. However you want to see Ocean Beach with your family or on your own, there’s no wrong way to see it.

If you want to see more of San Diego’s natural beauty, wander through Sunset Cliffs Natural Park. This green patch of natural beauty includes the named cliffs, which showcase the ocean in a new way. It borders the Point Loma neighborhood and leads into the Point Loma Ecological Reserve.

Even your pup will love Ocean Beach. More specifically, they’ll love Dog Beach, where pups can play alongside you in the sand and water. Do be careful with your doggie friends as it is an off-leash park.

Help your kiddos learn about tide pools by showing them the crabs, anemones, and other critters that call them home. Then, see if you can spot some whales or dolphins in the distance. If they’re particularly interested in marine life, take a family whale-watching tour to see the mighty creatures up close.

Highlights of the Ocean Beach Area:

• Ocean Beach Pier
• Ocean Beach Farmers Market
• Dog Beach
• Newport Avenue Shopping District
• Mike’s Taco Club
• Corvette Diner

Our favorite accommodations in the Ocean Beach area:

• Budget Hotel in Ocean Beach: Samesun Ocean Beach
• Mid-Range Hotel in Ocean Beach: Ocean Beach Hotel
• Luxury Hotel in Ocean Beach: Blue Heron Cottages
• Vacation Rental in Ocean Beach: This cute “Toes in the Sand” Bungalow

See Related: Best Museums in San Diego

6. Gaslamp Quarter

San Diego’s nightlife can be found throughout the city, though it’s well-known that Gaslamp Quarter is the place for San Diego nightlife. Besides partying, visitors can enjoy entertainment venues, museums, and galleries and shop to their hearts’ desire.

Gaslamp may have modern-day accommodations, but it’s still very much enmeshed in its 19th-century history. This is where you’ll find San Diego’s most impressive Victorian architecture. You aren’t going to find brothels or shootouts in the quarter anymore, though you can tell that it has always been a raucous destination.

Join up on a tour to learn about San Diego’s scandalous history, find some of the city’s many ghosts, or enjoy getting to know San Diego in the moonlight. From the convenience of the Gaslamp Quarter’s location, you can get a feel for everything San Diego offers.

If you want unique San Diego shopping, check out The Artisan Market in the neighborhood. The vendors there sell one-of-a-kind souvenirs, food, and surprises. Visiting the market gives you a real sense of the neighborhood beyond its touristy offerings.

Grab a drink or two at the Prohibition Lounge or The Tipsy Crow or splurge at a Lionfish Modern Coastal Cuisine dinner. There is a hangout in the neighborhood for every kind of budget. Be sure not to miss the views at locales like The Rooftop by STK or Altitude Sky Lounge.

Even if you aren’t a partier, the vibrance of the Gaslamp Quarter is contagious even in broad daylight. Enjoy the neighborhood’s namesake by paying a visit to the Gaslamp Museum.

Highlights of the Gaslamp Quarter Area:

• Gaslamp Artisan Market
• Lionfish Modern Coastal Cuisine
• The Gaslamp Museum
• The Pool House
• Prohibition Lounge
• New Children’s Museum
• Altitude Sky Lounge
• The Rooftop by STK

Our favorite accommodations in the Gaslamp Quarter area:

• Budget Hotel in the Gaslamp Quarter: Gaslamp Hostel San Diego
• Mid-Range Hotel in the Gaslamp Quarter: Sonder The Marin
• Luxury Hotel in the Gaslamp Quarter: Pendry San Diego
• Vacation Rental in Gaslamp Quarter: This Comfy Downtown Apartment

7. North Park

Every city seems to have a hipster neighborhood. For San Diego, it’s North Park. A place that claims to be the country’s best beer neighborhood is also a foodie and entertainment fan paradise.

Young people flock to North Park, but so too do travelers of every variety. People also tend to gravitate towards North Park if they’re looking for a more budget-friendly place to stay with easy access to Balboa Park and San Diego Zoo.

Get to know North Park’s wild side with a bar crawl tour, enjoy a cruise around San Diego Bay, or take in a show at the 1939 Auditorium, The Observatory. Although Gaslight has the nightlife crown for San Diego, North Park’s nightlife is also a rollicking time.

There is no better place to showcase North Park’s history as a destination than The Office bar. No, it isn’t another pop-up bar themed like the mockumentary comedy The Office. Through its iterations, since it first opened in 1948, the bar has been a part of North Park’s cocktail scene. It was a significant part of punk rock’s history in the country too.

With so many eateries, you could easily create your foodie trail around the neighborhood. Make your trip a tasting journey and check out Tabu Shabu, The Smoking Goat, and Tribute Pizza to see what all the fuss is about. All three will give you a unique perspective on this neighborhood and the city of San Diego.

You could even do a beer tasting across the seven (that’s right, seven) breweries that call North Park home. The aptly named North Park Beer Co. might be a good place to start. Their taproom can be found in the middle of the neighborhood, so it’s easy to get to no matter where you’re calling home on your trip.

Highlights of the North Park area:

• The Observatory North Park
• Balboa Park
• San Diego Zoo
• Japanese Friendship Garden
• Tribute Pizza
• Morley Field Disc Golf Course
• Tabu Shabu
• The Smoking Goat
• North Park Beer Co.
• Go thrifting!

Our favorite accommodations in the North Park area:

Given how residential North Park is, there aren’t many hotel options in the neighborhood itself. That said, there are one or two of them, plus the vacation rental game here is pretty terrific.

• Budget Hotel in North Park: Berkshire Motor Hotel
• Mid-Range Vacation Rental in North Park: This North Park Charmer
• Luxury Vacation Rental in North Park: This Designer Luxe Compound

See Related: Day Trips from San Diego

8. Coronado

Unlike the other neighborhoods in San Diego, Coronado Island feels a world away. With its shimmering sand, Coronado Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the area. Standing tall like a gem in the mine, the island’s historic Hotel del Coronado is its most iconic resident. We’d say most famous but Charlie Chaplin and Dick Van Dyke might take offense.

Head back to the mainland from Coronado Island for a daylong tour of some of San Diego’s most beloved neighborhoods, get bubbly with a champagne brunch buffet, or feel the ocean breeze on a bike tour around the island. The views of the city and San Diego Bay are unparalleled.

You could just spend a day discovering what Orange Avenue offers. This street is the main stretch in Coronado. The historic main street is full of shops, eateries, and things to see. You could even learn more about the area at the Coronado Museum of History and Art, which can be found on Orange Ave.

Campers will be happy to know they’re also welcome in Coronado. You can only camp on the island at Silver Strand State Beach. Considering the few hotels in the area and the prices of the ones on the island, it’s a great budget option to just camp instead.

Anyone could love Coronado, but it is particularly special for older travelers because of its easygoing island lifestyle. If you want to or have nothing to do simultaneously, there is plenty to do. You can decide how much you want from a stay on the island. So active and not-so-active older travelers can all revel in all this place has to offer.

You’ll fall in love with the charming Coronado area and the gorgeous views all around the island. After all, in Spanish, its name means “the crowned one,” so it has to be a jewel.

Highlights of the Coronado area:

• Hotel del Coronado
• Coronado Beach
• Coronado Ferry Landing Pier
• Coronado Museum of History and Art
• Peohe’s
• Brigantine Seafood Restaurant
• Silver Strand State Beach

Our favorite accommodations in the Coronado area:

• Budget Hotel in Coronado: El Rancho Motel
• Mid-Range Hotel in Coronado: Loews Coronado Bay Resort
• Luxury Hotel in Coronado: Hotel del Coronado
• Vacation Rental in Coronado: This Luxury Coronado Home

9. Little Italy

Entrenched in the neighborhood’s history of welcoming Italian residents, Little Italy is also part of downtown San Diego’s vibrancy. It’s such a great neighborhood for seasoned travelers because of its walkability and boutique hotels. So much of San Diego can also be seen wandering through this neighborhood.

Little Italy is best experienced through its food, which is easily done with the myriad tours offered around the area. Your bases are covered from a Taste of Little Italy tour to a Little Italy/North Beach combo or even a neighborhood wine tour. If you feel especially adventurous why not go on a scavenger hunt?

Cooling off at Waterfront Park or grabbing some local grub at the Mercato Farmers Market are great places to people-watch. The various neighborhood cafes also offer prime people-watching real estate.

Seasoned travelers will also appreciate the Piazza Della Famiglia (the Little Italy Food Hall), which offers many food options. It’s perfect for anyone who can’t decide what they want or want to make a meal from a little bit of everything.

Each April, visitors can participate in one of the neighborhood’s biggest annual events, the Mission Federal ArtWalk. In August, there is another ArtWalk event, ARTS District Liberty Station. Both are San Diego’s fine arts festivals, which beckon artists from all over North America, including San Diegans.

Highlights of the Little Italy area:

• Waterfront Park
• Mercato Farmers Market
• Piazza Della Famiglia
• Amici House
• Fireman’s Museum
• Lady of the Rosary Church

Our favorite accommodations in the Little Italy area:

• Budget Hotel in Little Italy: Porto Vista Hotel
• Mid-Range Hotel in Little Italy: Hilton Garden Inn San Diego Downtown
• Luxury Hotel in Little Italy: Homewood Suites by Hilton San Diego Downtown
• Vacation Rental in Little Italy: This Gorgeous Condo with a Prime Location

See Related: Things to Do in Point Loma, San Diego

10. Pacific Beach

Lovingly referred to as PB for short, Pacific Beach is the premiere San Diego destination for young people. Particularly loved by surfers and beach lovers, this neighborhood can sometimes be overshadowed by its neighboring La Jolla.

It’s worth noting that PB has a partying reputation. So, if you aren’t interested in partying with college students, we recommend not visiting during school break periods. You can definitely still have a relaxing vacation in this neighborhood even if it’s known for its party atmosphere; just be sure to time it right.

From here, you can tour some of the area’s coastal gems, see the area on your terms with a rented moped, or splurge on a luxury catamaran tour. Or spend a day looking at all the colorful beachside homes along the Pacific Beach’s Ocean Front Walk. The walkway runs over three miles and even goes into neighboring neighborhoods.

Before Belmont Park became the city’s amusement park hotspot, Pacific Beach had its pier amusement park. Though the park is no longer there, the neighborhood’s Crystal Pier remains where it’s been for over a century. The Crystal Pier Hotel, with its 1930s cottages, is also there, reminding visitors and locals alike of the pier’s history in San Diego.

Pacific Beach is also where you’ll find Kate Sessions Park. Named for the horticultural known as the Mother of Balboa Park, the city has nearly 80 acres of green. There is plenty of room for playing, enjoying the outdoors, or having a picnic at Kate Sessions Park. Here, you can also get some of the best views of the San Diego Skyline and the bodies of water around the city.

Highlights of the Pacific Beach area:

• Crystal Pier
• Pacific Beach Ocean Front Walk
• Kate Sessions Park
• Pacific Beach (the beach)
• Rocky’s Crown Pub
• Baja Beach Cafe

Our favorite accommodations in the Pacific Beach area:

• Budget Hotel in Pacific Beach: SureStay Hotel
• Mid-Range Hotel in Pacific Beach: Beach Haven
• Luxury Hotel in Pacific Beach: Pacific Terrace Hotel
• Vacation Rental in Pacific Beach: This Beautifully Remodeled Oceanfront Condo

FAQs

Related Resources

• Best National Parks in California
• Most Exotic Places in California to Visit
• The Ultimate California Travel Guide