Downtown San Diego Travel Guide

Your urban getaway is ten minutes (or less) from the airport.

Downtown San Diego is the urban center of the city. It’s a hip neighborhood with something for everyone, whether you’re looking for family fun or hot nightlife, chic boutiques or classic and contemporary works of art.

You’ll also find notable San Diego attractions like Petco Park® (home of the San Diego Padres®) and the New Children’s Museum® downtown. The airport is 5-10 minutes away from most Downtown San Diego hotels.

That’s why a lot of tourists decide to make this vibrant area of the city their home base.

On this page, I’ve collected my best Downtown San Diego travel tips, guides to the best places to visit in Downtown San Diego, and information about Downtown San Diego restaurants you should check out, whether you’re traveling alone or with kids.

Downtown San Diego Hotels

There are places to stay in Downtown San Diego for every budget and every preference. I have extra benefits that include breakfast for two, $100 hotel credits, and more at no additional cost at Pendry San Diego, THE US GRANT, Manchester Grand Hyatt, and Hotel Republic.

Pendry San Diego Hotel Review & Detailed Guide
Everything you need to know before checking into Pendry San Diego including room/suite types, kids’ amenities, famous pool parties, dining, and other tips.
THE US GRANT, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Diego: Review & How to Book
How THE US GRANT, a Luxury Collection Hotel San Diego provides convenience and luxury in downtown San Diego for business and family travel.
Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego: An Insider’s Guide to the Renovation & VIP Privileges
The waterfront Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego is popular with business travelers and families for a downtown location and well-priced rooms and suites.
Intercontinental San Diego: Guide & How to Book
InterContinental San Diego is a top luxury hotel in a great downtown location. What to know about the rooms, dining, pool, and more before you book.
The Guild Hotel, San Diego Guide & How to Book
What to know before booking The Guild Hotel, San Diego including room sizes, dining, amenities, location, and how to get VIP status.
Hotel Republic San Diego: Review & Booking Advice
Hotel Republic San Diego, a boutique hotel that immerses guests in the local experience through food and cool activities geared toward the spirited guest.
Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina: Review & Booking Advice
Learn why the Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina is far more than just a hotel by the airport.

Things to Do in Downtown San Diego

One of the best things about exploring Downtown San Diego is that so many of the area’s major attractions are within walking distance of each other. My list of favorite Downtown San Diego activities is fairly long because there are so many sights and activities packed into a relatively small space.

If you are only in San Diego for a short time, make a point of stopping into the USS Midway Museum, which lets you explore a vintage Navy aircraft carrier as part of guided tours or at your own pace with or without an audio tour. The New Children’s Museum is a must-do for families with young kids who will love the hands-on exhibits and opportunities to make art. There’s also the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego and plenty of sightseeing tours.

30 Fun Things to Do in Downtown San Diego
This list of activities includes bay tours, museums, rooftop pools, Little Italy and Gaslamp Quarter spots, and much more that we, our clients, and Downtown San Diego hotel concierges love.
11 Popular San Diego Harbor Cruises and Boat Tours
Sightsee from the water on the best San Diego Bay tours from drive-your-own speedboats to 16th-century galleon replicas.
10 Fun Flagship Cruises in San Diego for Sightseeing on the Bay
Flagship Cruises in San Diego offer San Diego Bay tours for sightseeing, beer, Sunday brunch, and other more that are favorites of residents and tourists.
USS Midway Museum: The Ultimate 2026 Guide to Tickets, Tours & Insider Tips
Step aboard the most-visited historic naval ship in the world. This locally written guide shares everything to know about tickets, tours, and what not to miss on your first (or fifth) visit to the USS Midway Museum.
22 Secrets About San Diego’s Little Italy Neighborhood
Fun little tidbits about Little Italy, a popular San Diego attraction full of shopping, restaurants, history and even a walking trail.
Maritime Museum of San Diego: Things to Do, Tickets, & Tips
Our favorite things to do at the Maritime Museum of San Diego include exploring historic sea vessels, docent stories, and unique bay tours.
Old Town San Diego Guide: Restaurants, Shopping, Parking, and Things to Do
Find out what the best restaurants, shopping and attractions are in the historic Old Town San Diego area for a half-day visit.

Where to Eat in Little Italy and Downtown

Downtown San Diego has become something of a foodie and craft beer hotspot. There’s an established restaurant culture, and companies offer culinary tours of the area. A walking tour of San Diego’s Little Italy — also located Downtown — will introduce you to the area’s most experienced vintners and bring you to the must-try eateries. You can browse Farmer’s Markets and eat well no matter your budget.

Best Downtown San Diego Restaurants
Whether you’re looking for a quick, healthy fix, a burger or an upscale steakhouse, Downtown San Diego is filled with great places to eat.
Best Little Italy San Diego Restaurants
Your guide to the best Little Italy San Diego restaurants from cute dim sum to, of course, Italian.
23 Best Breweries in San Diego to Try Now
San Diego is home to an impressive assortment of craft and specialty breweries. Learn more about our favorites here!
Where to Eat and Drink in Balboa Park
The best Balboa Park restaurants to enjoy during a visit to this popular San Diego attraction including awesome coffee, finer dining, and family spots.
5 Popular Things to Eat and Drink in San Diego
These things to eat and drink in San Diego are regional specialties worth seeking out while on vacation here.

More About Downtown San Diego

There’s more to San Diego than beaches and sunshine. Downtown San Diego is our vibrant urban center that is a hub of business, pleasure, and our nightlife scene. Find chic boutiques and fine arts, the New Children’s Museum®, Petco Park® (home of the San Diego Padres®), gourmet restaurants, and all the other amenities you’d expect in a thriving metropolitan environment.

Downtown San Diego: A Neighborhood of Neighborhoods

Downtown San Diego isn’t just one destination. You can divide it up into smaller enclaves that each have their own unique vibe and attractions.

Columbia

There’s Columbia, where you’ll find most downtown’s tallest buildings and a lot of the waterfront attractions like the USS Midway Museum® and the Maritime Museum.

Core

The Core neighborhood is the heart of San Diego’s government, as well as a commercial center with some great shopping.

Cortez Hill

Cortez Hill is quieter and mostly residential, though it’s also the home of the historic (and notably tall) El Cortez hotel.

Gaslamp Quarter

The Gaslamp Quarter was the birthplace of downtown and is the epicenter of nightlife in San Diego. Many choose to stay in Gaslamp San Diego hotels for this reason.

Little Italy

Little Italy was originally home to scores of fishers from Italy but is now one of the city’s go-to areas for the best food and drink.

Where to Stay Based on Travel Style & Budget

Which downtown San Diego hotel you choose should really depend on whether you have kids traveling with you, the time of year, what kind of atmosphere you’re looking for, and if you are part of a loyalty program.

In addition to individual hotels listed above, browse lists of downtown hotels some others nearby:

The Best Tours in Downtown San Diego

There are many great ways to explore Downtown San Diego, whether you’re most interested in checking out the USS Midway Museum or taking one of the many San Diego Bay tours that cruise around the harbor. Some of my favorites are the Patriot Jet Boat tour, the dinner and brunch cruises offered by Hornblower Cruises, Flagship Cruises narrated tours and whale watching cruises, and the fast-paced Speed Boat Adventures group tours where you’ll get to drive your own mini speedboat.

If you’d like to check out hotspots on land and on the bay, SEAL Tours has a fleet of amphibious vehicles that depart from Seaport Village and another spot along the Embarcadero. Kids will love the boats decorated with the signature cartoon seal and going on a tour that takes groups through the streets of Downtown San Diego before plunging into the waters of the San Diego Bay.

GoCar Tours lets you drive adorable two-seater go-cart style cars around Downtown San Diego. The cars have built-in GPS, so you always know where you are in the city, where you’re headed, and what you’re passing along the way. It’s a great tour for anyone who wants to see San Diego’s sights at their own pace.

Finally, one of the oldest and most well-known ways to see the city is on Old Town Trolley Tours. These signature green and orange trolleys look like San Francisco streetcars, and the tour routes cover most of the city (passing more than 100 points of interest). A ticket on the Old Town Trolley includes unlimited hop-on/hop-off stops, and you can join the tour at several places Downtown, including Seaport Village and the Gaslamp Quarter.

Need to Know

LANGUAGE
English

CURRENCY
US Dollar

TRANSPORTATION
You can go carless in Downtown thanks to easy proximity to the MTS trolley, Old Town Trolley, Amtrak, and Uber.

BEST TIME TO VISIT
For weather, come between July–October. For price, come in shoulder seasons of September (after Labor Day)–beginning of November or January–mid-March. Avoid mid-July when Comic-Con is in town.