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A local's guide to San Diego's seaside jewel.
Sea lions barking on the rocks, an underwater reserve, world-class beaches, and the best restaurants in the county, all in a walkable village fifteen minutes from downtown. Here's where I take friends and family, and the hotels I book for clients.
Plan Your DaysLa Jolla ActivitiesEverything flows from the coast: the Underwater Park for snorkeling, the Coast Walk Trail for the views, Birch Aquarium, the Sunny Jim Sea Cave. Most of the best activities are free.30+ things to do ›
Our Famous ResidentsLa Jolla CoveThe anchor of the marine reserve. Sea lions on the rocks, snorkeling among Garibaldi and leopard sharks, kayak tours into the sea caves. Bring a camera, stay 50 feet back.Plan your Cove visit ›
Where to Swim and WalkLa Jolla BeachesLa Jolla Shores for swimming and families, Children's Pool for the seal rookery, Shell Beach for tide pools, WindanSea for surf. Each one is for something different.Every La Jolla beach ›
Where and What to EatLa Jolla RestaurantsThe dining punches above its weight for a neighborhood this small. George's at the Cove, Catania, NINE-TEN, the Marine Room, plus everyday spots like Taco Stand. Almost everywhere is family-friendly.All my restaurants ›
More guidesWith kids·Shopping·Free things to do·Breakfast & brunch
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The Village is the walkable heart of La Jolla, and it's where I send most first-time visitors. The Cove, the boutiques along Prospect Street, and most of my favorite restaurants are within a few blocks of each other. If you only have one day here, spend it in the Village.
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La Jolla Shores has the wide, sandy beach with the gentlest surf in town, which is exactly why my family spent so many weekends here when my kids were small. Lifeguards, kayak launches, and a big parking lot make it the easiest beach day in La Jolla.
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Bird Rock, at the south end, is where you'll see more locals than tourists. I come here for the low-key coffee shops and a handful of restaurants worth the short drive. It's almost entirely residential, so lodging is limited.
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WindanSea is the famous surf break, ringed by beach cottages and a few small hotels. It's quiet and residential, and it's where I take visitors at sunset to watch the surfers and the light on the water.
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Not to be confused with the Village above, La Jolla Village is the inland area near UC San Diego, with Whole Foods, the UTC mall, and business hotels. It's where I point people staying for the university or a Torrey Pines tee time.
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La Jolla Farms is the estate neighborhood above Torrey Pines, with ocean views and no hotels. I include it mainly so you can place it on the map, but the drive through it, out toward the Gliderport, is one of the prettiest in town.
La Jolla is for…
Look elsewhere if…
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Request Rates ›La Jolla is pronounced La HOY-ah. Spanish for "the jewel." Locals won't correct you, but they notice.
"The Village of La Jolla" is the walkable downtown by the Cove. "La Jolla Village" is the retail area near UCSD. Read which one your hotel is in.
Free street parking in the Village fills by mid-morning. Use the paid lots near Prospect, or accept that you'll circle. Take hotel parking if offered.
July through October for ocean temperature. September after Labor Day and January through early March for shoulder rates. Avoid major golf-tournament weeks.
20 to 25 minutes from the airport without traffic. Uber is reliable, but a rental car helps because the zoo, Coronado, and the theme parks are all 20+ minutes away.
Look but don't touch. Stay 50 feet from the seals and sea lions, and don't disturb the tide pools. Lifeguards will ask you to back up.
Is La Jolla worth a visit?
For families, beach lovers, or anyone who wants a calmer alternative to downtown San Diego, yes. It's also the right base for snorkeling, kayaking the sea caves, and the Torrey Pines area. Pass on it if you want a walkable bar scene or an all-inclusive resort campus.
Where should I stay in La Jolla?
The Village for walkable access to the Cove and restaurants. La Jolla Shores for a sandy beach and a quieter pace. Torrey Pines if you're golfing or visiting UC San Diego. My full hotel guide is at best La Jolla hotels.
How many days do you need in La Jolla?
A full day covers the Cove, a beach, and lunch in the Village. Two or three days if you want to add the Coast Walk, a kayak tour, and a slower pace. Plenty of visitors base here and day-trip to the rest of San Diego.
How far is La Jolla from downtown San Diego?
About 15 to 20 minutes by car without traffic, closer to 30 in peak summer. The airport is 20 to 25 minutes without traffic.
Is La Jolla walkable?
The Village is. You can park once and reach the Cove, the shops on Prospect Street, the restaurants, and the Coast Walk on foot. Between neighborhoods, the Village to the Shores to Bird Rock to Torrey Pines, you'll want a car.
How do you pronounce La Jolla?
La HOY-ah. The double L works like a Y in Spanish. Locals will know what you mean either way, but if you're giving an address over the phone, spell it out.
What does La Jolla mean?
Most people will tell you it means 'the jewel' in Spanish, which fits, though the actual Spanish word for jewel is joya. The older theory: the Kumeyaay called this area mat kulaaxuuy, which translates to land of holes, possibly for our sea caves, and the Spanish adapted it into La Jolla. Nobody knows for certain, and I find that fitting.
Is La Jolla its own city?
No. La Jolla is part of the City of San Diego, in San Diego County, though the California Coastal Act designates it as a special community and our mailing addresses read La Jolla, CA 92037. Plenty of locals think we should be our own city, but that's a topic for another day.
Where exactly is La Jolla?
Our coastline runs about seven miles, from Pacific Beach in the south to the Del Mar border in the north, with the I-5 as the rough eastern edge. If a postal address says La Jolla (zip codes 92037, 92038, 92039, 92092, and 92093), it's legitimately La Jolla. Courts have even called La Jolla 'a state of mind' with undefined boundaries.
What is the weather like?
Mild and Mediterranean-like: temperatures range from about 50°F to 77°F year-round. The one surprise for visitors is May Gray and June Gloom, when morning cloud cover parks over the coast. July through September is when the sky and the ocean both warm up.
Do any celebrities live in La Jolla?
The most famous was Theodor 'Dr. Seuss' Geisel, whose philanthropy still shapes the town. Alicia Keys bought the famous Razor House, Raquel Welch and Robin Wright went to La Jolla High, and plenty of politicians, scientists, and athletes keep homes here and fly below the radar.
The Stuart Collection at UC San Diego is an impressive collection of 18 public art pieces that are integrated into campus landscape and buildings.
Luckily, our resident scorpions aren’t deadly, but there are precautions to take.
The Grande Colonial is a family friendly hotel in La Jolla with a superb location and exquisite food provided by NINE-TEN restaurant. I recommend it.
