San Diego travel guide
San Diego Tourism | San Diego Guide
You're Going to Love San Diego
With a population of 1,31 million, San Diego is a must-see destination in California, United States. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything San Diego has to offer.
Where to Eat in San Diego
Downtown is the neighbourhood with the most restaurants in San Diego. These include popular favourites such as The Field Authentic Irish Pub & Restaurant (544 5th Avenue), de Medici Cucina Italiana (815 5th Avenue) and Searsucker - Gaslamp (611 Fifth Ave). If you’re looking for affordable options, George's at the Cove (1250 Prospect Street) and Top of the Market - San Diego (750 North Harbor Drive) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Craft House at Sky Deck (3790 Townsgate Dr) and Leucadia Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant - La Jolla (7748 Regents Rd.) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in San Diego.
When to visit San Diego
Looking for warm weather? Then head to San Diego in August, when the average temperature is 22 °C, and the highest can go up to 25 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 9 °C, with an average temperature of 14 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in February, when precipitation is around 58 mm. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in San Diego, with an average rainfall of 0 mm.
How to Get to San Diego
Plane
San Diego is served by 2 airports: San Diego Airport (SAN) and San Diego Carlsbad-Palomar (CLD). The closest to the city centre of San Diego is San Diego Airport, which is located 4 km from the city centre. Further away is San Diego Carlsbad-Palomar, 47 km from the centre of San Diego. The shortest flight to San Diego from Singapore departs from Singapore and takes around 25h 24m.
Train
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to San Diego. The train journey from San Diego to Anaheim takes 2h 01m and costs around S$ 41 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Fullerton, expect to pay about S$ 42 for a 2h 09m trip. Located 6 km from the city centre, San Diego Old Town is the busiest station in San Diego. Another popular train station is San Diego Santa Fe Depot, located 1.2 km from the centre.
Car
Another option to get to San Diego is to pick up a car hire from Los Angeles, which is about 183 km from San Diego. You’ll find branches of Hertz and Thrifty, among others, in Los Angeles.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to San Diego, including FlixBus, Greyhound and Busbud. From Los Angeles, the bus ride to San Diego takes 209 km and will cost you around S$ 62. From Tijuana, the ticket costs about S$ 26 for a journey of 233 km. The most popular bus station is San Diego La Jolla, located 18 km from the city centre of San Diego. San Diego Seaport Village is also a commonly used station, and is 1.3 km from the city centre.
Airlines serving San Diego
Where to stay in San Diego
From 5-star hotels such as the The Lodge at Torrey Pines to great affordable options like the Residence Inn by Marriott San Diego Downtown/Bayfront, San Diego offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around S$ 262 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to S$ 391 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Gaslamp Hostel and The Beach Cottages. There are also lots of holiday rental options in San Diego, with prices from S$ 109 to S$ 709 per night. Mission Bay is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in San Diego are about 30% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.
Point Loma - In San Diego’s most popular neighbourhood to stay, recommended hotels include Best Western Plus Island Palms Hotel & Marina, Bay Club Hotel & Marina and The Pearl Hotel.
Mission Bay - Here you’ll find travellers’ favourites such as The Wayfarer San Diego, Bahia Resort Hotel and Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa. The average nightly price for a double room in Mission Bay is S$ 260.
Where to stay in popular areas of San Diego
Most booked hotels in San Diego
Hiring a car in San Diego
Hiring a car in San Diego costs S$ 55 per day, on average, or S$ 165 if you want to hire it for 3 days. Alamo, National and Enterprise Rent-A-Car are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to hire a car in San Diego is the Fox branch at 3355 Admiral Boland Way, which is 3 km from the city centre.
Expect to pay S$ 1.42 per litre in San Diego (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between S$ 16.95 and S$ 22.60. The most frequently booked car type in San Diego is Full-size (Volkswagen Jetta or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate car hire (Class Intermediate SUV or similar) is, on average, 62% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.