https://https://uk.trip.com/toplist/tripbest/recommend/san-diego/best-things-to-do/100000018617
Best Things to Do
Top 20 Best Things to Do in San Diego [2025]
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USS Midway Museum
4.8
/5
1544 reviews
8.8
From LAK 762276.27
Based on 25,858 reviews
Downtown San Diego | 1.7 km from downtown
Phone +1-619-5449600
Address: 910 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 3-4 hours
Featured in 2025 Americas 50 – Best Things to Do
Highlights:
In-depth tours with guides in 6 languages
Explore inside USS Midway Museum
Saved by 198 users906 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
It is very convenient to buy tickets on Ctrip. After the ticket is issued, it is very convenient to scan the code with the electronic ticket to enter, without making an appointment in advance. The Midway is very fun and worth going. My dad had a lot of fun. The scenery at the seaside is also good. It is less than 5 minutes away from the statue of the kiss of the century.
Although the tickets are quite expensive, you can save 3 US dollars per person if you buy them in advance, but it is no problem to buy them now. Ctrip is quite fast to buy them. Just give a PDF and scan the code on the spot. It is a very fun experience, very interactive, and there is a small theater to watch. I almost cried when I watched it. There are also some exhibition halls opened after the epidemic, which are well designed. Remember to queue up to go to the tower to have a look. There are many retired veterans with yellow hats inside, which are very honorable. It is very big and easy to get lost. We walked around for 3 hours and still had no time to listen to the audio guide. The audio guide is available in Chinese, but it is best to bring a 3.5mm headset.
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Port of San Diego
4.7
/5
248 reviews
8.8
Based on 23 reviews
Balboa Park | 2.9 km from downtown
Phone +1 619-686-6200
Address: 3165 Pacific Hwy, San Diego, CA 92101, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 3-4 hours
Featured in 2025 Global 50 – Water fun & Cool Retreats
Highlights:
Navy base & seal habitat cruise
360° view of harbor city
Verified user reviews
San Diego is the second largest city in California and the eighth largest city in the United States. It is located on the San Diego Bay at the southern end of the state, 20 kilometers south of the Mexican border. The urban area covers an area of 829 square kilometers and has a population of more than 1.37 million, with many Mexican and Spanish descendants. According to statistics from 2015-2016, white people accounted for 64% of the population, Latin Americans and Mexicans accounted for 32%, and Asians accounted for 10%. The metropolitan area includes nearby beaches and highlands, with an area of 11,020 square kilometers; the metropolitan area includes 18 small cities with a total population of more than 2.8 million, most of whom live in areas not far from the coast. San Diego County is famous for its natural landscape. You can see beaches, forests and deserts of different styles in a day's drive. There are more than 60 golf courses, many national parks and the Columbus National Forest.
San Diego's famous tourist attractions include the Harbor Village, Convention Center, Cypress Park, Art Museum, Zoo, Spanish Village, etc.
The Port of San Diego was built in 1542, became a Spanish military fortress in 1769, belonged to Mexico in 1834, was occupied by the United States in 1846, was established as a city in 1850, and was built into a US naval base in 1920. After 1980, it became the main support base for the US 3rd Fleet. The eastern part of the naval base is located in the middle of the bay, with a pier line of 16.5 kilometers and a water depth of 6 to 11 meters. The western part of the base is located in the north of Coronado Island, at the entrance of the Port of San Diego, with an amphibious base and a naval air station. The headquarters of the US Navy's 3rd Fleet and many of its troops are stationed here, and more than half of the fleet's ships include
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SeaWorld San Diego
4.6
/5
720 reviews
8.4
From LAK 1826422.64
Based on 10,439 reviews
Misson Bay / Loma Heights | 8.5 km from downtown
Phone +1 619-222-4732
Address: 500 Sea World Dr., San Diego, CA 92109, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-1 day
Selected for 2 years in a row
Highlights:
Dolphin & sea lion show
Interact with manta rays inside
Saved by 239 users341 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Overall, this place is pretty good. But compared to Hang Lung, it might be a little different. Generally speaking, there are fewer people on weekends or holidays, and there are fewer performances. Some facilities will not be open when it rains or the weather is bad. In short, it's up to you to choose.
Business Hours: 9:am-9pmAddress: SeaWorld San Diego, 500 Sea World Dr., San Diego, CA 92109Reasons to Recommend: If you love dolphins and sea animals you will love this place!. I enjoyed my visit here at sea world because I touched a dolphin for the first time and it was awesome.
No.
4
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San Diego Zoo
4.7
/5
179 reviews
7.5
From LAK 1567987.10
Based on 30,799 reviews
Balboa Park | 2.4 km from downtown
Phone +1-619-231-1515
Address: 2920 Zoo Dr, San Diego, CA 92101, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-1 day
Selected for 2 years in a row
Highlights:
Elephant shows & bird flights
See China's star pandas up-close
Saved by 151 users112 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Very good zoo. The pandas are quite fat and worth seeing. The other animals are also very lively. The parking lot is free. There are also many things to eat and drink inside. Different shops have different characteristics. You must leave enough time, otherwise you will not be able to finish the tour.
Easy to book and use - saved me time from standing in lines! Such an awesome place to visit
No.
5
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San Diego Zoo Safari Park
4.7
/5
78 reviews
7.0
From LAK 1567987.10
Based on 5,096 reviews
45.4 km from downtown
Phone +1 619-231-1515
Address: 15500 San Pasqual Valley Rd, Escondido, CA 92027, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-3 hours
Featured in 2025 Americas 50 – Family-Friendly Attractions
Highlights:
Multiple animal shows ongoing
Interactive bird feeding in Nairobi
58% positive reviews
Verified user reviews
If your kids have a fascination with animals, this park is a good place to immerse them in a world of wildlife and adventure. While parking can occasionally present a challenge, the walk to the main entrance is quite manageable and convenient.To enhance your experience, I highly recommend purchasing tickets online in advance, as this can save you valuable time and spare you the hassle of waiting in line. Additionally, the park is accommodating for families.
Had a blast! Taking a tour to see the animals was so much fun! It is a lot of walking, and if you go during the spring or summer, bring a hat. All that said, it's still a good time, and the memories alone are worth it! Highly recommend you go.
No.
6
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Balboa Park
4.8
/5
158 reviews
6.8
Based on 13,151 reviews
Balboa Park | 2.4 km from downtown
Phone +1 619-239-0512
Address: San Diego, CA, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-4 hours
Highlights:
Cross-century treasures at SDMA
Spanish Revival architecture from 1915
Saved by 115 users35% positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Balboa Park: Balboa Park, covering an area of 4.9 square kilometers, is a famous cultural park in the center of San Diego, USA. It is named after the Spanish explorer Vasco de Balboa. Balboa Park is the former site of the 1915 World's Fair in California. The city of San Diego built many magnificent museum buildings for the World's Fair. The complex castle buildings not only reflect the characteristics of the Spanish colonial Renaissance period that was popular at the time, but also reveal a strong Gothic, Baroque and Rococo style. There are 14 museums, four theaters, a complex sports field, a rose garden and a Japanese garden in the park, adding brilliant colors to the park. The famous San Diego Zoo is also located in the park. Most of the venues in the park have been demolished, leaving only a few to be preserved forever, so that future generations can imagine the grand occasion of the year. In 1977, Balboa Park was rated as a national historic landmark.
Balboa Park is a verdant oasis in the heart of San Diego, just a few minutes' walk from downtown. The park is home to 15 different museums covering aerospace, sports, fine arts, folk art, history and dinosaurs. Admission to the park is free during some periods, and activities are cheap. The park has playgrounds and running tracks, and visitors can enjoy sports such as hiking and biking. Here, you can explore the reflecting pool, visit the botanical gardens, stroll on the sidewalks, admire the Spanish architecture and enjoy a picnic. On weekends, children love to play all day on the miniature train, which is covered with images of various animals.
No.
7
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Unconditional Surrender
4.8
/5
36 reviews
6.0
Marina District | 1.7 km from downtown
Address: 43-99 Tuna Ln, San Diego, CA 92101, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-2 hours
Highlights:
Victory Kiss sculpture & USS Midway
Iconic WWII victory photo sculpture
83% positive reviews
Verified user reviews
It was interesting to learn about the story behind the huge statue next to the Midway aircraft carrier. The scenery was also very good, and the California sun was shining on the sea, making it hard to open your eyes.
On the west coast of the Pacific Ocean, the beautiful port of San Diego, the water and sky are one color, and the scenery is picturesque. The most eye-catching landscape is the "Kiss of Victory" sculpture on the seashore.
At noon on August 15, 1945 (August 14, local time in the United States), Emperor Hirohito of Japan broadcast to all of Japan, announcing his acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration and unconditional surrender to the Allies.
The news soon spread to the United States, and New Yorkers took to the streets. Times Square was crowded with people celebrating the victory of the war and the advent of peace. A sailor couldn't help hugging a female nurse who he had never met and kissed her to express his inner joy. Alfred Eisenstaedt, a photographer for the American Life magazine, seized the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and took a picture of the exciting kiss.
This photo of a sailor and a female nurse kissing, named "Kiss of Victory", has become a classic handed down from generation to generation.
The "Kiss of Victory" statue, which was made based on a photo, was installed in Tuna Harbor Park in San Diego Harbor in February 2007, and is located next to the USS Midway aircraft carrier across the water.
Beside the azure sea and the green trees, the 7.62-meter (25-foot) tall statue is elegant and lifelike. An endless stream of tourists pose and take photos, sharing the joy of victory...
No.
8
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La Jolla Cove
4.7
/5
183 reviews
5.8
Based on 13,827 reviews
18.5 km from downtown
Address: San Diego, CA 92037, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 3-5 hours
No.2 of Water fun & Cool Retreats in San Diego
Highlights:
Kayak & surf in clear bay
Watch wild seals play & rest
153 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
La Jolla Cave Coast is the most beautiful beach in San Diego. The beach here is crystal clear, the blue sky and the azure blue sea are breathtakingly beautiful. When the tide is out, you can clearly see caves of various sizes and shapes, providing a different view.
La Jolla is a famous attraction in San Diego. You can see the most beautiful Pacific Ocean here. It is the habitat of seabirds, sea lions and seals. It is also a good place for people to swim and surf. It is worth staying here for a whole day.
No.
9
Old Town
4.6
/5
241 reviews
5.6
Based on 1,893 reviews
San Diego Old Town | 5.9 km from downtown
Phone +1-619-656-4721
Address: San Diego, CA, USA
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Highlights:
Perfect for a relaxing walk
Free live shows & theater interaction
26% positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Located in the heart of downtown San Diego, Old Town San Diego is a beautiful and fun historic town that was the birthplace of California, an early Spanish colony, and the first European settlement. There are more than 150 shops, award-winning restaurants, 17 museums and historical sites. In addition, there are free live performances, professional theaters, artisans, galleries and shops within walking distance.
The southern U.S. city of San Diego is a border city close to Mexico and an important military port. The Mexican town on the border here is a scenic tourist destination with Mexican style. If you have the chance, you should come and see it.
No.
10
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Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
4.4
/5
18 reviews
5.3
Based on 2,146 reviews
9.2 km from downtown
Phone +1 619-525-8213
Address: Ladera St, San Diego, CA 92107, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
No.3 of Water fun & Cool Retreats in San Diego
Highlights:
Boardwalk sunset & coastline views
Panoramic sea & city views
Verified user reviews
San Diego is one of the border cities on the U.S. coastline. It is very close to Mexico and has many port resources. This cliff park is a very steep place where you can enjoy the sunset show in the evening.
Here you can watch the sunset, the water connecting the sky and the water, the sun bathing in the water, the blue sky, the clear water, the red sun, the pink clouds, and the seabirds flying around. For more than an hour, you can immerse yourself in the unparalleled visual feast.
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