Best Areas to Stay in San Diego, California

Mission Beach is located next to the Pacific Ocean, north of Belmont Park.

This area is ideal for beach lovers since it perfectly sums up the Californian lifestyle.

The leisure at Mission Beach revolves around Belmont Park, where you can get on the Giant Dipper roller coaster or take a walk along the waterfront.

Another great attraction near this district is the famous SeaWorld, a water park with incredible animal shows, which makes it one of the best areas to stay in San Diego for family trips.

The gastronomic offer of this area is highlighted by street food, hot dog stands and gourmet restaurants where you can taste delicious dishes.

Access to other San Diego neighborhoods from Mission Beach is possible through the bus network available along Mission Boulevard.

Mission Beach, has many beach-style bars, perfect for a few drinks and tapas in the late afternoon.

If you’re looking to rest or go fishing, south of Mission Beach offers a quiet environment for fishing or to relax.

Pacific Beach is a neighborhood of San Diego that is located north of the city, between La Jolla and Mission Beach.

In addition to being a popular beach for tourists and surfers in California, this area stands out for its young vibe.

During the day, you can have lunch at the restaurants on the dock, buy souvenirs or go to the beach and, at night, get to know the nightclubs and bars located along Garnet Ave and Mission Blvd.

Therefore, this is one of the best areas to stay in San Diego for nightlife.

Pacific Beach has good location and transport connections, with bus stops along Garnet Ave, Mission Blvd, and Grand Ave.

Gaslamp Quarter is the historic district of San Diego and is located within the Downtown of the city.

This neighborhood is known for hosting events and celebrations such as the Mardi Gras, the ShamRock and St. Patrick’s Day, as well as housing museums and being the seat of the city council.

Gaslamp Quarter is located to the south of the city and is the epicenter of shopping, restaurants, and nightlife of the city, in addition to being one of the best areas to stay in San Diego.

Near this district is the Convention Center where the famous Comic-Con is held annually.

In addition, staying in Gaslamp Quarter allows you to enjoy the Californian cuisine, listen to live jazz, drink craft beer on terraces or visit a couple of casinos.

Gaslamp Quarter is very pedestrian friendly and, through its streets, you can witness a variety of shops, particularly along Broadway, Fourth, and Fifth Avenue.

Downtown is among the best areas to stay in San Diego, California, because it is the financial and business epicentre of the city.

This area is divided into nine districts where many of the attractions for visitors of the city are found, as well as shops, restaurants, clubs, bars and a wide variety of hotels.

Due to its good location, 20 minutes by car from the airport, Downtown San Diego has buses to connect with other districts, as well as the Green and Blue lines of the trolley.

In this area, you can also attractions such as the USS Midway Maritime Museum, or the Petco Park stadium. On the other hand, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Balboa Park, home of the San Diego Zoo, are nearby.

Staying in Downtown San Diego is recommended for travelers who want to be close to the city’s main attractions.

La Jolla is a area of ​beautiful beaches, with a variety of outdoor activities that can be done.

This San Diego neighborhood is also home to young entrepreneurs and students because it houses UCSD.

La Jolla, like Pacific and Mission Beach, has beautiful beaches that are filled by locals and tourists during the summer

Because of its location by the beach, the most popular activities in this neighborhood include surfing, diving, and kayaking.

The aquarium, the Jolla Playhouse, and the restaurants are among the most visited places in La Jolla.

Its streets adorned with palm trees, mansions and luxury hotels give La Jolla a exclusive atmosphere and make it one of the best areas to stay in San Diego.

La Jolla has few bus stops, so it is advisable to rent a car to move to other areas of San Diego from here.

This area, located south of San Diego, is popular with the LGBT community, which gives the district a very welcoming energy.

Hillcrest, with streets full of shops, is located near Balboa Park, North Park and South Park.

Hillcrest is one of the best areas to stay in San Diego because of its variety of restaurants, cafes, bars, clubs, vintage and fashion stores.

By staying in Hillcrest, you can take long walks through the picturesque district, as its streets are pedestrian-friendly. In addition, if you plan to visit in July, you can enjoy the biggest event San Diego: The annual gay pride parade.

Hillcrest has bus connections to Downtown San Diego, as well as Mission Valley tram stops.

Another event that takes place in this area is the CityFest, a festival full of street food, live entertainment and craft beer.