Where to Stay in San Diego, by a Local (Best Areas & Places)

San Diego is a sprawling metropolis consisting of a bustling downtown space and a group of seaside cities, every with its personal distinctive persona and points of interest. 

A lot selection could make deciding the place to remain in San Diego difficult. However by no means concern, as a result of I’m a San Diego native and I’m right here to interrupt down what every neighborhood has to supply and make it simple to decide on which fits you.

However, first, should you’re in a rush, let’s rapidly summarize the general finest locations to remain:

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Finest Locations to Keep in San Diego

In a rush and simply in search of a fast reply on one of the best locations to remain in San Diego? Listed below are my high picks: 

You possibly can’t go fallacious with any of the above lodging choices. However, for more information, let’s do a deep dive into one of the best areas and neighborhoods in San Diego: 

9 Finest Neighborhoods and Areas to Keep in San Diego

San Diego, the southernmost metropolis in California, is understood for its laid-back beachy environment. The downtown beating coronary heart of the town is located on a big bay and is central to most of the metropolis’s most well-known websites and points of interest. 

Journey northwest and the dense metropolis provides approach to small, eclectic seaside cities that vary from sleepy, to bohemian, to luxurious. I’ll go into these particulars for every neighborhood, transferring from south to north, and provide you with an thought of what space would be the finest match for you!

Coronado

👉 Finest Space For Households & Luxurious Seaside Vacation | ✨ Finest Coronado Accommodations: Lodge Del Coronado • 1906 Lodge • Loews Coronado Bay Resort

Coronado Island is a slim peninsula that juts out from the southernmost a part of San Diego and kinds the San Diego Bay. The quasi-island is understood for being a resort city and caters to households that wish to benefit from the high-end accommodations, seaside, and quaint downtown space with out having to journey round an excessive amount of. 

One of many advantages of vacationing in Coronado is that you just received’t want a automobile to discover the realm, which incorporates among the most stunning seashores in San Diego and a quintessential beachside village. You will get to Coronado both by automobile over the picturesque Coronado bridge or by taking the ferry that departs from each Broadway Pier and the fifth Ave Conference Middle.

Professionals of Staying in Coronado Island:

• Seashores, resorts, and downtown are all inside strolling/biking distance
• Stunning, golden seashores
• Nice for households
• Near San Diego Worldwide Airport

Cons of Staying in Coronado Island:

• Accommodations could be expensive
• Not a lot nightlife

Downtown San Diego

👉 Finest Space For Nightlife and Sightseeing | ✨ Finest Downtown San Diego Accommodations: Pendry San Diego • Lodge Indigo San Diego • The U.S. Grant

Downtown San Diego appears out over the picturesque San Diego Bay and is a good place to remain should you’re hoping to do discover one of the best actions San Diego has to supply. For instance, downtown is house to the historic gaslamp quarter, well-known for its bustling nightlife scene, and Little Italy which boasts among the metropolis’s coolest eating places. 

Whilst you received’t be close to the seaside, staying downtown will supply you quick access to most of San Diego’s hottest websites and points of interest corresponding to Seaport Village, Balboa Park, Outdated City San Diego, and the San Diego Zoo, most of which could be reached by taking the trolley.

Professionals of Staying in Downtown San Diego:

• Most handy for fashionable websites/points of interest
• Tons of classy eating places and bars
• Plenty of resort choices in all value ranges
• Near San Diego Worldwide Airport

Cons of Staying in Downtown San Diego:

• The seaside is way sufficient away to require a automobile
• Not the most suitable choice for a quiet, laid again trip

Ocean Seaside

👉 Finest Space For Younger Vacationers Searching for Journey | ✨ Finest Ocean Seaside Accommodations: Samesun Ocean Seaside • The Inn at Sundown Cliffs • Ocean Seaside Lodge

Ocean Seaside (OB) is among the quirkiest beach-side neighborhoods in San Diego and is understood for being bohemian, eclectic, and wild, attracting individuals of the identical description. The realm holds festivities on virtually a nightly foundation, together with impromptu road performances, open-air markets, and festivals, normally concentrated close to the Ocean Seaside Pier.

OB continues to be close to sufficient downtown you could rapidly go to most of the fashionable San Diego websites. It has tons of laid-back bars and eating places and is nice for individuals wanting a energetic and unforgettable seaside trip on a finances, as there are extra inexpensive accommodations and hostels in OB. Be warned that OB has lured many younger vacationers to maneuver to San Diego full time.

Professionals of Staying in Ocean Seaside:

• Proper subsequent to the seaside
• Vigorous nightlife and tons of eccentric bars and eating places
• Nice for youthful vacationers 

Cons of Staying in Ocean Seaside:

• Not many luxurious accommodations
• Not very family-oriented

Mission Seaside

👉 Finest Space For a Informal Seaside Trip | ✨ Finest Mission Seaside Accommodations: Catamaran Resort Lodge and Spa • The Dana on Mission Bay • Ocean Park Inn

Mission Seaside is a slim strip of land that divides the Pacific ocean and Mission Bay. It’s a well-liked vacation spot for laid-back vacationers trying to benefit from the ocean, sunshine, and quite a lot of informal bars and eating places. Whereas the realm actually isn’t luxurious, it does supply one thing for everybody, together with households, youthful crowds, and everybody in between. 

Mission Seaside can be centrally situated, making it simple to go to downtown and surrounding points of interest with out being within the hustle and bustle. The realm additionally gives easy accessibility to each the pacific ocean and Mission Bay, the place you are able to do quite a lot of water actions like paddleboarding, kayaking, and swimming, and can be house to Belmont Park, a beachfront theme park with an vintage rollercoaster situated in South Mission Seaside. 

Professionals of Staying in Mission Seaside:

• Inexpensive and laid again
• Seaside, eating places, and bars inside strolling distance
• Near airport and fashionable websites and points of interest

Cons of Staying in Mission Seaside:

• Not many luxurious eating or resort choices

Pacific Seaside

👉 Finest Space For a Informal Pals Journey | ✨ Finest Pacific Seaside Accommodations: Tower 23 • Pacific Terrace Lodge • The Seaside Cottages

Pacific Seaside (PB) is a bustling seaside city whose many bars draw crowds of younger school college students and up to date graduates. The realm could be very laid again, with most individuals choosing flip-flops and bathing fits throughout the day and practically equally informal costume at night time once they flock to the numerous bars. 

You received’t discover many luxurious choices in PB, however you’ll discover loads of San Diego’s laidback and beachy spirit. I particularly advocate a keep in Pacific Seaside for younger individuals in search of energetic evenings and beachy days.

Professionals of Staying in Pacific Seaside:

• Energetic nightlife and huge number of informal bars and eating places
• Brief stroll to the seaside
• Low-cost accommodations accessible

Cons of Staying in Pacific Seaside:

• Can get crowded throughout excessive tourism season
• A largely youthful crowd that may get rowdy at night time

La Jolla

👉 Finest Space For a Romantic Getaway | ✨ Finest La Jolla Accommodations: La Valencia • La Jolla Shores Lodge • Pantai Inn

La Jolla, often called “The Jewel” is an opulent neighborhood with a few of San Diego’s most costly houses, most beautiful shoreline, and finest luxurious accommodations. The realm is house to La Jolla Shores, one of the beloved seashores in San Diego, in addition to La Jolla Cove, and tide swimming pools. And the downtown boasts quite a few artwork galleries and quite a lot of effective eating choices.

Many of the accommodations in La Jolla are expensive, luxurious, and distinctive, providing a particular expertise to those that keep right here. Plus, most are inside strolling distance of the seaside, and the La Jolla Shores Lodge gives entry to the one non-public seaside in San Diego. That is my primary advice for anybody in search of a romantic getaway or a luxurious seaside resort trip.

Professionals of Staying in La Jolla:

• Tons of pure magnificence to discover
• Plenty of effective eating and procuring
• Many boutique accommodations and luxurious resorts

Cons of Staying in La Jolla:

• Accommodations and eating could be costly
• Not a lot nightlife
• Tough to get out and in of the realm

Del Mar

👉 Finest Space For a Luxurious Seaside Trip | ✨ Finest Del Mar Accommodations: Fairmont Grand Del Mar • L’Auberge Del Mar • Les Artistes Inn

Del Mar is one other high-end space of San Diego, although smaller and fewer ostentatious than La Jolla. The village is quaint and gives each laid-back eating in addition to some extra elegant eating choices, artwork galleries, and beautiful clifftop views of the pacific ocean. 

Among the close by points of interest embrace the world-renowned Torrey Pines Golf Course in addition to the beautiful outside recreation space, Torrey Pines State Park. Del Mar is the proper vacation spot for an opulent but laid-back trip for anybody attempting to flee the hustle and bustle. 

Professionals of Staying in Del Mar:

• Near the seaside
• Near some points of interest (Del Mar Fairground, Torrey Pines, Torrey Pines Golf Course)
• Nice for quiet holidays
• Midway between the zoo and Legoland

Cons of Staying in Del Mar:

• You’ll want a automobile to get to extra fashionable points of interest additional south
• Little to no nightlife
• Could be expensive

Encinitas

👉 Finest Space For a Style of Native Appeal | ✨ Finest Encinitas Accommodations: Inn at Moonlight Seaside • Surfhouse Boutique Lodge • Leucadia Seaside Inn

Encinitas, situated in north county San Diego, is a classy space that toes the road between luxurious and laid-back seaside city. Although the city grew from sleepy to trendy, it’s held on to its small-town vibe which implies you could find each excessive and low-end eating places, bars, and outlets within the downtown space.

As a result of the neighborhood is properly north of the San Diego Airport, it’s not as fashionable a vacationer vacation spot, so crowds are usually smaller than the southern seaside locations. 

Professionals of Staying in Encinitas:

• Much less crowded, much less touristic really feel
• Has selection each high quality and amount of meals and procuring 
• On the seaside

Cons of Staying in Encinitas:

• Removed from fashionable San Diego points of interest
• You’ll want a automobile to go to most different locations

Carlsbad

👉 Finest Space For Recharging and Enjoyable with Household | ✨ Finest Carlsbad Accommodations: Carlsbad Inn Seaside Resort • Omni La Costa Resort and Spa • Carlsbad Seapointe Resort

Carlsbad is among the most northern seaside cities in San Diego County, situated 40 minutes away from San Diego Worldwide Airport. It’s a quiet, beachy,  family-friendly neighborhood with a small downtown space that accommodates some cute eating places, outlets, and bars. It’s one of many locations that households will loyally return to go to yr after yr.

Carlsbad is a good place to trip for these trying to recharge and calm down away from the crowds. It’s additionally the house of Legoland, so if visiting the park is the precedence of your time in San Diego, then you might take into account staying within the picturesque city. 

Professionals of Staying in Carlsbad:

• Plenty of actions for households
• Calm and stress-free environment
• Near Legoland

Cons of Staying in Carlsbad:

• Removed from the airport
• Not a lot nightlife
• You’ll in all probability require a automobile

Suggestions for Staying in San Diego

Plan out your Transportation

San Diego is a big metropolis that takes 45 minutes to drive throughout with out site visitors. So relying on what actions and areas you wish to keep in, you’ll wish to take into consideration what transportation you’ll wish to use. Uber and Lyft could be costly, however should you solely plan on venturing out from the place you’re staying a number of instances, it may very well be a superb possibility.

For those who’re staying downtown, you might be able to take the trolley to a lot of the fashionable close by websites and points of interest. However should you’re staying farther north or wish to discover a number of areas talked about above, it’ll in all probability be price renting a automobile. 

👉 Learn Subsequent: The Finest Issues to do in San Diego (By a Native)

When to Come to San Diego

The very best seaside climate in San Diego is in late summer season into early fall when temperatures attain into the excessive 70s close to the coast. Summer season is the excessive season for tourism, so if you would like one of the best climate with out the crowds, plan your go to for mid-September. 

For a extra detailed information on instances to go to the town, take a look at my article on one of the best time of yr to go to San Diego. For those who do resolve to go to in Summer season, you should definitely guide your lodging a minimum of 6 months prematurely as they replenish quick.

Strive the Mexican Meals Joints

San Diego has among the most unbelievable Mexican meals north of the border (I could also be a bit biased about this, however I stand by my opinion). The very best meals tends to come back from the smallest and most unassuming taco outlets, so don’t let appearances cease you from attempting the meals. Do because the locals do and order a California Burrito. 

A few of my favourite locations embrace Oscar’s, The Taco Stand, Lola’s, and Roberto’s. 

Solutions to Steadily Requested Questions About San Diego

The Pendry is a high resort possibility in Downtown because it has nice eating choices and a rooftop pool. Or, for a barely much less huge metropolis environment however with most of the plus sides of staying in Downtown, take a look at North Park, which is among the hottest San Diego Neighborhoods for younger skilled residents.

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Whether or not you’re in search of a quiet seaside getaway, or to let unfastened at some native breweries or bars, one among San Diego’s many neighborhoods is certain to be a superb match. Hopefully, this information has given you some perception into the place to remain in San Diego! 

For those who’re planning on an extended keep in San Diego and wish to discover surrounding areas, check out my information on day journeys from San Diego!