Is San Diego Walkable? How to Get Around San Diego (2024)
If you’re visiting San Diego for the first time, you may be wondering how to get around. Is San Diego walkable or does everyone need to have a car? What is the public transportation in the city like? As someone who lived in San Diego for four years, I’ve got answers for your transportation needs and a few ideas for making the most of your time!
Is San Diego Walkable?
The short answer is kinda. San Diego County is split up into 18 different cities. Within the city of San Diego, there are lots of neighborhoods. For example, there’s La Jolla, Gaslamp Quarter, Little Italy, University, etc. If you’re just traveling around a neighborhood within San Diego, it’s fairly walkable. There are hefty hills in some areas, but it’s not crazy like San Francisco or Seattle where you feel like you’ve fought for your life to get to the top.
But, if you want to travel between neighborhoods, you’ll likely want to drive your car or take public transportation. After parking your car or getting to where you need to go, you can easily walk around the neighborhood and get your errands done on foot!
And for better comparison, think of San Diego being like Nice, France. It’s a popular coastal destination that’s pretty easy to get around on foot if you aren’t traveling far. But, there’s decent public transportation if you prefer that; sometimes, you’ll have to ascend the occasion hill!
What Parts of San Diego Are Walkable?
Since there are so many communities, I won’t try to list them all here. But, I will provide you with the top five most walkable areas in San Diego! First up is Downtown San Diego. Here, you’ll be able to explore the Gaslamp Quarter, Little Italy, East Village, and more. All these neighborhoods are within walking distance from each other, so it’s super easy to get around! And there are some seriously delicious food places and fun bars!
Next is La Jolla, the part of San Diego that I called home for 4 years of my life. This part of San Diego is the wealthiest area, so you’ll find an abundance of ultra-nice houses, the UC San Diego campus, and lots of university student housing! The main street, Prospect Street, is lined with galleries, boutiques, and eateries, all of which are within walking distance!
Thirdly there’s Coronado. This island town just across the bay from downtown San Diego is filled with charming shops, restaurants, and hotels. The best way to get around is on foot as it’s super easy to explore the entire island in a day.
Fourth is Hillcrest! This neighborhood is known for being San Diego’s nightlife and restaurant hub as well as being super LGBTQ+ friendly! It’s also home to lots of boho boutiques, second-hand stores, and craft beer bars. I’d recommend visiting this area on the weekend if you’re keen on checking out the farmer’s market!
And lastly, there’s Mission Beach. This beach community offers an awesome boardwalk that runs along the coast with eateries, shops, and amusement parks at nearly every turn. The boardwalk is where everyone hangs out, making it great for people-watching and meeting new friends! Again, these are just a few of the many walkable spots around San Diego!
Getting Around San Diego
There are tons of different ways of getting around San Diego. Your first option is obviously to drive with your car. But since you’re reading this post, I’ll assume you’re visiting the city without your car…
However, if you’re still interested in driving yourself around or traveling with a group, you can easily rent a car. For rental cars, my company of choice is Discover Cars. It allows you to easily check out rental cars available from multiple local companies. And if you’re flying into the city, what’s nice about Discover Cars is that you can set the pick-up point to be the San Diego International Airport. This way, you don’t have to find the car at some other location like you would with other companies.
✅ 🚗 Click here to check rates and availability for renting cars through Discover Cars.
How to Get Around San Diego Without a Car
If you aren’t interested in driving yourself around, you can easily take advantage of the decent public transportation network in San Diego. First, you’ll want to download the PRONTO app onto your phone. The PRONTO fare system is the official public transportation network for San Diego. Through the app, you add fare funds that allow you to ride around on the buses, the San Diego Trolley, and the COASTER train.
When you’re ready to use one of the above public transportation services, you just tap your phone at the station kiosks. Think of it like a contactless credit card. Afterward, you’ll be all set! And to give you a better explanation of the individual services, I’ve described them below.
Buses
The first option is to ride the buses. Like most cities with decent public transportation, the buses go all over the city. You just might have to switch lines if you are riding between different neighborhoods. And speaking from personal experience…During my first couple of years of university, I didn’t have a car. Thus, I relied on taking the bus everywhere and never had an issue.
They are fairly clean, safe, and 9 times out of 10 on time. Furthermore, because San Diego is a famous surf city, the bus drivers more often than have no issues if you need to bring your surfboard on the bus! So there’s no excuse to surf the amazing waves San Diego is so famous for!
San Diego Trolley
If you’re staying in the Downtown San Diego area, a fun and convenient way to get around is via the San Diego Trolley! The trolleys are orange and green open-air “cars.” They stop at various locations all around downtown and even include stops as far as San Ysidro, which is about 3 miles from the Mexican border.
Most recently, (unfortunately right after I graduated) the San Diego Trolley added the UC San Diego Blue Line. This means the trolley runs from downtown to northern parts of San Diego, such as La Jolla, and the ever-popular Westfield UTC shopping area. This means you can take the trolley from the Southern parts of San Diego to as far north as La Jolla. You’ll get to neighborhoods faster than taking the bus, but have less mobility within neighborhoods than a bus.
There’s also a highly popular San Diego trolley tour that I recommend taking if you’re trying to make the most of a short amount of time. It’s a hop-on-hop-off trolley tour that includes 11 different stops. As you ride around, there’s also a guide giving live commentary and informing you about the history of the area. Some of the trolley stops are the Maritime Museum of San Diego, Seaport Village, Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo, etc.
COASTER
Now if you’re interested in traveling further, such as to Solana Beach, Oceanside, Encinitas, or Carlsbad, I recommend taking the COASTER. Essentially, the COASTER is a train system that operates from downtown San Diego to the northern beach communities! It goes as far south as the Santa Fe Depot, and as far north as Oceanside.
Riding the train’s entire route takes about an hour, and you’ll get to enjoy lots of incredible scenic views! Plus, riding the COASTER is pretty affordable and even free for kids 5 and under. Thus, if you’re traveling with a family and on a tight budget, this is a nice way to get around.
But, seriously, one of my favorite weekend activities while living in San Diego was just admiring the ocean views while going up the coast. Not once did I get tired or bored of the views. And now that I no longer live there, I miss all the gorgeous ocean views dearly. 🥲
San Diego Airport to Downtown
If you’re flying into San Diego Airport and trying to get downtown without renting a car, your best bet is to just call an Uber or Lyft. It’s definitely the cheapest option if you’re traveling as a pair or as a solo traveling.
✅ 🚗 Sign up for Uber or Lyft here for 50% off your first two rides
What to Do in San Diego: 9 Awesome Things
With the above information, you hopefully have a decent idea of how to get around San Diego. Now to ensure your time is a blast, below, I have 9 activities that I loved doing while living in San Diego! Because let me tell you, there are literally hundreds of amazing activities and fun tours to do while visiting!
1. Sunset Sail in San Diego
One of the best things to do in San Diego is definitely a sunset sail! You can go out on a one or two-hour private sailboat tour with up to six people. On the tour, you’ll get to see some of the most amazing sunset views ever. Plus, if you’re lucky you might even spot some dolphins or other ocean life!
✅ ⛵️ Check rates and availability for this highly-rated Sunset Sail in San Diego tour!
2. Private Whale Watching
From mid-December until April, about 20,000 gray whales migrate along the California coast. So if you’re in San Diego during the wintertime, a pretty cool experience is private whale watching on a boat. You can book a private tour and take off right from central San Diego. My family did this recently, and it’s almost indescribable seeing these majestic creatures up close.
✅ 🐋 Check rates & availability for the 3-hour private whale-watching tour my family loved
3. Food Tours
San Diego is home to a huge variety of different food cuisines. And unless you plan on staying in the city for a few months, it’s impossible to experience it all… But, one way to ensure you taste a good selection is by taking a food tour! I haven’t personally done this food tour, but friends I’ve hosted have… And let me tell you, they were raving about the experience!
During this fun food tour, you’ll spend 2.5 hours hearing stories about San Diego’s version of the red-light district, sampling drinks at three different places, and trying delicious food at four restaurants within the Gaslamp Quarter! It’s something that’s definitely on my list of to-do’s once I move back to San Diego!
✅ 🌯 Click to see everything included in this food tour through the Gaslamp Quarter
4. San Diego Segway Tours
Another fun way to explore San Diego that doesn’t involve a car or public transportation is by segway! There are a couple of San Diego segway tours to choose from. This one is only 1.5 hours and takes early in the morning so you have the rest of your day to yourself! And the perk of doing a segway tour is that you’re able to see so much more than you would just walking around.
5. Go Surfing
As someone who has been surfing for over a decade now… I can assure you that San Diego has some of the best surf, especially when there’s good swell and the surf is pumping. And what’s nice about San Diego is that there are so many beaches to choose from. Whether you’re just starting or an experienced surfer, you can find the perfect surf break that suits your level.
Plus, since there’s such a strong surf culture, there are plenty of places to rent boards or take lessons. So if you’ve been wanting to learn to hang ten, now’s the time! I even have a post detailing all the best beginner breaks, so feel free to check that out.
6. Balboa Park
Always a crowd-favorite activity is walking around Balboa Park. This is a great place to explore and learn more about the history of San Diego. You can spend an entire day strolling around the gardens, admiring the architecture, and visiting the numerous museums.
My favorite space that I suggest all first-timers make an effort to visit is the Japanese Friendship Garden. Everything looks gorgeous and so perfectly manicured — you can’t help but feel grounded and at peace.
But if you’re in the city for a limited amount of time, you may want to consider doing a Balboa Park tour. They last about 2 hours and a local guide gives you all the inside information about the different museums, recommendations on which are best, and just further insight into the history of Balboa Park!
7. Hiking at Torrey Pines State Park
If you want to immerse yourself in nature, then you should check out Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. Here, you can get lost in the beautiful trails that traverse the entire park and offer sweeping views of the coastal bluffs. All the hikes range from easy to medium in difficulty. Thus, if you’re traveling with little ones, this is a very doable activity to complete with the whole family.
You’ll likely see lots of runners and bikers. In fact, this is the place I ran to every week during college to escape all the external stresses of life and school. So, I can personally confirm that this is an awesome place for some relaxation. Just beware that it’s quite hilly if you start from the bottom parking lot.
Oh, and I recommend parking along North Torrey Pines Road where parking is free if you can. It does get crowded so you may have to wait for someone to leave, but it’s an alternative if you don’t want to pay for the official beach parking lot.
🌅 PRO TIP: If you like admiring views from coastal bluffs, make your way to Gliderport! It’s right next to the UC San Diego campus and amazing for watching surfers and the sunset!
8. Visit La Jolla Cove
A spot that I recommend to all my friends visiting San Diego is La Jolla Cove. It’s very touristy but with good reason — I promise you won’t be disappointed! 🤠 At La Jolla Cove, you’ll find all the trendy cafés, charming restaurants, cute boutique shops (& some fancy ones), and the BEST gelato! 🍨 The name of the gelato spot that was a major source of happiness for me during college is Bobboi Natural Gelato. It’s a little expensive but seriously so good that it’s worth the price.
And just down the hill from Bobboi, you’ll be able to say hello to all the California Sea Lions and Seals! My friends and I love watching them lounge around the rocks, bask in the sun, and play with each other. Just please respect them and don’t try to pet them or encroach on their space. I’ve seen too many people try to take pictures with them and disrespect their natural habitat.
9. Tour from San Diego to Mexico
Lastly, with San Diego being 30 minutes from the Mexico border, you can easily day trip to a whole new country! Understandably, this isn’t something for everyone… but if you have your ID/passport with you, experiencing the vibrant culture of Tijuana is something you won’t want to miss!
During this particular tour, you’ll have to cross the border by yourself, but it’s pretty easy. Literally, it takes just a couple of minutes to pass through. Then you’ll meet your guide right on the Mexican side of the border and begin your day! Some of the activities include trying local foods, visiting historical sites, tequila tastings, and of course, taking in the local culture! So, if you’re up for an adventure, consider doing a day trip to Tijuana if you’ve never been!
✅ 🇲🇽 Click to see what you can expect during a day trip to Tijuana, Mexico!
Where to Stay in San Diego
And if you’re looking for places to stay, here are a few places I recommend checking out based on my past stays in San Diego and extensive research! I know we don’t always have time or the will to research hundreds of hotels, so hopefully, this helps ease the burden!
Low-Costs Stays
- HI San Diego Downtown: Popular 3-star hotel/hostel in Gaslamp Quarter | ⭐️ 8.1 / 10
- Best Western Plus Bayside Inn: Centrally located 3-star hotel near SD airport | ⭐️ 8.3 / 10
Mid-Range Stays
- Sheraton San Diego: Nice 4-star hotel with waterfront views & 6 restaurants | ⭐️ 7.8 / 10
- Catamaran Resort & Spa: Wonderful 4-star resort near Mission Beach | ⭐️ 7.8 / 10
- InterContinental San Diego: Top-notch 4-star hotel near Little Italy | ⭐️ 9 / 10
Luxury Stays
- Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego: Towering 4-star hotel in Gaslamp Quarter | ⭐️ 9 / 10
- The Lodge at Torrey Pines: Private and charming 5-star hotel near La Jolla | ⭐️ 9.2 / 10
Visiting San Diego: FAQs
San Diego is well-known for its numerous inviting beaches, amazing surf culture/scene, year-round incredible weather, tasty food, and laid-back atmosphere. The city is essentially a giant outdoor playground for lots of activities. And, one of my favorite parts is that although San Diego is quite large, it also has small-town vibes, similar to Montreal. You have lots of green spaces to escape to, tons of events are always going on, and 90% of the time, traffic isn’t bad! 😅
San Diego County is massive, but generally, most areas are relatively safe. Just lock doors, keep valuables out of sight in cars, and avoid leaving important belongings unattended. If you’re at the beach and need to leave your keys on shore, bring a small bag and bury the bag under a rock!
In general, I think La Jolla is a walkable city. You may have to use public transit to get to some places like La Jolla Cove. But, it’s easy enough to walk from residential areas to La Jolla Village Square or other essential shops.
Compared to beaches on the East Coast or Northern California, like in Santa Cruz, San Diego beaches are warmer. But looking at beaches in Tahiti or Guam, where they experience year-round warm tropical weather…then San Diego beaches are colder. You can always check the daily surf report for water temperatures and live feeds of the beach conditions.
Technically yes. While I was at university, once or twice, I got tsunami warnings. But, fret not, it’s nothing like the Tsunami in the movie The Impossible! 😅
Yes, you can! The distance between San Francisco and San Diego is about 500 miles (~800 km) and takes around 8 hours, depending on traffic!
Wrap-Up: Is San Diego Walkable? Getting Around San Diego in 2024
So is San Diego walkable? The answer is yes and no. Within the individual neighborhoods, it’s fairly easy to walk around. But if you’re traveling across neighborhoods, it’s better to use a car or opt for some public transportation! Either way, with all the transit options, getting around San Diego shouldn’t be too much of a problem! And with all the fun excursions, activities, and delicious food scenes, it’s a city that everyone should experience at least once…or five times! 😉
See Southern California
- 🌸 Carlsbad: Visiting San Diego in the Spring? Consider wandering around the massive flower fields in Carlsbad!
- 🐐 San Diego: Love animals and yoga? A must-try activity at least once in your life is goat yoga! Read about this awesome opportunity that’s available in San Diego!
