Hotels in San Diego

San Diego is the second-largest city in California and the eighth-largest in the USA. The town sits on the coast adjacent to the Mexican border, and it's the sister to several large world-famous towns, like Los Angeles and San Francisco. If you're looking for the laid-back Californian surfer lifestyle, you're sure to find it in San Diego, an excellent tourist destination. Bright and breezy, yet wholly relaxed and casual, the city is known for its fabulous beaches and world-famous attractions. Get a tan, soak up some culture, and discover the self-named destination of America's Finest City.

San Diego is a great host to all travelers. It welcomes guests from all over the world, offering a full range of holiday accommodation options. Whether your budget fits a cheap hotel or an all-inclusive luxury resort, you won't be disappointed by the vacation rentals and rooms available in San Diego.

Neighborhoods of San Diego

As you should expect, there's much diversity within the dozens of neighborhoods in San Diego. The most interesting areas are:

• Old Town: Dominated by the State Historic Park and classed as the birthplace of California, this historical place is full of architecture and museums.
• Barrio Logan: Home to Chicano Park and numerous art galleries, this area lies under the San Diego-Coronado Bridge. It is full of antique architecture dating back from the 1800s and onwards.
• Little Italy: This destination offers excellent food, shops, and restaurants, as well as a busy farmers' market. It sits downtown and is well known for hosting numerous festivities.
• North Park: Take a stroll around this hipster neighborhood and soak up the atmosphere. Enjoy the trendy boutiques, modern eateries, art galleries, craft beers, and tasty cocktails.
• Hillcrest: This the city's central LGBT+ district, and it's also the home to the annual Pride Parade. There are some excellent wine bars along the streets, too.

The Beaches are nothing less than spectacular in San Diego, too. Among the best of the collection are:

• La Jolla Cove: This is a wide, sandy beach, but it's also sheltered and overseen by rugged cliffs.
• Coronado Beach: This is a pristine and family-friendly beach dominated by the famous and eponymous Hotel del Coronado.
• Pacific Beach: This beach is gorgeous, laid-back, and super friendly. It also has a popular fishing pier.
• Ocean BeachThis wide, sandy beach has a very long and lovely pier.
• Bermuda Beach: This beach is mainly known only by locals. It's truly a gem with perfect sands and fabulous sunsets.

What to see and do in San Diego

This city has something for every kind of vacationer. Whenever you aren't relaxing on the beach, go to explore some of these top attractions:

• San Diego Zoo: This is one of the highest-rated zoos in the world. It's home to well over 3,000+ animals, plus a range of activities and attractions.
• Birch Aquarium at Scripps: This state-of-the-art facility has incredible marine life exhibitions and is also one of the world's largest marine research bodies.
• Palomar Observatory: This huge observatory sits at 5,617 feet (1,712 meters) and offers incredible views. There are also five giant-sized telescopes that you can use while on a guided tour.
• Legoland California Resort: Lego's very own theme park aims to spark creativity rather than thrill its visitors with roller coasters.
• Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve: This is a beautiful place perfect for relaxing and taking a scenic guided tour of nature.

The city also boasts a diverse collection of museums, including the New Children's Museum, USS Midway Museum, California Surf Museum, and 17 different Balboa Park Museum branches. With such a laundry list of attractions and activities in San Diego, you should jot down all the places you want to explore before arriving in the city.

What to eat in San Diego

The city is identified as one of the USA's best food cities. You'll find American and Californian classics, often with Mexican influence. Favorite foods in San Diego include:

• Carne Asada Fries: Tasty potato fries topped with thin strips of grilled beef, guacamole, cheese, and sour cream. A serving of pico de gallo, a popular dry salsa, is often added to the mix.
• California Burritos: A stuffed tortilla filled with carne asada, cheese, guacamole, and sour cream.
• Fish tacos: Ingredients vary by the eatery, but these tacos are always piled high with fresh fish and loads of fixings.
• Acai Bowls: San Diego originally popularized this 'hipster' dish of superfood.
• Ceviche: A dish featuring the freshest fish that's cooked in citrus juice.
• Donuts: Every kind of donut, with any flavor, filling, or topping, is available in San Diego.
• Craft beer: With over 190+ breweries in the city, beer-lovers will be overwhelmed with choices.

Typical events and festivals in San Diego

Undoubtedly, this city likes to party! Events are happening year-round, with some of the most popular being the following:

• The County Fair: California's largest county fair happens yearly in Del Mar, usually around June and July.
• Big Bay Boom: The city's 4th of July celebration culminates in a massive fireworks display, which fires off from the four barges at San Diego Bay.
• Comic-Con International: This is the largest comic and pop-culture event in the USA. It's held annually around June and July.
• Kids Free San Diego: For an entire week in October, kids can experience anything and everything for free in San Diego.

How to get around in San Diego

Visitors will find great public transportation options to move around in San Diego, including the iconic red San Diego Trolly, the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Train, and the Coaster commuter train. Buses are plentiful, especially during the summer. The Waterfront Shuttle runs between Harbour Island and South Embarcadero. You can also hop on one of the 3-wheeler pedicabs, which offers a very unique and non-motorized way to view the city.

The climate in San Diego

The semi-arid climate gives the city fantastic year-round weather. The warm, dry summers are met by mild winters. The warmest months are from July through October, while the coldest month is January. The months between May and September are often entirely free of rain!