How to spend five sensational days in San Diego

Day One: Neighbourhood Happenings

The urban neighbourhoods of San Diego are easy to explore on foot and they’re the hotspots of local culture. Don’t miss North Park - it’s San Diego’s hipster capital and it’s all about craft. Start with craft coffee (you’ll love Dark Horse Coffee Roasters) and check out the trendy shops along University Avenue and 30th Street, including the Instagram-ready Pigment.

Then there’s Little Italy - San Diego’s buzziest foodie neighbourhood. One section of Little Italy is known as “Top Chefs”, thanks to the various restauranteurs who are alumni of the “Top Chef” TV show. And every Saturday Little Italy is host to the insanely good Mercato Farmers' Market which has more than 200 vendors.

Day Two: Beer Tour

Beer lovers, rejoice. San Diego is the Craft Beer Capital of America, and you won’t be short of opportunities to learn why it has earned that reputation or for spots to stop and try some local suds. San Diego’s signature beer is the West Coast-style IPA - it’s big on hops and big on flavour. And you can easily invent your own bar crawl around areas like 30th Street in North Park (known as Beer Blvd.) or Miramar (also known as Beer-a-Mar), home to some of the best breweries, bars and tasting rooms including the Fall Brewing Company and Belching Beaver.

Or go on an organised city-wide brewery and behind-the-scenes tour. Scavengers Brew Tours will take you on a six-wheel safari bus from brewery to brewery. The ride-along is just as fun as the breweries, and you don’t have to work out who’s going to be the designated driver.

Day Three: Beach Vibes

San Diego’s Beaches Bays are simply awesome and you can feel the laid-back beach vibe wherever you are in the city. But of course, you need to dedicate at least one day to the sands and the sea. Miles upon miles of coastline is filled with people surfing, swimming, playing volleyball, kayaking or just soaking up the rays. 

Head to Pacific Beach for the best beach parties and bar scene in San Diego, just a few steps off the sand. Just north is La Jolla, known as “the jewel of San Diego”. This charming, upscale neighbourhood has a long, picturesque beach (perfect for California dreamin’) with beautiful cliffs, and endless boutique shopping and fine dining.  

Day Four: Mexican Culture

One of the coolest things about San Diego is its proximity to Mexico and the binational influence that can be felt throughout the city in the food, art, music and architecture.

The site of the first Spanish settlement on the U.S. West Coast, Old Town, is a hub of Mexican culture. Try Café Coyote for an Old West era cantina atmosphere serving up giant margaritas and tortillas made right in front of you. But there’s more than just mouth-watering Mexican food. Shop at the Bazaar, stare at colourful works of art and be entertained at the festivals and by loud and proud mariachi bands and Folklorico dancers who can’t help but put a smile on your face.

The Barrio Logan neighbourhood is another epicentre of Mexican-American culture in San Diego. You’ll come across great food at places like ¡Salud! taco shop, and beer with a Mexican twist at Border X Brewing (like the Horchata Golden Stout). And you must visit Chicano Park, which is home to the largest concentration of Chicano murals in the world.  

Day Five: Outdoor Adventures