Top 6 Beaches in San Diego

San Diego is such a beautiful city! I lived in San Diego for 3 years and it is still one of my favorite cities ever. I would go back in a heartbeat! San Diego (aka SD) has so much to offer. There is so much to see and do including some of the most beautiful beaches in Southern California. I’ve been to almost every beach in San Diego and compiled this list of my personal favorites that you must see when you visit!

1. Coronado

Coronado Island is by far my favorite place in all of San Diego! And the beach is my favorite beach hands down. I do have some very special memories here. My husband and I walked the beach on our first date, took engagement photos here, and we also tied the knot here. However, I fell in love with this beach long before I ever met my husband. 

In fact, Coronado was the first beach in San Diego that I ever went to. Coronado Island is among the richest of the rich. Most of the houses on the island are million-dollar mansions. It is also the historic site of the Hotel Del Coronado which is the most spectacular sight by itself. The buildings and scenery are just gorgeous! I love just driving and strolling around the island admiring all the beautiful houses. The Central Beach has sand dunes, rocks and a dog park on the north end.

Downside:

• There isn’t a parking lot by the beach. It is all street parking so during peak times it can be hard to find parking and it is very common to have to park in the neighborhoods and walk to the beach. 
• There is a Naval base on the north part of the island so it can be loud with jets at times. 

2. Del Mar

Del Mar is another of my favorite places in San Diego. Del Mar is in North San Diego and is another richer area more on the quiet side compared to other parts of SD. It is simply beautiful! I love this beach because there are pathways to walk up along the cliffs overlooking the beach.

I went to this beach often solo just to walk/run along the paths to get the views while exercising. It is so peaceful and relaxing! There always seems to be surfers in the water here, so if you like to surf watch this is a good spot for that. There are plenty of benches, a little playground for kids, and grassy areas to hang out. Seagrove Park was my favorite spot. Plus it is close to the shopping center heart of Del Mar village so it’s a quick walk to grab some food or drinks. 

Downside: 

• Not much parking so it can be hard to come by. However, this is a common occurrence in Southern California. Any beach gets crowded easily and it is hard to find parking, so this is quite standard. 
• It is farther north so depending on where you live (or are staying) it can be a bit of a drive. But it is well worth it!

3. Mission Beach

Mission Beach has so much to offer! This was my favorite spot to bike. Belmont Park is located here and contains an old school wooden roller coaster and some rides. There is a bomb boardwalk with so much to do. I used to ride along the boardwalk often, up and down throughout the beaches along here. I could ride all day and just gaze at the ocean/beach.

An added bonus: Mission Bay is right next door and has so many paths to ride/walk with plenty of areas to BBQ and just hang out. If you’re planning a big get together this is your spot! There are a lot of parking lots around the beach and bay so you can usually find a spot if you drive around a little bit even during peak season. 

Downside:

• There is always a lot going on. It is a very popular spot so it always seems to be busy and can be quite crowded. 

4. La Jolla

Located south of Del Mar, La Jolla is another completely gorgeous spot! La Jolla Cove has some beautiful cliffs and a lot of seals. So if you want to see sea life this is your spot! Just be prepared for all the noise the seals make.

La Jolla Shores is a great spot for scuba diving and snorkeling. There are so many neat shops and restaurants along the shores here. It is quite picturesque and a great spot for families. There are some good walking paths and grassy play areas as well along the Cove. 

Downside:

• The parking situation sucks here! This is probably the worst parking out of all the beaches I’ve been to. Unless you arrive at like 4/5am with the scuba divers good luck finding a parking spot anywhere near where you want to be at the beach. 

5. Torrey Pines

Torrey Pines is another gorgeous spot that has the same type of feel as Del Mar. It is located between Del Mar and La Jolla and technically considered part of the Del Mar village. There are two parts of Torrey Pines the State Beach and the State Reserve. The State Reserve has hiking trails and you can hike down to the beach for some more fun. This was my favorite place to go hiking. You get to see beautiful views, exercise and can enjoy the beach after. 

Downside: 

• In the fall of 2018 part of a cliff collapsed at Flatrock and large rocks are still falling. So follow all warnings posted and be cautious.
• If you hike down to the beach, you have to hike your way back up afterward to get back to your car. 

6. Pacific Beach

Pacific Beach (“PB”) is beautiful and has so much to do! This is mainly the college-age area and there are plenty of bars all around. There are also shops and a pier. There is always so much happening. There are some really great hotels right along the beach here. 

Downside:

• PB is the college party type area. If you’re not into the party scene or don’t want to be around that vibe I’d steer clear of this spot, especially at nighttime. 

There are so many great beach options in San Diego and you really can’t go wrong with whatever you choose. Every beach has its pros and cons. I wanted to keep it real for you by including the downsides to each of these beaches.

My husband and I greatly disagree with our favorites (mine being Coronado and his being Pacific Beach). It all kind of just depends on what you are looking to get out of your beach experience. All the beaches have their own unique vibe and depending on what you’re looking for, it will depend on which you like best.

Give these ones a shot and let me know if you agree or disagree with my assessment. Happy exploring!