San Diego is the Most Popular Girl of American cities: effortlessly pretty, good at almost everything, and somehow not a snob about any of it. Her charms are many, including some of the best weather on planet Earth.Hugging 70 miles of coastline on the Pacific, just north of the Mexican border, the city’s natural beauty starts with its beaches and bays. But visitors can also explore cliffs and caves, badlands and canyons, sage-covered hills, and the Laguna Mountains—in fact, this county is the most biodiverse in the continental U.S. Even without setting foot in the city’s world-famous zoo, you may spot falcons, parrots, dolphins, or harbor seals in the wild (you can also watch Navy SEALs train on the beach, if that’s more your speed).It is no wonder, then, that the area has drawn sun-seeking international visitors since the 1880s, when the iconic Hotel del Coronado rose on the beach. Earlier this year, the property unveiled the sparkling results of a $550 million, six-year-long renovation, igniting a new San Diego tourism boom. The project honors the hotel’s past as a Gilded Age playground but adds modern touches—including a Nobu outpost—that reflect San Diego’s multicultural present.The happy influence of Asia-Pacific to the west and Baja California to the south makes this a destination with vibrant cultural institutions—fueled by the immigrant cultures that make San Diego hum—and a fusion-y food scene where you can find carne asada fries, halo-halo, and fish tacos to die for. It also makes for an exceptionally welcoming city. Below, discover the best places to visit, dine, drink, and stay in San Diego, curated jointly with ELLE colleagues who also visited this year (I told you this town was popular).What to SeeBalboa ParkmarlenkaYou could have a complete vacation in San Diego within the confines of Balboa Park. This epic space, walkable from downtown San Diego, is an urban wonder combining 1,200 acres of parkland and 65 miles of trails with world-class culture, restaurants, formal gardens, and more. Favorite spots include the landmark Botanical Building, the Japanese Friendship Garden and its tea house, and the anthropology-themed Museum of Us (which also has killer city views from its tower). But with 17 museums on site, and exhibits ranging from Rembrandt to the history of Comic-Con, there is truly something for everyone.San Diego SymphonyDaniel KnightonUnder charismatic music director Rafael Payare, the 82-member San Diego Symphony has become known for a warm, balanced, and joyful sound reflective of its hometown. The ensemble also has two performance spaces worth seeing: Copley Symphony Hall, an ornate 1920s movie palace that received a major glow-up last year, and Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, the orchestra’s 10,000-seat outdoor venue. In summer, movies are shown at the bandshell with live-orchestra accompaniment, backed by sunset views of the skyline and harbor.La JollambellA day in La Jolla is a dreamy affair. Soak up views of the clifftops from the Coast Walk Trail, then wave hello to the seals and sea lions that congregate at the Children’s Pool or look for sea stars in the tide pools of Shell Beach. Break it up with shopping and a sit-down meal in polished La Jolla Village, then head north to scruffy surfer haven La Jolla Shores. There, you can hire a kayak tour of the area’s protected coastline and sea caves, filled with sea lions, pelicans, and leopard sharks. Don’t worry, they won’t bite.Kule The Modern LongUlla Johnson The Olympia JeanAdidas Originals SambaWhere to EatPoseidonDeanna Sandoval.A favorite of ELLE commerce content director Alexis Bennett Parker, Poseidon sits directly on the sands of Del Mar Beach, making it worth a drive up the coast for a fun group lunch, romantic sunset drinks, or a special dinner. The sustainably-sourced seafood-forward menu features Chilean sea bass, Hokkaido scallops, and local-fish ceviche. Add California wine and seasonal gelato and feel your serotonin levels rise.Stake Chophouse & BarCourtesy of Stake Chophouse & BarCoronado’s charming Orange Avenue is worth a trip for dinner, and the fine folks at Stake make it easy by offering car service to any diner on the island. This is a good thing, as the splurgy steakhouse has an award-winning wine program you might weep to miss out on. With a 1,700-bottle wine list and wide selection of beef cuts, Stake employs a knowledgeable and professional staff to help you choose wisely. Before calling for your car home, stroll down the street for homemade ice cream at Moo Time Creamery, a local mainstay.ParadisaeaCourtesy of ParadisaeaJeffrey Ingledue, ELLE’s deputy managing editor, recommends Paradisaea, a retro-glam La Jolla spot that serves creative California cuisine. Expect bold tropical art, a lively bar where the comic book–style cocktail menu will make you want to order one of everything, and friendly dining room where the local high school principal moonlights as a pianist every Wednesday, playing the restored 1930s Steinway. Per Ingledue: “Don’t miss the über-popular Jalapeño Caesar salad and Paradisaea Mai Tai—and for dessert, stay on brand and order the baked Alaska flambé.”Quince Oversized Bomber JacketBanana Republic Denim Mini SkirtMargaux The RomaWhere to DrinkTahona BarCourtesy of Tahona BarTahona Bar, a mezcaleria in Old Town San Diego, has more than 120 kinds of mezcal and an atmospheric setting by the historic El Campo Santo Cemetery. Chef Adrian Villarreal has a knack with seasonal ingredients and native plants, which show up in cocktails as well as Oaxacan-style entrées. A low-lit speakeasy, Oculto 477—named for the number of graves next door—is located through a secret “confessional” in the back. You’ll have to fess up to a deadly sin to get in…and also have a reservation.Craft Beer TourCourtesy of Ballast PointSan Diego is arguably the center of American craft beer, and Scavengers Tours makes it easy to get your IPA on with a pub crawl in a vintage Swiss safari vehicle. The guide will take you and up to 11 friends to three craft breweries—Ingledue’s favorite is Ballast Point—where you’ll skip the lines and get a peek behind the scenes. You receive three to four samplings at each brewery (pace yourself, the pours are generous), plus lunch and another beer for the road between each stop.Em Coffee HouseCourtesy Em Coffee HouseThis sleek café in Mira Mesa, with two more locations opening in 2026, offers a dip into Vietnamese coffee culture. The super-strong brew is achieved with a slow-drip metal filter called a phin. The ritual demands patience, which is the point—this coffee is meant to be a mindful break enjoyed with friends. Em Coffee House offers a range of coffee and matcha drinks, traditional and not-so, but you can’t go wrong with cà phê sữa đá, the classic duo of Vietnamese iced coffee and sweetened condensed milk.Massimo Dutti Alpaca Halter TopMarlies Grace Ocean Cotton SkirtFendi Arco Knee High BootWhere to StayGranger Hotel Gaslamp QuarterCourtesy Granger Hotel Gaslamp Quarter“When I first stepped into the Granger Hotel Gaslamp Quarter, it felt as if I had been transported back into a beautifully preserved chapter of San Diego’s history—one where Romanesque marble meets modern, design-forward elegance,” says Bennett Parker, who chose this stay for a recent trip. The building dates back to 1904, she adds, but the energy feels fresh and creative, like the kind of place where you’d bump into a writer drafting ideas at the bar or an architect studying the original tilework. The lobby is part artist’s greenhouse, part collector’s salon, thanks to the marble-veined staircases, velvet seating in warm jewel tones, sculptural greenery, and art-filled nooks perfect for enjoying a golden-hour mocktail. The location is ideal, with the Gaslamp’s walkable maze of coffee shops, galleries, and rooftop bars at your doorstep. “It’s boutique in all the right ways: intimate, thoughtful, and quietly luxurious,” says Bennett Parker. (Being the shopping expert that she is, she advises booking with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card from Chase, which lets you stack points on hotel nights and dinners, check out late, and redeem the points for another stay down the line—a win-win.)Rancho Valencia Resort & SpaCourtesy Rancho Valencia Resort & SpaAbout a 30-minute drive north of downtown, the serene Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa strikes a rare balance of being both elegant and warmly welcoming—with a side of tennis and pickleball, of course. Ingledue, who chose this all-suite hotel for his family vacation, reports that “the Mediterranean-style casitas are spacious private sanctuaries in themselves, the food is California cuisine at its best, and the spa is nothing short of transformative.” If you find yourself wondering what’s just beyond the lush gardens and citrus groves enveloping the property, they will provide you with your own personal Bentley to take out for a spin.Hotel del CoronadoCourtesy Hotel del CoronadoYour heart might skip a beat as the newly renovated Hotel del Coronado comes into view: It’s a Queen Anne beauty queen, marked by red turrets, gabled roofs, and wraparound porches. Gilded Age guests, as I learned on a tour with heritage manager Gina Petrone, prized rooms on the leafy inner courtyard at the heart of the hotel, as facing the sea was not in fashion. Today, it’s hard to beat the gated Beach Village; my one-bedroom Oceanview Villa had a comfortable living and dining area, full kitchen, fireplace, and oversized tub. Despite the countless amenities at the Del, it was difficult to pull myself from the lounge chair on my private balcony—unless it was to move to another lounge chair at the village’s exclusive beach club. Nibbling on tuna tartare nachos under an umbrella as the waves splashed, I gave thanks for the Victorians who built this heaven, and double thanks that I’m not one of them.Petite Plume Olivia Wide Leg Pima Pajama SetBoll & Branch Dream RobeJuly Trackable Suitcase SetBeauty PicksLa Mer The Lip Treatment in CocoaIn 2025, lipsticks no longer have the drying, flaky feeling they used to. La Mer’s version combines the comfort of a balm with the color payoff of a lipstick, keeping your lips moisturized for hours.Femmue Dream Glow Revitalize Radiance Mask 6 PackAfter a day of sun and fun, winding down is necessary. Femmue’s glow-inducing face sheets are infused with a hydrating blend of plant extracts and niacinamide to supercharge dry, dehydrated skin.Sarah Creal Brilliant Repair Shield Illuminating Broad Spectrum Face Mineral SunscreenSun protection is even better when it leaves a touch of radiance. Sarah Creal’s mineral sunscreen not only shields but also gives a healthy, sun-kissed glow, thanks to collagen-boosting bakuchiol and refining niacinamide.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below