What are the top 5 things to do in San Diego on a first visit?

We compared the top-ranked lists from the San Diego Tourism Authority (its first-timer must-dos), TripAdvisor (top attractions ranking) and Time Out (best things to do, updated March 2026). The Zoo, Balboa Park, the USS Midway and La Jolla Cove appear on all three or nearly all. The Hotel del made Time Out's list (#8) and the Coronado Bridge sits at #14 on TripAdvisor's; Old Town is our fifth pick because it is free, trolley-served and the starting point for the La Jolla bus, though it ranked lower on these lists. Prices below were checked November 3, 2026.

1. San Diego Zoo + Balboa Park. A 1-Day Any Day pass is $78 for ages 12+ and $68 for ages 3-11, and includes the guided bus tour and the Skyfari tram (Value Days online are $73/$63). Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. from Nov 1 through Nov 25, 2026; later dates weren't posted when we checked. Parking has cost $16 per vehicle since Jan. 5, 2026 ($8 for registered city residents). Local tip: ride the 35-minute bus tour first to learn the layout, and skip the 11 a.m.-1 p.m. crowd peak. Balboa Park next door is free to walk; museums charge separately, see Balboa Park admission and Zoo vs. Safari Park.

2. USS Midway Museum. Adults (13+) pay $39 online or $41 at the door, ages 4-12 pay $29/$31, under 4 free, and active-duty military get in free. It is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, last entry 4 p.m., at 910 N. Harbor Drive. La Jolla Mom's guide relays the museum's 4-5 hour estimate; three hours is a fast visit. Local tip: look for docents in yellow hats, many of them Navy veterans, and join the Island Tour line early because it often closes by 3:30 p.m. More in our Midway tips.

3. La Jolla Cove. Free, at 1100 Coast Blvd. Street parking is free with 2-3 hour limits that are strictly enforced; your best odds are before 8 a.m. Sea lions are usually on the rocks from mid-morning to late afternoon and tend to leave in wind or rain. Local tip: Point La Jolla and Boomer Beach below it are closed to people, and the water can carry high bacteria from sea lion waste, so check sdbeachinfo.com before swimming. Parking details: how to park at La Jolla Cove.

4. Hotel del Coronado. Walking the grounds and beach at 1500 Orange Ave. costs nothing, and the Ice House Museum on the hotel's main drive is free. The docent-led Legendary Tour is $40 (90 minutes, daily at 10 a.m., plus 2 p.m. Fri-Sun); a self-guided audio tour is $25. Getting there: the Flagship ferry is $9 each way, 15 minutes, hourly from Broadway Pier and every 30 minutes from the Convention Center; MTS Route 901 crosses the bridge from 12th & Imperial. Local tip: the beach faces west, so time it for late afternoon. See Hotel del without staying and Coronado ferry cost and schedule.

5. Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. Free to enter, including its museums, at 4002 Wallace St. Museums and the visitor center are open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Free lots have a 4-hour limit and fill by mid-morning, so arrive around 9:45 a.m. or take the trolley to Old Town Transit Center, a short walk away. Local tip: short free history talks start on the Colorado House porch around 2 p.m. some Thursdays through Saturdays; the Whaley House next to the park charges admission. Full guide: Old Town free guide.

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Leaflet | © OpenStreetMap contributors

Zoo + Balboa Park

1. 1San Diego Zoo — $78 adult, 9 a.m. opening
2. 2Balboa Park Visitors Center — Free walking tours Tue & Thu 11 a.m., $5 suggested donation

USS Midway

1. 3USS Midway Museum — 10 a.m.-5 p.m., last entry 4 p.m.

La Jolla Cove

1. 4La Jolla Cove — Free; park before 8 a.m.

Coronado

1. 5Hotel del Coronado — Free grounds; tours from Ice House Museum
2. 6Broadway Pier ferry — $9 each way, hourly

Old Town

1. 7Old Town State Historic Park — Free; museums 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Zoo, Balboa Park and Midway are central; La Jolla is north, Coronado across the bay.

See these on the full San Diego map

Runners-up that showed up on at least one list: Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve and Sunset Cliffs (TripAdvisor #5 and #6), Petco Park, and Cabrillo National Monument ($20 per car, valid 7 days). To fit everything into a trip, see our 3-day itinerary and where to stay by area.