Pacific Beach and Mission Beach

Old Town is the cradle of San Diego. On the hill above the present-day district, the Spanish founded the Presidio and the first mission in 1769, the first of many missionary outposts in Alta California. Below it, a small settlement arose from 1821, which served as the city's center during the Mexican period and its first decades under US rule.This period from 1821 to 1872 is showcased today by the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. Restored and reconstructed adobe buildings, an old newspaper office, a school, and a stable with carriages are arranged around a green plaza. Admission to the park and its museums is free. Old Town didn't remain the city center because of Alonzo Horton, who began building his “New Town” by the harbor from 1867, which is today's Downtown.Besides the museums, Mexican restaurants, margaritas in courtyards, and craft shops define the district. This is partly touristy, but especially cozy in the evenings. For a quieter look at the beginnings, a short climb to Presidio Park with the Junípero Serra Museum is worthwhile.It's best to come in the late morning when the museums open and stay until dinner. The museums in the State Park close at 5 PM.

La Jolla is located about 19 kilometers north of Downtown and boasts approximately 11 kilometers of Pacific coastline. This affluent district features expensive villas, yet its coast belongs to everyone: rocky coves, caves, sea lions on the cliffs, and sandy beaches for surfing and snorkeling.The area was shaped by publisher and philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps, who settled here in 1896. She funded, among other things, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, founded in 1903 and later evolving into the University of California San Diego, and the Children's Pool wall in 1931. Her former residence, designed by Irving Gill, now houses the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego.The heart of La Jolla is The Village around Prospect Street, featuring galleries, boutiques, and restaurants with ocean views. Directly below lies La Jolla Cove, a small bay within a marine protected area, where hundreds of California Sea Lions rest. Further north, you'll find La Jolla Shores with its wide sandy beach and the Birch Aquarium, while to the south is the surf spot Windansea.Arrive early in the morning for easier parking and often calmer waters. At sunset, a stroll across the lawn of Scripps Park above the Cove is worthwhile.

Little Italy lies on Downtown's northwest rim, mere blocks from the bay. Forty-eight blocks bustle with trattorias, wine bars, design shops, and galleries, alongside homes and small squares. By night, India Street is one of the city's top entertainment strips.The district was founded by Italian fishing families, primarily from Liguria and Sicily. They built the boats that built San Diego's tuna fleet; in 1911, the Pacific Tuna Canning Company opened here. The last canning factories closed in the early 1980s. Interstate 5's construction in the 1970s cut the district in two. Fishing is over, but Italian heritage lives on in delis, bakeries, and festivals.On Saturdays, 8 AM to 2 PM, visit the Little Italy Mercato, one of the county's largest farmers markets with over 200 stalls; it's also smaller on Wednesdays. From here, it's just minutes to the Embarcadero, the bay's waterfront promenade. There lie museum ships, the aircraft carrier USS Midway, and further south, the shops of Seaport Village.The best is a combination of morning at the Mercato, afternoon by the water, and dinner in Little Italy. At sunset, a walk along the bay is worthwhile.

Balboa Park, spanning approximately 1,200 acres (nearly 490 hectares), is one of the largest urban parks in the USA and San Diego's cultural heart. It's home to the San Diego Zoo, around 16 museums and cultural institutions, gardens, theaters, and ample space for strolling.The city decided back in 1868 to designate the area as a park. It gained its present appearance from the 1915/16 Panama-California Exposition and the 1935/36 California Pacific International Exposition. The ornate Spanish Colonial and Baroque-style buildings along El Prado date from this period, as does the Cabrillo Bridge from 1914, serving as the main entrance. Since 1977, the park and its exhibition buildings have been a National Historic Landmark. The zoo also traces its origins to the exposition: it was founded in 1916 with animals left over after the show.Plan at least half a day; for the Zoo and one or two museums, allow closer to two days. Many gardens and the architecture can be enjoyed for free, such as the Botanical Building, restored in 2024, or the free organ concerts on Sunday afternoons.Mornings are quieter, and parking is easier to find. In the late afternoon, beautiful light falls on the facades along El Prado. Many museums are not open daily, so check their hours beforehand.

San Diego liegt ganz im Südwesten der USA, direkt an der Grenze zu Mexiko. Mit rund 1,39 Millionen Einwohnern ist sie die achtgrößte Stadt der USA und die zweitgrößte Kaliforniens, wirkt aber entspannter als Los Angeles im Norden. Das Klima ist mild und trocken, mit warmen Sommern und milden Wintern. Im Frühsommer hängt morgens oft Küstennebel, den die Einheimischen „June Gloom“ nennen.Die Stadt hat viele Gesichter: Marinestützpunkte und Flugzeugträger an der Bucht, spanisch-mexikanische Wurzeln in Old Town, die Museen im Balboa Park, Surfstrände von Ocean Beach bis La Jolla und eine der dichtesten Brauereiszenen der USA. Dazu kommen Fish Tacos, California Burritos und eine Küche, die stark von der Grenzregion geprägt ist.