Highest-rated things to do in San Diego, according to Tripadvisor
"For those who are lost, there will always be cities that feel like home," Simon Van Booy wrote in his 2011 novel "Everything Beautiful Began After," and what better way to find the cities that might feel like home than to get lost? Travel beckons, and there are many great cities to explore in the U.S. From New York to Los Angeles, Chicago to Miami, and Las Vegas to San Francisco, metro regions in the U.S. offer an incredible range of activities, attractions, and cultural monuments to enjoy.
Every city has its own unique history—stories of industry, immigration, and imagination. Plus, each city offers its own geographical specificity: San Francisco's gorgeous heights and quad-killing hills; the bustling boroughs of New York and how they wind around bodies of water; the flat desert of Las Vegas with its tremendous, wide-open sky (try stargazing at the nearby Red Rock Canyon for awe-inspiring views of the heavens).
Each city also has its own flavor. Some metros are practically a Baskin-Robbins of adventure, featuring all kinds of flavors, some of which might be complex, unfamiliar, or even new. Los Angeles, for example, can be experienced in so many ways, from its history as the motion picture and entertainment capital to its modern incarnation as one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world—there are many versions of LA to visit, just as there are many iterations of San Francisco, New York, and Las Vegas. Cities, after you scratch the surface, reveal even more treasures within—but first, you must know where to begin!
Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated things to do in San Diego using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of May 31, 2024.
#30. Botanical Building and Lily Pond
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,087 reviews)
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#29. Mission Bay Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (619 reviews)
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#28. Pacific Beach
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,308 reviews)
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#27. Old Globe Theatre
- Rating: 4.5/5 (510 reviews)
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#26. Mormon Battalion Historic Site
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,023 reviews)
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#25. Windansea Beach
- Rating: 4.5/5 (592 reviews)
- Address: 6800 Neptune Place La Jolla, California
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#24. Old Point Loma Lighthouse
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,445 reviews)
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#23. Birch Aquarium at Scripps
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,964 reviews)
- Address: 2300 Expedition Way Scripps Institute La Jolla, California
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#22. Old Town San Diego
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,866 reviews)
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#21. Mission Beach
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,055 reviews)
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#20. Little Italy
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,055 reviews)
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#19. Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (5,688 reviews)
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#18. SeaWorld
- Rating: 4/5 (10,350 reviews)
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#17. San Diego Bay Walk
- Rating: 4.5/5 (911 reviews)
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#16. Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery
- Rating: 5/5 (1,472 reviews)
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#15. Seaport Village
- Rating: 4/5 (4,752 reviews)
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#14. La Jolla Shores Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,719 reviews)
- Address: 8300 Camino del Oro La Jolla, California
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#13. Torrey Pines Gliderport
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,469 reviews)
- Address: 2800 Torrey Pines Scenic Drive Gliderport Trail La Jolla, California
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#12. Point Loma
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,942 reviews)
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#11. Coronado Bridge
- Rating: 4.5/5 (5,802 reviews)
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#10. Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,484 reviews)
- Address: 6905 La Jolla Scenic Drive South La Jolla, California
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#9. Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,134 reviews)
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#8. K1 Speed
- Rating: 5/5 (598 reviews)
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#7. Cabrillo National Monument
- Rating: 4.5/5 (4,894 reviews)
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#6. Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
- Rating: 4.5/5 (3,803 reviews)
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#5. Petco Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (4,577 reviews)
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#4. Balboa Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (13,105 reviews)
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#3. La Jolla Cove
- Rating: 4.5/5 (13,768 reviews)
- Address: 1100 Coast Blvd. La Jolla, California
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#2. San Diego Zoo
- Rating: 4.5/5 (29,554 reviews)
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#1. USS Midway Museum
- Rating: 5/5 (25,693 reviews)
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This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Andrea Richards, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 100 metros.