What’s the Best Neighborhood for Your Stay In San Diego?

I drew up this map a little while ago. My idea was to put it in a pamphlet, but I haven’t gotten around to that. I hate to have it just collecting digital dust in a Procreate folder, so I'm excited to show it off here in the meantime!

I’m sure some San Diegans would argue with points on it, how could they not when I’ve tried to summarize entire neighborhoods with just a few words. But overall I’m very proud of it, and I'm confident it's a great resource for anyone visiting America's Finest City.

Still, keep in mind these are just like, my opinion, man.

When I was drawing that map I was imagining a reference guide for someone who’s out and about in San Diego. But first things first, where should you be booking your stay? Where should your home base be?

Below I’m going to approach this more from the perspective of someone booking lodging for their trip. With so many great places to stay in San Diego, how do you choose?

TOP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOUR STAY IN SAN DIEGO, IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER:

La Jolla

Prime age group: All age groups

Common accommodations: Airbnbs, hotels

Pros:

• One of the most beautiful areas in all of California, which I would argue makes it one of the most beautiful on planet earth. Natural beauty and rugged cliff faces complement incredible architecture and upscale shopping and dining.

Cons:

• Pricey.

• Not super centrally located.

North Park

Prime age group: Millennial

Common accommodations: Airbnbs, though it’s home to the iconic Lafayette Hotel.

Pros:

• Walkable.

• Cafes, bars, restaurants, thrift stores, shops…

• More affordable area than others on this list.

Cons:

• Not close to the water (by San Diego standards. It would still only take you less than 20 minutes to get there by car).

Little Italy

Prime age group: Millennial through Baby boomer

Common accommodations: Airbnbs, small hotels

Pros:

• Walkable.

• Very centrally located.

• Great food and classy nightlife.

Cons:

• Even by San Diego standards, parking is atrocious. But if you don’t have a car during your visit, then no sweat!

• Air traffic noise.

• Not the priciest neighborhood in San Diego, but certainly not the cheapest.

Coronado

Prime age group: All age groups

Common accommodations: Hotels, including the iconic Hotel Del Coronado

Pros:

• Beautiful attractions.

• Upscale shopping and dining.

• Quiet (besides aircraft from the Naval base…)

Cons:

• Pricey.

• Convenience. There are three ways to get to and from Coronado from San Diego proper. 1) The Coronado Bridge which is a gorgeous view, but can be prone to bottlenecking, especially during rush hour. 2) The Coronado Ferry, a spectacular way to experience the San Diego Bay but costs $18 round trip, every time you use it. 3) Driving the Silver Strand which has great views (noticing a pattern?) but takes you way south.

Mission Beach

Prime age group: All age groups

Common accommodations: Airbnbs, small hotels

Pros:

• Centrally located.

• Excellent beach and boardwalk.

Cons:

• A tad touristy. Essentially the entire stretch of homes on the beach, and many in the neighborhood, are rentals.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

These might not be my top recommendations, but they’re popular places to stay for good reason!

Pacific Beach

Prime age group: Gen Alpha, Gen Z

Accommodations: Airbnbs, small hotels

Pros:

• Great bars and restaurants.

• Perfect for a quintessential San Diego beach day.

Cons:

• Nightlife is young and can be rowdy (I understand this might be a pro to some people, but I’m too old).

Old Town

Prime age group: Families.

Common accommodations: Hotels.

Pros:

• Centrally located.

• Public transit hub.

• Historic.

Cons:

• Touristy. Which is not inherently a bad thing, but you see all the hallmarks. For example, many shops selling the exact same souvenirs, menus with lots of photos on them, etc.

• Essentially no night life.

Mission Valley

Prime age group: Families, Gen X, Baby Boomer

Common accommodations: Big hotels

Pros:

• Centrally located.

• Lots of hotel options.

• Quiet.

Cons:

• Not walkable. You MUST have a car or order a rideshare to get to any other fun neighborhoods or attractions.

• Limited unique restaurant options, mostly large chains.

• Essentially no nightlife.

Gaslamp Quarter / East Village

Prime age group: Gen Alpha through Millenial

Common accommodations: Hotels

Pros:

• Nightlife hub.

• Walkable.

• Excellent restaurant options.

• Centrally located.

• Proximity to Petco Park.

• Historic.

Cons:

• Can get very rowdy.

• Not the cleanest area in San Diego.

Harbor Island & Shelter Island

Prime age group: Gen X and up

Common accomodations: Hotels

Pros:

• Proximity to the airport and Downtown.

• Incredible views of the San Diego Bay.

Cons:

• Air traffic noise.

• Not a lot to do on the islands themselves. (Btw, they’re not actually islands, both are connected by land!).

IN CONCLUSION:

If you stay in any of the above, you’ll be well-equipped to have a blast in San Diego. After you’ve booked your accommodations, come join a Way To Go San Diego tour!