The Best Beaches In And Around San Diego California

Do you want to go to a beach while you’re visiting California? Of course you do. San Diego and the surrounding area offers miles upon miles of gorgeous coastline to explore. So, whether you’re looking for top surfing spots, romantic date locations or just a great day out with the family, Culture Trip’s local insiders have got you covered.

1. Leucadia State Beach (Beacon’s)

Natural Feature

Local favorite Leucadia State Beach is the perfect spot for that sun-drenched Californian experience. It’s a small, relatively secluded area located in the Encinitas neighborhood which majors on hippie, surfy vibes and a fun dining scene. Come here for the swimming, sunbathing and surfing (there’s a well-regarded local surf school for beginners). However, make sure to check the tides before you do – the beach is narrow when the tide is in, so come at low tide for more space. Recommended by local insider Lauren Rogers

2. Cardiff State Beach

Natural Feature

Two surfers entering the ocean at sunset at Cardiff State Beach near San Diego, California.

Cardiff State Beach, locally known as Seaside, is Cardiff-by-the-Sea’s neighboring beach. Just half an hour north of San Diego, it’s the perfect day trip for active types – the beach is a popular spot for volleyball, surfing and swimming. If you feel like something more relaxing, browse the famous market just across the road for freshly made, artisanal carry-out food options for a beachside picnic like no other. Recommended by local insider Lauren Rogers

3. Coronado Beach

Natural Feature

Lifeguard tower on the Coronado Beach during sunset time. San Diego, California, USA.

Coronado Island is located just off San Diego Bay. You can access it via a bridge or take a ferry across for bonus views of the harbor. Coronado is consistently voted one of the best beaches in the US and offers attractive, sandy shores set against a picturesque backdrop of period mansions and hotels (you might recognize the Hotel del Coronado from the 1958 Marilyn Monroe film Some Like It Hot). To explore more of Coronado, take a stroll down Orange Avenue to browse through chic boutiques and restaurants, or hire a bike to cover more ground. Recommended by local insider Hebah Bukhari

5. Pacific Beach

Natural Feature

Pacific Beach is a popular urban beach in San Diego with good surfing opportunities. Come here for the surfing, swimming and sunbathing, or simply take a stroll along the boardwalk, which stretches 3.2mi (5.1km) to Mission Beach. The Pacific Beach neighborhood is also known for its nightlife and fun bar scene, so why not stay late and make a pre-dinner beach walk the start of your evening? Recommended by local insider Hebah Bukhari

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.