What’s better than a Weekend with your besties to a cool new city? Especially if that city ends up being San Diego! recently visited this gem with my best friend and we had the best time ever. Why? Because San Diego has everything you’d want in the perfect weekend getaway: plenty of activities, tasty food, culture, beaches, and a super fun nightlife. So if you’re in search of an itinerary for a perfect girls weekend in San Diego that is already planned out, you’ve found it.

In this post, I will cover the logistics of visiting this gorgeous city but most importantly I will give you a plan for an awesome getaway for you and your girlfriends. With that, you won’t have to stress about planning, and instead, you can simply focus on enjoying a city that I know you’ll end up falling in love with!

In case you’re new here, know that I always base my itineraries on my own travels! So if I give you a plan, it means I have followed it or would have done it that way based on what I experienced at the destination. If you have a suggestion for a new restaurant or a hot tip, don’t forget to comment at the bottom of this post!

Looking for other ideas for the best weekends with your girlfriends? Check out my Miami Girls Weekend or Austin Guides for awesome itineraries!

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Let’s talk about some San Diego logistics

Transportation to and in San Diego

Getting there

Getting to San Diego is pretty straightforward. You have a pretty well-connected airport right outside the city from which can catch a quick ~15 min Uber to the center. If the Uber fare is surging out of control, you can always take the bus on route 992 which can connect you to the trolley, train stations or the city center.

If you’re already in California, take the Amtrak along the Coast. It’s an experience within itself as its a super scenic and comfortable ride. When traveling in the southern direction, make sure to sit on the right-hand side to get the best views of the coast. I paid a little extra for the first-class cabin. It was slightly more comfortable than coach and you got a snack box with an alcoholic beverage. That alone made it worth the extra price. But to set your expectations straight, remember this is still an old train first class and not the Emirates suite.

Moving around the city

San Diego has a nice public transport system so if you don’t want to spend money on Ubers, you’ll be able to get around on the buses or trolleys. You can walk some parts of the city but if you want to see most of the attractions, you will be not able to avoid driving.

Should you rent a car in San Diego?

If you’re just staying in the city, there is no need to rent a car. Looking for parking and the cost of the rental will not save you any money and it won’t make your life easier either. However, it might be worth considering a rental if you’re planning to take some day trips out of San Diego. Some popular spots include La Jolla or even Tijuana in Mexico which is located only an hour away.

Best time to visit San Diego

Although San Diego has decent weather throughout the year, the best time to visit will be May through September for the sunshine, beach time, and overall lively vibe. As with any peak season though, it will be expensive. I personally visited in April and loved the shoulder season vibe. It wasn’t too crowded and the weather was just perfect enough to explore without overheating. However, it would get a little chilly at night and I did not do any water-related activities.

Is San Diego expensive?

Yes, it is. I won’t even beat around the bush and tell you that you can avoid spending money. Just as most destinations in California, San Diego is pricey, especially in the city center.

From accommodations to drinks and food and visiting attractions, you’ll be spending $500-$800 per person for a weekend there unless you’re really sticking to a low budget.

Where to stay in San Diego

Depending on what the goal of the weekend is, that will determine where you stay. However, for first timers, here are some areas to consider.

• If the goal of your girl’s weekend in San Diego is to party, stay near Gaslamp.
• If you want to relax near the beach, stay near Ocean Beach.
• Coronado is an island super close to the city that will give you chill vibes and cool restaurants.
• Downtown will have the vibes of any downtown.
• Or even La Jolla (25 min from center) if you’re planning to do a lot of outdoor activities.

Is a weekend in San Diego enough time?

A weekend anywhere is never enough to truly get to know a destination however a weekend is sometimes all we got. San Diego has a ton of activities so I’d plan for a 3 day weekend. However, a quick Saturday/Sunday getaway will do the trick if you’re just planning to see the highlights! You certainly won’t be able to see everything and your schedule will be packed but it’s certainly do-able.

A Girls Weekend in San Diego Itinerary!

Day 1: Let your awesome girls’ trip to San Diego begin!

One of my favorite strategies for weekend trips is to always arrive on Friday afternoons. This way I can check into my accommodation, do some light exploring and get a full night sleep before the weekend ahead. I prefer this a lot more than arriving on Saturdays and losing half the day on check-in and travel. So with that, I say do your best to arrive in San Diego on check-in time Friday (early) afternoon to get your awesome San Diego girls’s trip going!

Late Lunch

Depending on where you’re staying in town, choose a place for a late lunch/early dinner vibe. My girlfriend and I stayed in the Gaslamp District so we found something nearby in the touristy area of San Diego. Food was delicious and it filled us up perfectly for the rest of the day.

Stroll along the waterfront

Right before sunset, head to the waterfront area near the Marina. It was a stunning place for golden hour and then for sunset. You can stroll along the promenade or grab a drink at one of the numerous waterfront spots. Watching the sunset along the boats is super cute!

We walked near the Seaport Village toward the Embarcadero. This area had a ton of shops, waterfront restaurants, park spaces and cool sculptures. If you like boat tours for dinner cruises, whale watching or speed jets, you can catch those from this area too. Another thing to do in this area is to catch some live music at the Randy Shell outdoor concert venue.

Gaslamp District Party Time

Now onto the best part, party time! A trip to San Diego will not be complete until you have spent some time walking through the Gaslamp District and grabbing a drink (or partying) in at least one of the bars on the “strip.” And especially if you’re spending a girls weekend in San Diego, this will be a fun activity of your stay! There are numerous places you can go to depending on the vibe you’re looking for.

If you’re a girl there will be a ton of promoters wandering the streets looking to get you into their club with a free drink pass. You have all different types of places in Gaslamp and way too many to name them all but to name some, there are clubs like Toro, F6IX, Parq and Oxford, a rooftop bar called Altitude, more low-key bars like The Tipsy Crow or Whiskey Girl. Honestly, I think the best way to explore Gaslamp is to go bar hopping and simply finding a place based on the vibe it has. But if you want a full list of what’s in the area, check out Gaslamp’s full list of all the bars and nightclubs.

Day 2: Sightseeing in full swing

Brunch in Little Italy

After a night in Gaslamp, you will need a solid brunch. I recommend having brunch in Little Italy which is a cute neighborhood in town to eat in and explore after. Here are some popular options in the area. If traveling in season, don’t forget your resys!

• Morning Glory – A popular breakfast/lunch place with cool decor
• Caffe Italia – A small cafe with breakfast food, coffee and gelato
• Farmers Table – Cool decor and extensive weekend brunch
• Parakeet Cafe – Healthy options for acai bowls, protein bowls or creative toasts
• Little Italy Food Hall – And if you’re traveling with a bunch of picky eaters, it might be a good idea to head to the foo hall with a ton of options for everyone!

Balboa Park

For the afternoon, head to Balboa Park to enjoy this beautiful and massive park. There are so many spaces and nooks there so pick 2-3 spots you want to see rather than trying to see them all. Here are some top spots to see in the park but note that there are many more than this:

• Botanical Building: A beautiful building (inside currently closed for construction) with a lily pond
• Japanese Friendship Garden: Has an entry fee but it’s a beautiful display of Japanese culture
• Alcazar Garden: A smaller space with Moorish accents
• San Diego Museum of Art: An art museum with impressive collections
• Spreckles Organ Pavillion: World’s largest outdoor pipe organ, free concerts on Sunday
• San Diego Zoo: If you’d like to spend your time with some animals
• Balboa Park Carousel: I personally love old carousels and this one is over 100 years old

Nightime activities

On day 2, treat yourself to a nice dinner. Places like Barbusa for some amazing Italian Born and Raised for high end steak or Top of the Market won’t disappoint. You can also venture out to the beautiful island of Coronado to places like Il Fornaio or Blue Water Grill for some waterfront night views.

If you’re up for night two of partying, head back to to Gaslamp and let your night continue!

Day 3: La Jolla and Old Town

La Jolla

Next on your itinerary is the famous La Jolla! It’s a quick 30 min ride from city center San Diego. There is so much to do in that area not to mention how beautiful it is. Start by exploring the La Jolla Cove, where you can admire the seals and sea lions sunbathing on the beach and rocks. I was so excited to spend time walking the stunning path admiring these lazy but super entertaining creatures! Walk all the way down to La Jolla Tide Pools as well where you’ll be able to see some cool sea creatures when as the name suggests, the tide is low.

Next, head over to Village of La Jolla for lunch and some shopping. Although popular and pricey, there are a couple of restaurants with stunning views of the ocean like Duke’s or George’s for example. The downtown area has many stores and boutiques you can explore as well.

If you want more outdoor time, make sure to visit Torrey Pines Natural Reserve. You can hike that area and get the most stunning views of the unique nature there right on the beach! It’s about 15-25 min drive from La Jolla but totally worth it!

Old Town

On your way back from La Jolla another fun things to do on your San Diego girls weekend itinerary is to stop in Old Town. The main touristy area is the Old Town Market which is full of stores and beautiful pieces. I got myself a nice hand painted vase from Mexico that is a centerpiece in my kitchen until this day. Additionally, there are some restaurants on site or food stands at which you can snag an elote or even a beer if you need an afternoon snack.

Back home 🙁

And just like that it’s time to wrap up your girls weekend in San Diego. There is nothing better than exploring this gem with your besties and I hope that you have the best weekend ever.

This is the itinerary I planned when I visited with my best friend but if you have any suggestions that you think would make this trip better, let me know in the comments!