San Diego in the Winter: Things to do in San Diego in Winter

Last Updated on December 3, 2025 by Tori Pines

If you’re dreaming of sunshine and ocean breezes while the rest of the country is bundling up in parkas, San Diego might just be your perfect winter escape! Even in the colder months, this Southern California gem stays warm, laid-back, and packed with things to do. Whether you’re chasing coastal hikes, exploring iconic attractions, or just looking to relax by the beach without the crowds, winter in San Diego is pure magic.

We visited San Diego last winter and we’re so glad we did. It was the perfect place to spend a few days in the sunshine.  We did so much and saw a lot of the city, and had the best time!

Why Trust Me

We spent last winter in San Diego and loved every minute of it! I found some of the best things to do and places to eat to help you plan a perfect trip this winter!

This trip was our babymoon in California and it was seriously so incredible. We brought our toddler along for the ride and while all of these things are great for doing with kids, it’s also a great list of things to do in the winter in San Diego without kids!

Looking into a travel credit card? I swear by the Southwest Credit Card for earning free flights around the US and the ability to earn the companion pass where you can take anyone on a flight with you for FREE!

Why Visit San Diego in the Winter

San Diego is one of those cities that truly shines year-round. While other destinations might slow down in the winter, this one stays vibrant and alive, just with fewer crowds! The mild weather means you can still enjoy the beaches, coastal walks, and outdoor attractions without sweating through your clothes or waiting in long lines.

Winter is also the best time to visit if you’re after that classic SoCal vibe without the chaos of peak tourist season. Parking is easier, reservations are more relaxed, and hotel rates often drop a bit compared to summer. And let’s be honest, sitting outside with a coffee or strolling through Balboa Park in a light jacket while most of the country is buried in snow? That’s a serious win.

Plus, winter in San Diego has its own kind of beauty. The sunsets are extra dramatic thanks to the crisp, clear skies. The waves are bigger, making it fun to watch surfers tackle them at places like La Jolla Shores or Sunset Cliffs. And the city feels more local, you’ll be surrounded by people who actually live there, giving you a real sense of the San Diego lifestyle.

Average Weather in San Diego in the Winter

San Diego’s winter weather is a dream. While temperatures dip compared to the summer, you’re still looking at comfortable highs in the mid-60s to low 70s during the day and lows in the 50s at night. In other words, light sweater weather, not snow boots! Winter in California is beautiful!

You’ll want to expect a few cloudy mornings (thanks to the coastal “marine layer”), but the sun usually breaks through by midday. Rain is rare but possible, especially in January and February, though it’s typically a light drizzle rather than a downpour. We had a little rain during our road trip in California but it passed quickly!

San Diego is a great place to go for Thanksgiving, Christmas or the first few months of the year! A great warm winter getaway destination!

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Map of Things to Do in San Diego in the Winter

10 Things to Do in San Diego in the Winter

Winter is actually one of my favorite times to explore San Diego because the weather is perfect for being outside. You can comfortably hike, sightsee, or hit the beach without worrying about intense heat. Here are some of the best ways to enjoy the city in the winter:

1. Explore Balboa Park

This massive park is the heart of San Diego, and it’s just as stunning in the winter. In Balboa Park you’ll find gardens, trails, museums, and Spanish-style architecture around every corner. Take a slow walk, pop into the museums, or grab a snack and just enjoy the sunshine. It’s quieter this time of year, so you can really appreciate the space without the crowds.

2. Visit the San Diego Zoo

You can’t talk about San Diego without mentioning the world-famous San Diego Zoo! Winter is one of the best times to go since the animals are more active in cooler temperatures and the crowds are lighter. The zoo is huge, plan to spend several hours (if not the whole day) exploring. It’s a beautiful mix of lush greenery, open-air exhibits, and fun transportation like the Skyfari tram that gives you a bird’s-eye view of it all. We love love love this zoo and always have so much fun here, with or without kiddos!

3. Visit the San Diego Zoo Safari Park

If you’re heading to San Diego in the winter, you’ve got to carve out time for the San Diego Zoo Safari Park too! I love it this time of year because the weather is so much more comfortable and you’re not melting while trekking around the massive grounds. Plus the animals are way more active this time of year. The holiday season usually brings fun seasonal events and extended hours, which is such a win if you’re trying to pack in as much as possible. It’s one of those places where you can spend the whole day wandering, snacking, and getting up close to wildlife.

4. Walk Around Little Italy

I love wandering through Little Italy, especially in the evening. The lights twinkle overhead, the smell of fresh pasta fills the air, and you can pop into cozy restaurants and wine bars. In winter, it feels extra inviting, perfect for a leisurely dinner or an after-dinner gelato (because yes, it’s never too cold for gelato in San Diego).

5. Hike at Torrey Pines State Park

If you’re looking for gorgeous coastal views, Torrey Pines is unbeatable. And if you noticed the name of my blog, you’ll know I HAVE to include Torrey Pines on my list of things to do in San Diego in the winter! The various trails wind through sandstone cliffs with jaw-dropping ocean views. The weather in winter is perfect for hiking, cool and breezy, but not cold. And honestly the day we hiked there in February, it actually even got pretty warm by the middle of the day! Just make sure to bring water and wear layers since it can get windy up top.

I recommend this trail to see the best views along the coast, but there’s also a paved trail (along Torrey Pines Park Road) that goes straight through the park and is great for those with strollers!

6. Visit the Torrey Pines Golf Course

Another huge highlight of our trip to San Diego in the winter was our visit to the Torrey Pines Golf Course. It is easily one of the most gorgeous golf courses in the world, and I highly recommend making a visit there. If a tournament is going on, don’t hesitate to buy tickets, it will be worth every penny. Just getting to spend time on the course overlooking the water with a chicken salad croissant is good enough reason. Plus if you’re into golf even in the slightest, you might get to spot some big name golfers! There were a handful of famous golfers there the day we went!

Alternatively, if there’s no tournament happening, you might be interested in playing a round of golf there yourself! Anyone can book a tee time, and they also have club rentals available if you don’t want to haul yours there. It’s fairly expensive to play since it’s such a famous course, but there are cheaper options like playing later in the day, on a weekday, or on the North Course instead of the famous South Course.

Finally, the third option for visiting Torrey Pines Golf Course is to dine at the course! The Lodge at Torry Pines offers two restaurants to choose from with beautiful views over the course. And you can even stay there if you wish!

7. Head to Coronado Island

Even in winter, Coronado’s wide beaches are stunning. You can stroll along the sand, visit the historic Hotel del Coronado, or just admire the views of downtown across the bay. The island has that relaxed, old-school California vibe that’s hard not to love. It’s also a great place to catch the sunset, so bring a blanket and some snacks and make an evening of it.

As a Disney lover, I especially love seeing the famous Hotel del Coronado. One look at it and any Disney fan can tell you exactly what they see when they lay eyes on this stunning historic hotel. Spend some time here seeing the property, and if you want to stay here 

8. Spend an Evening in La Jolla

One of our favorite ways to spend a winter in San Diego is by visiting the cute beach town of La Jolla. We spent the most wonderful evening here last winter seeing the best of this little beach town! It was actually on Valentines Day, and there is no better romantic getaway in the US than San Diego in my opinion!

Start by walking down to the water and seeing the sea lions that live on the shore. You can walk around the pathway along the coast and enjoy the park. Try to come at sunset for beautiful views! But come prepared with warm clothes, because it does get very windy and chilly on the water.

After enjoying the views, walk back to the shops and walk around window shopping. Stop for dinner at one of my absolute favorite restaurants, Duke’s. It’s part of a small chain of restaurants in Hawaii that we have fallen in love with, because the food is just SO good.

You really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu here, but my favorite starters are the crispy coconut shrimp and panko crusted calamari. For dinner I am absolutely obsessed with their seafood hot pot; it might actually be my favorite dish of any restaurant anywhere. It’s really that good, but you have to like coconut and seafood to enjoy it.

And while the food is incredible you really want to come here for dessert. The hula pie is out of this world. It’s basically an epic ice cream cake covered with hot fudge and macadamia nuts. You actually can’t leave here without having it.

The menu here is fairly expensive for our taste, but for Duke’s it’s worth it. And if you haven’t been to Hawaii yet, this will just make you want to go to Hawaii that much more. And keep in mind, San Diego isn’t thaaaaat far from Hawaii, so maybe make a longer trip of it and head across to Hawaii in February this year!

9. Go Ice Skating

If your winter trip to San Diego falls during November or December, you should go ice skating! And you should try to come here then, San Diego is a great place to go for Christmas with Kids! There are a handful of ice rinks around town including Liberty Station, Viejas Outlet and at Hotel Coronado. They’re typically open for part of November, all of December and into the beginning of January.

So while the weather in San Diego in the winter might not feel like winter, fun activities like this will definitely get you in the holiday spirit!

Want more ideas of places to go for Christmas? Read my post!

10. Eat Tacos at Tacos El Gordo

One of the things San Diego is most known for is their incredible Mexican food. And for good reason, you’re just minutes from Mexico! The tacos here are next level, so be sure to spend some of your winter in San Diego eating tacos!

Our favorite place for tacos in San Diego is a spot called Tacos El Gordo. This small chain started in Mexico and was so popular that they opened locations in the US, with a few in the San Diego area. Be sure to get the pastor tacos, they were my favorite!

What to Wear in San Diego in the Winter

Packing for San Diego in the winter is all about layers! You’ll want to bring light clothing for the day and a few warmer pieces for evenings when the temperature drops.

Here’s what I recommend:

• Lightweight tops
• A few long-sleeve shirts
• A comfy sweater or sweatshirt
• A light jacket for nights (a jean jacket or something similar works perfectly)
• Jeans or casual pants
• Comfortable shoes for walking and hiking
• A swimsuit if you plan on braving the ocean or your hotel has a heated pool
• Sunglasses

Locals tend to dress casually, so don’t stress about style. Think laid-back California easy and comfortable.

Where to Eat in San Diego in the Winter

San Diego’s food scene is underrated. Whether you’re in the mood for seafood by the coast, craft beer and tacos downtown, or a cozy Italian dinner in Little Italy, you can’t go wrong.

Duke’s La Jolla – Incredible seafood with Hawaiian style. Plus the BEST dessert, Hula Pie. It’s a trip to Hawaii without the long flight.

Tacos El Gordo – The best tacos in town. Incredibly authentic mexican food that is a must try in San Diego this winter.

The Brigantine – Yes, San Diego is known for tacos, but they’re specifically known for fish tacos. Many people will tell you that the best fish tacos in town are served at the Brigantine. And I agree, they’re huge, crispy, fresh and so yummy. Plus they have an amazing happy hour with other great menu items. And they have multiple locations to choose from!

The Lodge at Torrey Pines – There’s two dining options here, both are great choices for a special experience 

Where to Stay in San Diego in the Winter

San Diego has so many great places to stay, and winter often means better rates and more availability. Here are a few areas to consider:

Del Mar

We chose to stay north of the city in the Solana Beach/Del Mar area. This way we could stay just steps from the beach without paying an arm and a leg. It was a great spot, and we liked the Courtyard we stayed at, but now that we know the area a lot better we would pick to stay at the Hotel Indigo. It’s set in the cutest little area of town with restaurants and shops and right by the water. It’s surrounded by big beautiful beach homes to admire! This area is super close to Torrey Pines and not too bad of a drive into downtown San Diego.

La Jolla

For a more scenic and relaxed stay, La Jolla is hard to beat. You’ll be surrounded by ocean views, upscale restaurants, and coastal trails. Next time we are here we will really try to stay right in La Jolla, we loved it there so much! It would be nice to be within walking distance to all the restaurants and shops. Hotel La Jolla or any of the vacation rentals would be a good choice!

Mission Valley

If you want to be central to everything, Mission Valley is a great base. You’ll be close to Balboa Park, the zoo, and easy freeway access for exploring the coast. Plus, it’s full of convenient hotels with great amenities. This Sheraton is a great hotel in the area.

Downtown San Diego

If you want to walk to restaurants, nightlife, and waterfront attractions, stay downtown. It’s lively but easy to navigate, and you can reach most major sights within a short drive or Uber ride. I would stay at either the Margaritaville or the Marriott!

Coronado Island

For a little extra charm, stay on Coronado. It feels like its own world, quaint, elegant, and just a quick drive or ferry ride from the city. Like I mentioned above, Hotel del Coronado is such a special place for Disney fans, so I highly recommend staying here, it’s absolutely worth the splurge! Plus, in the winter it will be a little cheaper.

Tips for Visiting San Diego in the Winter

• Book flexible plans. The weather is usually amazing, but if it does rain, you can always swap a hike for a museum day.
  
• Start your days early. Mornings can be overcast, but by mid-morning the sun breaks through and it’s gorgeous outside.
  
• Catch at least one sunset. Winter sunsets are next-level. Sunset Cliffs, La Jolla Cove, and Coronado Beach are all amazing spots.
  
• Bring a light jacket everywhere. Even if it’s warm during the day, the temperature drops fast after dark.
  
• Take advantage of the lower crowds. This is the time to see popular spots like the zoo and Balboa Park without long waits.