Day 1 — Coast and cove
- 8:30am — Coffee in Bird Rock, then La Jolla Cove before the lot fills
- 11am — Tide pools or kayak the sea caves
- 1pm — Fish tacos in La Jolla Shores
- 5pm — Sunset Cliffs for golden hour, dinner in Ocean Beach
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The 3-Day San Diego Plan
A local's hour-by-hour itinerary that keeps you out of traffic, off the tourist markup, and at the coast when the light is good. Tell us when you're coming and we'll tune the weekly email to your trip.
Hour-by-hour 3-day itinerary
Beaches in the morning, Balboa Park midday, sunset at the Cliffs — sequenced so you never cross the city at rush hour.
The taco and coffee shortlist
Twelve places worth building a day around, with what to order and roughly what it costs.
Parking and logistics notes
Where to actually park in La Jolla, Coronado, and the Gaslamp, plus what a rental car really costs you.
Where should we send it?
Unlocks instantly on this page and lands in your inbox.
What's inside the plan
Days 2 and 3 unlock the moment you add your email above.