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Beachfront holiday rinks and the year-round arenas — what each costs and who each is for.
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San Diego has two kinds of skating. Seasonal outdoor rinks run roughly mid-November through early January: Skating by the Sea at the Hotel del Coronado is the famous one — a real rink on the sand next to the ocean, generally $45–55 per person including skates, timed sessions, book ahead. Liberty Station's Rady Children's Ice Rink and the Viejas Outlet Center rink are the cheaper alternatives at around $20–25. Year-round, the real rinks are the San Diego Ice Arena in Mira Mesa and UTC's Ice Sports Center, where a public session plus rentals runs roughly $15–20. For a first-time family visit in December, book the earliest Hotel del session of the day; for actually learning to skate, use a year-round arena.
| Rink | Season | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Skating by the Sea, Hotel del | Mid-Nov to early Jan | $45–55 with skates |
| Rady Children's Ice Rink, Liberty Station | Nov to early Jan | ~$20–25 |
| Viejas Outlet Center rink | Nov to early Jan | ~$20 |
| San Diego Ice Arena, Mira Mesa | Year-round | ~$15–20 |
| UTC Ice Sports Center | Year-round | ~$15–20 |
Hotel del Coronado · Mid-November to early January · timed sessions
A full-size rink built on the sand beside the Pacific, with the Del's turrets behind you and the sunset in front. It is the most expensive skate in the county and the only one people fly in to do.
Local tip: Book the first session of the evening for the sunset light, and buy online — walk-up spots sell out on December weekends.
Liberty Station, Point Loma · November to early January
An outdoor rink in the Liberty Station public market area, benefiting Rady Children's Hospital. Far cheaper than the Del, surrounded by food and breweries, and easy parking.
Alpine · November to early January
An outdoor rink in the outlet center's plaza with a light and water show nearby. Convenient if you're already out east; not worth a dedicated drive from the coast.
Mira Mesa · Year-round · public sessions and lessons
A proper indoor arena with daily public sessions, learn-to-skate programs and hockey leagues. The right choice if anyone in the group actually wants to improve.
University City · Year-round · indoor
Central location near Westfield UTC, with public skate blocks most days and figure skating and hockey programs. Check the session calendar — public times vary by day.
Yes — Skating by the Sea at the Hotel del Coronado sets up a real rink on the sand from mid-November through early January. Sessions are timed and typically run $45–55 per person including skate rental, and December weekends sell out in advance.
Roughly $45–55 at the Hotel del's beachfront rink, about $20–25 at the seasonal Liberty Station and Viejas rinks, and about $15–20 for a public session with rentals at the year-round arenas in Mira Mesa and University City.
Yes. The San Diego Ice Arena in Mira Mesa and the UTC Ice Sports Center in University City run public sessions, learn-to-skate classes and hockey leagues all year, indoors.
Most seasonal rinks open in mid-to-late November and close in the first week of January. Exact opening dates change each year, so check the venue's site before planning around them.
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Written and fact-checked by the Sandi Spots Editorial team — San Diego residents publishing under Sleep Coast LLC. Every place we recommend has been visited in person or verified against an official source, and no business can pay for inclusion or a higher ranking. Last updated .