San Diego Cruise Port Guide
Photos: Boatguy619 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · via Wikimedia Commons; Miguel De La Cruz, isabel Paiva, Nikhil kumar, Moustapha Ibrahim, BRAJ MOHAN · via Google Maps
- Country:
- United States
- Region:
- Mexico & Pacific Coast
- Coordinates:
- 32.7150° N, 117.1625° W
About San Diego
San Diego is a major cruise port on the Pacific coast of Southern California, positioned between Cabo San Lucas and Los Angeles as part of the Mexico & Pacific Coast region. The city is known for its mild Mediterranean climate, extensive beaches and parks, and long association with the United States Navy.
Visitors to San Diego can explore a range of attractions within easy reach of the port. The Puerto Vallarta area offers cultural experiences, whilst the city itself features world-class museums and natural landmarks. The USS Midway Museum, just 1.2 km from the port, provides insight into naval history, whilst Balboa Park offers 2.7 km away offers gardens and cultural institutions.
Popular San Diego attractions
Shore excursions can take you to Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, Cabrillo National Monument, and Sunset Cliffs Natural Park, each offering distinct perspectives on the region's natural beauty and heritage. Families may also enjoy SeaWorld San Diego, located 8.1 km from the port, which offers marine-focused entertainment and education.
San Diego is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, next to the Mexican border. It is the eighth-most populous city in the U.S. and second-most populous city in California with a population of over 1.4 million, while the San Diego area with over 3.3 million residents is the 18th-largest metropolitan area in the country. San Diego is the county seat of San Diego County. It is known for its mild Mediterranean climate, extensive beaches and parks, long association with the United States Navy, and recent emergence as a Wireless, electronics, healthcare, and biotechnology development center.
Read more on Wikipedia (text CC BY-SA)
Things to do in San Diego on a port day
Top-rated sights within reach of the cruise terminal. Ratings, hours and reviews from Google — check opening times before you go.
-
Photo: jadeed edavalath · via Google Maps Park and Garden
Balboa Park
4.8 (79,509) 2.7 km from port
Sprawling outdoor destination is home to the city's renowned zoo, museums, gardens & more.
Near: Spanish Village Art Center (289 m) · Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden (312 m)
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Good for children
- Dogs allowed
Opening hours
- Monday: Open 24 hours
- Tuesday: Open 24 hours
- Wednesday: Open 24 hours
- Thursday: Open 24 hours
- Friday: Open 24 hours
- Saturday: Open 24 hours
- Sunday: Open 24 hours
- 5 · “Such a beautiful park! The gardens, the museums, the wonderful architecture! In particular, we liked the Botanical Building, thr Inez…” — Suzanne Miladin
- 5 · “Beautiful place! I absolutely loved the architecture, the buildings are stunning and make even a simple walk through the park…” — Anton Inshakov
-
Photo: SeaWorld San Diego · via Google Maps Amusement Centre
SeaWorld San Diego
4.4 (54,874) 8.1 km from port
Marine life shows, thrill rides, aquariums & up-close encounters with dolphins, penguins & more.
Near: Mission Bay Park (27 m) · Dolphin Encounter (144 m)
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Good for children
- Toilets
Opening hours
- Monday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, 7:00 – 11:00 pm
- Friday: 10:00 am – 12:00 am
- Saturday: 9:00 am – 12:00 am
- Sunday: 9:00 am – 11:00 pm
- 5 · “Had a great time at SeaWorld San Diego! Loved seeing the sea lions, sharks, and especially the orcas! They are…” — Magdalena Lenny Situmorang
- 5 · “We had an amazing day at SeaWorld San Diego! It is a beautiful park with so many attractions and activities…” — Dana Kubíková
-
Photo: Gabe Ruotolo · via Google Maps Museum
USS Midway Museum
4.8 (53,328) 1.2 km from port
Life-at-sea exhibits, restored planes & flight simulators aboard this legendary aircraft carrier.
Near: USS Midway Jet Shop (30 m) · Navy Pier (88 m)
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Good for children
- Toilets
Opening hours
- Monday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Friday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Saturday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Sunday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- 5 · “Loved touring the USS Midway! Such a cool and super interesting experience. There is so much history packed into this…” — David Katz
- 5 · “The USS Midway Museum was one of the highlights of our trip! The ship is absolutely massive, and there is…” — Ken MacMillan
-
Photo: Steve Azer · via Google Maps State Park
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
4.7 (31,888) 5.5 km from port
Open-air museum about local life in the 1800s, with adobe buildings & interpretive performances.
Near: Fiesta de Reyes (77 m) · Casa de Reyes (79 m)
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Good for children
- Dogs allowed
Opening hours
- Monday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Friday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Saturday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Sunday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- 5 · “I enjoyed my time here. It shows you how San Diego looked back in the day. You will see the…” — Carlos Garcia
- 5 · “What an absolute gem! We had a fantastic time wandering around Old Town San Diego. The historic charm hits you…” — Mark Coakley
-
Park and Garden
Cabrillo National Monument
4.8 (12,840) 8.8 km from port
This historic lighthouse & national monument offers a storied history & views all the way to Mexico.
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Good for children
- Dogs allowed
Opening hours
- Monday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Friday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Saturday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Sunday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- 5 · “One of my favorite places in San Diego. The views are incredible, and every stop along the way feels different.…” — Zydre Gaveliene
- 5 · “Amazing location above San Diego bay with stunning views down to the port or over the Pacific. Cool trails and…” — Dirk Lorenz
-
Park and Garden
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
4.8 (8,983) 8.7 km from port
Natural cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean offer views of the coast & the occasional cliff diver.
Near: Hendricks Residence Hall (278 m) · Carroll B. Land Baseball Field (285 m)
- Good for children
- Dogs allowed
Opening hours
- Monday: Open 24 hours
- Tuesday: Open 24 hours
- Wednesday: Open 24 hours
- Thursday: Open 24 hours
- Friday: Open 24 hours
- Saturday: Open 24 hours
- Sunday: Open 24 hours
- 5 · “Sunset Cliffs is one of the most beautiful places I’ve visited in Southern California. The views are absolutely stunning, especially…” — Zydre Gaveliene
- 5 · “One of our favorite spots with amazing views in San Diego. Every sunset here feels different, and the views over…” — Jagadish Shivanna
-
Tourist attraction
Old Town San Diego
4.7 (3,672) 5.6 km from port
Historic landmark featuring traditional Mexican dining and unique local shops.
Near: Casa de Reyes (35 m) · Lost Cities Beads (41 m)
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Good for children
- Toilets
Opening hours
- Monday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Friday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Saturday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Sunday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- 5 · “Old Town San Diego is one of those places that's both fun and full of history. Walking through the State…” — Mike Mann
- 5 · “I would definitely get here early because even though there’s so many parking lots on a holiday weekend it does…” — Oscar H. Fajardo
-
Art museum
The San Diego Museum of Art
4.6 (2,855) 2.2 km from port
Venerable art museum with acclaimed works, plus a courtyard bar/bistro with sculpture garden views.
Near: Timken Museum of Art (84 m) · Botanical Building (118 m)
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Good for children
- Toilets
Opening hours
- Monday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: Closed
- Thursday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Friday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Saturday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Sunday: 12:00 – 5:00 pm
- 5 · “An absolute gem in Balboa Park—world-class art without the museum fatigue! The Art (5/5): The curation here is phenomenal. The…” — Pierre Dubois
- 5 · “This museum has a wide variety of art. Painting, sculpture, carvings, glass. We throughly enjoyed walking through. We bought the…” — Jenny McBrayer
Map of San Diego and nearby attractions
Cruises calling at San Diego
Deals update daily — see all Mexico & Pacific Coast cruises.
