Where To Stay In San Diego – The Best Neighborhoods & Areas

Southern California has some great cities and San Diego is one of the more beautiful along the west coast of the United States. With gorgeous beaches, great culture, fantastic food, and rich history, San Diego is one of those cities that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and families too.

Known as the birthplace of California, San Diego was once a Mexican fort that grew its way into the 8th largest city in America. Situated close to the Mexican border, you can feel the influence of its southern neighbor in almost every part of the city. It’s what gives it its charm.

There is no shortage of things to do in San Diego. From catching some rays on the beaches of La Jolla, taking in Balboa Park’s 17 museums, or strolling the boardwalk at Mission Beach, you will find something that interests each member of the family.

Best Areas to Stay in San Diego

We asked local San Diego expert Chantae Reden to use her knowledge and share her opinions on what she thinks visitors to San Diego should see and help us create a guide on where the best places are to stay in San Diego.

San Diego is one of the safest cities in America and that makes choosing where to stay a little easier for first-time visitors. There are plenty of places to stay ranging from hostels for budget travelers, boutique hotels for the more discerning traveler, upscale resorts for those with luxury in mind, and plenty of vacation rentals too.

Before choosing the area you want to base yourself in, it is best to get oriented with the city. The map of San Diego below will help you get the lay of the land and give you a general idea of where the neighborhoods are.

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1. La Jolla -Best Place to Stay in San Diego for Beach Lovers

If you were born to be at the beach, you’ll love La Jolla (pronounced the Spanish way, la hoya). This upscale neighborhood is home to many San Diegan celebrities, and where Dr. Seuss penned many of his cartoons.

Picture sunny days spent lounging on the wide beach of La Jolla Cove, paddling in a kayak through the La Jolla Caves, browsing through boutiques, dining on fresh Mexican fare, and more. This area is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts.

Like most neighborhoods in San Diego there is a lot of different types of accommodation in La Jolla, but it is mostly known for its luxry hotels.

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2. North Park – Hippest Neighborhood in San Diego

North Park is one of downtown San Diego’s most vibrant and diverse neighborhoods, with street art, bars, quirky restaurants, and cultural sites lining the streets. Here, creativity is rewarded and the locals aren’t afraid to experiment when it comes to how they live and work.

It’s the type of place that serves beer cocktails, lattes with foam art, and paint pallets as plates. If you are looking for the coolest area to stay in San Diego this is the neighborhood for you. North Park is within walking distance to many cultural hubs like Balboa Park, the Ray Street Arts District, and the North Park Theater.

This is one of the best places to stay in San Diego if you are looking for the cultural side of the city.

3. Ocean Beach – Where to Stay for Families

My free-spirited grandfather used to take me to Ocean Beach as a child and wistfully say, “O.B. — where you live happy and free” as soon as we stepped out of our car. Today, the sentiment still rings true. Ocean Beach is a casual neighborhood where alternative lifestyles are not just welcomed, but embraced.

Walk along the main street past all types of restaurants, boutiques selling tie-dye everything, healing crystal shops, and taco stands. Street art covers formerly bare walls and the sun is usually shining after noon — once the marine layer of fog burns off.

Explore the tide pools, go swimming in the ocean, and walk along the Ocean Beach Pier.

Ocean Beach is accepting of everyone, including pets. If you are looking for where to stay in San Diego with pets, you’ll find that Ocean Beach is just about as accommodating as it gets. Make sure to check out the Ocean Beach Farmers Market. It is full of organic food stalls and they even put on live music!

4. Gaslamp Quarter – Best Neighborhood in San Diego for nightlife

Gaslamp Quarter is a historic neighborhood that never sleeps. If you are looking for where to stay in San Diego and want to be in the heart of downtown, the Gaslamp Quarter is a great choice.

The Gaslamp Quarter, located on San Diego Bay, has an interesting wild western history marked with stories of tavern brawls and shootouts. The quarter was once home to the city’s red-light district, gambling casinos, and 1860s Chinatown. Many residents believe that the ghosts of Gaslamp’s past haunt this neighborhood to this day.

There are almost 100 historic buildings in the Gaslamp Quarter, which makes it an interesting contrast to the rest of downtown San Diego’s modern skyscrapers.

Aside from its rich history, the Gaslamp Quarter has restaurants, bars, and is walking distance to highlights like the San Diego Convention Center, Petco Park, Balboa Theatre, and Horton Plaza.

If you’re up for a bit of light-spirited debauchery and want to stay near many of San Diego’s greatest landmarks, choose the Gaslamp Quarter as your base.

5. Old Town – Best Place to Stay in San Diego for First-Timers

Old Town San Diego is The birthplace of California. As you can guess from the name, is a historic part of San Diego that was the first Spanish settlement in the early 1800s. Before that, it was an important area for the Kumeyaay Native Americans.  Old Town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

What makes Old Town so interesting today is that its retained its charm and style of architecture. Many San Diegans believe that Old Town is haunted, with most ghosts residing in the Whaley House.

You can spend your time browsing through museums, visiting the Mission, sampling Mexican food, and listening to live music from a mariachi band. Old Town is perfect for visitors of all ages interested in food, history, folklore, and have a great imagination.

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