Are you looking for the best things to do alone in San Diego? If so, you’ve come to the right place!
If you’re a solo traveler, then you might be looking for things to do alone in San Diego! The great news is, there are plenty of choices for solo travelers in this amazing city!
San Diego is the perfect mix of beach-side bliss, and city energy, and it’s such a great place to explore alone.
After all, you don’t need a friend with you to enjoy the beautiful beach views, or to get back in touch with nature!
So, let’s get into our list!
Visit Balboa Park
First up on my list of things to do alone in San Diego, we have Balboa Park!
This 1,200-acre park boasts a collection of 17 museums, sprawling gardens, and the San Diego Zoo, so it can keep visitors busy for days.
To save yourself a buck or two, why not purchase the Balboa Park Explorer Pass?
It gives you access to all the museums and can be a great way to cover tons of ground quickly.
Read more about exploring San Diego: 38 fun things to do in San Diego at night!
Go kayaking
If you’re on the hunt for things to do that allow you to meet people and hit the water, try kayaking!
There are tons of wonderful tours that run around San Diego, but this one includes a tour of the La Jolla Sea Cave is particularly good.
Not only will you get your blood pumping, but you’ll be able to explore San Diego’s local ecosystem and dazzling natural wonders.
Go on a bus tour
Solo travelers that are only in San Diego for the day will appreciate the next item on our list of things to do alone in San Diego – a bus tour!
If you’re in town for a short time, this is one of the best things to do in San Diego as you’re kept safe and cover a ridiculous number of attractions.
There are several bus tours we love in San Diego, such as the Old Town Narrated Bus Tour, and the San Diego Seal tour (half land, half water!).
Attend a lecture at UC San Diego
Taking a lecture at UC San Diego is an addition for the eternal learners out there, as it naturally requires a touch more concentration than other spots on our list of things to do alone in San Diego.
But if you’re willing to listen, learn, and even participate a bit, you’re bound to walk away with some premium knowledge.
Many of the university lectures are open to the public, so just check out their list before setting out!
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Grab food at The Breakfast Republic
We couldn’t write this list without mentioning a food stop! After all, everyone needs to refuel when they’re exploring a new place.
One of our all-time favorite spots is The Breakfast Republic. It’s chill, super-welcoming, and feels incredibly safe.
Their omelets and potato dishes are divine, but we suggest grabbing one of their enormous burgers or Eggs Bennies if you want to start your day with a bang!
Go whale (and dolphin!) watching
Okay, this is one of the more daring things to do alone in San Diego, but it deserves a place on our list!
Regardless of who you choose to hit the water with, you’re bound to agree that it’s one of the best things to do for solo travelers in the city!
You can book tickets to our favorite Whale and Dolphin watching tour, by clicking here!
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Visit one of the many beaches
San Diego is home to more beaches than we can count. Well, there are 31, but we love a bit of hyperbole over here!
La Jolla, Shell Beach, Boomer Beach – whichever one you choose, you’ll be blessed with incredible waves, kayaking opportunities, and sunbathing spots.
As San Diego gets an impressive amount of sun each year, one of our favorite things to do in San Diego is to grab a book and a beach towel and spend the day on the balmy sands!
Indulge in a spot of retail therapy
I love shopping alone, you get to do it at your own pace, and pop into all your favorite stores. Las Americas Premium Outlets is one of the best places to shop alone in the city.
With an amazing 100 brands to choose from including classics like Adidas and Banana republic, you’ll truly be spoiled for choice.
Take the Petco Park Stadium Tour
The Petco Park Stadium Tour, is a really fun thing to do alone, especially if you’re into sports.
The Petco Park Stadium Tour is the most well-known stadium in San Diego, and taking a tour of the grounds is so much fun!
You’ll get to go behind the scenes, see the VIP boxes, and even the changing rooms!
Click here to book tickets to the Petco Park Stadium Tour!
Read more San Diego inspiration: 45 truly unique things to do in San Diego!
Trek to Point Loma
Although trekking to Point Loma is an incredible activity for any SD visitor.
This is because finding your way back can be slightly tricky during dark hours, and you’ll want to catch the views with plenty of sunlight glistening off the water!
Offering unbeatable views of the San Diego Bay, skyline, and the Pacific Ocean, this is among the things to do alone in San Diego that gets a huge thumbs up.
Read more about San Diego: 12 best places for snorkeling in San Diego
Explore the USS Midway Museum
The USS Midway Museum is a fascinating way to spend an afternoon. The museum is easy to navigate through and contains some of the largest air carriers in US history.
If you really want to zone out and fly solo, grab the self-guided audio tour that talks you through the aircraft’s history in detail.
Click here to book advance tickets!
Check out the San Diego Museum of Art
We’re all about culture over here, which is why we had to include the San Diego Museum of Art on our list.
If you’re flying solo, you can spend as much time at the exhibitions as you want without feeling rushed along.
As there are tons of permanent and temporary exhibits here (and talks!) each year, you’ll want to allocate plenty of time to this attraction.
Take a sunset cocktail tour
Next on our list, it’s taking a sunset cocktail tour. This is a great way to see the city’s skyline from the water, and it’s also a great way to relax in the evening too!
Oh, and you get to enjoy that famous (and beautiful) San Diego sunset!
Book tickets onto this tour by clicking here.
Stroll through Hillcrest
Several gorgeous neighborhoods are worth visiting in SD, and Hillcrest is one of our must-visit spots.
It’s one of the best things to do alone in San Diego as it’s the heart of the LGBTQ+ community, and the vibe here is inclusive, welcoming and lovely.
So, it’s entirely safe to walk around and you’ll be fully welcomed by everyone in the area.
There are a few bars and restaurants, but we recommend checking out the local boutiques for unique souvenirs.
Read more about San Diego: Top 15 bed and breakfasts in San Diego
Take a food tour of Carlsbad Village
Next up on our list, it’s taking a food tour of Carlsbad Village! This is a seriously tasty tour for the foodies!
Carlsbad Village is known for its amazing food and many restaurants, and taking a food tour is a great way to enjoy the area with an expert guide!
This particular tour is 3 hours (lots of time and food to be enjoyed) and it’s a great way to meet other travelers!
Click here to book tickets onto this amazing 3 hours food tour!
Walk around North Park
This is one of the trendiest hotspots in San Diego, and it’s rammed with boutique shops, cafes, craft beer joints, and great nightlife.
Although it’s not as bougie as a few other areas around town, it’s welcoming and is packed with affordable nightclubs.
Just remember to have Uber to hand when you’re ready to head home – safety first!
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Explore the Old Town
If you’re on the hunt for things to do alone in San Diego, you’ll certainly want to put the Old Town on your list.
This is the most famous part of San Diego and is home to the haunted Whaley House (spooky!), a bunch of excellent restaurants, and several attractions.
Several walking tours pass through here, so it’s worth hopping onto a guided or self-guided tour to cover this spot with a helping hand.
Read more about Old Town: 24 things to do in Old Town, San Diego!
Take a Harbor Cruise
A harbor cruise is a classic activity in San Diego, and it’s a brilliant choice for things to do alone in San Diego.
You can sit and enjoy the views and the skyline, and it’s a gorgeous way to see the city!
Read more about visiting San Diego: 30 fun things to do in Gaslamp, San Diego!
Eat your way through Little Italy
No visit to SD is complete without a generous amount of Italian food, which is why we’ve included Little Italy on our list.
You can find a ridiculous number of great eats here, but Davanti Enoteca and Filippi’s Pizza Grotto remain two of the finest picks.
They’re friendly, are always welcoming to tourists, and serve incredible authentic dishes that’ll transport you right to Naples. But don’t take our word for it!
If you fancy a more ‘guided’ approach to Little Italy, then we really recommend book a food tour of the area. You’ll get to try all the best food on offer, for a fraction of the price.
Click here to book tickets onto our favorite food tour!
Visit Coronado Island
If you’re looking for things to do in San Diego that will help you get your steps in, then you may want to head to Coronado Island.
You can easily reach this hotspot by heading over Coronado Bridge, and it’s covered by several trolley tours.
It offers glorious views of the city from both sides, and it’s well worth snapping a photograph at night for the ultimate Insta grid shot.
Oh, and did we mention the amazing surf scene and perfect sandy beaches that await you on the other side? Whoops!
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Spend an afternoon at Liberty Public Market
There’s nothing better than doing as the locals do. So, why not add Liberty Public Market to your list?
Along with artisanal goodies, you’ll find an amazing range of street food including Korean BBQ, stir-fried dishes, and spicy Mexican fare.
It’s open 7 days a week, making it one of the best things to do alone in San Diego at any time of year.
Read more about San Diego: Top 20 places for Mexican food in San Diego
Go on a segway tour
Are you searching for unique things to do in San Diego? Well, look no further than a fully-fledged segway tour!
There are so many of these that run in the city, but we absolutely LOVE this particular tour!
The guides are friendly and always welcome beginner segway riders. So, you don’t need to worry about controls as they’ll have you covered.
They offer scenic tours, tours around Balboa Park, and tours around La Jolla – just take your pick and ride on!
Click here to book tickets onto this fun Segway tour!
Enjoy a night of comedy
One of the best things to do alone is to catch an exciting night of comedy. And realistically, who doesn’t love a few belly laughs?
San Diego is brimming with excellent comedy clubs (especially in the Gaslamp Quarter).
We recommend checking out American Comedy Co. for classic standup, but you can also visit the National Comedy Theatre for truly hilarious improv.
San Diego Zoo
Next up on our list of things to do alone in San Diego, is San Diego Zoo! This is a perfect day out for solo travelers, and we think you’ll love it.
San Diego Zoo is one of the best in the world, and it’s a lovely place to wander around alone, which is why it makes our list.
You can book tickets by clicking here.
Read more about San Diego: San Diego Zoo vs LA Zoo – which is better?
Go paddleboarding
Our next suggestion is paddleboarding!
Paddleboarding is a classic activity in San Diego, and it’s something locals and tourists all love. The amazing views from the water are unbeatable too!
It’s really easy to rent a paddleboard in San Diego too (just click here!).
Face your fears on a spooky ghost tour
Last up on our list of things to do alone in San Diego isn’t for the faint of heart – it’s a spooky ghost tour!
There’s a surprising number of ghost tours that run throughout the year, but we really recommend the ‘Ghost and Gravestones Trolley Tour’.
It combines the iconic San Diego trolley, with some fun ghost stories too!
It heads through 4 to 5 locations and covers the city’s grisly history. It’s well worth checking out and you may even meet some like-minded people along the way!
We hope this list of things to do alone in San Diego has given you lots of ideas!
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