San Diego Best Beaches

7 of the Best San Diego Beaches

With 70 miles of coastline, San Diego is a great destination for lovers of sand and surf. There are more than 30 beaches to choose from. So, whether you like to take long walks with your loved one or your dog, or you want to surf, snorkel or just sunbathe, there is a beautiful beach for whatever your pleasure. So, grab your swimsuit, put on your sunnies, and get ready to feel the sand beneath your feet, as here are some of the best San Diego beaches.

7 of the Best San Diego Beaches

1. Coronado Beach

Coronado is a resort city on a peninsula in San Diego Bay. It is a great destination for those looking to get away from it all, and who like a bit of movie trivia. Coronado Beach was featured in Marilyn Monroe’s 1958 film “Some Like it Hot”.  Coronado’s long sandy beaches are special and literally sparkle as they are rich in mineral mica. Coronado Municipal Beach consistently ranks as one of the best beaches in America. It’s actually four beach areas including Coronado City Beach, Tidelands Park, Glorietta Bay Park and Centennial Park. With warm, calm waters, these beaches are perfect for swimming, surfing and sunset strolls.

2. Ocean Beach

Ocean Beach San Diego is a beautiful beach town and historic business district. It is also where you’ll find the longest wooden pier on the western United States coastline. The 1,954-foot-long pier Oceanside Pier is the perfect place to enjoy a sundowner. But it’s not just the iconic pier that makes this a great beach. The wide sandy beach has a great atmosphere and attracts tourists and locals and is popular for surfing, swimming and sunbathing.

3. Dog Beach

Dog Beach in San Diego is one of the most famous dog beaches in the United States and one of the first official leash-free beaches in the US. It is the perfect beach for long walks on the sand and in the surf with your furry friends. This large pet-friendly beach also has a large car park and street parking too. Dog Beach is located in the community of Ocean Beach at the end of I-8 at the mouth of the San Diego River.

4. La Jolla Cove Beach

La Jolla by the Sea is a picturesque village that sparks joy with its seaside sights and attractions. It is one of San Diego’s best beach towns. With cliffs overlooking the ocean and lots of watersports on offer, it is a stunning place to get active and catch some of the Pacific Ocean waves. Picturesque sandstone bluffs surround La Jolla Cove and it is this stunning setting that makes it one of the most photographed beaches in Southern California. The waters surrounding the beach form part of La Jolla Underwater Park, which includes an Ecological Reserve, and are teeming with wildlife making it one of the best places to snorkel in Southern California.

5. Torrey Pines State Beach

This wide, sandy beach stretches four and a half miles from Del Mar past Los Peñasquitos Lagoon to the base of sandstone cliffs at Torrey Pines Mesa. Surfers love the Torrey Pines State Beach swells and at low tide, the beach is popular with walkers too. At the southern end, you’ll find Blacks Beach, a clothing-optional (aka nudist) spot.

6. Sunset Cliffs Natural Park

San Diego is known for its picturesque sunsets. There is a multitude of places to enjoy a sundowner, from oceanfront restaurants to secluded lookout points and beaches. However, living up to its name, the Sunset Cliffs is one of the most breathtaking spots to watch the sun bow out for the night. Located south of the OB Pier, along Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, the park extends along the Point Loma peninsula’s western shoreline. With its sweeping ocean views and dramatic cliff formations and caves, walking the steep descent to the beach is totally worth it. There’s a fixed rope for safety.

Things to do in san diego

7. Pacific Beach

Do as the locals do and call Pacific Beach by its nickname ‘P.B.’ This beach is gorgeous and has three miles of boardwalk and endless beach party vibes. Charming shops and restaurants line the path above the beach and there is public fishing off of Crystal Pier. This is also one of the best look-out spots and a great place to grab a photo for the ‘gram.

San Diego Best Beaches

Melanie May

Melanie is an intrepid solo traveller, endlessly curious about people, places and food. She is a fan of slow travel and loves exploring the world by mouth, discovering a culture through its food. Having backpacked her way around the world she turned her wanderlust into a career and is now a full-time travel writer.

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