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Neighborhood · City of San Diego neighborhood
Old Town
The original settlement, now a state park and a tourist corridor, with the county archives and some genuinely good Mexican food.
Aug high / Jan low
77° / 50°
Latest from Old Town
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Old Town is where the city of San Diego began. The Kumeyaay village of Kosa'aay stood near the mouth of the San Diego River before Spain founded a presidio and mission on the hill above in 1769, and the adobe town that grew at the base of that hill in the 1820s received pueblo status from Mexico in 1834. When Alonzo Horton promoted his New Town on the bay in the 1860s, commerce drifted south, and the county government followed in 1871. What remains is compact: the community planning area covers about 230 acres between Interstate 8, Interstate 5 and the Mission Hills slope. Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, created in 1968, preserves five original adobes and a set of reconstructed buildings interpreting the 1821 to 1872 period, including Casa de Estudillo, the Mason Street School and the Seeley Stables. California State Parks listed it as the most visited state park in California in 2005 and 2006. San Diego Avenue and the Fiesta de Reyes courtyard supply the Mexican restaurants, tequila bars and souvenir shops that most visitors come for, and the Whaley House draws a steady stream of ghost-tour customers. Few people actually live here. Housing is a thin band of older cottages, small apartment buildings and condos on the streets climbing toward Mission Hills, and Redfin showed only three homes for sale in its most recent snapshot. The bigger shift is transit: the Old Town Transit Center links the Blue and Green trolley lines, the Coaster and Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner, making the neighborhood one of the region's busiest transfer points.
Places in Old Town
See allOld Town San Diego State Historic Park
California's 'birthplace' — preserved and reconstructed 1800s buildings, living-history museums and Mexican restaurants. Free to wander.
Attraction
Whaley House Museum
An 1857 Greek Revival home billed as one of America's most haunted — daytime history tours and evening ghost tours.
Attraction
Living here
Draws
- The region's best-connected transit hub on the doorstep
- Quick freeway access to the beaches, downtown and the airport
- History, parks and restaurants within a few blocks
- Hillside homes with bay views
Tradeoffs
- Very few homes, so listings are rare
- Tourist crowds, event traffic and parking pressure
- Freeway and airport noise
- Limited everyday grocery and service options within the district
Good for: Transit commuters and history-minded renters or buyers who don't mind living inside a visitor district.
Weather
Old Town sits near the mouth of the San Diego River a couple of miles from Lindbergh Field, so it shares the airport's mild, marine-influenced climate. Morning low clouds are common from May through early July, and the river flat can be a few degrees cooler at night than the hillsides above.
Aug avg high
77°F
Jan avg low
50°F
Annual rain
9.79"
Best time to visit: Visit in September through November for warm, clear afternoons, the October art and tequila events and Dia de los Muertos.
Housing
A small stock of older one- and two-bedroom cottages, modest apartment buildings and hillside condos, many with bay or airport views; Redfin's latest snapshot showed three listings priced from $599,000 to $1,495,000.
Facts
- Spain founded the Presidio of San Diego and Mission San Diego de Alcala on the hill above Old Town in 1769.
- The Mexican government granted San Diego pueblo status in 1834 and revoked it in 1838 after the population declined.
- San Diego had about 650 residents when California became a state in 1850.
- County government moved from Old Town to Alonzo Horton's New Town in 1871.
- Old Town San Diego State Historic Park was established in 1968 and covers 29.08 acres.
- The Old Town community planning area covers 230 acres, and its current community plan was adopted Oct. 29, 2018.
- Casa de Estudillo was built in 1827 and the Whaley House was completed in 1857.
- The Old Town Transit Center connects the Blue and Green trolley lines, the Coaster and the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner.
Fun facts
- In 1869 Thomas Whaley leased part of his house to the county as a courthouse for $65 a month.
- Before the Whaley House was built, James "Yankee Jim" Robinson was hanged on the property, which fuels its reputation as a haunted house.
- Thomas Whaley predicted his house would be "the handsomest, most comfortable and convenient place in town or within 150 miles of here."
- California State Parks named Old Town the most visited state park in California in 2005 and 2006.
- The Cosmopolitan Hotel dates to 1870 and still rents rooms.
Getting around
Freeways: I-5, I-8
Transit: Old Town Transit Center serves the Blue and Green trolley lines, Coaster commuter rail, Amtrak Pacific Surfliner and multiple MTS bus routes.
Parking: The state park offers free lots with a four-hour limit (EV chargers in Lot B), but they fill on weekends and event days.
Walkability: The historic core is flat and compact enough to see on foot in an afternoon, though I-5 and I-8 cut it off from neighboring areas.
Frequently asked
Is Old Town a good place to live?
It suits people who prioritize transit and central location: the Old Town Transit Center links trolley, Coaster and Amtrak service. The tradeoff is a tiny housing stock, tourist traffic and freeway noise.
What is the average home price in Old Town?
There is no reliable typical value because so few homes sell; Redfin's snapshot showed three listings between $599,000 and $1,495,000. Buyers usually compare with adjacent Mission Hills and Bay Park.
What is the weather like in Old Town?
Old Town shares Lindbergh Field's coastal climate: about 66.4°F January highs, 77.3°F August highs and 9.79 inches of rain a year. May and June mornings are often overcast.
What is Old Town known for?
It is the birthplace of San Diego, with the 1769 presidio site, a state historic park created in 1968, the Whaley House and a cluster of Mexican restaurants.
Is parking free at Old Town San Diego State Historic Park?
Yes, the park's lots are free for up to four hours, and Lot B has EV chargers. On busy days, arriving by trolley or Coaster at the adjacent transit center is easier.
Nearby neighborhoods
Sources
- Wikipedia: Old Town, San Diego
- Wikipedia: Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
- California State Parks: Old Town San Diego SHP
- City of San Diego: Old Town San Diego Community Plan
- Old Town San Diego (merchants)
- Wikipedia: Whaley House
- Whaley House Museum
- Redfin: Old Town neighborhood
- Old Town Mexican Cafe
- Casa Guadalajara
- Climate of San Diego (NOAA 1991-2020 normals table)