Maritime Museum of San Diego
A fleet of historic ships on the harbor, anchored by the 1863 Star of India — the world's oldest active sailing ship — plus submarines you can climb through.
Attraction
Things to do
Things to do in Downtown
Ballpark, convention center, and the highest concentration of new residential towers the city has ever built.
Things to do
The Rady Shell at Jacobs ParkArts
The San Diego Symphony's bayfront outdoor venue opened Aug. 5, 2021, and the lawn stays open to the public on non-concert days.
Petco ParkSports
The Padres' ballpark, opened in 2004, sits in East Village and hosts concerts in the offseason.
100 Park Blvd
Gaslamp QuarterNightlife
The 38-acre historic district of more than 90 Victorian-era buildings is downtown's main dining and nightlife area.
Waterfront ParkPark
Lawns, fountains and play areas around the historic County Administration Center on the bay near Little Italy.
San Diego Central LibraryLandmark
The domed nine-story library opened in 2013 in East Village and includes a charter high school and rooftop views.
330 Park Blvd
Little Italy MercatoMarket
Farmers market on Saturdays and Wednesdays along Date Street and surrounding blocks.
Coronado FerryFamily
Passenger ferry from the downtown waterfront to the Coronado Ferry Landing, with skyline views on the crossing.
Attractions
Seaport Village
Waterfront shops, snacks and buskers along the bay — an easy, free stroll between the Convention Center and the Embarcadero.
Attraction
USS Midway Museum
Tour a real aircraft carrier on the downtown Embarcadero — flight deck, restored aircraft and self-guided audio aboard the longest-serving U.S. Navy carrier of the 20th century.
Attraction
Eat & drink
Ironside Fish & OysterSeafood
Little Italy raw bar in a former warehouse that helped define the neighborhood's dining boom.
Born & RaisedSteakhouse
Rooftop-equipped Little Italy steakhouse with dry-aged beef.
Cowboy StarSteakhouse
Wood-fired East Village steakhouse near Petco Park.
Lou & Mickey'sSteakhouse
Classic American steakhouse on the edge of the Gaslamp by the convention center.
Sovereign Modern Thai CuisineThai
East Village restaurant recognized by the Michelin Guide.
Water GrillSeafood
Upscale seafood house in the Gaslamp.
Extraordinary DessertsDessert cafe
Little Italy's elaborate cake-and-pastry cafe that also serves full meals.
Annual events
Comic-Con InternationalJuly
The pop-culture convention fills the Convention Center and takes over the Gaslamp and waterfront for several days.
Little Italy FestaOctober
Street festival billed as the largest Italian festival outside New York City.
ShamROCK and Mardi Gras in the GaslampMarch and February/March
The Gaslamp Quarter Association's signature street parties.
San Diego Bay Parade of LightsDecember
Decorated boats parade along the downtown waterfront on consecutive Sundays.