SeaWorld San Diego • Enjoy a variety of unique animal experiences • Enjoy attractions of various thrill levels • Explore the exciting world of marine animals △ Marine life shows: Famous for its captivating marine life shows, visitors can witness wonderful performances by dolphins and sea lions here. These programs provide entertainment and education about marine animals and their behavior. △Animal exhibits: The park features various animal exhibits that allow visitors to get up close to a wide variety of marine life. From penguins and sharks to sea turtles and rays, these exhibits offer immersive experiences and opportunities to learn about different species. △Thrilling rides: In addition to marine life attractions, thrilling rides are also available for adrenaline enthusiasts. From roller coasters to water slides, these rides bring excitement and fun to visitors of all ages.

San Diego · 8.7km from La Jolla



No. 2 of Best Things to Do in San Diego Metropolitan Area

Port of San Diego

8.7

4.7/5

249 reviews

Port of San Diego is one of the main naval ports for the US Navy's Pacific Fleet. The harbor is deep and wide, with various warships such as aircraft carriers, destroyers, and nuclear submarines moored year-round. Standing on the shore, you can feel the massive scale of the warships up close. A highly recognizable landmark in the port area is the decommissionedUSS Midwayaircraft carrier. It is moored by the harbor and has been converted into an aircraft carrier museum open to the public, with various retired carrier-based aircraft displayed on the flight deck. In the park next to the aircraft carrier stands the "Embracing Peace" sculpture—a giant statue based on the classic V-J Day photo, capturing the moment a sailor and a nurse kiss. In the same park, there is also a group of bronze statues depicting a pilot who has just stepped off a plane, a kneeling nurse, a wounded soldier on crutches, a veteran in a wheelchair, as well as sailors, marines, ordinary citizens, and children. Strolling through the port area, red tiles and green trees contrast with the blue sea and sky, and in the distance, you can see the Coronado Bridge spanning the bay. On the other side of the harbor, there is a large private yacht marina with a forest of masts, offering a unique coastal charm. The pedestrian area is dotted with vintage sailboats and street performers playing guitar, as well as a century-old carousel.

San Diego · 13.9km from La Jolla



2026 Americas 50 - Best Things to Do

USS Midway Museum

9.2

4.7/5

1.7k reviews

The USS Midway Museum is housed in a decommissioned U.S. Navy aircraft carrier that saw actual service. Named after the Battle of Midway, the carrier entered service in 1945 and is the longest-serving aircraft carrier of the 20th century, having taken part in the Vietnam War, the 1975 Saigon evacuation, and the 1991 Gulf War before opening to the public as a museum in 2004. The flight deck and hangar deck display more than 30 restored carrier aircraft and helicopters, spanning from World War II-era planes such as the F4F "Wildcat" and SBD "Dauntless" to Cold War-era F-4 "Phantom" and F-14 "Tomcat" and on to the F/A-18 "Hornet," tracing the decades-long evolution of carrier aviation. Catapults and arresting wires and other launch and recovery equipment remain on the deck, and many of the volunteer on-site guides are retired Navy pilots who explain the carrier aircraft launch and recovery procedures on site. The ship is divided into three visiting areas: the flight deck, the hangar deck, and the lower deck. The hangar deck features an immersive theater for the Battle of Midway, showing a short film of about 15 minutes that tells the story of that pivotal 1942 naval battle; nearby, a small observation aircraft that landed on the carrier deck during the 1975 Saigon evacuation is also on display, documenting that special chapter of history. The lower deck opens up shipboard living spaces such as the galley, medical bay, sailors' quarters, and engine room, allowing visitors to experience the real environment in which thousands of crew members lived at sea for extended periods. The bridge tour climbs through narrow ladders into the navigation room and pilothouse; due to limited space, the queue time is long, so it is recommended to go early.

San Diego · 16km from La Jolla



No. 8 of Best Things to Do in San Diego Metropolitan Area

La Jolla Cove

6.1

4.7/5

185 reviews

La Jolla Coveis located on the Pacific coast north of downtown San Diego, California, United States, and is a beautiful coastal area consisting of reefs, beaches, and cliffs. It is known for its clear waters, rich marine life, and immersive nature-viewing experience, making it one of San Diego's popular seaside attractions. Walking south along the coastal trail toward the beach, you can see seals resting leisurely on the sand, while seabirds like cormorants gather on nearby reefs, creating a vibrant coastal scene. The entire area is within a marine ecological reserve, and its crystal-clear waters make it a favorite spot for snorkeling and scuba diving enthusiasts. Once in the water, visitors can see colorful Garibaldi fish swimming among the reefs.

La Jolla · 2km from downtown



2026 Global 100 - Family-friendly Attractions

San Diego Zoo

7.5

4.5/5

201 reviews

The San Diego Zoo is located in Balboa Park in Southern California, USA. It is a large urban zoo that combines animal exhibits, plant views, and conservation education. The zoo is home to over 10,000 animals, covering more than 600 species and subspecies, including many rare and endangered ones. The park also features hundreds of thousands of plants, with eucalyptus forests and various succulents giving it the charm of a botanical garden. Visiting the zoo feels like strolling through a plant garden. Giant pandas are the star attraction here: pandas "Yunchuan" and "Xinbao" live in the expanded "Panda Ridge" exhibit, where you can watch them munching bamboo, rolling around, or napping through the glass—often making it one of the park's most popular stops. Nearby the entrance, the "Koalafornia" exhibit features koalas mostly snoozing on eucalyptus branches or chewing leisurely, looking perpetually sleepy. The "Lost Forest" area showcases a gorilla family, while the "African Rocks" zone has groups of waddling African penguins on the sandy shore. In the polar bear exhibit, the bears often swim close to the water's surface, visible in striking detail through the glass. The park offers year-round educational animal shows, where animal ambassadors make appearances under keeper guidance. The double-decker sightseeing bus and "Skyfari" cable car provide two efficient ways to explore the park. The cable car crosses overhead, serving as both a convenient shuttle between park sections and a vantage point for canopy views of the zoo and Balboa Park. The zoo is built along the canyon terrain with many slopes and steps, so comfortable shoes are recommended. Try to visit the pandas earlier in the morning for shorter wait times. A full walk around the park with stops usually takes most of the day, so planning your route in advance can help avoid backtracking. △ Watch adorable giant pandas up close △ Watch marine creature show △ Overlooking the zoo panorama by cable car

San Diego · 15.6km from La Jolla



Old Town

6.3

4.4/5

242 reviews

Old Townis located in San Diego, California, United States, and serves as an important starting point for the city's history and culture. Stepping into Old Town, you are immediately immersed in a rich historical atmosphere. The district preserves many traditional adobe buildings, which feature rustic exterior walls and natural colors that complement the surrounding palm trees, courtyards, and small plazas, showcasing the unique lifestyle of early California. The district is home to hundreds of shops, restaurants, and handicraft markets, where visitors can purchase souvenirs such as Mexican-style pottery, textiles, and handmade jewelry. The public spaces in Old Town are equally vibrant, with street musicians often playing in the plaza, and folk dances and traditional performances appearing from time to time.

San Diego · 11km from La Jolla



No. 6 of Best Things to Do in San Diego Metropolitan Area

Balboa Park

6.8

4.5/5

163 reviews

Balboa Parkis located in the heart of San Diego, California, United States. The park covers a vast area, integrating large green spaces, natural canyons, historic buildings, and numerous cultural institutions into a comprehensive public space that combines leisure, art, history, and natural views. Soaring towers, continuous arched corridors, exquisite courtyard decorations, and rich sculptural details work together to create a strong Spanish palace-style atmosphere. Strolling through it, visitors feel as if they are in a city garden that blends European classical style with the sunny atmosphere of California. The park features rich botanical views, and the Botanical Building and the Lily Pond in front of it form a classic view. The wooden-framed greenhouse is reflected on the calm surface of the lily pond, set against the surrounding flowers, plants, palm trees, and green spaces, creating a tranquil and beautiful garden atmosphere.

San Diego · 16.1km from La Jolla



Selected for Best Things to Do in California

Embracing Peace

6.4

4.8/5

39 reviews

Embracing Peace is a striking public artwork located in San Diego, California, United States, situated near Seaport Village on the San Diego waterfront. Visitors here can not only admire the artwork but also experience the unique atmosphere created by the interplay of the harbor, warships, and the city view. Created by American artist Seward Johnson, this large bronze sculpture stands over 7 m tall and captures the classic moment of a sailor and a nurse embracing to celebrate the end of World War II. The sailor in the sculpture leans forward while the nurse leans back. Their dynamic poses not only express the joy of that historical moment but also convey themes of peace and hope. The statue is set in an open area with the sparkling San Diego Bay in front and the massive hull of the USS Midway Museum visible behind it, creating a striking blend of history and coastal scenery.

San Diego · 16.1km from La Jolla



Sunset Cliffs Natural Park

5

3.6/5

18 reviews

Sunset Cliffs Natural Parkis a coastal natural park known for its spectacular sea-eroded landforms. Extending along the Pacific coast, it features long cliff lines, rugged rock walls, and expansive ocean views, making it an important spot for local residents and visitors to enjoy natural scenery and watch the sunset. Through years of wind and wave action, the coastal cliffs have gradually formed natural arches, sea caves, and recessed rock layers of various sizes. Standing on the cliff-top trail and looking down, you can see deep blue seawater constantly crashing against the rock walls, with splashing waves and echoing sounds, showcasing the unique and magnificent grandeur of the Pacific coast. In addition to the coastal scenery, the park also focuses on nature conservation. The hillside area inside the cliff line is designated as a native vegetation protection zone, with trails winding through local plants, maintaining a relatively natural ecological environment. In spring, wildflowers often bloom on the hillsides, adding soft colors to the otherwise rugged coast.

San Diego · 13.1km from La Jolla



No. 14 of Best Things to Do in San Diego Metropolitan Area

La Jolla Shores Park

4.4

4.5/5

177 reviews

LaJolla faces the sea on three sides, surrounded by cliffs, the coastline is winding and winding, the sandy beach is shallow and open, and the sea water is blue and transparent. Due to the good environment, sea lions and seals often haunt here. They are naive, lying lazily on the beach, attracting tourists to stop and take pictures at close range. It is also a paradise for birds. On the coastal rocks, a large number of seagulls and pelicans live here. The sea breeze is blowing, while strolling, huge seabirds fly overhead, cute seals crawl around, tourists are fully close to nature in tranquility!

La Jolla · 3.2km from downtown







Experiences you can't miss in La Jolla

Duration: 6 hrs

English

Free cancellation

From€94.23

󱌍

1-day tour to Port of San Diego + Unconditional Surrender + Balboa Park + La Jolla Shores Park

Duration: 9 hrs

English

Free cancellation

From€114.22

󱌍

1-day tour to SeaWorld San Diego, Old Town, La Jolla Cove and La Jolla Shores Park

Duration: 9 hrs

English

Free cancellation

From€114.22





Featured Culture & history in La Jolla

View all Culture & history

󱌍

La Jolla Coast & Cove Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour

Duration: 2 hrs

Free cancellation

Book now for tomorrow

From€8.97

󱌍

San Diego: Go City All-Inclusive Pass with 40+ Attractions

5.0/5

· 1 review

Free cancellation

Book now for tomorrow

From€88.85

󱌍

USS Midway Museum: Skip The Line Ticket

49 booked

Free cancellation

Book now for today

From€36.40

󱌍

USS Midway, Old Town San Diego City Tour from Los Angeles

5.0/5

· 1 review

Duration: 7.8 hrs

English

Free cancellation

From€179.97

󱌍

1-day tour to SeaWorld San Diego + Old Town + Sunset Cliffs Natural Park

Duration: 8 hrs

English

Free cancellation

5.0/5

· 7 reviews

Duration: 2.5 hrs

English

Free cancellation

From€57.44

󱌍

San Diego: Hop-on Hop-off Old Town Trolley

Free cancellation

Book now for today

From€48.22





La Jolla Today's weatherClear 15-26℃

La Jolla weather for the next 2 days11/9: 16-26℃, 11/10: 16-26℃

西溪老翁11 January 2021

5.0

Seabirds in La Jolla La Jolla (Jewelry in Spanish) is located in the north of downtown San Diego. It is a famous natural ecological reserve in Southern California and the main residential area for wealthy people in San Diego. There are good beaches, rock walls, reefs and caves here. It is a paradise for sea lions and seals, as well as seabirds, probably because this sea area has rich fish and shrimp resources. Here you can see sea lions and seals playing in the water, and you can also see flocks of seabirds flying. There are also many seabirds resting on the beach and rocks.

La Jolla Shores Park





Trip Moments in La Jolla

🌴☀️ San Diego, California — 15 Places That Will Make You Fall in Love With the West Coast 🇺🇸🌊

“Imagine waking up to ocean breezes, spending the afternoon watching sea lions nap on the rocks, wandering through Spanish-style gardens, and ending the day with a golden sunset over the Pacific.”

@travelwithteetee · sandiego · 28 days ago

San Diego: The Heart of Southern California on the West Coast!

“Blessed with a warm climate year-round, this city is known for its stunning beaches and vibrant, open atmosphere.”

@ゆじんじん · sandiego · 21 days ago

With the Crew in San Diego: La Jolla's Cove Walk, the Seal Rock and the Sea-Cave Kayak Line

“#grouptourvssolotrip La Jolla Cove at Eight Is Seals, Sea Caves and a Short Queue for Kayaks Our group of five walked the full cove loop, watched the seals on the rock, and joined the kayak queue at the end.”

@ppoo0009 · grouptourvssolotrip · 8 days ago

Los Angeles Chinese-speaking private car charter! Customizable city tours and loop routes

“Whether you are exploring the city or the surrounding areas from Los Angeles, you can choose our custom private car charter!”

@北美旅行向导kaya · 12 days ago





Popular cities near La Jolla

San Diego

Los Angeles

Monterey County

Big Sur

San Francisco

Honolulu

Hawaii island

Santa Barbara





Frequently asked questions

What are the must-do things in La Jolla?

Don't miss these attractions in La Jolla: SeaWorld San Diego, Port of San Diego, and USS Midway Museum. If you like Day tours, try 1-day private chartered tour to Old Town, La Jolla Shores Park and San Diego Zoo. If you enjoy Culture & history, try La Jolla Coast & Cove Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour.

What are the recommended tours and excursions in La Jolla?

When choosing a tour, start with how much time you have and the kind of experience you're looking for. Trending options right now include 1-day private chartered tour to Old Town, La Jolla Shores Park and San Diego Zoo, La Jolla Cove + USS Midway Museum + Sunset Cliffs Natural Park + Unconditional Surrender day tour ticket not included, and 1-day tour to La Jolla Cove + USS Midway Museum + Unconditional Surrender + Old Town. Check the real-time availability and itinerary before you book.

What's the typical cost of day tours and activities in La Jolla?

As of 8 November 2026, the reference price for day tours and activities in La Jolla is around EUR 91.92 – EUR 134.38. Rates vary by duration, group size, transport, tickets, meals, and any special admission requirements. Before you book, please confirm the billing currency and whether the price is quoted per person or per group.

How can I contact Trip.com customer support?

Get help anytime, anywhere within 30 secondsContact customer support

Can I change or cancel my booking?

Change and cancellation policies vary by attractions and tours. Please check the product details page for more information.

How can I get discounted prices?

Ticket prices may vary between weekdays and weekends, as well as during peak and off-peak seasons. When booking with Trip.com, you can also use Trip Coins to get extra savings. For more tips on booking discounted tickets, please visit Trip.com for the latest information.

Things to do in La Jolla

Explore top experiences

Top 10 attractions in La Jolla

SeaWorld San Diego

Port of San Diego

USS Midway Museum

La Jolla Cove

San Diego Zoo

Old Town

Balboa Park

Embracing Peace

Sunset Cliffs Natural Park

La Jolla Shores Park

Experiences you can't miss in La Jolla

Featured Day tours in La Jolla

Featured Culture & history in La Jolla

Featured City sightseeing in La Jolla

Free things to do in La Jolla

Port of San Diego

La Jolla Cove

Old Town

Balboa Park

Embracing Peace

Sunset Cliffs Natural Park

La Jolla Shores Park

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park

Little Italy

What travellers say about La Jolla

SeaWorld San Diego

Port of San Diego

USS Midway Museum

La Jolla Cove

San Diego Zoo

Old Town

Balboa Park

Embracing Peace

Sunset Cliffs Natural Park

La Jolla Shores Park

Trip Moments in La Jolla

🌴☀️ San Diego, California — 15 Places That Will Make You Fall in Love With the West Coast 🇺🇸🌊

San Diego: The Heart of Southern California on the West Coast!

With the Crew in San Diego: La Jolla's Cove Walk, the Seal Rock and the Sea-Cave Kayak Line

Los Angeles Chinese-speaking private car charter! Customizable city tours and loop routes

Popular cities near La Jolla

San Diego

Los Angeles

Monterey County

Big Sur

San Francisco

Honolulu

Hawaii island

Santa Barbara

Frequently asked questions

What are the must-do things in La Jolla?

What are the recommended tours and excursions in La Jolla?

What's the typical cost of day tours and activities in La Jolla?

How can I contact Trip.com customer support?

Can I change or cancel my booking?

How can I get discounted prices?