Welcome to

La Jolla

Where a spectacular coastline and upscale village atmosphere define San Diego's Jewel by the Sea

One of the top beach destinations in the world

With a dramatic coastline boasting incredible views, it's no surprise that La Jolla is one of the most popular beach destinations in California. Surrounded on three sides by the sea and backed by the steep slopes of Mt. Soledad, La Jolla's natural beauty, abundance of activities and upscale village lifestyle ensure that it lives up to its nickname as "the jewel" of San Diego.

Consistently voted one of the top beach destinations in the world, La Jolla offers a wide range of accommodations from luxurious hotels to casual coastal retreats, along with museums and art galleries, one-of-a-kind boutiques, great restaurants and a slew of outdoor activities. Home to the famous Torrey Pines Golf Course and The Lodge at Torrey Pines, the scenic cliff area offers well-groomed hiking trails with spectacular views, and world-class golf. At Torrey Pines Gliderport you can soar out over the beach cliffs on a hang glider or just relax and watch the action above.

Along the dramatic coastline lies Scripps Park, where families can picnic throughout the summer, while enjoying Fourth of July fireworks and concerts under the stars. Just south of the park is the Children's Pool, where a seawall was originally built to protect kids from incoming waves, but has been long taken over by a local seal colony. People are no longer permitted to swim here, but you can walk out along the seawall for a close-up view of the wildlife.

La Jolla is also home to Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institute of Oceanography and plenty of cultural attractions including the La Jolla Playhouse and the Museum of Contemporary Art, all situated in close proximity to The Village. The University of California San Diego, which hosts the popular Geisel Library and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, are both located in La Jolla as well.

La Jolla's biggest draw for locals and visitors alike are the beautiful beaches. During the summer and autumn months, the surf is relatively gentle, with warm waters in 70s. Swimmers, snorkelers, scuba divers, kayakers and surfers can enjoy the golden sands of La Jolla Shores, the Cove and Windansea. And be sure to keep an eye out for migrating whales off the coast as they travel to and from Baja California.

Play San Diego: La Jolla

Find a place to stay

Book online or call 1-800-350-6205 to speak with a local expert

Book Now

The seaside community of La Jolla occupies 7 miles of coastline along the Pacific Ocean within the north county of San Diego. It is surrounded on three sides by ocean bluffs and beaches. The main route in and out of La Jolla is the I-5 freeway, from the south exit at La Jolla Village Drive and from the north exit La Jolla Parkway. It is approximately 14 miles from the airport with an average drive time of 20 minutes. La Jolla is serviced by multiple bus routes and Old Town Trolley Tours offers a La Jolla option with on and off privileges.

Get Directions

Explore

Explore La Jolla

What's Hot|

What's On|

Make a splash in La Jolla

Take a tour with Alana Nichols - Gold Medalist, Motivational Speaker, Water Enthusiast

Discover

Torrey Pines Natural Reserve

Get back to nature and enjoy one of the most beautiful coastal hikes in America.

Discover

Shopping La Jolla

Discover

View All

2021 U.S. Open Championship

Jun 14 - Jun 20, 2021

The 2021 U.S. Open marks the third USGA championship for the South Course and the second time it will play host to the national championship.

Discover

Springtime Tea at La Valencia Hotel

Apr 8 - May 7, 2021

Welcome spring with La Valencia's award-winning tea service! Join us for our first ever brunch tea beginning at 11:00am and enjoy a variety of DAMMANN Frères teas paired with scones, quiche, delectable tea sandwiches, assorted mini pastries, and a complimentary glass of bubbly to start for $69 per person.

Now accepting reservations through OpenTable. These award-winning teas sell out quickly. Be sure to reserve your table to join the Pink Lady for the perfect toast to spring.

Springtime Tea Dates:
- Thursday, April 8th
- Friday April 9th
- Thursday April 15th
- Friday April 16th
- Thursday April 22nd
- Friday April 23rd
- Thursday April 29th
- Friday April 30th
- Thursday May 6th
- Friday May 7th

Discover

LEARN YOUR CAMERA - PRIVATE TRAINING SESSION

Jun 24, 2020 - ongoing

Raise your photography to the next level with a private photography training session or a photography tour led by Julie Kremen, an award winning professional photographer and certified tour guide. Read the reviews and see why she is top-rated on TripAdvisor, and Yelp.

The instruction is completely customized to your abilities, interests, and goals; so you get the maximum amount of one-on-one instruction tailored to suit your needs. Personal instruction and the ability to shadow a skilled professional photographer allows you to receive immediate feedback as you shoot and get on-the-spot guidance as to how to improve.

Julie works closely with you before the session to nail down exactly what you want to concentrate on so you can get the most out of your experience. Contact us to book a private session and your boost your shooting skills!

Discover

Virtual Tasting Parties

Jan 19 - ongoing

Enjoy a drink with friends, family, and/or colleagues over video conference and learn something along the way!

For wine lovers around the world, or even just ‘wine likers’ who would like to know more about what they’re drinking, the COVID-19 lockdown does not have to get in the way of sipping, learning, and enjoying a taste (or three) of your favorite varietals. This virtual tasting will bring delicious wine to your home and bring friends and clients together to share a bottle of wine, discuss what’s in the glass, learn a little bit, and have a few laughs.

Virtually meet winemakers, winery owners, wine critics, and other pros through our series of virtual tastings. Taste the wine from the comfort of your own home as experts talk you through their tasting notes, winemaking process, favorite pairings and more!

Discover

View More Events

Make a splash in La Jolla

Discover

Torrey Pines Natural Reserve

Discover

Shopping La Jolla

Discover

2021 U.S. Open Championship

Jun 14 - Jun 20, 2021

Discover

Springtime Tea at La Valencia Hotel

Apr 8 - May 7, 2021

Discover

LEARN YOUR CAMERA - PRIVATE TRAINING SESSION

Jun 24, 2020 - ongoing

Discover

Virtual Tasting Parties

Jan 19 - ongoing

Discover

La Jolla on Instagram

Stay in touch

Sign up to receive the latest news, events, and updates about San Diego. Our monthly and weekly newsletters will keep you informed about the latest and greatest happenings in the destination.

Visitor planning guide

For the ultimate guide to planning your San Diego vacation, view and download the San Diego Visitor Planning Guide, packed with useful information that will help you plan the perfect San Diego getaway.