Holiday Fun for the Solo Traveler in San Diego
San Diego is an awesome place to travel solo any time of year, but with special seasonal events and festive eats and drinks, the holidays offer even more ways to explore and relax.
Eat
Eat
Holiday Pop-up Bars & Events
Holiday date-night vibes also abound at the many pop-up cocktail bars and events around San Diego. There are typically dozens of these fun, inventive happenings in neighborhoods from North Park to La Jolla to Coronado and beyond.
Festive Bites in Balboa Park
With festive lights and holiday cheer decorating every inch of its prados and pathways, Balboa Park is a great place to explore solo during the holidays — and it’s also home to many cafes and restaurants that are perfect to pop into before or after shows, exhibitions or events.
Island Dining
At the Coronado Ferry Landing, just across the bay from Downtown San Diego, the festive décor will immerse you in the holiday spirit. And you’ll find multiple dining options that don't require reservations or formality, from grab-and-go spots to lively casual eateries.
Delicious Holiday Discoveries in Convoy
Sidling up to a sushi bar can be an ideal way to dine as a solo traveler any time of year. And you’ll find some excellent ones — as well as restaurants that take in a dazzling array of other Asian cuisines — in San Diego's vibrant Convoy Asian Cultural District. With special holiday-themed events and the district’s creative and energetic vibe, it’s a great choice for solo travelers as a place to mix, mingle and make new discoveries.
Food Hall Finds
Solo travelers also will find a lot to love at San Diego-area food halls such as Liberty Public Market in Point Loma, a perfect place to wander among the stalls trying bites and beverages from across the culinary spectrum. You can sit outside on a mild San Diego winter day and enjoy your finds as you take in Liberty Station's holiday decorations and lights.
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Stay
Beachside Bliss
Or consider making one of San Diego's charming beach neighborhoods your home base and chill out with ocean views and wide-open spaces for running, biking or yoga under San Diego’s balmy winter skies. Mission Beach, Pacific Beach and Ocean Beach all have their own distinctive ocean-close accommodations, whether you’re going beachside on a budget or opting for a more opulent experience.
Hospitality, Italian-style
Little Italy is the center of the food, drink and shopping action in Downtown San Diego, and is home to multiple boutique hotels and other inviting stays, making it a perfect fit for the busy urban explorer. The neighborhood is also wonderfully festive and convivial come holiday season.
More Inviting Solo Stays
Among excellent hotel choices for solo travelers in San Diego are the gracious and welcoming Grande Colonial Hotel in La Jolla, with its ocean views, close proximity to great strolling and shopping in Village of La Jolla, and homey holiday decor; the Manchester Grand Hyatt, which is right on San Diego's beautiful Embarcadero and offers such amenities as a fun holiday cocktail pop-up at the rooftop restaurant/bar; and the InterContinental San Diego, which offers all you could want in one hotel – from a great bar and multiple restaurants to a gym, pool, spectacular waterfront views and easy walkability to the Coronado Ferry and the USS Midway Museum, as well as the myriad of holiday happenings in Downtown.
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Play
Holidays Sparkle in the Park
At the holidays, Balboa Park is also wonderfully festooned with lights, garlands and more. Even if you’re not attending a holiday show at the nationally renowned Old Globe Theatre or a concert of Christmas music at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, you can wander the park taking in the vibe of the season along historic El Prado. And if you’re here in early December, the park’s annual December Nights happening is an inviting celebration for families and solo visitors alike.
Self-Care and Sunshine
In San Diego, a beach day can double as a holiday outing: Pack a picnic and look for decorated Christmas trees on (or near) the sand everywhere from Ocean Beach to Del Mar and beyond. Or pamper yourself with a soothing massage or an invigorating yoga session at one of San Diego's full-service day spas or wellness retreats.
Sensational Shopping is in Season
And if shopping is your thing, San Diego goes all-out for the holidays, with gorgeously appointed Christmas trees and other displays at local malls such as Fashion Valley, Westfield UTC and many others. Stroll the boutiques, sample the restaurants and bars and savor a laid-back seasonal solo sojourn, San Diego-style.