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The 23 Best Things to Do in La Jolla
👉 Jump to: Best Things | Beach Activities | Hiking & Outdoors | Museums & Indoors | Food & Drink
I’m a San Diego local, and I’ve spent hours upon hours exploring La Jolla. The small seaside community has some of San Diego’s best attractions, views, history, culture, and wildlife. In this post, I’ll round up some of my favorite things to do in La Jolla.
I’ll highlight the can’t-miss spots, as well as some of my personal favorites that fly under the radar. Make sure you also bookmark my guide to where to stay in La Jolla because I’m sure you’ll be itching to book your hotel by the time you get to the end of this list.
Now, let’s jump in!
23 Best Things to Do in La Jolla
La Jolla Cove
Admire stunning wildlife that congregates around this tiny beach and protected cove.
La Jolla Cove is a small semi-circle of sandy beach by rocky cliffs. It attracts sea lions, seals, shorebirds, a variety of fish, and lots of human admirers! It is one of San Diego’s most iconic free activities, widely appreciated for the diversity of wildlife and unique scenery.
Also, La Jolla Cove is the best spot to watch the playful sea lions frolic in the water and lounge on the rocks.
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
Hike through miles of oceanside trails in the bluffs of this gorgeous nature preserve.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (858) 755-2063 | Website | Hours: 7:15 am – sunset daily | Entrance: $12 per vehicle
Torrey Pines is home to some of the best hiking trails in San Diego, with miles of walkable sandy paths overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Its trails are manageable for all levels of hikers. You can hike just along the bluffs, or choose to scramble down to the beaches below.
Here, you can glimpse the world’s rarest pine tree — the Torrey pine — while soaking up the sun and admiring panoramic views over the ocean and downtown San Diego. Parking can fill up quickly, especially on weekends, so get here early!
The Village of La Jolla (Downtown La Jolla)
Wander through the Village of La Jolla and its quaint streets full of shops and restaurants.
The Village of La Jolla is a renowned shopping and dining area that offers upscale boutique shops, fine dining, and more casual eateries, many of which offer ocean views. Many of the best restaurants in La Jolla are located in the Village.
The walkable streets, Coast Blvd and Prospect Street, boast historical, Spanish-style architecture. Besides restaurants and boutiques, there are numerous art galleries showcasing local artists and pieces that celebrate San Diego.
🛎️ Need a Hotel? The Village of La Jolla has plenty of luxe and romantic hotels. Many have incredible seaside views, including the Grande Colonial La Jolla. Book one of the hotel’s ocean-view rooms if you’re planning a romantic getaway!
Children’s Pool
Swim at a protected sandy cove — or come here to admire the seals.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: 619-221-8899 | Website | Hours: 24/7 | Entrance: Free
The Children’s Pool is unique among La Jolla’s beaches for two reasons. One, for the manmade sea wall that extends around the beach, blocking the cove from more intense waves and creating a perfect cove for smaller swimmers. And two, for the population of harbor seals who like to call this place home!
The beach is closed during harbor seal pupping season, from mid-December through mid-May. Winter and spring are the best times to come visit if you’re hoping to see the seals. The beach reopens for swimmers in the summer.
Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Learn about amazing local marine life from the experts at Birch Aquarium.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (858) 534-3474 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 5 pm Mon-Sat; 9 am – 7 pm Sun | Entrance: $34.95 adults, $29.95 children (ages 3-12), free under 3
Birch Aquarium is perched on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The aquarium is world-renowned for its stunning displays that inspire guests and connect them to the ocean.
Birch visitors have the opportunity to see more than 60 habitats and many rare and exotic marine life, including penguins, octopuses, and sharks.
The renowned UC San Diego Scripps Institution of Oceanography runs Birch Aquarium. It is also a pioneer in conservation, research, and education, so your visit supports its many beneficial activities!
👉 Pro Tip: The aquarium is a very popular activity and frequently sells out, so advance reservations are required.
La Jolla Tide Pools
Search for miniature creatures hiding under rocks and among the algae of small pools.
📍 Google Maps | Entrance: Free
One of my favorite childhood activities was poking around the miniature ecosystems that form in the small rock pools along La Jolla’s beaches when the tides are low! Sift through patches of algae and seagrass to discover otherworldly organisms like mollusks, anemones, urchins, sea slugs, and tiny fish.
👉 Pro Tip: Tidepooling is best in winter when low tides are extreme and expose more pools. Read here for more information on the best time to visit San Diego.
Beach Activities
Black’s Beach
Hike down to this famed surfing beach below Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: 619-221-8899 | Website | Hours: sunrise – sunset | Entrance: Free
Hike down to Black’s Beach from the bluffs of Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, and you’ll end up at one of the most beautiful stretches of sand San Diego has to offer.
Surfing is super popular here, so you can watch experts hit the waves while you stretch out your towel on the sand.
Black’s Beach is a nudist beach, so you may see some beachgoers abiding by the clothing-optional rules. No matter if you choose to don your swimsuit or your birthday suit, you’ll have plenty of room to stretch out and find your own space. Black’s Beach is one of the longest beaches in San Diego, so it’s incredibly spacious.
👉 Pro Tip: The hike down to Black’s Beach can be difficult, as you traverse a narrow and steep trail. Watch your footing, and don’t attempt if you have mobility issues.
Windansea Beach
Check out a stunning beach and see a historical beach hut.
📍 Google Maps | Entrance: Free
Windansea Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in San Diego, and it is uniquely captivating for its rock formations that create platforms jutting out into the waves.
Atop one of these rocks sits the historical and iconic thatched beach hut, the Windansea Surf Shack. It’s one of the most recognizable beach monuments in San Diego.
Surf Lesson at La Jolla Shores
Learn to surf on one of La Jolla’s most popular beaches.
📍 Google Maps | Entrance: Free, Lessons typically $100+ | 👉 Book a Beginner Surfing Lesson on La Jolla Shores
The long stretch of beach that makes up La Jolla Shores, the most popular of La Jolla’s beaches, offers some great waves for surfing! This spot caters to both advanced surfers and those just dipping their toes in the water for the first time.
The smaller waves offer long, easy rides for beginners, which makes it one of the most popular spots for surf lessons in San Diego! This beginner surf lesson is a fun and safe way to get on the water if you’ve never surfed before.
Kayak Tour of the La Jolla Sea Caves
Kayak in and around La Jolla’s stunning sea cliffs.
👉 Book a La Jolla Sea Cave Kayak Tour for Two
At the base of the tallest cliffs in La Jolla are a collection of hidden caves that are only visible and accessible via the water. The waves crashing against the cliffs have created beautiful pockets and caves that look like they were sculpted by an architect!
This Sea Cave Kayak Tour is one of the best, especially for couples, since you’ll be in a tandem kayak. On the tour, the naturalist guide will point out abundant wildlife, take you through the sea kelp beds, and (weather permitting), you’ll get to see the caves up close and even go inside one of the biggest caves.
La Jolla Underwater Park
Witness fish, turtles, sharks, and stingrays in their natural habitat.
📍 Google Maps | Entrance: Free | 👉 Book a La Jolla Snorkeling Adventure
The La Jolla Underwater Park is a protected marine area that lies just off the coast of town. It contains a beautiful ecosystem home to a variety of marine creatures. The sea grass, rocky reefs, and kelp forests draw a huge diversity of fish, sharks, and even green sea turtles.
The area is a favorite among spear-fishers, snorkelers, and scuba divers. The warmer water during summer draws hundreds of harmless leopard sharks to nearshore waters, which is an incredible snorkeling sight.
Snorkel gear can be rented from one of the various recreation shops near La Jolla Shores. Or you could book a snorkeling tour, which includes all the equipment and gear you need. The tour is led by an expert who will guide you to La Jolla’s lovely Emerald Cave.
The Cave Store
Take a historical tunnel to the interior of a bootlegger’s sea cave.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (858) 459-0746 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 4:30 pm daily | Entrance: $13 adults, $7 youth (ages 3-17), $8 veterans and seniors
The Cave Store was once the house of a German artist who, in 1902, commissioned a tunnel to be dug from the inside of his home to the nearby Sunny Jim’s Cave.
According to legend, the cave was used by bootleggers smuggling alcohol during Prohibition. Now, visitors can retrace the historical staircase tunnel to see the interior of the only sea cave accessible via tunnel!
Hiking & Outdoors
Coast Walk Trail
Take in views of some of the most famous La Jolla attractions from the clifftops.
📍 Google Maps | Entrance: Free
The Coast Walk is an easy dirt trail that meanders atop the La Jolla cliffs, offering unbeatable views of La Jolla Shores, the Scripps Pier, La Jolla Cove, and all of the tiny beaches and wildlife in between! The trail leads from Coast Walk Road to the picturesque Goldfish Point, located near the Village of La Jolla and La Jolla Cove.
Torrey Pines Gliderport
Watch the sunset atop a cliff while watching paragliders soaring above the bluffs.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (858) 452-9858 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 6 pm daily | Entrance: Free, Paragliding: $200-225
Torrey Pines Gliderport sits atop a cliff that towers above the beach below. It offers a launching point for hang gliders and paragliders that soar high above the coast. It’s a truly unique spectacle to see the fliers hurl themselves off the cliff and then serenely float hundreds of feet in the air. It’s also a gorgeous spot to watch the sunset!
Ellen Browning Scripps Park
Picnic on the grass atop a bluff that looks out over the stunning ocean.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (619) 235-1169 | Website | Hours: Open 24 hours daily | Entrance: Free
The Ellen Browning Scripps Park is a grassy recreation area that sits atop a seaside cliff in La Jolla. From the park, you can see all the way to La Jolla Shores and the Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Pier. It offers some of the best seats in La Jolla to watch the sunset!
Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial
Pay tribute to all veterans, from the Revolutionary War up to today.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (858) 459-2314 | Website | Hours: 7 am – 10 pm daily | Entrance: Free
The Veterans Memorial at Mt. Soledad sits atop a huge hill overlooking the ocean. It is unique in that it honors all veterans, both living and deceased, starting from the Revolutionary War up until the present.
It’s an emotionally moving scene to see all of the names and portraits carved into a wall, set against panoramic views of all of La Jolla.
Museums & Indoors
San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art
Explore the world and culture through the eyes of art at this historic building in the heart of La Jolla.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (858) 454-3541 | Website | Hours: 11 am – 7 pm Thurs-Sat; 11 am – 5 pm Sun | Entrance: $25 adults, $15 seniors (55+), free under 26
Founded in 1941, the renowned San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art allows visitors to explore both global and regional culture through the lens of contemporary art.
The San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art is housed in a historic building overlooking the ocean in the heart of La Jolla. It offers permanent collections as well as rotating exhibitions of 20th-century art and innovations.
La Jolla Historical Society
Learn about La Jolla’s unique history and culture at this collection of preserved historical buildings.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (858) 459-5335 | Website | Hours: 12 – 4 pm Wed-Sun | Entrance: Free
The La Jolla Historical Society is made up of a collection of preserved historical buildings that are now used to collect and share La Jolla’s unique history.
Visitors to the Historical Society will have the chance to immerse themselves in exhibitions of culture, art, and history that make La Jolla what it is today! The society also offers periodic symposia, tours, and discussions.
The Comedy Store
See famous and up-and-coming stand-up comedians at this world-renowned venue.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (858) 454-9176 | Website | Entrance: Depends on the show, 21 and older
The original Comedy Store was founded in Los Angeles in 1972 by Sammy Shore, the opening act for Elvis Presley, and became the first stand-up comedy nightclub in the world. The comedy club catapulted the stand-up scene on the West Coast, and in 1976 the club opened a location in San Diego.
Today, The Comedy Store welcomes some of the most famous jokers to the stage on weekends, with local comedians featured during the week. Note that you must be 21 or older to attend the show.
The Spa at Torrey Pines
Embrace relaxation and rejuvenation at one of La Jolla’s most beautiful spas.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (858) 777-6690 | Website | Hours: 7:30 am – 7 pm daily
If you’re in the mood for some quality relaxation and rejuvenation, then you won’t be disappointed by a visit to The Spa at Torrey Pines! The spa looks out over the beautiful Pacific Ocean and sits right next to the rugged cliffs of Torrey Pines State Nature Preserve.
The Spa at Torrey Pines integrates elements of San Diego’s natural plants and beauty, making it a great way to connect with the local environment.
Food & Drink
The Marine Room
A fine dining experience on the beach next to the waves.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (858) 459-7222 | Website | Hours: 5 – 9 pm daily; Closed Mon & Tues
If you want to enjoy views of the ocean while dining, then The Marine Room is an unparalleled choice! The food and flavors are sourced from fresh, local ingredients.
The restaurant is located at the southern end of La Jolla Shores, quite literally on the beach. At low tide, you will be feet from the tide, but the spectacular show happens at high tides when the waves crash against the restaurant walls!
The Taco Stand
Sample some of La Jolla’s best tacos at this spectacular spot.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (858) 551-6666 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 10 pm Fri & Sat; 9 am – 9 pm Sun-Thurs
San Diego is known for its incredible Mexican food, thanks to its close proximity to the border. The Taco Stand showcases the cuisine in a spectacular way.
The tacos at The Taco Stand are some of the best in La Jolla. Make sure to try their delicious cilantro salsa, too. Expect long lines at lunch and dinner time – but the wait is well worth it!
La Jolla Open Aire Farmers Market
Pick up some locally-sourced products, produce, and food.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (858) 454-1699 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 1 pm Sundays | Entrance: Free
On Sundays, the local elementary school courtyard transforms into a bustling, charming farmers market where vendors sell artisanal clothes and jewelry, art, produce, and delicious food.
The La Jolla Open Aire Farmers Market is a great place to go and pick up some locally-grown produce for the week. And be sure to grab a bite of breakfast or lunch from one of the awesome food vendors!
👉 Read Next: Best Areas to Stay in San Diego County
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I hope this gave you more ideas of what to do in La Jolla! For more San Diego inspiration, check out my guide to the top things to do in San Diego.
–Laura McFarland contributed to this list
