La Jolla Itinerary: How to Spend One Amazing Day by the Coast
We visited La Jolla as a day trip during our time in San Diego since we were staying on Coronado Island. It was my favorite day of our San Diego trip!
I had always heard great things about La Jolla, especially the sea lions and seals at La Jolla Cove (one of my favorite animals!), the coastal views, and the charming downtown area with cafes and shops.
La Jolla has a more upscale and residential feel than other parts of San Diego. It was fun walking around and seeing all the unique and beautiful homes.
If you’re planning a day trip to La Jolla, this itinerary includes scenic coastal walks, sea lion and seal sightings, and optional activities depending on what you want to do!
Whether you’re looking for something adventurous or just want to relax and enjoy the coastal views, this La Jolla itinerary has you covered!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I will get a commission if you decide to purchase through those links, at no cost to you. Thank you for your support!
➡️ Be sure to check out my three days in San Diego itinerary to plan the rest of your trip, featuring Mission Beach, Coronado Island, and downtown San Diego!
Quick Overview: Where to Stay & What to Do
If you’re short on time, here are my top recommendations on things to do in La Jolla as well as recommended places to stay!
Where to Stay in La Jolla:
- Pantai Inn – Boutique hotel right by the coast
- La Jolla Shores Hotel – On the beach, walkable area
- Sheraton La Jolla Hotel – Short drive to La Jolla cove, slightly further away
Top Things to Do in La Jolla:
- Walk along the La Jolla Coast Trail
- La Jolla Sea Caves Kayak Tour
- La Jolla Cove Guided Snorkeling Tour
One Day in La Jolla Itinerary
I have pinned all of the locations mentioned in this La Jolla itinerary on a Google Map to make it easy for you to download and navigate during your visit.
Grab Breakfast and Coffee
We started our morning by grabbing coffee and breakfast at a local coffee shop in downtown La Jolla.
There are plenty of great spots to choose from depending on what you’re in the mood for!
Here a few coffee shops in La Jolla worth checking out:
- Better Buzz Coffee – A popular local chain with a great drink selection and a few food options like acai bowls (which looked pretty good!). I got their caramel and vanilla latte which was very good but definitely on the sweeter side. I prefer sweeter drinks, but next time I would probably ask for it half sweet, which was an option on their menu. I saw several Better Buzz locations throughout San Diego, and they always seemed busy!
- Rosemonts Cafe – Large selection of breakfast food and coffee drinks
- Living Room Coffeehouse – Based on photos I have seen, the inside of this place looks very cool! It would be a great place to grab a drink and breakfast and relax.
- Il Giardino di Lilli – This cafe was on my list to try because of its great reviews, but we didn’t get the chance to try it on our trip. They have a great selection of food items, pastries, fresh-pressed juices, and espresso drinks.
After breakfast, we made our way toward the coast to begin our walk along the La Jolla Beach Trail (also known as the La Jolla Coast Trail).
Walk Along the La Jolla Coastal Trail
The La Jolla Coast Trail is an easy and scenic walk that brings you along the shoreline with nonstop ocean views!
It’s about 2.3 miles out and back, but you don’t need to walk the whole trail to enjoy it. If you only have time to just walk a portion of it, you will still see plenty of beautiful views!
The trail begins at Wipeout Beach and takes you to the Seal Wall which is a great place to see seals lounging on a large cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
From there, the trail continues to bring you along the coast until you reach La Jolla Cove, which is one of the best places to see sea lions and seals.
We saw a bunch of them either swimming in the water or lying on the rocks relaxing.
It was so fun to watch them interact with one another. They were loud, playful, and just really cute to see up close.
Please remember to keep your distance so you do not disturb them.
When I read reviews about the trail, I saw people mention that there was a bad smell in the area where the seals and sea lions were. I did notice the smell but it wasn’t anything too unbearable.
Towards the end of the trail, you will come across the iconic Sunny Jim Cave which is a very beautiful cave that you can actually go inside.
If you want to go inside the cave, you can visit the Cave Store nearby where you can pay to enter the cave.
We also saw people kayaking near the cave, which looked like a great and fun way to get out on the water and take in the views.
If you’re interested in kayaking in La Jolla, I recommend booking this Viator tour which has great reviews (see below to book as well)!
I think this coastal walk is a must-do while in La Jolla. It was our favorite thing we did during our day trip to La Jolla!
It was a nice and relaxing walk with beautiful views the entire time.
You can find the full route on AllTrails here, but you don’t really need a map.
It’s all clearly marked and easy to follow.
➡️ Trying to pack in a carry-on only for your trip to San Diego? Check out my blog post where I discuss 40 carry-on packing tips to save space!
Lunch at Deli-icious
We had the best sandwiches for lunch at Deli-icious!
It is hard to beat a good sandwich for lunch.
Also, the owners of this shop were the sweetest and very friendly!
I got the Italian torpedo sandwich and it was amazing. I highly recommend it!
They have a variety of cold and hot sandwiches, and it is located in a small shopping strip.
Fun Things to Do in La Jolla
Depending on your interests and the type of day you want to have (adventurous or relaxed), here are some of the most popular things to do in La Jolla to fill your afternoon.
Kayaking
Kayaking is a fun way to get out on the water and explore the area.
Several companies offer guided tours through sea caves and along the coast.
I recommend this La Jolla Sea Caves Kayak Tour on Viator that has great reviews!
Snorkeling
La Jolla is a popular spot for snorkeling, and we saw several snorkelers near La Jolla Cove, where we saw sea lions and seals playing in the water.
You will pass La Jolla Cove on the La Jolla Coastal trail mentioned earlier in this itinerary. You walk down a set of stairs to get down to the beach.
It looked like most of the snorkelers had their own gear and were snorkeling on their own.
If you’re wanting a guided experience, this La Jolla Cove Guided Snorkeling Tour on Get Your Guide seems like a great option.
You will have a professional guide and the chance to see sea lions, seals, fish, and the sea caves up close!
You can book the La Jolla Cove snorkeling tour below!
Relax on the Beach
If you’re wanting more relaxation in your La Jolla itinerary, I recommend heading to Windansea Beach to relax on the beach.
It’s known for its rocky shoreline, strong waves, and beautiful views.
It’s less crowded than La Jolla Shores and popular with local surfers.
There isn’t a lot of sand, especially during high tide, but you can sit on the rocks and enjoy the view.
I would not recommend swimming at Windansea Beach because of the rocks and strong currents, but it’s a good place to relax and watch the waves.
If you’re wanting a beach that is good for swimming with calmer waters and longer stretches of sand to relax, then I recommend going to La Jolla Shores.
Surfing
La Jolla is known as one of the best places in California for learning how to surf due to its predictable waves that don’t get too high.
If you’re interested in taking surfing lessons, check out this Viator surfing lesson that has great reviews.
The class is small with no more than five people and is led by an experienced instructor.
The surfing lesson is 90 minutes, and once it is over, you get an extra hour with your board to practice on your own!
Wetsuits are included in the price as well.
You can book the surfing lessons here or below!
The Cave Store
If you’re walking along the La Jolla Coastal Trail (mentioned earlier in this itinerary), you will pass the Sunny Jim Cave and The Cave Store.
Inside the Cave Store, you can purchase tickets to go inside the sea cave.
It costs $10/adult and $6 for kids (ages 3-17).
The tour is self-guided and runs from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm.
To get down to the cave, you will walk through a tunnel and down about 145 stairs (and back up), so be prepared for this.
It is a quick stop (about 15 minutes) but a fun and unique way to see inside the sea cave.
Hike at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
Torrey Pines is about a 20-minute drive north of downtown La Jolla, and it has several great hiking trails with beautiful ocean views.
It is a very popular place to hike, so expect some crowds, especially on weekends. But the views are absolutely worth it!
Here are some popular hiking trails in Torrey Pines I recommend:
- Torrey Pines Beach Trail Loop – 2.3 mile loop, moderate, takes about 1 hour
- Guy Fleming Trail – 0.7 mile loop, easy, takes around 15-20 minutes
- Torrey Pines State Beach and Broken Hill Loop – 3.5 mile loop, moderate, takes about 1.5 hours
You can check out All Trails for even more hiking trails in Torrey Pines!
Places to Eat in Dinner in La Jolla
If you’re staying long enough in La Jolla to grab dinner, here a few great places to eat in La Jolla:
- Duke’s La Jolla – Hawaiian-style food with ocean views.
- George’s at the Cove – Higher-end, great for a nice dinner with a view.
- Puesto La Jolla – Great spot for tacos and cocktails.
- The Taco Stand – Casual and popular spot for great food, usually a line but worth it.
How to Get Around in La Jolla
We visited La Jolla as a day trip during our time in San Diego where we stayed in Coronado Island.
Instead of renting a car, we used Lyft to get there and then explored La Jolla on foot.
Our Lyft ride from the Coronado Island Marriott to La Jolla cost about $35 including a 20% tip.
We chose to use rideshare services during our trip to San Diego since we did not want to rent a car and have to deal with driving in San Diego traffic or paying for parking.
Once we were in La Jolla, we found it very walkable.
Most of the sights in this La Jolla itinerary like La Jolla Cove, the downtown cafes, and the La Jolla Coastal Trail are all relatively close together if you’re up for walking.
Unless you plan to venture farther out (like Torrey Pines), you likely won’t need a car once you’re in the La Jolla area and you could always order a Lyft or Uber for relatively cheap.
If you’re wanting to rent a car, I recommend using Expedia to find the best rental car deals! I think the easiest way is to rent a car from the San Diego airport.
➡️ If you’re flying to San Diego, check out my blog post about my favorite long flight essentials to stay entertained and comfortable. My flight from Indianapolis to San Diego was about 4 hours so these essentials came in handy!
Where to Stay in La Jolla
If you’re planning to stay overnight in La Jolla, here are a few hotels that are well-reviewed and close to everything:
- San Diego Marriott La Jolla – About 10 minutes from the beach, slightly further away
- Pantai Inn – Boutique hotel right by the coast
- La Jolla Shores Hotel – On the beach, walkable area
- Sheraton La Jolla Hotel – Short drive to La Jolla cove, slightly further away
Check out this interactive map below for more options on places to stay in La Jolla.
Final Thoughts on La Jolla Itinerary
La Jolla is a great place to spend one day if you’re visiting San Diego.
You can walk along the coast, see sea lions up close, enjoy good food, and either relax or go for something more active like kayaking or hiking.
It’s easy to get around, has great views, and offers a more laid-back feel than downtown San Diego.
If you’re planning a day trip from the city, this La Jolla itinerary is a great addition to your San Diego trip!
Check out my other San Diego blog posts for more tips and trip planning ideas!
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