10 Most Instagrammable Places in San Diego

Old Town San Diego is filled with historic buildings, top-notch museums, and fascinating attractions that are perfect for photo opportunities. Located near the Pacific Highway, the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park is the birthplace of California and preserved to commemorate its rich history. When you visit, you’ll see numerous 19th-century homes that give you a glimpse into colonial life, such as an old adobe ranch house, a schoolhouse, and more. The area is also a local hub for lore and ghost sightings, so you can visit the cemetery and Whaley House Museum to snap a photo of the resident ghosts that purportedly haunt the place.

The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch offers long stretches of rainbow-colored flowers on a tranquil hillside overlooking Carlsbad and the California coast. Located in Carlsbad, the ranch’s 50 acres of fields not only offers colorful flowers but plenty of attractions for the whole family. After taking pictures of the famous flower fields, take a tractor wagon ride to see the landscape and themed garden spaces. You could also visit the Ecke poinsettia greenhouse, take the kids through the sweet pea maze, and spend some time in the orchid greenhouses. Kids will also like Santa’s playground, a holiday-themed play area.

Artelexia is a creative Mexican gift shop that offers textiles, handbags, art, and handmade jewelry. Located in the Arts District, Artelexia is a fun place to take pictures of cultural artwork and pick up some unique souvenirs. You’ll find a range of exciting gifts at Artelexia, including Day of the Dead memorabilia, Frida Kahlo-themed gifts, fiesta decor, books about Mexican culture, and children’s toys. To increase creativity in the community, the owner of Artelexia hosts art workshops and seminars to inspire the artist in everyone.

Seaport Village is a waterfront shopping complex with retail shops, galleries, and eateries housed in historic buildings. Located in downtown San Diego on the San Diego Bay, the complex is entirely pedestrian. In addition to the views of the bay and landscape, you’ll find many attractions at Seaport Village for stunning pictures. The U.S.S. Midway aircraft carrier is docked in the bay and there’s a historic carousel with hand-carved animals. Be sure to stop in the shops and galleries to see what’s on the offer and pick up some gifts.

Scripps Pier is a massive research pier that’s designed for oceanographic studies and scientific dives. Officially known as the Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Pier, the pier is a feature of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and is named for its patron. Because the pier is a vital research facility with delicate scientific instruments and mounting stations, it’s not open to the public. However, the pier hosts public tours each month and special events for the public, so you can book a tour to take photos of the ocean and the research equipment. You can also take pictures from the area around the pier.

The San Diego Zoo is a renowned zoological facility with over 3,500 animals representing over 800 species. Located in Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo uses open-air, cageless exhibits that promote naturalistic habitats for the animals. With the picturesque habitats and animals, the zoo is one of the best places to take pictures in San Diego. You can visit the African rainforest, Arctic tundra, and aviaries, all of which have native species that live side by side in the wild. There’s also a safari park with a vast, open setting where you can see more animals. Some of the highlights include the Monkey Trails, Panda Canyon, and Polar Bear Plunge.

The Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is a coastal state park with wild woodlands, a beach, a lagoon, and an abundance of wildlife. Located in La Jolla, the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is one of the best places to see native wildlife. You can take pictures from the cliff plateau to see the Torrey Pines State Beach and neighboring lagoon, which is home to migratory seabirds. You may also spot bobcats, foxes, coyotes, rabbits, and skunks. On occasion, you’ll spot migrating whales from the overlook, such as humpback whales and gray whales.

The Cabrillo National Monument is a historic landmark that honors the landing of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo at San Diego Bay in 1542. Located on the tip of Point Loma Peninsula, the site is an important historical landmark for the state and a must-visit on your trip. Along with seeing and photographing the monument, you’ll also see the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, a historic lighthouse and museum. The point is one of the best spots to see San Diego’s harbor and skyline as well, especially with views of the Coronado Islands and the Naval Air Station North Island in the distance.

The Gaslamp Quarter is an iconic neighborhood with historic buildings, beautiful architectural details, and thrilling nightlife. Located in the downtown area, the Gaslamp Quarter is filled with dive bars, night clubs, cocktail lounges, and theaters with regular performances. You’ll find many opportunities to take pictures of attractive buildings, historic bars and restaurants, and the landscape design. One of the highlights of visiting the Gaslamp Quarter is taking a picture of the actual gaslamps, which give the entire street an Old-World look. If you stay for dinner or drinks, you’re sure to have many Instagrammable dishes and cocktails.

The Mission San Diego de Alcala is a restored example of 18th-century Spanish missions. Located 10 minutes north of downtown San Diego, the Franciscan mission was founded by the Spanish friar Junipero Serra and marks the first Christian burial in the region. The mission is an important historic landmark and offers many opportunities for photos of the building and its surroundings. Take some time to walk around the gardens to see the old adobe structures and snap pictures of the flowers and plants.