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Top 46 Fun Date Ideas in San Diego


a couple on a date at Charleston Speed Boat Adventures

Looking for fun date ideas in San Diego? Look no further! We put together a list of the top 46 fun date ideas in San Diego. There are so many things to do in San Diego from a thrilling boat tour of the San Diego bay to hot air ballooning over the city.

But not all fun date ideas in San Diego are equal, and we have some standout favorites.

Here are our favorite top date night ideas in San Diego:

  1. Explore the San Diego Bay on a boat tour
  2. San Diego Zoo & Safari Park
  3. Make a trip to Coronado with an electric GoCar
  4. Ax throwing
  5. Check out the mountains in Julian
  6. Cabrillo National Monument
  7. Wine tasting in Temecula
  8. Romantic Gondola ride in Coronado
  9. Paint a masterpiece while drinking wine
  10. Visit Bayview Park in Coronado

Other types of fun date ideas in San Diego:

Adventurous Date Ideas
Relaxing Date Ideas
Indoor Date Ideas
Outdoor Date Ideas

a person riding a wave on a speed boat in the ocean

Explore San Diego Bay on a Boat Tour

Set out on the water as your own captain on a high-adrenaline boat ride in San Diego! Zip along the coastline and take in the stunning views of area attractions like the Maritime Museum, Seaport Village, and of course, the iconic downtown skyline. No other boat rental in San Diego packs this much excitement and sightseeing into a two-hour tour.

a tiger looking at the camera

San Diego Zoo & Safari Park

Spend the day at the San Diego Zoo or Safari Park. They’re about 40 minutes apart from each other so it may be difficult to complete both on the same day. You can touch kangaroos and wallabies without paying anything more than your general Safari Park admission. The only restriction is that they have to come to you. And you have to stay on the walking paths. But it does happen!

a bus that is driving down the road

Make a  Trip to Coronado Island With an Electric Car

Coronado Island is one of the top coastal retreats in San Diego. One quintessential aspect of Coronado is its theater district. There are various arts and theaters such as the Lamb’s Players Theatre, the Village Theater and the Coronado Playhouse, all of which have plays and other live performances year-round.

a man and woman holding an axCourtesy of Baltimore Magazine. 

Ax Throwing

Perfect for any date night but especially great for a first date! There are a few places to go in San Diego, make sure to make reservations so you won’t have to wait too long. Great way to get to know each other while learning a fun new skill.

a car parked on a city streetCourtesy of San Diego Travel Blog – San Diego Tourism

Check Out the Mountains in Julian

Getaway from the busy city life and take in the fresh air and beautiful scenery in the mountains. Julian is located in the Cuyamaca Mountains just an hour east of Downtown San Diego. The drive to Julian is full of breathtaking views with changing landscapes. Stop for lunch, go apple picking, take a bite of Julian’s famous apple pie, take a hike and much more.

a large body of water with a city in the backgroundCourtesy of Tripsavvy 

Cabrillo National Monument

Drive up to Cabrillo National Monument for a 360 view of San Diego. Learn about Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo and how he discovered the San Diego Bay, take photos or drive down to visit the Point Loma Tidepools.

a piece of cake and a glass of wine

Wine Tasting in Temecula

Drive up to Temecula for a day full of wine, eating and adventures. Take a jeep winery tour, hot air balloon over the wine country or dinner at a winery.

a man in a boat on a body of waterCourtesy of xpierencedays.com

Romantic Gondola Ride in Coronado

Not ready to take your date overseas? Don’t worry! You can take them right over to Coronado for a romantic gondola ride. Indulge in all the magic and tradition of Venice right here in San Diego as you gently cruise in a private romantic gondola through the enchanting canals of the Coronado Cays. 

a woman painting at a tableCourtesy of valleyjcc

Paint a Masterpiece While Drinking Wine

Best way to figure out your dates artistic abilities early on! Let loose and laugh your way through a creative night painting while enjoying local wines.

a bridge over a body of water with a city in the background

Visit Bayview Park on Coronado

Grab a hot beverage, warm clothes, and maybe a blanket before heading to Bayview Park. Wait until after sunset to see the entire Downtown San Diego skyline light up.

Adventurous Date Ideas in San Diego 

a bird flying over a field of green grass Courtesy of SFGate

Swim With Sharks

If swimming with sharks is on your bucket list, make sure to do this while at La Jolla Shores. If you’re afraid of sharks don’t worry, the only sharks we see at the Cove nowadays are the harmless leopard sharks. The end of August and September are the best time to go and swim with these sharks. Make sure to go during the day when the water is calm and there is good visibility.

a group of colorful hot air balloon in the sky

Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride

Take your relationship to new heights on an exhilarating hot air balloon ride.

a crowded beach next to the oceanCourtesy of BusinessWire

 Belmont Park

Enjoy Mission Beach’s amusement park right on the boardwalk. Take a ride on the coaster, go to an escape room, or play mini-golf.

a body of water with a mountain in the backgroundCourtesy of Xingzhao Wen

Go to the Secret Swing in La Jolla

Hidden up the hill from Sea Birch Aquarium is a local gem in La Jolla. Take a trip into La Jolla to find these secret swings with an incredible view of La Jolla.

a sunset over a beach next to the ocean

Paraglide at Torrey Pines Gliderport

Cross this off of your bucket list for a fun date day! Take in the beautiful cliffs in La Jolla as you soar.

a helicopter flying over a body of water with a city in the backgroundCourtesy of adrenaline.com

Take a Helicopter Tour

SoCal is known for its beautiful beaches and landscapes. See it all of San Diego from the sky.

a small boat in a body of water

Courtesy of  San Diego Sky Tours

 BIPLANE RIDE IN SAN DIEGO

Not a fan of helicopters? Take a biplane ride to experience epic aerial views of San Diego.

a whale swimming in a body of waterCourtesy of adventureribrides

Whale Watching

Take a boat tour out to the open seas to search for whales! You won’t see much on the bigger vessels so opt-in for the smaller groups on the RIB boats in San Diego.

a large ship in a body of waterCourtesy of San Diego Tourism

Go on the Bahia Belle

Cruise Mission Bay on the Bahia Belle. A scenic and romantic way to see Mission Bay. Hop on the Bahai Belle at the Catamaran Hotel or the Bahia Hotel. Enjoy food, drinks, and live music.

Relaxing Date Ideas in San Diego 

a close up of a person holding a bowl of fruit on a plate

Take a Spa Day

Relax and reset with a Spa Day in San Diego. It’s a great way to recenter mentally and physically. Here are a few of our favorite spas in San Diego: The Spa at Estancia La Jolla, Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, The Chopra Center Spa, Spa Kingston, and Saffron & Sage. 

a close up of a rock next to a body of waterCourtesy of Roots Rated 

Watch the Sunset

There’s no better spot to watch the sunset than at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park. Walk along one of the cliffside trails or find a spot to sit down and watch the sunset. Check out the nearby restaurants in Ocean Beach for dinner and drinks. Some popular spots are Hodad’s, Wonderland, OB noodle house, Ragland’s, and Pizza Port.

a hand holding a half eaten donutCourtesy of chefsfeed

Dessert at Salt & Straw

Located right in Little Italy is the popular delicious ice cream spot, Salt & Straw. Their incredible ice cream flavors make this place the new standard to beat.

Beach Bonfire

Pack up and head to the beach for a bonfire. Bonfire pits are available in Ocean Beach, Coronado Island, La Jolla Shores and Mission Beach.

a glass of wine sitting on top of a wooden tableCourtesy of  blog.sandiego.org

Go To a Tiki Bar in Pacific Beach

Surprise your date at this Pacific Beach speakeasy. Also, their rum drinks can be pretty strong so make sure to grab some food while you’re there too.

a vase of flowers on a table

Get Dinner in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park

If you’re craving some delicious Mexican cuisine, then head over to Old Town! Our favorite is Miguel’s Cocina and Cafe Coyote.

a body of water

Get some Vitamin Sea at the Beach

There’s a perfect beach for everyone here in San Diego. If you’re looking for a family-friendly beach head over to Coronado, La Jolla Shores, and/or Mission Beach by Belmont Park. If you are a surfer wanting to shred the gnarr… check out the beaches in Ocean Beach or near Scripps Pier. Other popular beaches are Windansea, Pacific Beach, and Marine Street.

a large ship in a body of water with a city in the backgroundCourtesy of the Hornblower

Sunset Cruise on the Harbor

Take a sunset dinner cruise down on the San Diego harbor. Enjoy dinner and drinks on the water while watching the sunset. 

a sign on the side of a road

Dine Out in Little Italy

Grab a bite to eat at one of the delicious restaurants in Little Italy. You’ll find seafood and Italian restaurants, dessert spots and more. Here are the top restaurants to eat at now: Kettner Exchange, Juniper & Ivy, Born & Raised and the Crack Shack.

 

a store inside of a wooden tableCourtesy of the San Diego Union Tribune

Brunch at Morning Glory

Visit the top brunch spot in San Diego right down in Little Italy.

Indoor San Diego Date Ideas

a large ship in the water

Maritime Museum

Leap aboard one or more of the historic ships at the Maritime Museum. Learn about what life would have been like aboard one of these historic vessels. Make sure to explore the oldest active sailing ship, The Star of India.

a large ship in the water

USS Midway

The USS Midway is a naval aircraft carrier located in Downtown San Diego. Take a few hours to explore over 60 exhibit areas on the USS Midway. Take one of our boat rides in San Diego to see the USS Midway from a different perspective.

a close up of a stuffed toyCourtesy of yelp

Go Rock Climbing

Strengthen your relationship and trust at Vertical Hold, the Grotto or Mesa Rim. These gyms also have yoga studios, climbing clinics, slacklines, fitness facilities, and more.

a cake sitting on top of a tableCourtesy of the Sugar Factory

Sugar Factory

Get a sugar rush together at the Sugar Factory in Downtown San Diego.

a building that has a sign on the side of a roadCourtesy of Pechanga Arena

Attend an Event at Panchanga Arena

Watch the San Diego Gulls play, Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live, concerts and more at the Pechanga Arena.

a lit up city at night

Laser Tag

It’s fun, it can be a workout and it’s cheap! Grab a bite to eat afterwards. 

a dining room tableCourtesy of American Comedy Club

Have a Laugh Together

The American Comedy club has open mic nights and professionals come and perform. They usually have a 2-drink minimum here so be ready to have a few drinks.

a dining room tableCourtesy of Ritz Carlton

Get Lucky at the Casino

Head east to Barona or Sycuan Casino to test your luck. Play some blackjack, eat at the buffet and try not to spend too much money.

a store inside of a buildingCourtesy of Thrillist

Play Games at Coin-Op Game Room

Go play at the first arcade bar in San Diego. Located in the heart of North Park. Head over there for date night to play games, eat food, and grab a drink.

Outdoor Date Ideas

a large stone statue in front of a church

Balboa Park

Balboa Park is home to more than 16 museums, restaurants, theaters, the World-Famous San Diego Zoo, gardens, trails, concert venues and more! Visit one of their museums, walk around and explore or have a picnic and enjoy lunch right in front of the botanical building and the lily pond.

a rocky beach

Take a Hike

Torrey Pines State Reserve has one is one of the most beautiful hikes in San Diego. It has various trails that even lead down to the beach! We recommend parking your car in the free spots just outside of the entrance. Walk through the main gate and begin hiking up through the trails, find the trail that takes you down to the beach and walk along the beach all the way back to your vehicle.

a group of people standing in front of a large city

Watch a Movie Together

Would you rather watch a movie in a pool, rooftop or under the stars? In San Diego, you can do all three! Check out the Rooftop Cinema at the Grand Hyatt, the Pearl Hotel for a Dive-in movie or the Cinema Under the Stars.

a group of people in a pool of water

Seaworld

Enjoy exciting rides, shows, aquariums and visit sea animals. Take the SeaWorld Bayside Skyride to get a beautiful view of Mission Bay and SeaWorld from up high. Make sure to try out the new Electric Eel ride.

a house with bushes in front of a building

Explore Coronado Island

Go explore California’s Crown Jewel, Coronado Island. Grab lunch or dinner on the Sun Deck at Hotel del while watching the sunset, grab ice cream at MooTime Creamery, go on a boat tour, walk the beach or bike the island. There’s an endless number of ways to spend your day or night here.

a large body of water with a city in the background

Picnic at the Fish Market

Stop by the Fish Market for a warm loaf of bread and some fresh salmon. Enjoy your food while sitting out on the waterfront at Tuna Harbor Park.

a close up of a busy city streetCourtesy of discovery.hotelindigo.com

Explore Gaslamp Quarter

Right next to the San Diego convention center and Petco Park is the Gaslamp Quarter. Take your date to one of the many restaurants in the Gaslamp Quarter. Popular places to grab a drink in the Gaslamp Quarter is the Tipsy Crow, Rustic Root, and Double Deuce.

a person riding a skateboard up the side of a roadCourtesy of GreatRuns

Go on a Run on the Boardwalk

If you’re a couple that enjoys working out together take a run on the boardwalk in Mission and Pacific Beach. You can start your run on the mission bayside and run your way over to the beachside.