Learn more at the San Diego visitor page.
The heart of every city lives in its downtown, and San Diego is no exception. Located only minutes from the airport, San Diego’s thriving downtown districts, including the historic Gaslamp Quarter, offer a plethora of options for accommodations, activities, and dining, shopping and cultural attractions, all within walkable city blocks.
San Diego Emerges as Live Music Destination -- Local music fans have long known that San Diego's live music venues are great places to discover buzz bands before they break nationally, but with the addition of new venues and festivals around the city, visitors are quickly discovering that San Diego is a top destination for live music.
San Diego's Waterfront - Visitors to downtown San Diego's bustling bayside will find a new, more pedestrian-friendly Embarcadero. A esplanade located along Harbor Drive welcomes visitors. The Embarcadero's centerpiece is a beautifully landscaped 105-foot wide promenade. The shaded pavilions, eye-catching public art by internationally-known artist Pae White, and lush gardens with seating areas makes this an ideal place to visit.
Downtown San Diego is a Foodie’s Paradise - San Diego is ripe with plenty of options for every type of cuisine you can imagine. Many of San Diego’s downtown restaurants feature celebrity chefs, farm-to-table options, and fresh catches of the day. From the freshest seafood and sushi, authentic Italian, Mexican or Thai, to New American and California cuisine, if you crave it, you’ll find in downtown San Diego.
Local Restaurants
San Diego is ripe with plenty of options for every type of cuisine you can imagine. Many of San Diego’s downtown restaurants feature celebrity chefs, farm-to-table options, and fresh catches of the day. From the freshest seafood and sushi, authentic Italian, Mexican or Thai, to New American and California cuisine, if you crave it, you’ll find in downtown San Diego.
Restaurant Recommendations
The Gaslamp Quarter of Downtown is closest neighborhood to the convention center.
Local Shopping
San Diego has an abundance of shopping choices with a variety of outdoor shopping malls, shopping centers, vintage/antique stores, and quaint neighborhood boutiques. Learn more
Westfield Horton Plaza
0.5 miles from convention center.
Known for its colorful architecture within 6½ city blocks of open-air shopping, Horton Plaza is anchored by Macy's and Nordstrom and has more than 100 specialty stores for necessities or splurges. Some of their shops include: Banana Republic, CVS, Express, Forever 21, GAP, LOFT, Penninsula Luggage, Panda Inn, Teavana, Travelex Currency Exchange, Victoria's Secret, White House Black Market and many more. Also on site, you'll find Regal/United Artist Theatres, The Lyceum Theatre, Mad House Comedy Club and The Balboa Theatre.
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Unusual Things to Do in San Diego
See San Diego from a different perspective. We’ve identified a few unusual attractions in San Diego. Explore them at EB.
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