San diego without a car

Question

I’d like to go to san diego and i’m not sure how much i can do without a car. I was thinking of going 3-4 days. I’d like to go to balboa park, the zoo, midway museum, explore some of the neighborhoods (gaslamp, little italy?) and go to midway museum. I’d like to possibly do a food tour and go to the symphony. It would be nice to go to one beach. Is that enough time? Are there other must dos without a car? I had started a separate thread on hotels and was considering comfort inn old town. But then someone suggested there isn’t a lot of food choices there. If i stayed at gaslamp or little italy is there cheap ethnic food? I’m canadian so food adds up. Is transit convenient in gaslamp? I like the comfort inn old town is near the old town station though i don’t know what that is. I’m going solo.

Answer

San Diego is actually very doable without a car, especially for a 3-4 day trip focused on the main tourist areas. You can get around using a combination of public transit (trolleys and buses), rideshares, and walking, depending on where you stay.

Neighborhoods and transit:

Gaslamp Quarter is very central and walkable, with plenty of food options, from casual ethnic eats to mid-range restaurants. Transit is convenient, with easy access to trolleys that can take you to Old Town, Little Italy, Balboa Park, and the waterfront.
Little Italy has lots of affordable ethnic food, especially Italian, Mexican, and Asian options, and is also very walkable. It’s also close to the waterfront and ferry access to Coronado.
Old Town has the Comfort Inn you mentioned; it’s near the Old Town Transit Center, which is the main trolley and bus hub connecting to downtown, Mission Valley, and the airport. Food options in Old Town itself are decent Mexican/Californian fare but fewer than in Gaslamp or Little Italy.

Main attractions:

Balboa Park – very walkable with museums, gardens, and the zoo. You could easily spend a full day here.
San Diego Zoo – located within Balboa Park, you could combine it with nearby gardens or museums.
USS Midway Museum – downtown on the waterfront, accessible by trolley or rideshare.
Beaches – La Jolla Shores or Coronado Beach are reachable via bus or rideshare; Mission Beach is another option but less convenient by transit.
Symphony – check the schedule at Copley Symphony Hall in downtown; very accessible from Gaslamp or Little Italy.
Food tours – plenty available in Little Italy and Gaslamp; easy to book online and walkable.

Suggested logistics:

Stay in Gaslamp or Little Italy for walkable access to restaurants, nightlife, and trolley stations. You’ll save on rideshare costs.
Use the Old Town Transit Center strategically if you want to reach farther spots like Mission Valley or the airport cheaply.
For beaches, a rideshare might be easiest for a round trip, especially solo.

Time allocation:

Day 1: Arrive, explore Gaslamp/Little Italy, casual dinner.
Day 2: Balboa Park and San Diego Zoo (full day).
Day 3: USS Midway Museum, waterfront, optional beach in afternoon.
Day 4: Food tour, light exploration of neighborhoods, symphony in evening if schedule allows.

Overall, 3-4 days is enough to see the highlights without a car, as long as you plan your transit routes and use rideshare for less accessible spots. Staying in Gaslamp or Little Italy gives you the most options for food and easy access to public transit.

San diego without a car

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