Cheap flights to San Diego from C$ 186

California’s southernmost city, and second-largest, lies beside the Pacific Ocean, basking in near year-round sunshine with shimmering beaches and a fascinating history.

Discovered by Europeans – and claimed for Spain – in 1542 when Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo docked his ship at Point Loma, this is a maritime city. It is, after all, homeport of the Pacific Fleet and home to the Maritime Museum, which celebrates San Diego’s briny heritage. The USS Midway, which served the U.S. longer than any other aircraft carrier is docked at Navy Pier and now thousands of tourists take cheap flights to San Diego each year to marvel at it.

One of San Diego’s greatest attractions is Balboa Park, a wonderful collection of gardens, stunning Spanish Revival architecture, museums, wilderness and zoo. Another is the Gaslamp Quarter, the historical heart of the San Diego. A red-light and low-rent district in times gone by, the past few decades has seen it come back to life – now as a lively dining, entertainment and urban shopping area.

With Mexico just a $2 tram journey away, flights to San Diego could be just the beginning of wider travels.

San Diego climate

San Diego enjoys a Mediterranean-style climate with mild sunny weather throughout the year. Winter temperatures range from about 14 degrees Celsius (57 degrees Fahrenheit) in January to 22 degrees (72F) in July. Late summer and early fall are the hottest times of the year. “May gray” in May and “June gloom” in June is when cloudy conditions, sometimes occur in the mornings, but usually burn off by midday.

Getting around San Diego

Like much of Southern California, the easiest way to get around San Diego is by car. You can find several rental car companies at the airport. Bus tickets are cheap and the trolley system is a great way to get around downtown or to nearby Tijuana. The Blue Line can take you through Old Town before crossing the border into Mexico. Tickets cost a few dollars and last for two hours. 

What is good to know if travelling to San Diego?

• The Horton Plaza Mall is next to the Gaslamp Quarter. Its architecture is a tourist attraction in itself. Painted in sun-bright colours, it is full of nooks and crannies with a good mix of stores such as Macy’s and Nordstrom as well as cool boutiques.
• Each winter season, the popular holiday production of Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas is staged at the Old Globe Theatre.
• The Hotel del Coronado is a grande-dame hotel situated on the best beaches of San Diego. Built in 1888, the Del has classic Victorian red roofs, white woodwork board and wonderful chandelier-strewn dining rooms. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977. It’s a favourite for weddings, family vacations and business conferences.
• The Maritime Museum’s biggest draw is the Star of India, launched in 1863 on the Isle of Man to bring immigrants to the U.S., and now the oldest ship in the world with a regular sailing schedule.
• Most travellers bound for San Diego, will fly to Los Angeles International and negotiate the Interstate 5 for a couple of hours. Seeking direct cheap flights to San Diego will ensure a calmer start to the vacation.
• Mexico is just a $2 tram ride away. Take the blue-line trolley to San Ysidro. Trolleys run at regular intervals seven days a week from early morning to past midnight. To get back in to the United States Canadian and US citizens must present either their passport or a government-issued photo ID plus proof of citizenship.

San Diego airport overview

Sometimes referred to as Lindbergh Field, San Diego International Airport (SAN) is located 3 miles (4.8 km) north-west of the centre of the city of San Diego, at the southern tip of California.

It is the United States’ busiest single runway commercial airport, handling around 18 million passengers per year. As it’s situated within a highly populated suburban area, departures are only permitted between 6:30am and 11:30pm.

San Diego International has three terminals: Terminals 1 and 2 and the Commuter Terminal. All international arrivals are handled by Terminal 2, while the Commuter Terminal services flights between San Diego and Los Angeles International Airport. The airport is relatively easy to navigate and flights are generally punctual during most of the year, however delays are common in autumn and winter when visibility is low (thanks to the mighty Santa Ana winds that sweep through the region).

Despite having only one runway, San Diego International manages to keep up with the number of passengers frequenting its terminals each year. It’s a small and clean airport with helpful staff and sufficient amenities.