US · California · 32.72°N 117.16°W

san diego

Coastal walks, Balboa Park museums, sea lions and Baja-style fish tacos.

Best time
July–October are best for the beach, with warm, clear days. March–April suit sightseeing; May and June often start under grey coastal cloud, and winter is mild with occasional rain.
How long
3–4 days
Getting there
Fly with one stop via Tokyo, where Japan Airlines flies daily to San Diego, about 19–22 hours all in, or connect through Los Angeles or San Francisco. The airport is 10–15 minutes from downtown. San Diego is 15 hours behind KL, 16 from November to early March. Malaysians need a US B1/B2 visitor visa, usually with an interview at the embassy in KL; ESTA isn't open to Malaysian passports.
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US · Californiasan diego32.72°N 117.16°Wgowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Coastal walks, Balboa Park museums, sea lions and Baja-style fish tacos.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingSan DiegoUS, California
KLsan diego
≈ 14,306 km from KL, as the crow flies
La Jolla Shores CA view. Sea lions in the foreground. Pacific Ocean Dec 2011 California Beach

Photo: Dirk Hansen · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

San Diego is California's easy-going southern corner, with warm beaches, a big navy harbour and Mexico just down the road. Balboa Park can fill a whole day, while La Jolla's coves and sea lions make it tempting to keep the rest loose.

Makan

  1. Fish tacosBattered fish with cabbage, salsa and a creamy sauce, Baja-style. The batter often has beer in it.Map ↗
  2. California burritoCarne asada beef, cheese and chips rolled into one big burrito, a San Diego invention.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Balboa ParkSpanish-style buildings, gardens and more than a dozen museums, next to the San Diego Zoo.Map ↗
  2. La Jolla CoveRocky coves, sea caves and colonies of sea lions and seals along a coastal path.Map ↗
  3. USS Midway MuseumA retired aircraft carrier on the waterfront, with fighter jets parked on the flight deck.Map ↗
  4. CoronadoA ferry ride across the bay to a wide, sandy beach and a quiet island town.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Halal is easy in El Cajon, about 25 minutes east, where a large Iraqi community runs grills, bakeries and halal markets.
  • Keep well back from the sea lions at La Jolla; they bite, and parts of the shore close during pupping season.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.