The best places to watch San Diego sunsets

Of all the stunning San Diego sunset spots, this place certainly competes for the title of best, and its name reflects its biggest appeal. Sunset Cliffs Natural Park is a sight to behold at any time of the day, but it’s best seen illuminated by shades of pink and purple as the sun begins to dip below the horizon.

Located to the south of Ocean Beach and Ocean Beach Pier, Sunset Cliffs boasts one of San Diego’s most rugged coastlines, where the crashing of waves over thousands of years has carved enchanting arches and grottos into the eroding cliff faces. Today, the surf that tumbles towards the Sunset Cliffs Boulevard and Ocean Beach provides a platform for surfers to carve up the Pacific Ocean.

From Ocean Beach Pier and the park’s well-groomed trails, you’ll share the San Diego sunset view with beachgoers, runners, photographers and yogis, though you can (as many do) find cliff-edge vantage points for a bit of off-trail seclusion – just remember to keep your wits about you, and avoid waiting around into the night.

During December and January, San Diego sunsets can be as early as 16:45. By March, the sunset in San Diego show takes the later slot of 17:50, moving up to 20:00 in early July when daylight savings kicks in. September and October see the San Diego sunset display fall back to 19:00 and 18:00, respectively. Another clock change in November brings the showtime down to 17:00.

The Sunset Cliffs Boulevard features parking with prime San Diego sunset views, but spaces can fill up quickly – it’s worth arriving well before sunset.

One of the best places to watch the sun sink in San Diego – Crystal Pier is as romantic as it sounds, located on the Mission Beach Boardwalk that links Mission Beach to the Pacific Beach, overlooked by quaint white cottages, delightful shops and a hotel.

In addition to boasting some of the best sunsets in Southern California, Crystal Pier provides a vantage point to take in the view of the adjacent Pacific Beach and soak up the vibrant atmosphere during the golden hour. You can also watch surfers riding the waves from this Pacific Beach landmark while the sun disappears.

Originally built in the 1920s, Crystal Pier is a stone’s throw from a historic amusement park – another Pacific Beach landmark – making it appeal just as much to history buffs and thrill seekers as beachgoers. You can indulge in the history of Pacific Beach, Crystal Pier and its nearby attractions by staying in one of its postcard-perfect cottages.

You may not be surprised to learn that Sunset Point Park’s main draw is its stunning sunsets, which you can appreciate while cosying up beside a fire on the beach or eating a picnic in the large grassy park. The park’s sandy shoreline offers visitors a secluded spot from which to watch the sunset and accompanying multi-coloured light show, and there are plenty of nearby attractions that cater to guests looking for a more energetic San Diego atmosphere.

Just across the street from Sunset Point Park is the Mission Beach Boardwalk, home to eclectic shops, beachside bars, restaurants with terraces, and the historic Belmont Amusement Park. Additional activities include the likes bumper cars and miniature golf. After sunset, an hour or two of sipping cocktails at Wavehouse always goes down a treat.

If you’d like to watch the sunset in San Diego while on the move, we recommend riding a rental bike or scooter along the three-mile sandy stretch of Mission Beach. The more amphibious nature lovers can rent kayaks and sail around Mission Bay.

Stretching almost 2,000 feet in length, the Oceanside Pier – a high wooden structure that’s a hotspot for local fishers – is an ideal place to watch the sunset and get a glimpse into the local heritage. At 125 years old, this pier appeals as much to history buffs as San Diego sunset seekers.

As the sun sinks behind the Pacific Ocean, you can capture epic photos of the San Diego seascape merging with the colourful sky beyond the horizon, dotted with surfer silhouettes in the foreground.

Either before or after watching the San Diego sunset, you can grab a bite at one of the top eateries in South Oceanside, all of which are within walking distance of the pier.

On the west coast of Coronado Island, you’ll find the gorgeous Coronado Beach, home to white sands and tide pools between majestic dunes. The sand’s high mica content (a natural glitter-like substance) causes the beach to ‘shimmer’ under the San Diego sunset – a gift for the senses after a beachside cocktail or two. Adding to the breath-taking view are Point Loma and the Downtown San Diego skyline in the distance. It’s an ideal spot to bring the family or watch the sunset with your better half.

While Coronado Beach is one of the best places in San Diego to simply watch the sunset, we recommend spending the night here in the historical, red-roofed Hotel Del Coronado, which serves delicious tacos and inventive drinks at the Hotel Del Coronado Beach & Taco Shack. If you’d prefer a San Diego sunset view away from the sand, grab a table at the Babcock & Story Bar, and don’t forget to browse the flowers along Orange Avenue.

You can also simply soak up the San Diego sunset while driving across Coronado Bridge, though taking the ferry to the Coronado Ferry Landing makes for a more enlightening journey. You can expect to see reflections of red and pink bouncing off the water’s surface, backdropped by a rugged coastline with beautiful beach destinations.

A playground for sea lions, pelicans and seals, La Jolla Cove in San Diego is, seemingly, a popular sunset hangout spot for surfers, sightseers and seafaring visitors alike. Walk along the trails in between La Jolla Cove, and you’ll see one of the most photographed beaches in San Diego bordered by stunning sandstone cliffs.

Some of the best places to watch the famous Diego sunsets are the cove’s green huts and belvederes, which offer a cosy place to rest your legs after a stroll along the sand. At the cove’s restaurants, you can dig into local fare while watching San Diego sunsets from a patio overlooking the Pacific. But if you’d rather absorb the cove’s natural surroundings, you can watch the sun go down from a ledge while the waves crash into the cliffs below. Romance with a dash of excitement is around every turn at La Jolla Cove in San Diego.

The Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve occupies one of the wildest stretches of land within the city limits of San Diego, where the locals come to leave the urban jungle behind and enjoy an unobstructed sunset view from a 350-feet-high cliff edge.

Several walking trails from the summit provide picturesque panoramas of San Diego and its surrounding scenic nature. One of our favourites is Razor Point Trail, which you can follow down to Black’s Beach. Be sure to check the tides and visibility in San Diego before taking on the walk, and expect a few steep but manageable climbs along the route. We recommend setting aside time for breaks while hiking – you’ll want to make the most of your precious moments with these stunning views.

If you’d pass up a hike for an adrenaline rush in a heartbeat, you might consider paragliding or hang gliding over the beaches of La Jolla and Torrey Pines with the never-ending Pacific Ocean stretching out to the horizon. Torrey Pines Gilderport operates 25-minute tandem flights with certified pilots until 17:00. Those who’d prefer to watch the San Diego sunset with their feet on the ground can perch on the mountain summit for free.

For a date night at sunset in San Diego, you’ll struggle to find a better beachside diner than Jake’s del Mar, which perfectly captures the old Der Mar spirit in a spectacular setting. From this restaurant on the sand, you can take in views of the sun dipping below the horizon of the Pacific through floor-to-ceiling windows. An evening meal here makes for an unforgettable gastronomic experience – reserving a table in advance comes highly recommended.

Just next door to Jake’s Del Mar sits the Poseidon Restaurant, which is a little more casual yet no less satisfying. Couples in arms and families alike frequent Poseidon for its mouth-watering Mexican, Mediterranean and Pacific Rim seafood dishes, not to mention its waterfront sunset views and superb service.

Not many venues in the city centre of San Diego can beat the view from the coast at sunset, but Mister A’s Restaurant may be an exception. Situated on the 12th-floor of a Downtown San Diego high-rise, this diner offers spectacular views of the sunset behind landmarks including Coronado, Balboa Park, San Diego Bay, Point Loma, San Diego Airport, and the San Diego Zoo. At sunset, the silhouette of San Diego’s skyline looks strikingly impressive.

Mister A’s is San Diego’s home of casual elegance – gone are the days when shirts and ties were required to dine in style. With regards to cuisine, Mister A’s is all about modern American fine dining, so it’s worth reserving a table in advance.

If you’re just stopping by Mister A’s Restaurant to soak up the San Diego sunset, you can sip cocktails at the bar or on the patio without a reservation. The extended happy hour runs from 14:30 to 18:00 on Sunday through to Thursday.