- 118
- 141shares
Seaport Village is situated along a prime stretch of waterfront spanning 14 acres. The village offers a unique San Diego shopping, dining, and recreation experience. Over 50 shops and restaurants range from a Mexcian Cantina to a quaint Fish Market. Designed to reflect the New England clapboard and Spanish Mission architectural styles of early California, this bustling area is the perfect setting for grabbing lunch or dinner, browsing for trinkets, or just enjoying the beautiful San Diego waterfront with its endless photo opportunities.
Dining Seaport Village
Snack bars and restaurants with harbor views can also be found in the village, offering a variety of options from surf and turf to burgers and pizza. A few eateries open early for breakfast, and many have extended nighttime hours, especially in summer.
Shopping
Specialty shops and restaurants, including everything from a kite store and swing emporium to a shop devoted to old nautical and pirate-themed swag. And, of course–a surf shop called San Diego Surf Company where you can pick up everything from Board shorts to bikinis. For a complete list of stores, visit the Seaport Village website.
Historic Village Carousel
There are also horse and carriage rides, and at the center of the Village is a Looff carousel, with its 54 hand-carved and hand-painted animals, including horses, a giraffe, a dragon, an elephant, and a dog. Tickets are only three dollars to ride the carousel.
Entertainment
Frequent public entertainment is always a side attraction at Seaport Village, and visitors will often encounter strolling clowns, balloon sculptors, mimes, minstrels, and magicians wandering throughout the village. Live music is offered most weekends. Every year in April, catch the Seaport Buskers Fest, featuring a wide array of street performers.
Seaport Village Redesign
Construction is expected to begin in 2027 for a complete overhaul of Seaport Village and surrounding areas, replacing the aging 1980s retail center with a modern, mixed-use waterfront destination. It includes 2.7 million square feet of development, emphasizing public access, sustainability, and San Diego’s maritime heritage.
San Diego Bay Embarcadero
The San Diego Bay Embarcadero is a vibrant waterfront stretch along Harbor Drive in downtown San Diego, California, renowned for its scenic views, historic ships, museums, dining options, and attractions. It extends roughly from the San Diego International Airport to the Coronado Bridge, with key sites including the USS Midway Museum and the Maritime Museum of San Diego (both previously mentioned), as well as the San Diego SEAL Tour departure points. It’s a short 15–20 minute ferry ride or drive from Coronado Island, making it a central hub for your San Diego itinerary.
Nearby Attractions
San Diego Seal Tour
The San Diego SEAL Tour is a unique 100-minute amphibious sightseeing adventure that explores San Diego by land and sea, using Coast Guard-approved “Hydra-Terra” vehicles that transition from bus to boat. It’s a family-friendly way to see the city’s highlights and wildlife, departing from two locations near the USS Midway Museum and accessible from Coronado Island. Enjoy a fully narrated tour (40 minutes on land, 60 minutes on water) covering San Diego’s streets and San Diego Bay. The name “SEAL” stands for “Sea and Land” adventure, though you’re likely to see sea lions, not seals, near bait barges.
Tour The USS Midway
The USS Midway Museum is a historic naval aircraft carrier museum located at Navy Pier in downtown San Diego, California, at 910 N. Harbor Drive. Housed on the actual aircraft carrier USS Midway (CV-41), it’s one of San Diego’s top attractions, offering an immersive experience of naval history. Explore 60 exhibits across the 4-acre flight deck, hangar deck, and below deck, including the engine room, sleeping quarters, galley, and bridge.
San Diego Maritime Museum
Next to the USS Midway is the San Diego Maritime Museum. After paying a modest admission fee, visitors will embark on a fascinating journey through nautical history, exploring several ships, ferries, sailing vessels, and a US and Soviet submarine. One of the ships showcased at the museum is the Star of India. Founded in 1948, the museum preserves one of the largest collections of historic sea vessels in the U.S., with the Star of India (1863), the world’s oldest active sailing ship, as its centerpiece. It emphasizes San Diego’s maritime heritage, from Spanish exploration to modern naval history.
Coronado Island, San Diego
After a day of walking, a fun way to get around San Diego is via the San Diego Ferry. Just steps from the museum, the ferry departs from the Broadway Pier commercial boat area and takes just 20 minutes to reach The Ferry Landing Place on nearby Coronado Island. Visit the Hotel Del Coronado, a National Historic Landmark. This Victorian beachfront resort is one of the world’s most famous hotels. Known for its red-turreted architecture, it’s featured in films like Some Like It Hot and hosts dining, spa services, and ghost tours (rumored hauntings). Public beach access and tours are available.
Getting To Seaport Village
Seaport Village’s shops are open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Parking is easily accessible for two hours, free with purchase validation. The Village is in Downtown San Diego on West Harbor Drive and Pacific Highway. Adjacent to Embarcadero Park North.