BEST Locations to {Photograph} in San Diego 2022 (Native Insider Suggestions)

From La Jolla to Anza-Borrego, these are one of the best spots to {photograph} in San Diego County — hand-picked by native photographers!
Finest Locations to Take Footage in San Diego
Once I’m not touring, you will discover me taking pictures in my hometown. From east county to downtown, these are just a few of one of the best locations to {photograph} in San Diego from a San Diego native.
1. Downtown
Southern San Diego seems like a world away from the place I reside, however a few of the most spectacular locations to take footage in San Diego are close to downtown — in South San Diego. Certainly one of my favourite pictures is from the San Diego harbor overlooking the buildings downtown — as pictured beneath. This photograph was taken from N. Harbor Drive.
The Gaslamp Quarter and the Gaslamp Quarter Archway Signal is one other favourite for photographers. This spot in San Diego is listed on the Nationwide Registrar of Historic Locations and it’s particularly widespread for marriage ceremony pictures!
For a few of the greatest views of the San Diego Skyline and Coronado Bridge, I extremely suggest taking this San Diego harbor cruise throughout your go to.
2. Coronado Overlooking Downtown San Diego
Centennial Park in Coronado is situated simply off of the ferry touchdown and is the right spot at sundown! If the water is glassy, you’ll get probably the most superb reflections of downtown San Diego.
3. Level Loma Harbor
One other among the best pictures spots in San Diego is Level Loma Harbor. As you possibly can see, this spot is nice for taking pictures of the harbor with the town lights within the background. I nonetheless want to go again right here when it’s not overcast.
Learn extra: 15 Finest Issues To Do In San Diego

4. La Jolla Cove
Kids’s Pool is in La Jolla Cove and is the spot to {photograph} wildlife. There’s nice photograph ops of pelicans on the cliffs and seals on the seaside. You too can take a La Jolla sea caves kayak tour for some actually distinctive pictures!
For those who get fortunate and go to in August, you would possibly even see some leopard sharks!
5. Blacks Seashore
At Blacks Seashore, in La Jolla, I like heading to the south finish of the seaside at low tide and exploring the way in which the water hits the rocks. There’s additionally the Ho Chi Minh Path for these sure-footed photographers. Blacks is a nude seaside so be respectful if you’re taking pictures down on the seaside!
Learn extra: The place to Keep in San Diego: Finest Neighborhoods & Accommodations
6. Windansea Seashore
Windansea is one other must-visit seaside in La Jolla. In my view, it’s the prettiest seaside in San Diego. The primary photograph beneath was taken with a drone and the second was taken on a open-cockpit biplane tour.
7. Horton Plaza
This Alice in Wonderland-esque mall in downtown San Diego is nearly the one mall I’ll go to. To not purchase issues, however to marvel on the distinctive structure. Take into accout, they don’t enable tripods on this mall and safety guards will get suspicious and ask you to depart should you look an excessive amount of like knowledgeable photographer.

8. Torrey Pines Gliderport
The Torrey Pines Gliderport is probably the most historic aviation website in North America and it’s is one among my all-time favourite locations to take pictures in San Diego. I’ve most likely been there a minimum of 100 instances and it by no means will get previous. You’ll be able to take footage of the dangle gliders and paragliders with the sundown as your backdrop and dolphins frequent this space as nicely!
Learn extra: The Final Information to California’s Pacific Coast Hwy
9. Scripps Memorial Pier
Piers are a few of the greatest photograph spots in San Diego — particularly Scripps Pier in La Jolla. I wish to mess around with lengthy exposures, particularly when there are individuals strolling alongside the pier. This pier is situated in La Jolla.

10. Sundown Cliffs
Sundown Cliffs in Ocean Seashore was named due to its awe-inspiring sunsets and it’s undoubtedly one of many prettiest locations in San Diego. It’s additionally a fantastic place to deliver your digital camera at low tide as there are some locations you possibly can solely get to when the tide is extraordinarily low.
After all, pictures from the cliffs are spectacular as nicely. I like to recommend getting there early to seek out parking and scope out your favourite shot earlier than the solar begins to set.
11. Birch Aquarium
Birch Aquarium at Scripps is a small aquarium in La Jolla and it’s my favourite place to get pictures and movies of jellyfish. In addition they have an octopus, plenty of seahorses and the world’s smallest penguins!!
Reservations are required and you need to buy tickets on-line. The final time I visited the aquarium, I bought the San Diego Go Metropolis Move, which gave me free entrance to a number of locations round San Diego, together with Belmont Park (one other great spot for pictures), Birch Aquarium, two-person kayak rental in La Jolla and free beer tasting in Carlsbad. You actually get your cash’s value and also you get to expertise quite a lot of San Diego in at some point! I bought the Explorer Move, however you can even get multi-day passes.
12. Swamis
One other photogenic spot at low tide is Swamis in Encinitas. Surfers flock to Swamis when the waves are good, however at low tide, it’s the right spot for many who hunt down little sea creatures hidden within the rocks.
13. Balboa Park
Balboa Park is unquestionably value a go to for photographers visiting this space. My favourite pictures spots right here embody the Japanese Friendship Backyard, the Kate O. Periods Cactus Backyard, the Zoro Backyard, and the Botanical Constructing.
Learn extra: 15 Finest Weekend Getaways in California
14. Salk Institute
The Salk Institute isn’t open to the general public, however throughout sunlight hours you possibly can enter the courtyard, which is the place you’ll discover one of the best pictures!
15. Cabrillo Nationwide Monument
Cabrillo Nationwide Monument is situated on the southern tip of the Level Loma Peninsula. All business pictures requires a allow, however you possibly can take pictures totally free so long as it’s not for business functions.
16. Oceanside Harbor
Oceanside Harbor is my best-kept secret and a spot I like to go to as usually as attainable. It’s a small harbor with plenty of colourful buildings and nice photograph alternatives of the boats within the harbor.
17. Kate Periods Park
This Pacific Seashore park provides gorgeous views of Mission Bay. It’s particularly beautiful at sundown!
18. Potato Chip Rock
Potato Chip Rock, in Poway, was made well-known by Instagram and now there’s usually a line for pictures. I like to recommend visiting when it’s not too sizzling out as a result of the 7.4-mile hike is kind of the climb!
19. The Flower Fields
The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch are in bloom for about six to eight weeks annually — from early March via early Could. For those who’ll be in San Diego throughout this time, it’s value a go to. There’s an entrance charge so preserve that in thoughts.
20. San Diego Wild Animal Park
I’m not an enormous fan of zoos. Even the San Diego Zoo, which is someway often known as among the best zoos within the States, makes me sick to my abdomen. I don’t like when animals are confined to such small areas. The Wild Animal Park is a distinct story. The bigger animals are given acres of land to roam round on and it makes me really feel a bit of higher about visiting and taking pictures.
You’ll be able to buy tickets right here!
21. Cedar Creek Falls
Cedar Creek Falls in Ramona needed to be included on my listing as a result of in my view, it’s the most spectacular waterfall in San Diego. This waterfall and swimming gap has grow to be one among San Diego’s sizzling spots.
22. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
One other place that’s worthy of creating this listing is the magical show of wildflowers in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
There are lots extra spots to {photograph} in San Diego however when you have restricted time whereas visiting and also you need to be sure to get some good footage of San Diego, these locations received’t disappoint.
Plan Your Journey to San Diego
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Flights:
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Lodging:
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