Neighborhood 48H guide
Coronado: Where to Stay & What to Do in 48 Hours
The red-turreted Hotel del Coronado, a wide sandy beach and the ferry to downtown.
Coronado is a quiet resort town across the bay from downtown, reached by the Coronado Bridge or the ferry. Its wide Central Beach sits in front of the 1888 Hotel del Coronado.
Photo gallery
Photo: Armandoartist · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: KMPhotoLA1 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Why stay here
One of the best beaches in the country, safe and walkable, with a ferry to downtown.
Who it's for: Families and couples who want a calm beach town.
Pros
- Wide, calm beach
- Hotel del Coronado
- Ferry to downtown
Cons
- Expensive
- Quiet at night
- Bridge traffic
48H in Coronado
Beach, the Del, ferry.
09:00 – Coronado Central Beach
Wide sand in front of the Del.
13:00 – Hotel del Coronado
Wander the 1888 Victorian lobby and grounds.
17:00 – Ferry to Broadway Pier
A 15-minute ride across the bay for skyline views.
Named recommendations
Real places with links to their official site or a Maps place page. We do not invent hours, prices, or ratings.
See / do
See / do
Hotel del Coronado
1500 Orange Ave
1888 Victorian beach resort, newly restored.
Photo: KMPhotoLA1 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons Official site / map →
Outdoors
Outdoors
Coronado Central Beach
920 Ocean Blvd
Wide, sparkling beach in front of the Hotel del Coronado.
Official site / map →Outdoors
Coronado Ferry
Coronado Ferry Landing
Flagship ferry between Coronado Ferry Landing and Broadway Pier.
Official site / map →
Where to stay
Specific named properties—not vague city-wide searches. Expedia stays use tracked Creator links; others open the hotel's official site.
Roam48 may earn a commission when you book a stay through Expedia or Vrbo links on this page, at no extra cost to you. All commercial stay links use rel="sponsored nofollow".
Hotel · Expedia
Hotel del Coronado, Curio Collection by Hilton
1500 Orange Ave
The 1888 beachfront icon, renovated in 2025.
Check rates on Expedia →
Vacation rentals
Prefer an apartment or whole home in this neighborhood? Browse Vrbo listings for Coronado.
The City of San Diego requires a short-term rental license, and Coronado and Del Mar have their own stricter rules. Look for the license number on the listing before you book.
Browse vacation rentals in Coronado on Vrbo →Other ways to spend 48 hours in San Diego
- Gaslamp Quarter — The lit Gaslamp arch, a Padres game at Petco Park and the USS Midway on the waterfront.
- Little Italy — The Saturday Mercato, India Street’s restaurants and Waterfront Park by the bay.
- La Jolla — Sea lions and clear water at La Jolla Cove, George’s ocean terrace and the Birch Aquarium.
- Pacific Beach — Crystal Pier’s cottages, the boardwalk and breakfast at Kono’s.
- Mission Beach — The Giant Dipper at Belmont Park, the boardwalk and kayaks on Mission Bay.
- Point Loma / Shelter Island — The Old Point Loma Lighthouse at Cabrillo, Point Loma Seafoods and skyline views from Shelter Island.
- Old Town — Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, the Whaley House and tortillas at Old Town Mexican Café.
- Ocean Beach — Hodad’s burgers, Sunset Cliffs at dusk and the Wednesday farmers market on Newport Avenue.
- Del Mar — Powerhouse Park above the beach, lunch at Jake’s and the Del Mar racetrack.