Coronado — Hotel del Coronado and the bay

Day Three — Coronado

Coronado Island

Day Three

An Island Apart

Take the ferry — not the bridge. The 15-minute crossing from Broadway Pier is $8 each way (flagshipsd.com) and the bay views are spectacular. Park at 1201 1st St, Coronado, and you're steps from everything. Day 3 is the most cinematic day of your entire trip: Victorian grandeur at the Hotel del, the sparkling mica-sand beach that literally glitters, and Orange Avenue lined with the best cafés and restaurants you didn't know you needed.

Day 3 Essentials

Don't Leave Without Doing This

Two Coronado experiences that are simply non-negotiable. Trust me on both.

Coronado Ferry Landing — San Diego Bay skyline views
$8 Each Way — Take This, Not the Bridge
Coronado Ferry Landing
The 15-minute crossing from Broadway Pier to Coronado is $8 each way and the views of the downtown skyline from the water are spectacular. This is how you arrive on Coronado. Book at flagshipsd.com — it runs every hour. If you're driving, park at 1201 1st St, Coronado.
Best Photo Op Spot
From the ferry deck mid-crossing — the downtown San Diego skyline reflected on the bay at golden hour is unmatched.
Where to Eat
Tartine Coronado
1106 1st St, Coronado, CA 92118
tartinecoronado.com
Book Online
flagshipsd.com
Parking Recommendation
Take the ferry and skip driving entirely — Broadway Pier parking at 1000 N Harbor Dr, San Diego.
Hotel del Coronado — iconic Victorian beachfront resort
Iconic Landmark
Hotel Del Coronado
Built in 1888, the Hotel del Coronado is one of the most photographed buildings in America — a Victorian National Historic Landmark with red turrets, white woodwork, and a stretch of glittering beach that's been drawing visitors for over 130 years. Walk the grand lobby, stroll the beach in front of the hotel, and look up at those famous red turrets. Even if you're not staying here, this is a must-see stop on Day 3.
Parking Recommendation
Self-parking at the Hotel del Coronado lot — 1500 Orange Ave. Free street parking on Loma Ave and side streets 2 blocks east.
Best Photo Op Spot
Stand on the beach facing the hotel's iconic red turrets — best in the afternoon when the sun hits the white Victorian facade from the west.
Where to Eat
1500 Ocean at Hotel del Coronado
hoteldel.com
Places to Explore
Bike riding around Coronado Island
5-Mile Island Loop
Bike Around Coronado
One of the best easy bike rides in Southern California. The flat 5-mile loop takes you past the Hotel del Coronado, along the glittering mica-sand beach, through the quiet residential streets of the island's interior, and back along the bay with stunning views of the San Diego skyline. Rent bikes right on the island — Bikes & Beyond at the Ferry Landing has cruisers, e-bikes, and tandem bikes by the hour.
The Route
Start at Ferry Landing → head south on Glorietta Blvd → ride along Ocean Blvd past Hotel del → loop back north through residential streets → return along the bay. Flat the entire way — no hills, totally family-friendly.
Bike Rentals
Bikes & Beyond — 1201 1st St #K, Coronado (at Ferry Landing). Cruisers, e-bikes, surreys, and tandems. ~$10–15/hr.
hollandsbicycles.com
Best Photo Op Spot
Pull over on Ocean Blvd facing the Hotel del Coronado — the iconic red turrets framed by the wide beach is the shot everyone wants.
Where to Eat After
Tartine Coronado
1106 1st St, Coronado, CA 92118
tartinecoronado.com
Coronado Island Rent Bikes
Coronado Beach aerial — Hotel del Coronado and pristine white sand
America's Best Beach — Dr. Beach 2012
Coronado Beach
In 2012, Dr. Stephen Leatherman — aka "Dr. Beach" — named Coronado Beach the #1 beach in America. It's easy to see why. The wide, uncrowded shoreline stretches for miles, the sand contains natural mica particles that shimmer gold in the afternoon sun, and the Hotel del Coronado's Victorian red turrets rise at the water's edge like something out of a dream.
Parking Recommendation
Free parking along Ocean Blvd — arrive before 9am on weekends. Metered lots at 1000 Ocean Blvd also available.
Best Photo Op Spot
Walk south on the beach at low tide — the mica in the sand shimmers gold in afternoon light with Hotel del in the background.
Where to Eat
Nado Gelato & Coffee
1206 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118
nadogelato.com
Coronado Explore
Downtown Coronado shops and streets
Main Street
Downtown Coronado
One of San Diego's best-kept secrets. Orange Avenue is Coronado's charming main street — and it deserves a full afternoon of your trip. Start at Hotel Del and walk east toward the Ferry Landing. The further you go, the more the downtown San Diego skyline opens up across the bay — a view that honestly stops you in your tracks. Loop back at your own pace, popping into upscale boutiques, eclectic coffee shops, gelato spots, and local bakeries along the way. Locals call Coronado the Jewel of San Diego. An afternoon on Orange Avenue is exactly why.
The Loop
Start at Hotel Del → walk east on Orange Ave → end at the Ferry Landing → grab a coffee or snack → hop the ferry back to downtown San Diego for $8 each way. A perfect half-day.
Where to Eat
The Henry — Romantic dining, great for lunch or dinner
1031 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118
thehenryrestaurant.com

Village Pizzeria Downtown — Pizza!
1206 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118
villagepizzeriasd.com
Orange Ave, Coronado Explore

Coronado Insider Tips

✓
Take the Ferry — Always

The Coronado Ferry is $8 each way from Broadway Pier — book at flagshipsd.com. Runs every hour. The 15-minute crossing with the city skyline at your back is the best $8 you'll spend all trip.

✓
Best Parking on the Island

If you're driving over the bridge instead, park at 1201 1st St — it's central to everything, a short walk to Orange Ave, Tartine, and the Ferry Landing area. Free for the first 90 minutes.

✓
The Glittering Sand

Coronado Beach sand contains natural mica particles that make it shimmer gold in the sunlight — it's not a filter or a trick. Photograph it in the afternoon light for the full effect.

✓
Ferry Landing at Sunset

Walk to the Ferry Landing Marketplace grassy area before your return crossing. The view of the downtown skyline from here at golden hour is the single best skyline shot in all of San Diego.

←
Previous Day
Day 2 • Beaches