Old Town San Diego State Historic Park

This is a must visit place in San Diego. You got history, you learn about founders of SD, cowboys, gold rush, old architecture, tradition.
Don’t miss the stable museum, the candy store, the soap store, wells fargo museum, and last but ot least The Cosmopolitan hotel where you can have a beer. Finish your visit at Fiesta del Rey where they have live music and decent food at decent prices.

Every time I visit San Diego the historic park is one of my favorite places to visit. It has a lot of charm, and different stores to buy souvenirs from. Some places were a little abandoned and closed this last time I came, but I still had a great time like always.

A very cute little place we love to visit when in town.
The atmosphere is themed well with the «old feel». Our first visit here was in 2005 and a couple of times this last year. It has a variety of stores and shops for the curious browser. We had lunch Café Coyote, picked up some olive oils at Temecula Olive Oils, and just walked around.
Anytime we’ve gone, it’s pretty quite. It’s very close to the interstate and local street traffic, but somehow it doesn’t seem affected.
Parking is free. The community of workers are very polite. It’s a nice place to visit.

This is a great place to go and kind of an essential spot if you either live or are visiting San Diego. It’s often referred to as the birthplace of California because the first European settlers hit cruised into town around 1850.
The bus tour, which I recommend even if you’re a local, gave me a great refresher of the cool history of this area. It goes as far as Coronado and makes it’s way back to Old Town via Balboa Park about two hours later.
Old town itself has wide walkways is filled with great restaurants, galleries, shops, plus most importantly lots of historic buildings and sites. There are grassy areas for chilling out, live musicians, and enough space that it doesn’t feel that crowded even during high season.
Whether your looking for a fun spot to pass a few hours or make it a day, Old Town is a great place to enjoy spending some leisure time.

I’m definitely a huge fan and proponent of the Old Town San Diego State Park.
The first time I was here was during the Mark Twain festival a couple years back. I had loads of fun in Old Town; the environment is very kid friendly, there’s lots of things to see, and the store employees really put in an effort to give you a historical feel while you’re here.
A couple years in the future, I had the opportunity of revisiting Old Town and I’m glad I did. I absolutely love how you don’t need to pay a single penny to enjoy most of the little sights at Old Town. Whether you’re inside an old stable or checking out the first public school, youll have a blast. And it’s really due to the hard work that both the city as well as the workers put in to give kids a magical feeling like you’re back in the cowboy days.
If you are ever in SD, don’t hesitate to check out Old Town!
Have fun and prosper,

LOL! Well this is really a park, rather than an authentic area. Extremely touristy. Feels like hollywood backdrops.
We were in and out in an hour and didn’t buy a thing.
Not sure why anyone would want to venture here?

I Loved visiting old town San diego. So impressed with how well maintained old town is. It literally took me back in time as i walked through the streets. I had a sense of calm and peace of another simpler time. Or maybe it was just that i was on vacation. Haha either way I loved it here.
We spent a few hours here walking and browsing the shops. So many restaurants to choose from. A large park in the middle of everything. Some of my favorites were the old Wells Fargo bank, the court house, the cosmopolitan hotel, Casa De Reyes and old town market. So much culture and heritage here. Everyone is very nice and friendly and happy to talk with you about the history here. Great for families and kids to visit. Be sure to visit and stay awhile next time you visit San Diego.

Its a place you must visit if you live in SD or even f you are just visiting. So many things to do there. I went on Halloween day and there was lots of people there. Music, food, museums, and you get to learn about SD history. They also have some nice shops there. Parking on normal days should not be a problem and its free. No fees to enter any of the museums there.

Definitely an interesting park. Lots of history and it’s also surrounded by lots of restaurants and retail shops. I really only come here for the Day of the Dead festival as I’m not a huge fan of California mission history even though I’m a California native.
It’s a great place to bring the family.

This place is so fun! Great for a weekend afternoon date! I imagine if you have children, this would be a great place to take them on an educational and historical field trip!
Old Town San Diego is a pretty large state park that’s a collection of preserved buildings and little museums that celebrate California history. Each building is small; you can walk through each in about 5 – 10 minutes. There are old timey candy stores that sell taffies and fudges, general stores, museums showcasing the age of the stagecoach and Wells Fargo, ranch homes depicting the life and times of the Spanish colonial folk. Each museum is a fun little trip back in time, a glimpse into a (somewhat-​glorified) past where rancheros and cowboys ran the land. I enjoyed spending a couple hours walking into each house and learning a little about California’s past. Plus, the nice thing is that this is all free! Yippee!
In addition, there’s a part where you walk into a gated courtyard area with lots of tourist trap souvenir stores and a delicious-​smelling Mexican restaurant. We were there during Halloween and Dia de los Muertos weekend, so it felt especially appropriate seeing all the colorful art and skeletons in each store. Note, though: it’s definitely a tourist trap and I hear the restaurant is overpriced, although as noted above, it smells and looks delicious.
The commercial area around the state park is full of little souvenir stores selling more Mexican-​American memorabilia, like skeleton-​everything and other San Diego tourist knick knacks. There’s also some tents that some vendors have set up, selling candles, art, bath salts, etc. There’s even a store dedicated entirely to Mexican candies. That was quite awesome. All in all, it’s a great place to go window shopping.
I had a great time at Old Town San Diego. Lots of fun! But note: the parking is pretty bad and although there are some free lots, there aren’t that many spots. You might just want to drive around the area and find some street parking, but good luck doing even that!

Cool tourist trap that sets you back in the old days when dirt roads and general mill stores exist. Old Town has an eclectic amount of shops from candy stores, beef jerky shops, pottery, tile, and candle stick making stores. There are a lot of Mexican restaurants here so you have a plethora of options. If you’re looking for a trinket or souvenir from your visit in San Diego, you’ll find some cool ones here.
If you’ve seen National Lampoons Family Vacation to Wally World movie, the scene when the Grizwald family visits the Western Old Town on their stop, Old Town is a good replicate of that scene… apart from the gun slinging of course.
Wear a hat and sunglasses because the sun is killer!

You can easily call this place a tourist trap, but if you are in San Diego and can’t think of what to do this is the place for you.
It’s a great place for a date, a family outing, or just something to do for an hour or so. There are plenty of shops for food, souvenir shopping, or area for photos. If there is a musical group performing, it’s the perfect chance to grab a churro and sit down to enjoy the music.
Parking can fill up easily, but there are many lots throughout the area that are free and it’s not that difficult finding a spot. A lot of people come and go so a spot will turn up eventually.

Cute little area with lots of culture! I would recommend stopping here and getting on the Trolly to tour San Diego.

If you live or just visiting San Diego, Old Town should be on one of your top 5 list. Old Town is considered to be the birthplace of San Diego and is on the National Register of Historic places.
Okay, So why would I tell you to go a really OLD place?
Because it’s an old place! Not that i’m the historic fan but the park is perfectly preserved to how it looked in the 1800’s. If you’re a fan of the paranormal, the Whaley House is listed as one of the most haunted places in America. They have ghost tours at night… IF you’re brave for that.
However, I come here mostly for the authentic food they have all around the Old Town area! ONE of the BEST places across the border to eat AUTHENTIC MEXICAN CUISINE. I love coming here for the festivities during Cinco De Mayo and Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muetros). Old Town gets really festive and packed with locals and tourists to celebrate!
Recommend: The Free Museums around the park and margaritas at Fiesta de Reyes.

La fan d’Histoire avec un grand H que je suis a adoré la demi-​journée passée à Old Town San Diego.
C’était juste le passage obligé lors de notre court séjour dans cette ville. Et quelle découverte ! Certains diront que c’est beaucoup trop touristique, mais honnêtement, fermez les yeux sur les magasins de souvenirs et la multitude de restaurants mexicains qui entourent Old Town et plongez à 200% dans l’Histoire de San Diego, ses origines. Vous aurez l’opportunité de vous balader gratuitement dans ce parc historique. La majorité des bâtiments ont été recontruits et/​ou reconsolidés mais vous trouverez quand même quelques façades authentique et même des meubles, jouets, livres et objets d’origine. J’ai pu visiter une école, une vieille hacienda, un vieux salon de cigares, le premier théâtre de la ville, une prison (et surtout sa cage de prisonnier à l’extérieur, authentique !) et découvrir l’histoire de la banque Fargo (et scotcher devant les affiches «Wanted» de vrais criminels de l’époque) et du Cosmopolitan Hotel. Finissez donc la visite par la Maison des Whaley (Whaley’s House). L’entrée est payante (8 $ par personne) et vous visiterez cette maison du rez-​de-​chaussée à l’étage en passant par le tribunal. Une histoire glaçante vous attend et peut être une bonne expérience fantomatique. Cette maison est quand même dans le haut de la liste des maisons les plus hantées des USA. Je vous aurai prévenu !
Bön à savoir: N’oubliez pas de passer par le Heritage Park pour découvrir les si jolies maisons victoriennes qui s’y trouvent.

This place is amazing and I’ve always wanted to come here. We spent most of the day, with sunburns to prove it, walking around and enjoying everything Old Town offered. We visited many of the free attractions, train depot, sheriff’s museum, old cemetery, a hauntwd house (~$ 7, the only one that cost), Historic Mormon Church (we’re not Mormons but are open minded), and a stroll through an enclosed area that looked like a historic community all the way at the end of the strip.
This old town is serval square blocks long across. Be prepared for the exercise and sunburn during summer. This place is very cultural and has so much to absorb.
The Historic Mormon Church was a nice place to rest up as the tour and videos they showed lasted up to 45mins. The kids and adults were able to take pictures and sift for gold in a make shift gold mining box.
The cemetery wasn’t scary at all as it was a very small cemetery on the main strip nearby Café Coyote. There’s lots of history to learn in the cemetery and some Graves included info on who the individual was and how they passed.
We are already talking about our next trip back to San Diego and can’t wait to return for some more fun! Enjoy!

This may not be worth as many stars as I am giving it but I have just had such a good time every time I have come here. I have also brought a lot of guests and they have loved it too.
There are historic buildings and historic streets that are something in between a living museum with casual re-​enactors and a historic theme mall with actual refurbished historic buildings that are being used again as originally intended. There is an old hotel from the old west that is open for business with a fine dinning room and B&B style hotel rooms for guests. There are mariachi bands and shops and bars and band shells and restaurants and plazas and even donkeys in barns.
The admission to the park is free as is the parking. If you buy food or items you will spend some money — but otherwise you can come here and picnic for free and have a great day made of it.
I recommend this fun fine place.

We took the San Diego Trolley and hopped off in Old Town.
It’s a great place to stroll on a relaxing afternoon. I always like reading the historical placards to get a little glimpse of the area or site.
Lots of shops to browse and find some unique gifts. There are also several nice restaurants to stop in for a tasty meal.
They have entertainment in the plaza on weekends and busier times of the day.
Definitely a must see when you visit San Diego!

Strolling around Old Town is an essential activity for any first time visitor to San Diego. Much of Old Town these days is less about history and more about shopping and eating, but history lessons are there to be found if you are interested. You can commit to an hour or spend half a day. Your choice.
Mexican restaurants abound. I prefer those that have been around for a while, like Casa Guadalajara and to a lesser degree Old Town Mexican Café for its fresh tortillas. But its really a matter of personal preference. Try them all.
Specialty shops abound. Many with regional themes, which is nice. We’ve found many unique gift items here over the years. Not the cheapest place to buy, but a fun one.
There are also several hotels/​motels in the area. Some are better than others, but stepping out of your hotel room for a walk in Old Town is a sharp contrast to Hotel Circle or to a beach resort.
You cannot write about Old Town without cautioning about parking. Parking is free, but allow some extra time to find a spot if you are visiting during peak hours. There are several parking lots and parking is allowed on some side streets. Don’t give up. Just be persistent and you’ll eventually be rewarded. Don’t forget there is also access to Old Town by public transit.

Great Place to stroll around Old Town San Diego, great view… Most stores aren’t open early. But its great place to take pictures, theres a lot of rich history about Old Town. Several tours available, from Bus Tours to group tours within Old Town.
They also have plentiful of Mexican Cuisines, and several other Souvenir Shops nearby, and off course, and more restaurants aside Mexican Dishes.
Definitely check this place. Great Family Orientated place. Plenty of free parking by the Train Station, but can be a hit or miss, since most employees parks there to work in down town or to mainly catch the train for their commute to work outside of Old Town San Diego State Park and is open to the general public for Free.
One more thing, theres a lot of Penny Coin Souvenir Operated Machines.
And before I forget, I advice to wear a Fanny Pack though, I’ve seen a couple pickpocket-​ers… About 3x since I was strolling around the vicinity. =/​So terrible… And ladies, keep an eye on your purse, dont leave your purse hanging behind your chair when dining at a local restaurant. Always have it where you can visibly see it, or put it on your lap.

If you have never been to San Diego, Old Town is one of those places to put on your list, and if you already live in San Diego, it’s always good to go back, because you may find some places you’ve missed and or have newly popped up, such as on my recent visit.
They have tours, for those who desire, but me, I just like to roam around to see what I run into by chance with no plan at all. On this visit, I found the
The San Diego House or coffee and tea house, where I bought a great French Caramel iced coffee, a new eatery called El Charko Grill & Bar where I ate some nice tacos and a cold beer, and I could not help notice all the great foliage planted around the historic town and park, such as these amazing tall paddle cactus.
Old Town has many places to visit like the Whaley House, Casa de Estudillo, one of my favorites, Casa de Bandini and the Cosmopolitan Restaurant. Presidio Park across the way, is a must with its great views from the top of the park and fort. There are 19 eateries and a handful of specialty and arts and craft shop scattered around.
Always a great place to visit…

C’est très sympa. Le cœur historique de San Diego. Ici, espagnol et anglais se mélangent tellement qu’on né sait plus vraiment ou on se trouve. Même si le quartier est «Old» town, on sent que lieu cherche quand même a se moderniser tout en conservant cette authenticité et en souhaitant raconter l’histoire de la ville.
Beaucoup (trop) de magasins, beaucoup (trop) de bars, du coup le petit quartier historique sympa prend des allures d’attrape touristes. C’est sympa pour vous y balader, flâner, etc… Mais né perdez pas votre temps a vous poser pour boire un coup ou acheter des souvenirs, vous trouverez bien d’autres endroits en ville qui n’auront pas subi de flambée des prix.