Cheap flights to San Diego International airport

Discover San Diego International

Sunny San Diego, a favoured retreat of sun worshippers, movie stars and families wanting some quality fun time. The gateway to this fun California city is busy San Diego International Airport (SAN). If you're ready for some fun in the sun and some scrumptious Mexican food, Skyscanner can help. Use the online search engine to find the cheapest airfare to San Diego International, and get the best routing. Check out the hotel listings and take care of that car rental. San Diego is a big place and you won't want to miss a thing.

Best Time to Book a Flight to San Diego International Airport

San Diego, land of perpetual summer. Boasting 2,958 hours of sunshine each year and an average annual temperature of 20 degrees Celsius, there is no bad time to visit. You will find larger crowds during the summer and during the various holiday seasons, along with "snowbirds" that make their way south to spend time in warmer climates each winter. Flights to San Diego tend to be less expensive midweek, with lower basic fares in the fall and spring, the latter before the school year ends. If you take advantage of the Skyscanner Whole Month Search program, you'll get an instant look at a month's worth of fares. You may even find a weekend bargain while you're at it. By booking early and having flexible travel dates, you'll save money.

What to Expect When Arriving at San Diego International Airport

Located roughly five kilometres north of downtown, the San Diego International Airport welcomes flights from around the world. It welcomes non-stops from Canada, Mexico, Germany, Japan, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. International carriers include Air Canada, British Airways, Edelweiss Air, Japan Airlines and Lufthansa. Southwest Airlines makes up more than a third of the airport's domestic traffic, followed by American, Alaska, United and Delta Airlines. Another popular carrier is Hawaiian Air, offering service to and from Honolulu, Hawaii.

The airport has two terminals, each with an East and West section. Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines use Terminal 1. All others use Terminal 2. International arrivals use the East end of Terminal 2, gates 20 through 23. As you make your way around the terminals, take time to check out the art work on display, part of the airport's Performing Arts program. During various times of the year, especially around the December Holidays, you'll find local bands, dance troupes or theatre artists giving impromptu performances.

Passenger services are available throughout both terminals, including free Wi-Fi. A car rental shuttle is available at the Transportation Plaza outside of each terminal, taking you to a separate car rental facility. Hotel shuttles, private shuttles and taxis are also available at the Transportation Plazas. Fares vary according to distance and time. A sample taxi fare from the airport to downtown San Diego is $25.00 CAD, without the tip.

What to See and Do in San Diego

• Head for Old Town State Historical Park to discover what this Southern California gem was like in the early days. Hop on a vintage trolley car for a sightseeing tour or just make your way through the colourful streets. You'll find the Junipero Serra Museum, named for the priest that established the missions all along the California coast. The museum sits on the site of the very first mission. Check out Heritage Park. It's filled with restored Victorian homes, some dating back to the 1880s. Sample authentic Mexican foods at a number of restaurants, including a local landmark, the Café Coyote Y Cantina.
• Mission Bay is a draw for beachcombers, sun worshipers and surfers. It's also home to family-friendly Sea World San Diego, offering both educational and entertaining marine wildlife shows and exhibits. One local favourite is the Penguin Encounter. Imagine stepping out of the warm California sunshine and finding yourself in a rather chilly recreation of Antarctica, complete with penguins doing what penguins do. Another hit is the 57-foot long shark exhibit. As you walk through the clear tunnel, those denizens of the deep surround you. The sharks even seem to check you out as they swim overhead.
• Balboa Park is another family-friendly venue that you could spend days exploring. This is where you'll find the San Diego Zoo, known for its true-to-life animal exhibits and role in saving endangered species. In neighbouring Escondido, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park lets most of the animals run free. Visitors hop on open air buses to explore the place. Balboa Park still has some of the buildings created for the Panamerican Exposition held from 1915-1916, as well as the Old Globe Theatre hosting Shakespeare performances. Check out the Fleet Space Museum that features science exhibits, a planetarium and IMAX theatre.
• Take a drive over the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge to Coronado Island. In 2010 Dr Beach named Coronado Beach one of the United States' top beaches. Sitting on one end of this strip of sand is the Hotel Coronado, a National Historic Landmark, opened in 1888, It was and still is a favourite of VIPs, having such notable early guests as Thomas Edison, Charles Lindbergh and Babe Ruth. You may recognize the place. The Victorian hotel with the distinctive red roof was the setting for the 1958 film "Some Like It Hot" featuring Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis. During WWII, the Hotel Coronado welcomed military personnel that were stationed nearby.