Two Pacific icons, one week. This 7-day San Diego and Honolulu itinerary marries sun-soaked beaches with profound military heritage—from the flight deck of the USS Midway to the quiet waters above the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor. In between, you’ll hike coastal cliffs, taste the regions’ best tacos and poke, and catch golden-hour sunsets over the ocean.

San Diego grew around a natural harbor that has launched explorers, naval fleets, and surfers alike. Its Balboa Park museums and world-class zoo anchor a vibrant city of neighborhoods, while the Embarcadero reveals maritime history at every turn. Honolulu offers living history at Pearl Harbor, royal legacy at ʻIolani Palace, and the volcanic ridgeline of Diamond Head rising above legendary Waikīkī.

Plan to fly into San Diego and home from Honolulu. For flights to the first city and between cities, compare fares and times on Trip.com flights and Kiwi.com. This plan assumes you arrive in San Diego on Day 1 afternoon and depart Honolulu on Day 7 afternoon.

San Diego

San Diego’s waterfront is a living gallery: aircraft carriers, historic tall ships, and sea lions share the skyline with sailboats and sunsets. Little Italy hums with al fresco trattorias; North Park pours outstanding craft beer; La Jolla hides sea caves beneath clifftop mansions and pelican rookeries.

Top highlights include the USS Midway Museum, Balboa Park’s Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, the San Diego Zoo, Cabrillo National Monument, Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, and Coronado’s broad strand facing the Pacific. Don’t miss fish tacos—this is their spiritual homeland.

• Where to stay (search and compare): Little Italy and the Embarcadero for walkability to waterfront museums; Pacific Beach/La Jolla for coastal vibes; Coronado for resort style. Browse VRBO San Diego or Hotels.com San Diego.
• Getting around: Rideshares and the MTS Trolley cover most sights; parking can be tight in beach areas. Set aside time for coastal drives.

Day 1: Arrive in San Diego, Embarcadero Sunset

Afternoon: Land, check in, and stretch your legs along the Embarcadero. Stroll past the Unconditional Surrender statue and broad harbor views, then peek at the historic ships of the Maritime Museum (Star of India) from the promenade.

Evening: Dinner in Little Italy. Try Herb & Wood for wood-fired Mediterranean plates in a lofty warehouse setting, or Born & Raised for a classic steakhouse with a rooftop. For a casual, quintessential option, Puesto serves blue-corn tortillas piled with filet mignon, carnitas, and crispy melted cheese.

Night: Toast your first sunset at Waterfront Park’s fountains or grab a tiki cocktail at False Idol (reservations recommended; look for the hidden entrance inside Craft & Commerce).

Day 2: USS Midway, Harborfront, and Little Italy

Morning: Coffee at James Coffee Co. (the “Aviator” location fits the day’s theme). Spend several hours aboard the USS Midway Museum—wander the hangar deck, climb into cockpits, and walk the flight deck for panoramic harbor views. Docents—many of them veterans—bring the ship’s stories to life.

Afternoon: Lunch at Point Loma Seafoods (order the halibut sandwich or crab sandwich with a harbor view). Continue to the Maritime Museum if you’re a ship buff, or take a 1–2 hour harbor cruise for skyline and naval base views.

Evening: Explore Kettner Boulevard’s “Top Chef alley.” Juniper & Ivy riffs on contemporary American with local produce; Kettner Exchange offers creative small plates and a lively rooftop. Nightcap at Noble Experiment (reservations) behind a wall of kegs.

Day 3: Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo

Morning: Breakfast at Morning Glory (pink velvet booths and a decadent soufflé pancake) or The Mission Café in Mission Beach for hearty chilaquiles. Head to Balboa Park—start at the San Diego Air & Space Museum, then step into the Museum of Us housed in the ornate California Building and tower.

Afternoon: Spend the afternoon at the San Diego Zoo—watch the Skyfari glide over pandas’ former neighborhood and the new Wildlife Explorers Basecamp; the Africa Rocks exhibit is a crowd favorite. Grab a snack at Panama 66 in the sculpture garden.

Evening: Dinner in the Convoy Asian district: Menya Ultra for award-winning tonkotsu ramen, Dumpling Inn & Shanghai Saloon for soup dumplings, or Taegukgi for all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ. Bubble tea at Sharetea or Tiger Sugar.

Day 4: La Jolla Caves, Torrey Pines, and Coronado

Morning: Espresso and a pastry at Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, then a guided La Jolla Sea Caves kayak tour (about 90 minutes). Glide over leopard sharks (summer/fall) and sea caves beneath sandstone cliffs. Brunch at The Cottage La Jolla—order lemon ricotta pancakes.

Afternoon: Hike Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. The Guy Fleming Trail delivers ocean panoramas in under a mile; allow 1.5–2 hours with photo stops. Cool down with small-batch gelato at Bobboi Natural Gelato in La Jolla.

Evening: Cross to Coronado for a golden-hour walk by the Hotel del Coronado. Dinner options: Brigantine (oysters, fish tacos, bay views) or Peohe’s for island-style seafood. Ice cream from MooTime Creamery for a sweet finish.

Honolulu

Honolulu blends sacred sites, royal history, and modern island life. Waikīkī hums late into the night; just inland, the Nuʻuanu Pali winds cradle rainforests and sweeping lookouts. Honolulu’s food scene jumps from plate-lunch classics to refined island cuisine in a single block.

Don’t miss Pearl Harbor’s memorials (USS Arizona, Battleship Missouri, and the Bowfin Submarine), Diamond Head’s crater hike, and the palaces and museums of the kingdom era. Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay reveals a protected reef teeming with fish in clear, shallow water.

• Where to stay (search and compare): Waikīkī for beach and walkability; Kakaʻako for dining and street art; Ko Olina (west side) for resort lagoons. Browse VRBO Honolulu or Hotels.com Honolulu.
• Getting around: TheBus is extensive (grab a HOLO card); rideshares are plentiful. Parking is scarce in Waikīkī—walk when you can.

Day 5: Fly to Honolulu, Waikīkī Welcome

Morning travel: Fly San Diego (SAN) to Honolulu (HNL). Nonstops take ~6 hours westbound. Typical one-way fares range ~$200–$450 depending on season. Compare options on Trip.com flights and Kiwi.com. You’ll gain time crossing to HST (typically -2 to -3 hours from PT).

Afternoon: Check in and refuel at Marugame Udon (fast, affordable bowls hand-pulled to order). Walk the Waikīkī beachfront from Duke Kahanamoku statue to the Royal Hawaiian’s pink façade, then swim at Kuhio Beach.

Evening: Sunset picnic at Magic Island (Ala Moana Beach Park) with poke from Foodland Farms Ala Moana. Dinner picks: The Pig & The Lady (inventive Vietnamese-Hawaiian in Chinatown) or House Without A Key (live Hawaiian music and hula under kiawe trees; oceanfront). Nightcap: Bar Leather Apron—order the award-winning Old Fashioned (reserve ahead).

Day 6: Pearl Harbor: A Full-Day Immersion

Full day: Devote the day to Pearl Harbor’s memorials. Start at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center exhibits, then ride the Navy boat to the USS Arizona Memorial (timed reservations are essential). Continue to the Battleship Missouri (“Mighty Mo”) on Ford Island to stand where WWII ended with the formal surrender signing. Round out the triad at the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum with the USS Bowfin. Budget 6–7 hours including shuttles and lines. Lunch options include on-site cafés and food trucks; consider an early dinner afterward.

Evening: Classic Hawaiian food: Helena’s Hawaiian Food (pipikaula short ribs, poi, kalua pig; typically open Tue–Fri) or Highway Inn (Kakaʻako) for laulau, lomi salmon, and haupia. For dessert, seek shave ice at Waiola or Uncle Clay’s House of Pure Aloha.

Day 7: Diamond Head Morning, Departure

Morning: Coffee at Kona Coffee Purveyors (excellent kouign-amann), then a sunrise or early-slot hike at Diamond Head State Monument (timed reservations required for non-residents). The 0.8-mile climb (one way) includes stairs and tunnels; the payoff is a sweeping view from Waikīkī to the Koʻolau Range.

Late morning: Grab malasadas from Leonard’s Bakery or brunch at Koko Head Cafe (cornflake french toast and loco moco reinvented). Quick last swim at Waikīkī if time allows, then check out.

Afternoon: Head to HNL for your flight home. Compare departure options and prices on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com.

Practical Notes

• Reservations: Book USS Arizona time slots, Diamond Head entry, and Hanauma Bay snorkeling (if you add it on a non-Mon/Tue day) in advance. Popular restaurants and cocktail bars often require reservations.
• Estimated costs: USS Midway ~$32 adults; Pearl Harbor Arizona program free (with reservation fee), Battleship Missouri and Bowfin ticketed separately; San Diego Zoo ~$72 adults; kayak tours ~$80–$120 per person.
• Packing: Reef-safe sunscreen (Hawaiʻi law), comfortable walking shoes, light layers for ocean breezes, and a compact daypack.

Getting There and Between Cities

• Inbound to San Diego: Most major U.S. hubs offer nonstops to SAN. Search fares on Trip.com flights and Kiwi.com.
• San Diego → Honolulu: Nonstop ~6 hours westbound; expect ~$200–$450 one-way depending on season and baggage. Morning departure recommended to maximize time after arrival.
• Local transit: San Diego’s MTS Trolley reaches Balboa Park and Old Town; Honolulu’s TheBus connects Waikīkī to Pearl Harbor and Diamond Head.

In one week, you’ll trace Pacific history from carrier decks to solemn memorials, hike ocean-facing trails, and taste your way through two coastal capitals. With thoughtful pacing and can’t-miss highlights, this San Diego and Honolulu plan balances meaning and play—leaving room for serendipity and sunset swims.