Old Town San Diego

Old Town San Diego is the city’s oldest settled area and the site of the first European settlement in California. Founded in 1769, it’s considered the birthplace of modern-day California and includes many well-preserved historic buildings and museums. It’s also a popular place for dining in San Diego, with plenty of vibrant restaurants and bars known for their authentic Mexican cuisine.

Around a third of the Old Town neighbourhood consists of a park and historic areas. The Old Town San Diego State Historic Park is an open-air museum with well-preserved buildings from the 1800s. The Presidio is an expansive park with cultural and historical sites, as well as excellent city views and picnic areas. Whether you’re interested in learning more about the history of San Diego and California or looking for a lively dining and cultural scene, Old Town is an excellent place to explore.

Old Town San Diego - one of the highlights of 10 Best Family Things to Do in San Diego and 10 Best Things to Do in San Diego (Read all about San Diego here)

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What are the highlights of Old Town San Diego?

Old Town San Diego is characterised by its historic buildings and museums. The Old Town State Historic Park is home to a collection of 19^th-century buildings that provide an insight into early life in San Diego. There are 5 original adobe buildings in the complex, along with other historical buildings including a schoolhouse, courthouse, blacksmith, tobacco store and houses. Just opposite, the Presidio Park is now an open cultural museum with the old Spanish Revival-style structures and old fort.

Just outside of the park boundaries is the Mormon Battalion Historic Site. The interpretive centre commemorates a group of Mormons in the army during the Mexican–American War and is a popular site to visit. Aside from all the historical buildings, Old Town is also known for authentic Mexican cuisine, with the lively dining scene including Café Coyote, Casa Guadalajara, and Casa de Reyes.

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A brief history of Old Town San Diego

Before the Europeans arrived in San Diego, the area of Old Town was inhabited by a Kumeyaay village known as Cosoy or Kosa’aay, which consisted of 30 to 40 families. The Spanish first arrived in San Diego Bay in 1542, but it wasn’t until 1769 that the first mission was established by Father Junipero Serra next to the village and near the Presidio in 1769. It was the first official European settlement in California.

During the 1800s, the town of San Diego continued to grow around where the present-day Old Town San Diego Historic Park is located. However, the town began to decline due to the lack of navigable water and was still only inhabited by 650 people when California joined the United States in 1850.

The Old Town remained the heart of the city until the development of Downtown San Diego closer to the port. The Old Town San Diego Historic Park and Presidio Park have since been listed on the National Register of Historic Places for their importance to the state’s history.

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Good to know about Old Town San Diego

Old Town San Diego is around 3.5 miles northwest of Downtown. The 230-acre neighbourhood is bordered by Interstate 8 to the north and Interstate 5 to the west, making it easy to reach by car.

Old Town Transit Center is a major transportation station on the western side of the neighbourhood. City buses, the San Diego Trolley, the Coaster rail line, and the regional Amtrak system all pass through and connect here. San Diego International Airport is around 3.6 miles south of Old Town.

Old Town is near many popular attractions in San Diego. Just to the west, across the freeway, you’ll find the popular Midway District, which is a popular shopping area featuring the Sports Arena Shopping Mall.