San Diego Walking Tour: Gaslamp, Little Italy, and Marina District

San Diego Walking Tour: Gaslamp, Little Italy, and Marina District is a 3.8 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near San Diego, California that offers scenic views and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking and walking. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.

Length3.8 miElevation gain85 ftRoute typeLoop

Description

Waypoints (10)

Contact

Downtown San Diego is a living tribute to history and revitalization. The Gaslamp Quarter followed up its boisterous boomtown years-the late 1800s, when Wyatt Earp ran gambling halls and sailors frequented brothels lining 4th and 5th Avenues-with a long stint of seediness, emerging only recently as a glamorous place to live and play. Little Italy, once a bustling Italian fishing neighborhood, got a fresh start when the city took its cause to heart. Highlights: The restored gas lamps that give the Gaslamp its name; the juxtaposition of old and new architecture; Little Italy's sidewalk cafes. Best Time to Go - morning or early afternoon.

William Heath Davis House

The oldest wooden house in San Diego houses the Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation, the district's curator. Before Alonzo Horton came to town, Davis, a prominent San Franciscan, had made an unsuccessful attempt to develop the waterfront area. In 1850 he had this prefab saltbox-style house, built in Maine, shipped around Cape Horn and assembled in San Diego (it originally stood at State and Market streets). Audio-guided or brochure-guided museum tours are available with museum admission. Regularly scheduled two-hour walking tours of the historic district leave from the house on Saturday at 11 and cost $10. If you can't time your visit with the weekly tour, a self-guided tour map is also available for purchase for $2. Address: 410 Island Ave. at 4th Ave. (Gaslamp Quarter) Phone: 619-233-4692 Admission: $5 Hours of Operations: May-Oct., Tues.-Sat. 10-6, Sun. 9-3 Nov.-Apr., Tues.-Sat. 10-4, Sun. 9-3

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Architecture along Fifth Avenue

Along Fifth Avenue you'll see some of the historic district's best-known Victorian-era commercial beauties, including the Italianate Marston Building (at F Street), the Keating Building, the Spencer-Ogden Building, and the Old City Hall.

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Spencer-Ogden Building

Address: 770 5th Ave.

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Keating Building

Address: 432 F Street

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Marston Building

Address: 809 5th Ave.

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U.S. Grant Hotel

Far more formal than most other hotels in San Diego and complete with a $56 million renovation in 2006, the doyenne of downtown lodgings has a marble lobby, gleaming chandeliers, attentive doormen, and other touches that hark back to the more gracious era when it was built in 1910. Funded in part by the son of the president for whom it was named, the hotel was extremely opulent from the beginning; 350 of its 437 rooms had private baths, highly unusual for that time. Through the years it became noted for its famous guests-hosting several U.S. presidents and countless celebrities. The U.S. Grant recently discovered marble floors and alabaster railings that had been covered for more than 70 years. Below the main lobby, the historic lower level features photographs and exhibits detailing the hotel's history. Taking up a city block-it's bound by 3rd and 4th avenues, C Street, and Broadway-the hotel occupies the site of San Diego's first hotel, constructed by Alonzo Horton in 1870. Address: 326 Broadway Phone: 619-232-3121

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Santa Fe Depot

The Mission-style Santa Fe Depot, which replaced the original 1887 station on this site when it opened in 1915 for the Panama-California International Exposition, serves Amtrak and Coaster passengers. A booth here has bus schedules, maps, and tourist brochures. Formerly an easily spotted area landmark, the graceful, tile-dome depot is now overshadowed by 1 America Plaza, the 34-story office tower across the street. At the base of this skyscraper, designed by architect Helmut Jahn, is a center linking the city's train, trolley, and bus systems. The building's signature crescent-shape, glass-and-steel canopy arches out over the trolley tracks. Address: Broadway and Kettner Blvd.

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Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD)

At the downtown branch of the city's contemporary art museum, explore the works of international and regional artists in a modern, urban space. In January 2007, the museum expanded its galleries across the street in a superb juxtaposition of old and new. The Jacobs Building-formerly the baggage building at the historic Santa Fe Depot-features large gallery spaces, high ceilings, and natural lighting, giving artists flexible spaces to create large-scale installations. MCASD showcases both established and emerging artists in rotating exhibitions, as well as permanent, site-specific commissions by Jenny Holzer and Richard Serra. Free cell phone audio tours and Podcasts are available for most exhibits; if you don't have an iPod with you, the museum will lend you one. lAdmission is good for seven days, and includes both the downtown and La Jolla locations. Address: 1100 and 1001 Kettner Blvd. Phone: 858-454-3541 Admission: $10; ages 25 and under are free, free 3rd Thurs. of the month 5-7 Hours of Operation: Thurs.-Tues. 11-5, 3rd Thurs. until 7. Closed Wed.

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Little Italy

At the turn of the 20th century this district was a bustling Italian fishing village. The area fell into disarray in the early 1970s due to a decline in the tuna industry and the construction of I-5, which destroyed 35% of the area. In 1996, a group of forward-thinking architects-commissioned by the city-created a cache of new residential, retail, and public areas that coexist beautifully with the neighborhood's historic charms. Now, it's a vibrant urban center with hip eateries, bars, and boutiques. You'll find remnants of retro Little Italy, from authentic cafes (check out Pappalecco, a popular gelateria) and boccie ball matches played by old-timers at Amici Park.

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Amici Park

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Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation (William Heath Davis House) http://www.gaslampquarter.org/

Weather

UV Index

Daylight

Reviews (110)

Photos (326)

Recordings (108)

Completed (261)

steven dytewski

April 3, 2021

Hiking

It was fun and not that hard. Lots of interesting looking girls on the way. Little Italy was dope yo

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Art Jorrin

March 26, 2021

Hiking

very chill stroll and plenty to stop and see i.e. shops, bars, restaurants etc..

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Mike Owen

March 23, 2021

Hiking

An urban stroll. Lots of sidewalk cafes and some interesting architecture. Not really “little Italy” or the Gaslamp District anymore..it is more of a fun walk I guess.

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Steven Holland

March 6, 2021

Hiking

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Eric Roussel

February 25, 2021

Hiking

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Luke MacDonald

February 21, 2021

Hiking

Heavily trafficked (went on a Sunday) walk around downtown San Diego with lots of nice views

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Shadow Wolf

February 13, 2021

Hiking

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Rod Innes

January 23, 2021

Hiking

Interesting walk through several neighborhoods. Almost deserted except for waterfront due to pandemic

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Denis Mark

January 13, 2021

Bike touringGreat!

Carla Gamboni

December 13, 2020

Hiking

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Abbey Morton

November 27, 2020

WalkingGreat!

I liked this a lot! I’m new to San Diego and found this a fun way to explore a bit with my pup!

Bleu Ford

November 22, 2020

HikingGreat!

This is a beautiful walk through some of the best San Diego has to offer. I am a local tour guide and I created this blog to enhance your hike experience. It's free! https://www.mamableusadventures.com/alltrails-companion/san-diego-walking-tourgaslamp-little-italy-and-marina-district

Catherine Bella

November 10, 2020

Hiking

Because of recent Covid and Riots a lot of places, businesses museums are closed. It was a sad sight to see. Nevertheless, the Marina, Little Italy and other places made it worth the activity.

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Vic Pacheco

October 10, 2020

WalkingGreat!

great walk. beautiful sites!

hugo farias

August 26, 2020

Hiking

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ben mitrowski

June 29, 2020

excellent downtown/harbor walk. we stopped at a bar and gave the dog a rest, most places seemed kid and dog friendly. would recommend doing when hungry since there are so many restaurants

rick king

June 19, 2020

Walking

If you follow this trail it gives you a great tour of San Diego. You pass through the gaslamp district, little italy, and the waterfront. It was a nice walk not tiring because there's so much sight seeing you dont even realize how much you've walked. Overall an awesome walk.

Mica .

May 31, 2020

Walking

it was a very nice walk, the weather was amazing, lots of restaurants opened back up

Jose Martinez

March 12, 2020

This was a wonderful way to see the sights of San Diego up close and personal. Plenty of cool pubs and shops along the way. Best urban hike ever...

Amanda Da-Pra

December 9, 2019

Hiking

Nice walk around the Gaslamp district and by the water.

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DJ Goodman

September 27, 2019

Walking

Beautiful views in a vibrant city. There is plenty to see in the Gaslamp, Marina & Little Italy districts of San Diego. We also caught a Padres game while touring the city on foot.