Community Corner
San Diego Beach Named Best In U.S. By Tripadvisor
The local beach was the only U.S. beach that made the world rankings.
SAN DIEGO, CA — San Diego is home to the best beach in the country, according to a new ranking.
La Jolla Cove earned the No. 1 spot on Tripadvisor's 2026 Traveler's Choice Awards "Best of the Best Beaches" in the United States and the No. 7 spot on the world rankings.
La Jolla Cove is known for its sea lion and seal colonies. The cliff-lined and scenic beach is also a popular spot for snorkeling, scuba diving and swimming.
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"At this beach surrounded by sandstone cliffs on the San Diego coast, the water is calm enough for travelers to enjoy diving and snorkeling," according to Tripadvisor. "Walk along the rocky shore to spot large colonies of sea lions lounging in their natural habitat and looking after their pups, and have a picnic while soaking up the views of the ocean from the cliffs at sunset. If you visit at low tide, you'll get to swim in the crystal clear tidal pools as well."
La Jolla Cove was the only U.S. beach that made the world rankings. The beach, a favorite among locals and visitors alike, was also one of just three California beaches to make the U.S. rankings. Santa Monica State Beach ranked No. 9 and Venice Beach ranked No. 13.
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The Travelers' Choice Awards Best of the Best title celebrates the highest level of excellence in travel, according to Tripadvisor. The annual rankings were based on the quality and quantity of reviews posted on the site between Nov. 30, 2024, and Dec. 1, 2025.
As of Tuesday, La Jolla Cove had 13,852 reviews with an overall rating of 4.6 out of 5.
View the full rankings.
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