Here’s the best time to visit San Diego (plus a guide for what you’ll see in every season)

San Diego is packed with world-famous attractions that appeal to every age group, from sandy beaches and kid-friendly hiking trails to its famous zoo and the museums of Balboa Park. For many, the year-round good weather is what seals the deal. As northern parts of the US dig out the coats for fall and winter, surf swells build and warm temperatures linger in San Diego, with mostly dry days right through to November.

But the weather isn't the only thing that draws travelers to this happy West Coast hub – San Diego calls itself "America’s Finest City" for a reason. Its breezy confidence and sunny countenance filter down to the folks you encounter every day on the street. San Diego's neighborhoods may feel like a collection of villages, each with their own personality, but this is the nation’s eighth-largest city. For its size, there's probably nowhere more laid-back on earth. These are the best times to visit San Diego.

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March to May and September to October are best for hiking and budget breaks

Weather in San Diego during the shoulder season: The weather is mild, with temperatures hovering around the mid-to-high sixties, making it perfect for outdoor fun and offering little chance of rain.

San Diego has hiking trails that snake out into the countryside from all over the city, and the shoulder season is the prime time to enjoy them, as temperatures are warm rather than sizzling, and the skies remain crystal clear. Travelers head back to the coast in March as the rain disappears, especially during spring break (which varies depending on school schedules and the Easter holiday).

March is the peak month for wildflower viewing in the hills and also sees a major festival and parade in celebration of the Irish community on St Patrick's Day. The April sunshine brings the perfect conditions for the popular Beach and Bay Half Marathon. Classic car fans take note – La Jolla is the place to be at the end of the month for the Concours d'Elegance, a showcase of some of the finest vintage automobiles you've ever seen.

May is your last chance to enjoy major attractions before vacationing school kids take over. Make the most of Cinco de Mayo celebrations throughout the city, join in the fun (even without a run) during the Rock'n'Roll Running Series and get into the groove at the wonderful Wonderfront Music & Arts Festival. Visitor numbers peak over the Memorial Day holiday weekend; it's one of the busiest travel times of the year.

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Summer's last hurrah is Labor Day weekend, which is extremely busy almost everywhere. After the kids go back to school, the city quiets down a bit. Grab the opportunity to sample some of the city's best food for less during San Diego Restaurant Week and cast your eyes to the skies at the Miramar Air Show.

Fall brings strong swells and offshore Santa Ana winds for the surfers, while the spring sees more frequent onshore winds, making the surfing a bit more sporadic. Fall and spring are friendly on the pocket too, as hotel rates fall from summer peaks and San Diego Zoo is free for kids throughout October.

Overall, October is the best month to go to San Diego. It has excellent weather, fewer crowds, more affordable accommodation prices and cheaper flights.

June to August is best for perfect weather and festivals

Weather in San Diego during summer: Summer brings the heat with temperatures ranging between 72°F to 85°F, but those sun-drenched beaches also bring the crowds.

Whoosh! Here comes a skateboarder. Splash! There goes a wet-suited surfer, board under arm. Overlooking the shore, there's a Chanel-clad diner lifting a dainty porcelain cup off its saucer. The city of San Diego and its coastal neighborhoods exude the kind of freewheeling spirit that brings out the best in people, and summer is the season to surrender to its siren song.

The hot, dry months from June to August are the peak summer season in San Diego; temperatures and hotel rates soar, and it can get busy on the city's 60-plus beaches. Amidst the blue-sky weather, June often sees the cloudy skies referred to by Californians as "June Gloom." The fog lifts for the latter half of the month as the community comes together for the San Diego County Fair.

July could be considered the worst time to visit San Diego, as it’s the busiest and the most expensive month to spend time in the city. Kids are on summer break, crowds are dense and hotels fill up. But July also brings Pride celebrations, Fourth of July parties and tons of summer programming like outdoor movie nights. The cultural behemoth that is Comic-Con rolls into town at the end of the month.

Warm weather and water temperatures keep beaches busy during August. School summer vacations come to an end, but everywhere stays packed. The streets of a beloved neighborhood sway to the music at the La Jolla Music Society SummerFest and travel slows slightly before Labor Day weekend.

November to February is the perfect time for whale watching

Weather in San Diego during winter: The days may get shorter, but you won't need too many layers for winter; the temperature hovers between 55°F and 65°F.

Though temperatures don't drop sharply in November, the beaches and theme parks are less busy, except around the Thanksgiving holiday. The San Diego Bay Food and Wine Festival brings some festive spirits to the start of the month and Dìa de los Muertos celebrations welcome a different kind of spirit to the streets of San Diego.

Although it's far from cold, there's a higher chance of rain. On the other hand, it's whale-watching season, so there are perks for the small inconvenience of bringing a warm jacket. Gray whales pass San Diego from mid-December to late February on their way south to Baja California, and again in mid-March on their way back up to Alaskan waters. Their 12,000-mile round-trip journey is the longest migration of any mammal on earth, and you can spot them easily along the San Diego coast. Christmas and New Year's Eve are extremely crowded travel times, but worth it for palm-tree light displays, the Holiday Bowl and festive cheer.

January is the wettest month in Southern California, but mercifully, San Diego doesn't see too much rain. It's a slow time for coastal travel, which makes it an excellent time to snag hotel rooms at a fraction of the high-season price. Wildflowers start blooming in the low desert outside the city by February. It's the second of the region's wettest months and the last of the whales make their way up the coast. Valentine's Day is booked solid at restaurants and resorts and San Diego Museum Month gives you access to a wealth of cultural institutions for half off.