Excellence Luxury Villas · San Diego
Luxury Villas and Homes in San Diego
Sea-view villas and beach apartments from La Jolla Cove to Sunset Cliffs, in California's most easy-going city
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Sea lions, surf and the mildest weather in California
San Diego sits in the far south of California, close to the Mexican border, and it has one of the gentlest climates in the country. Locals grumble about 'June Gloom', a sea mist that hangs over early summer mornings, which tells you most of what you need to know about the rest of the year. The city has proper beaches, surf breaks, a large and handsome park, a famous zoo, and fish tacos at almost every corner.
Our San Diego collection runs to 140+ homes, most of them within sight of the Pacific: villas with pools and hot tubs above La Jolla, apartments steps from the sand at Mission Beach and Ocean Beach, cottages near Sunset Cliffs and larger houses up the coast at Encinitas and Del Mar.
Below is a guide to the neighbourhoods, what to do in each and when to come.
San Diego at a glance
- Homes
- 140+ villas, houses and apartments, with up to 13 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £4,100 to £9,100 a week, from around £3,000
- Best areas
- La Jolla, Mission Beach and Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach and Sunset Cliffs, and Encinitas to the north
- Best time
- September and October for warm sea and clear skies; December to April for grey whales
- Getting there
- British Airways flies direct from Heathrow to San Diego International in around 11 hours
Browse all 140+ properties in San Diego
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Villa Poente Scripps La Jolla: Luxury 6-Bedroom Beachfront Villa with Hot Tub – La Jolla6 bedrooms
Manor Chaparral Escondido: Spacious 13-Bedroom Luxury Apartment with Pool & Seaview – Escondido13 bedrooms
House Coronado SanDiego: 6-Bedroom Luxury Beachfront Apartment with Sea Views – San Diego6 bedrooms
House Windansea La Jolla: Luxury 5-Bedroom Villa with Seaview & Pool – La Jolla5 bedroomsWhere to stay in San Diego
La Jolla for coves, sea lions and the smartest addresses, Mission Beach and Pacific Beach for life on the sand, Ocean Beach and Sunset Cliffs for surf and sunsets, and Encinitas for a quieter coastal town to the north.
Coves, cliffs and a colony of sea lions
La Jolla is San Diego's most polished corner, a seaside village of galleries, boutiques and good restaurants set above a rocky shoreline. At La Jolla Cove the sea lions take over the rocks, and the seals at Children's Pool have long since claimed the beach as their own. Kayaks paddle out to the sea caves on calm mornings.
North of the village lie the Birch Aquarium at Scripps, Louis Kahn's Salk Institute and Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, where clifftop trails wind among one of the rarest pine trees in America. Our villas here tend to come with pools, hot tubs and long views over the ocean.
Browse homes in La Jolla
Sand on one side, the bay on the other
Mission Beach is a narrow strip of land with the Pacific to the west and the calm water of Mission Bay to the east, which makes it a favourite with families: surf in the morning, paddleboards on the bay after lunch. The boardwalk runs its length, and Belmont Park still has the Giant Dipper, a wooden roller coaster from 1925.
Pacific Beach, just north, is livelier, with Crystal Pier, cafés and bars along Garnet Avenue. Most of our homes in both are apartments and beach houses a short walk from the sand, many with sea views from the terrace.
Browse homes in Mission Beach
Surfers, sunsets and a very fine park
Ocean Beach keeps a laid-back, slightly bohemian air, with one of the longest piers on the West Coast and a beach where dogs are welcome. To the south, Sunset Cliffs Natural Park lives up to its name every evening, as half the neighbourhood turns out to prove.
Inland, Hillcrest is a lively neighbourhood of restaurants and a Sunday farmers' market, right beside Balboa Park, with its Spanish Revival museums, gardens and the San Diego Zoo. The USS Midway Museum and the Gaslamp Quarter are a short drive away downtown.
Browse homes in Ocean Beach
Fish tacos, craft beer and a long, mild year
San Diego eats well and informally. Fish tacos came up from Baja and never left, Little Italy has a large Saturday market, and the city's craft breweries are taken very seriously. Up the coast, the Del Mar races run through the summer.
The sea is warmest from late summer into autumn, and September and October are often the clearest months of all. May and June can start grey before the sun burns through. Grey whales pass the coast from around December to April. Our concierge can arrange restaurant tables, surf lessons, kayak trips to the sea caves, whale-watching boats and airport transfers.
Ask our conciergeFeatured properties in San Diego
House Torrey OceanBeach: Spacious 5-Bedroom Beachfront Apartment with Stunning Seaviews – Ocean Beach5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £15,008 a week
Villa Poente La Jolla Mission Beach: Luxury 4-Bedroom Apartment with Beachfront Views – Mission Beach4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £14,749 a week
Villa Safira Crown Point Mission Beach: Luxury 3-Bedroom Apartment with Beachfront Views – Mission Beach3 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £14,644 a week
Villa Boreas La Jolla Cove San Diego: Luxury 7-Bedroom Villa – La Jolla San Diego7 bedrooms · sleeps 16From £14,504 a week
House Torrey Encinitas: Luxury 5-Bedroom Villa with Ocean Views & Pool – Encinitas5 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £14,301 a week
House Birdrock LaJolla: Luxury 3-Bedroom Apartment with Seaview & Hot Tub – La Jolla3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £14,049 a week
Villa Alba Swami Encinitas: Spacious 6-Bedroom Apartment with Pool & Seaviews – Encinitas6 bedrooms · sleeps 16From £13,419 a week
Villa Boreas Swami Encinitas: 7-Bedroom Apartment with Pool & Hot Tub – Encinitas7 bedrooms · sleeps 16From £13,188 a weekWhy book your home in San Diego with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
San Diego's homes range from bayside apartments in Mission Beach to clifftop villas in La Jolla, and we know which are a real walk from the sand and which need the car. With 140+ properties in San Diego, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Restaurant tables in La Jolla and Little Italy, surf lessons, kayak trips to the La Jolla sea caves, whale-watching boats in winter, zoo tickets, car hire and airport transfers. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to stay in San Diego?
La Jolla is the most upmarket, with coves, restaurants and clifftop villas. Mission Beach and Pacific Beach suit families who want to step straight onto the sand. Ocean Beach and Sunset Cliffs are more relaxed and good for surfers, and Encinitas offers a quieter coastal town to the north.
When is the best time to visit San Diego?
San Diego is mild all year. September and October usually bring the warmest sea and the clearest skies, while May and June can begin with morning sea mist. Winter is cooler but sunny, and grey whales pass along the coast from around December to April.
Where can you see the sea lions in La Jolla?
Sea lions gather on the rocks around La Jolla Cove, and harbour seals use the beach at nearby Children's Pool. Both can be seen from the coastal path, and kayak tours of the sea caves often pass close by.
Can you arrange a private chef at a home in San Diego?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury propertie in San Diego cost?
Across our 140+ properties in San Diego, weekly rates typically range from £4,100 to £9,100, with the most affordable from around £3,000 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How do I get to San Diego from the UK?
British Airways flies direct from London Heathrow to San Diego International Airport, with a flight time of around 11 hours. The airport is close to downtown, so most of our homes are a short drive away. Our concierge can arrange transfers and car hire.
Are there homes in San Diego for large groups?
Yes. Our San Diego collection includes properties with up to 13 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your home in San Diego
140+ homes along the San Diego coast, booked direct with our concierge on hand