35 Beautiful San Diego City Skyline and Coastal Views

By March 10, 2021January 8th, 2022Beautiful Views of San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego

I love photographing San Diego’s city skyline and the region’s coastal scenes, particularly those that feature panoramas of downtown San Diego and its waterfront as well as long compressed coastal views that layer sea cliffs, beaches,  and coastal mountains.  I’ve been photographing San Diego and La Jolla in earnest for over 30 years and will keep shooting these gorgeous scenes until I can’t do it any longer. Winter is when I focus my energies on making detailed, high resolution photographs of San Diego’s coastline and cityscapes since the cold, dry, clear winter air makes for sharp, detailed images.  Come summer and fall I am often out on the ocean diving or in the mountains, or traveling somewhere, so winter is the time for me to get out there and photograph San Diego.  Below, in no particular order, are some of my favorite San Diego images made over the last several months. Many of these locations I have shot dozens of times but I keep going back to keep the images current and use the best available cameras, and because it’s fun.  Broken Hill in Torrey Pines is one example: I have photographed the iconic view annually since about 1987 and used to see it on my daily run on the mesa when I lived in Del Mar.  The Broken Hill viewpoint is now quite eroded from what it used to be so I have a special technique to position my camera for exactly the composition I prefer.  All of these photographs were made with high resolution cameras and razor sharp optics and have considerable clarity and detail.  Cheers, and thanks for looking!

Torrey Pines sea cliffs at sunset, Flat Rock at low tide, looking north, Blacks Beach, La Jolla, California

Torrey Pines sea cliffs at sunset, Flat Rock at low tide, looking north.
Image ID: 36556
Location: Blacks Beach, La Jolla, California, USA

San Diego City Skyline at Sunset, viewed from Point Loma, panoramic photograph

San Diego City Skyline at Sunset, viewed from Point Loma, panoramic photograph.
Image ID: 36749
Location: San Diego, California, USA

Sea cliffs over Blacks Beach, La Jolla, California

Sea cliffs over Blacks Beach, La Jolla, California.
Image ID: 36562
Location: Blacks Beach, La Jolla, California, USA

Broken Hill in soft pre-dawn light, overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Torrey Pines State Reserve. La Jolla and Mount Soledad in the distance, San Diego, California

Broken Hill in soft pre-dawn light, overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Torrey Pines State Reserve. La Jolla and Mount Soledad in the distance.
Image ID: 36564
Location: Torrey Pines State Reserve, San Diego, California, USA

Sunset on Terramar Beach, Carlsbad

Sunset on Terramar Beach, Carlsbad.
Image ID: 36584
Location: Carlsbad, California, USA

Scripps Institution of Oceanography Research Pier at sunset, with Christmas Lights and Christmas Tree, La Jolla, California

Scripps Institution of Oceanography Research Pier at sunset, with Christmas Lights and Christmas Tree.
Image ID: 36615
Location: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California, USA

Hotel del Coronado with holiday Christmas night lights, known affectionately as the Hotel Del. It was once the largest hotel in the world, and is one of the few remaining wooden Victorian beach resorts.  The Hotel Del is widely considered to be one of Americas most beautiful and classic hotels. Built in 1888, it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977

Hotel del Coronado with holiday Christmas night lights, known affectionately as the Hotel Del. It was once the largest hotel in the world, and is one of the few remaining wooden Victorian beach resorts. The Hotel Del is widely considered to be one of Americas most beautiful and classic hotels. Built in 1888, it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977.
Image ID: 36618

Coronado Shores condos reflected in Glorietta Bay, San Diego Bay, evening

Coronado Shores condos reflected in Glorietta Bay, San Diego Bay, evening.
Image ID: 36620

Scripps Pier with Christmas Lights and Full Moon at Sunrise, La Jolla, California

Scripps Pier with Christmas Lights and Full Moon at Sunrise.
Image ID: 36629
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

Point La Jolla viewed from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, big waves at sunrise

Point La Jolla viewed from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, big waves at sunrise.
Image ID: 36630
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

Full Moon Rises over San Diego City Skyline, viewed from Point Loma, panoramic photograph

Full Moon Rises over San Diego City Skyline, viewed from Point Loma, panoramic photograph.
Image ID: 36634
Location: San Diego, California, USA

San Diego City Skyline at Sunset, viewed from Point Loma, panoramic photograph

San Diego City Skyline at Sunset, viewed from Point Loma, panoramic photograph.
Image ID: 36637
Location: San Diego, California, USA

Beautiful Sunset over San Diego

Beautiful Sunset over San Diego.
Image ID: 36640
Location: San Diego, California, USA

Beautiful Sunset over San Diego

Beautiful Sunset over San Diego.
Image ID: 36641
Location: San Diego, California, USA

Hotel del Coronado with holiday Christmas night lights, known affectionately as the Hotel Del. It was once the largest hotel in the world, and is one of the few remaining wooden Victorian beach resorts. The Hotel Del is widely considered to be one of Americas most beautiful and classic hotels. Built in 1888, it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977, San Diego, California

Hotel del Coronado with holiday Christmas night lights, known affectionately as the Hotel Del. It was once the largest hotel in the world, and is one of the few remaining wooden Victorian beach resorts. The Hotel Del is widely considered to be one of Americas most beautiful and classic hotels. Built in 1888, it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977.
Image ID: 36642
Location: San Diego, California, USA

San Diego Convention Center and its waterfront at Night

San Diego Convention Center and its waterfront at Night.
Image ID: 36646
Location: San Diego, California, USA

San Diego City Skyline at Sunset, viewed from Point Loma, panoramic photograph

San Diego City Skyline at Sunset, viewed from Point Loma, panoramic photograph.
Image ID: 36654
Location: San Diego, California, USA

La Jolla Shores Coastline and Scripps Pier, aerial photo, sunset

La Jolla Shores Coastline and Scripps Pier, aerial photo, sunset.
Image ID: 36655
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

San Diego and Tijuana City Skyline, panoramic photo, viewed from Mount Soledad

San Diego and Tijuana City Skyline, panoramic photo, viewed from Mount Soledad.
Image ID: 36657
Location: San Diego, California, USA

Beautiful Sunset over San Diego

Beautiful Sunset over San Diego.
Image ID: 36658
Location: San Diego, California, USA

San Diego Mormon Temple with Christmas Lights, La Jolla, California

San Diego Mormon Temple with Christmas Lights.
Image ID: 36659
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

North County Coastline at Dusk, viewed from Mount Soledad, La Jolla, California

North County Coastline at Dusk, viewed from Mount Soledad.
Image ID: 36660
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

San Diego and Tijuana City Skyline, viewed from Mount Soledad

San Diego and Tijuana City Skyline, viewed from Mount Soledad.
Image ID: 36661
Location: San Diego, California, USA

Mission Bay, Ocean Beach, Point Loma and Coronado islands, at night, San Diego, California

Mission Bay, Ocean Beach, Point Loma and Coronado islands, at night.
Image ID: 36663
Location: San Diego, California, USA

La Jolla Shores Coastline and Scripps Pier, Blacks Beach and Torrey Pines, aerial photo, sunset

La Jolla Shores Coastline and Scripps Pier, Blacks Beach and Torrey Pines, aerial photo, sunset.
Image ID: 36666
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

UCSD University of California San Diego, viewed from Mount Soledad, Panoramic Photo, La Jolla

UCSD University of California San Diego, viewed from Mount Soledad, Panoramic Photo.
Image ID: 36667
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

La Jolla Shores Coastline and Scripps Pier, Blacks Beach and Torrey Pines, aerial photo, sunset

La Jolla Shores Coastline and Scripps Pier, Blacks Beach and Torrey Pines, aerial photo, sunset.
Image ID: 36673
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

Scripps Pier and Blacks Beach, Sunset, Panorama, La Jolla, California

Scripps Pier and Blacks Beach, Sunset, Panorama.
Image ID: 36674
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

Scripps Pier at Sunset with Christmas Lights, La Jolla, California

Scripps Pier at Sunset with Christmas Lights.
Image ID: 36677
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

Moon over The Mount Soledad Cross, a landmark in La Jolla, California. The Mount Soledad Cross is a 29-foot-tall cross erected in 1954

Moon over The Mount Soledad Cross, a landmark in La Jolla, California. The Mount Soledad Cross is a 29-foot-tall cross erected in 1954.
Image ID: 36694
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

Torrey Pines State Beach at Sunset, La Jolla, Mount Soledad and Blacks Beach in the distance, Torrey Pines State Reserve, San Diego, California

Torrey Pines State Beach at Sunset, La Jolla, Mount Soledad and Blacks Beach in the distance.
Image ID: 36741
Location: Torrey Pines State Reserve, San Diego, California, USA

Del Mar Railroad Tracks and Coastline

Del Mar Railroad Tracks and Coastline.
Image ID: 36742
Location: Del Mar, California, USA

Terramar Sunset, viewed from North Ponto with Oceanside and Camp Pendleton in the distance, Carlsbad, California

Terramar Sunset, viewed from North Ponto with Oceanside and Camp Pendleton in the distance.
Image ID: 36743
Location: Carlsbad, California, USA

Full Moon Rising over University of San Diego

Full Moon Rising over University of San Diego.
Image ID: 36746
Location: San Diego, California, USA

Spectacular Sunset, Terramar Beach, Carlsbad

Spectacular Sunset, Terramar Beach, Carlsbad.
Image ID: 36754
Location: Carlsbad, California, USA

About Phil Colla

I am a natural history photographer. I enjoy making compelling images in the ocean, on land, and in the air. I have maintained the Natural History Photography blog since 2005 and my searchable Natural History Photography Library since 1997. Here are some tear sheets and behind the scenes views. Thanks for looking!