Current Time in San Diego, United States

San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States, located in the southwestern corner of California directly on the Pacific coast, just north of the international border with Mexico. With a population of approximately 1.4 million in the city and over 3.3 million in the greater metropolitan area, San Diego enjoys one of the most enviable natural settings of any American city, combining a near-perfect Mediterranean climate, dramatic coastal scenery, and a rich historical and cultural heritage.

San Diego holds the distinction of being the first European settlement on the Pacific Coast of the United States. The Spanish Franciscan friar Junipero Serra established Mission San Diego de Alcala here in 1769, beginning the chain of California missions that would eventually stretch up the coast to Sonoma. The site of the original mission and the later Old Town San Diego State Historic Park preserve the ambiance and architecture of early Spanish and Mexican California, offering visitors a vivid sense of the city's colonial origins before California became part of the United States in 1848.

San Diego is home to one of the world's great natural harbors, and the United States Navy has maintained a major presence here since the early 20th century. The city is home to the largest naval fleet concentration in the world, and the military remains one of the most significant economic forces in the region. The USS Midway Museum, a retired aircraft carrier moored in the harbor and converted into a museum, is one of the most visited naval and aviation museums in the United States.

Balboa Park, a magnificent urban cultural complex covering over 1,200 acres in the heart of the city, is one of the greatest urban parks in America. It houses the world-famous San Diego Zoo, as well as fifteen museums, stunning Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, gardens, and performing arts venues spread across its beautiful grounds. The San Diego Zoo is widely considered one of the finest zoological parks in the world and is particularly noted for its giant pandas and its innovative naturalistic habitat exhibits.

San Diego's economy is diverse, built on defense and military, biotechnology and pharmaceutical research, tourism, international trade through the Port of San Diego and the San Ysidro border crossing with Mexico, and technology. The Torrey Pines area is a major hub for biotech companies, while the University of California San Diego in La Jolla is one of the nation's top research universities.

Transportation includes San Diego International Airport, one of the busiest single-runway airports in the world given its proximity to downtown, as well as a Trolley light rail system, buses, and the Coaster commuter rail serving the northern coastal communities.

San Diego's exceptional climate, stunning beaches, vibrant culinary scene influenced by its proximity to Mexico, world-class cultural institutions, and laid-back California lifestyle make it one of the most consistently pleasant and attractive major cities in the United States.