Getting There

By Plane

We San Diegans have a love-hate relationship with San Diego International Airport (tel. 619/231-2100; www.san.org), also known as Lindbergh Field. The facility is just 2 miles northwest of downtown, and the landing approach is right at the edge of the central business district. Pilots thread a passage between high-rise buildings and Balboa Park on their final descent to the runway -- you'll get a great view on either side of the plane. The best part: We usually count the time from touchdown to gate-park in seconds, not minutes, and departures are rarely delayed for weather problems.

San Diego isn't a connecting hub for domestic airlines, and most international travel arrives via Los Angeles or points east, but Lindbergh Field is the nation's busiest single-runway commercial airport (yes, all 600 daily arrivals and departures use just one strip of asphalt). Its dainty size makes it easy for travelers to navigate, but city officials are well aware of the critical need to enlarge or move the airport if they hope to keep the city's economic engine humming. Plans have ranged from a floating airport-at-sea (no kidding) to setting it in the Anza-Borrego Desert to conscripting Miramar Naval Air Station. Hard decisions will have to be made (and fairly soon), because whether the airport is expanded at its current location or re-created elsewhere, it will have a drastic impact on its neighbors.

Planes land at Terminal 1 or 2, though most flights to and from Southern California airports use the Commuter Terminal, a half-mile away; the Airport Flyer ("red bus") provides free service from the main airport to the Commuter Terminal, or there's a footpath. General information desks with visitor materials, maps, and other services are near the baggage claim areas of both Terminal 1 and 2. You can exchange foreign currency at Travelex America (tel. 619/295-1501; www.travelexusa.com) in Terminal 1 across from the United Airlines ticket counter, or in Terminal 2 on the second level (inside the security area, near the gates). Hotel reservation and car-rental courtesy phones are in the baggage-claim areas of Terminal 1 and 2.

Getting into Town From the Airport

By Bus -- The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS; tel. 619/233-3004; www.sdcommute.com) operates the San Diego Transit Flyer -- bus route no. 992 -- providing service between the airport and downtown San Diego, running along Broadway. Bus stops are at each of Lindbergh Field's three terminals. The one-way fare is $2.25, and exact change is required. Request a transfer if you're connecting to another bus or the San Diego Trolley route downtown. The ride takes about 15 minutes and buses come at 10- to 15-minute intervals.

At the Transit Store, 102 Broadway, at First Avenue (tel. 619/234-1060), you can get information about greater San Diego's mass transit system (bus, rail, and ferry) and pick up free brochures, route maps, and timetables. The store is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

By Taxi -- Taxis line up outside both terminals. The trip to a downtown location, usually a 10-minute ride, is about $10 (plus tip); budget $20 to $25 for Coronado or Mission Beach, and about $30 to $35 for La Jolla.

By Shuttle -- Several airport shuttles run regularly from the airport to points around the city; you'll see designated pick-up areas outside each terminal. The shuttles are a good deal for single travelers; two or more people traveling together might as well take a taxi. The fare is about $8 per person to downtown hotels; Mission Valley and Mission Beach hotels are $10 to $12; La Jolla and Coronado hotels are around $15 to $19. Rates to a residence are about double the above rates, for the first person. One company that serves all of San Diego County is Cloud 9 Shuttle (tel. 800/974-8885; www.cloud9shuttle.com).

By Car -- If you're driving to downtown from the airport, take Harbor Drive south to Broadway, the main east-west thoroughfare, and turn left. To reach Hillcrest or Balboa Park, exit the airport toward I-5, and follow the signs for Laurel Street. To reach Mission Bay, take I-5 north to I-8 west. To reach La Jolla, take I-5 north to the La Jolla Parkway exit, bearing left onto Torrey Pines Road.

Need a Lift into Town? -- Remember to ask your hotel whether it has an airport shuttle from Lindbergh Field. Hotels often offer this service -- usually free, sometimes for a nominal charge -- and some also provide complimentary shuttles from the hotel to popular shopping and dining areas. Make sure the hotel knows when you're arriving, and get precise directions on where it'll pick you up.

Getting into Town from Places Other Than the Airport

By Bus -- Greyhound buses from Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Vegas, and other points in the southwest United States arrive at the station in downtown San Diego at 120 W. Broadway. Local buses stop in front and the San Diego Trolley line is nearby.

By Train -- San Diego's Santa Fe Station is at the west end of Broadway, between Front Street and First Avenue, within a half-mile of most downtown hotels and the Embarcadero. Taxis line up outside the main door, the trolley station is across the street, and a dozen local bus routes stop on Broadway or Pacific Coast Highway, 1 block away.

By Car -- Three main interstates lead into San Diego. I-5 is the primary route from San Francisco, central California, and Los Angeles; it runs straight through downtown to the Tijuana border crossing. I-8 cuts across California from points east like Phoenix, terminating just west of I-5 at Mission Bay. I-15 leads from the deserts to the north through inland San Diego; as you enter Miramar, take Highway 163 south to reach the central parts of the city.