San Diego traces to 1769, when Spanish missionaries built a presidio and mission here, the first permanent European settlement in what is now California — hence its nickname, Birthplace of California. The city curves around a natural bay on the Pacific, 23 kilometres north of Tijuana, with a mild, dry climate delivering over 200 days a year above 21°C. The Navy and Marine Corps remain central to the economy, with Naval Base San Diego and MCAS Miramar — the real 'Top Gun' school — among the largest West Coast installations. In 1945 Japan had a biological attack on the city planned, plague-infected fleas dropped by balloon bombs, cancelled only when the war ended first.
Nights sit around 19°C and afternoons around 26°C, though some days reach 30°C.
The year in San Diego moves gently: summer afternoons sit around 24°C, winter ones around 19°C.
Some summer days reach 29°C, and some winter nights drop to 6°C.
Rain is hardly part of the picture: about 249 mm a year, with February the wettest month at just 56 mm. Dry, bright months are the norm.
Wind is rarely an issue; most months sit between calm and a light breeze. Air quality is worth watching: December averages an AQI of 73, while June clears to 57.
Days stretch to about 14.1 hours of light in June and shrink to 9.9 in December — something to weigh if you work to a fixed timezone.
For what you're after, the best months in San Diego are July – September. Expect fast internet (356 Mbps) and a high cost of living (about €3500 a month).
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