Coronado is a famous retro island town in San Diego known as one of the best summer destinations in the country. But it’s also a truly memorable winter escape during the holidays, providing a quintessentially Californian experience with its blend of seaside tranquility and Christmas festivities.
The Hotel del Coronado has announced details for its 2025 holiday programming, which includes the highly anticipated return of Skating by the Sea, a gorgeous beachfront ice rink situated right on the shore of the Pacific Ocean. Festivities are taken up a notch with this year’s “A Holiday in Oz” theme, which brings a new layer of Emerald City allure to the unique seaside experience.
It’s not too early to grab tickets for Skating by the Sea and more! Keep reading for everything you should know right now.
Skating by the Sea 2025
Tickets are now available for Skating by the Sea, California’s most recognizable winter ice rink, which is installed right on the Hotel del Coronado’s Windsor Lawn. The large ice rink has scenic views of the Pacific Ocean and is just steps from the sand, making for an unforgettable Californian ice skating experience.
Skating by the Sea will open on Friday, November 21st, 2025, and will be available for reservations daily through Sunday, January 4th, 2026. You can reserve your 90-minute skate session for $40-45 general admission, with a portion of proceeds going to benefit Make-A-Wish San Diego. There is a $5 discount for hotel guests, members, military, and first responders.
The ice rink will be open daily throughout the entirety of the holiday season, although opening hours vary throughout the week.
🌐 Learn more: Skating by the Sea
More holiday activities at the Hotel del Coronado
While Skating by the Sea has long been the Hotel del Coronado’s most alluring holiday attraction, guests can round out the experience with a charming array of seasonal activities. Consider reserving a beachside igloo or “Frostbite” lounge area where you can enjoy your own private firepit, or time your visit with one of the hotel’s outdoor holiday movie screenings.
This year also features a magical “A Holiday in Oz” theme, which celebrates the hotel’s connection to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz author L. Frank Baum. Baum himself frequented the Hotel del Coronado in the early 1900s, where he penned three books from the Wizard of Oz series and even designed the hotel’s crown-shaped chandeliers.
The celebration includes a splendid nightly “Wonder of Oz” lightshow set to an Oz-inspired soundtrack, as well as a self-guided trail featuring elaborate decorations, characters, and scenery from the world of Oz.
🌐 Learn more: Holidays at the Del