San Luis Obispo's sights are compact enough that you can walk between most of them in an afternoon. The Mission anchors the downtown — it's been there since 1772, and everything else organized itself around it. From Mission Plaza the creek runs east through a small park, and Higuera Street stretches north with shops and restaurants filling in behind it.
The must-do list is short and honest: the Mission itself, Bubblegum Alley (genuinely strange, genuinely worth a few minutes), the Thursday Night Farmers Market if your timing is right, and a walk up to the Madonna Inn for a look around even if you're not staying. The Fremont Theater is worth a stop if anything is showing. Cal Poly's campus is pleasant for a wander, especially if you want to see the university farm.
Use the filters below to browse by type.