Welcome to Cardiff-by-the-Sea Real Estate

The Cardiff community is a charming, active and beautiful beach community located in North County San Diego within the city of Encinitas. While the Cardiff footprint may be smaller than most, this beach town offers the best of what the Southern California coastline is known for: world-renown surf spots, outdoor activities for any type of adventurer, unique shops, restaurants and bars, and beautiful homes.

Situated below the San Elijo campground and Cardiff State Beach, along Pacific Coast Highway, Swami’s and Cardiff Reef are known the world over for quality waves and temperate weather. The nearby San Elijo lagoon provides hiking trails and beautiful views of the coastline. Seaside Market is the iconic grocery store that attracts San Diegans from all over the county to enjoy its barbecue and sunshine vibes.

But Cardiff isn’t a sleepy, one-dimensional beach town either. The scene from above will recall the hilly, urban ocean views of San Francisco, while the neighborhood to the eastern crest will remind long-time San Diego residents of the undeveloped valleys and open trails once common throughout North County.

The amazing thing about Cardiff is that it captures everything you could want from a town in San Diego: easy access to beaches and outdoor activities, a unique perspective to life on the coast, some of the best public schools in San Diego, and a wide variety of luxury homes capable of inspiring adventures and retreats alike.

Click through the tabs above to learn more about Cardiff-by-the-Sea and all its attractions, schools and more.

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Local Listings

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Location Overview

Cardiff State Beach

  • Located on the San Diego Coast, which has been called the Riviera of the West, Cardiff State Beach has a gently sloping sandy beach with warm water. This stretch of coastline offers wide open sandy beaches, gorgeous cliffs and great surfing. At extreme low tide, the reef reveals itself with intriguing tide pools, where plants and sea creatures can be observed up close.

San Elijo State Beach

  • San Elijo State Beach is a long beach that takes up most of the oceanfont land in the community of Cardiff-by-the-Sea in Encinitas, CA. This state park has a large campground facility and a day-use parking area at the north end as well. Several long stairways and ramps lead from the parking areas and camp spots on the bluff down to the narrow sandy beach.