SAN DIEGO
San Diego’s best days out.
The 15 best guided tours in San Diego, on the water and on foot, with prices, run times and the operator behind each one.
Hop on and off a vintage trolley at 11 San Diego stops with live commentary, ideal for a car-free city overview over 1 or 2 days.
Most Popular“Great historical commentary by our guide. Mike was personable and funny. Nice scenic route. Old Town is magical.”
Hop-on hop-off trolley in San Diego and Coronado with live narrated stops, Old Town history, Gaslamp streets, and Hotel del Coronado views.
“Great experience! We got to see so Much of San Diego - guides were great - stops varied and great!”
Amphibious land-and-water tour from Seaport Village to San Diego Bay, past SeaWorld and USS Midway, with narration and sea lion sightings.
“Great tour of the city & bay! Captain Michael & 1st. Mate Amy gave us a very informative tour. I live here in San Diego & I learned about things I never knew about my city. I would do it again!”
Tandem kayak tour from La Jolla Shores to sea caves and kelp beds. Spot sea lions, birds, dolphins, and enjoy a surf ride.
“We didn't get to go in the caves due to high waves, but it was still worth it to be on the water for the afternoon. The guides are awesome and funny. I truly appreciated their sharing about geology and sea life.”
A 2-hour luxury catamaran whale watch from Oceanside with live narration. Expect dolphins and sea lions, plus seasonal whale chances.
“It was a good cruise but I do wish that those who were not on the front of the vessel when the whale came into view could somehow have a picture of what it looked like due to the short time it shows up,”
Kayak La Jolla Sea Caves with a guide, paddle toward Seven Sea Caves, and often spot seals and sea lions on a small-group tour.
“When we first arrived they informed us that we still owed them $13, that's not included in 3rd party sign up. The instructor said they were going to be in the front and rear. They were both in the front and middle. We didn't get to go inside/near any caves. There was not any real…”
A small-group Gaslamp Quarter food and drink walking tour with included tastings, cocktails, and red-light district history told street-by-street.
“Excellent. B was a great tour guide. She knew a lot and kept the group motivated at all time. I had a great time.”
Ride an amphibious bus into San Diego Bay for seal sightings, harbor wildlife, and big-hitter sights like USS Midway on a 100-minute tour.
“It was a great experience plus we had a dolphin pod to escort us for some of the way”
Walk downtown Tijuana from San Diego with a local guide, included lunch and tastings, and border help on a 4–5 hour tour.
“Wonderful day spent with my guide Tadeo. It was a worry free day from start to finish. I was very apprehensive about booking this tour with all the instability going on in the US but everything worked out seamlessly. Tadeo is an expert in knowing his history of Tijuana and Mexico. He was passionate about…”
Small-group sunset sailing from Shelter Island with views of Point Loma, USS Midway, and Coronado—plus drinks, snacks, and your own music.
“Excellent experience. We had a private charter and Captain Dave was a great host! In addition to being an excellent sailor, he was very knowledgeable about the area. We will be doing this again!”
Kayak La Jolla Ecological Reserve to seven caves in 2 hours, spotting sea lions and leopard sharks. Equipment and guide included.
“The tour is great, and the guide is brilliant, everything’s fine”
A small-group Haunted San Diego ghost tour with exclusive after-hours entry, the Ghost Coach ride, and five spooky stops across Old Town and Downtown.
“It was Fun. Good stories. My group would try one of the other tours. It was something different to do.”
A 4-hour small-group San Diego highlights tour: La Jolla sea lions, Mt. Soledad views, Old Town, Balboa Park, Coronado, and more.
“We booked this tour months in advance and only to have them cancel on us. We unfortunately could not rebook due to our limited time in San Diego.”
Six-person San Diego Harbor sailing with beer, snacks, jackets, binoculars, and your own music on board.
“The entire trip was so fun! Captain. Dave was great and made our trip so much fun! Can’t wait to do another sailing!”
A 3-hour Carlsbad Village food and wine walk with six local stops, small-group pacing, and standout Italian, Mediterranean, Mexican, and French bites.
“This is my 3rd time going on the food tour with David and he never disappoints! Not only do we visit several great restaurants, brewery and wine bar, but we get to learn so much about Carlsbad's history along the way. I highly recommend this tour for anyone visiting and even locals!”
Every neighborhood, every stretch of coast, and every way to get out on the water.
