13 City Tours in San Diego That Are Worth The Money

1.SEAL City Tour by Amphibious Bus

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 651 reviews · 1h 40m · from $55Our pick

Spend 100 minutes with a live English-speaking guide aboard an amphibious bus that rolls through San Diego before floating into the bay. See the USS Midway, Star of India, Navy vessels, Shelter Island, sea lions, and possibly dolphins or other wildlife.

“Our guide Dianna was very cheerful and informative and made a very good experience exceptional. Lots of wildlife and points of interest on the way. The transportation is surprisingly comfortable. Highly recommended”

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2.City Cruises San Diego: Scenic 90-Minute Narrated Harbor Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 507 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $37Best value

Cruise San Diego Bay for 90 minutes on a Coast Guard certified yacht, with narration about Point Loma, Navy ships, Shelter Island, Coronado Bridge, the Midway, and more. You can buy snacks, beer, and cocktails onboard. Arrive 30 minutes early at Pier 2.

“Best of Bay cruise is really great. The ship is very modern and comfortable. The narration is very knowledgeable and helpful. Saw the best sites in San Diego.”

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3.City Lights Night Trolley Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 418 reviews · from $44

Ride from Seaport Village through San Diego’s lit-up landmarks with an English-speaking guide, music, and narration. You’ll cross Coronado Bridge, stop 20 minutes at Ferry Landing for skyline photos, and return along the bay. Guides such as Rico, Vinny, Tiger, and Howie are known for lively storytelling.

“Great time! Beautiful ride and learning history about San Diego was fun, definitely recommend!”

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4.City Cruises San Diego: Best of the Bay Scenic Harbor Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 370 reviews · 1h 30m · from $37

Cruise San Diego Bay for 90 minutes with live English narration, passing the USS Midway, Navy ships, Coronado Island, Point Loma, and the Coronado Bridge. The open-air vessel has indoor seating, accessible boarding, and snacks, drinks, and cocktails for purchase.

“Very relaxing, drinking wine, eating cheese and learning the history of San Diego.”

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5.City Cruises San Diego: Premier Bottomless Mimosa Brunch Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 311 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $99

Spend two hours cruising San Diego Bay from the Embarcadero with a seasonal brunch buffet, private table, and unlimited Champagne, mimosas, and sparkling cider. You’ll pass the Coronado Bridge, Star of India, Naval Air Station, Petco Park, and Point Loma, with indoor and open-deck seating.

“Everything was great. The breakfast potatoes were undercooked but other than that it was fantastic. My daughter enjoyed her birthday brunch.”

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6.City Cruises San Diego: Gourmet Dinner Cruise & Skyline Views

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 299 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $121

Board at San Diego’s Grape Street Pier for a plated three-course dinner, city views, and DJ entertainment on San Diego Bay. You’ll see the Coronado Bay Bridge, USS Midway, North Island Naval Station, and Maritime Museum. Upscale casual dress is required, and window seating is not guaranteed.

“Wonderful camaraderie with other guests. The service was great! And the food was decent. The ship was comfortable and we had a good time.. The bathrooms were exceptionally clean!”

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7.The Most Extensive City & Beach Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 195 reviews · 5 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $99

This small-group San Diego tour takes up to 14 people through the Gaslamp District, Little Italy, Coronado, La Jolla Cove, Balboa Park, and Old Town. Guide George is praised for lively local history, while planned stops give you time for photos, a short walk, lunch, and sea lions.

“Lots of good historical information from George and provided on a video screen. Great stops that seemed to highlight the San Diego area. The bus seemed a little patchwork inside, but rides well and we could see the sights easily. The times are the stops we're appropriate and gave us an idea for places we'd like to return for more time.”

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8.San Diego City Lights Night Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 189 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $44

Spend 90 minutes seeing San Diego after dark from a guided bus, with stops at Balboa Park and Coronado Ferry Landing. Guides such as Chris, Axel, Vinny, and Alejandra add local facts, humor, and music. Expect cool air, some walking, and striking bridge and waterfront views.

“The lights going across the bridge and down around the turn with the city lit up is amazing!! Have your cameras ready, some great pictures go by with little advance warning.”

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9.City Cruises Gourmet Dinner Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 187 reviews · from $133

Board at Grape Street Pier for a 2.5-hour dinner cruise on San Diego Bay. You’ll enjoy a plated seasonal meal, buy cocktails or wine at the bar, and hear a live DJ while passing the USS Midway, Coronado Bridge, Hotel del Coronado, and more than 50 landmarks.

“Thank you for that evening!!! Everything was great: beginning from the captain, ending with dinner and music!!! 10 of 10!!!”

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10.City Cruises San Diego: Whale and Dolphin Watching Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 143 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $56

Set out from Navy Pier on a three to four hour San Diego cruise with captains and San Diego Natural History Museum naturalists. Watch for migrating gray whales, dolphins, sea lions, seals, and seabirds. Choose morning or afternoon departure, with indoor and outdoor seating and a whale check if no whales appear.

“Lots of dolphins to see. Found a whale which was later joined by a second, but the entire trip was watching the same whale. Great narration and very great staff.”

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11.City Cruises Buffet Breakfast and Brunch Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 130 reviews · 2 hours · from $99

Spend two hours aboard a yacht with a full brunch buffet, private table seating, free-flowing champagne and sparkling cider, and views of San Diego Bay. From the open-air roof deck, you can photograph the USS Midway, Coronado Bay Bridge, Hotel del Coronado, and Star of India. English-speaking crew provide service and a narrated sightseeing option.

“The app had the wrong meeting point which caused us a few issues. the cruise itself was decent with good food and drink. I would prefer it go for a little longer.”

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12.City and Beaches Guided Highlights Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 55 reviews · 5h 30m · from $107

Ride with an English-speaking guide through San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, Little Italy, Coronado, La Jolla Cove, Balboa Park, and Old Town. You’ll get three substantial stops, live narration, music, video, bottled water, and a return to the cruise terminal by 3pm.

“Un’escursione molto interessante che consente di vedere le attrazioni principali di San Diego. Tempi corretti e molto opportune le fermate stabilite. Tutto molto interessante e ben gestito.”

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13.City Segway Tour with Snack and Water

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 5 reviews · from $199

Ride a Segway through central San Diego with an English-speaking guide, covering the Gaslamp Quarter, Embarcadero, USS Midway, Petco Park, and Urban Trees art. The route is mostly flat and includes a helmet, safety lesson, snacks, and beverages. Allow two hours, though the riding portion is described as one hour.

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