San Diego · GUIDED

The 15 Guided Tours in San Diego We Would Book First

29 tours  ·  from $8

This is the shortlist you would text a friend: 15 guided tours that hold up, each with its price, its traveler verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.

From San Diego: Tijuana Guided Day Trip with Lunch - Meeting at San Ysidro and crossing on foot
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From San Diego: Tijuana Guided Day Trip with Lunch

1.Tijuana Guided Day Trip with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 224 reviews · 5 hours · from $73Our pick

Walk from San Ysidro into Tijuana with an English-speaking guide, explore Avenida Revolución, see murals and historic sights, enjoy a Mexican lunch with a drink, and browse local shops. Guides including Tadeo, Carlos, Tabitha, and Humberto are praised for friendly, personal tours.

“Umberto, our guide, was incredible! This was the highlight of our trip to San Diego! I can't believe how much we learned and what an amazing time we had! I also had no idea how easy it is to go in and out of Mexico! The whole experience was amazing! Now we want to go see Baja with our kids! Thank you Umberto and team for opening our eyes to a wonderful new world that we had no idea existed!”

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San Diego: La Jolla Cove Guided Snorkeling Tour - Why a group of eight works well
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San Diego: La Jolla Cove Guided Snorkeling Tour

2.La Jolla Cove Guided Snorkeling Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 73 reviews · 1h 30m · from $90

Join guide Rich for a 90-minute La Jolla Cove snorkel in a protected marine sanctuary. Use the included wetsuit and gear as you swim through Emerald Cove, visit sea caves, and look for sea lions, garibaldi, sardines, rays, sharks, lobsters, and octopuses.

“It was an amazing experience, I felt safe all the time & our guide Ritch was just the nicest and easiest going guide! He always made sure everyone was okay and explained everything really well. 10/10 experience!”

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San Diego: City and Beaches Guided Highlights Tour - Starting downtown near Santa Fe Depot
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San Diego: City and Beaches Guided Highlights Tour

3.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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San Diego Walking Tour: Balboa Park with a Local Guide - Meeting at Founder’s Plaza and Cabrillo Bridge
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San Diego Walking Tour: Balboa Park with a Local Guide

4.San Diego Walking Tour: Balboa Park with a Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 50 reviews · 2 hours · from $60

Walk Balboa Park for two hours with an English-speaking local guide, visiting the California Tower, Alcázar Garden, Old Globe, Zoro Garden, Spanish Village, Botanical Building, and Moreton Bay Fig Tree. Your ticket includes one coffee-cart drink and a practical park resource list.

“Jennifer made the very interesting and informative. I would go again if the opportunity came up.”

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3-Hour Guided Whale and Dolphin Watching Experience in San Diego - Searching for gray whales offshore
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3-Hour Guided Whale and Dolphin Watching Experience in San Diego

5.3-Hour Guided Whale and Dolphin Watching Experience in San Diego

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 39 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $149

Join Adventure Whale Watching from Harbor Island for a 2.5 to 3-hour trip aboard a six-person Zodiac. Guides such as Rick, Chris, Kyle, and Bree search for gray whales, dolphins, sea lions, and more. The ride is quick and exciting, but bring warm layers because it can be 10 to 15 degrees colder offshore.

“This was a phenomenal experience . Captain Rick was determined to find us whales and dolphins and he did not fail. We got very close to 4-5 gray whales and were able to see them very close up. Then he found hundreds of dolphins - Bottle Nose and the very rare white Risso dolphin. The Captain said he only sees the Rissos 4 times a year. The boat is fast with only 6 passengers and is a lot of fun ( but cold). I would highly recommend Captain Rick- he found these rare animals on his own instinct and was very knowledgeable.”

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A Local’s Guide to San Diego’s Sights: A GPS Self-Guided Drive - Ocean Beach, its pier, and the city’s beach neighborhoods
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A Local’s Guide to San Diego’s Sights: A GPS Self-Guided Drive

6.A Local’s Guide to San Diego’s Sights: A GPS Self-Guided Drive

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 31 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.)

Use the VoiceMap app to guide your own drive from Mission Bay to Mt. Soledad. Audio stories and GPS directions cover Ocean Beach, Point Loma, Balboa Park, Old Town, the Gaslamp Quarter, La Jolla, and more. You supply the car, phone, and time for stops.

“First day we tried the app shut down after about an hour and we could not get it to restart. Tried again another day and it worked fine.”

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San Diego GPS Guided Scooter Tour: Downtown & Balboa Park Sights - Starting at Mason Street
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San Diego GPS Guided Scooter Tour: Downtown & Balboa Park Sights

7.San Diego GPS Guided Scooter Tour: Downtown & Balboa Park Sights

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 27 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $81

Ride a helmeted electric scooter through San Diego with GPS directions and spoken stories. In about two hours, you’ll pass Little Italy, Balboa Park, the Zoo, Old Town, the Gaslamp Quarter, Petco Park, the USS Midway, and the waterfront. This is self-guided, not led by a live guide.

“Fabulous and fun way to tour downtown San Diego! Out tour manager was funny and informative! The gps guide was perfect-not obnoxious at all. Definitely recommend!”

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San Diego Guided E-Bike Tour - Balboa Park & Gaslamp Quarter - The Gaslamp Quarter: 1860s origins and 1980s revival
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San Diego Guided E-Bike Tour – Balboa Park & Gaslamp Quarter

8.San Diego Guided E-Bike Tour – Balboa Park & Gaslamp Quarter

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 25 reviews · 2h 30m · from $80

Ride a pedal-assist e-bike from downtown San Diego through the Gaslamp Quarter, along the bay, and into Balboa Park. A licensed English or Spanish-speaking guide covers local history, USS Midway, Billionaire Row, the Japanese Friendship Garden, and more. Riders must be at least 13.

“Great tour to see downtown San Degio and Balbo Park. Would be perfect for 1st day in the city to find your way.”

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Haunted Whaley House Guided Night Tour - The house itself: furniture, rooms, and Greek Revival details
Evening Experiences, Guided, Old Town San Diego Tours, San Diego Ghost Tours, San Diego Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Haunted Whaley House Guided Night Tour

9.Haunted Whaley House Guided Night Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 25 reviews · 30 minutes (approx.) · from $19

Enter San Diego’s 1857 Whaley House after dark for a 30-minute, English-language tour led by a costumed or characterful docent such as Gentleman Jack, Hunny, Maud, or Archer. See the Greek Revival home, hear stories of the Whaley family, and weigh history against haunting lore.

“Really cool history, good family fun. Adventures of a business man of that era, family tragedies and eerie beginnings!!”

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1 Hour GPS Guided Scooter Tour: Harbor/Gaslamp Quarter - Little Italy and Seaport Village
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1 Hour GPS Guided Scooter Tour: Harbor/Gaslamp Quarter

10.1 Hour GPS Guided Scooter Tour: Harbor/Gaslamp Quarter

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 23 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $92Top rated

You’ll ride an electric scooter with GPS directions on a private, one-hour route from GoCar Tours San Diego. Expect quick views of Little Italy, Seaport Village, Balboa Park, Old Town, the harbor, Petco Park, and the USS Midway. Staff members such as Kelvin help first-time riders get comfortable.

“The views were amazing & we took a lot of pics! The GPS was easy to follow! The traffic was slow but we utilize that time to get great pics along the way!”

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A Local’s Guide to La Jolla’s Sights: A Self-Guided Urban Stroll - Starting on Prospect Street near Eddie V’s
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A Local’s Guide to La Jolla’s Sights: A Self-Guided Urban Stroll

11.A Local’s Guide to La Jolla’s Sights: A Self-Guided Urban Stroll

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 19 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours (approx.) · from $14

Follow a local narrator through La Jolla’s village streets and coastal sights with the VoiceMap app. The 90-minute to two-hour walk uses GPS to trigger stories, works offline after download, and ends near the Cave Store. Bring your own phone and headphones.

“Never did an audio tour like this before, but highly recommend it. Guided by a native to La Jolla, you learn the little secrets of history and fun. The crescendo was perfect to. This tour was a great experience!”

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2-Hour Downtown and Balboa Tour in GPS Guided Polaris GoCar - Little Italy: a lively first look at downtown
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2-Hour Downtown and Balboa Tour in GPS Guided Polaris GoCar

12.2-Hour Downtown and Balboa Tour in GPS Guided Polaris GoCar

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 18 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

You drive a private, air-conditioned Polaris GoCar for two hours, following a GPS route through Little Italy, the harbor, Seaport Village, Petco Park, Balboa Park, and the San Diego Zoo. A safety orientation, map, gasoline, and environmental fee are included. GPS commentary can be unreliable, so keep the map handy.

“This is a a unique way to see the city. The staff were super helpful. However the GPS instructions and commentary that was installed in the car rarely worked and would repeat itself. Thankfully we had been provided maps and an overview of the route. This made it fairly easy to find the right road to get back onto. As far as learning about the city- that part just wasn’t working at all.”

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Apple Pies & Desert Skies: A Self-Guided Driving Tour - Palomar Observatory and the 200-inch Hale Telescope
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Apple Pies & Desert Skies: A Self-Guided Driving Tour

13.Apple Pies & Desert Skies: A Self-Guided Driving Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 14 reviews · 4 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $14

Take a self-guided drive from Escondido to Julian and back through Palomar Mountain and Anza-Borrego. Your phone supplies GPS-triggered audio, history, route tips, and stop guidance. See Queen Califia’s sculptures, Palomar Observatory, desert viewpoints, Borrego’s metal art, and Julian’s famous apple pie at your own pace.

“Love the tour but the narrator was not good. There is so much history he could have talked about, but 1/2 the time he didn’t talk. So we weren’t sure if the app was working.”

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Coronado: GPS-Guided Scooter Tour & Round-Trip Ferry - Starting at Drivewize LLC in San Diego
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Coronado: GPS-Guided Scooter Tour & Round-Trip Ferry

14.GPS-Guided Scooter Tour & Round-Trip Ferry

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 13 reviews · from $138

You’ll ride a talking GPS-guided fat-tire scooter from San Diego to Coronado, crossing the harbor by ferry and touring beaches, Hotel del Coronado, North Island, and Ferry Landing. English audio provides directions, stories, jokes, and restaurant tips. The small group is limited to 10 people.

“Our self guided trip through San Diego and Coronado Island was amazing. The gps and audio directions made navigating easy. 2 hours was plenty of time to see so many amazing sites and we never felt rushed to get back. I highly recommend this tour.”

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1Hr GPS Self Guided Scooter Tour: Harbor/Gaslamp Quarter - Little Italy and Seaport Village
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1Hr GPS Self Guided Scooter Tour: Harbor/Gaslamp Quarter

15.1Hr GPS Self Guided Scooter Tour: Harbor/Gaslamp Quarter

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 10 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $63

Ride an electric scooter with GPS guidance through San Diego’s harbor, downtown, Little Italy, Balboa Park, Old Town, and the Gaslamp Quarter. Your one-hour rental includes a helmet, orientation, and ferry ride. You must be at least 15, carry photo ID and a major credit card, and handle city traffic comfortably.

“Such a great time! The staff were very patient and helpful when we asked to use the motor car instead of the scooters due to comfort. Thank you again we enjoyed the tour!”

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New in Guided

★ 5.0All Day San Diego Tour in the GPS Guided Polaris GoCar5 reviews
★ 4.5The Early Bird Guided E-Bike Tour in San DiegoFrom $1195 reviews
★ 4.5Super Saver: Self-Guided Speed Boat Adventure & iRide GPS Guided ScooterTourFrom $1613 reviews
★ 4.5Viator Exclusive GoCar After Dark: Self-Guided Tour of Gaslamp and Balboa ParkFrom $1156 reviews
★ 3.0GPS Guided Coronado Electric Scooter TourFrom $1375 reviews
★ 4.02Hr GPS Self Guided Scooter Tour: Downtown & Balboa ParkFrom $816 reviews
★ 5.0Barrio Logan Food and Art Guided Walking TourFrom $956 reviews
★ 5.0Coronado Guided Kayak Tour 90-Min3 reviews

Keep browsing

Cruises & Boat Tours88San Diego Whale Watching20San Diego Food Tours35La Jolla Tours50San Diego Zoo Tickets7San Diego Walking Tours37
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