The 14 Best Old Town San Diego Tours

1.Tequila, Tacos & Tombstones: Old Town Food & Drink Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 225 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $94Our pick

Walk Old Town San Diego with guides such as Blerta, Ben, Magda, or Bleu, stopping for tacos, salsa, tortillas, tequila cocktails, and other Mexican specialties. Hear stories about Whaley House and El Campo Santo Cemetery, with mariachi at some stops. The tour ends at Fiesta de Reyes.

“This was so much fun and a cool way to see San Diego! The food was great and I loved that we had enough time at each place to sit down and enjoy it! Sometimes on food tours you eat while standing and walking but it was nice to sit and take it all it. Blerta was so great! She made sure to ask us all our favorite food and then give a local recommendation to try for that food. Would highly recommend. Come hungry it’s a lot of food!!”

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2.2-Hour GoCar Tour of Downtown San Diego and Old Town

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 141 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $52

Take a self-drive GoCar from Little Italy through Balboa Park, the Gaslamp Quarter, Old Town, Mission Hills, and Presidio Park. Your car provides GPS directions and narration, while gas, helmets, a map, and orientation are included. Drivers must be 21 or older with a valid license.

“Very fun experience and I actually learned a lot about the city even though I’ve lived here my whole life! Good customer service and thorough training on safety and route. Will definitely recommend some friends to do this and I have to try the Point Loma trail as well! Bring some sunglasses for the wind.”

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3.San Diego Old Town Tales, Tacos and Tequila Small Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 121 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $85Top rated

Walk through San Diego’s oldest neighborhood with local guide Jennifer, tracing Indigenous, Spanish, Mexican, and American chapters. Visit historic sites, sample handmade tortillas, then finish with three street tacos, chips and salsa, and a tequila drink at El Agave. The walk covers about two miles.

“Learning about old town San Diego was very interesting. The guide Jennifer was so helpful, fun and made the time the best. The Tequila and Tacos topped off the day. This is a must see and do attraction.”

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4.San Diego to Temecula: Wine Country Tour & Historic Old Town

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 93 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $258

Travel from San Diego to Temecula with a guide such as Dave, Vicki, or Sonia, stopping in Old Town and three contrasting wineries. Expect wine tastings, lunch, valley views, hotel pickup from selected locations, and a relaxed day in a group of no more than 15.

“Tour was ok lunch was served late but other than that is was ok I thought Wilson creek was the best winery we visited”

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5.Old Town Tequila and Tacos Walking Food Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 71 reviews · 2h 30m · from $89

Walk San Diego’s Old Town for 2.5 hours with an English-speaking guide such as Ben, Blerta, or Magda. Expect food at three restaurants, Mexican dessert, tequila or cocktail samples, stories of the Mexican and American periods, and a look at the Whaley House.

“Blerta was amazing so knowledgeable about everything!!! It was our first time visiting SD and she was so knowledgeable about what she was talking about!! She made us feel comfortable and I loved our group!! Hopefully we get her once we book again!!♥️”

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6.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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7.Heritage Park & Old Town Walking Ghost Tour in San Diego

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 24 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $42

Walk through San Diego’s historic Heritage Park and El Campo Santo Cemetery with guides such as Reggie, Bernice, or Sylvia. Expect Victorian architecture, cemetery lore, true crime stories, and access to the Whaley House grounds, but not the house interior or jump scares.

“Fun and engaging ghost tour. Our guide, Reggie, was very engaging and he knew his history so well. He made our experience even better.”

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8.Old Town Tales, Tacos, and Tequila Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 21 reviews · 2h 30m · from $85

Spend 150 minutes walking Old Town with an English-speaking guide such as Jennifer, visiting adobe buildings, Presidio Hill, El Campo Santo Cemetery, and a tequila museum. Taste handmade tortillas, three street tacos, chips and salsa, plus tequila or another drink.

“The tour was phenomenal. Jennifer is a great tourist, so cool, and so knowledgeable. It was a complete joyful experience. There’s eatery and a tequila shot at the end.”

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9.Old Town Walking History Tour in San Diego

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 17 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $35

Walk through Old Town San Diego and Heritage Park with guides such as Branwell and Rosalinda. See the Whaley House, Cosmopolitan Hotel, El Campo Santo Cemetery, and preserved Victorian buildings. The two-hour tour includes Heritage Park admission, a costumed host, and a maximum of 12 people.

“Branwell was very knowledgeable. He gave us History with a touch of humor! That was very nice and unusual.”

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10.Haunted Whaley House Admission

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 14 reviews · 30 minutes (approx.) · from $15

Visit San Diego’s 1857 Whaley House at your own pace. See its Greek Revival rooms, antique furnishings, former courthouse, theater, and general store spaces, while docents answer questions. This $15 daytime admission runs from 10am to 4:30pm and does not include nighttime access.

“Don’t purchased self guided tour not worth it. Kids were really disappointed we didn’t even know what we were looking at. You are on your own.”

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11.Old Town SD Team Trivia Hunt: New 2024 Mobile Game App!

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 12 reviews · from $21

Use one smartphone to guide a team of up to four around Old Town San Diego. Solve trivia and location-based puzzles at an artisan market, cemetery, Whaley House, and other historic stops. The self-guided route takes about four hours, loops back to the Old Town Transit Center, and includes phone help if needed.

“What a great way to explore and learn about Old Town San Diego! There were a variety of puzzles. It was well-thought out and a lot of fun! I highly recommend it!”

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12.San Diego’s Historic Treasures and Old Town Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 7 reviews · from $10Best value

Use a private, app-led walking tour to explore Old Town San Diego, historic adobe buildings, the Whaley House, El Agave, and Presidio Park. Pause, skip, or linger at each stop. The route takes about one to three hours and ends on Presidio Hill.

“Fun way to learn about old town and the history behind san diego, so much Spanish influence! Absolutely recommend”

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13.GPS Talking Tour Cars: Downtown & Old Town

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 5 reviews · 2 hours · from $86

Take the wheel of a two-person GPS-guided GoCar for a two-hour route through San Diego. You’ll hear English stories as you pass Little Italy, the bay, Petco Park, the Gaslamp Quarter, Hillcrest, Mission Hills, Presidio Park, and Old Town. Bring a driver’s license and expect a $300 card deposit.

“Expérience amusante qui permet de visiter la ville de manière efficace et rapide. Ca fonctionne très bien et c'est facile à conduire. Une excellente alternative entre passer des heures à pieds ou un trajet dans un bus touristique où on voit beaucoup moins bien.”

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14.Paranormal Investigation History & Ghost Tour Old Town San Diego

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $55

Meet your paranormal guide at Heritage County Park for a 90-minute evening walk through seven historic locations, then visit the Whaley House exterior and El Campo Santo Cemetery. You’ll hear San Diego history, use investigation tools, and look for unexplained activity without jump scares.

“I highly recommend. It was so much fun. Our host was awesome! She was ver funny and kept the whole group entertained.”

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