San Diego · SAN DIEGO TOURS

San Diego Tours: The 15 Worth Your Time

228 tours  ·  from $12

Everything with a guide, a boat or a bike attached, from the harbor loop to the border run. These 15 come first, each priced and timed, with the rest of the city underneath.

San Diego Zoo 1-Day Pass: Any Day Ticket - Start with the Guided Bus Tour
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San Diego Zoo 1-Day Pass: Any Day Ticket

1.San Diego Zoo 1-Day Pass: Any Day Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4,248 reviews · 1 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $78Our pick

Use your mobile ticket for direct entry to the San Diego Zoo, then explore 100 acres of animal habitats and botanical gardens. See pandas, koalas, gorillas, tigers, and more, with the Guided Bus Tour and Skyfari Aerial Tram included. Plan for hills, crowds, and a full day.

“Wear comfy shoes as it’s a lot of walking but well worth it. Lots of food and toilet stops but food is quite expensive”

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San Diego: Harbor Cruise - Choosing between one hour and two hours
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San Diego Harbor Cruise

2.San Diego Harbor Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,980 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $37Best value

Cruise San Diego Bay aboard Flagship Cruises for one or two hours, with indoor and outdoor seating, narration, harbor views, naval ships, sea lions, and the Coronado Bridge. Guides such as Rusty and MC JJ add local color, while the onboard snack bar covers simple refreshments.

“Very nice and worth your time. Narrator was great. My recommendation is sit at the top right of the deck. The narrator tells the story based off that side.”

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San Diego Hop On Hop Off Trolley Tour - Old Town gives you the best starting point
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San Diego Hop On Hop Off Trolley Tour

3.San Diego Hop On Hop Off Trolley Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,523 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $55

Ride San Diego’s open-air trolley with a one or two-day pass and live commentary. Stop at Old Town, the USS Midway, Gaslamp Quarter, Coronado, Balboa Park, Little Italy, and more. Guides such as Jack, Scotty, Kevin, and Tommie bring different styles, humor, and local facts to the route.

“Very informative, good value. Guide "Jack" was a jerk - too loud, borderline disrespectful. Got off at the next stop to change guides. "Scotty" was perfect - set the right tone, answered questions, very friendly. Get on Scotty's bus!”

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San Diego: Whale Watching Cruise - A realistic look at the three-hour schedule
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San Diego Whale Watching Cruise

4.San Diego Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,317 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $85Top rated

Sail from Shelter Island aboard the America, a replica of the schooner that won the first America’s Cup in 1851. Your English-speaking crew points out gray whales, dolphins, sea lions, Navy landmarks, and Old Point Loma Lighthouse. Snacks, soft drinks, blankets, and whale sightings are included.

“We had the best experience! Found a pod of Gray whales then 100s of dolphins! Just amazing! The crew was amazing and made the whole experience exceptional!”

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USS Midway Museum Admission: Valid Any Date - Start on the hangar deck
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USS Midway Museum Admission: Valid Any Date

5.USS Midway Museum Admission: Valid Any Date

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,165 reviews · 2 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $41

Board the USS Midway on San Diego’s Embarcadero and explore at your own pace with an included audio tour. Former Midway sailors and officers bring the carrier to life as you visit aircraft, living quarters, the bridge, engine room, flight deck, and interactive exhibits.

“It is an excellent facility to visit. Many helpful volunteers who are friendly and knowledgeable. Easy to navigate wheelchair friendly. Food and gift shop available.”

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LEGOLAND® California Theme Park Admission Tickets - Driving School and the Rides for Ages 2 to 12
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LEGOLAND® California Theme Park Admission Tickets

6.LEGOLAND® California Theme Park Admission Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,996 reviews · 1 to 2 days (approx.) · from $64

Spend one or two days at LEGOLAND California, with 60-plus rides, shows, LEGO models, SEA LIFE Aquarium, and seasonal Water Park access. The $64 base ticket suits families with children ages 2 to 12. Hopper upgrades add SEA LIFE and, in the top tier, the Water Park.

“It has a pretty good atmosphere, and good jungle gyms for the kids, and great Lego stations for the kids to get creative and build and race cars and boats. The rides were lacking a bit, my 5 year old even wanted more intense rides, but they did really enjoy a handful of the rides available.”

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San Diego Whale Watching & Dolphin Cruise - How the wildlife search really works
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San Diego Whale Watching & Dolphin Cruise

7.San Diego Whale Watching & Dolphin Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,588 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $71

Cruise from Mission Bay into the Pacific in about 10 minutes, with naturalists pointing out whales, dolphins, sea lions, and landmarks. The crew may include naturalists such as Allison or Jennifer. Expect a maximum of 100 people, onboard food for purchase, restrooms, and free parking on Quivira Road.

“Would 100% recommend this experience to anyone. The whole trip was informative and the crew were amazing. They knew exactly where to go to increase the chances of encounter. We found a whale and followed it at a safe distance.”

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San Diego: Harbor Cruise - Choosing between one hour and two hours
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San Diego: Harbor Cruise

8.Harbor Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,378 reviews · 1 - 2 hours · from $37

See San Diego from the water on a one or two-hour Flagship cruise with live English narration. Look for sea lions, military ships, aircraft carriers, waterfront landmarks, and the Coronado Bridge. Guides such as Rusty, Max, JJ, and Jen bring local history to life.

“Beautiful weather and very interesting info on San Diego! Loved it!!”

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San Diego Zoo Admission Ticket - Key points to know before you go
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San Diego Zoo Admission Ticket

9.San Diego Zoo Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,332 reviews · 1 day · from $78

Spend a full day at the 100-acre San Diego Zoo, home to more than 4,500 rare and endangered animals. Use the guided bus tour and Skyfari tram to cover ground, then explore areas such as Africa Rocks, Polar Bear Plunge, Elephant Odyssey, and the Galápagos tortoise exhibit at your own pace.

“It was a great time. The zoo wasn't overly crowded. It was my first visit to the zoo and was able to see almost everything.”

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San Diego: Hop-on Hop-off Narrated Trolley Tour - Old Town gives the ride its roots
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San Diego: Hop-on Hop-off Narrated Trolley Tour

10.Hop-on Hop-off Narrated Trolley Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,323 reviews · 1 - 2 days · from $57

Ride an authentic trolley through San Diego and Coronado with live English narration from guides such as Frank, Jack, Bini, and Kaye. Use a one or two-day pass to visit Old Town, the Embarcadero, Balboa Park, Little Italy, the Gaslamp Quarter, and Hotel del Coronado at your own pace.

“Great. Able to see the city and hop off where we wanted to. Day not long enough”

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San Diego Harbor Dinner Cruise - What you see from the ship
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San Diego Harbor Dinner Cruise

11.San Diego Harbor Dinner Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,234 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $125

Cruise San Diego Bay aboard the Spirit of San Diego for about 2.5 to 3 hours. You’ll get a welcome sparkling wine, indoor dinner, live entertainment, and views of the USS Midway, Coronado Island, the bridge, and downtown. An unlimited bar upgrade costs $40.

“Everything was perfect!! Had a great time!! Dinner was sooo good!! Had chicken and steak and the DJ was amazing”

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San Diego Seal Tour - From Seaport Village to the splash point
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San Diego Seal Tour

12.San Diego Seal Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,226 reviews · 1 hour 45 minutes (approx.) · from $53

You will spend about 30 minutes on San Diego streets and roughly an hour on the bay in a Hydra Terra amphibious vehicle. Guides such as Kim, Amy, Jim, and Brett mix local history, jokes, and wildlife facts, with possible sea lion sightings near the bait barges.

“Really good tour in the seal today,from taking us round the town,to gout in the sea on a boat trip,the 2 guys gave us all good information ,we took lots of photos,it was a great day.thankyou xx”

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San Diego Zoo: 1-Day Admission Ticket - Entering just north of downtown San Diego
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San Diego Zoo: 1-Day Admission Ticket

13.San Diego Zoo: 1-Day Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,150 reviews · from $76

Spend one full day at the 100-acre San Diego Zoo, home to more than 4,500 rare and endangered animals. See Galápagos tortoises, polar bears, koalas, gorillas, and Africa Rocks, with admission including the guided bus tour, Express bus, Skyfari tram, and Children’s Zoo.

“There could be better signs for directions at the zoo. Also some staff at different exhibits to give information about the animals”

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Taste of Little Italy in San Diego - Starting at 4 pm on India Street
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Taste of Little Italy in San Diego

14.Taste of Little Italy in San Diego

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 869 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $93

Start on India Street for a small-group food walk through Little Italy. Guides Adriana and Anthony pair generous tastings at local restaurants with stories about Italian families, architecture, and San Diego. Expect several savory courses, desserts, modest walking, and drinks purchased separately.

“Adriana was an excellent tour guide. She perfectly blended our food experience with the history of the area. She was engaging and very knowledgeable, which made us feel a part of the area we explored. The food choices were delicious, and we enjoyed all the selections. It was a great way to try items we wouldn’t normally order. This was a wonderful tour. Highly recommend even if you’ve eaten in the Little Italy area of San Diego. You’ll learn great stories of the area, and experience some great food!”

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Gaslamp Quarter Food and Drink Tour: Brothels, Bites & Booze - The first tastings: food, drinks, and a sense of place
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Gaslamp Quarter Food and Drink Tour: Brothels, Bites & Booze

15.Gaslamp Quarter Food and Drink Tour: Brothels, Bites & Booze

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 786 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $94

Walk 16 blocks of San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter with guides such as Blerta, Magda, Benedict, or Ben. Taste food, sample cocktails or mocktails, hear stories of brothels and Prohibition, and finish with dessert in a group of up to 15.

“Knowledgeable guide with fun stops for drinks and snacks. A good look at the history of San Diego. Mediocre vegetarian options.”

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