The 10 Best Trolley & SEAL Tours in San Diego

1.San Diego Hop On Hop Off Trolley Tour

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

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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2.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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3.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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4.SEAL City Tour by Amphibious Bus

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

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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5.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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6.San Diego Shore Excursion: San Diego Seal Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 180 reviews · 1 hour 45 minutes (approx.) · from $53Top rated

Take a 90-minute narrated ride from Seaport Village in an amphibious vehicle, with about 30 minutes on city streets and 60 minutes on San Diego Bay. Look for sea lions, seals, pelicans, and dolphins while guides such as Kim and Dan share local history. Bring a jacket.

“My husband has mobility issues and has a walker. This tour is so handicap friendly, providing a lift rather than just stairs. Our tour guide was friendly, knowledgeable and fun. This tour is great for all ages and very accommodating. We had a great experience.”

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7.San Diego Ghosts and Gravestones: A Haunted Trolley Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 165 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $46

Walk and ride through Old Town San Diego with a costumed guide such as Tecolote, Antoinette, or Helena. Hear tales of gunslingers, gamblers, and haunted buildings, visit Pioneer Park and El Campo Santo Cemetery, then finish at the Whaley House grounds. Expect about 75 minutes, with more walking than trolley time.

“Loved it! I don’t believe in ghosts so I did this tour more for the historical information plus a general love of spooky vibes and I had a blast! My best advice would be to get there early to appreciate the Old Town Market and get food before you start the tour; it’s a great evening experience.”

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8.Ghosts & Gravestones Trolley Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 111 reviews · from $44

Ride through San Diego after dark with an English-speaking guide such as Alfredo or Amy, stopping at Pioneer Park and Old Town. Walk through El Campo Santo Cemetery, hear tales of gunslingers and gamblers, and visit the grounds outside the Whaley House. Expect history, humor, and spooky stories.

“Amy is just as amazing as all of the other reviews said! Definitely will recommend to others!”

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9.San Diego Shore Excursion: Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 88 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $55

Ride an open-air trolley through San Diego with live narration and 11 stops, from Old Town and the waterfront to Coronado, Balboa Park, Barrio Logan, and Little Italy. Guides such as Matt, Orlando, Janie, James, Jim, and John have earned praise for lively local stories. Expect roughly 30-minute service between trolleys.

“I was in San Diego for two days, so the Hop on Hop Off was perfect to see all the different parts of this beautiful city. Plus hear the history about all the sections. Nice options of where to walk around or not.”

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10.Holiday Lights and Sights Trolley Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 58 reviews · 1h 15m · from $35Best value

Spend 75 minutes on a narrated Christmas trolley ride through San Diego. An elf conductor leads sing-along carols and shares holiday facts while you pass Old Town, the Embarcadero, Little Italy, Bankers Hill, and Garrison Street.

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