The 7 Self-Guided Tours in San Diego We Would Book First

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

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

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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2.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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3.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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4.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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5.A Seaside Stroll: La Jolla’s Hidden Treasures Self-Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 9 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.) · from $9Best value

Follow an English-language mobile tour through La Jolla’s coastal sights, from Coast Walk Trail and the Underwater Park to Sunny Jim Cave, Children’s Pool, historic La Valencia Hotel, and photography galleries. The app works offline after download and remains available for 30 days.

“This was a beautiful walk along the coastline of La Jolla that ended with a stroll through downtown. Come prepared for changing weather.”

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6.Ultimate La Jolla Self-Guided Driving & Walking Audio Tour Bundle

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 9 reviews · 1 to 3 hours (approx.)

Use the Action Tour Guide app to explore La Jolla by car and on foot. Follow more than 19 GPS-triggered stories along the coast, from Seal Rock and Children’s Pool to Windansea Beach, with offline maps, lifetime access, and no guide or fixed departure time.

“The tour was terrible. It took you back and forth in the same areas and would not continually play even when im an area that is marked for the tour. Drive la Jolla and explore on your own. You will have a better experience”

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7.2Hr GPS Self Guided Scooter Tour: Downtown & Balboa Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 6 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $81

You’ll ride an electric scooter with a helmet, safety orientation, and GPS narration on a private two-hour route through Little Italy, the Gaslamp Quarter, Balboa Park, Old Town, and waterfront sights. The route includes city traffic, so confidence on two wheels matters.

“Great way to tour the city. We were in the two person electrical car and we could stop and go as we like. The narration was interesting and easy to understand. The only problem we had was that the GPS had to be reset by phone midway through the tour.”

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