Casey Makovich
San Diego Sightseeing Tours - The Best Ways to Explore San Diego for First Timers
From all-around-the-city tours, to relaxing harbor cruises, professionally guided tours are some of the best ways to explore San Diego. Whether you're looking for a comprehensive overview of the city to kick start your sightseeing or want to learn about San Diego's history with the freedom to explore on your own, San Diego has lots of tours to choose from, so it's easy to find one (or a few) tailored to your interests. We put together a list of the best San Diego guided tours to help you choose one that suits your sightseeing style.
Save on Popular San Diego Sightseeing Tours & More
Admission to a bunch of these San Diego tours are included on the Go San Diego® Card. Choose as you go from top attractions and save up to 55% on combined admission vs paying at the gate. See all available San Diego passes, attractions & prices. A few of the available sightseeing activities include...- Hop On Hop Off Trolley Tour
- San Diego Harbor Tour
- Whale Watch
- GoCar San Diego Tours, half hour tour
- PETCO Park Tour
Hop On Hop Off Trolley Tour
A hop-on hop-off tour is one of the best ways to get to know a city, San Diego included. You'll get a comprehensive overview of the city history, see all the top sights, and get a good feel for the city layout so you can plan your sightseeing itinerary. Enjoy the flexibility to hop on or off at any of the included stops and explore an area by foot or visit nearby attractions. Getting In: Hop-On Hop-Off San Diego Trolley tickets are available as an add-on to the Go San Diego Card. One Hour San Diego Harbor Tour by Hornblower Cruises
See all of San Diego's top waterfront sights on a one-hour, narrated Harbor Cruise - a great way to explore the important harbor and learn about its significant maritime heritage. Choose from a North or South Harbor tour; both cruises will take you past the top historic, cultural, and natural landmarks along the way. The Tour includes views of: USS Midway, Coronado Bay Bridge, NASSCO Shipbuilding Facility, and the Coronado Hotel, North Island Naval Air Station, Naval Submarine Base, Fort Rosecrans Cemetary, 1863 Star of India and Maritime Museum Vessels, Carbillo National Monument, Point Loma Lighthouse, and the Sea Lions and Dolphin Training Center. Getting In: San Diego Hour Harbor Cruise admission is included on the Go San Diego Card All-Inclusive Pass. Whale Watch by Hornblower Cruises
This 3.5-hour cruise narrated by an expert naturalist from Birch Aquarium explores the open waters off the coast of San Diego to spot whales, like the gray whales that migrate from Alaska to Baja California between late December and April. During the cruise, you’ll hear whale and dolphin calls in real time using state-of-the art research equipment from the world renowned Scripps Institution of Oceanography. While the whale sightings are the real prize, you might also spot dolphins, seals, and sea lions as well. A whale sighting is guaranteed - if you don't see one, you can go on the whale watch again - for free! Getting In: Whale Watching San Diego admission is included on the Go San Diego Card. GoCar San Diego Tours
Leave your guidebook behind and take to the streets of San Diego with the first ever GPS-automated tour car, one of the most exciting and memorable ways to explore the city. With the half hour rental, you can drive wherever you want throughout the city and the car will narrate your tour with pre-recorded information about the attractions and landmarks you pass based on your GPS location. Getting In: San Diego GoCar admission is included on the Go San Diego Card. PETCO Park Tour
Go on a guided tour and gain access to areas not typically open to the general public at PETCO Park, home of the San Diego Padres baseball team. You'll learn about the history of the stadium and stories of some of the Greats who've played there and get to see all the major sights in the park, including "writer's row" in the press box, the dugout, Palm Court Plaza, luxury suites, and more. Getting In: PETCO Park Tour tickets are included with the Go San Diego® Card. Tickets to San Diego Padres games are separately ticketed and are not included.