Top San Diego Cultural Tours

Petco Park is known for being the home of the baseball team the San Diego Padres and this behind-the-scenes tour gives you access to areas of the park that you wouldn't be able to get if just visiting to watch a game. See exclusive areas such as the Press Box, the Private Luxury Suite, and the Major League Dugout, and learn about past players as your walk past the Hall of Fame areas.

Take in the highlights of San Diego Bay during a sightseeing tour by amphibious vehicle. Travel on both land and water, starting on the streets of Seaport Village and rolling down Harbor Drive alongside San Diego Bay. Transition into the water after departing Seaport Village. Cruise past the SeaWorld and Vacation Isle, experiencing the best of maritime San Diego on this fun and informative tour.

Discover the great eats of Tijuana with this small-group street food walking tour. The tour takes you to diverse food spots, such as an open-air market, a Mexican bakery, and small eateries that locals love. Along the way, learn fun facts about the local food scene and best of all—enjoy lots of different tastings, such as tacos, fish ceviche, fresh fruit, and churros.

Tijuana, Mexico is a short trip across the border from San Diego. The Mexican border town had at one point achieved notoriety as a town of ill-repute, but this reputation is only a small part of the history of this colorful, interesting city. Dip your toe into the fun and hospitality of this town with locals who are eager to share the true story of Tijuana with you.

Meet some of the world's most exotic animals with your admission ticket to the renowned San Diego Zoo, one of California's top family-friendly attractions. More than 4,000 animals representing 800 species live in this state-of-the-art zoo, including some that are rarely seen at other zoos. Admire the animals and go in-depth during daily keeper talks. With mobile tickets, simply scan your phone for direct entry into the San Diego Zoo. Ticket must be redeemed on travel date selected. Tickets must be purchased at least one day prior to visit.

Welcome to the San Diego Gaslamp Historical Walking Tour! Our exclusive tour offers a unique look into San Diego's downtown development from the 1850s to 1915. Discover a city of old Wild West saloons, gambling halls, opium dens and brothels, and gain an unforgettable insight into a bygone era We are your small local tour company and we bring you the truth about San Diego's history in the Gaslamp. Don't be fooled by our out of town national big budget competitors! We have caught them making up stories many times. If you want authentic go with us. If you want a tour company that cares about you and not profit. Us. Our host are costumed passionate people that love this city and love making you happy. Our stories are true based on our reasearch and presented in a theatrical way. So bring a sense of humor and wonder! We have been on all our competitors tours and I can honestly say we are the best. Support local, get the real history and feel great. Join us!

Explore Tijuana's vibrant culinary and cultural scene on this immersive 5-hour tour from San Diego. With a bilingual guide, venture beyond the border to discover artistic alleys and bustling markets, indulging in handpicked street tacos and regional tequila. The tour highlights include a visit to Pasaje Rodríguez, filled with murals and indie shops, and Mercado Hidalgo, renowned for its local produce and crafts. Enjoy a hassle-free experience with private transportation and insider insights into Tijuana's rich traditions. 5-hour guided food and culture tour from San Diego to Tijuana Visit iconic spots like Pasaje Rodríguez and Mercado Hidalgo Savor authentic tacos and enjoy a private tequila tasting Includes round-trip private transportation and picnic box lunch

In just four hours, experience the scenic highlights of San Diego and its neighboring areas. Watch sea lions and pelicans on the beaches of La Jolla and capture fantastic views from the top of Mt Soledad. Soak up the Old World elegance of the mansions and Hotel Del on Coronado Island, and find peace in the urban oasis of Balboa Park. Wind through downtown and Old Town San Diego, learning about the city’s history along the way. Enjoy personalized attention on this small-group tour limited to just 14 people.

While San Diego may be famous for its sunshine, the city also has a dark side lurking beneath the surface. Uncover the hidden history of gangsters, gunslingers, ghosts, and ladies of the night on an entertaining walking tour through the city's historic Gaslamp Quarter. It's the only haunted history tour in San Diego that actually goes inside buildings for a closer look at what goes bump in the night (pending COVID restrictions).

San Diego is renowned for its tombstones and tacos, and this unique tour combines food and history for a well-rounded sightseeing experience. Get your fiesta started in San Diego on a food and walking tour through historic Old Town. Visit some of the district's finest Mexican restaurants to sample tasty dishes, tequila cocktails, and hear mariachi music. Get insider tips from your guide about authentic Mexican cuisine and other great places to visit on this fun tour.

Explore San Diego’s mountains, desert, and backcountry on a self-guided scenic driving tour from Escondido to Julian via Palomar Mountain and Borrego Springs. This 152-mile route takes you along some of the best backroads in Southern California, with GPS-triggered audio guiding you to overlooks, historic sites, and hidden stops along the way. Climb to the summit of Palomar Mountain to visit the famous Palomar Observatory, then descend into the desert landscapes of Anza-Borrego. Along the way, you’ll spot Borrego Springs’ iconic metal sculptures, sweeping valley views, and roadside viewpoints worth stopping for. The route finishes in the historic town of Julian—perfect for a slice of its famous apple pie. This flexible, self-paced tour lets you explore on your own schedule. Allow a full day to take in viewpoints, small towns, and optional short hikes like Borrego Palm Canyon. Bring water, snacks, and sun protection if you plan to stop and explore.

Explore Tijuana, Mexico, without getting lost on this day trip from San Diego, a great choice for first-time visitors. Visit cultural attractions, sample authentic Mexican street food at a sidewalk taco stand, and do some shopping and sightseeing. Opt to walk or take public transportation and experience the city like a local. Your guide can suggest stops and adapt the itinerary to fit the needs of the group.

Spend a few hours relaxing and sightseeing in the waters just off San Diego during this 1- or 2-hour San Diego Harbor cruise. Sit back and relax as you take in a fully narrated tour, offering top-notch sight lines of the San Diego skyline, a cruise under Coronado Bridge, a look at the bustling US Naval fleet, and a chance to spot some of the harbor’s resident sea lions.

Discover Coronado Island's best-kept secrets and local lore on a walking tour around this upscale coastal enclave just across the bay from San Diego. Many tourists just head straight for the beach, but there's so much more to explore, from historic mansions and charming downtown shops to Victorian architecture and captivating legends of Coronado's early residents. Plus, stop for an included treat at a sweet shop loved by locals.

Discover the fascinating history of San Diego’s Historic Gaslamp Quarter on a 90-minute guided walking tour through one of the city’s most iconic neighborhoods. Led by a knowledgeable local guide, you’ll hear engaging stories about the people, buildings, businesses, and events that helped shape downtown San Diego. Learn about early developer William Heath Davis and the beginnings of New Town, explore beautifully preserved Victorian-era architecture, and uncover colorful stories from the neighborhood’s past. Along the way, see notable landmarks including the Davis-Horton House, Horton Grand Hotel, historic theaters, Old City Hall, the Yuma Building, and more. Your guide will share historical context, interesting facts, and memorable local stories while allowing time for questions and photos. With a relaxed walking pace and a carefully planned route, this tour is ideal for guests who enjoy history, architecture, and discovering the stories behind the places they visit.

Are you a foodie? Have you tried traditional Cantonese dim sum--the small plate experience, the chopsticks, the steam-heated carts, the stacked steamer baskets, the lively conversations? The Tea! Perhaps you've never had the opportunity to learn the immense history involved with dim sum from a Cantonese-American guide (dim sum = "to touch the heart!"). This is your chance to join Wild Foodie Tours to enjoy a truly unique dining experience. We'll brunch on Cantonese-style dim sum, served fresh from traditional push-carts & steamer baskets. You'll learn about dim sum's Silk Road roots, flavorful teas, and traditional Southern Chinese etiquette. You'll pick and choose a variety of classic dim sum specialties like barbecue pork buns, rice crepes, and egg tarts--and become touched by the heart! After the meal, enjoy a walking tour through the Asian Cultural District of San Diego and end at a popular Asian supermarket for some quick shopping. Are you ready for the Wild East of dim sum?

Take a trip through American naval history when you go for a self-led tour of the USS Midway Museum in San Diego, with the benefit of prebooked admission tickets. This enormous ship, the longest-serving aircraft carrier of the 20th century, now offers a range of interactive exhibits, an audio tour, and numerous restored aircraft across its 4 acres (1.6 hectares). It’s an essential piece of the country's military history.

Most people walk the Gaslamp Quarter for the restaurants and never learn how San Diego got here. This tour tells that story on the blocks where it happened. It starts in 1867, when Alonzo Horton bought hundreds of acres of empty waterfront land for next to nothing and bet the city’s future was here, not in Old Town. He was right. A local storyteller leads a small group past the Balboa Theatre, the 1920s movie palace still putting on shows; the Louis Bank of Commerce, a jewel of the 1880s boom; the Callan Hotel; and the spot where San Diego’s original zoo began. We visit the Horton Grand, a Victorian hotel taken apart and rebuilt brick by brick, and finish at the Gaslamp Museum in the Davis-Horton House, the oldest house still standing downtown. Easy pace, plenty of photo stops, and 90 minutes of stories you won’t get from a plaque.

Step into the heart of Balboa Park and discover El Prado like never before. This self-guided walking tour invites you to look beyond the beauty and explore the stories, styles, and surprises behind San Diego’s most beloved promenade. You’ll uncover how architecture, ambition, and artistry transformed a temporary exposition into a timeless cultural icon at every stop. As you stroll past ornate facades, hidden courtyards, and dramatic colonnades, you’ll learn how theatrical design and clever engineering helped shape not just the park and San Diego’s identity. GPS-triggered audio brings each structure to life with rich history and unexpected insights along the way. This tour offers a thoughtful, immersive experience at your own pace, whether you're a first-time visitor or a local seeing the park with fresh eyes. Come for the beauty—stay for the stories hidden in the walls.

Venture south of the border from San Diego to explore the Mexican border city of Tijuana in a safe and engaging way. Tijuana can be somewhat daunting for tourists, but a local guide shows you around, from historic landmarks like the Tijuana Arch and Avenida Revolucion to shopping hotspots like the El Popo market, where you can pick up handmade Mexican souvenirs.

Spend the day exploring Tijuana’s culture and history on this guided tour from San Diego. You’ll make the most of your visit to this border town by traveling with a guide, who provides navigation and in-depth commentary. Highlights include the Plaza Santa Cecilia, the Tijuana Arch, the History Museum, the city market, Pasaje Rodriguez, and others.

See for yourself why La Jolla has earned a reputation as one of San Diego's most gorgeous and high-profile locales on an afternoon sightseeing tour. Travel from downtown San Diego to the upscale coastal enclave known for its stellar seaside views and rowdy sea lion community, plus extravagant Spanish-style mansions and famous residents. Browse the luxury boutiques of La Jolla Village, explore the marine life of a legendary cove, and take in views of the coast from a mountaintop lookout.

San Diego is famous for its massive aircraft carriers and 'Top Gun' naval mythology. But hidden in the shadows of these gray steel giants is a forgotten empire. Once the 'Tuna Capital of the World,' this waterfront was built by Portuguese and Italian immigrants whose livelihoods were forever altered by World War 2. Join Max and local historian Iris on a visually striking journey down the Embarcadero. You'll uncover the controversial secrets behind iconic statues, the real cost of naval dominance, and the resilient fishermen who still work the docks today. This isn't just a military history tour; it's a story of two competing worlds colliding on one spectacular coastline. A 3.3 km self-guided tour with 7 stops over 113 min Ideal for travelers interested in History & Memory and Identity, Migration & Globalization Immersively told in a podcast style by experts and locals Matching audio content, AI guide and navigation through the app