Top San Diego Cultural Tours

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.

Experience the spine-chilling history of San Diego on this immersive ghost tour that takes you inside haunted locations. Travel aboard the Ghost Coach, a “coffin on wheels,” and visit eerie sites like the Gaslamp Museum, Horton Grand Hotel, and El Campo Santo Cemetery, guided by professional storytellers in costume. With authentic tales, haunted hotspots, and dark humor, this tour offers a thrilling blend of history and the supernatural.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

Explore some of the top highlights of San Diego with your or or two day trolley pass (depending on option selected) for the city’s Hop-on, Hop-off Trolley Tour. Choose your own adventure as you get on and off the trolley at any of the 11 included stops, covering famous sights including the Gaslamp Quarter, the San Diego Zoo, USS Midway and the Cruise Ship Terminal, Little Italy, and many more. This San Diego trolley tour also features live commentary from the on-board guide during your ride.

Most people walk through the Gaslamp Quarter without realizing they're standing in what used to be the Stingaree, the roughest few blocks on the West Coast. That's the tour. A local storyteller, a small group, and a loop through the neighborhood as it was when Wyatt Earp ran gambling halls here and kept a saloon called the Oyster Bar. We'll get into Ida Bailey and the Canary Cottage, the city's most famous madam and her most famous address, and the 1912 raid that finally shut the whole district down. Along the way you'll see the buildings that survived it: the Louis Bank of Commerce, the Yuma Building from 1882, the Horton Grand where Earp lived, and the oldest house still standing downtown. We stop for photos at the neon archway, because everybody wants that one. Easy pace, no rushing, and we finish back a block from where we started. Ninety minutes to two hours, and you won't look at these blocks the same way again.

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.

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?

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).

Don't miss this exciting foodie adventure with Wild Foodie Tours to learn about and enjoy Chinese food, history, and culture from a Chinese-American guide whose passion is food, culture, and adventure. Prepare to enter the Dragon's Gate to savor the culinary masterpiece once reserved for the Emperor of China.

Learn about modern hotspots, centuries old history, and everything in between! You will leave this tour with a deep understanding of San Diego and a fantastic list of insider recommendations to enjoy. This tour begins by The Gaslamp Quarter, journeys through the Embarcadero and finishes in the foodie paradise of Little Italy (just in time for brunch!).

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.

Join us for a 2.5 hour guided electric bike tour around the stunning city of San Diego. Beginning from our store location, the first stop on this leisurely tour is the historic Gaslamp Quarter, established in the 1860s and redeveloped in the 1980s. From there, you’ll ride your pedal assist eBikes to the San Diego Bay, where you’ll learn the history of the USS Midway, Billionaire Row, and The Bob Hope Memorial. Our licensed tour guides will then lead you through Balboa Park, measuring just under five kilometers or 1,200 acres. In Balboa Park, you will ride past and learn about the San Diego Zoo, the Spanish Village Art Center, and the famous Casa de Balboa. This city is perfect for animal lovers, beach enthusiasts, and outdoorsy folks! Our guides are happy to take plenty of pictures for you so you can cherish the memories. The tour ends back at our store location on K Street. Please note: there will be a good deal of street riding on this tour.

Launched in 1914 to her removal from regular service in 1996, the Pilot enjoyed an active career as San Diego’s chief pilot craft – assisting almost every one of the thousands of major commercial ships to enter or leave the bay during that time. Visitors will share this narrated historic bay tour aboard one of the few vessels in the country honored with the distinction of being on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior.

Explore the largest urban cultural park in the country on a fun and easy-to-use e-bike. As most San Diego locals know, Balboa Park is the city's best kept secret with hiking trails, desert gardens, amazing museums, and historic architecture. An e-bike will get you all around the park with little effort, and lots of fun. The tour is led by a guide who will pass on the history, stories, and happenings of Balboa Park.

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.