Top San Diego Sightseeing Tours

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.

Get more out of limited time in San Diego by going on a tour that helps you check off multiple highlights, including city and beach locations. As you set off on a scenic drive, a guide helps you get the most out of your trip with live narration and video footage too. Stops along the way include the historic Hotel Del Coronado, the Coronado Bridge, and La Jolla Cove.

Explore San Diego’s Downtown and Old Town sights in a fun and fast-paced way—on a self-drive GoCar tour. This sightseeing adventure takes the stress out of reading a map, as the car talks and shows you the way with its built-in GPS. Enjoy hearing stories as you explore the city’s most popular areas, including Old Town, Little Italy, Balboa Park, Downtown and the Gaslamp Quarter.

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.

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.

If you’re looking for a personalized way to discover San Diego’s best bits, then this is it. Set off with a private guide on an adventure around the city—with private transportation included to speed up your adventures and cover more landmarks. Along the way, visit interesting locations—such as the Hotel Del Coronado, Balboa Park, and Cabrillo National Monument—with insights from your guide throughout.

Explore San Diego at your own pace with a full-day ticket to ride a hop-on, hop-off trolley through the city. Simply board the trolley at your cruise ship’s port of call and visit historic landmarks and vibrant neighborhoods at eleven centrally-located stops. Get a glimpse of California’s past in Old Town, grab a spot on a beach to watch surfers catch breaking waves, and more.

Experience the thrill of driving a speedboat—and enjoy a new way to sightsee—on this two-in-one San Diego Harbor tour. Learn the basics of boating from your guide before following their boat around the harbor, cruising past highlights such as the USS Midway, Coronado Bridge, the San Diego Maritime Museum, and more. Discover the stories behind the landmarks via the on-board, two-way communication system, and stop for photo ops.

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.

Go whale watching from San Diego aboard a replica of a historic sailing schooner that won the world’s first America’s Cup sailing competition in 1851. Throughout your cruise, your expert guide shares informative commentary about gray whales, dolphins, and other marine animals, along with details about the US Navy sites you pass as you head out on the Pacific Ocean.

Encounter some of Earth's most magnificent creatures on a 2–3-hour whale-watching cruise in San Diego. The voyage departs right from Mission Bay, so you’ll be out into the open Pacific Ocean and looking for animals in just 10 minutes. Expert Guides and Naturalists on board help you spot whales and dolphins and learn about their lives in the deep blue sea.

See San Diego from a marine vantage point on this 90min harbor cruise, including a look at the marina, seabirds and potential sea lion sightings. Listen to live narration from your captain and enjoy for-purchase snacks from the onboard snack bar.

Spend an evening gourmet wining and dining aboard the ‘Spirit of San Diego,’ enjoying top-notch food and drink while you soak up skyline views. During this San Diego dinner cruise, you sip a complimentary cocktail and enjoy live on-board entertainment as you cruise 25 miles of California’s coastline and gaze at the stars above.

Set sail at one of the best times of day—sunset—during this San Diego Bay cruise. Board a comfortable sailing yacht and cruise along San Diego's coastline, taking in views of the scenic waterfront, military vessels, and historical landmarks. Catch sight of marine life and enjoy spectacular photo ops. Gorgeous sunset views and comfortable bean bag seating makes this tour a great choice for travelers celebrating a special occasion.

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.

The Gondola Company is your Passport to Italy. Indulge in all the magic and tradition of Venice right here in San Diego as you gently cruise in a private gondola through the enchanting canals of the Coronado Cays. Whether it’s a relaxing journey or a romantic adventure, each cruise is A Truly Memorable Experience.

Enjoy a San Diego sunset cruise from Mission Bay as the sun sets behind the Pacific Ocean’s horizon, painting the coastal waters in golden hues. Catch views of SeaWorld and incredible view of the Ocean Beach Pier. Unwind with a drink, snap some memorable photos with loved ones on the deck, and soak up the relaxing vibe with soft music in the background. It’s the perfect way to wind down and savor California’s laid-back charm.

Experience San Diego at its most atmospheric and see a side tho the city that most travelers miss. This city lights tour takes you from the Gaslamp Quarter to Balboa Park and the Embarcadero; past the historic San Diego County Administration Center, the USS Midway Museum, and the Star of India. Plus ride to the top of the Coronado Bridge and see sights lit up all over the city, as well as some from Tijuana.

Discover some of San Diego’s most incredible marine wildlife with the help of a local guide who knows the water like the back of their hand on this small-group boat tour. Try your luck spotting whales, dolphins, sea lions, and more while you enjoy the smooth ride on a former military boat with life jackets provided for your safety.

Experience the beauty of the San Diego coastline on a peaceful sunset sailing tour, avoiding the crowds at popular viewing spots. Relax aboard your vessel as you take in stunning sunset views, along with possible sightings of dolphins, vibrant seabirds, and sea lions. Along the way, enjoy scenic views of the Coronado Bridge, Point Loma, and San Diego Bay.

This is the ultimate way to explore San Diego by land and sea. Instead of being stuck on a crowded tour bus/boat, take control of your sightseeing and have an independent sightseeing adventure instead. Enjoy the thrill of driving your own speedboat, and have the chance to ride a GPS-guided storytelling scooter. No need to feel time pressures—each segment of the tour can be done on different days depending on your preferences.

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.

Explore San Diego’s iconic parks, from Balboa to Petco, and go on to Hillcrest by GoCar. There are loads of places to see, including the Gaslamp Quarter, Seaport Village, and the Maritime Museum. You’ll be provided with maps and helmets, so you just need to hit the streets and enjoy.