There’s So Much to Explore in San Diego

There’s So Much to Explore in San Diego

San Diego Walking & Sightseeing Tours

Sights and sounds of the city

Step out onto the streets of San Diego and step into history on a fun and educational walking tour. With distinctive neighborhoods, natural beauty, and world-class bars, coffee shops, and restaurants, San Diego is the perfect place to explore by foot. Discover vibrant communities, rich history, and unforgettable cuisine as you walk its streets, guided by a local expert. When you join one of our enriching, engaging food tours of San Diego county, the magic of the city is just a step away. 

About San Diego Walking & Sightseeing Tours:

San Diego has so many stories to tell and secrets to reveal. You’ll discover them all as you stroll through the city’s dynamic neighborhoods, savor its unforgettable flavors, and take in its stunning art and architecture on our San Diego sightseeing tours. Turn back time and learn about the rich history of Old Town San Diego or the questionable past of Downtown San Diego. Find hidden gem haunts, dive deep into local history, and soak up the sun—your quintessential San Diego experience starts here. 

  • Explore everywhere – Take your pick of tours across San Diego’s famed neighborhoods, including the historic Gaslamp Quarter, Old Town San Diego, Little Italy, the industrious Seaport Villages and Embarcadero, stylish Coronado, breathtaking La Jolla Cove and Village, and beautiful Balboa Park.
  • Go in-depth – Our comprehensive tours zoom in on the history and happenings in one specific San Diego neighborhood, allowing you to slow down and savor the atmosphere of each unique locale. 
  • See the sights – See for yourself what makes San Diego such a special, historically significant city. Immerse yourself in San Diego history and explore local landmarks like the Hotel del Coronado, Cabrillo Bridge, and the USS Midway and Maritime Museum. 
  • Gain insider knowledge – The informed, friendly guides who lead our San Diego walking tours know our city’s stories well and love to share their knowledge with curious travelers. Gather information on notable points of interest, soak up the history, and gain insight into the culture of the people who live, work, and play there.
  • Find locals-only spots –  Forget tourist traps and overpriced drinks! Find insider tips from San Diegans on the best places in the neighborhood to eat or get a drink from our seasoned San Diego guides.
  • Taste the town – Walking and talking can build up quite the appetite. Your expert guide will personally accompany you to a favorite local spot so you can taste for yourself some of the many delicious flavors San Diego has to offer.

Tours can be booked for private groups of 10 or more guests. They’re anything but ordinary, and for a more elevated experience, we can sprinkle some unique offerings tailored just for you! Whether you’re a life-long San Diegan or just visiting, there are a lot of new and fun things you can learn about one of the finest cities on the West Coast. Contact us to discuss.

Length of walking and sightseeing tour:

  • Our walking tours run 1.5-4 hours in length. Each tour can be booked 10+ guests at the rate starting at $30/guest.
  • The average distance covered over the private tour is about 1-2 miles. Generally, tours will be broken up between periods of walking (several blocks at a time), with built-in stops for rest.

Gaslamp Quarter

The Gaslamp Quarter is the historic heart of Downtown San Diego, with over 90 registered historic buildings from the Victorian era.  Learn about the real estate boom in the 1880s when the first port was built and about the pioneers who invested in the area.  You’ll learn about the unique architectural styles and the stories of the patrons who rented rooms for illegal activities.  From the red light district to gambling halls to traveling circuses and big money investments, there are plenty of stories that will shock you. 

Brewery Tours

Seaport Village/Embarcadero

Seaport Village sits right on the San Diego Bay with amazing views of Coronado, the Bay Bridge, and the ships coming into port.  You’ll learn about San Diego Bay, the development of Coronado and its bridge, and the introduction of the Navy to San Diego.  You’ll walk through Sea Port Villages’ meandering sidewalks, ponds and plazas and visit a historic carousel.  You’ll also walk out to the Embarcadero to our commercial fishing port as well as the USS Midway and the Maritime Museum – the world’s largest collection of historic water vessels. 

Coronado

Coronado is one of San Diego’s most pristine neighborhoods known for its iconic seaside Queen Anne Victoria resort and largest US wooden structure – the Hotel del Coronado.  Learn how the founding fathers of the area conceptualized this resort and affluent neighborhood with limited resources.  You’ll learn about some of the celebrities who visited the area and made it a successful vacation destination for the most elite families in America.  You’ll see remarkable mansions and hear the stories of the parties and happenings they’ve hosted throughout the years. You’ll learn how Coronado became the nation’s leading area for naval aviation.  Get to know this seaside city’s culture, and learn why Coronado is one of San Diego’s most expensive places to live.

San Diego Walking & Sightseeing Tour FAQs

No matter which neighborhood you choose to tour, you’ll likely see views of the city skyline and the bay and bridges (that’s our unbelievably stunning San Diego for you). However, most of the sights you see will depend on your specific itinerary. Some popular points of interest include the La Jolla caves, Petco Park, the Hotel del Coronado, the San Diego Botanical Building, and the USS Midway and Maritime Museum.

We allow for cancellations without penalty up to 24 hours before the start of your guided walking tour. If you need to cancel, please let us know as soon as you can.

We require advance payment for all San Diego walking tours at the time of booking, which you can complete online or over the phone. Please note that we do not sell tickets at any of our tour locations.

While tour schedules do not allow us to hold the start time for late arrivals, we are more than happy to work with you and your tour guide to arrange a time and place for you to meet up with a tour in progress. Just give us a call at (619) 233-8687 to let us know you are going to be late.