Charlene LaskyA coworker told me about her first time visiting San Diego.
She had a blast taking things at her own pace, hitting the beaches and wandering neighborhoods. But after doing some post-trip Googling, she realized she missed out on a lot of what makes San Diego special.
Looking back, she admitted she should’ve booked a couple of guided tours. They’d help her understand the history and food scene, as well as check out hidden gems only locals would know.
Tours can totally change one’s travel experience, especially if it’s your first time in town. So, for anyone looking to get the most out of their trip and meet passionate locals, here are the top tour operators in San Diego!
How much do tours cost in San Diego?
Tours in San Diego typically cost anywhere from $25 to $150 per person, depending on the type, length, and level of exclusivity. A group brewery tour might be around $50, while a private sailing trip could be over $100.
Generally, walking or self-guided experiences tend to be more affordable, while harbor cruises, food tours, or private excursions can run higher. Many companies also offer discounts for kids and seniors, or for booking multiple tours at once.
1. Adventure Whale Watching
Business Address: 1380 Harbor Island Dr
Website: https://www.adventurewhalewatchingsandiego.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adventurewhalewatching/
Contact Details: +1 619-808-2822
Business Hours: Mon – Sun: Open 24 hours
Adventure Whale Watching is one of the best ways to experience the city’s gorgeous coastline. They’re one of the few operators offering year-round whale and dolphin watching, and they use Navy SEAL-style boats that zip through the Pacific at 50+ mph!
Speaking of which, their Whale Watching Safari is a 2.5 to 3-hour trip that’ll have you within arm’s reach of incredible whales, dolphins, or sea lions.
They’re also known for their San Diego Bay Tours—a private 2-hour cruise that gives you front-row views of the USS Midway, the Star of India, and the Coronado Bridge.
Their public tours run daily and are great for meeting fellow ocean lovers, while the private tours are customized, flexible, and perfect for bonding with your family or friends.
Sadly, we heard about their inattentive staff who were on their phones during private tours. Not ideal, especially since it’s supposed to be a luxury experience.
Best thing to do in San Diego!!
“Wow!! What an amazing adventure!!! Fabulous time- best thing to do in San Diego!! And the boat is so stable, nimble, and fast. I did not even have a single moment of motion sickness. Perfect trip, cool whales.”
Valorie Borgerding, Google Review
Every moment of the tour was fun
“Simply spectacular! Every moment of the tour was fun, and Captain Greg was passionate, entertaining, and taught us so much! I was thrilled to see how much our captain respected the wildlife we were there to view. The small group size made the experience even more enjoyable as we got to interact with one another and help look out for wildlife. I’ll be back every single time I come to San Diego! Thank you for the most incredible experience!”
Haley Houdini, Google Review
2. So Diego Tours
Business Address: 209 Fifth Ave
Website: https://www.sodiego.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sodiegotours/
Contact Details: +1 619-233-8687
Business Hours: Mon – Sun: 7 AM – 10 PM
So Diego Tours‘ goal is to offer fun and authentic experiences that help you connect with America’s Finest City.
We love their Gaslamp Food Tour. You’ll wander the “New Town” district, better known as Gaslamp Quarter, sampling bites from four restaurants—three also serve drinks.
We love that their guide spills juicy details about the Stingaree District’s scandalous past. It’s a cool way to learn and laugh at the same time.
Another crowd favorite is Sip, Savor, and Sea, a tour of La Jolla. This includes walking and driving segments, where you can see sea lions, chic boutiques, and handpicked eateries to sample fine Californian cuisine and drinks.
Other themed tours include farm, winery, brewery, and bus tours. While these may seem lovely, do watch out for rude staff members.
Before booking, check their website first for promo codes to score up to 10% off!
Learned more on this tour than I ever have before!
“This was such a great tour! Benedict was an excellent guide, giving us lots of information about San Diego, Old Town, and some spooky history about the Whaley House and cemetery. I’ve been to San Diego many times, but learned more in my time on this tour than I ever have before! And the food and margaritas were fabulous!”
jules marine, Google Review
This walking tour was outstanding!
“This walking tour was outstanding! Todd, our host, was excellent. He kept a nice casual pace, the food & drinks were great & he shared a lot of the history of the city. Would highly recommend this tour!”
Jane Kadoich, Google Review
3. Another Side Of San Diego Tours
Business Address: 300 G St
Website: https://anothersideofsandiegotours.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anothersidetours
Contact Details: +1 619-304-1416
Business Hours: Mon – Sun: Open 24 hours
Since 2007, Another Side Of San Diego Tours has crafted high-end, resort-style experiences that are certainly worth it. No wonder their clients include McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Kellogg’s, and more.
Their Balboa Park Walking Tour is quite popular. You’ll bask in botanical beauty while learning more about San Diego’s heritage.
Another awesome option is the Early Bird La Jolla E-Bike Tour, a fresh and breezy way to see the coast. The starting point is at La Jolla Village—then, you’ll cruise on an e-bike past sea cliffs and beaches.
Their tour lineup is massive, including Segway, Coronado, Little Italy, tide pool, and hiking tours, just to name a few. Don’t forget to claim their online promos for up to 10% off!
Unfortunately, we heard some of their guides can come off as a bit surly. This can certainly ruin an otherwise lovely excursion.
Gaslamp Segway Tour was one of my favorite tours!
“I took several tours from Another Side of San Diego Tours and loved them all. Amy was my tour guide on all of them and she is knowledgeable, friendly, and professional. The Gaslamp Segway Tour was one of my favorite tours! I felt like I was able to see so much of San Diego in a fun way! Amy was a spectacular tour guide and has so much knowledge of San Diego. In addition to the sights, Amy pointed out great places to eat and other fun things to do while we visited!”
Nicole Voigtman, Google Review
This has to be one of the best we’ve experienced
“Absolutely fabulous tour! My husband and I love exploring new places via Segway tours, and this has to be one of the best we’ve experienced. Our guide (Jeff) was knowledgeable and also took some great photos for us. Highly recommend!”
Lesley Bradley, Google Review
4. Old Town Trolley Tours
Business Address: 4010 Twiggs St
Website: https://www.trolleytours.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oldtowntrolley/
Contact Details: +1 619-298-8687
Business Hours: Mon – Sun: 9 AM – 6 PM
Old Town Trolley Tours has been showing people around since 1989, so we think they really know how to mix sightseeing and storytelling.
The trolley covers a 25-mile loop with 11 stops, hitting all the iconic San Diego spots like Balboa Park, the USS Midway Museum, Gaslamp Quarter, and more. Plus, it’s the only hop-on, hop-off tour that lets you reboard as much as you want all day.
If you’re feeling adventurous, check out their Ghosts and Gravetones Frightseeing Tour, an after-dark journey through the haunted corners of San Diego. You’ll also hear awesome stories about gamblers, gunslingers, and, of course, ghosts.
Another cool feature is their interactive mobile maps, which make it easy to plan your stops and not miss anything. It’s user-friendly and works well on your phone.
As for the downside, we heard about some tour guides yelling at guests.
Best way to see San Diego
“Several Uber and Lyft drivers told us this was the best way to see San Diego, and they were right! We started in Old Town and rode the trolley all the way to Little Italy (last stop) before getting off. From Little Italy (and Davante’s for lunch), it was a short walk back to the Maritime Museum, Embarcadero, and Seaport Village. If you can walk the return mile to Little Italy, you’ll finish right back at Old Town with time to explore. Our guide, Jim, was funny and knowledgeable. He brought San Diego’s history to life. Great way to spend a day!”
Elaine Watkins, Google Review
Best on/off tour I’ve experienced
“A must do while in San Diego!! The best on/off tour I’ve experienced. Cesar made it extra memorable sharing an amazing array of knowledge about San Diego. All in real time!! He made sure we saw all the things he talked about! Can’t recommend highly enough!!”
Kylie Whellan, Google Review
5. San Diego Seal Tour
Business Address: 500 Kettner Blvd
Website: https://www.sealtours.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandiegoseals
Contact Details: +1 619-298-8687
Business Hours: Mon – Sun: 10 AM – 5 PM
If you want to experience San Diego from both land and sea without having to switch vehicles, the San Diego Seal Tour is for you. This fun, narrated tour lasts 100 minutes, with 40 minutes on land and 60 minutes cruising the bay.
The tour kicks off from either Seaport Village or the Embarcadero, where you’ll board their virtually unsinkable Hydra-Terras. The Seaport Village departure location is fully accessible, with a manual lift to assist with boarding.
Then, you learn about military history but also enjoy cute California seals and sea lions. The SEAL Groups and Charters option is perfect for work outings, family reunions, birthdays, and more.
A sweet perk is that San Diego residents can ride for free via the Historic Tours of America Hometown Pass Program, as long as they’re with a paying adult.
Just a heads up—they’re pricier than their competitors.
Best tour we’ve taken in a long time
“Best tour we’ve taken in a long time. The first mate was charming and engaging with information about the area we traveled through. The military facility insight was so interesting. And sea lions – and dolphins – were mesmerizing. We would recommend this tour without hesitation!”
Bren Monteiro, Google Review
One of the first things you should do when visiting San Diego
“One of the first things you should do when visiting San Diego. You get a good overview of everything San Diego and learn about its history through land and water. Our captain was Cowboy and 1st mate Charlie. Charlie is amazing and has a thorough knowledge of San Diego. He gives you a full overview of San Diego during the trip. Both Charlie and Cowboy are very friendly and makes your trip a fun trip. We saw sea lions and warships during the trip. Trip lasts close to 90 mins. Parking is available in many lots and they can give you a discount or may validate it for you.”
Jinoj Mathew, Google Review
