Category San Diego Tours

San Diego · SAN DIEGO TOURS

The 15 Best Things to Do in San Diego

283 tours

Carrier decks, sea caves, a zoo built into a canyon and a bay that fills with sails every afternoon. These are the 15 San Diego bookings worth your money, with prices, running times and a straight note on which ones need a whole day and which slot into a spare morning.

San Diego Zoo 1-Day Pass: Any Day Ticket

San Diego Zoo 1-Day Pass: Any Day Ticket - Mobile ticket and entry flow: how to avoid the first-day headaches

1.San Diego Zoo 1-Day Pass: Any Day Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4,248 reviews · 1 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $78Our pick

San Diego Zoo any-day mobile ticket with unlimited Skyfari tram and bus tour, plus giant panda strategy for a smoother visit.

“Suggest going early. Lines are shorter to get in and more parking is available. And it is cooler and lines for everything are shorter. The trolley rides are free and drivers are very informative- highly recommend! Also start you day by reserving a time to see the pandas. Failure to do so incurs long lines of waiting to get in on standby basis.”

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San Diego Harbor Cruise

San Diego: Harbor Cruise - The luxury yacht setup: indoor comfort, outdoor views, 360 degrees

3.San Diego Harbor Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,980 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $37Best value

San Diego Harbor cruise for $37: pick 1 or 2 hours, enjoy narrated Navy fleet views, Coronado Bridge sights, and sea lions.

“The travels I was with did a poor job at planning a birthday trip. The boat was big and empty and the tour guide was mediocre”

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San Diego Whale Watching Cruise

San Diego: Whale Watching Cruise - The real star: marine biologist narration that makes sightings click

5.San Diego Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,317 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $85Top rated

Sail on the America schooner replica for a 4.5-hour San Diego whale watch, with snacks, commentary, and a whale sighting guarantee.

“I took my daughter and three of her friends for her 16th birthday the 2nd of January. We had an amazing whale watching experience! The crew was fantastic—friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about what they do. The boat was very nice and comfortable, and it never felt overly crowded, which made the experience even better. We were lucky enough to see two gray whales—a mom and her baby—migrating together, which was absolutely incredible. The crew shared so much informative and interesting information about the whales and other marine life throughout the trip. The complimentary snacks and sodas were a really nice bonus, and when one of the kids started feeling…”

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San Diego Whale Watching & Dolphin Cruise

San Diego Whale Watching & Dolphin Cruise - Mission Beach and Ocean Beach views before you even start scanning

6.San Diego Whale Watching & Dolphin Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,588 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $71

San Diego whale and dolphin cruise from Mission Bay. Spot gray whales and dolphins in open ocean, with onboard naturalists, snacks, and great views.

“Experience was amazing even with the rainfall we had that day. Staff was great and communicative. Wish their mic didn't have so many interruptions, but was still great! No complaints really, got to see some great stuff and wasn't expensive!”

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San Diego: Hop-on Hop-off Narrated Trolley Tour

San Diego: Hop-on Hop-off Narrated Trolley Tour - Boarding at Old Town, then choosing your pace

9.Hop-on Hop-off Narrated Trolley Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,323 reviews · 1 - 2 days · from $57

Ride an authentic narrated trolley through Old Town, the Gaslamp Quarter, and Coronado, then hop off for beach, parks, and city neighborhoods.

“I had very little time to see the city. This was a great way to get around. I managed to see as much as I could and complete sit within a day. I stopped at the Embarcadero, Coronado and then at Gaslamp Quarter. Easy to catch the trolley and they are generally on time. Not all the drivers were entertaining, I think Bini was great.”

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San Diego Harbor Dinner Cruise

San Diego Harbor Dinner Cruise - Inside the Spirit of San Diego: Indoor Comfort and Deck Time

10.San Diego Harbor Dinner Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,234 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $125

San Diego Harbor dinner cruise with gourmet dinner, skyline views, live entertainment, and optional unlimited open bar. About 3 hours.

“Easy to make reservations and changes. Good service, friendly staff, food was nicely presented and tasty.”

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San Diego Seal Tour

San Diego Seal Tour - The amphibious ride: what the 90 minutes feel like

11.San Diego Seal Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,226 reviews · 1 hour 45 minutes (approx.) · from $53

Cruise San Diego Bay in an amphibious vehicle, enjoy land-and-water sights, and learn maritime history with lively narration.

“This is mostly a tour in the boat mode of the vehicle. It was fun, informative and we really enjoyed it. The driver and tour guide were fabulous.”

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San Diego Zoo: 1-Day Admission Ticket

San Diego Zoo: 1-Day Admission Ticket - The 100-acre One-Day Game Plan that keeps you from missing the best parts

Taste of Little Italy in San Diego

Taste of Little Italy in San Diego - Stop 1 in Little Italy: neighborhood intro, markets, and waterfront views

13.Taste of Little Italy in San Diego

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 869 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $93

Taste Little Italy with guided Italian food tastings in San Diego. Learn local history and architecture on a 3.5-hour small-group walk.

“Adriana’s tour is a must experience tour of Little Italy in San Diego. Her pleasant and bubbly personality kept us captivated while relating the history of this area. She selected foods you wouldn’t expect but we found absolutely delicious.”

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San Diego Harbor Speed Boat Adventure

San Diego Harbor Speed Boat Adventure - The Route That Turns Harbor Landmarks Into Real Moments

14.San Diego Harbor Speed Boat Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 716 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $75

Self-drive F13 speed boats on San Diego Harbor with radio narration, sea lion sightings, and close passes of USS Midway and Coronado Bridge.

“Some technical difficulties had us start 30 minutes late. Otherwise the host was great and tour was fun.”

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San Diego Whale Watching Cruise

San Diego: Whale Watching Cruise - The real star: marine biologist narration that makes sightings click

15.San Diego Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 663 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $54

A 3.5-hour San Diego whale-watching cruise with indoor and outdoor decks, expert commentary, and real chances to spot gray whales, dolphins, and more.

“There is the chance you will see nothing, as was our experience, however they provide a rain check for such.”

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