USA · SAN DIEGO TOURS

15 San Diego Tours That Earn the Road Trip

36 tours  ·  from $27

Every trip has one open day too few. These 15 san diego tours justify the slot, priced and timed so the decision takes minutes instead of an evening.

San Diego Zoo 1-Day Pass: Any Day Ticket - Pandas, koalas, and the animals people plan around
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San Diego Zoo 1-Day Pass: Any Day Ticket

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

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

Use your mobile ticket for direct entry to San Diego Zoo, then explore 100 acres of animal habitats and gardens. See pandas, koalas, apes, elephants, tigers, and more. Admission includes the Guided Bus Tour, Skyfari Aerial Tram, Kangaroo Bus, Africa Tram, shows, and children’s areas. Plan on several hours, comfortable shoes, and early arrival.

“Wear walking shoes so you can cover as much ground as possible. There is so much to see! Apes and monkeys were our favorite. Way way too many children there with poor supervision made it hard to watch gorillas for very long but that’s the only negative we experienced.”

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San Diego: USS Midway Museum Entry Ticket - The flight deck and 25 restored aircraft
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San Diego: USS Midway Museum Entry Ticket

2.USS Midway Museum Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 3,896 reviews · 365 days · from $41

Explore the USS Midway at your own pace with a six-language audio guide, restored aircraft, crew quarters, the engine room, flight simulators, films, and the 3D Battle of Midway Theater. Docents, including former service members, are stationed around the ship to explain how sailors lived and worked aboard this huge carrier.

“The volunteers for the Midway. Knowledgeable and friendly. Was a great day. Thank you”

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San Diego: Harbor Cruise - Naval Ships, Aircraft Carriers, and San Diego’s Working Harbor
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San Diego Harbor Cruise

3.San Diego Harbor Cruise

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

Cruise San Diego Bay from North Harbor Drive with indoor and outdoor seating, onboard snacks, and narration on the city, Navy fleet, shipyards, and landmarks. Choose one hour in North or South Bay, or take two hours for both. Rusty and MC JJ are among the standout narrators.

“I went there on my birthdayIt’s was my best experience. Me and my friends enjoyed alot. And who never had any kind of experience , should do Thankyou”

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San Diego Hop On Hop Off Trolley Tour - Stop 1: Old Town gives you the historical starting point
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San Diego Hop On Hop Off Trolley Tour

4.San Diego Hop On Hop Off Trolley Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,523 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $55

Ride San Diego’s open-air trolley between 11 stops, from Old Town and Little Italy to Coronado, Balboa Park, the USS Midway, and the Gaslamp Quarter. You can stay aboard for the roughly two-hour circuit or hop off to explore. Drivers such as Kevin, Mike, Matt, and Tommie add local stories, humor, and restaurant tips.

“Great way to get an overview of all the areas that make up the San Diego area. Highly suggest to do on day one of your visit so you know the places that most interest you. You may want to consider a 2-day pass if you do not have your own transportation to get back to some of the spots.”

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San Diego Whale Watching Cruise - Old Point Loma Lighthouse and the Pacific crossing
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San Diego Whale Watching Cruise

5.San Diego Whale Watching Cruise

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

Join Next Level Sailing aboard the America, a replica of the 1851 America’s Cup winner, for a 4 to 4.5-hour San Diego whale search. Guides such as Fathom share facts about gray whales, dolphins, sea lions, and local landmarks. Expect open decks, snacks, sodas, blankets, and a free return trip if no whale appears.

“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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USS Midway Museum Admission: Valid Any Date - The flight deck and 25 restored aircraft
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USS Midway Museum Admission: Valid Any Date

6.USS Midway Museum Admission: Valid Any Date

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,165 reviews · 2 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $41

Board the USS Midway on San Diego’s Embarcadero and explore at your own pace with admission, an audio tour, restored aircraft, interactive exhibits, and access to living quarters, the bridge, engine room, and flight deck. Allow two to five hours, wear good walking shoes, and arrive before the 4 p.m. last entry.

“It was a very impressive experience and all the volunteers were so helpful and knowledgeable. Very glad we joined the event while on vacation.”

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LEGOLAND® California Theme Park Admission Tickets - Start in Fun Town and make Driving School a priority
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LEGOLAND® California Theme Park Admission Tickets

7.LEGOLAND® California Theme Park Admission Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,996 reviews · 1 to 2 days (approx.) · from $64

Use a mobile ticket to explore LEGOLAND California’s 60-plus rides, shows, and attractions. The base ticket covers one park day, while Hopper options add Sea LIFE Aquarium, Water Park, and a second day within five days. Best for children ages 2 to 12.

“We do have a good time, rides is so cool 😎 😀. We will come back again. I recommend this amazing experience.”

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San Diego Whale Watching & Dolphin Cruise - Starting at South Mission Bay
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San Diego Whale Watching & Dolphin Cruise

8.San Diego Whale Watching & Dolphin Cruise

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

Leave Mission Bay for a 2 to 3-hour Pacific cruise with captains and naturalists who spot whales, dolphins, sea lions, and porpoises. You reach open water in about 10 minutes, pass Ocean Beach and Sunset Cliffs, and can buy snacks aboard. Allison and Jennifer have been praised for lively commentary, though the microphone can be hard to hear.

“Disappointing, we did not see any whales, the background and story telling was also not very engaging.”

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San Diego: Harbor Cruise - Naval Ships, Aircraft Carriers, and San Diego’s Working Harbor
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San Diego: Harbor Cruise

9.Harbor Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,378 reviews · 1 - 2 hours · from $37

Choose a 1-hour north or south harbor cruise, or take the 2-hour tour for both sides of San Diego Bay. A live English guide points out naval ships, sea lions, the Coronado Bridge, and city landmarks from a modern yacht with indoor and outdoor seating, restrooms, and a snack bar.

“We had a great time! Very interesting and therapeutic!”

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Newport Beach: 2-Hour Whale Watching Tour - From Balboa Pavilion to the open Pacific
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Newport Beach: 2-Hour Whale Watching Tour

10.Newport Beach: 2-Hour Whale Watching Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 1,375 reviews · 2 hours · from $27Best value

Spend two hours on the water with Davey’s Locker, leaving from Balboa Pavilion near Disneyland. Look for blue, fin, grey, humpback, and minke whales, plus dolphins, sea lions, and birds. Guides such as Captain Hunter and Kayla add wildlife facts and humor, but whales are never guaranteed.

“Instructions for where to check in and timeline could improve. We felt a little lost, found the line, didn't realize we had to go inside to check-in first, etc. Once the check-in was done and we were on board, everything went great. Didn't get to see any whales but was given vouchers for another visit. We had a great time on the boat, enjoyed the bar, will definitely be back when we can.”

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San Diego Zoo Admission Ticket - Key points to know before you go
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San Diego Zoo Admission Ticket

11.San Diego Zoo Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,332 reviews · 1 day · from $78

Spend a full day at San Diego Zoo, just north of downtown, exploring habitats for more than 4,500 animals. Your admission includes the guided bus tour, express bus, Skyfari aerial tram, and Children’s Zoo. Use your mobile voucher at the entrance, then plan your route around the zoo’s hills, shows, feeding times, and long walking distances.

“This is a must do in San Diego!!! Absolutely fascinating zoo with so many different areas and animals, and lots of dining options. We loved our visit! Also there’s free parking on site, which was great.”

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San Diego: Hop-on Hop-off Narrated Trolley Tour - Old Town gives the tour its best opening
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San Diego: Hop-on Hop-off Narrated Trolley Tour

12.Hop-on Hop-off Narrated Trolley Tour

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

Ride an authentic trolley through San Diego and Coronado with live English narration, stopping at 12 points near more than 100 sights. You can make a quick city loop or spend one or two days exploring Old Town, the Embarcadero, Balboa Park, Little Italy, the Gaslamp Quarter, and Hotel del Coronado. Guides such as Jack, Frank, Bini, and Kimmy add humor and local stories.

“Really good fun. Buses very regular. All staff polite and helpful. Our driver was Benjamin who was very knowledgeable and also very funny. Won’t ever forget this trip, it was wonderful”

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San Diego Harbor Dinner Cruise - San Diego Bay from the water
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San Diego Harbor Dinner Cruise

13.San Diego Harbor Dinner Cruise

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

Spend an evening aboard the Spirit of San Diego with a welcome glass of sparkling wine, indoor dinner, live entertainment, and wide views of San Diego Bay. The cruise passes the USS Midway, Coronado Island, the bridge, military base, and cruise terminal. An unlimited bar upgrade costs $40, and boarding begins 30 minutes early.

“This was a wonderful experience! Food, drinks, music, service, vibe! We really had a great time. I only wish we had dressed a bit warmer.”

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La Jolla Sea Caves Kayak Tour For Two (Tandem Kayak) - Entering the La Jolla sea caves
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La Jolla Sea Caves Kayak Tour For Two (Tandem Kayak)

14.La Jolla Sea Caves Kayak Tour For Two (Tandem Kayak)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,205 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)

Join Hike Bike Kayak Adventures for a 90-minute tandem kayak trip from La Jolla Shores. A guide such as Alex, Ike, Cassidy, or Hannah teaches basic paddling, points out sea life, and leads you toward the caves when conditions allow. Expect wet clothes, ocean waves, and a possible surf ride back to shore.

“The two leaders, Chase & Owen were great. Very knowledgeable about the area and marine life and also most considerate when it comes to safety.”

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San Diego Zoo: 1-Day Admission Ticket - Getting inside and finding your bearings
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San Diego Zoo: 1-Day Admission Ticket

15.San Diego Zoo: 1-Day Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,150 reviews · from $76

Visit the 100-acre San Diego Zoo for one day, with admission, a guided bus tour, express bus service, the Skyfari aerial tram, and the Children’s Zoo included. See polar bears, Galápagos tortoises, koalas, gorillas, elephants, and animals from Africa Rocks. Go straight to the entrance with your mobile voucher.

“We enjoy every single part if the zoo everything was amazing there is nothing that we didn't enjoy and like. Thank you for an amazing job.”

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