Located along the southern coastline of California and the border with neighboring Mexico to the south, San Diego is a land of pristine beaches, shimmering seas and what many believe is the best time all year the country.
The city and its surroundings are full of cultural, historical, and outdoor that give customers an incredible variety of leisure activities to choose from when visiting the region.
There are many optional excursions including trips to Mexico and to find fun things to do to fill your time will not be a problem.
Here are 15 of the best circuits in and around San Diego.
1. Half-day City Sightseeing Tour
For those with a tight schedule or even waiting for a connecting flight, this half-day tour of the city of San Diego is a great option.
It includes the favorites of the city like the Old Town, Little Italy and the Embarcadero, and additional options based on the tastes and interests of customers.
The tour of the USS Midway, Mount Soledad and impressive cliffs and coastline of La Jolla are popular activities that are often added, so do not hesitate to tell your guide what you like to see and do.
Wear comfortable shoes and do not forget your sunglasses and sunscreen.
2. Cruise Port
The San Diego Harbor is one of the sites most emblematic of the city and is easily accessible by visiting crowd boat lengths.
This cruise tour in the port offers a view of the Coronado bridge, some naval vessels mothballed, remarkable waterfront areas, and colonies of seals quite interesting.
The tour is guided by professionals, and historical narration you enjoy deep along the way is unparalleled.
The tour boat has three decks with comfortable indoor and outdoor seating and a bar serving snacks and drinks.
The visit usually lasts a few hours, but the food and drinks are not included, so bring some cash.
3. Segway tour of Balboa Park
The weather is so nice in San Diego there’s really no excuse not to go out and enjoy it; if you have never ridden a Segway, this would be an excellent opportunity to do so.
Balboa Park is one of the outdoor attractions of the first city and includes cultivated gardens, museums, works of art, and a crowd of paths that are just perfect for Segways.
Do not worry if you are not experienced, you will get an orientation course in operating the vehicle safely before leaving.
The tour takes usually a few hours depending on the size and age of the group members. This is a really unique way to see the famous park.
4. Whale Watching Cruise and Maritime Museum Visit
The Pacific waters off the San Diego coast are home to dolphins, whales, and seals, and the view from the deck of a replica historic sailing ship is an amazing experience.
The four-hour tour includes the narrative depth of the history of the area as well as interesting facts about the marine mammals that live in the Pacific.
Gray whales and dolphins are common enough to see will probably not be a problem. You can also spend a few ships of the navy important on the path through the port.
Refreshments and free admission tickets to the San Diego Maritime Museum are included. For decades, the Gaslamp District of San Diego has been the epicenter of the city of drunkenness, prostitution, and gambling. While it’s calmed down a bit, it is always on the itinerary of most visitors, who like to explore the seedy areas and stop for a drink and a snack.
The tour lasts approximately 2:30 ET includes the narrative of your local guide who will share many stories that may seem far fetched, but are in fact true.
You stop for a drink and a bite to eat along the way, and you may find a few restaurants and watering holes that you want to visit again after the tour is over.
5. Brothels, Bites, and Booze – Gas Lamp walking tour
For decades, the Gaslamp District of San Diego has been the epicenter of the city of drunkenness, prostitution, and gambling. While it’s calmed down a bit, it is always on the itinerary of most visitors, who like to explore the seedy areas and stop for a drink and a snack.
The tour lasts approximately 2:30 ET includes the narrative of your local guide who will share many stories that may seem far fetched, but are in fact true.
You stop for a drink and a bite to eat along the way, and you may find a few restaurants and watering holes that you want to visit again after the tour is over.
6. Interior Mountain and Desert Tour
Southern California desert around the oasis of San Diego is striking by comparison, but beautiful in itself.
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and the old gold mining town of Julian are popular attractions, and you can feel that you are away from civilization as you really are.
The desert is filled with a variety of species of cacti and fascinating rock formations that are like glimpses into the past. Near Fonts Point – often called the Grand Canyon of California – is a remarkable stop as well.
Hotel pickup is an option, and it is all-inclusive except for lunch and tips.
7. Tequila and Tacos walking tour
With its Spanish influence and heritage dating back over two centuries, it is not surprising that Southern California is known for its lively and tasty cuisine tequila.
The streets of Old Town San Diego is like a trip back in time, and this 2 ½ hour tour is a convenient and inexpensive way to see the historic district.
Many buildings in the city have been restored to the almost original state. With a wide variety of Mexican dishes influenced restaurants and bars, it is an ideal place to delve into the local food scene.
The tour takes between two and three hours and includes stops at four restaurants and a few samples of food and free drinks.
8. USS Midway Museum Skip the Line Admission
The USS Midway is one of the most emblematic tourist attractions of San Diego and is visited by hundreds of thousands of people each year worldwide.
The ship was converted into a naval museum, and it is possible to take a guided tour or give you a tour with an audio guide.
You will be amazed by the size of Midway, and it includes some restored fighter planes that were once based on the support.
It is a must for military historians amateurs or veterans of the World War and is one of the things that really should not be transmitted when you are in the area.
9. 5:00 Tijuana Tour
The city of Tijuana, Mexico is just south of the border and has been a favorite excursion point for adventurous travelers for ages.
It has a sleazy reputation, though it probably deserved, it is still possible to visit the old town for a family-friendly tour that is started in San Diego.
The tour includes stops at some of the historical sites and interesting architecture of the city, such as arenas and Abraham Lincoln statues and Cuauhtémoc – a famous Aztec king who once ruled the northern area of Mexico.
You will have the opportunity to stop for food and drinks on the way in order to make some extra bucks.
10. Seal tower
If you’ve never been on an amphibious vehicle, they are like a truck and a boat, and there is no more unique way to see the harbor seal population.
The tour lasts about an hour and a half and includes land and sea sections, from Seaport Village.
Do not worry, the vehicle as the duck will not sink, and once you are on, you will see the famous Vacation Isle and other remarkable and picturesque port districts that are perfect backdrops for photos.
The California sun reflecting off water can be extreme, so cover and bring some sunscreen and sunglasses just in case.
Beatrice Cox is a writer and stylist with a passion for the intersection between biology, technology and design. High in Swedish Bali and Heritage, it travels around the world encouraged and informed a global perspective on the future of fashion and its relations with planetary health. She is currently working for a sustainable fashion label in Bali, Indonesia.