Old Town San Diego Tours
24 Reviews

Dating to 1769, Old Town San Diego is the site of California’s first European settlement. To see the district's prime attraction, stop at Old Town San Diego State Historic Park with its preserved adobe buildings and living history demonstrations such as blacksmithing. The area is also home to restaurants, shops, and live entertainment.
The Basics
The main attraction is Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, which offers insight into San Diego’s Mexican and early American history in the 1800s. Stop by an old schoolhouse and Casa de Estudillo, a restored adobe home filled with period furniture. Other diversions include Mexican restaurants, live mariachi performances, and shops selling jewelry, pottery, and other goods. Old Town is included in several city tours, including hop-on hop-off routes, food tours, and ghost tours.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Old Town is a must for history buffs and first-time visitors to San Diego.
- A visitor center is located in the main plaza and is a good place to begin your visit.
- Public parking lots are available, as well as street parking.
How to Get There
Old Town is northwest of downtown, with the state historic park at the intersection of San Diego Avenue and Twiggs Street. The Old Town transit center on Taylor Street serves San Diego trolleys and buses.
When to Get There
Go during the day to see the historical sites of the park, or arrive around dinnertime to enjoy the area's lively evening atmosphere. Cinco de Mayo festivities take place every year, and for live entertainment such as folk dancing, head to the Fiesta de Reyes Stage.
Whaley House Museum
Located in Old Town, the Whaley House Museum is said to be one of the most haunted sites in the city, making it a popular visitor attraction, especially with ghost tours. The mansion was built in the 1850s where gallows once stood, and unusual activity has been reported there ever since. More recently it's been featured on TV and in books for paranormal activity.
Address: San Diego Avenue at Twiggs Street, San Diego, California, USA
Admission: Free
22 Tours and Activities to Experience Old Town San Diego
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San Diego Tour: Hop-on Hop-off Trolley
Explore some of the top highlights of San Diego with your silver, gold, or platinum day pass (depending on option selected) for the city’s Hop-on, Hop-off Trolley Tour. Choose your own adventure as you get on and off the trolley at any of the 12 included stops, covering famous sights including the Gaslamp Quarter, the San Diego Zoo, USS Midway and the Cruise Ship Terminal, Little Italy, and many more. This San Diego trolley tour also features live commentary from the on-board guide during your ride.
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From
$42.00
From
$42.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff

San Diego Scenic Tour
In just four hours, experience the scenic highlights of San Diego and its neighboring areas. Watch sea lions and pelicans on the beaches of La Jolla and capture fantastic views from the top of Mt Soledad. Soak up the Old World elegance of the mansions and Hotel Del on Coronado Island, and find peace in the urban oasis of Balboa Park. Wind through downtown and Old Town San Diego, learning about the city’s history along the way. Enjoy personalized attention on this small-group tour limited to just 14 people.
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From
$65.00
From
$65.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Social distancing enforced throughout experience

Tequila, Tacos and Tombstones Culinary Tour of San Diego
Get your fiesta started in San Diego on a food and walking tour through historic Old Town. Visit some of the district's finest Mexican restaurants to sample tasty dishes, tequila cocktails, and hear mariachi music. Learn about the history of California and the Native Americans, Spanish, Mexicans and gold rush prospectors that influenced Old Town's growth. You even hear some ghostly tales at Whaley House and an old cemetery. Get insider tips from your guide about authentic Mexican cuisine and other great places to visit on this fun tour.
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From
$69.34
From
$69.34

San Diego: Old Town, Tequila and Tortillas Tour
Taste your way through Old Town San Diego during this historical tour with culinary samplings. Visit a side of San Diego many travelers don't see and take a hike to California's birthplace. Tequila, tacos, and tortilla samplings included.
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From
$73.75
From
$73.75
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Guides required to regularly wash hands
Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms

La Jolla & San Diego Beaches Tour
The tour will depart from Old Town and head to Mount Soledad followed by four conveniently located stops where you can disembark and explore in depth. Have the chance to visit historic sites in Old Town, and bring along your beachwear to enjoy the coast. See the natural treasures of this beachy city at Mount Soledad, which offers 360-degree views over San Diego.
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From
$39.00
From
$39.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers

GoCar Talking GoCar 2Hr Tour: Downtown & Old Town
Explore San Diego’s Downtown and Old Town sights in a fun and fast-paced way—on a GoCar tour. This sightseeing adventure takes the stress out of reading a map, as the car talks and shows you the way with its in-built GPS. Enjoy hearing stories as you explore the city’s most popular areas, including Little Italy, Mission Hills, Presidio Park, and the Gaslamp Quarter.
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From
$66.56
Price varies by group size
From
$66.56
Price varies by group size
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas

San Diego Shore Excursion: San Diego Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley
Explore San Diego at your own pace with a full-day ticket to ride a hop-on, hop-off trolley through the city. Simply board the trolley at your cruise ship’s port of call and visit historic landmarks and vibrant neighborhoods at eleven centrally-located stops. Get a glimpse of California’s past in Old Town then see the magnificent ships that moor at the bustling waterfront; grab a spot on a beach to watch surfers catch breaking waves, and try to spot the famous ghost at the elegant Hotel del Coronado.
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From
$42.00
From
$42.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers

San Diego Tequila Tour
The group will meet in Old Town San Diego at Rockin' Baja Lobster, a notoriously fun Mexican restaurant! We'll sip our first tequila shot while enjoying chips and a full salsa bar!
Our next stop is high on the hillside, Old Town Tequila Factory, where we sample another shot of tequila AND enjoy a delicious fish taco on the rooftop patio with a beautiful scenic view that overlooks Downtown San Diego and the San Diego Harbor that gives that perfect backdrop for a selfie!
As the tour continues, we learn about the Whaley House, early California, grave sites, historical markers, and other Old Town facts as we pass them by on our way to our final stop.
Saving the best for last, the restaurant, bar and tequila museum El Agave. This is a top shelf tequileria and carries over 2,000 tequilas. Here, each guest is treated to YOUR OWN PERSONAL FLIGHT of tequila that is highly rated by the bar vendors while enjoying the fine dining establishment ending our tour!!
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From
$104.00
From
$104.00

Old Town Scavenger Hunt, Walking Tour
Explore the history and hot spots of your location by solving scavenger hunt and trivia style riddles on this engaging walking tour. Your team will earn points and be guided farther along the route with every riddle. Play from the convenience of your smartphone whenever you’re ready for an adventure!
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From
$28.50
per group
$9.50 savings
From
$28.50
per group
$9.50 savings
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons

Private San Diego Sightseeing Tour
Experience San Diego’s scenic highlights and hidden gems on a private, 3-hour sightseeing tour with an experienced guide. Customize the itinerary to your interests, then explore the city in the comfort of a luxurious, VW Eurovan that seats up to six people. Visit Balboa Park’s botanical garden and the historic lighthouse at Cabrillo National Monument, and enjoy a beachside stroll at Ocean Beach. Take in the bustling downtown and the Gaslamp Quarter, stop by the glamorous Del Coronado Hotel then see the birthplace of California in Old Town San Diego.
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From
$96.00
From
$96.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers

Luxury Private Wine Tasting Tour to Guadalupe Valley from San Diego.
We offer the best wine tasting tours to Guadalupe Valley starting from San Diego! You will visit three artisan wine makers in the heart of the valley where you will enjoy tastings of delicious reds, whites and roses. You will experience a tour of the wine making process and enjoy a succulent BajaMed style lunch at Finca Altozano. Tour starts at 9:00am and back in San Diego by 7:30pm. Times are approximations, wineries and restaurant subject to change based on availability and weather conditions. This is a Private tour. You will have a private van for your party. No strangers. Minimum of four passengers per booking needed. Due to covid-19 we are not running public tours, only private tours. Public tours will resume after January, 2021.
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From
$249.00
From
$249.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas

Tijuana Cultural Private Day Tour
If you really want to experience Tijuana like a local, this six hour cultural driving tour is for you! Experience the real charm of the city while walking the main streets of Tijuana while interacting with locals at the city market, museum and Avenida Revolucion. Visit the infamous Trump's wall and enjoy some time at the beach. Try local craft beer, Tequila and Mescal. Visit the Caesars restaurant where the Caesar's salad was invented and have free time for curios shopping. Also learn about the culture at the CECUT center and botanical gardens in Zona Rio. And for lunch, enjoy the real Mexican tacos with lots of guacamole and salsa! You will have a private vehicle for your party. No strangers. Minimum of four people per booking needed.
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From
$149.00
From
$149.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas

All Day San Diego City and Shopping Tour
Make the most of your limited time in San Diego on a 7-hour small group tour. Provided transportation takes you to each location, which spares you the stress of navigating the city’s traffic on your own. Stop to explore La Jolla, Balboa Park, Old Town, and much more. The tour also includes a free trip to Las Americas Outlet, where you enjoy unbeatable deals at 125 stores.
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From
$94.94
From
$94.94

San Diego Electric Chariot Rental
LED-lights flashing in sync with riders’ favorite music, electric-power three-wheelers allow tourists explore San Diego in a fun and eco-friendly manner. One vehicle is enough to enjoy a little mobile party in a company of friends or family. Fans of an independent adventure drive the four-riders bikes on their own, while those who love insider’s stories may opt for a chariot tour with a knowledgeable local guide.
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From
$103.88
per group
From
$103.88
per group
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Social distancing enforced throughout experience

Private Customizable Iconic City Highlights Tour - Cultural, Historic, Shuttled
Journey with award winning tour guide Julie Kremen around San Diego’s cultural and historic sites—on a private tour of fun and informative must-see sightseeing hotspots.
On this private tour, you will experience and thoroughly understand how San Diego came to be the world-class modern city that it is. We’ll travel through the rich history of San Diego from its discovery by Spanish conquistadores, to the lively and festive Mexican period, to the days when it was the Wild Wild West’s new American frontier. And, of course, you’ll learn about its present-day standing as the 8th largest city in the US and what makes it the epitome of Southern California lifestyle. Discover why we are “America’s Finest City” and watch out… many who come to visit end up moving here!
Note: This 4 hour private tour is fully customizable; contact Julie to book as described above or to discuss how to change to suit your needs.
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From
$455.00
per group
From
$455.00
per group
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Face masks required for travelers in public areas

GoCar Talking GoCar 3Hr Tour: Point Loma Adventure
Drive a GoCar around San Diego's Point Loma area on this self-paced tour. No need for a tour bus or a taxi; you and your party aboard a touring car will follow a GPS route designed to show you the highlights. Depart Old Town and head for Liberty Station, the Cabrillo National Monument, Point Loma ecological preserve, Sunset Cliffs, and the Ocean Beach neighborhood.
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From
$91.64
Price varies by group size
From
$91.64
Price varies by group size
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas

San Diego GoCar Talking 4Hr GoCar Tour: Shoppers Delight
This tour is essential for anyone who really wants to get out and really experience San Diego. It takes the best parts of our Downtown, Balboa and Old Town tours, and gives you plenty of time to do all three tours, while also stopping and really checking out the sights of San Diego. You will have more than enough time to park the car and tour the Maritime Museum and check out all of the ships, navigate through the unique Horton Plaza mall, and the Gaslamp Quarter to see all the sights of Downtown. From there you can peruse around Balboa park on foot and really take in the sights and sounds of Balboa and even go to one of the many museums that are always open, and stop to smell the roses in our Rose Garden with over 800 different varieties of roses. All along this tour are many great spots to stop and take pictures, eat, drink, relax and truly experience why San Diego truly is America’s Finest City.
*If booking more than 2 people please submit separate orders!
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From
$116.43
Price varies by group size
From
$116.43
Price varies by group size
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas

San Diego GPS Talking GoCar: Best Value - All Day for the Price of 5 Hours
The all day Everything Tour is fun for the whole family, and lets you see nearly everything San Diego has to offer. From the historic Gaslamp Quarter where the fun is always happening and the iconic Horton Plaza where the shopping is just as fun as navigating the mall. You will see the beautiful rose garden of Balboa Park and the natural Beauty of the Point Loma Ecological preserve where you can wade through the tide pools looking at sea anemones, crabs, lobster, fish and the occasional octopus. You can walk around Ocean Beach and San Diego’s famous Maritime Museum, experience the always beautiful Balboa park where a Family photo is a must, and stroll through Old Town San Diego and see how San Diego has changed over the centuries from the small Mission and Mexican community it was to the Most Beautiful City in America.
*If booking more than 2 people please submit separate orders!
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From
$141.22
Price varies by group size
From
$141.22
Price varies by group size
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas

Super Saver: Self-Guided Speed Boat Adventure & iRide GPS Guided ScooterTour
Electric Scooter & Speedboat Combo where you get to explore the bay in your very own speedboat then explore San Diego in your very own GPS guided storytelling scooter. This combo land sea adventure makes for the perfect day in San Diego. Both tours do not need to be taken on the same day. Just book the day and time of the speedboat portion you want online and call the number above to book your scooter tour. After your purchase is confirmed we will email you a confirmation.
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From
$161.46
From
$161.46
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers

Exclusive: San Diego Harbor Speed Boat, Electric Scooter and USS Midway Tour
Explore the wildlife, skyline, and maritime legacy of the San Diego Harbor by land and by sea on this Viator Exclusive tour. Take the wheel of a speed boat during a cruise through the ship-studded bay before hopping on a bike for a closer look at shoreline attractions like Broadway Pier and the San Diego Air Station. Finish with a guided tour of the USS ‘Midway’ aircraft carrier, featuring an interactive glimpse into both US Navy and Air Force operations.
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From
$173.30
From
$173.30

1Hr GPS Guided Scooter Tour: Harbor/Gaslamp Quarter
This GPS guided scooter tour takes you on a multi-cultural tour of San Diego, starting in Little Italy, where you learn about the rise and fall of San Diego’s Italian population, your tour continues past the maritime history museum, the USS Midway, and into beautiful Seaport Village. You also get to travel past Horton Plaza which just begs be visited again after the tour ends. After Horton Plaza you make your way into the heart of San Diego, with a quick loop around the Home of San Diego Padres, and into the Historic Gaslamp Quarter, which after its reinvention is MUCH more family friendly then it used to be. As you leave the Gaslamp Quarter you will enter Banker’s Hill with is unique shops, also borders the always beautiful Balboa Park.
Tour Highlights:
• Little Italy
• Maritime Museum
• U.S.S. Midway
• Seaport Village
• Horton Plaza
• Historic Gaslamp Quarter
• Petco Park
• Bankers Hill
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From
$63.11
From
$63.11
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers

San Diego Day Private Day Trip: From/To Anaheim Resort/Orange County.
Make your transfer To/From the beautiful sunny San Diego, easy, and pleasant by making an affordable RapidShuttle Private, Direct, Non-Stop reservation that fits your budget. Because you are Not sharing the ride with other travelers, your schedule is based on your or your party travel arrangements. San Diego is home to USS Midway Museum, Balboa Park, San Diego Zoo, and many other attractions.
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From
$562.12
per group
$35.88 savings
From
$562.12
per group
$35.88 savings
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