Things to do in San Diego
San Diego Whale Watching Tour6 optionsBalboa Park Tours21 optionsBoat Tour San Diego22 optionsGhost Tour San Diego8 optionsSan Diego Airport Shuttle7 optionsFood Tour San Diego23 optionsSan Diego Wine Tour6 optionsSan Diego Walking Tour30 optionsVespa Scooter Moped Tours7 optionsSailing Tour San Diego14 optionsBike Tour San Diego5 optionsSunset Cruises7 options
The unmissables
Most booked
San Diego Zoo: 1-Day Ticket & Unlimited Bus Tour Access★ 4.71 (4,652) · 1h–4h
Top rated
San Diego Whale Watching Cruise: Gray & Blue Whales Year-Round★ 4.81 (2,534) · 4h
Best value
San Diego Hop On Hop Off Trolley: 11 Stops & Balboa Park★ 4.68 (2,819) · 2h
Recommended (7)
Midway San Diego Tours: Walk the Flight Deck★ 4.85 (2,367) · 2h–5hUS$ 41View ›
San Diego: Whale Watching & Dolphin Cruise Mission Bay★ 4.59 (1,751) · 2h–3hUS$ 71View ›
San Diego: Amphibious Seal Tour by Land & Bay Waters★ 4.73 (1,370) · 1h 45mUS$ 56View ›
San Diego Little Italy: Food Tour with Tastings & Local Stories★ 4.96 (1,041) · 3h 30mUS$ 93View ›
San Diego Gaslamp: Food & Drink Tour with Scandal Stories★ 4.58 (870) · 2h 30mUS$ 115View ›
San Diego: Speed Boat Captain Tour & USS Midway Pass★ 4.80 (764) · 2hUS$ 89View ›
San Diego Whale Watching Cruise: Gray Whales & Marine Life★ 4.45 (720) · 3h 30mUS$ 54View ›Top rated (10)
Guadalupe Valley Wine Tasting Tour: 3 Wineries & LunchA private wine tasting tour from San Diego to Guadalupe Valley visits three artisan wineries over a full day, with wine tastings at each stop, a cheese platter at the second winery, and a four-course farm-to-table lunch by Michelin-starred chef Javier Plascencia at Finca Altozano. The van picks up your group at home or hotel (minimum six passengers), includes a live guide in English, Spanish or Italian, and returns by 7:30pm. Wineries are selected based on availability and your preferences.Is it for me?Book this tour if your group has at least six people and wants to taste multiple wineries without managing the drive or coordinating stops. The private van and fixed itinerary mean the day holds together without anyone building it—you arrive at your hotel, get picked up, and taste your way through the valley while someone else handles the route and the timing.
Valle de Guadalupe: Wine & Food Tour with Rosarito TacosYou’ll start your day with fresh tacos by the sea in Rosarito before heading into Valle de Guadalupe for wine tastings at three boutique wineries. Share tapas-style lunch plates filled with local flavor, relax in a private van stocked with drinks, and soak up stories from your guide and winemakers along the way.
San Diego Escape Room: 60-Min Gaslamp Quarter AdventureYou arrive, get briefed on your mission, then have 60 minutes to solve puzzles and find clues with your team to escape the room. A game guide helps you from a control room if you get stuck. Afterward, you debrief and take photos. The whole experience takes about 90 minutes, and you're in a family-friendly, non-scary environment with up to 7 other players.Is it for me?Pick this if you want a structured puzzle challenge that doesn't require you to arrange anything beyond showing up—the guide handles the briefing, timing, and hints, so you just focus on solving and working together.
San Diego Bay: Sunset & Day Sail Small Group TourYou’ll glide through San Diego Bay on a small-group sailboat at sunset, spotting dolphins and sea lions while sipping included drinks. See icons like Coronado Bridge and historic ships up close with your local guide pointing out hidden details. Feel both relaxed and quietly awed as city lights flicker on behind you—this is an evening you’ll want to linger in.
San Diego Bay: Private Sailing Charter with Champagne & SnacksYou’ll board a spacious private yacht in San Diego Bay, meet Captain Liz (who actually listens), sip chilled champagne as you pass sea lions and city landmarks, and watch sunset colors spill across the water. With snacks included and plenty of space to relax or take photos, it’s less about sightseeing and more about letting go for a couple hours.
San Diego: Escape Room Game UTC Mall with 6 ThemesYou’ll dive straight into one of six themed escape room games at San Diego’s Westfield UTC—cracking codes, solving puzzles, and racing against time with your crew. Expect laughs, teamwork (and maybe some friendly bickering), plus help from a local guide if you need it. Afterwards, celebrate over dinner nearby—those small victories stick with you longer than you’d think.
San Diego Bay: Glow Pedal Boat Rental at NightYou arrive early, get fitted with a life jacket and shown how to operate the boat, then pedal out into America's Cup Harbor for 15 minutes. You spend 30 minutes drifting or exploring with the Downtown skyline in view, your own music playing through the Bluetooth speaker, and neon glow underneath the boat. The ride back takes another 15 minutes. Blankets are available, dogs are welcome, and the whole thing is private to your group.Is it for me?Book this if you want a private boat experience on San Diego Bay without a guide talking the whole time — you control the pace, the music, and how long you drift, which is what makes it work for couples looking for something low-key or families wanting to move at their own speed.
2.5-Hour Catamaran Sailing in San Diego: Small-Group Harbor TourA 2.5-hour catamaran sailing adventure in San Diego Harbor for small groups, with complimentary drinks and blankets included. You'll explore the downtown skyline, Coronado Bay Bridge, Embarcadero and Midway aircraft carrier while watching for sea lions, seabirds and often dolphins. The wide, stable catamaran design keeps the boat level and comfortable, and the captain keeps groups small enough that it feels like sailing with friends rather than a crowd.Is it for me?The guide speaks English and the commentary is delivered by the captain as you sail, so you follow along naturally without needing to gather around or take notes—it works for all ages from 4 up, and for anyone who wants to relax rather than rush through a schedule.
San Diego Catamaran Sail: 2.5-Hour Small-Group Harbor CruiseA 2.5-hour catamaran sail around San Diego Harbor on a modern, stable boat designed for comfort, with your choice of daytime or sunset departure. Small-group trips mean no crowded decks; the crew shuts off the engine to let you experience the sail itself, and marine life sightings—sea lions, seabirds, dolphins—are common. Beer, wine, soft drinks and water are included; you can bring your own food and beverages if you prefer.Is it for me?Book the daytime sail if you want to see the harbor in full light and spot marine life actively; choose the sunset sail if you'd rather watch the sky change color over the water while the city lights come on. Either way, small-group size and the crew's willingness to kill the engine mean you're sailing, not just riding.
San Diego: Balboa Park Walking Tour & Coffee StopYou’ll walk under blooming jacarandas with a local guide, spot hidden details on century-old buildings, watch artists at work in Spanish Village Art Center, and unwind with coffee at a beloved park cart. Expect stories that bring Balboa Park’s history alive—and moments where San Diego feels both big and close-knit all at once.
Lowest price (10)
San Diego Embarcadero: Ghost Tour & Haunted ShipsYou walk the San Diego Embarcadero for an hour with a guide who knows the waterfront's haunted history, visiting the Old Police Headquarters, viewing the USS Midway and historic ships from shore, and using ghost detection tools at several stops. The tour is PG-13 and includes all equipment; no boarding of ships, just viewing and listening from the waterfront.Is it for me?Right for anyone who wants a short, focused ghost tour of downtown San Diego without a long time commitment — the hour covers the main haunted locations and the detection tools give you something to do besides just listen, which is what keeps the pace moving and the group engaged.
San Diego Gaslamp: True Crime Walking Tour & Haunted HotelYou’ll walk through San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter with a true crime expert, hear gritty stories from its Stingaree days, step inside a haunted hotel room, and learn about infamous murders that shaped downtown’s past. Expect laughter mixed with chills — and a side of local color you won’t get anywhere else.
San Diego Gaslamp: Downtown Ghost Walking Tour with EntryYou’ll walk San Diego’s Gaslamp District after dark with a local guide who actually takes you inside haunted places—like the Davis-Horton House—while sharing true crime tales and weird history. Expect creaky floors, wild stories about gamblers and spies, and plenty of moments where you’ll wonder if that chill was just the breeze… or something else.
San Diego: 3-Hour Whale Watch Cruise & Gray WhalesYou board at Mission Bay and cruise past San Diego's entire coastline—from Dog Beach to La Jolla to Sunset Cliffs—while a certified naturalist explains the gray whales, dolphins, and sea lions you're actually seeing. The 80-foot Legacy gets you to open water fast, and the three-hour window keeps the pace tight without feeling rushed. Parking is free, seating is flexible, and you leave with a real sense of what lives in these waters.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see whales without arranging your own boat or spending the day on the water—the three-hour window and certified naturalists mean you get real sightings and real explanations without the logistics.
Museum of Illusions San Diego: 50+ Interactive ExhibitsYou get admission to all 50+ interactive illusion exhibits spread across multiple rooms in downtown San Diego. Spend as long as you want walking through gravity-defying installations, holograms, and optical tricks that challenge how your brain interprets what you're seeing. The whole experience is self-paced, wheelchair accessible, and located in the Gaslamp Quarter near restaurants and the waterfront.Is it for me?Right for anyone spending time in downtown San Diego who wants an indoor activity that doesn't require advance planning or a long time commitment—the Gaslamp Quarter location and self-paced format mean you can drop in between other plans without worrying about schedules or group timing.
San Diego Old Town Ghost Tour: Haunted History Exclusive AccessA 90-minute guided ghost tour through San Diego's Old Town visits Heritage Park, the Whaley House grounds, the Old Adobe Chapel, and El Campo Santo Cemetery, with a live English-speaking guide. The tour includes paid access to Heritage Park, a rarely visited Victorian-era site where the operator has exclusive permission to lead groups; you'll stand on the grounds of the Whaley House (not inside the building) and walk the cemetery where burial disturbances have reportedly stirred restless spirits. The tour blends historically accurate dark events—crime, revolution, buried-alive stories—with the supernatural reports visitors have documented there.Is it for me?The tour walks four separate haunted sites across 90 minutes at a pace set by the guide, so it suits anyone comfortable with a moderate outdoor walk and standing still to listen at each stop. If you want the documented ghost stories and dark history without the theatrical jump scares, or if you want access to Heritage Park's interior grounds (which most other tours can't offer), this one delivers both.
Petco Park Behind-the-Scenes Tour: San Diego dugout, clubhouse, press boxA behind-the-scenes tour of Petco Park in downtown San Diego takes you through the major league dugout, visitors' clubhouse, press box and Padres Hall of Fame with a live English-speaking guide. The route covers roughly 80 minutes and includes access to areas closed to regular ticket holders, from the field warning track to the historic Western Metal Supply Co. Building.Is it for me?The guide speaks English and leads the whole route, so anyone comfortable following a live tour in English will follow the commentary without strain. The tour moves at a walking pace through accessible areas, and it suits all fitness levels.
La Jolla: Kayak Rental for Two & Marine Life SpottingYou’ll paddle your own kayak along La Jolla’s coast, spotting seals or even dolphins if you’re lucky. All equipment is included, plus a quick safety intro before you head out at your own pace. Expect salty air, some laughs (especially if you’re new), and views of La Jolla most people never see—from right on the water.
San Diego Bay: Jet Boat Ride with Spins & City ViewsYou’ll feel pure adrenaline as you speed across San Diego Bay on a jet boat ride—with wild spins, city skyline views, salty wind in your face, and close-ups of iconic ships like the U.S.S. Midway. Ponchos keep you mostly dry (but not your shoes), and your local captain keeps things lively all along the waterfront.
San Diego Sunset Cruise: SeaWorld & Ocean Beach PierA sunset cruise departing from Mission Bay in San Diego that runs 75 minutes and circles the bay's landmarks — SeaWorld's exterior, Vacation Isle Park and the jetties facing Ocean Beach Pier — aboard the Ohana with a live English-speaking guide. The boat includes a restroom, a fully stocked bar with cocktails and beer available for purchase, and free parking on Quivira Road. Arrive 30 to 45 minutes before departure; children must be accompanied by an adult, and the dress code is smart casual.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to watch the sunset without deciding when to leave or planning your own route—you'll join other travelers on a 75-minute shared cruise with a set departure time.
