San Diego Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best San Diego tours and things to do on Southern California’s sunny coast: cruise the harbor past the USS Midway, meet the animals at the world-famous San Diego Zoo, kayak the sea caves of La Jolla, watch for whales and dolphins, and explore historic Old Town and Coronado. Compare top-rated experiences and plan your perfect California getaway.
rating
Explore San Diego by interest
Whatever brings you to San Diego — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Harbor cruises
Bay & skyline.
ExploreZoo & attractions
Zoo & USS Midway.
ExploreLa Jolla kayak
Sea caves.
ExploreWhale watching
Whales & dolphins.
ExploreCity sightseeing
Old Town & trolley.
ExploreFood & Gaslamp
Tacos & tastings.
ExploreTijuana trips
Cross to Mexico.
ExploreSunset sails
Evening on the bay.
ExploreTop attractions in San Diego
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Harbor Skyline
Bay cruises.
San Diego Zoo
World-famous.
La Jolla Caves
Kayak & snorkel.
USS Midway
Carrier museum.
Whale Watching
Whales & dolphins.
Old Town
Historic district.
Sunset Cliffs
Coastal views.
SeaWorld
Family fun.
San Diego in 3 days
- 1Day 1: bay & city
- 2Day 2: zoo & Balboa
- 3Day 3: La Jolla
- 4Whale watching
San Diego coast & beaches
- 1La Jolla kayak
- 2Snorkel the cove
- 3Whale watching
- 4Sunset cliffs
~45 min awaySafari Park
Wildlife safari.
~20 min awayLa Jolla
Sea caves kayak.
~15 min awayCoronado
Island & beach.
~45 min awayTijuana
Cross to Mexico.
~40 min awayLEGOLAND
Family theme park.
Local awayWhale Watching
Whales & dolphins.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every San Diego visitor asks before booking.
Summer (Jun–Sep)
Warm, sunny and busy, ideal for beaches, cruises and outdoor fun.
Spring (Mar–May)
Mild and green with blossoms and fewer crowds, a lovely time to visit.
Autumn (Oct–Nov)
Warm, sunny and quieter, often the most pleasant time of year.
Gray whale season
December to April is best for gray-whale watching as they migrate along the coast.
Blue whale season
May to September brings blue and humpback whales to San Diego’s waters.
May Gray & June Gloom
Late spring can bring morning coastal cloud that usually burns off by afternoon.
One day
A harbor cruise and city sightseeing.
Three days
Add the zoo, La Jolla and whale watching.
Five days
Add theme parks, beaches and Tijuana.
Coast lovers
More time for La Jolla and the beaches.
Families
Zoo, SeaWorld, LEGOLAND and cruises.
Foodies
Gaslamp and Little Italy food tours.
Trolley & tours
Hop-on hop-off trolleys and guided tours are an easy way to see the main sights.
Rental car
A car is handy for reaching La Jolla, the Safari Park, beaches and theme parks.
MTS Trolley
The San Diego Trolley light rail links downtown, Old Town and the border crossing.
On foot
Downtown, the Gaslamp Quarter and the waterfront are easily walkable.
Getting there
San Diego International Airport is just minutes from downtown and the harbor.
Border crossing
For Tijuana, bring a passport and consider a guided tour to ease the crossing.
US dollars
San Diego uses the US dollar; cards are accepted almost everywhere, with tipping customary.
Book ahead
The zoo, theme parks and popular cruises sell out in summer — reserve in advance.
Sun protection
The California sun is strong — bring sunscreen, a hat and water.
Attraction passes
A San Diego attraction pass can save money if you plan several visits.
Whale-watch timing
Choose gray-whale season (winter) or blue-whale season (summer) for the best sightings.
Passport for Mexico
A passport is required for Tijuana day trips — carry it on the tour.
San Diego Zoo
Timed zoo and Safari Park tickets are best booked ahead.
Harbor cruises
Sunset and dinner cruises sell out — reserve early.
La Jolla kayaking
Sea-cave kayak tours fill up in summer — book ahead.
Whale watching
Peak-season cruises sell out — reserve early.
Theme parks
SeaWorld and LEGOLAND tickets are best booked ahead.
Tijuana trips
Guided border day trips have limited places — book ahead.
Harbor cruise
Around $30–55 for a narrated harbor cruise, more for dinner sails.
San Diego Zoo
About $70–90 for a one-day zoo admission ticket.
La Jolla kayak
Roughly $50–80 for a guided sea-cave kayak tour.
Whale watching
Around $50–80 for a 3-hour whale-watching cruise.
Tijuana day trip
About $80–130 for a guided Tijuana border day trip.
How to save
Use an attraction pass, join group tours and travel midweek.
San Diego through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Beaches & fun.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Book ahead.
- Best for
- Mild, green.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- May Gray possible.
- Best for
- Warm, quiet.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Great weather.
- Best for
- Gray whales.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Mild, some rain.