San Diego · California, USA
Things to Do in San Diego: Tours, Tickets & Day Trips
The best things to do in San Diego, ranked by real traveller reviews: cruise the bay past the USS Midway, spend a day at the world-famous San Diego Zoo, kayak the La Jolla sea caves, watch whales off Point Loma, walk Old Town and Coronado, and cross into Tijuana or sip through Temecula wine country on a day trip. Compare 510+ tours and tickets side by side — most with free cancellation.
527 experiences Free cancellation Top-rated tours Instant booking
Sunset tours in San Diego
Departures that are under way when the sun sets in the coming weeks — start times checked against the local sunset.
Good for families in San Diego
Children can join from a young age and pay less than adults — taken from each operator’s price list.
Browse
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.
ExploreWhat to see
Top 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.
110+ toursView tours
San Diego Zoo
World-famous.
90 toursView tours
La Jolla Caves
Kayak & snorkel.
80 toursView tours
USS Midway
Carrier museum.
70 toursView tours
Whale Watching
Whales & dolphins.
70 toursView tours
Old Town
Historic district.
90 toursView tours
Sunset Cliffs
Coastal views.
60 toursView tours
SeaWorld
Family fun.
50 toursView tours
3 days
San Diego in 3 days
- 1Day 1: bay & city
- 2Day 2: zoo & Balboa
- 3Day 3: La Jolla
- 4Whale watching
Coast
San Diego coast & beaches
- 1La Jolla kayak
- 2Snorkel the cove
- 3Whale watching
- 4Sunset cliffs
~45 min + border awayTijuana
Guided walking & street-food tours.
from $46View trips
~1 hr 15 min awayTemecula
Wine country, 40+ wineries.
from $88View trips
~20 min awayLa Jolla
Sea-cave kayaking & sea lions.
from $60View trips
~45 min, Escondido awaySafari Park
Open-range wildlife safari.
from $75View trips
~15 min by ferry awayCoronado
Hotel del Coronado & the beach.
from $56View trips
~40 min, Carlsbad awayLEGOLAND
Family theme park.
from $100View trips
Practical guide
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.
When to visit
San Diego through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
Summer (Jun–Sep)
Jun–Sep
- Best for
- Beaches & fun.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Book ahead.
Spring (Mar–May)
Mar–May
- Best for
- Mild, green.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- May Gray possible.
Autumn (Oct–Nov)
Oct–Nov
- Best for
- Warm, quiet.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Great weather.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Dec–Feb
- Best for
- Gray whales.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Mild, some rain.
People also ask
San Diego travel FAQ
What are the top 10 things to do in San Diego?
Ranked by traveller reviews: 1) a San Diego Bay harbor cruise, 2) the San Diego Zoo, 3) kayaking the La Jolla sea caves, 4) whale and dolphin watching, 5) the USS Midway Museum, 6) Balboa Park and its museums, 7) Old Town and Coronado by trolley, 8) a Gaslamp Quarter or Little Italy food tour, 9) a guided Tijuana day trip, 10) Temecula wine tasting. Sunset Cliffs and the beaches are the free bonus.
How many days do you need in San Diego?
Three days: the bay and downtown, then Balboa Park and the zoo, then the La Jolla coast. Five days adds a beach or Mission Bay day, the Safari Park or LEGOLAND with kids, and a day trip to Tijuana or Temecula wine country.
What to do in San Diego for free?
Watch the sea lions at La Jolla Cove, walk Sunset Cliffs at golden hour, wander Balboa Park’s gardens and Spanish architecture, explore Old Town State Historic Park, stroll the Embarcadero and Seaport Village, hit Coronado, Pacific or Mission Beach, and visit the Cabrillo tide pools at low tide. Balboa Park’s museums have free-entry days for county residents only.
What are the best day trips from San Diego?
Tijuana on a guided walking or taco tour (45 minutes plus the border, passport required), Temecula wine country (about 75 minutes), the Safari Park in Escondido, Julian for apple pie and gold-rush history (75 minutes by car), Anza-Borrego desert in spring and, with a car, Laguna Beach or Disneyland in Anaheim (90 minutes).
What to do in San Diego at night?
A sunset sail or dinner cruise on the bay, the Gaslamp Quarter’s bars and rooftops, a ghost tour of Old Town or the Whaley House, live music in North Park, Little Italy for dinner, and the free Balboa Park Friday evening openings in summer. Coronado beach at sunset is the classic finish.
What is there to do in San Diego in winter?
Winter is gray-whale season — December to April cruises see the migration off Point Loma. Days are mild (mid-60s °F) so the zoo, Balboa Park, harbor cruises and Old Town all work, the beaches are empty, and the Safari Park and Temecula are pleasant without summer heat. December brings Balboa Park’s December Nights and the boat parade on the bay.
What are the best things to do in San Diego with kids?
The San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, LEGOLAND California in Carlsbad, SeaWorld, the USS Midway with its flight simulators, the Fleet Science Center and Natural History Museum in Balboa Park, the Seal amphibious tour, tide pools at Cabrillo, and a tandem kayak or whale-watching cruise for older kids.
When is the best time to visit San Diego?
September and October are the sweet spot: warm ocean, fewer crowds, no June Gloom. Summer is busiest and best for beaches; winter is mild with gray whales. Late May and June can bring morning coastal cloud that burns off by afternoon.
Is the San Diego Zoo worth it?
Yes — it is consistently ranked among the best zoos in the world, with 100 acres in Balboa Park, pandas, a guided bus tour and the Skyfari aerial tram included in admission. Plan a full day, arrive at opening and book timed tickets ahead in summer.
527 San Diego experiencesfrom $30 · free cancellation
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