Top San Diego Arts & Design

Take a trip through American naval history with admission to the USS Midway Museum in San Diego. This enormous ship, known as the longest-serving aircraft carrier of the 20th century, now offers a range of interactive exhibits, a self-guided audio tour and numerous restored aircraft across its 4-acre (1.6-hectare) flight deck and sections below. It’s an essential piece of San Diego’s, and America’s, military history.

Save money by booking a San Diego Explorer Pass, which grants you access to your choice of two to seven local attractions and activities at discounted rates. The pass is valid for 60 days after first use, making it great for visitors and San Diego residents alike. Available attractions include the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego natural History Museum as well as speedboat tours and bike rentals.

Sail back into history during this visit to the Maritime Museum of San Diego. Enjoy one of the world’s biggest collections of historic ocean vessels, including five ships and two submarines. You’ll view the USS Dolphin research submarine, a Soviet B-39 submarine, the iconic Star of India and the HMS Surprise (star of the ‘Master and Commander’ and ‘Pirates of the Caribbean films’) among others. A fun collection kid-friendly exhibits, plus an on-site maritime research library, round out the experience.

Learn about American history, especially early California history, while exploring the haunted house of Thomas Whaley. This is a self-guided tour that will transport you back to the 1800s. It lasts around 30 minutes. There are also docents on hand who are available to answer any questions. Don’t get too scared in America’s most haunted house.

Explore some of the top highlights of San Diego with your or or two day trolley 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 11 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.

Explore the best eats in the Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego on a walking tour with an expert guide who shares the inside scoop on the district's hopping restaurant and bar scene. Sample delicious dishes at several eateries, sip drinks, and learn about the history of the district as you discover its latest incarnation as a top nightlife destination. Colorful stories shared by your guide make the history of San Diego come to life on this 2.5-hour tour.

Meet some of the world's most exotic animals with your admission ticket to the renowned San Diego Zoo, one of California's top family-friendly attractions. More than 4,000 animals representing 800 species live in this state-of-the-art zoo, including some that are rarely seen at other zoos. Admire the animals and go in-depth during daily keeper talks and guided bus tours. With mobile tickets, simply scan your phone for direct entry into the San Diego Zoo. Ticket must be redeemed on travel date selected. Tickets must be purchased at least one day prior to visit.

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.

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.

View more than 4,000 animals roaming in large enclosures on a 2-day visit to the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park. This admission ticket allows you to spend two days at the Zoo, or split your time between the Zoo and the Safari Park. At the zoo, see the diverse collection of animals, many of which are not present at other zoos in the United States. The Safari Park is inspired by the Serengeti Plains in Africa and the Asian plains and is home to lions, tigers, zebras, which you can see from the a 32-acre (13-hectare) safari trail. Access to all shows and exhibits, as well as use of all the in-park transportation, are included. With mobile tickets, simply scan your phone for direct entry into the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park.

Explore San Diego at night under the moonlight with this 1.5-hour city lights tour. Travel from the city’s Gaslamp Quarter to Balboa Park and the Embarcadero. Catch sights of the historic San Diego County Administration Center, the USS Midway Museum, and the Star of India. Plus ride to the top of the Coronado Bridge and see sights lit up all over the city, as well as some from Tijuana.

Explore downtown San Diego and Balboa Park on a 2.5-hour Segway tour. Follow your guide to historic sites like the Hall of Justice and Pantoja Park, then make your way through Little Italy and the expansive grounds of Balboa Park. In the park you glide past destinations including Founder’s Plaza, the San Diego Museum of Natural History, and the Inez Parker Memorial Rose Garden. Your guide provides commentary on San Diego's history and landmarks throughout the tour. Includes guide, use of equipment, and Segway orientation—no prior experience necessary.

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.

Explore Tijuana, Mexico, without getting lost on this day trip from San Diego, a great choice for first-time visitors. Visit cultural attractions, sample authentic Mexican street food at a sidewalk taco stand, and do some shopping and sightseeing. Opt to walk or take public transportation and experience the city like a local. Your guide can suggest stops and adapt the itinerary to fit the needs of the group.

Take a tour of San Diego's most-popular park during this Segway exploration of Balboa Park. Follow your friendly local guide to all of the hot spots and learn why locals love the laid back vibe of this coastal destination.

Experience San Diego’s scenic highlights and historic landmarks on a full-day tour of the 'America's finest city'. Listen to the legends behind San Diego's most important sites as you skirt the bay to Coronado Island, explore the Embarcadero then follow lush roads into Balboa Park’s elegant gardens and museums. Pause to find lunch in a Gaslamp Quarter restaurant, take in La Jolla’s world-class shopping district and sweeping coastline and finish your day in the heart of downtown San Diego.

This tour is great for visitors to San Diego, or residents who want to uncover more of the history of their fine city. This small group tour takes you around the Gaslamp Quarter to explore the origins while walking the streets. Easily meet your guide on 5th avenue, and then get walking. Make sure to wear some comfy shoes.

The city is a canvas! Come enjoy some of the best street art and graffiti in San Diego, while learning things that change how you will see and experience cities everywhere. On this walking tour we view fantastic examples of street art and graffiti (don't know the difference? Come learn!). We also stop in gallery spaces and shops to see the incredible work being done in our community. Guests are consistently impressed by how much they learn on this tour, and appreciate the wonderful photo opportunities along the way!

The Private San Diego Highlights Tour introduces our guests to a private VIP guided experience that is unparalleled in its detail and scope. No other tour can include so much fun sightseeing and at so leisurely a pace. In five hours, you will see the best of America’s Finest City! Our tour begins daily at your desired pick-up location and from there we transport you throughout the loveliest and most renowned parts of our city.

This private tour with award winning tour guide Julie Kremen showcases some of the outstanding yet hidden scenery of the La Jolla area, plus funky, quirky and mind-boggling art and architecture. You’ll also experience “San Diego’s newest tourist attraction” – a remarkable treasure that even locals don’t know about! But Shhhhh…. don’t tell anyone about these places….they’re secret! Note: This 4 hour tour is a private tour, but it is fully customizable; contact Julie to book as described above or to discuss how to change to suit your needs.

Raise your photography to the next level with a private photography training session or a photography tour led by Julie Kremen, an award winning professional photographer and certified tour guide. Read the reviews and see why she is top-rated on TripAdvisor. The instruction is completely customized to your abilities, interests, and goals; so you get the maximum amount of one-on-one instruction tailored to suit your needs. Personal instruction and the ability to shadow a skilled professional photographer allows you to receive immediate feedback as you shoot and get on-the-spot guidance as to how to improve. Julie works closely with you before the session to nail down exactly what you want to concentrate on so you can get the most out of your experience. Contact Julie with any questions and your boost your shooting skills! Any type of camera is okay, including mobile phone cameras.

Experience San Diego like you're a local by visiting North Park, one of the most walkable neighborhoods in the city. Forbes magazine recently named North Park one of "America's Best Hipster Neighborhoods," but that's about as close as North Park gets to being a tourist trap. This culturally diverse commercial district features cafes, diners, coffee shops, microbreweries, boutiques, and much more. You'll learn how North Park began as a lemon grove in 1893 and quickly grew into one of San Diego's first residential and commercial districts. North Park is also a great place in San Diego look at street art, and visit art galleries in the Ray Street Arts District. You'll see murals covering entire walls of buildings around every corner. Even the utility boxes are covered with art! This "small group" North Park Walking Tour will give you a good understanding of the area's history, and why it's one of the city's coolest neighborhoods to live in today.

Explore North Park, which Forbes referred to as one of "America's Best Hipster Neighborhoods." It's one of San Diego's most walkable neighborhoods, with microbreweries, art galleries, coffee shops, and street art dotting every corner. This self-guided walking tour will have you exploring North Park like a local, taking you to some of the neighborhood's best tacos, breweries, coffee shops, and more. There’s also street art and unique shops, including an eccentric bookstore filled to the brim with rare and gently-used books.