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.

1.5-hour night lights tour of San Diego
Travel through the Gaslamp Quarter, Balboa Park, and the Embarcadero
Ride to the top of the Coronado Bridge, and see sights lit up all over the city
Catch sight of the USS Midway Museum and the Star of India

What's Included

Guided tour of San Diego at night

Food and drinks
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Gratuities

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

825a Kettner Blvd
825a Kettner Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
The tour meets the Seaport Village boarding location (825 W. Harbor Drive) next to the Bay Company store. Guests are required to check in 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Meet for your 1.5-hour night tour of San Diego at 470 Kettner Boulevard in the city’s Seaport Village. Make sure to arrive 30 minutes before your departure time.

Once you meet your guide and group for the evening, set out through the Gaslamp Quarter. This area is well known for its nightlife and Victorian architecture. Your first stop is at Balboa Park, which is one of the largest urban parks in the US. Its statues, fountains, and buildings are lit up at night and look even more spectacular at night than during the day.

Next up, your guide drives you up to the Coronado Bridge and over to the Coronado Ferry Landing. Stop at the there for about 20 minutes, and take in stunning views of the city lights.

Your last part of this tour happens at the Embarcadero. See the San Diego County Administration Center, the USS Midway Museum, the Star of India, and Navy aircraft carriers.

Your tour ends back at your original meeting point.

Seaport Village (Pass By)

Gaslamp Quarter (Pass By)

Balboa Park (Pass By)

Coronado Bridge (Pass By)

The Coronado Ferry Landing

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Little Italy (Pass By)

Star of India (Pass By)

USS Midway Museum (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
Check in 30 minutes prior to tour time required. Late check-in may result in forfeited reserved seat. To change or cancel reservation, you must do so 24 hours in advance by calling
Please dress appropriately as there may be cool temperatures at night. Part of the tour involves walking, so wear comfortable shoes.
Wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed

Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Transportation is wheelchair accessible
Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 38 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Frequently Asked Questions

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.

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Q:Where is the departure point for the San Diego City Lights Night Tour?

A:The tour departs from 500 Kettner Blvd. in the Seaport Village, next to the Harbor House Restaurant

Mar 2021

Q:Is there parking available for the San Diego City Lights Night Tour?

A:The downtown area has numerous parking opportunities in paid lots. There is no designated free parking to board the tour.

Mar 2021

Q:How early should I arrive for the San Diego City Lights Night Tour?

A:You must check in at least 15 minutes prior to your tour. Of course, you are welcome to check in even earlier than that.

Mar 2021

Q:Do you pick up in the Old Town area?

A:Yes, we offer a free shuttle from Old Town departing from 4010 Twiggs St. It leaves 1.5 hours before the start of your tour. Please allow at least 30 mins prior to shuttle departure for parking. The shuttle will bring you back at the end of the tour.

Mar 2021

Q:How should I dress for the San Diego City Lights Night Tour?

A:Please dress appropriately as there may be cool temperatures at night. Part of the tour involves walking, so wear comfortable shoes.

Mar 2021

Q:Is the San Diego City Lights Night Tour handicap accessible?

A:Yes, some of our trolleys are wheelchair accessible, If you require accommodations, please notate in the "Special Requirements" box at checkout so we can assist.

Mar 2021

Q:Are pets allowed on the San Diego City Lights Night Tour?

A:Service animals are the only animals that are allowed on board the trolleys. Animal species other than dogs, emotional support animals, comfort animals, companion animals, and service animals in training are not permitted.

Mar 2021

Traveler Photos

Traveler Tips

its a ok trip,if you have short stay and time,good to go around in this trolley bus.Larry our tour guide was funny and exuberant.

Reviews

4.0

85 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

Showing 1-10 of 85 reviews

We all had a great tour

Tina_M, Sep 2023

Looking over the city with the night lights. The driver were great very informative the family had a nice time

Great way to learn the neighborhoods

Jen_D, Sep 2023

Belle was an absolutely amazing guide. She drove us around San Diego and provided great insights and info. The open air trolley was great for catching the views along the way. We stopped briefly to get a great nighttime skyline shot of the city

Chicago visits San Diego

Misty_D, Sep 2023

Great decision to do the night version, we really enjoyed our tour. Traveling to Coronado was an experience that allowed an amazing view of the skyline.

I was somewhat disappointed

Latricea_R, Aug 2023

For me, the tour was an ok tour. The drive through Balboa Park was so fast that you barely get a glimpse of anything. The bus is an open bus so it was hard to hear what the driver was saying when she was pointing out the different things. The city lights were pretty once you cross over the Coronado bridge. We were there for about 20 minutes to take pictures of the city skyline. My boat tour was cheaper and so much better.

I'd definitely do it again

Debbie_B, Aug 2023

Excellent tour....very knowledgeable tour guide. Highly recommend 👌. Loved the history of San Diego.

City Tour

Edmond_H, Jul 2023

My ride was with Belle she was very good driver and operator thank you! She was introducing everything about San Diego culture and about city.

The night tour

Mildred_W, Jul 2023

Everything was nice and the lights at night made it very special and nice and going cross the bridge to Coronado was great but didn’t feel the excitement like we thought and want to bc everything was getting to close and plus y’all need to do a little better at night bc we was so cold on that bus the driver was nice and very knowledgeable but she forgot the heat when we went across the bridge!!

Tour

Tee_D, Jul 2023

Enjoyed the tour host and some sites. But your was kinda boring. Too dark and far away to see most things. The park and museums was nice.

Night lights

Corey_S, Jul 2023

Our guide Liz was AMAZING! She interactive with us and funny! It was great to see the City at night. This is my 3 rd time to San Diego and it was cool to see it like I haven’t before!!! Thanks Liz!!!

Loved this trolley tour

Afrian_Z, Jul 2023

We had a great time on this tour, Rico our tour operator was super personable and super informative. Learned so much and found many more things I want to do in the area and saw so many mor places I want to go from taking this tour. Highly recommend. They do one stop on coranado where you can get a bit to eat or go to the restroom.

Wonderful

Saleem_M, Jul 2023

All I have to say is Wow, everything was amazing, the driver was very nice and informative, he was also very funny, he took his time and answered our questions . Whenever I'm back in town I will definitely revisit this tour again.

Coronado bridge and the...

Jose_O, Jun 2023

Coronado bridge and the view of downtown San Diego from Coronado island is awesome!Our driver was awesome too!

Night lights

Gaye_H, Jun 2023

Good night for a tour, clear & calm winds. Would like to have some additional hop on-off spots for photos. Good driver, knowledgeable.

Ohio via San Diego

Major_L, Jun 2023

The whole experience was great, me and my girlfriend are from San Diego and I wanted to do something special for her that was different. It was a great tour. The bus wasn’t packed which was great and the guide Ms Beth was outstanding. I would tour again and again. Thank you for the experience

Worthwhile Addition To The San Diego Day Tours

Edward_P, Jun 2023

Although a short tour with only one stop, this was an enjoyable way to see all the key sights throughout the city from a different perspective and was a worthwhile tour to do as a complement to any of the standard day tours, such as the trolley. There was a good combination of music and narration from the guide during the drive and the views of the skyline from the Coronado Ferry Landing were incredible and easily the highlight of the tour.

TOTAL Waste of time & money!

anthony_e, Jun 2023

Lizz was nice but even her energy couldn’t make this even slightly fun! Invest in GLASS windows!!! Evenings, cool temps and highway rides need close/open glass windows! Looking through giant rippling wind blown heavy plastic was like looking through someone’s RX glasses. Our eyes were killing us! Summing up we literally saw nothing barley heard her and sat in bad traffic! So if you still want to do this sit in the front 2 rows for glass windows and volume! AND there was 2 meet up lots, the earlier time lot she said was free the other later timed meeting lot she told us was $5 we were pressed to be on time so we opted to pay the $5 parking; NOPE it was ACTUALLY $24!!! Very disappointing used Vidor before and things were much better using them again on our next trip and now we’re questioning if we should?!?

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Hello, Please accept our apologies for the poor tour experience. I have forwarded your comments to the General Manager for his review. Feedback from our guests is one of the best ways we learn how to improve the visitor experience. As for parking it sounds like you used a lot that we do not have control over as it is a local parking area and not our shuttle service that if offered. We offer a satisfaction guarantee located on the customer service page of our website, trolley tours dot com, under the subheading "our guarantee".

Being with my love. ...

Theresa_T, Jun 2023

Being with my love. Seeing the city in the night. The driver Ricco was very good with keeping us inform. Giving us great information

Wonderful

monique_D, May 2023

Rico made it lively and the knowledge he had made you feel you were in a storybook. I would recommend this tour.

Worth Going!

Daisy_S, Apr 2023

This should have been a 3 star tour..but Rico Encinas is in the top 3 guides my road weary feet have ever encountered. What a delight! Wellspring of enthusiasm, humor, and information about this place. His love for the area is inspiring...the tour is a wonderful experience.

Not happy

Cindy_B, Jan 2023

The operated never showed up to the pick up location. When I called the number provided I was asked to hold while the driver was contacted. Serveral minutes later ghe line went dead.