from $39 USS Midway Museum entry ticket
Entry to the aircraft carrier moored downtown, with a self-guided audio tour and restored aircraft on the flight deck.
San Diego: tours & tickets
Museum and zoo tickets, cruises on the bay and guided kayaking among La Jolla’s sea caves.
Our picks
Top tours & tickets in San Diego
San Diego’s big attractions rarely sell out, but buying tickets ahead saves queueing, and boat trips and kayak tours have limited places. The narrated trolley is a practical way to link Old Town, the waterfront, Coronado and Balboa Park without a car.
from $39 
from $70 San Diego Zoo admission ticket
One-day admission to one of the world’s best-known zoos, set in the gardens of Balboa Park.
from $57 Hop-on hop-off narrated trolley tour
A loop of the main sights — Old Town, the Embarcadero, the Gaslamp Quarter, Coronado and Balboa Park — with commentary from the driver.
from $37 San Diego harbour cruise
A narrated cruise around the bay past the naval base, the Coronado Bridge and the downtown skyline.
from $34 Three-hour whale-watching cruise
A trip out of the bay into open ocean to look for whales and dolphins with a naturalist on board.
from $79 per group La Jolla sea-cave kayak tour
Guided paddling through the La Jolla marine reserve, past sea lions and along the sandstone caves. Priced per kayak.
from $56 SEAL tour by amphibious bus
A sightseeing vehicle that drives through the city and then launches into the water for a cruise — a hit with children.
from $60 Balboa Park walking tour with a local guide
A small-group walk explaining the park’s architecture, gardens and history before you choose which museums to enter.
Prices are indicative “from” prices in US dollars and ratings are as shown on GetYourGuide when we last checked; both change often.
GetYourGuide
Live availability in San Diego
Real-time tours and tickets from GetYourGuide for San Diego and its surroundings.
Booking tips
- Whale watching runs year-round: grey whales pass from about December to April, and blue whales are sometimes seen offshore in summer. Sightings are never guaranteed.
- La Jolla kayak tours depend on sea conditions and may not enter the caves when the swell is up. Expect to get wet.
- The zoo is large and hilly. Arrive at opening, when the animals are most active, and allow most of a day.
- Attraction passes for San Diego can pay off if you plan the zoo, the Midway and a cruise; compare with single-ticket prices first.
Destinations
Combine it with
Southern California Anaheim & Disneyland
The original Disney theme park, its newer neighbour and a second classic park down the road — with Orange County’s surf beaches 30 minutes away.
Southern California Los Angeles
Film studios, beach towns and hilltop views spread across a vast, sunny basin — a city you plan by neighbourhood, not by map.
Deserts Palm Springs & Joshua Tree
A mid-century desert resort beneath 3,000-metre peaks, and an hour away a national park of giant boulders and spiky Joshua trees.
Plan your trip
Book tours in San Diego
Compare real-time prices and availability on GetYourGuide. Most tours can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours ahead.