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The San Diego Highlights Tour

74 Reviews 4.91 out of 5 stars Based on 74 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor | Recommended by 97% of reviewers | San Diego, USA

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On average, this is booked 21 (0) days in advance.

7 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
and 1 more
Spanish

Overview

Enjoy an overview of San Diego's top sights and the stunning northern coastline on a full-day tour by a luxury vehicle that includes Coronado, the Embarcadero and Balboa Park. Check out places of interest in the Gaslamp Quarter, where you’ll have free time to purchase lunch and explore at your leisure. Then spend the afternoon in the enclave of La Jolla — the ‘jewel of San Diego’ — where rugged shoreline cliffs charm all travelers, from both near and far.

We do require a minimum of 4 people total (solo travelers are welcome to join) to have the tour go out, in the event of us not achieving 4 guests we'll send you out on our shorter version or supply you with another tour of equal value or issue a full refund!

If the tour is booked with less than 4 total guests, then we do the 4 Hour version of the tour. This still hits all of the points of interest, although it eliminates the break that we would normally have for lunch. If we do book more than 4 guests the 7 hour tour will be given.

What's Included

  • Transport by Mercedes Tour Van
  • Bottled Water and Small Snacks
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Lunch
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Gratuities
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Meeting Location

Meeting point

300 G Street
San Diego, CA 92101, USA

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

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Our secure website provides real-time availability, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
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Another Side Of San Diego Tours (pass by)

After meeting your insightful guide downtown, take a seat inside the comfortable minivan to start your full-day exploration of San Diego, one of Southern California’s most scenic cities. Throughout this driving tour, you'll stop at a number of prime spots where you can hop out of the van for photo ops and to enjoy bottled water and provided snacks.
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Coronado Bridge (pass by)

The San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge is a symbol of the San Diego area-just as the Golden Gate or San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridges.
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Coronado Island

"The Crowned One" in Spanish, Coronado island is a jewel of the coast. Surrounded by silvery mica-laced beaches, and full of art galleries, small shops, and renowned restaurants, it is a beach paradise. The island has been attracting visitors since before the 1880s and is a must-see for any vacationer looking for that SoCal beach experience.
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1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

The Coronado Ferry Landing

The main port from the island to San Diego Downtown offers an unparalleled view of the city. Iconic shops and restaurants line the shoreline as soon as you step off of the dock.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Coronado Beach (pass by)

The Coronado Beach is popular with surfers and sunbathers alike. The sands are silvery and smooth, complete with a backdrop of historic homes and a dog run at the end.
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Hotel del Coronado (pass by)

The Hotel Del Coronado is a historic building with classic bright red Victorian architecture that's overlooked the waters of Coronado Beach for 130 years. Known for hosting many celebrities and US presidents, the Del was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1977.
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Embarcadero

The Embarcadero lays along the eastern side of San Diego Bay, Embarcadero meaning "landing place". The Embarcadero is home to the USS Midway museum, Seaport Village, many popular modern restaurants, and the famous Unconditional Surrender 'victory kiss' statue.
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Gaslamp Quarter

During the tour we stop at the Gaslamp Quarter for a 1 hour lunch-break.The Gaslamp Quarter, known as the Historic Heart of San Diego, is a 16 block downtown neighborhood full of nightlife and world-renowned restaurants. Full of Victorian architecture and small museums, as well as Horton Plaza Park and Petco Park, it's a must-see.
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1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Balboa Park

Balboa Park is a 1,200 acre park full of museums, the beautiful Spanish Art Village, restaurants and the world-famous San Diego Zoo. It was placed in reserve in 1835 and remains one of Americas oldest public parks, right in the heart of downtown San Diego.
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45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden

The Rose Garden of Balboa Park features a stunning 1,600 roses of 130 species with new species and verities of roses added every year. The garden is in bloom throughout March to December and is a three-acre walk of color and beauty.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Spanish Village Art Center (pass by)

The Spanish Art village was originally constructed in 1935 for the California Pacific International Exposition, it designed as a colorful vibrant small courtyard meant to invoke the feeling of being transported to a country village in Spain. Today it is a thriving community of artisans, everything from blacksmiths to glass-blowers to basket weavers.
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Botanical Building and Lily Pond (pass by)

The Botanical Building houses over some 2,100 tropical plants, ferns and palms, and full of seasonal flowers all reflected beautifully in the long glimmering lily pond. Built for the1915 to 1916 California Pacific International Exposition, it is a unique and well loved portion of the park.
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La Jolla Cove

A picturesque beach surrounded by water-carved cliffs and full of tidepools and favorite seal spotting areas. The shoreline is protected as part of a marine reserve and full of barely-touched natural beauty.
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30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

El Prado (pass by)

The El Prado in Balboa Park is a historic district and part of the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The complex contains the Cabrillo Bridge, the Museum of Man, Alcazar Garden, the Japanese Friendship Garden, the San Diego Museum of Art and much more.
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Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial

Crowned with a white cross, the Mt. Soledad memorial honors living and dead soldiers from the Revolutionary War all the way to the modern War on Terror. It features black granite slabs honoring everyone from Presidents, to the common every-day solider protecting American freedoms.
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Show 14 more stops

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Lyft & Uber: We are listed on the ride share apps as 'Another Side Of San Diego Tours'. Ride-shares are the preferred and best way for our guests to come to us.
  • Parking Option 1: The LAZ Parking lot is located at 8th Ave. and G Street. The address is: 665 8th Ave San Diego, CA 92101
  • Parking Option 2: The Park-It-On-Market lot is located at 7th Ave. and Market Street. The address is: 614 Market St. San Diego, CA 92101

Frequently Asked Questions

(6)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the The San Diego Highlights Tour?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (PDT).This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund. Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

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

Still have questions?

We're here to help.
Activity code: C-5044SANHI

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.91
74 reviews

Average 4.91 out of 5 stars based on 74 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and partner sites such as Trustpilot, Viator, and TripAdvisor

5 stars
70
4 stars
2
3 stars
1
2 stars
1
1 star
0

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On average, this is booked 21 (0) days in advance.

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What's Included

Activity name

  • Transport by Mercedes Tour Van
  • Bottled Water and Small Snacks
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Narration by a professional guide
  • Lunch
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Gratuities

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
  • Please arrive at 8:45am to check-in, this is a semi-private tour so there will be other guests! If you are late the tour may depart without you. Please be courteous to other guests by arriving early and on time for the tour.
  • Lyft & Uber: We are listed on the ride share apps as 'Another Side Of San Diego Tours'. Ride-shares are the preferred and best way for our guests to come to us.
  • Parking Option 1: The LAZ Parking lot is located at 8th Ave. and G Street. The address is: 665 8th Ave San Diego, CA 92101
  • Parking Option 2: The Park-It-On-Market lot is located at 7th Ave. and Market Street. The address is: 614 Market St. San Diego, CA 92101
  • Parking Option 3: The next closest all day lot is at the corner of 2nd Ave. and Island. The lot is directly across from 100 Harbor Club Dr. San Diego, CA 92101 **Not available from 7/1 thru 7/31 due to Comic Con***
  • A minimum of 4 people are required for this tour to go. Solo travelers welcome.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 999 travelers
  • Operated by a business

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Free Cancellation

100% refund
No refund

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

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (PDT).
  • This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

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Cool Rewards

  • Cool Rewards is a loyalty program operated by Cool Destinations. Rewards may be earned by any eligible person holding a Cool Destinations account, subject to the Cool Destinations customer Terms of Use.

Earning rewards

  • Rewards can be earned by making bookings on the Cool Destinations website. You will be able to see the value of the rewards you can earn during the booking process.
  • Earned rewards will be issued in a pending state and will move to a confirmed state 24 hours after the start time of the experience.
  • Earned rewards will be available to redeem once they are no longer in a pending state.
  • For bookings that are moved to a different travel date, the rewards will be redeemable after the amended travel date.
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