Overview
Available languages
1 hour 15 minutes
Mobile ticket
The is a group walking tour to see the sights of downtown San Diego. The tour includes the full history of San Diego from its founding in 1542 to modern day industry. The tour includes information about the founders and visionaries of San Diego, Gaslamp District, Horton Park, Santa Fe Train Station, and the USS Midway.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What To Expect
Gaslamp Quarter
Josh will meet you in the lobby of the historic San Diego Trust and Savings Bank Building (now a Courtyard Marriott) to share information on how San Diego became the birthplace of California. You will learn about Spanish explorers, the first settlement of Old Town, the Mexican-American War, and becoming the 31st state in the U.S.
Horton Plaza Park
After passing through the Gaslamp Quarter you will learn about the growth of the city and the visionary creation of downtown San Diego in the late 1800s (including international recognition and the development of the San Diego Zoo).
Options
Historical Walking Tour of San Diego
What‘s Included
Gratuities
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
44 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Learn more about San Diego's mark on the world's stage beyond the usual WWII, wild west & colonial days
feliciawanders,Jun 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fantastic tour hosted by Josh! Got lucky on an off day where I was the only one joining the tour, so Josh was able to spend a nice amount of time answering questions and we kept up together at a much more urban walking pace without having to wait for others. Even though I am SoCal born and bred, Josh shared so much about San Diego's place in the world stage that never made it to my K-12 California history books, especially when they hosted the Panama-California exposition (aka the city development equivalent of the Olympics, world cup, world's fair etc). It offered a really great appreciation for the city even though I have been a visitor before, and why things came to be especially with the history in the early 1900s, the zoo, and Balboa Park. Great tour if you love history and a bit of urban planning or architecture!
Very Informative and Enjoyable
42TerriT,May 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Josh led us on a great tour of downtown San Diego. He told us all about the history from the 1500’s to present day. It was perfectly paced and very interesting. Highly recommend!
Must-Do While in San Diego!
Mwhite364,Apr 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amazing that during a leisurely 1 mile walk in about an hour- we learned a wealth of information about the founding of San Diego to present day. Josh covered moments of cultural significance, noteable architectural highlights and the role the Navy has played in the past and modern contexts. I was in town on a business trip and this was the perfect activity to gain perspective of the city (all too often I only leave with an understanding of the hotel I'm in with no chance to learn more!) at an incredibly reasonable price point of $15. Josh is knowledgeable, easy going and charming - this tour will not disappoint.
Fun, informative historic tour in downtown San Diego!
allya846,Apr 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Josh is the best tour guide! As a San Diegan, I was excited to learn so much about our city and its history, and Josh did a great job giving an overview while being very engaging and entertaining. I’d highly recommend this tour for both visitors and locals!
Historical Walking tour with Josh
sar0shv,Mar 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Josh is a knowledgeable, friendly tour guide who was able to give us a great history of the formation of the San Diego area.
Engaging and Informative Tour
Lizzie Z,Mar 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Josh was an excellent guide. Even though we were the only ones on the tour that evening, he still took us. He provided so much interesting information about San Diego's history. He was humorous and kind, making us feel comfortable to spend time with him. It was a tour we would have paid a lot more for in another city. Thank you, Josh!
Enjoyable Tour with Josh
alanrZ3694MO,Sep 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We enjoyed our walking tour of downtown San Diego with Josh very much. The tour was educational and Josh was very knowledgable. We would highly recommend it.
Great Walking Tour
mariarJ9582JT,Sep 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I enjoyed the walking tour with Josh. He provided a good overview of the history of San Diego. He was very friendly and informative. He also provided recommendations and insights that I found useful. Thanks!
Great walking tour.
C2609MRisraelc,Sep 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Josh was very professional and I was here with my first walking tour with my friend. We learned quite a bit about the establishment and infrastructure of San diego. I recommend this tour for anybody looking for a history lesson of this fabulous city.
Great Tour
patricklD1393VI,Sep 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Josh was a great tour guide, providing a lot of historical and interesting information about San Diego. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in the history of this beautiful city.
Related Experiences
Operated by San Diego Historical Walking Tour