Historical Walking Tour of San Diego

Overview

Available languages

English

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

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Gratuities

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.

15 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

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).

15 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Options

Historical Walking Tour of San Diego

Reviews

5.00

38 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Enjoyable Tour with Josh
alanrZ3694MO,
Sep 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We 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
5.00
I 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
5.00
Josh 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
5.00
Josh 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.
A one of a kind tour in San Diego!
rodolfolV2859JJ,
Sep 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The knowledge Joshua has of this beautiful city is inspiring and nothing short of amazing. A must do when visiting San Diego!!
Worth the walk
105crystale,
Sep 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Joshua did so awesome showing us around down town and historical San Diego. Filled with so much knowledge. About hour and a half walk but way worth it
Courteous, Competent, Chill
725haleyv,
Sep 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Joshua is so genial and courteous. We appreciate his knowledge of the downtown San Diego area. We also appreciate how he adapted his tour to our group's unique circumstances quickly.
San Diego walking tour a great history lesson
Ralph P,
Sep 4, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Josh our tour guide was very knowledgeable we were so impressed that we have to revisit San Diego again to visit and see some of the places. We are leaving with a history lesson and learned so much we didn’t know. This should be on everyone’s bucket list. Thanks Josh for the great experience.
Great story telling at Broadway Blv. Downtown San Diego
C4763GGsilviap,
Aug 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The tour was short an full of interesting spots and informations about the first steps of San Diego becoming a prospering city. Josh was great and always at the point. Thank you!
A unique tour full of interesting historic insights
363JosephB,
Aug 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
While in San Diego for work purposes, we had a free morning my wife and I decided to go on the Historical Walking Tour of San Diego. The tour was about 75 minutes and started in the Gaslamp District concluding by the Midway. Josh, the owner and tour guide really made the experience special. Josh's passion for history and effective story telling made for an informative and fun tour of San Diego. He shared stories about San Diego’s past, some of which were random good luck, while pointing out little details in the architecture and buildings that were easy to miss. History can sometimes feel a little dry, but not on this tour. Josh mixed in fun facts, interesting anecdotes, and even a few surprising bits of local trivia that kept everyone smiling and curious. He also did a great job making sure the group stayed comfortable, moving at a good pace and always being available for questions. The small group size allowed for maximum interactions with him and that tailored the tour to our specific interests. By the end of the tour, I had learned much more about the history of San Diego and how it came to be the vibrant city it is today. Whether you’re visiting from out of town or you’ve lived here for years, I’d highly recommend this tour.