Things to Do in San Diego This Summer
1 Review
Summertime and vacation are synonymous with San Diego, where 70 miles (110 kilometers) of glimmering Southern California shoreline offer some of the surfing, swimming, and sunbathing in the country. Off the beach, meanwhile, there are plenty of parks and historical attractions. Here are our top ideas for how to enjoy summer in San Diego.
- Stroll through Balboa Park, where you’ll find museums, gardens, carousel, and many family-friendly attractions.
- See animals of all stripes at the San Diego Zoo, home to a trio of giant pandas, or SeaWorld, part of Mission Bay.
- Get out on the water with a harbor cruise, a sailboat ride, a speedboat adventure, a whale-watching tour, or a kayaking tour around the sea caves and cliffs of La Jolla.
- Take a tour of the USS Midway Museum, an aircraft carrier that’s docked on the downtown San Diego waterfront.
- Hit the beach. There’s something for everyone from Coronado Beach up to Ocean Beach, including Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, and the La Jolla Tide Pools.
- Play a round of golf at Torrey Pines Golf Course, located next to Torrey Pines State Reserve between La Jolla and Del Mar.
- Catch a San Diego Padres baseball game at Petco Park.
Tours & Activities (61)
Sort by:Default
From
$18.00 USD
Skip the Line: USS Midway Museum
- Take a trip through American naval history with admission to the USS Midway Museum in San Diego. This enormous ship, known as the longest-serving aircraft carrier of the 20th century, now offers a range of interactive exhibits, a self-guided audio tour and numerous restored aircraft across its 4-acre (1.6-hectare) flight deck and sections below. It’s an essential piece of San Diego’s, and America’s, military history.
- Learn More
From
$39.95 USD
San Diego Tour: Hop-on Hop-off Trolley
- Explore some of the top highlights of San Diego with this one- or two-day pass for the city’s Hop-on, Hop-off Trolley Tour. Choose your own adventure as you get on and off the trolley at any of the 10 included stops, covering famous sights including the Gaslamp Quarter, the San Diego Zoo, USS Midway and the Cruise Ship Terminal, Little Italy, and many more. This San Diego trolley tour also features live commentary from on-board guide during your ride.
- Learn More
From
$27.00 USD
San Diego Harbor Cruise
- Spend a few hours relaxing, sunbathing and sightseeing in the placid waters just off San Diego during this 1- to 2-hour San Diego Harbor cruise. Sit back and relax as you take in a fully-narrated tour, offering top-notch sight lines of the San Diego skyline, a cruise under Coronado Bridge, a look at the bustling US Naval fleet and a chance to spot some of the harbor’s resident sea lions. Choose between 1- and 2-hour cruise options, offering you two trips to fit your schedule and interests.
- Learn More
From
$79.00 USD
San Diego Whale Watching Cruise and Maritime Museum Entry
- Go whale-watching from San Diego aboard a replica of a historic sailing schooner that won the world’s first America’s Cup sailing competition in 1851. Throughout your 4-hour cruise, your expert guide shares informative commentary about gray whales, dolphins and other marine animals, along with details about the US Navy sites you pass as you head out on the Pacific Ocean. Your cruise includes refreshments and a complimentary same-day admission ticket to the San Diego Maritime Museum.
- Learn More
From
$131.79 USD
Viator Exclusive: San Diego Luxury Dinner Cruise with Window Seating and Champagne
- On this Viator Exclusive experience, you’ll relax in style aboard this luxury dinner cruise. Views are outstanding from your guaranteed, private table right by a window on the deluxe yacht. Take your time over a gourmet, 3-course meal, as you cruise past twinkling city lights that ring San Diego Bay. Enjoy DJ entertainment and pop open a bottle of Champagne while you simply enjoy a romantic evening, or celebrate a birthday, anniversary or other special occasion.
- Learn More
From
$102.65 USD
San Diego Harbor Dinner Cruise
- Take a 2.5-hour cruise wining and dining aboard the ‘Spirit of San Diego,’ enjoying top-notch food and drink, plus sparkling skyline views during this San Diego dinner cruise. Dig into your included gourmet meal, accompanied by a complimentary cocktail and live on-board entertainment, as you cruise 25-miles worth of California’s beautiful coastline and gaze at the twinkling stars above. You can also upgrade your cruise to include an unlimited open bar for an additional price.
- Learn More
SPECIAL OFFER
SPECIAL OFFER
From
$32.00 USD
San Diego Seal Tour
- Take in the highlights of San Diego Bay during a 90-minute sightseeing tour by amphibious vehicle. Travel on both land and water like a ‘duck tour,’ starting on the streets of Seaport Village and rolling down Harbor Drive alongside San Diego Bay. Transition into the water after departing Seaport Village. Cruise past the SeaWorld and Vacation Isle, experiencing the best of maritime San Diego on this fun and informative tour.
- Learn More
From
$32.00 USD
San Diego Two Hour Harbor Cruise and Sea Lion Adventure
- See San Diego from a marine vantage point on this 2-hour harbor cruise, including some potential sea lion sightings. Listen to live narration from your captain and enjoy for-purchase snacks from the onboard snack bar. Multiple departure times to fit your schedule.
- Learn More
From
$85.92 USD
Half-Day Deep-Sea Fishing Cruise from San Diego
- Take a break from the busy streets of San Diego and try your hand at deep-sea fishing on this half-day cruise. Head to a Pacific Ocean spot known for its game fish – sand bass, bonito, yellowtail and more – and try your hand at angling. Experienced anglers can jump right in; if you’re new to deepwater angling, the cruise’s crew will provide personalized coaching so that you’re hooking fish in no time.
- Learn More
From
$69.89 USD
San Diego Harbor Speed Boat Adventure
- Experience the thrill of driving your own speed boat during this 2-hour tour of San Diego Harbor. Learn the basics of boating from your expert guide before following your guide's boat around the harbor, cruising past highlights such as the USS Midway, a US Navy submarine, Coronado Bridge, Seaport Village, the cruise ship terminal, the historic ship Star of India and San Diego Maritime Museum. Learn from your guide about these landmarks via the onboard two-way communications system and stop for photo ops on this exciting tour.
- Learn More
From
$39.00 USD
Sunset Cruise
- Cruise the coastal waters off San Diego during the sunset on this evening boat trip. Take in epic views of the sun sinking behind the Pacific Ocean's horizon and snap photos of loved ones on the boat's deck. Listen to relaxing music and sip drinks from the open bar to round out the laid-back California ambiance.
- Learn More
SPECIAL OFFER
SPECIAL OFFER
From
$40.00 USD
La Jolla Sea Caves Kayak Tour
- Enjoy the sublime coastal scenery as you spot abundant marine life during this 2-hour trip kayaking in La Jolla’s sea caves and ecological reserve. Paddle along with your expert naturalist guide as you observe the numerous species of birds, dolphins, sea lions and even orcas that inhabit the area. You’ll also kayak among the lush kelp beds that grow in the reserve and, if conditions permit, explore inside the sea caves that dot the area’s rocky coastline. This La Jolla caves trip includes all necessary equipment, a life jacket, guide and optional wetsuit rental.
- Learn More
From
$30.00 USD
San Diego Whale Watching Tour
- Get up close and personal with California’s majestic Pacific Gray Whales during this 3-hour whale-watching excursion from San Diego. Climb aboard your U.S. Coast Guard-certified vessel, complete with indoor and outdoor seating and a spacious galley, as you search for these beautiful marine mammals as they migrate between the Baja Peninsula and the Bering Strait. With any luck you’ll catch a few sightings of these gentle giants, plus a wide variety of other sea creatures.
- Learn More
From
$110.00 USD
Classic Sailboat Sunset Sail
- Watch the sun set over San Diego during an all-inclusive small-group cruise aboard a classic sailboat. Pass landmarks such as the Maritime Museum, Coronado Bridge, and USS Midway, and look for sea lions, dolphins, and other wildlife around San Diego Harbor on the 2.5-hour cruise.
- Learn More
From
$39.00 USD
Two-Hour Whale Watching Tours from Oceanside
- Set sail from Oceanside during a whale watching excursion led by a certified naturalist guide. Board a comfortable 50-foot (15-meter) catamaran with covered areas for seating and cruise along San Diego’s coastline to spot whales and other marine life, getting as close as possible without disturbing them. Plus, choose from multiple departures to easily fit this whale watching tour into your schedule.
- Learn More
From
$60.00 USD
Tequila, Tacos and Tombstones Culinary Tour
- Get your fiesta started in San Diego with a food and walking tour through historic Old Town. Visit some of the district's finest Mexican restaurants to sample tasty dishes, tequila cocktails and hear mariachi music. Learn about the history of California and the Native Americans, Spanish, Mexicans and gold rush prospectors that influenced Old Town's growth. You even hear some ghostly tales at Whaley House and an old cemetery. Get insider tips from your guide about authentic Mexican cuisine and other great places to visit on this fun 2.5-hour tour.
- Learn More
From
$48.00 USD
Dolphin and Whale Watching Sunset Cruise
- Top off a fantastic day in San Diego with this sunset cruise. This excursion takes you from Mission Bay out to where dolphins and whales are known to swim to give you the opportunity to see them in their natural California habitat. Sunset is the perfect backdrop for learning about the whales and dolphins that call the San Diego waters home.
- Learn More
From
$90.13 USD
San Diego Sunday Champagne Brunch Cruise
- Enjoy Sunday in beautiful San Diego with a 2-hour brunch cruise on a luxury yacht. Help yourself to the seafood, steak, waffles and chocolate fountain at the buffet while sipping on unlimited mimosas. While you drink and feast, soak up the views of the water and the city skyline around you. When you’re ready to stretch your sea legs, head to the dance floor where live entertainment and music awaits.
- Learn More
From
$79.00 USD
San Diego Bay Sailing Tour
- Set sail aboard a comfortable sailing yacht on a small-group excursion from San Diego. Cruise around San Diego Bay, taking in views of the scenic waterfront, military vessels, and historical landmarks. Travel past Point Loma and Coronado, and catch sight of wading birds, sea lions, and maybe dolphins. Try your hand at sailing the yacht, or simply relax on the deck and enjoy the views.
- Learn More
NEW TO VIATOR
NEW TO VIATOR
From
$73.83 USD
Big Boat Sailing Adventures with Gone Sailing
- It's one of the TOP 10 THINGS to do in San Diego! Ocean sailing is a fun time for everyone, from families to couples and individuals seeking to experience the beautiful blue waters of San Diego and the Pacific ocean.
- Learn More
SPECIAL OFFER
SPECIAL OFFER
From
$99.99 USD
Super Saver: Brunch Cruise and Patriot Jet Boat Ride
- Two excellent boat rides are included in this package. Start your Southern California Sunday with a Brunch Cruise. Toast the Coronado Bridge and San Diego shoreline with a mimosa as you sail past in the lap of luxury. Later, you can make up for the gentle indulgences with an adrenaline pumping ride on The Patriot, a jet boat that’s made for speed.
- Learn More
From
$91.19 USD
San Diego Champagne Brunch Cruise
- Go sightseeing on the waters of San Diego Bay during a 2-hour brunch cruise that provides a delicious buffet accompanied by complimentary champagne. Sit indoors or outside and listen to relaxing music while enjoying a lavish brunch buffet that features a selection of favorite hot and cold dishes. Take in the variety of sights along San Diego's waterfront and perhaps even visit the captain during this informative and family-friendly San Diego sightseeing cruise.
- Learn More
From
$172.84 USD
San Diego Half-Day Marine Wildlife Tour with Lunch
- Spend the day communing with California’s marine life during this 4-hour, small-group, wildlife and whale watching tour aboard a vintage sailing yacht. Travel in style on a boat that seats 6 guests maximum, sailing from San Diego Harbor into the Pacific to search for the tell-tale blow spouts of whales along with other sea creatures like pelicans, sea lions, cormorants and more. An included gourmet box lunch keeps you fueled up for more adventures. A guide, glass of white wine or craft beer, and other drinks are also included.
- Learn More
From
$88.99 USD
Small-Group San Diego Sunset Sailing Excursion
- Sail into the setting sun aboard a Catalina style sailboat during this intimate 3-hour cruise with a small group. Feel like you have the ship all to yourself on this trip that’s limited to just 15 total guests, watching as the last rays of the sun drop into the glistening waves. Enjoy complimentary beer, wine, soft drinks and snacks during the ride, as well as jackets and wind gear in case you get cold. You can even plug in your own music to add to the fun. Departure times vary throughout the year. Guest must contact Sail San Diego after purchase for the exact departure time.
- Learn More
More Things to Do in San Diego
Air, Helicopter & Balloon ToursClasses & WorkshopsCruises, Sailing & Water ToursCultural & Theme ToursDay Trips & ExcursionsFood, Wine & NightlifeHoliday & Seasonal ToursKid FriendlyLuxury & Special OccasionsMulti-day & Extended ToursOutdoor ActivitiesPrivate & Custom ToursShopping & FashionShore ExcursionsShows, Concerts & SportsSightseeing Tickets & PassesSpa ToursTheme ParksTours & SightseeingTransfers & Ground TransportViator VIP & Exclusive ToursWalking & Biking ToursWater Sports