San Diego Walking Tour: Downtown History & Sights

Discover the rich history of downtown San Diego on a group walking tour. Explore the city’s founding in 1542, iconic landmarks, and modern-day industry. Don’t miss out!

Duration: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • 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….
What's Included
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

This is a collective pedestrian tour to explore the attractions of San Diego’s city center. The excursion covers the comprehensive chronicles of San Diego, starting from its establishment in 1542 up to its contemporary industrialism. The trip includes data on San Diego’s pioneers and futurists, the Gaslamp Quarter, Horton Plaza Park, Santa Fe Depot, and the USS Midway Marine Museum.

Location
530 Broadway
Broadway
Josh will be wearing a tour guide name tag and will meet you in the lobby of the Courtyard Marriott San Diego Downtown. Please plan to arrive 10 minutes early to ensure the tour starts on time.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
5.0
(19 Ratings)
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Tiffanygd5064fi
Oct 31, 2024
Great Tour - This was such an enjoyable and interesting tour! It's an easy walk to all the stops and I learned a lot about the history of San Diego which made for a more memorable trip. One of my favorite stops was getting to see the old bank vault. This is definitely a tour worth taking. Josh is a great tour guide!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Clo6921pz
Oct 16, 2024
Excellent addition to your San Diego visit - Joshua was amazing. The tour was so interesting and Josha brought life to all the stories he told us. I am extremely happy to have taken this tour and I highly recommend it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
X5883avjanetm
Oct 14, 2024
Well Worth It! - We really enjoy historical tours and this one with Josh was great! Firstly I want to thank Josh as my husband and I were the only 2 booked for this tour and he did not cancel! He told us the interesting history of SD and its pivotal growth spurts. Pointed out the beautiful buildings, why they represented those milestones, why they are still there today and what their architectural styles meant. He gave us tips on restaurants, suggested places of interest and why to take the ferry to Coronado Island. ( I won't give it away). Josh was very engaging. The walking was easy and well worth the very reasonable price!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dianaro2018
Sep 17, 2024
Fun and informative - Josh's tour is a must-do for visitors and San Diegans alike. I learned so much in just an hour and within an easy walk. Josh is really welcoming and clearly has a passion for the work he does. He was excited to share the history of the area, from its founding to current day. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Diamond_w
Aug 13, 2024
Great tour - Josh was awesome, we were the only ones on the tour. He showed us nice spots to check out afterwards. It was a great experience.
Review provided by Viator
Sebastiancn3818sj
Aug 10, 2024
History and Culture - Excellent tour of San Diego's history in downtown San Diego. I enjoyed the origins of pre-colonial, colonial, and a modern history of San Diego.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Voyage714724
Aug 10, 2024
Highly recommend - Awesome tour! Josh was amazing and as a local dc native we were able to relate to a lot of similarities between dc and San diego
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Projektjaydyn
Jul 24, 2024
Great history lesson for SD! - Josh took us from the beginnings of San Diego to the present. He was very knowledgeable about all parts of san diego history, it was a great walk, good pace. Definitely recommend this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
R7518thjacquelinep
Jul 24, 2024
Walking history - Josh is great. Very informative and well prepared. Offered great tips and recommendations. Learned so much about the history of San Diego, from its founding to present day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Z4787yyerinr
Jun 24, 2024
Never a better tour!! - Let me tell you about the *most* fabulous experience I had on Josh’s historic walking tour. From the moment we started, it was like stepping into a reality show episode—full of drama, history, and all the tea!🍵 He knows all the ins and outs, the who’s who, and the scandalous stories that make San Diego's history come alive. It was like taking a stroll through time! He’s got the charm, the knowledge, and the charisma to keep you hooked from start to finish. Plus, the way he tells the stories? It’s like hearing the juiciest gossip at your bff brunch! If you’re looking for an unforgettable tour with a dash of glitz and a whole lot of heart, this is it. Five stars aren’t enough to capture how amazing this experience was. Grab your besties, put on your walking shoes, and get ready for an iconic tour! PS - you gotta get his restaurant recs as well! This guy knows good food!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 10 guests
1 Adult
December 2024
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