Things to do in

Little Italy, San Diego

See San Diego's best sights. Learn about the city and enjoy a cruise on the bay. Depending on the option booked, this tour takes you under the Coronado Bridge, past military ships, waterfront landmarks, and marine life for a look at San Diego's scenic beauty and fascinating history. This tour’s luxury ships offer three levels with comfortable indoor and outdoor seating, 360-degree views, and an on-board snack bar serving snacks, soda, beer, wine and cocktails (available for purchase). This is a great way to experience San Diego from the water.

Join the Hop-on Hop-Off Tour of Old Town San Diego at any of the tour's 12 boarding points and visit more than 100 interesting points in Coronado and San Diego at your own pace. You can begin at any time of the day and listen to the entertaining narration of the onboard conductors along the way. San Diego is known as America’s Finest City, and as you explore the sights of Old Town and the scenic coastline you’ll see why. Opt to begin your tour at the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, where you’ll see original adobe homes and artifacts from the earliest Mexican settlements. At the Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum, you’ll learn about the importance of the U.S. Navy's presence in San Diego. Then continue on to nearby Seaport Village, where you can stop for refreshments and enjoy shopping and entertainment. In the historic Gaslamp Quarter, you’ll find loads of shops and other interesting places located in Victorian-themed buildings. One particular house of interest is the William Heath Davis House. Built-in saltbox style, it is similar to the original home of Davis, who founded New Town San Diego. When you’re back on the trolley you’ll be entertained once again by the conductor’s narration. Continue on to the well-known Hotel del Coronado, one of America’s leading resorts. You may choose to take a stroll through nearby Balboa Park, along El Prado, the promenade lined with Spanish-style buildings. With more stops than any other tour, this hop-on hop-off trolley ride is guaranteed to deliver. In addition to sightseeing, enjoy free shuttle service to and from select area hotels, a map and day planner, and $70 in discount coupons to use at restaurants and area attractions. Hop on or hop off at 12 convenient stops: A - Old Town State Historic Park (4010 Twiggs St & San Diego Ave.) B - Maritime Museum of San Diego/Star of India (1492 N Harbor Dr) C - San Diego Embarcadero (1004 N. Harbor Dr) D - Headquarters at Seaport Village (789 W Harbor Dr) E - Seaport Village (825 W Harbor Dr) F - Marriott Marquis & Marina (333 W Harbor Dr) G - Gaslamp Quarter (480 4th Ave) H - Petco Park/San Diego Convention Center (855 E Harbor Dr) I - Barrio Logan (1113 E.Cesar Chavez Pkwy) J - Coronado/Orange Avenue (1107 Orange Ave) K - Balboa Park and El Prado Museums (2175 Presidents Way) L - Little Italy (1605 India St)

Embark on a thrilling adventure on the San Diego bay as you zip and zoom past military ships, along the downtown skyline, and under the iconic Coronado Bridge. With rock music pumping, feel the wind and the refreshing spray of the San Diego bay as the Patriot carves 360-degree turns and reaches speeds upwards of 50 miles per hour. There's no experience like it. Enjoy gorgeous views on a 30-minute tour on an open-air jet boat. No two Patriot trips are the same, but this is not just a random joy ride through the bay. You will be taken past San Diego's most beautiful waterfront sights including: USS Midway Aircraft Carrier, North Island Naval Air Station, Coronado Bridge, Star of India and the iconic ships of the Maritime Museum, as well as the San Diego skyline. You may get wet, but ponchos are provided.

Join us on a tour of the Gaslamp Quarter and we’ll tell you about the infamous Stingaree District, once a center of scandal and debauchery. We’ll walk along streets that featured 120 brothels at one point, and served as one of Southern California’s major red light districts. On our Brothels, Bites, and Booze Tour you’ll hear tales from the past that are funny and some that are hard to believe! During our 2.5-hour excursion you’ll see how this area has been restored and is now home to San Diego’s main nightlife and dining destinations. The Gaslamp Quarter now features more than 100 restaurants and bars. We’ll take you to some of the best restaurants in the area so you can taste a variety of popular ethnic cuisines and some alcoholic beverages as well! Most guests find that the samples on the tour are quite filling and are at least as much food as a full meal. You might want to eat no more than a very light snack before the tour – or nothing at all!

Come aboard the only floating happy hour in San Diego. The Sights & Sips Sunset Cruise on San Diego Bay includes complimentary appetizers, a no-host bar featuring refreshing drink specials and a perfectly timed sunset every Friday and Saturday throughout the summer. Get ready to enjoy the sights and sounds of the magnificent San Diego Bay. The bay boasts some of America's most historic warships such as the USS Ronald Reagan and the USS Midway as well as playing host to the scenic sights of the Coronado Bay Bridge and Seaport Village. Take part in a cruise experience where the celebration begins the moment you come on-board. Start with cocktails on deck, then relax as our gracious crew transports you to a world of ease and luxury. You and your guests will feel pampered, privileged, relaxed and refreshed. Quench your happy hour thirst aboard the Sights & Sips Sunset Cruise.

Explore the neighborhood of Little Italy in San Diego on a guided walking food tour. Visit 3 local restaurants and 1 gelateria for tastings of San Diego favorites, and learn about the area's history. Discover the Little Italy area which in addition to the traditional pasta and pizza dishes, offers vegan breakfasts, juicy burgers, and lounges for dancing and fine cocktails. Meet your guide and head to the first stop on the tour at Sorrento Ristorante and Pizzeria, a lively family-owned Italian restaurant. Taste one of their homemade traditional dishes, Parpadelle Bolognese and calamari, with a glass of red or white Italian wine. Continue to Queenstown Public House, a New Zealand-inspired restaurant with whimsical decor, known for its grass-fed burgers and selection of local beer. Taste one of their Little Bitties – a grass-fed slider with onion mayo, cheddar, and sweet relish paired with a taster of a local beer or sangria. Next, continue to a local staple at Landini’s Pizzeria, known for its quality New York-style slices. Pick the slice that most appeals to you, with options such as La Piccante with jalapeños, ricotta, pineapple, and pepperoni or the Rustica with Brussel sprouts, pancetta, and balsamic glaze. Finally, make your way to the final stop on the tour at Pappalecco, a traditional Italian bistro. Enjoy some house-made gelato as your dessert, with a wide array of flavors available to choose from.

Discover the beauty of San Diego and its glorious beaches on this guided bus tour. Take in the sights on a scenic drive to locations like the Gaslamp District and Chicano Park. Stretch your legs with stops at 5 popular destinations. Embarking from the Santa Fe Depot, the journey unfolds first at the historic Gaslamp District before culminating in Little Italy. Travel along the Embarcadero, to the vibrant Chicano Park. Learn the history of San Diego between stops with live narration, music, and video. Cross the Coronado Bridge, and stop at the historic Hotel Del Coronado built in 1888 for a 45-minute stop. Another 45-minute break ensues at the enchanting Balboa Park, the site of the 1915 Panama California Exposition. Head to the Old Town, the birthplace of California, for another 45-minutes of free time. Venture along the 5 freeway, to La Jolla Cove for 45-mintues of free time to soak up some sun on the coast and visit the sea lions. Ride around the Pacific Beach and hit the sands of Mission Beach for a 45-minute stay to enjoy the Boardwalk, Belmont Park, and the Pacific Ocean. Return on a route that leads back to the Downtown pick-up point, the Santa Fe Depot.

Take a GPS-guided tour in the Storytelling Car® and see for yourself why TIME Magazine called GoCar "The Most Amazing Invention of the Year!" Let GoCar be your guide through an exciting loop of San Diego. GoCar, The Cure for the Common Tour®, lets you experience the beauty of San Diego and visit places tour busses cannot go – all at your own pace! Fold up your map, put away the guidebook and let the GoCar show you what most visitors never see! Zip around in a cute, yellow Storytelling GoCar as it takes you on your own GPS-guided tour. The GoCar is easy and fun to drive. Since it is GPS-guided, the car knows where you are – even if you don’t. With you in the driver’s seat, it not only tells you where to turn, it tells the stories that bring the city to life. Let the car direct you, or for those more adventurous, blaze your own trail! Above is only a suggested route. Your tour’s length may vary due to circumstances such as departure time and location, traffic and your itinerary. If you do take additional rental time, this will be billed in 15-minute increments at our retail rates. You may visit all or some of the tour’s highlights. If you are unsure of which tour to book, just book according to the amount of time you think you would like to spend. We can customize a tour especially for you, with the sights you want to include, when you come into our shop. PRICING IS PER VEHICLE NOT PER PERSON. EACH VEHICLE SEATS 2 PEOPLE. GoCar Tours, a CarbonNeutral® Company Gocar Tours is certified CarbonNeutral® by offsetting all CO2 emissions from vehicle operations, electricity use, business travel and employee commuting across global operations in Europe and the United States.

Discover California's Crown Jewel, Coronado Island, on a memorable GPS-guided fat tire scooter tour. Set off to explore Coronado's pristine beaches, the famous Hotel del Coronado, the Ferry Landing, shops, and much more.  Start the tour in Little Italy in downtown San Diego, then board the ferry to take you over to Coronado Island. See the visually stunning Coronado Bay Bridge and the San Diego Harbor as you cross the water. Make your way through Downtown Coronado and hear all about Coronado Island’s rich history. Drive along the beaches and pass by the Naval Air Station on North Island.  As you enjoy the drive and visit all the best sites, receive restaurant recommendations, hear jokes and stories that bring the destination to life. Finally, return to your start point where this memorable and unique tour concludes.

This is the essential San Diego tour. You will see almost all of the greatest sights San Diego has to offer, like the visually stunning Balboa park which is littered with Spanish Renaissance inspired architecture. Pass by over a dozen museums, colorful flower gardens, and world renowned outdoor organ pavilion all the way to the always happening Hillcrest, which has a great variety of shops and restaurants. Hillcrest is known to have some of the best food in the county. But best of all you will also get to see Downtown San Diego at its finest, from the Maritime Museum, to the Historic Gaslamp Quarter. Downtown San Diego is one of the best places in the world for its diversity, and visual appeal. Don’t miss the best places San Diego has to offer on this tour.