Looking for the best way to see San Diego? Take the Hop On Hop Off San Diego Old Town Trolley Tour for a fun and stress-free day that hits all the highlights.
Taking a hop on hop off San Diego Tour is the best way to get around, all while learning some cool facts about America’s Finest City. It is a fun and easy way to tour the city. And if you only have one day in San Diego, it is the best way to maximize your time and squeeze in visits to many top San Diego attractions.
Here is everything you need to know about exploring San Diego on the Hop On Hop Off San Diego Old Town Trolley Tour – including free admission to 10 museums and a map to help you get familiar with the route.
Exploring San Diego on the Hop On Hop Off San Diego Old Town Trolley Tour
I might be biased since I live here, but San Diego is one of the most beautiful places in the country. It has a rich history and many wonderful things families can enjoy together.
This tour is great for first time visitors, if you are short on time, or if you just want to get an overview of the city without having to find your own way around. Being able to hop on and off along the continuous 25-mile loop means you can truly customize your day.
With one or two-day passes, you can explore neighborhoods, museums, beaches, and many popular attractions at your own pace.
There are 11 stops along the route, and the fully-narrated tours (by a live guide) provide humor, insight, and interesting facts about the city. They even play fun clips of music to add to the experience! For example, Dean Martin crooning That’s Amore when you drive through Little Italy.
So where does the Hop On Hop Off San Diego Old Town Trolley Tour go? Here’s what you’ll see along the way:
Stop A – Old Town San Diego
Although you can start at any of the 11 San Diego Old Town Trolley tour stops, many people choose to start at the Old Town State Historic Park, which is Stop A on the Old Town Trolley Tour.
► Travel Insight
Old Town is one of the only places that offers free parking, and there is plenty of it if you arrive early in the day! For this reason, Old Town is a great place to start the tour.
Known as the birthplace of California, Old Town San Diego Historic State Park is in the heart of the city. We love visiting Old Town! There is always something fun to explore, and they have the best Mexican food in San Diego!
Founded in 1769, Old Town San Diego is the site of the first Spanish settlement in California.
Today, Old Town State Historic Park is a lively attraction with 50 shops and restaurants and 36 museums and historic sites. Many of these attractions are free to explore.
The Whaley House Museum, one of San Diego’s most famous sites, is also just steps away from Old Town. It is said to be the most haunted house in America.
If this sounds like a lot to cram into a day when you’re already planning on take the Old Town Trolley around San Diego – you are right! Your best bet is to come the day before and spend a few hours in Old Town. Enjoy a great dinner at one of the park’s many Mexican restaurants, and then spend the night.
We booked a room at the Best Western Plus Hacienda Hotel, which is literally adjacent to the park. The hotel was lovely and it was great to be able to spend time in Old Town at night and not have to worry about driving home after a few margaritas!
The next morning, we were able to enjoy breakfast at the hotel and roll right over to the San Diego Old Town Trolley Tours ticket booth to catch the first tour at 9 am.
Stop B – Maritime Museum/Star of India
Stops B on the Hop On Hop Off San Diego Bus Tour is located on the north end of the Embarcadero. It’s where you’ll find the Maritime Museum and the Star of India. There are also some great seafood restaurants in the area.
I like to get off here and then walk down the Embarcadero, taking in all the sights, and then hop back on the bus again at Seaport Village (Stop D).
Stop C – San Diego Embarcadero
Just a short hope down the waterfront is the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum.
This location is also home to a great public art display along the waterfront called Embracing Peace (also called the Unconditional Surrender statue).
The statue depicts the famous photo taken at the end of World War II of a sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square. Definitely worth a quick stop if just for the photo opp!
Stop D – Seaport Village
Stop D is in Seaport Village, one of San Diego’s most popular tourist spots. Seaport Village San Diego is a 14-acre waterfront shopping, dining, and entertainment destination. It features a promenade with views of the iconic San Diego-Coronado Bridge and the boats on the bay.
Stop E – Marriott Marquis & Marina
The Marriott Marquis is Stop E. Besides it being central to Seaport Village and the Convention Center, there’s not a lot to do here. However, if you are staying at the Marriott Marquis & Marina or one of the other hotels near Seaport Village, it makes for a very convenient spot to start the tour.
The pick-up spot in front of the Marriott has a beautiful, almost tropical, waterfall as a backdrop, so it’s a pleasant spot to sit while you wait for the trolley.
Stop F – Gaslamp Quarter
The next group of stops on the San Diego Old Town Trolley Tour route hit different neighborhoods downtown.
First up is Stop F, for the historic Gaslamp Quarter, a historic neighborhood now mainly filled with restaurants and bars. This area definitely comes more alive at night, especially when there is a convention in town.
Because it was free and we had never been there before, we took the opportunity to check out the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum in the Gaslamp Quarter – actually pretty interesting!
Stop G – Petco Park/Convention Center
Speaking of conventions, Stop G is on the east end of the San Diego Convention Center (it’s a BIG Convention Center). This is also the closest stop to Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres and also a stadium concert venue, in Downtown San Diego.
Stop H – Barrio Logan
This neighborhood has a deep heritage and is home to the largest display of Chicano murals in the world. Stop H is a cool area to visit if you want to check out the free public street art. There are also some good Mexican restaurants and art galleries in this neighborhood.
Stop I – Coronado Island
Cross San Diego Bay via the San Diego-Coronado Bridge and hop off at Stop I on Orange Avenue, the main shopping and dining area of Coronado. The Hotel Del Coronado is two blocks south, and Coronado Beach is also two blocks away.
► Check out these family-friendly things to do in Coronado.
The iconic Hotel del Coronado is certainly one of San Diego’s most famous hotels. And luckily you don’t need to book a room to enjoy it! Wander through the hotel’s shops, grab a drink or snack at the Sun Deck Bar (and enjoy it while looking out at the sea!) or simply spend some time on the beach.
Stop J – Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo
Each of the San Diego attractions at Stop J can easily be a full day. The San Diego Zoo is one of the best and largest zoos in the country, and Balboa Park is home to 16 museums and 1200 acres of gardens – many of which are free to enter – and some truly amazing architecture. Visiting Balboa Park is easily one of the best free things to do in San Diego.
Since you are on a limited schedule, I wouldn’t recommend visiting any more than one museum on the same day as your trolley tour pass. (But definitely come back and see more another time if you can!) If you have kids, family-friendly museums you’ll want to check out include the San Diego Air & Space Museum, Fleet Science Center, and San Diego Natural History Museum (aka The Nat).
Stop K – Little Italy
In all the years we’ve been visiting San Diego, I had never even been to Little Italy. The Old Town Trolley Tour made it easy to hop off at Stop K and walk around, see what the neighborhood is all about.
Cap off your day with a made-fresh-daily gelato in Little Italy. And if you have kids (or just happen to like fire trucks), be sure to stop and check out the San Diego Firehouse Museum.
One time we ended our day at this stop so we could have dinner in Little Italy, and then took an Uber back to Old Town where the car was parked. Not ideal having to spend extra money (it was just a few bucks) but if you want an amazing dinner of Italian food without having to worry about parking, it’s a good trick to try.
San Diego Hop On Hop Off Trolley Map
Looking for a map of where the Old Town San Diego Trolley stops? I’ve got you covered! Here is the official map, courtesy of Old Town Trolley Tours.
San Diego Old Town Trolley Tour Schedule
Old Town Trolley’s Hop On Hop Off San Diego Tour runs daily, with tours departing approximately every 20 minutes.
January 1 – March 9, July 4, November 3 – December 31
9 am to 5 pm
Last tour departs Old Town at 3 pm finishing up at approximately 5 pm.
March 10 – July 3, July 5 – November 2
9 am to 6 pm
Last tour departs Old Town at 4 pm finishing up at approximately 6 pm.
Old Town Trolley does not run on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
► Travel Insight
If you are looking for kid-friendly things to do in San Diego at night, Old Town Trolley also offers a San Diego City Lights Night Tour.
Free Entry to 10 Museums
Admission to a number of different museums is included with your San Diego Old Town Trolley ticket. (Some offer free admission regardless.) These are all fairly small attractions that can be explored 30 minutes or less, so be sure to squeeze a few into your day to make the most of your experience!
- Seeley Stable Museum
- Casa De Aguirre
- Mormon Battalion Historic Site
- County Jail Cell and Police Historic Exhibit
- San Diego Chinese Historical Museum
- Coronado Historical Museum
- Veterans Museum at Balboa Park
- Timken Museum of Art
- San Diego History Museum
- San Diego Firehouse Museum
Tickets also include free self-guided audio walking tours.
Old Town Trolley’s Hop On Hop Off San Diego Tour gives you the freedom to create your own itinerary, get off where you want and spend as much time as you want at each location. It is the perfect way to spend one day in San Diego and get a great overview of everything it has to offer!
► Grab your discount tickets for the Hop On Hop Off San Diego Old Town Trolley Tour
San Diego Hop On Hop Off FAQs
Here are some commonly asked questions about exploring San Diego on the Hop On Hop Off San Diego Old Town Trolley Tour.
1. How long is the San Diego Old Town Trolley Tour?
If you were just to ride the full circuit of the Hop On Hop Off San Diego Old Town Trolley without getting off at any of the stops, the tour would last just under two hours.
Some people like to ride the full tour once without hopping off to get the lay of the land, and then go around again to stop at the sights they want to see. The choice is yours!
2. Where does the Hop On Hop Off San Diego Trolley Tour start?
The tour officially begins at the Old Town Trolley Depot, but you can start your tour at any of the stops.
3. How often does the Old Town Trolley run?
The San Diego Old Town Trolley arrives at each stop approximately every 20 minutes. Of course, times may vary slightly due to traffic conditions. During busy times when there is high demand, dispatchers often add more trolleys.
4. Are strollers permitted on the Hop On Hop Off San Diego Trolley Tour?
Yes, you can bring a stroller onboard but they must be folded.
5. Do the trolleys have air-conditioning in the summer or heat in the winter?
No, the Hop On Hop Off San Diego Old Town Trolley is a year-round open-air tour, so they are not heated or air-conditioned.
If the weather is very cold or rainy, the windows do close! However, it makes for much better photos to leave the sides open.
6. Are food and drinks allowed on the tour?
Yes, food and drinks are welcome. However alcoholic beverages are not allowed.
7. Is the Old Town Trolley family-friendly?
Yes, this is a very family-friendly tour and we always see lots of kids onboard when we go. Not only is it fun and interesting, but children love the bus’s open-air feel and it is a thrill to drive around – especially when you cross the bridge! That is why we have included this tour on our list of best things to do in San Diego with kids.
8. Is there a special Christmas tour?
Yes! If you happen to be visiting San Diego during the holidays, book Old Town Trolley’s San Diego Holiday Lights & Sights Trolley Tour. Elf conductors share fun holiday facts and traditions while you see the festive lights around the city. The tour departs from Old Town San Diego and includes a stop for a 15-minute holiday stroll through Seaport Village.
9. Are pets allowed on the tour?
Old Town Trolley allows only service animals on board the trolleys. (In addition to humans, of course! 🙂 )
Save This San Diego Old Town Trolley Tour Guide for Later!
Looking for awesome San Diego tours you can take on your trip? Pin the image below for future reference!
