Last updated on March 25th, 2024 at 11:22 pm
Looking for full details on the Hop On Hop Off San Diego Trolley Tour?
Taking a hop on hop off San Diego Tour is the perfect way to maximize your time and get around, all while learning some cool facts about America’s Finest City.
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 several museums and attractions!
Exploring San Diego on the Hop On Hop Off San Diego Old Town Trolley Tour
When you live near a tourist destination, you donβt always think to do the touristy things! Weβve been visiting San Diego for years, and in our quest to discover something new to do, decided to explore the city via San Diego Old Town Trolley Tours, an awesome Hop On Hop Off San Diego tour. This ended up being one of the most fun decisions weβve ever made on a trip!
Named San Diegoβs Best Hop On, Hop Off All Day Tour, the San Diego Old Town Trolley stops at ten locations along a 25-mile loop around San Diego. You can easily explore the city’s attractions, museums, beaches, historic sites, shops and restaurants. It is truly the best San Diego sightseeing bus tour. I highly recommend this tour, especially if you are new to the city or just want an overview of everything San Diego has to offer.
βΊ Travel Insight
Save money exploring San Diego theme parks and attractions with a San Diego CityPASS, which includes the Old Town Trolley Tour and lots of other attractions!
So where does the Hop On Hop Off San Diego Old Town Trolley Tour go? Here are the Old Town Trolley stops:
Start in Old Town
Known as the birthplace of California, Old Town is in the heart of San Diego. We love visiting Old Town San Diego! 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 β many of which are free to explore.
The Whaley House Museum, one of San Diego’s most famous sites, is also just steps away from Old Town. (Old Town Trolley Tour San Diego Gold Pass includes free admission to the Whaley House Museum, which is said to be the most haunted house in America!)
If this sounds like a lot to cram into a day when youβre already planning on take the Old Town Trolley around San Diego β 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 parkβs 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 finding parking (or 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 9am.
βΊ Click here to read a full review of the Best Western Plus Hacienda Hotel.
San Diego Embarcadero
Stop B on the San Diego Hop On Hop Off Tour is located along the Embarcadero, near the USS Midway Museum, Maritime Museum and the Star of India.
This location is also home to a great public art display along the waterfront titled “A National Salute to Bob Hope and the Military.” Fifteen life-size bronze statues stand proudly on the waterfront in San Diego, with the USS Midway Museum as their backdrop, paying tribute to our American military. Definitely worth a quick stop if just for the photo opp!
Seaport Village
Stop C is Seaport Village, one of San Diegoβs most popular tourist spots. Seaport Village San Diego is a 14-acre waterfront shopping, dining, and entertainment destination. It features a promenade with spectacular views of the Coronado Bridge, Coronado Island and boats on the bay.
Downtown San Diego
The next group of stops on the San Diego Old Town Trolley Tour route (Stops D-G) hit different neighborhoods downtown.
If you are looking to do some shopping, Horton Plaza is a great multi-level open air mall. The historic Gaslamp Quarter is a neighborhood filled with restaurants and bars (definitely comes more alive at night) but in the daytime there are some sights to see if you hop off.
Because it was free with our trolley tour and we had never been there before, we took the opportunity to check out the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum β actually pretty interesting!
Coronado Island
Cross San Diego Bay via the San Diego-Coronado Bridge and hop off at Stop H 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.
βΊ Check out these family-friendly things to do in Coronado.
The iconic Hotel del Coronado is certainly one of San Diegoβs most famous hotels. And luckily you donβt need to book a room to enjoy it! Wander through the hotelβs 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.
Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo
Each of the San Diego attractions at Stop I can easily be a full day. The San Diego Zoo is easily one of the best and largest zoos in the country, and Balboa Park is home to 16 museums and 1200 acres of gardens and some truly amazing architecture.
Because we are βmuseum peopleβ and there was an exhibit on Cannibalism at the Museum of Man that my teenage son wanted to see, we stopped. But if youβre schedule permits save this area for a day when you can dedicate a big chunk of time to explore.
Little Italy
In all the years weβve 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 J 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.
βΊ Looking for more fun things to do in San Diego? Check out these Family-Friendly Things to do at Night in San Diego.
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 Trolleyβs Hop On Hop Off San Diego Tour runs daily, with tours departing approximately every 20 minutes.
April 1 β November 7
9am β 6pm
Last tour departs Old Town at 4pm, finishing up approximately at 6pm.
November 8 β March 31
9am β 5pm
Last tour departs Old Town at 3pm, finishing up approximately at 5pm.
Free Entry to 10 San Diego Museums with the Old Town Trolley Tour
Admission to ten 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 in an hour or less, so be sure to squeeze a few into your day to make the most of your experience!
- Old Town Sheriffβs Museum β Stop A
- Casa De Aguirre β Stop A
- Mormon Battalion Historic Site β Stop A
- Old Town Railroad Depot β Stop A
- African Museum β Casa Del Rey Moro β Stop A
- San Diego Chinese Historical Museum β Stop F
- Coronado Historical Museum β Stop H
- Veterans Museum at Balboa Park β Stop I
- Timken Museum of Art β Stop I
- San Diego Firehouse Museum β Stop J
Old Town Trolleyβs 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 take in all that San Diego has to offer!
βΊ Grab your discount tickets for the Hop On Hop Off San Diego Old Town Trolley Tour
Lights & Sights Trolley Tour
During Christmas in San Diego, Old Town Trolley Tour transforms into the Holiday Trolley for their San Diego Holiday Lights & Sights Trolley Tour.
See San Diego with a holiday twist! The trolleyβs Elf conductors share fun holiday facts and traditions. Youβll get to see the festive San Diego Christmas lights of Old Town, Embarcadero, Seaport Village, Balboa Park and more! The tour departs from Old Town San Diego and includes a stop for a 15-minute holiday stroll through Seaport Village.
More Things to Know About the San Diego Old Town Trolley Tour
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 ride again and 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 30 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.
6. Are food and drinks allowed on the tour?
Yes, food and drinks are welcome. However alcoholic beverages are not allowed.
7. Are pets allowed on the tour?
Old Town Trolley allows only service animals on board the trolleys.
Save This San Diego Old Town Trolley Tour Guide for Later!
Planning a San Diego vacation? Pin the image below for future reference!
Carly | Fearless Female Travels says
I’ve been to California a few times but never San Diego… Now I’m wondering if I’d ever be able to pull myself away from the beach to check out all of the city’s beautiful architecture!
Anonymous says
I did the route 1 drive from LA to San Fran a few years back but unfortunately we didnt venture far enough south to discover San Diego. This post makes me want to go!!
Josy A says
This does look like a fun way to explore the city! I actually really like exploring local areas like a tourist sometimes. It gives you a whole new perspective on how fun your city can be! It’s really cool that so many of San Diego’s museums were included in the price too!
Claire says
Wow, I honestly didn’t realize there was so much to do in San Diego. I live in LA so I’ve made the drive a couple times, just day trips, and I guess I didn’t research enough beforehand! I need to try again and do it right this time.
I have heard how wonderful the zoo is from multiple people now, maybe I should make it a weekend trip so I can spend a whole day there. I’m on the same page as your son, I want to see that cannibalism exhibit haha. How was it?
admin says
You should definitely go for a weekend if you can get away overnight! We discovered a lot of things by taking the trolley that I didn’t even know were there. My husband and son really liked the cannibalism at the Museum of Man! It was very well done, educational and not too gross LOL. I walked around the park and went to the botanical gardens while they were there π
Lucy Lee Frank says
What a cool way to explore the beautiful city
Mateja says
Iβve never imagined exploring San Diego on a Trolley could bring you to so many attractions. It seems you had so much fun as well!
Corina says
It is always nice to explore a City a bit with style and your trolley tour looks like this!!! nice post.
Brianna says
I didn’t realize there was so much to see in San Diego! It sounds like a fun way to explore the city and see some of the sights you might not know exist. It would be hard to choose between the zoo and seeing Balboa Park and all of its museums.
umiko says
I like this informative post. My cousin lives in Carlsbad, I’m sure she will take us everywhere if we go there again. But I think taking a trolley tour like you and your family did is a must-do. You have your family time while visiting the city, and you get to see a lot of things. Thank you for the post. Pinned it as well.
Bonita says
Gelatos in Little Italy sounds like a plan! It is amazing how much you can see with the planned tours like the trolley bus! This is a nice guide and important info! Thanks for sharing…
Maria says
I just moved to San Diego and am enjoying exploring my own backyard for the last couple of months. I will definitely add a trolley tour to my to-do list now π
Daniel Barker says
I recently took the San Diego Old Town Trolley Tour and it was an amazing experience! The tour guide was very knowledgeable and gave us a great overview of the city. The trolley was comfortable and the views were spectacular. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting San Diego!
Robert James says
I recently took the San Diego Old Town Trolley Tour and it was a great experience! The tour guide was very knowledgeable and gave us a lot of interesting facts about the city. I highly recommend this tour to anyone looking to learn more about San Diego’s history and culture.