AFISHA LIFE
San Diego
Explore
Walking Tours
Private Customizable Iconic City Highlights Tour - Cultural, Historic, Shuttled

Private Customizable Iconic City Highlights Tour - Cultural, Historic, Shuttled

Overview

Journey with award winning tour guide Julie Kremen around San Diego’s cultural and historic sites—on a private tour of fun and informative must-see sightseeing hotspots.

On this private tour, you will experience and thoroughly understand how San Diego came to be the world-class modern city that it is. We’ll travel through the rich history of San Diego from its discovery by Spanish conquistadores, to the lively and festive Mexican period, to the days when it was the Wild Wild West’s new American frontier. And, of course, you’ll learn about its present-day standing as the 8th largest city in the US and what makes it the epitome of Southern California lifestyle. Discover why we are “America’s Finest City” and watch out… many who come to visit end up moving here!

Note: This 4 hour private tour is fully customizable; contact Julie to book as described above or to discuss how to change to suit your needs.

City: San Diego

Sun 29 Jun

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $455.00

Make a reservation

Sun 29 Jun

Starting at $455.00

Make a reservation

New York City Tours

Unique Activities (21) Transfers & Transportation (175) Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises (252) Entry Tickets (96) Sporting Events (4) Good for Small Groups (27) Seasonal & Holiday Tours (113) Walking Tours (705) Outdoor Activities (48) Limitied Availability Tours (29) LGBT Friendly Tours (9) Family-friendly Activities (8) Wildlife Activities (6) Solo Travelers' Tours (147) Food & Drinks (96) Travelers recommend (174) Good for Groups (32) Top Activities (75) Guided Audio Tours (10) Art, Culture & History (406) Attractions to explore (43) Sustainable Tours (1) Limousine Transfers (5) Donut Walking Tour (2) Virtual Experiences (1) Additional fees (7) DSA non-compliant (17)

What's Included

Private transportation

Bottled water

Air-conditioned vehicle

Your expert guide Julie will take as many photos of you as you want

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
If you have a child in your party under 8 years old, you must bring your own child car seat or booster seat, depending on their age. It is NOT okay for the child to sit on your lap.
You will be shuttled in a midsize car. If there are 4 adults in your party this might be uncomfortable since 3 sit in the back.
On this tour we do mini walking tours around Balboa Park and Old Town which total approx. 1-2 miles. We can limit the walking if you have any mobility issues - just let us know and we will adjust the itinerary.

What To Expect

Balboa Park

BALBOA PARK is the cultural heartbeat of our city; you will fall in love with the country’s largest urban cultural park and be dazzled discovering its origins as you take in its incredible vegetation, gorgeous flowers and ornate architecture. TOUR TIDBITS: One of San Diego's biggest tourist destinations contains a tranquil garden purposely landscaped to attract countless beautiful butterflies. But this garden was not always so tranquil! Over the years it has served as a dance hall, a mining camp, and stagecoach station. And, at one point, it was surrounded by a big redwood fence with a few strategically placed holes that visitors could peek through to spy on… a nudist colony!

Gaslamp Quarter

TOUR TIDBITS: In the 1980s, when the city of San Diego was reinventing its downtown area—now known as "The Gaslamp Quarter"—they made plans and even produced signs with the original name for this soon-to-be resurrected historic district. (The original name was actually not "The Gaslamp Quarter.”) The original name caused a huge public outcry, and the city ended up renaming it "The Gaslamp Quarter." On the tour, you'll find out what the original name was, why they changed it, and you'll see the beautifully renovated architectural details from the Victorian era when gas lamps lit this historic district.

San Diego

DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO: Explore these San Diego Downtown essentials: scenic San Diego Bay’s Embarcadero waterfront, the famous and vibrant Gaslamp Quarter, hip and historic Little Italy, and Petco Park.

Old Town San Diego

OLD TOWN: Take a trip into the past and learn about our rich Spanish and Mexican heritage and why we are the “Birthplace of California.” Experience our original city—colorful and festive now, but find out why it wasn’t always that way. TOUR TIDBITS: For entertainment, early settlers in San Diego would tie the leg of a bull to the leg of a grizzly bear (which they would hunt down in our local mountains) and then let them fight. Find out where these brawls took place, and see the beautiful buildings surrounding this historic landmark. And if we’re lucky, you’ll feel like you were there in the early days if we happen to catch some artisans in period dress, folkloric dancers or Mariachis!

Show 1 more stops

Cancellation Policy

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

Traveler Photos

Reviews (8)

968W

Mar 2025

Julie was an absolute star, collected me from my hotel and showed me all the main sights in four hours. A mine of information which she shared in relaxed way so not to overload my jet lagged brain! Fun and informative so would definitely recommend if you only have a short time in the city or want an over view before exploring more.

Response from Host

Mar 2025

W-- Thank you for the opportunity to show you some of San Diego's charms, teach you about our fascinating history, and see what makes us tick. I'm so glad you enjoyed the tour and now that you know a little bit of what there is to offer here, I hope you can come back for future explorations! ~Julie

22Terra

Feb 2025

Julie’s Private Customizable Iconic City Highlights Tour was an unforgettable experience! She guided us through the breathtaking Balboa Park, sharing fascinating history, architectural insights, and hidden gems we never would have found on our own. From the stunning gardens to the incredible museums and Spanish Colonial buildings, every stop was filled with rich storytelling that brought the park to life. We also had the chance to explore Little Italy, where Julie introduced us to its vibrant history and culture. She even gave us great recommendations for authentic dining spots to revisit later. The seamless shuttle service made the tour effortless, allowing us to relax and soak in every moment. Julie’s passion for the city, wealth of knowledge, and engaging personality made this tour truly special. If you want to experience the best of San Diego in a fun, informative, and hassle-free way, this is the perfect tour. Highly recommend! Julie is truly amazing and the only choice for any private tours of the area.

Response from Host

Mar 2025

S- Even though we had some unfavorable weather, everyone on the tour was wonderful; I enjoyed taking you all around and sharing what I know about our unique history, culture and lifestyle. Thanks so much for your review and I hope we can do a part two at some point so you can discover more of San Diego’s treasures. ~Julie

orelmk

Oct 2023

We had an incredible day with Julie! We were picked up at our ship and had an amazing day visiting San Diego, Lo Jolla and Coronado. Julie showed us so many hidden gems that you would never experience in a large tour bus. She was so informative it was like doing a tour with a friend. Highly recommended !

Response from Host

Nov 2023

M- I'm so happy that I was able to introduce you to America's finest city for your inaugural visit and that you enjoyed all the different locations I brought you to. And being the history buffs that you are, I’m so glad that you liked learning our history and now you have a better understanding about what happened here on the West Coast in the early days. Thank you so much for your review! ~ Julie