San Diego walking tours offer a fantastic way to explore America’s Finest City. However, there are some things to keep in mind before starting your tour.
Keep reading for 9 tips that will improve your experience.
1. Bring sunglasses to protect against glare
San Diego is a sunny place, with around 263 days of sunshine per year. Out of those, about 146 don’t offer much, if any, cloud coverage.
Moreover, San Diego is close to the ocean, which can cause a bright, uncomfortable glare as sunlight reflects off the water’s surface. The glare actually gets stronger on calm days when the water is smooth, and these are the days you would typically want to be outside.
So, as you can imagine, sunglasses are essential to San Diego walking tours. For the best experience, opt for polarized sunglasses that offer 100% UV protection. Likewise, consider frames that offer wraparound protection to better shield your eyes, especially if you’re planning to spend time near the water in areas like La Jolla.
2. Bring sunscreen and a hat for daytime walking tours
Have we mentioned San Diego’s sunny weather yet? In all seriousness, in addition to sunglasses, it’s a good idea to bring sunscreen and a hat if you plan on going on a daytime walking tour.
In San Diego’s dense urban areas, concrete and pavement can reflect between 8% to 12% of sunlight back up at you. And, even on overcast days, UV rays can still penetrate through light cloud cover.
For these reasons, sunscreen with at least SPF 30 is recommended. Likewise, wearing a hat will provide additional sun protection and help keep you cool.
3. Wear comfortable shoes and avoid high heels
This may be obvious, but you should definitely wear comfortable shoes on a walking tour! You won’t believe how many people forget this simple advice. So, whatever you do, avoid wearing high heels, and this includes, by the way, wedges with high inclines, platform heels, and any shoes with kitten heels.
These types of footwear can make it difficult to navigate uneven terrain, cobblestones, and other challenging surfaces. Instead, opt for sturdy, comfortable footwear that provides proper support and stability. This will be a big help.
4. Charge your phone beforehand
Walking tours can take up to two hours, and at some point, you might need to use your phone. So, it’s a good idea to charge your phone beforehand.
By the way, most people take photos on their phones and taking pictures is a big part of practically every San Diego walking tour. If your phone is out of battery, you’re kind of out of luck picture-wise. To be fair, several tour companies, including us, take group photos, but you will probably want to take your own pictures too!
San Diego walking tours explore some amazing places that should be captured while you have the opportunity. The Historic Gaslamp Quarter is a great example. There’s so much to see.
For extra peace of mind, consider bringing a small portable battery pack and charging cable, especially if your phone’s battery life isn’t optimal. That way, you can capture and share photos with your friends, family, and followers.
5. Consider the timing of your tour for ideal lighting
Whether you’re a pro at taking photos or just want to capture some special moments, the time of day makes a big difference.
The good thing about walking tours is they are available throughout the day, from 9 AM to 5 PM. This means you have a broad window to choose the best time for the types of photos you want to take.
6. Bring binoculars for coastal walking tours
While you might not need binoculars for a walking tour in certain parts of San Diego, they’re very useful if you’re touring the coastline in La Jolla.
After all, they allow you to view the local sea lions and seals up close, which you can usually see lounging on the rocks at La Jolla Cove. It’s incredibly cool!
La Jolla Cove is generally a fantastic area for viewing the local marine life. In fact, it’s one of the most photographed spots in San Diego.
A compact, lightweight pair with a magnification of 8×42 should do the trick. This should be more than sufficient for viewing La Jolla’s gorgeous coastal scenery, including its magnificent rocky bluffs.
7. Consider bringing a small backpack or tote bag for essentials
Although not absolutely necessary, it’s a good idea to bring a small, lightweight backpack or tote bag. These are useful for carrying bottled water, sunscreen, extra snacks, a camera—essentially any item you think you’ll need on your walking tour.
Keep in mind that most San Diego walking tours last, at the most, about two hours, so you don’t need to pack super heavy. You can just add some necessities and a few extras if you are so inclined.
Just a quick side note: There are some exceptions to how long walking tours last. Some companies offer walking tours that last up to four hours. We’re not one of those. At Another Side Tours, all our walking tours range between an hour and a half to two hours.
8. Check accessibility if you have mobility needs
The majority of this list has focused on what you should bring on your walking tour. However, let’s take a moment to discuss accessibility, which is important.
Keep in mind that some walking tours are easier than others. For example, if your tour is in a heavily pedestrian area, it’s going to have more curb ramps, accessible crossings, and level walkways. Likewise, it’ll have generally flat, paved surfaces.
Some walking tours, though, require you to take stairs, tackle steep inclines, cross uneven surfaces, and deal with things like cobblestone, loose gravel, cracked pavement, and so on.
For this reason, it’s a very good idea to contact your preferred tour company and ask them about accessibility before booking your tour if you have mobility concerns.
9. Treat your tour as a starting point for further exploration
Let’s say you’ve come to the end of your walking tour. Now what? Well, you’ll likely visit interesting places that you want to revisit later on. This kind of thing happens in San Diego; it’s hard not to love. Balboa Park, Little Italy, The Gaslamp Quarter, and other iconic walking tour destinations are absolutely loaded with interesting things, and frankly, you can’t experience them all with just one tour!
After wrapping up your tour, we encourage you to explore the locations that stood out to you. Perhaps that means spending some extra time at Balboa Park or exploring more of Little Italy’s boutique shops and cafes.
To dive deeper, you can book an additional tour. For example, if you enjoyed The Little Italy Walking Tour, a guided exploration of The Gaslamp Quarter (which is south of Little Italy and has its own unique vibe) might be your next adventure.
Hint: Our Old Town Historical Walking Tour is fantastic. It features amazing historic houses, unique specialty shops, the first San Diego newspaper office, and more. Old Town San Diego is considered the “birthplace” of California. Visiting Old Town is a great way to see another side of San Diego.
Now that we’ve covered the 9 tips that will improve your experience, let’s shift focus and look at how much walking tours cost in San Diego.
How much do San Diego Walking Tours cost?
While it depends on the company, generally, you can expect to pay $50 to $100 per person, with most standard walking tours averaging around $75 per person for a 1.5-hour to two-hour experience. More extensive specialty tours can cost $100+ per person.
Group rates are often available, with some companies offering discounted rates for larger parties. Many tour companies have a two-person minimum requirement for every walking tour.
At Another Side Tours, our San Diego Walking Tours currently range from $75 to $90 and have a two-person minimum.
Explore San Diego with a walking tour
You’ve made it to the end! —and, hopefully, you found these tips helpful and are ready to make the most of your San Diego walking tour.
Ready to get started? Book your San Diego walking tour today. For rates, scheduling, and other details, reach out to Another Side Tours. We’re happy to answer your questions!
