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Self-Guided Walking Tour of San Diego's Historic Old Town

By Drives & Detours
Free cancellation available
The previous price was AU$16 and current price is AU$12 per adult
See tickets
Features
  • Free cancellation available
  • 1h 25m
  • Mobile voucher
  • Instant confirmation
  • Multiple languages
Overview

Discover the rich history of California's first city on this self-guided audio tour of San Diego's historic Old Town. This self-paced walking tour invites you to stroll the streets where Native, Spanish, Mexican, and early American settlers once converged. With immersive GPS-triggered narration, uncover the stories and history that reflect the evolution of San Diego from a modest pueblo to a vibrant city. Download the app and explore at your own pace as you discover the hidden history beyond the shops and restaurants.

  • Self-guided tour lets you explore at your own pace
  • GPS-triggered narration with insights into San Diego's history
  • Focus on sites outside Old Town State Historic Park
  • Perfect for both locals and first-time visitors

Activity location

  • Immaculate Conception Church
    • 2540 San Diego Ave
    • 92110-2890, San Diego, California, United States

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
    • 2540 San Diego Avenue
    • 92110, San Diego, California, United States

Check availability

Self-Guided Walking Tour of San Diego's Historic Old Town in Multilingual
  • Activity duration is 1 hour and 25 minutes1h 25m
    1h 25m
  • Opening hours: Sun 8:00 am-8:00 pm
  • English
Price details
AU$15.26
AU$12.21 x 1 AdultAU$12.21
Total
The previous price was AU$15.26 and current price is AU$12.21
20% off

What's included, what's not

  • What's includedWhat's included
    Flexible Usage (unlimited access)
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Audio Guide
  • What's includedWhat's included
    App and Tour Download
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Smartphone (bring your own)

Know before you book

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transport options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Activity itinerary

Immaculate Conception Church
  • 5m
It was here in Old Town that Saint Junípero Serra celebrated his First Holy Mass in California on July 2, 1769, near this site of the present-day Immaculate Conception Church.
Adobe Chapel Museum (Pass by)
This modest structure is California Historic Landmark number 49 and it has one of the most complicated backgrounds of any you’ll see on this tour!
El Campo Santo Cemetery
  • 10m
Step into one of San Diego’s oldest cemeteries, where 19th-century graves and adobe walls preserve the stories of early settlers, outlaws, and soldiers. El Campo Santo is a quiet, hauntingly beautiful stop that offers a glimpse into the city’s frontier past. Keep an eye out because some say not all of its residents rest in peace.
Whaley House Museum (Pass by)
Before the Whaley House stood here, this land was home to San Diego’s public gallows. Today, the peaceful lawn and shaded tree give little hint of its darker past, where Yankee Jim Robinson was famously hanged before the house was ever built. It’s a hauntingly historic stop that adds a chilling layer to Old Town’s storey.
Save Our Heritage Organisation
  • 5m
This striking white home has travelled farther than most—it was prefabricated in Maine, shipped around Cape Horn, and reassembled in San Diego in the 1850s. Once home to early US Army engineer George Derby and later County Recorder George Pendleton, the house offers a rare glimpse into Old Town’s early attempts at urban development. It stands today as a testament to preservation, resourcefulness, and a few big ideas that didn’t quite go as planned.
Heritage Park
  • 20m
Heritage Park is a charming collection of restored Victorian homes and cottages, each relocated here in the 1970s to save them from demolition. As you explore the park, you'll pass beautifully preserved structures like the Sherman-Gilbert House, Bushyhead House, and Senlis Cottage—each with its own storey tied to San Diego’s past. It's a peaceful, walkable glimpse into the city's architectural and cultural legacy, brought back to life through grassroots preservation efforts.
Mormon Battalion Historic Site
  • 20m
This free museum shares the remarkable storey of the Mormon Battalion, a group that marched over 2,000 miles west during the Mexican-American War and helped shape early San Diego. Today, the Mormon Battalion Historic Site offers hands-on exhibits, immersive storytelling, and interactive activities like gold panning and brick making. It's a fascinating stop that blends local, military, and religious history in one engaging experience.
4010 Twiggs St
  • 5m
Originally built in 1908 as a rectory near city centre San Diego, this historic structure was relocated to Old Town in 1940 and later served as a convent during World War II. Today, it stands on the former site of the Casa de Aguirre—now preserved and recognised as a City of San Diego Historic Landmark. The building’s layered past reflects both the city’s evolving Catholic heritage and its commitment to preservation.
Casa de Aguirre
  • 15m
Once home to one of Old Town’s most prominent families, the Casa de Aguirre now serves as a small museum showcasing artefacts from both the Aguirre household and its later use as a Catholic-run industrial school for Native American children in the late 1800s. Displays include luxury imports, household items, and tools from the era, offering a glimpse into two very different chapters of Old Town’s past. It’s a thought-provoking stop that reflects both wealth and hardship in San Diego’s early history.

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIES
    Immaculate Conception Church
    • 2540 San Diego Ave
    • 92110-2890, San Diego, California, United States

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
    • 2540 San Diego Avenue
    • 92110, San Diego, California, United States

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