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San Diego
Things to do in San Diego
Old Town San Diego

Old Town San Diego: Hours, Address, Old Town San Diego Reviews: 4.5/5

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Old Town San Diego

See all things to do
See all things to do
Old Town San Diego
4.5
1 807
#44 of 469 things to do in San Diego
Points of Interest & Landmarks
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10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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Tours & experiences
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The area
Neighbourhood: Old Town
How to get there
  • Old Town Transit Center • 3 min walk
Best nearby
Restaurants
1 050 within 5 kms
Harney Sushi
424
0.4 kmRR - RRR • Japanese • Sushi • Asian
Pizza Bella
406
0.2 kmRR - RRR • Italian • Pizza • Vegetarian Friendly
Perry's Cafe
354
0.4 kmR • American • Cafe • Diner
Casa Guadalajara
1 620
0.2 kmRR - RRR • Mexican • Southwestern • Latin
Fiesta de Reyes
366
3.3 mRR - RRR • Mexican • Latin • Vegetarian Friendly
Rockin Baja Lobster
858
0.4 kmRR - RRR • Mexican • Southwestern • Bar
Barra Barra Saloon
494
58 mRR - RRR • Mexican • Latin • Vegetarian Friendly
Casa de Reyes
998
21 mRR - RRR • Mexican • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Old Town Mexican Cafe
1 790
0.4 kmRR - RRR • Mexican • Southwestern • Latin
Cafe Coyote
3 126
0.5 kmRR - RRR • Mexican • Southwestern • Latin
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Attractions
328 within 10 kms
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
5 653
79 mState Parks • Historic Walking Areas
Wells Fargo Museum
54
0.1 kmSpeciality Museums • History Museums
Seeley Stables
30
0.2 kmSpeciality Museums • History Museums
Casa de Estudillo
27
0.1 kmHistoric Sites
First San Diego Courthouse
14
79 mSpeciality Museums
McCoy Museum House
12
79 mHistoric Sites
Casa de Machado y Stewart
10
79 mHistoric Sites
Mormon Battalion Historic Site
1 018
0.3 kmHistoric Sites
Cygnet Theatre Company
37
0.2 kmTheatres
Immaculate Conception Church
36
0.3 kmChurches & Cathedrals
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Popular mentions
4.5
1 807 reviews
Excellent
905
Very good
662
Average
202
Poor
29
Terrible
9
PegGolden
North Chicago, IL12 contributions
A fascinating look into San Diego history
Jun 2022 • Couples
What a wonderful little town! You get to relive the history of San Diego in addition to doing some wonderful shopping of local merchants. Beautiful things to buy that are handmade in Mexico. And the Mexican restaurant that I ate that was spectacular! Do not miss a trip to old town.
Written 2 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
THE-TW0-BEES
Phenix City, AL695 contributions
Like stepping back in time!
May 2022 • Couples
Such a cool town. Lots of shops and restaurants, Historic sites and even a play area for the little ones. It's like stepping back in time. Easy to walk and free parking just a block from the center of town. They have a vendor market on Saturday's.
Written 1 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
noxiousburrito
Ann Arbor, MI257 contributions
Traditional Tourist Trap
May 2022
Old fashioned tourist trap. Lots of fun things to do, surrounded by places selling margaritas! Fun stores to shop in and lots of sites to see.
Written 21 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Jlc5442
Watertown, CT46 contributions
A must when in San Diego
Apr 2022 • Solo
Old town is a must when visiting San Diego. Rich with Mexican culture. The music and food were excellent.
Lots of little shops and novelty stores. Colorful and fun . A quick trolley ride away from downtown .
Written 5 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
LadyGhana
Richmond, VA228 contributions
Old Town- Great Fun!
May 2022 • Friends
Took the Old Town bus tour around San Diego- saw the highlights including Hotel Del Cornado. This is the best bargain going. You can hop on and off at the various locations with no additional cost. In Old Town lots of shops and restaurants to pick from. People are super nice and friendly. Definitely a must do while in San Diego.
Written 3 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Aleksandra G
Oslo, Norway154 contributions
The spirit of the old days! Must see!
Sep 2021 • Friends
Very interesting neighborhood, all reflected as in the old days - you can feel the spirit of this place. You have to visit all the houses one by one and take a walk along the neighboring streets. At the weekend it can be difficult to find a parking space in the immediate vicinity.
Written 22 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Rosa S
45 contributions
A Must but -
Apr 2022
We really liked Old Town and are glad we went. The food was really good. The architecture - esp the church - was really interesting. Historical spots were cool. I only wish it was a more authentic experience and that the stores were less touristy. There is so much to learn about the heritage - I would have liked to have more opportunities to explore that.

Shout out to the magic shop - my son learned some new card tricks that he still uses!
Written 19 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
OnTheRoadAgain8180
Gardiner, ME369 contributions
Good but a bit overrated
Mar 2022
We enjoyed a couple of hours in Old Town, particularly lunch at Hungry's, a drink at Casa de Maria (really enjoyed the woman singing there) and also the old cemetery which is about a block away from the main area. It can be a bit crowded and also another parking challenge (avoid a parking garage in the area that will leave you in a dead end and forced to pull an Austin Powers maneuver to get the hell out of there). Overall ok (somewhere between average to good/very good), so I'm being a bit generous on my rating.
Written 2 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Travelswell4fun
central florida445 contributions
Meh.
Mar 2022
Some people rave about Old Town. I don't know why. We enjoyed our time there and DO think it is a necessary thing to see when visiting San Diego. But I am not at all goo-goo, gah-gah about it.
Written 28 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Saluga
Wading River, NY2 463 contributions
Interesting Place
Sep 2021
There's shops, places to eat, and historic buildings in Old Town. Most of the buildings were closed (probably due to Covid). I bought a nice Christmas ornament in one of the shops, and we found a nice place to get ice cream. We were there during the day on a week day so it wasn't very crowded.
Written 14 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Old Town San Diego
Old Town San Diego is open:
  • Sun - Sat 10:00 - 17:00
Buy tickets in advance on Tripadvisor. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund.
We recommend booking Old Town San Diego tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 14 Old Town San Diego tours on Tripadvisor
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