10 Tijuana tours from San Diego that you can’t miss

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Are you ready to join the best Tijuana tours from San Diego?

I got you covered! I visited Tijuana from San Diego many times, and can tell you why taking a tour is a good idea.

Tijuana is a melting pot full of contrasts and is home to the busiest border crossing in the world. While the city boasts a fun history, mouthwatering street food, and a decent craft beer scene, it also has a high homicide rate attributed to the rivaling cartels who fight for control of the territory along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Although tourists are not targets of cartels, the sad statistic contributes to the poor perception of safety in Tijuana, with many questioning whether they should go there.

Tijuana tours from San Diego are perfect if you want to enjoy the city’s blend of cultures without worrying about your safety. Tijuana boasts fantastic street food, and many Tijuana food tous offer an opportunity to sample local specialties from local food carts and hole-in-the-wall restaurants.

Food carts in Tijuana are beloved fixtures where many locals come to see their friends and neighbors. That’s why this Taco Tuesday Hop Tour a perfect opportunity to experience the social scene of Tijuana. 

Another popular options are walking tours of Tijuana that offer a glimpse into the history of Tijuana and Mexico. Tijuana guides are very knowledgeable and can give you a complete overview from today to the pre-Hispanic times.

Led by English-speaking guides from Mexico, walking tours of Tijuana are perfect if you don’t speak Spanish and want someone to give you an overview of the best food spots and things to do, all while learning about the history and culture of Mexico.

✅ Check: Is Tijuana worth visiting?

This article offers an overview of the top-rated tours of Tijuana, and you can book them online through Viator, my favorite platform for guided tours in Baja and other parts of Mexico.

Best Tijuana tours from San Diego: overview 

⭐️ 4.5 stars – 142 reviews ⌚️ duration of the tour – 7 hours 📝 free cancellation

1. Mexican Street Food: Tijuana day trip from San Diego

Tijuana is famous for its street food, and you can find small food stands on many streets. While most street food in Tijuana boasts wonderful flavor, identifying the best spots is not always easy if you are new and don’t know your way around the area.

Join this fun Mexican street food tour with a local guide that offers a perfect opportunity try staples like Tijuana-style tacos, birria, and elote (Mexican street corn topped with sour cream, cheese and butter).

The city has emerged as one of the top destinations for craft beer in Mexico, and your guide will show you the best breweries.

If you are not a beer drinker, you can request a stop at an authentic Mexican cantina to sample a savory margarita. 

What’s included:

• Breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Personalized guide 
• Food and drinks
• Round trip transportation

What’s not included:

• Gratuities 

This is the tour if you’re looking for a casual but memorable day tour across the border. My tour guide Tadeo was fabulous and made a point to cater the tour to my desires. The food stops were amazing. Each location had its unique atmosphere, and each taco had its flavor.

SONNET

⭐️ 5 stars – 225 reviews ⌚️ duration of the tour – 4.5 hours 📝 free cancellation

2. Tijuana walking tour with a local guide from San Diego

While Tijuana gets a bad rep on the news because of its problems with cartel violence, the city has safe tourist zones with plenty of highlights worth your attention.

If you want to enjoy the highlights of Tijuana in a safe and fun way, don’t miss this tour with a local guide.

Your guide will take you on an adventure in Tijuana and show you the city, from historic landmarks like the Tijuana Arch and Avenida Revolucion to shopping hotspots like El Popo market, where you can buy some artisan souvenirs and learn about the culture of the country. 

What’s included: 

• Local guide 

What’s not included:

• Food and drinks
• Gratuities

Our guides were wonderful: knowledgeable, helpful, and went out of their way to make us feel welcome and informed. So much fun too! Everything was well planned for us, and they were sure to include historic and cultural places, food, shopping, and cultural immersion. I couldn’t have asked for a better tour!

JUSTINE

⭐️ 5 stars – 460 reviews ⌚️ duration of the tour – 4-5 hours 📝 free cancellation

3. Intro to Mexico Walking Tour: Tijuana day trip from San Diego

Tijuana often makes headlines for its cartel violence, but the city is much more than that! 

Did you know that Tijuana is also the largest city in Baja California with over 1.8 million people and one of the fastest-growing economies in Mexico?

The city attracts many investors and companies, and the crime you see on the news is only part of that. 

✅Check: Is Uber safe in Tijuana?

This intro to Mexico walking tour is a perfect opportunity to see things for yourself and learn the history of Tijuana from a local guide while visiting some of the most prominent landmarks.

One of the highlights of the tour is shopping in Tijuana’s colorful markets where you can try mouthwatering tacos and buy handmade souvenirs. 

What’s included:

• Food tasting
• Local guide
• Bottled water

What’s not included:

• Food and drinks
• Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
• Gratuities

Excellent walking tour with an excellent tour guide! Very knowledgeable tour guide. I felt safe. I would recommend this tour to anyone.

CHRISTIAN

⭐️ 4.5 stars – 9 reviews ⌚️ duration of the tour – 12 hours 📝 free cancellation

4. Wine tasting in Baja’s top wine region

Tijuana is a gateway to the heart of the top-producing wine region in Mexico, where you can enjoy the signature drink made by local recipes. 

This private tour will take you on a fun adventure in Valle De Guadalupe, the most popular destination for wine tasting in Baja California. 

You also will have a chance to sample local wines, from young to medium, and stop at a restaurant to try traditional Mexican foods. 

What’s included:

• Private transportation
• Tastings in the wineries

What’s not included:

• Dinner
• Gratuities

Our guide Adolpho, was knowledgeable and helped us design a day that aligned with our wine preferences, We took our time at each location and never felt rushed. Really a joy!

DAn

⭐️ 5 stars – 63 reviews ⌚️ duration of the tour – 6 hours 📝 free cancellation

5. Taco Tuesday hop to Tijuana from San Diego

There’s no better place to celebrate Taco Tuesday than Tijuana.

After going through the busiest border crossing in the world, indulge in the culinary delights of Baja and explore street food carts along the city streets 

Eating your way around Tijuana is a fun cultural experience. Many taquerias play typical Norteño music, popular in Tijuana and most Baja, so you can learn this regional style.

Book Taco Tuesday Hop Tour to enjoy authentic Tijuana-style tacos with fillings and toppings like salsa, cilantro, and lime. 

The tour also includes stops for Tijuana’s famed craft beer and local specialties. Tacos and drinks are included in the price which is capped at 12 participants.

What’s included:

• A guide
• Food and drinks
• Lunch – one seafood taco
• Roundtrip transportation 

What’s not included:

• Souvenirs
• Gratuities

I had Marisol as a tour guide and she was simply fabulous! Super nice and knowledgeable! Loved everything about the tour!!

MARIAN

⭐️ 4.5 stars – 11 reviews ⌚️ duration of the tour – 6-7 hours 📝 free cancellation

6. Tijuana Food Tasting: day tour from San Diego

A perfect adventure for foodies and first-timers, Tijuana Tasting Food Tour offers a chance to explore off-the-beaten-track taquerias where only locals go.

Enjoy the rich flavor of Tijuana’s street food and craft beer in the busy downtown with your guide who can tell you all about the latest trends in Tijuana’s food scene.

You can often spot Mariachi bands singing on the streets of Tijuana when you enjoy street food, which makes for a fun cultural experience.

This small-size tour allows you to learn about Tijuana while enjoying signature tacos and exploring the safe parts of the city. 

What’s included:

• Food tasting
• Local guide
• Beer Flights
• Drink

What’s not included:

• Additional food and drinks

Humberto was an excellent tour guide. Great fun, food, and shopping. He knew all the really clean restaurants with the freshest foods. Stopped for some great craft beer scenes as well. Highly recommend!

Anton

⭐️ 5 stars – 2 reviews ⌚️ duration of the tour -8 hours 📝 free cancellation

7. Crawling Craft Brew Tijuana: Tijuana day tour from San Diego

Over the last decade, Tijuana has seen a rise in microbreweries that produce high quality beer. 

Brewers in Tijuana and nearby Tecate create great beers that you can taste on this fun tour. Your guide provides an introduction to Mexico’s craft beer scene and the history of its development in Tijuana. 

This craft beer tour includes tacos, beer samples, and round-trip transportation from the San Ysidro border crossing. 

What’s included:

• One beer flights or pints on each brewery
• Two meals and drinks
• Local guide
• Roundtrip transportation

What’s not included:

• Extra alcoholic drinks
• Extra food and drinks
• Tip for a local guide

Gilberto met me at the border and we walked across for our tour. We went to quite a few craft breweries and a couple of local cantinas as a fun detour. The small group all agreed. He was knowledgeable regarding the brews and the local scene. I enjoyed it.

⭐️ 5 stars – 2 reviews ⌚️ duration of the tour 6-8 hours 📝 free cancellation

8. Tijuana’s food & drink industry

Dive into Tijuana’s gastronomy on this immersive tour with a private guide. You don’t have to worry about navigating city streets or arranging transportation. 

Enjoy a different type of beer at every stop while you learn about the process of making it. Your guide will meet you at your hotel before the tour. 

What’s included: 

• Private transportation
• Logistics

What’s not included: 

• Gratuities
• Lunch
• Alcoholic beverages

⭐️ 4.5 stars – 378 reviews ⌚️ duration of the tour – 6 hours 📝 free cancellation

9. Crossing Borders: Tijuana day trip from San Diego

Join a fun walking tour of Tijuana that offers a mix of the city’s attractions, vibrant food scene at sidewalk taco stands, and some shopping.  

The tour begins by meeting your guide and small group in San Diego. It’s limited to just 12 people, perfect for first-time visitors who want to visit Tijuana safely with a guide. 

Once you meet up with your guide, you will cross the border together before you set off. After some sightseeing, you will enjoy a traditional Mexican lunch and learn about the culinary side of the city. 

The experience ends when your guide helps you to safely get back across the border and walk back into the US.

What’s included:

• Food tasting
• Lunch
• Local guide

What’s not included: 

• Food and drinks
• Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)

I came as a solo traveler and was not sure about the safety or what to expect. Humberto was the travel guide and he went above and beyond. He was friendly, explained everything, and I enjoyed my short visit to Mexico. It was a different experience. I loved stories, and tacos, and enjoyed every moment. Highly recommend you all.

Saba

⭐️ 5 stars – 225 reviews ⌚️ duration of the tour -4.5 hours 📝 free cancellation

10. Tijuana Toe Dip: Day trip from San Diego

Traveling to Tijuana can be daunting for someone who has never been there, but it becomes a fun adventure when you have a local guide by your side who can show you their city and tell you the facts that most tourists never get to learn. 

The highlights of Tijuana Toe Dip Tour include the Plaza Santa Cecilia, the Tijuana Arch, the History Museum, the city market, Pasaje Rodriguez, and other popular spots.

It’s a great way to get a taste of Mexico, even if you are in San Diego for a limited time and have never been to Baja California. 

Meeting point: 727 E San Ysidro Blvd, San Diego, CA 92173

The tour is limited to 12 people.

What’s included:

• Personalized guide 
• Roundtrip transportation to Mexico
• Lunch

What’s not included:

• Personal expenses
• Gratuities 

Marisol was absolutely amazing! My husband and I had a fabulous time and can’t wait to go back to TJ.

teya

Tijuana tours from San Diego: FAQ’s

Is it worth visiting Tijuana from San Diego?

Yes, it’s worth visiting Tijuana from San Diego. Tijuana is a culturally diverse city that boasts fantastic street food, colorful markets, and vibrant nightlife.

Are there tours to Tijuana from San Diego?

Yes, daily tours of Tijuana from San Diego offer great cultural and food experiences accompanied by local guides who know their city well.

Do I need a passport to go to Tijuana?

Yes, you need a valid passport to go to Tijuana.

Is Tijuana good for a day trip?

Tijuana is a fun city for a day trip if you want to see the largest city in Baja California and a blend of Mexican-Amerian culture.

Tijuana tours from San Diego: Final word 

If you don’t feel safe going to Tijuana alone or need some guidance navigating this city, a guided tour is a perfect option. I hope this article helped you choose the best experience for your interests and needs, and that you can make the best of your trip. 

Baja California travel guide 

Do I need a visa for Baja California?

If you are traveling to Baja California from the United States and Canada or Western Europe, you don’t need a visa. Click here to check Mexico visa requirements for your country. iVisa a website that can help you with a visa to Mexico.

Do I need a car in Baja California?

You need a rental car to see the best of Baja California, as most places aren’t accessible by public transportation. I recommend DiscoverCars for car rentals in Baja and other parts of Mexico. 

Click here to check prices on car rentals in popular detsinations in Baja. 

Do I need a travel insurance in Baja California?

Personal travel insurance in not required in Baja, but it’s a good idea to get one ahead of your trip. Travel Insurance Master will cover you in case of hospital visits, missed flights, lost or stolen belongings and other accidents that could happen on the road.

Do I need a car insurance to drive in Mexico?

A Mexico car insurance is required for ALL vehicles entering the country. Note that your US insurance will not be valid in Mexico. Baja Bound Mexican Insurance is a popular website to find insurance for your car, RV, boat, motorcycles and other types of transportation.

Where can I find the best Baja tours?

the best websites for finding tours all over Baja is Viator. Guided tours are usually available in bigger cities like Cabo San Lucas, San José del Cabo, La Paz and Tijuana.

Where can I book flights to Baja?

Click here to find cheap airline tickets to Baja

Where do I find cheap hotels in Baja?

Booking.com is the best website to find hotels all over Baja, but you can also use Hostels.com to find hostels. VRBO is a perfect place to find apartments and home-style places to stay in Baja. 

Can I drink water in Baja California?

While major cities like Cabo and La Paz treat their water, it’s generally not advised to drink water in Baja California. Always carry your water bottle with you, or better yet, buy a water bottle with filtration for your trip.