Discover San Diego's Embarcadero: A Self-Guided Walking Tour
Are you visiting or planning a trip to San Diego and looking for a fun way to explore the city? Why not try our self-guided walking tour of the Embarcadero! This tour takes you on a scenic stroll along San Diego Bay, showcasing some of the best sights (and photo spots) the city has to offer.
To get started, download our free app:
Open the app, tap on Walks, then tap San Diego Embarcadero Walking Tour.
The tour runs the length of the Embarcadero from the southern point at the Hilton Bayfront to the northern point at Waterfront Park. You can begin the tour at either location and content will automatically play as you approach each stop. Or, if you feel like exploring from the comfort of home, you can experience it virtually by manually playing the audio from each stop on the tour!
Highlights of the tour include stops at the San Diego Maritime Museum, where you can explore a collection of historic ships, and the USS Midway Museum, where you can learn about the history of the U.S. Navy and check out restored aircraft. You'll also walk by Seaport Village and the new Rady Shell music venue. But the best part is the fantastic views of San Diego and Coronado Island. The tour will take you to some of the best spots on the waterfront to snap some insta-worthy photos!
Photo by @wilstewart3
Whether you're a first-time visitor to San Diego or a longtime resident looking for a new way to explore the city, the self-guided walking tour of the Embarcadero is a great option. So grab your walking shoes and get ready to discover the best of San Diego on foot!
Rady Shell concert venue
Below is an excerpt from the beginning of the tour:
Welcome to the Hilton Bayfront, the southernmost point on the San Diego Embarcadero!
For those of you just starting the tour, be sure to scroll down to the section titled “For Those Starting the Tour” for some general information on how the tour works. For those that started at Waterfront Park, this will be our last stop.
With its prime location and luxurious amenities, the Hilton Bayfront is a great choice for those staying in downtown San Diego. Located just steps away from the vibrant Gaslamp District, Petco Park, and the convention center, the hotel is the perfect home base for exploring everything downtown San Diego has to offer.
Petco Park. Photo by @megaanmarie
In fact, if you’re looking to cross Harbor Drive to get into the Gaslamp District or watch a Padres game at Petco Park, you can use the pedestrian bridge located at the corner of the parking garage here at the Hilton. It makes it a lot easier to cross Harbor Drive without waiting for the crosswalks and traffic found at the intersection further down the street.
Pedestrian bridge to Petco Park. Photo by @tomasmartinez
For those that have been with us, you’ll know that just across the bay is the City of Coronado, with the tall Coronado Bridge seen arcing across the bay to the south. Beyond the Coronado Bridge is South Bay which includes Imperial Beach, National City, and Chula Vista. Beyond that, just 12 miles as the crow flies, is Tijuana Mexico.
Coronado bridge at night
Right next to the Hilton Bayfront, you’ll see a shipyard where you may spot some containers with the Dole logo. This is the Dole Food Company terminal, the company well known for its delicious pineapples and bananas. Ships importing bananas from Latin America are a regular sight on San Diego Bay.
While you're walking, I'll give you a quick overview of San Diego. San Diego was incorporated in 1850 and is named for Saint Didacus of Alcala. It has a population of roughly 1.4 million (or 3.3 million in entire metro area) making San Diego the 8th most populous city in the nation.
Tourism is big in San Diego. In fact, in 2021, there were approximately 23 million visitors to San Diego. Many of those visitors are international travelers, with Mexico, Canada, the UK, China, Europe and Japan topping the list.
Also in 2021, US News and World Report ranked San Diego as the most fun place to live in the US. You’ll easily see why as you take this tour. With more than 250 sunny days per year, and average high temperatures ranging from 66 degrees to 77 degrees, San Diego is well known for its temperate climate and sunny weather.
Keep walking along the embarcadero and I’ll check back in with you at our next stop.
