Walking Tours
The Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation, William Heath Davis House Museum, 410 Island Avenue, Downtown (tel: (619) 233 4692; website: www.gaslampquarter.org), offers two-hour guided walking tours of the Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego's oldest neighbourhood, every Saturday. The tours leave from William Heath Davis House Museum. It is possible to book private tours for groups.

San Diego's Boosters of Old Town, Robinson Rose Historical House and Museum, 4002 Wallace Street (tel: (619) 469 3174; website: www.ot-boot.com), offers guided tours of the Old Town's 19th-century historic neighbourhoods and national park - often by guides dressed in period clothing. Attractions include an early American pioneer cemetery, one of the Old Town's oldest churches and a haunted house. Tours depart from Robinson Rose Historical House and Museum (also the Information Centre for Old Town). Some tours include lunch and a fashion promenade.

Bus Tours
San Diego Scenic Tours offers comprehensive sightseeing tours of San Diego taking in the highlights of the city itself as well as those of La Jolla and Coronado. Tours last four hours and include La Jolla, Seal Rock, Presidio Park, Old Town State Park, Balboa Park, Coronado, Mission Bay Park, Heritage Park, Embarcadero, the Gaslamp Quarter and Seaport Village. It is possible to add a one-hour boat tour of San Diego Bay to the city tour (tel: (858) 273 8687; website: www.sandiegoscenictours.com).

Other Tours
San Diego has built its reputation on its oceanfront locale, so it stands to reason that a visit would not be complete without a guided tour of San Diego Bay. There are several options, including whale-watching excursions during the gray whale migration in winter and romantic dinner tours complete with dancing and a gourmet dinner. When in season (mid December through March), Hornblower Cruises and Events (tel: (619) 686 8700; website: www.hornblower.com) offers three and a half hour whale-watching tours. One- or two-hour harbour tours are also available. Tours depart from the B Street Pier beside the Cruise Ship Terminal, Harbor Drive.

For personalised sailing tours, Classic Sailing Adventures (tel: (619) 224 0800 or 1 800 659 0141; website: www.classicsailingadventures.com) offers romantic sunset sails for two to six passengers. Their four-hour whale-watching cruises depart twice daily December-March. In the summer season, there is also a shorter champagne sunset cruise. Cruises depart from Shelter Island Marina.

Ghostly Tours in History (tel: 1 877 220 4844; website: www.ghostlytoursinhistory.com) offers evening tours that explore the spooky parts of San Diego, including haunted houses and cemeteries.