As a local, it’s fun to independently explore San Diego on your own time and your own terms.

But if you’re new to San Diego or just visiting San Diego on holiday, discovering the big city in solitude can be confusing. To help elevate your experience, many unique companies offer varied tours of San Diego. Discover some of the best San Diego tours.

Travel through the Pacific Ocean in a guided Kayak Tour that takes voyagers through the seven caves of La Jolla. Be an eyewitness to an array of marine life that includes sea lions, leopard sharks, and occasional dolphins under the guidance of certified and experienced tour guides. Combine a kayaking tour with a half day bike tour as well to experience San Diego on land and in the waters. Witness an aerial view from atop Mt. Soledad, and ride alongside the shores of Pacific Beach Boardwalk, Mission Bay, the seals at Children’s Pool, La Jolla Cove, and more. SanDiegoBikeandKayakTours.com

Take Harbor Excursion through the prominent San Diego Bay. Vessels feature comfortable indoor and outside seating, pleasant sun decks, as well as food and beverages while taking a professionally narrated tour around San Diego Bay. In two hours, visit Harbor and Shelter Islands, Point Loma, Cabrillo National Monument, North Island Naval Air Station, the Submarine Base, as well as the Coronado Bridge and more. Explore the San Diego Bay at night with a two-and-a-half hour cruise in a fine-dining vessel that features 25 scenic miles of the local skyline. During the evening cruise, enjoy a three-course served dinner, complimentary boarding champagne, and live DJs. SDHE.com

See vibrant areas of San Diego such as Downtown and the traditional buildings throughout the Gaslamp Quarter to the expert narration of a driver-guide. Gray Line San Diego offers a narrated tour through the Embarcadero and its harbor views, Old Town, Balboa Park and its Exposition Museum buildings, upscale shops and eateries of La Jolla, as well as the historic landmark Hotel del Coronado and its beach—where films such as Marilyn Monroe’s Some Like It Hot were filmed. CoachAmerica.com

Interactively spend a day exploring San Diego with a scenic San Diego Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour. While on a fully narrated 2-hour tour exploring eight distinguished locations of San Diego, hop off the trolley at one’s own leisure to get walking exploration of the city. When finished with that location, hop on the next trolley and head off to the next location or stay on the trolley to listen to narration while seeing the sights. AllSanDiegoTours.com

Have you experienced better tours of San Diego? Leave a comment below and share with us!