How to Get Around San Diego: Public Transport, Cards, and Subscriptions

San Diego is a large city, full of things to do and see, and characterized by wonderful neighborhoods that are completely different from one another. The best way to discover them is to wander on foot through their streets and buildings, walking through the Gaslamp Quarter, along the Embarcadero waterfront, or on the beaches of La Jolla. For a first introduction to the city, we recommend joining a Free Tour of San Diego with a local guide.

Considering the size of the city, you will also need to get around using public transport. The MTS (Metropolitan Transit System) operates trams and buses. The mode of transportation you will find most interesting is the tram, particularly its Green Line, which passes through Little Italy, Seaport Village, and Gaslamp Quarter, and its Blue Line, which travels from Old Town San Diego through Downtown to Barrio Logan. For buses, you will definitely use line 992 which connects the airport to Downtown. To move around easily, we recommend considering the Historical Trolley, a tourist bus resembling a vintage tram that follows a set route stopping near the main attractions and areas.

Driving is not entirely discouraged, it depends on the itinerary you have planned and the possible excursions you want to take in the surrounding area. You can definitely get around the city using public transport.

In San Diego, you can choose from various city cards to save on entrance fees to attractions, but these do not include public transport. To save on transportation, we recommend obtaining the PRONTO Card, the rechargeable card that will allow you to travel more easily on the tram and buses. The physical card can be purchased directly at the ticket machines at the tram stops; alternatively, you can choose a digital card that is linked to the appropriate application. Only if you have the PRONTO Card, whether physical or digital, can you purchase a 1-Day Pass for $6.00 (€5.70), which is the daily pass for public transport. A great savings considering that a single ride costs $2.50 (€2.40).

San Diego is served by San Diego International Airport. There are no direct flights from Italy, but there is usually at least one layover in cities like London, Paris, Frankfurt, and Amsterdam, or in an American city, for a duration of 15 to 20 hours depending on the layover. The airport is practically in the city, less than 4 km from Downtown, the heart of San Diego. You can easily reach it by bus, using line 992 (15 min). Alternatively, you can take a taxi or, before leaving, book a private transfer online.

San Diego is a very sprawling city, with attractions that are often quite far apart. It is impossible to get around solely on foot, as some distances are really long. For this reason, you will necessarily have to use public transportation or a taxi.

However, it must be said that the city is made up of wonderful neighborhoods that have completely different vibes, from historic districts to those overlooking the sea. The best way to explore these areas is on foot: get lost among the buildings of the Gaslamp Quarter, savor the history of Old Town San Diego, stroll along the Embarcadero waterfront, or immerse yourself in the Mexican atmosphere of Barrio Logan.

Join a guided tour: discover the American city and its countless beauties by participating in a Free Tour of San Diego with a local guide.

In the city, you can find various services, such as the electric scooter rental service and car-sharing service. Currently, there is no bike-sharing service, but you can find many Rental Shops throughout the city where you can rent a bicycle for one or more days. You can also join a guided city tour on E-Bike to explore its highlights.

San Diego is one of the few American cities that does not have a subway. However, the city does have several alternatives: the tram is widely used, which is an above-ground rail transport. The service is managed by MTS (Metropolitan Transit System) which also operates buses.

If you need to travel outside the city, you can use the train. The Amtrak company, one of the main rail transport services in the United States, stops at the central Santa Fe station in Downtown, reaching Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo.

To fully discover San Diego, especially if you have little time available, we recommend boarding the Historical Trolley: it is a tourist bus resembling a vintage tram, which follows a predetermined route stopping near all the main attractions and areas, such as Old Town San Diego, the Embarcadero and its museums, Gaslamp Quarter, and Barrio Logan, even reaching Coronado. Additionally, San Diego is located on the ocean: you certainly can't miss the experience of a boat ride in the bay, enjoying the city from a different perspective.

The tram service active in San Diego is the above-ground rail transport and has 3 lines: the Green Line (Imperial Transit Center-Santee Town Center), the Blue Line (America Plaza-San Ysidro Transit Center), and the Orange Line (Courthouse Station-Arnele Avenue). The lines that may be of most interest to tourists are the Green Line, which passes through Little Italy, Seaport Village, and Gaslamp Quarter, and the Blue Line, which goes from Old Town San Diego through Downtown to Barrio Logan.

Get the PRONTO Card: the rechargeable card that allows you to travel more easily on the tram and buses on which you can load the 1-Day Pass ($6.00/€5.70), saving significantly on rides. The physical card can be purchased directly from ticket machines at tram stations, alternatively, you can use the appropriate app.

The bus service in San Diego has 89 lines that reach the entire County. In reality, it is a service not much used by tourists, as you can easily move around with the tram or the Historical Trolley. However, line 992 is definitely useful, as it connects the airport directly to the Downtown area.

Waterfront Shuttle: from late May to early September, this shuttle service operates starting from Sheraton Marina, reaching Harbor Drive Bridge, and follows the entire part of the waterfront. Key stops also include the Maritime Museum, the USS Midway Museum, and Seaport Village.

If you are only staying in San Diego, you don't need a car. You can easily get around by tram or, if necessary, by bus, and reach the main attractions. Certainly, the car becomes an ally for reaching the more distant neighborhoods and for moving freely. San Diego is crossed by Interstate 5 (I-5), which leads from Oregon to the Mexican border, and this will allow you to easily exit the city.

If you arrive in San Diego by car as part of an on the road trip, one of the issues to tackle is parking. Parking can be a challenge, but there are several free and paid options in the city. The best alternative remains to choose accommodation with parking included for guests and then move around using public transport (compare accommodations here).

Is Uber available in San Diego? Yes, the convenient Uber service is operational. Usable through the official app, it is ideal if you don't know how to get to your next attraction or if you are moving at night. You can book the ride through the app and see both the ride cost and driver ratings from other travelers. You can also track the entire route in real time, with payment always occurring via the app.

If you need to park in San Diego, there are several parking areas. The important thing is always to check the nearby signs, to understand whether it is free parking, paid parking, or Residential Parking, which is a parking area reserved for residents with a specific permit, the Residential Parking Permit.

If you are looking for free parking, you will find one at the Port of San Diego, with about 3,000 spots. The parking is open from 6:00 AM to 10:30 PM, overnight parking is not permitted (Get directions). Other free parking options in the city include the Cesar Chavez Park Parking Lot in Barrio Logan (60 spots - Get directions), the Tidelands Park Parking Lot in Coronado (212 spots - Get directions), and the parking lot on North Harbor Drive in the Embarcadero area (20 spots - Get directions). Throughout the city, there are also numerous paid parking areas, especially multi-storey.