I get the Blue Line from City College in Downtown San Diego south to San Ysidro at the border. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Grantville: Green: 4510 Alvarado Canyon Rd. From downtown San Diego, a trip to the Mexican border will take about 45 minutes on the Imperial Way blue line. Tickets cost $200 - $290 and the journey takes 1h 10m. ULI San Diego-Tijuana Share on LinkedIn. I never felt unsafe in Tijuana, but if we weren’t two males, it may have been different. You need to take the UC San Diego Blue Line, which starts at the American Plaza Transit Centre, near Fifth Avenue in the tourist Gaslamp area. Rome2rio makes travelling from Tijuana to San Diego Airport (SAN) easy. You cross the street from the Santa Fe Station to America Plaza and catch the San Diego Trolley Blue Line to San Ysidro, takes about 45 minutes in travel time. With the border of Mexico less than 20 miles from downtown San Diego, millions of people travel to Tijuana from San Diego every year. For info on these editor-selected items, click to visit the seller’s site. 70th Street: Green: 7255 Alvarado Rd. We visited La Jolla Beach, rode the Coaster train to Solana Beach, rode the green trolley to Qualcolmm Stadium and Petco Park, Rode buses to Point Loma, as well as access to other attraction. We decided to leave San Diego at about 7:30 PM and stayed in Tijuana until about 10:30 PM. The... On a few occasions I’ve taken this trolley when either doing a daytrip to Tijuana or shopping at... Great way to get around San Diego for visitors. Stops at or near all major attractions. San Diego remains one of the most gorgeous places in the United States whether the lights are on or off. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. For current information on Bus and Trolley Service, visit the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. Where to Park Your Car in San Diego and Cross into Tijuana Tijuana, once a mecca for under age college students, is now just a shadow of its former glory. © 2020 Smarter Travel Media LLC. A round-trip is only a little more and is the same price as a day pass. Stops at or near all major attractions. With a full day pass of $5 a person, it is so much more affordable. The system is consisted of four lines Blue Line - America Plaza - Downtown - San Ysidro/Tijuana Orange Line - Santa Fe Depot - Downtown - El Cajon Green Line - 12th/Imperial - Convention Center - Santa Fe Depot - Santee Silver Line - Downtown/Convention Center Loop {Limited Service} San Diego Trolley uses proof of payment fare system. The Blue Line operates over track owned by the San Diego and Imperial Valley Railroad Company, which connects with BNSF in San Diego, the UP to the east in Plaster City (off I-8), and Ferromex in San Ysidro/Tijuana. Ask Hoben01 about San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, Very Impressive Public Transportation System, Ask Shelly S about San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, Ask Budoradz about San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, Ask Cinnamon_apples about San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, Ask Keisaku425 about San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, Ask vinogradov2015 about San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, Four Points by Sheraton Hotels in San Diego, Hotels with Military Discounts in San Diego, Hotels near San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, Hotels near Old Town Model Railroad Depot, Hotels near Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, Hotels near ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station, Hotels near Museum of Photographic Arts (MoPA), Hotels near Old Town Transit Center Station, Hotels near San Diego Continuing Education, Hotels near Thomas Jefferson School of Law, Hotels near NewSchool of Architecture and Design, Hotels near FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, Hotels near Paul Mitchell - San Diego, CA, Hotels near California Western School of Law, Hotels near Point Loma Nazarene University, Hotels near San Diego University for Integrative Studies, Things to do near San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, Surfing, Windsurfing & Kitesurfing in San Diego, Points of Interest & Landmarks in San Diego, Game & Entertainment Centers in San Diego, Observatories & Planetariums in San Diego, Conference & Convention Centers in San Diego, Mt. Then a short walk to cross into Mexico (just follow the signs). The pedestrian crossing going south, at ‘Puerto Mexico,’ near MacDonald’s at the end of the San Diego Trolley, is open to about 1/3rd of the old capacity (Oct. Once you cross the Mexican border, it is a 30-minute walk to downtown Tijuana. If you board in downtown, it will be about 35 min to the border. Immigration can be stricter when crossing back into the United States and lines often take hours. The new plaza and walkway is located on the southeast side of the recently opened PedEast facility and right off the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System trolley and bus station. If you board in downtown, it will be about 35 min to the border. 2. The blue line travels throughout downtown San Diego and connects to the city’s other green and orange lines. The last trolley departs San Ysidro at 12:58 a.m., so be sure to head toward the border with plenty of time to pass customs and immigration. Walk towards the left side of the main San Ysidro transit center building and head south. San Diego Trolley Trolley gives travelers scenic trip to the U.S.-Mexican border By Dennis A. Cavagnaro, Correspondent Ventura County Star October 10, 2004. Grossmont Transit Center: Green Orange 8601 Fletcher Pkwy. San Diego Trolley tickets are good for two hours after they're validated. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Depending on where you board the blue trolley to San Ysidro/Tijuana border, it will take a maximum of approx 45 min to 50 min. You will take a walkway that goes over the four lanes of traffic coming in and out of Mexico. When you plan your trip, make sure you allocate enough time to return to San Diego. Expert guides . Where to Cross the US-Mexico Border to Tijuana . There will be signs in both English and Spanish that lead the way to the well-known swivel gates and Mexican custom lines that lead to Tijuana. The blue line section runs from downtown san diego to the san ysidro border crossing and … Rethinking San Diego is a series exploring new approaches to some of San Diego’s biggest policies, plans and dilemmas. Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about how to travel from San Diego to Tijuana by trolley. After arriving in San Ysidro, there is a short walk to the Mexican border. While some drive, arguably the easiest way to cross the Mexican border is by taking the San Diego Trolley. Detailed directions for getting across both crossings to downtown Tijuana are below. Things you buy may earn us a commission. Greyhound USA operates a bus from San Diego, Ca to Tijuana Central Bus Term, Mx hourly. ... Tijuana … Customer service is very friendly and can provide helpful information. Please plan to arrive at your stop a few minutes early. http://www.sdmts.com/ and coaster schedule is http://www.gonctd.com/coaster. The expiration time is printed on the ticket. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. One way tickets are not valid for transfers so day passes are required if you need to transfer to another bus or train to complete the journey. With the border of Mexico less than 20 miles from downtown San Diego, millions of people travel to Tijuana from San Diego every year. )We were not disappointed! If you plan to ride the San Diego Trolley several times in the same day, or if you're going to Tijuana from Old Town or further north, you can save money with a Day Pass. If you take the San Diego Trolley to the border, use the San Ysidro crossing. Depending on your plans, it might be more economical to get a day pass instead of a round-trip ticket. Standard one-way fares are $2.50, with day passes running at $5, and there are 2-, 3- and 4-day passes available. San Diego is well connected by road. Explore some of the top highlights of San Diego with your silver, gold, or platinum day pass (depending on option selected) for the city’s Hop-on, Hop-off Trolley Tour. FYI, there is a lot of construction at the Port of San Ysidro, and to enter the USA can take many hours, even when walking back. And if you want to spend some time in Tijuana, it's a convenient way to get there. See the twinkle from Tijuana. read more. From downtown San Diego, a trip to the Mexican border will take about 45 minutes on the Imperial Way blue line. The blue line will take you direct to San Ysidro from Gaslamp and says Tijuana on the front. The original cars of the Trolley were Siemens' U-2's, which are now 30 years old. ... See America’s Finest City by moonlight. Travel Smarter! Nobody knows San Diego better. Will open in a new window. The blue line travels throughout downtown San Diego and co… This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. See Mexico from the Coronado Bridge . Recommended experiences in and around San Diego, Architectural Buildings, Points of Interest & Landmarks. Wait times vary daily. Coastal Train Rides. ... the extension of the trolley for El Cajon and moving then Highway 125 out of the San Diego River to its current location and preserving the river as a linear park. The trolley arrives approximately every 15 minutes and is generally an easy way to get around the city. The San Diego Trolley Blue Line service connects San Ysidro to Chula Vista, National City, and Downtown San Diego to the north. Here are a few tips for getting across the border and back safely: 1). You can also drive or take a rideshare to the Pedwest Crossing. On a few occasions I’ve taken this trolley when either doing a daytrip to Tijuana or shopping at... Share on Facebook. (Most of our plans included areas within and just outside of San Diego. The buses and trolleys are clean, and the bus drivers are very friendly and helpful. There’s plenty to do and see on the way, but if you prefer to take a cab, there are always many cabs lined up when you exit immigration. Q While some drive, arguably the easiest way to cross the Mexican border is by taking the San Diego Trolley. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Find all the transport options for your trip from Tijuana to San Diego Airport (SAN) right here. Experience san diego’s pristine weather in our open air trolleys as highly knowledgeable guides take you to all the best spots first on the most comprehensive sightseeing experience in San Diego. Its a viable alternative since some rental cars have issues taking the car across the border. For starters, the time we went was a bit late. TOUR HIGHLIGHTS. A trolley ticket costs just a few dollars each way, regardless of where you get on and off. Will open in a new window. Sign up for our free newsletter. If you prefer to travel to another city other than Tijuana, there is a bus bay next to the border that will take you to cities like Ensenada. more. For those wanting to make your san diego visit into an international trip and cross the border into mexico i would suggest the san diego red line trolley. After reading about the heavy traffic and difficulties of finding parking in San Diego, my family decided we would try the public transportation system to get us where we needed to go. Every major attraction had access to a bus, trolley, or train to get us within walking distance of our destination. For those wanting to make your san diego visit into an international trip and cross the border into mexico i would suggest the san diego red line trolley. I'll be staying near the Amtrak station in SD. 3. Jun 24, 2017 - Transportation in Tijuana: San Diego Trolley With the border of Mexico less than 20 miles from downtown San Diego, millions of people travel to Tijuana Although our adventure from San Diego to Tijuana was a success, there are a few ways we could have made it better. Soledad National Veterans Memorial: Tickets & Tours‎, Torrey Pines Gliderport: Tickets & Tours‎, Sunset Cliffs Natural Park: Tickets & Tours‎, Birch Aquarium at Scripps: Tickets & Tours‎, San Diego Factory Outlet Center: Tickets & Tours‎, Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve: Tickets & Tours‎. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. The Santa Fe Depot, located in downtown San Diego on Kettner Blvd and Broadway, is the main hub for Amtrak, providing various coastal train services from downtown San Diego to Oceanside and beyond. How long is the trip to the border? Be sure to negotiate the cab price if you choose to take one into downtown Tijuana. For a real insider’s look at ‘America’s Finest City,’ it can only be Old Town Trolley Tours! Be the first to discover secret destinations, travel hacks, and more. The blue line section runs from downtown san diego to the san ysidro border crossing and its about a couple hundred yards to cross into tijuana, mexico. Round-Trip Business Class Flights to Europe. The Coaster is lovely to hop on and visit the beaches north of San Diego. The improved Customs building is air conditioned and pleasant. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States.