Tijuana, Mexico, lies just across the border from San Ysidro and is reached from Downtown San Diego in about an hour by Blue Line Trolley and a short walk. The Blue Line ends at San Ysidro Transit Center, and the pedestrian crossing is a few minutes on foot; a pedestrian bridge then leads to the city, with the main visitor street, Avenida Revolucion, about 2 miles away by taxi or rideshare. Visitors come for tacos and street food, the craft beer and Baja-Med restaurants of Zona Centro and Zona Rio, the Mercado Hidalgo, the Centro Cultural Tijuana (CECUT) and its OMNIMAX dome, and the Caesar salad at Caesar's on Avenida Revolucion, said to have been invented there in 1924. A passport or passport card is required to return, and travelers should check the current U.S. State Department advisory for Baja California before going. Most visitors stay in the central tourist areas, use official taxis or rideshare, carry limited cash and return before dark. Wait times to re-enter the United States on foot are posted at bwt.cbp.gov and can range from under 30 minutes to two hours or more at weekends.
| Distance | About 16 miles (26 km) south of Downtown San Diego |
|---|---|
| Travel time | About 1 hour by Trolley and on foot, plus border waits |
| Getting there | Ride the MTS Blue Line Trolley from Downtown to the San Ysidro Transit Center (about 40 minutes, $3), then walk across the pedestrian border crossing; continue to Avenida Revolucion by taxi or rideshare. |
| Difficulty | moderate |
| Address | San Ysidro Port of Entry, 720 E San Ysidro Blvd, San Ysidro, CA 92173 |
How to get there
- Mode
- MTS Blue Line Trolley plus walk
- Cost
- $3 adult one way
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Operator
- MTS (sdmts.com)
- Departure point
- Santa Fe Depot or America Plaza Trolley stations, Downtown
- Mode
- Cross Border Xpress
- Cost
- Roughly $30-35 one way; confirm at crossborderxpress.com
- Frequency
- Daily, for ticketed travelers flying from Tijuana airport
- Operator
- Cross Border Xpress
- Departure point
- 2745 Little Mexico Way, San Diego, CA 92154
- Mode
- Overnight bus Route 910
- Cost
- $3 adult
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes, about 12:30am-5am
- Operator
- MTS
- Departure point
- City College or Santa Fe Depot / America Plaza
Location
San Ysidro Port of Entry, 720 E San Ysidro Blvd, San Ysidro, CA 92173
32.5430, -117.0299 View on map
Highlights
- Walk across the PedWest or the San Ysidro pedestrian crossing from the Trolley
- Eat street tacos and visit the Mercado Hidalgo
- Stroll Avenida Revolucion and the Zona Rio dining area
- See the Centro Cultural Tijuana and its OMNIMAX dome
- Taste Baja-Med cuisine and craft beer in Zona Centro
Tips for visiting
- Check wait times at bwt.cbp.gov and plan to return before the late-afternoon and weekend peaks; the Ready Lane and SENTRI lanes require the right documents.
- Carry a valid passport or passport card; non-U.S. visitors also need their visa or ESTA-type authorization to re-enter the United States.
- Use official yellow-and-white or app-booked taxis and agree the fare in advance; pay in pesos where possible, as exchange rates for dollars are poor.
- Stay in the Zona Centro, Avenida Revolucion and Zona Rio tourist areas, and review the State Department advisory for Baja California before crossing.
When to visit
October to May for mild weather; weekday mornings for shorter border lines.
Accessibility
San Ysidro Transit Center and the PedWest crossing are step-free; sidewalks and curbs in Tijuana are uneven in places.
Visit, book or contact
Frequently asked questions
How do you get from San Diego to Tijuana without a car?
Take the Trolley Blue Line to its southern end at San Ysidro Transit Center (about 40 minutes from Downtown, $3), then walk to the pedestrian border crossing.
Is a passport needed?
Yes, to return to the United States. U.S. citizens can use a passport or passport card; others need a valid passport and any visa or entry authorization required for the U.S.
Is Tijuana safe for day visitors?
Crime is concentrated away from tourist areas, but the State Department publishes an advisory for Baja California and the UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Tijuana city; visitors stay in tourist zones and avoid night travel.