Getting to Tijuana from San Diego
The easiest way to get to Tijuana from San Diego is on the Tijuana Trolley, which takes you directly to the border crossing.Bus tours also leave San Diego daily. They offer an easy way to get across the border, but you can't go home early or stay late and they won't take you to some of the lesser-known sights. If you're interested, you can reserve a tour through Viator.com. The Go San Diego Card also offers Tijuana tours along with a lot of attractions at a very reasonable price. You can only do so many of them before your card expires, so be sure you can do enough to make it a good deal for you.
You can also drive south on I-5 to the big border parking lots on the U. S. side of the border from Tijuana. If you rented a car in San Diego, you will have to leave it here. Pay attention and take the "Last U.S. Exit, Camino de la Plaza" off-ramp, or you will end up driving across the border when you didn't intend to, which can be a big hassle.
Bus services leave from some of the border parking lots directly for the center of town. Check our tips for getting around Tijuana to learn about them and other ways to get around.
Crossing the Border into Tijuana
Crossing into Tijuana is really easy. If you're coming from the parking lots, just walk through a couple of metal turnstiles and you're in. Coming from the San Diego trolley, use the pedestrian bridge to get to the other side of the road and enter through the turnstiles. Our our handy Tijuana map will show you the way, or use our pictorial, step-by-step guide that shows you what to do every step of the way.Getting Back to San Diego from Tijuana
To get back to the border from Avenida Revolucion on foot, just look for the big arch. Walk to it, turn right, go over the bridge and through the small shopping plaza.The U.S.-bound border crossing is on the opposite side of the highway. Take the pedestrian bridge and get in the line. On a busy day, you may see people engaging in what seems like an odd activity, standing in line to rent a bicycle just to take it across the border. Innovative businessmen know that people with a bicycle use a special line and can often get through immigration faster, so they've found a way to help people and make money at the same time.
Once inside the building, get in any line and have your documentation ready. Starting January 31, 2008, U.S. and Canadian citizens must present either a passport or a government-issued photo ID plus proof of citizenship. Visit the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative website for more details.
You can bring back up to $800 in purchases duty-free from Tijuana, including up to one liter of alcohol per adult over 21 years old, 100 cigars and 200 cigarettes. If you're traveling on one of the border buses, you can bring back extra bottles of wine, but you may have to pay duties on it at the border.
You may also be able to bring back medicines purchased for your own use.
Once you're back on the United States side, the San Diego Trolley will be straight ahead. If you're parked in one of the lots, take the pedestrian bridge across the highway.
