Santa Fe Depot
Santa Fe Depot
4
Points of Interest & LandmarksArchitectural Buildings
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
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Top ways to experience Santa Fe Depot and nearby attractions

The area
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  • Santa Fe Depot • 1 min walk
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See what travellers are saying
  • traveltheworld012
    Rochester, Minnesota17,047 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful & architecturally significant. should be improved inside.
    I was in San Diego for business and did not have a car, I wanted to find out more information about taking the trolley to the Mexico border to visit Tijuana. I decided to start here at the Santa Fe Depot. I was impressed by the architecture here. One can also catch the Amtrak train from here. The San Diego Trolley also stops here but right next to the depot is the America station which is better to board for going south. The inside of the depot is looking a little bare and a bit run down. I did get help from a lady who runs the information booth. While I was there, some crazy lady was yelling and screaming at the person at the ticket counter and her voice was echoing all over the building with its tall ceiling. I was going to use the restroom, but it was closed. While I was at the restroom door, crazy lady came over and asked if I was going to use the restroom. I said, "yeah, but it is closed". She suddenly disappeared like a ghost. Weird experience. Anyway, I wish the city would fix this building up, put in a small restaurant or a bar. It would be nice.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 14 December 2023
  • phvi2617
    Anaheim, California647 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nice, classic train station
    This is the end of the line for the Amtrak Surfliner and it's a nice entry point to San Diego. It's not a huge station, but it has lovely mission-revival architecture with a good amount of seating and a small cafe/sundry store. There is easy access to all the trolley lines, and it's a short walk to Little Italy or the harbor.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 16 December 2023
  • Jennifer M
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Awesome experience
    David at the San Diego depot went above and beyond to help my daughter and me. We’ve never been to Dan Diego and he helped us get tram tickets to where we needed to go. We also took the Pacific Surfliner to San Clemente and that was a great experience as well! Thanks David and the rest of the staff for what you do every day!!
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 22 May 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles122 reviews
Excellent
44
Very good
57
Average
16
Poor
4
Terrible
1

traveltheworld012
Rochester, MN17,047 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Solo
I was in San Diego for business and did not have a car, I wanted to find out more information about taking the trolley to the Mexico border to visit Tijuana. I decided to start here at the Santa Fe Depot. I was impressed by the architecture here. One can also catch the Amtrak train from here. The San Diego Trolley also stops here but right next to the depot is the America station which is better to board for going south.
The inside of the depot is looking a little bare and a bit run down. I did get help from a lady who runs the information booth. While I was there, some crazy lady was yelling and screaming at the person at the ticket counter and her voice was echoing all over the building with its tall ceiling. I was going to use the restroom, but it was closed. While I was at the restroom door, crazy lady came over and asked if I was going to use the restroom. I said, "yeah, but it is closed". She suddenly disappeared like a ghost. Weird experience. Anyway, I wish the city would fix this building up, put in a small restaurant or a bar. It would be nice.
Written 14 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MominOC
Orange County, CA5,020 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2022
Lovely building that still functions as an operating train station. Organized with some staff available to ask questions. Recommend buying your ticket online if possible. Seemed like a safe place. Train was clean, on time and a pleasant way to avoid the traffic from the SD to OC. This is the last stop southbound and the first stop for the northbound train.
Written 16 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

phvi2617
Anaheim, CA647 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Solo
This is the end of the line for the Amtrak Surfliner and it's a nice entry point to San Diego. It's not a huge station, but it has lovely mission-revival architecture with a good amount of seating and a small cafe/sundry store. There is easy access to all the trolley lines, and it's a short walk to Little Italy or the harbor.
Written 17 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ChipgChipg
Charlotte, NC23 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022
Waited here for our Amtrak train (San Diego to Oceanside) trip to a relative’s wedding. Area was safe and relatively clean. We visited Little Italy (1 stop away via light rail) and bought back a sandwich for lunch. There is a small snack stand at the Depot but we wanted to experience Little Italy. Train ride was beautiful.
Written 27 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jennifer M
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Family
David at the San Diego depot went above and beyond to help my daughter and me. We’ve never been to Dan Diego and he helped us get tram tickets to where we needed to go.
We also took the Pacific Surfliner to San Clemente and that was a great experience as well!
Thanks David and the rest of the staff for what you do every day!!
Written 22 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

lovetotravel92630
Orange County336 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
July 2018 • Solo
The Sante Fe Depot train station (Union Station) is an architectural gem constructed in 1915 for Panama-California Exposition. The train depot is the southern terminus of the Amtrak and Coast train lines. Also you can get a San Diego Trolley at the train station. Special note to look at the wall tiles, beautiful and craftsmanship of a former period. This is the perfect starting point for a walking tour of downtown San Diego and the water front boardwalk from the Maritime Museum of San Diego to Seaport Village. The waterfront area is about a three block walk or you can take one of the several other transportation modes along the Boardwalk, including Pedi-cabs, rental bikes or scooters. I prefer to walk as I have more flexibility in stopping and seeing the sights. Along the Boardwalk is the San Diego Maritime Museum, Midway aircraft carrier, several memorials and Seaport Village. If you drive, parking can be an issue on busy weekends, so the trolley/train option is great. There are ample areas in beautifully landscaped areas to sit on a bench and watch the people and enjoy the cool of the ocean front.
Written 30 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

apatejr
Cincinnati, OH134 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2017 • Friends
I have traveled in and out of this train station a few times before, and I absolutely love the ambiance. It is spacious, and the seating area is large. The personnel at the ticket counter are a friendly group who are very helpful in providing great travel tips for your trip. One might be mindful to line up outside about a half hour before your scheduled departure instead of waiting until the boarding announcement is made over the public address system. If not, you will end up in the rear of a long line that has already formed for boarding. The boarding process is smooth and moves quickly. For approximately $20. more you can travel in Business Class which is well worth the extra expenditure for the added comfort. I am looking forward to the next opportunity to travel to and/or from this lovely, old train station.
Written 20 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

sleepeatplay
Mission Viejo, CA59 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
July 2017 • Family
Within walking distance to several hotels and attractions. This iis where you can board the Amtrak Surfliner as well as other local train service. The waiting hall has old style charm with pew-like seating.
Written 7 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

traveler321_11
Calgary, Canada31 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2019 • Family
We took the coaster up to Carlsbad to go to Legoland, avoiding the I-5 and the traffic.
The building is beautiful inside and has interesting architecture.
Written 6 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Brandon E
Forest, VA245 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2018 • Solo
The Santa Fe Depot in downtown San Diego is a beautiful gem in Center City. Built in 1915 to accommodate passengers to the Panama-California Expo, the station has withstood the sprawl of downtown to remain a centerpiece of an ever-growing area of San Diego. Whether you're traveling through the station or just walking around the area stopping in is highly recommended because there are few examples of this architectural style remaining.
Written 19 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Santa Fe Depot - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2024)

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