Explore Encinitas’ Public Art Scene on Foot: Free Walking Tours Debut at Cyclovia

Encinitas has always had art woven into its streets and sidewalks – murals, mosaics, sculptures, and surf-inspired installations that most people walk past without knowing the full story. Now there’s a guided tour to change that.

Art on Every Corner

Visit Encinitas and the Encinitas Historical Society are teaming up to launch the city’s first-ever public art walking tour series, and they’re debuting it during Cyclovia.

The tours are free, open to everyone, and led by two people who know this city inside and out – local historian and Encinitas Historical Society archivist Hillel Schwartz, and long-time resident Mark O’Connor. Both are avid cyclists who helped bring this idea to life.

With over 900 works of public art spanning 40 genres – much of it created and maintained by local artists – Encinitas is essentially one big open-air gallery. These tours give us a guided look at that landscape, with context and stories that go well beyond what we’d notice on our own.

Two Ways to Explore

Tours depart throughout the day from the Visit Encinitas and Encinitas Historical Society booths between D and E Streets on the 101, where we can park our bikes and sign up on the spot.

There are two options: a shorter route (around 30 to 40 minutes) that stays on flat terrain – a solid pick for families and younger kids – and a longer one (about an hour) that ventures into gentle hills for a more active outing. No two tours are exactly the same, so catching more than one means discovering something new each time.

Printed maps will also be on hand at the booth, plus potential access to a mobile app for self-guided exploration along Coast Highway 101 in Historic Encinitas.

Part of Something Bigger

Cyclovia turns downtown Encinitas into a car-free zone built around movement, wellness, and community – a natural fit for launching this kind of experience. According to the organizers, this is just the start: full-scale biking tours and mapped online routes are already in the works.

See you there!

Whether we’re longtime locals or just getting to know the North County coast, this is a great reason to slow down and see Encinitas a little differently.

📆 Sunday, May 17, 2026 | 10 AM – 2 PM
📍 818 S Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas
ℹ️ Find out more here

See you there, San Diego!