Balboa Park

The cultural heart of San Diego

Just minutes from downtown, you'll find an amazing cultural center and beautiful botanic paradise right in the middle of San Diego.

Balboa Park, San Diego, California

Balboa Park is a cultural oasis that includes 17 museums, gardens galore and the world-famous San Diego Zoo. At 1,200 acres, Balboa Park is one of North America’s most iconic urban parks and a must see on any visit to San Diego. Located just blocks from downtown San Diego hotels, the park has a rich history reflected through its stunning architecture, thought-provoking exhibits installations, and cultural events throughout the year.

Balboa Park has a storied history – one that is central to the story of San Diego. It started 150 years ago, when civic leaders took the audacious step of setting aside the scrub-filled mesa overlooking downtown to establish a city park. Today, Balboa Park continues to be a potent mix of what makes San Diego so unique. Ethnically diverse, historically rich, culturally abundant, naturally breathtaking, Balboa Park is where you can experience San Diego’s past and see its future.

Find out more about Balboa Park’s evolution.

The Sights and Sounds of Balboa Park

Tours

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In & Around Balboa Park

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National Geographic Channel Explores San Diego

Four-part series focuses on unique cultural offerings of Balboa Park and the city.

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7 Hidden Gems to Explore in Balboa Park

You can spend all day (or weekend) exploring Balboa Park’s 1,200 acres of museums, gardens, and the world-famous San Diego Zoo. But the Jewel of San Diego also features several lesser-known attractions that are sure to pique your interest, too.

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FIND YOUR HAPPY PLACE

Ready to discover something awesome? Well, you’re in the right place.

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Balboa Park Bucket List

10 Things You Can't Miss

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Taste of December Nights

Dec 3 - Dec 5, 2021

For more than 40 years, the San Diego community has welcomed in the holiday season by celebrating the annual December Nights in Balboa Park. Due to the potential uncertainty of public health conditions at the time of December Nights, and out of an abundance of caution, the City has made the decision to expand upon the 2020 successful drive-through experience, "Taste of December Nights," for this year's event.

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San Diego International Auto Show

Dec 30, 2021 - Jan 2, 2022

Where the cars are the stars! The San Diego International Auto Show features the widest variety of new vehicles under one roof.

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Fleet Week San Diego 2021

Nov 4 - Nov 11, 2021

Welcome to Fleet Week San Diego 2021, November 4th – 11th at the Broadway Pier and Port Pavilion, San Diego. Experience one of San Diego’s largest Military events featuring Military Displays, High Tech equipment in the Innovation Zone, Active Navy & Coast Guard Ship Tours, Live Music, Food, and Fun for the whole family!

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San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival

Nov 7 - Nov 14, 2021

Welcome to the San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival, where sailboats and sandy beaches serve as the backdrop to one of the country’s most talked about weeks in food. Featuring dozens of events, hundreds of domestic and international wineries, the celebration of craft beer and spirits, local culinary legends and nationally recognized celebrities, and a Grand Tasting Finale on the stunning Embarcadero.

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National Geographic Channel Explores San Diego

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7 Hidden Gems to Explore in Balboa Park

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FIND YOUR HAPPY PLACE

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Balboa Park Bucket List

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Taste of December Nights

Dec 3 - Dec 5, 2021

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San Diego International Auto Show

Dec 30, 2021 - Jan 2, 2022

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Fleet Week San Diego 2021

Nov 4 - Nov 11, 2021

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San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival

Nov 7 - Nov 14, 2021

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Save on Admission to Museums

Experience the museums of Balboa Park in an easy and affordable way with the Balboa Park Explorer Pass. For one price, the Pass provides admission into as many as 16 of Balboa Park’s museums and attractions.

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Sightseeing Tours

Guided Tours in San Diego

Let a Pro Show You Around

From a historic Gaslamp Quarter walking tour to snorkeling with the leopard sharks to a twilight sail on the Big Bay, taking a tour with an experienced sightseeing guide is a great way to get a local's take on San Diego.

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Weddings

Park and Garden Weddings

Nature's spectacular setting for your special day

With San Diego’s mild Mediterranean climate, a garden wedding means golden sunshine, lush flowers and plants, and a mild cooling breeze.

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Parks & Gardens

San Diego's Japanese Friendship Garden: San-Kei-En

Explore Balboa Park's Much-Expanded Garden

The name of San Diego's Japanese Friendship Garden is San-Kei-En, which means "three-scene garden" in Japanese. It is named after the three scenic landscapes celebrated in Japanese culture: water, pastoral and mountain. You will see representations of all three in the garden's canyon. A group of carefully placed stones suggests a mountain landscape. A tiered and pruned black pine represents the pastoral. And water landscapes are found in the garden's dry streambeds and waterfalls.

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Arts & Culture

San Diego Arts and Culture

Positively passionate!

Here's just a brief look at why this city by the beach is earning a reputation as a vibrant, culturally rich and culture-loving destination.

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Balboa Park, by You

Fill your feed with Balboa Park and hashtag #VisitSD and tag @VisitSanDiego so that we can share your images.

Deals just for you

Galleries & Museums

Kids Go Free to the San Diego Model Railroad Museum

San Diego Model Railroad Museum

Valid: Oct 1 - Oct 31, 2021

With over 27,000 square feet of tracks, trestles and trains, the San Diego Model Railroad Museum is North America’s largest museum of its kind. Guests enter a world of wonder and exploration...

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10% off entire retail purchase in store

Old Town Model Railroad Depot

Valid: Mar 23 - ongoing

Our gift shop has a diverse selection of model trains and supplies, train-themed gifts, books, toys, and apparel. Show the cashier this page and get 10% off your entire purchase at our gift...

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Galleries & Museums

JA Cooley Kids Free October See where It All Began

J.A. Cooley Museum

Valid: Oct 1 - Oct 31, 2021

Important information! The offer allows up to two children 16 & under to get in FREE with one full-price paid adult. Children must be accompanied by an adult during the visit. Something for...

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