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

Find a place to stay

Book online or call 1-800-350-6205 to speak with a local expert

Book Now

In & Around Balboa Park

Whats Hot|

What's On|

National Geographic Channel Explores San Diego

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

Discover

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.

Discover

FIND YOUR HAPPY PLACE

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

Discover

Balboa Park Bucket List

10 Things You Can't Miss

Discover

Bike the Bay

Aug 28, 2022

Bike the Bay is back in person on Sunday, August 28, 2022! Ride from the comfort of your own saddle, at your own pace, on your own time. Proceeds from the Bike the Bay ride will benefit the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition (SDCBC), a non-profit organization dedicated to making bicycling better in San Diego.

Discover

San Diego International Film Festival

Oct 19 - Oct 23, 2022

The 21st Annual San Diego International Film Festival is really 'Putting the Fest Back in Festival!' This year includes the return of the Opening Night Film Premiere & Reception, the Night of the Stars Tribute, Culinary Cinema, plus more in-person parties, panels and networking events.

Discover

San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival

Nov 9 - Nov 13, 2022

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.

Discover

Nighttime Zoo at the San Diego Zoo

Jul 11 - Sep 5, 2022

Stay after dark and help us celebrate summer during Nighttime Zoo. Come "rock and roar" every day this summer with live music and other amazing entertainment experiences. There's so much to do, see and hear at Nighttime Zoo - it's a good thing summer hours are longer!

Discover

View More Events

National Geographic Channel Explores San Diego

Discover

7 Hidden Gems to Explore in Balboa Park

Discover

FIND YOUR HAPPY PLACE

Discover

Balboa Park Bucket List

Discover

Bike the Bay

Aug 28, 2022

Discover

San Diego International Film Festival

Oct 19 - Oct 23, 2022

Discover

San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival

Nov 9 - Nov 13, 2022

Discover

Nighttime Zoo at the San Diego Zoo

Jul 11 - Sep 5, 2022

Discover

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.

More from Balboa Park & San Diego

View All Articles

Biking

A Bike Trek through Balboa Park Neighborhoods

San Diego's "Central Park" gem

This jaunt is called the Tweed Ride and covers around 14 miles through Balboa Park, Hillcrest, University Heights, North Park and South Park.

Discover

Running & Fitness

7 Fun and Healthy Activities for Social Distancing Outdoors in San Diego

As San Diego’s nearly idyllic summer weather approaches, San Diego’s great outdoors provide numerous opportunities for fun and healthy activities that meet with today’s social distancing guidelines. Whether you’re a local resident or planning a future visit, families, friends and individuals can experience the region’s natural beauty, relaxed lifestyle and abundant recreational offerings, while keeping themselves and others around them safe and healthy.

Discover

Galleries & Museums

Experience San Diego Art with a Self-Guided Tour

Eight walkable itineraries rich in colors, flavors and sounds

San Diego has an energetic art scene with a diverse range of influences — from our Spanish and Mexican roots, to our long tradition of seafaring, through current strengths in science and technology. You can fill an afternoon or an entire day touring the creativity in these artistic zones.

Discover

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.

Discover

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

Parks & Gardens

Kids Go Free at the Japanese Friendship Garden

Japanese Friendship Garden of San Diego

Valid: Oct 1 - Oct 31, 2022

The Japanese Friendship Garden (JFG) is located in Balboa Park and represents the friendship between San Diego and its sister city in Yokohama, Japan. The binding of two cultures create a unique...

View this Deal

Activity

$10 Historic Bay Cruise with General Admission*

Maritime Museum of San Diego

Valid: Jan 24 - ongoing

Purchase general admission to the Maritime Museum of San Diego and add a 45-minute narrated Historic Bay Cruise aboard the country's oldest active Pilot boat for only $10 more! Limit reservations....

View this Deal

Venues

Kids Go Free San Diego Children's Discovery Museum

San Diego Children's Discovery Museum

Valid: Oct 1 - Oct 31, 2022

Discover your wildest dreams at San Diego Children's Discovery Museum! Explore over 15 hands-on exhibits and activities for children ages 0-10. Dig for dinosaurs in Base Camp, set sail on Discovery...

View this Deal

View More Deals

Stay in touch

Sign up to receive the latest news, events, and updates about San Diego. Our monthly and weekly newsletters will keep you informed about the latest and greatest happenings in the destination.