Visiting Balboa Park in San Diego, California

Tour San Diego Zoo, Museum of Art, Science Center, Plan Free Entry

Mar 21, 2009

Balboa Park House of Hospitality, San Diego, Joanne DiBona and Balboa Park Visitor Center

Plan a visit to San Diego's Balboa Park with care as some museums are closed Mondays, while others have free entry on some days and the Zoo alone can take a day to see.

Balboa Park in San Diego covers almost 1200 acres so making the most of a visit here requires some careful planning. It includes some of the best things to do in San Diego, including the San Diego Zoo, the Air and Space Museum, the Museum of Photographic Arts, the Science Center, the Natural History Museum, the Mingei International Museum, and the San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA). Here are some hints and tips when planning a visit:

How Long Will It Take to Visit Balboa Park?

It is impossible to see all these attractions in one day. The San Diego Zoo alone will easily occupy a whole day, and even longer for those visitors who like to see everything, and to be able to linger to watch the animals properly rather than just take a quick photo and move on.

Families in Balboa Park

Families will want to see the kid-friendly attractions which include the Zoo, Science Center, and Space Museum. Allow at least two days to visit these three attractions alone. The good news is that all these attractions are open every day.

Cultural Museums in Balboa Park

To visit the Mingei International Museum, the Museum of Photographic Arts, and the San Diego Museum of Art will probably take most people a full day.

Days to Avoid Balboa Park

Not all Balboa Park attractions are open every day. If planning a long weekend then don't leave Balboa Park till Monday. Although weekends are busier, at least everything is open and there won't be any unexpected disappointments. On Mondays the following are closed: the Mingei International Museum, the Museum of Photographic Arts, the San Diego Museum of Art.

Free Admission to Balboa Park Attractions

If visiting San Diego during the week, check the calendar. Some attractions offer free admission on one Tuesday each month, but the days rotate. The following are the days of free admission to some of the main Balboa Park attractions at the time of writing, but this will change so contact the Balboa Park Visitor Center (tel: 619-239-0512) for the current information:

First Tuesday of each month: Reuben H. Fleet Science Center's exhibit galleries, San Diego Natural History Museum (SDNHM)
Second Tuesday of each month: Museum of Photographic Arts
Third Tuesday of each month: San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA)
Fourth Tuesday of each month: San Diego Air and Space Museum

Money-Saving Passes

A Passport to Balboa Park includes admission to most of the major museums (but not the Zoo) and is valid for one week. It offers a considerable saving for anyone planning to visit several museums. To add the Zoo, buy a Deluxe Passport. Both are available from the Balboa Park Visitor Center.

Other Attractions in Balboa Park

Apart from the major museums mentioned here, Balboa Park also contains other attractions including:

Japanese Friendship Garden
Museum of San Diego History
San Diego Art Institute: Museum of the Living Artist
San Diego Automotive Museum
San Diego Hall of Champions Sports Museum
San Diego Museum of Man
Timken Museum of Art
Veterans Museum and Memorial Center

Further Information About Balboa Park

The information above is only a small part of what there is to see and do in Balboa Park. The Balboa Park Visitor Center can provide full up-to-date information, and can be found in the House of Hospitality on the plaza in the very center of the park at 1549 El Prado (tel: 619-239-0512).