Balboa Park Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Balboa Park. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• San Diego Hop On Hop Off Trolley Tour

• San Diego Scenic Tour

• San Diego: The Most Extensive City & Beach Tour

• San Diego Balboa Park Highlights Small-Group Tour With Coffee

• Private Balboa Park Segway Tour

Balboa Park is free to visit independently, although its many museums, sights, and attractions have their own visiting fees. Many affordable tours can help you learn more about the park with an expert guide: walking tours begin at US$60, Segway tours at US$65, and hop-on hop-off trolley tours from US$60.

Yes, Balboa Park is worth visiting. The 1,200-acre (486-hectare) public park is an oasis of green in San Diego and is home to many of the city's most noteworthy museums and cultural attractions. Highlights include the San Diego Zoo, the San Diego Museum of Art, The Old Globe, and numerous botanical gardens and outdoor recreation areas. It's easy to explore independently, but a guided tour can make navigating its vast scale simpler.

Per one customer who booked the San Diego Balboa Park Highlights Small-Group Tour With Coffee, "Terrific tour guide. Lots of walking and lots of information about the Park's history. Would definitely recommend this tour if you have never been to Balboa Park. We plan to return to the Park and take advantage of all the museums and other venues."

Yes, you can take guided tours of Balboa Park. Expert guides lead free hour-long tours of the Central Mesa from the visitor center. Tours cover aspects of the park’s history and attractions. Custom private tours also are available for a fee and can be tailored to individual interests and needs.

Allow at least one full day to explore Balboa Park and more time if you have interests in specific park attractions. There are many different places to see, including the San Diego Zoo, galleries, museums, and gardens. Each is worthy of at least a couple of hours.

Spring is a great time to visit Balboa Park as the gardens are especially colorful. Winter is also a good time, because it tends to be quieter than during the busy summer months. Weather conditions then are ideal both for strolling outdoors and exploring the indoor museums and galleries.

The best and most popular walks in Balboa Park are the Seven Bridge Walk and the Gardens Loop. The Seven Bridge Walk is 5.7 miles (9.3 kilometers) and takes around two hours. The Gardens Loop is a leisurely 1.4-mile (2.3-kilometer) trail that takes around 30 minutes.

Yes, visitors can walk around Balboa Park and visit the gardens for free. Only the museums, galleries, zoo, performances, events, and other self-contained attractions within the park are ticketed. Balboa Park is a great budget travel destination because you can see and do a lot without spending any money.

Many attractions and museums within Balboa Park offer free entry to San Diego residents on the first, second, third, or fourth Tuesdays of the month, on a rotating basis. Free access may be restricted, and entry conditions and dates may change without notice or not apply during certain months.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting Balboa Park. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in San Diego:

• USS Midway Museum

• Coronado

• Cabrillo National Monument

• Gaslamp Quarter

• San Diego Zoo

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in San Diego.