In the heart of San Diego, Balboa Park is a hidden gem that offers much more than just access to the renowned San Diego Zoo.
During my search for a scenic spot to walk for a few hours, I stumbled upon this incredible park and was pleasantly surprised by all it had to offer. With 17 museums, the park has multiple performing arts venues, beautifully themed gardens, diverse shopping options, a variety of restaurants, street vendors, and numerous historical and cultural attractions, Balboa Park is a treasure trove waiting to be explored.
I quickly realized that I could easily spend an entire day immersed in its wonders. If you’re unfamiliar with the area, you might have heard about the zoo but overlooked Balboa Park itself. However, this park is brimming with activities, events, shops, museums, and stunning sights, making it an ideal destination for both locals and tourists alike. Join me as we dive deeper into what makes Balboa Park a must-visit spot in San Diego!
Why Balboa Park is special: The History
Balboa Park is one of the oldest parks in the United States. The land was reserved in 1835 with 1,200 acres of history and cultural spaces.
Many buildings and spaces within the park are landmarks from the 1915–16 Panama–California Exposition and the 1935–36 California Pacific International Exposition. The park and many buildings are National Historic Landmarks, and the park is on the National Register of Historic Places.
What’s Unique About Balboa Park Gardens
My interest in visiting the park was the gardens. There are nearly 20 distinct types of gardens that you can explore, with excellent walking trails within the park. Balboa Park has verdant, well-maintained gardens throughout the entire ample space. It seemed like I stumbled upon another unique garden every few hundred feet.
Here are a few of the gardens in Balboa Park:
- Cactus Garden – A historic hillside garden featuring rare and unusual cacti and succulents overlooking Cabrillo Bridge.
- Australian Garden – A peaceful grove showcasing eucalyptus, acacias, and other distinctive plants native to Australia.
- California Native Plant Garden – A compact garden highlighting drought-tolerant plants naturally found across California’s diverse ecosystems.
- Desert Garden – A sprawling collection of more than 1,300 desert plants from around the world, known for its dramatic shapes and vibrant blooms.
- Rose Garden – A popular, fragrant garden with over 1,600 rose bushes that peak in color from spring through fall.
- Lily Pond – An iconic reflecting pool lined with water lilies, tropical plants, and postcard-perfect views of the Botanical Building.
- Palm Canyon – A lush, shaded ravine filled with more than 450 palms and a hidden wooden footbridge leading you into a tropical-feeling oasis.
Each was beautifully landscaped with walking trails, benches, and signage, so you know what you’re seeing. I felt like I was being transported to a new place in each one. I could have stood in the rose garden all afternoon. It smelled so good.
Balboa Park Botanical Building
The Botanical Building, constructed during the 1915 Exposition, features a variety of plants, including bamboo, banana trees, palms, and numerous flowering species. In front of the Botanical Building, there is a large, elongated lily pond that serves as a reflecting pool, making it a popular spot for photographs. Throughout the park, several young women dressed in their Quinceañera finest were posing for pictures, particularly at the lily pond.
Cost to Enter Balboa Park Gardens
The Japanese Friendship Garden is the only garden in the park that requires an entrance fee. It costs $12, and tickets should be bought in advance to guarantee your spot. There is a QR code for quick and easy purchases at the gate, but I was too late on a busy Saturday to get a spot, so I didn’t see this garden.
Because the gardens are spaced all around 1,200 acres, it’s a great way to make your way around the entire park and see all the sites.
Unique Architecture in Balboa Park
The architecture of Balboa Park is spectacular. Most of it is a blend of Spanish Baroque combined with Spanish Colonial. Mostly, they’re a highly ornamented yet classic display of buildings.
A favorite spot for taking pictures is the Cabrillo Bridge. It was built in 1915 and was the first cantilevered, multiple-arched bridge in Southern California. It’s about 1,500 feet long and almost 125 feet high.
There are 10 outdoor performance spaces, stages and entertainment in public areas like the ornate vaulted Spreckels Organ Pavilion. It has over 5,000 organ pipes ranging from huge to pencil size, and it’s the biggest outdoor pipe organ in the world. There are performances each Sunday, and I was lucky to witness one.
House of Pacific Relations International Cottages
One of my favorite areas in Balboa Park is the International Cottages. There, they have 34 historic cottages depicting different countries. Inside, they have volunteers representing the country and providing education and multicultural goodwill.
Each tiny house was different and included presenters, displays from the country, explanations of their history and culture and – my favorite part – some food items for sale. The United States was selling apple pie on the day I was there, and there was pierogi at the Poland house.
Shopping at Balboa Park
Street vendors are posted at tables throughout the sprawling complex selling clothing, jewelry, souvenirs, and other items. I bought a lovely baby onesie with hand-embroidered flowers as a gift. As a gift for myself: a batch of fresh-made churros that were out of this world.
Throughout the park, you’ll find gift shops and themed areas like the Spanish Village Art Center, where you can walk among Spanish-style buildings in a colorful courtyard made to look like an old village in Spain. When I was there, they featured Spanish glass blowing and had many artists conducting demonstrations and selling their wares.
Balboa Park Museums
There are 17 museums and cultural institutions around the park, housed in that beautiful old architecture. A few of the museums are:
- San Diego Natural History Museum ($22) Features fossils, biodiversity exhibits, and regional geology displays.
- Fleet Science Center ($24.95) Interactive exhibits and a planetarium that make science accessible and fun for all ages.
- Institute of Contemporary Art San Diego ($10) Showcases thought‑provoking contemporary works in a sleek, minimalist setting.
- Museum of Photographic Arts (pay what you wish) Displays a wide range of photography — from historic prints to modern digital works.
- San Diego Air & Space Museum ($23) Filled with historic aircraft, spacecraft replicas, and aviation‑themed exhibits that trace humanity’s journey into the skies and beyond.
- San Diego History Center (varies) Dedicated to preserving and telling the story of San Diego’s past through artifacts, photos, and regional history exhibitions.
- San Diego Automotive Museum ($14.50) Features historic, classic, and vintage automobiles that trace the evolution of automotive design and culture.
If you’re a resident with I.D., each Tuesday features a different museum you can enter for free.
If you Visit Balboa Park
It’s worth it to visit Balboa Park if you enjoy gardens, handcrafted items, history, architecture, museums or walking.
Balboa Park is free to enter and has free parking. There are electric car charging stations and a free tram-like streetcar to take you around the park if desired.
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