Balboa Park

Nature, Parks, & Gardens • San Diego, California United States

Balboa Park in San Diego, California is a captivating destination brimming with natural beauty and cultural offerings. This expansive park, larger than New York City's Central Park, is a haven for nature enthusiasts, history buffs, and art lovers alike. Spread across 1,200 lush acres, Balboa Park is home to a diverse range of gardens, museums, and recreational facilities.

Visitors can meander through the park's various gardens, including the iconic Botanical Building and Lily Pond, which showcases a stunning array of exotic plants and vibrant blooms. The Japanese Friendship Garden provides a serene escape with its meticulously landscaped grounds and tranquil koi ponds. For those interested in history, the park boasts multiple museums such as the San Diego Museum of Art, the San Diego Air & Space Museum, and the San Diego Natural History Museum, offering a wealth of knowledge and inspiration through their captivating exhibitions.

In addition to its natural and cultural attractions, Balboa Park features numerous outdoor recreational opportunities, including hiking trails, picnic areas, and open spaces perfect for leisurely strolls or family outings. Whether exploring the flora and fauna, delving into the local history, or simply basking in the park's scenic beauty, a visit to Balboa Park promises a delightful and enriching experience for all who venture within its diverse and captivating grounds.


Tours for Balboa Park

Exploring the area? Book a tour to fully experience everything Balboa Park has to offer. A guided tour will provide you with fascinating insights and hidden gems that you might miss on your own.

Balboa Park Electric Scooter Tour with Pictures in San Diego, California $59 Tour Provided by Viator
5.0 (32)

Balboa Park Electric Scooter Tour with Pictures

San Diego, California United States

Join me on a journey through one of San Diego's most iconic places. Since this park is large, we will be touring the major sites with the wind in our hair on electric scooters. No walking required ;)

The first stop will be the beautiful botanical building and lily pond where we will pause for some pictures. Next, we will briefly cruise to the entrance to the San Diego Zoo before heading to the Spanish Village Arts Center. We will then scoot to the Morton Bay Fig Tree. It's then time to ride down the iconic El Prado passing fountains & museums along the way. After a quick stop, we will head past the International cottages on our way to the air and space museum. We will wrap up at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion before heading back to where we started.

Photos of your adventure are included!

If you want to see Balboa park in an efficient & unique way with a local guide, then this is the tour for you!

(Tips are not required but are always appreciated :)

Private Tour of San Diego in a Lexus ES300 Hybrid in San Diego, California $339 Tour Provided by Viator
5.0 (13)

Private Tour of San Diego in a Lexus ES300 Hybrid

San Diego, California United States

My tour will take you to an Iconic first stop built in 1888 the fabulous Hotel Del Coronado simply know as the Del is an incredible ocean front hotel. Next we visit beautiful Balboa Park with its lovely Spanish architecture built to celebrate the opening of the Panama Canal and lots of small houses from around the world. Now we drive south to visit the stunning coastline of La Jolla with its rugged beaches and seals basking in the sun. Time to head south and stop briefly to see the cliffs and surfers at Sunset Cliffs before reaching Cabrillo National Monument with the best views of San Diego. Our last stop will be in Old Town and you will have enough time to try the delicious Mexican food and have a Margarita before heading back to your hotel or the airport. If you want to spend less time in one place and more in another that’s perfectly fine. Can’t wait to show you America’s finest city, you’re going to love it!!!

San Diego GoCar: Best Value, Full Day Option in San Diego, California $159 Tour Provided by Viator
5.0 (11)

San Diego GoCar: Best Value, Full Day Option

San Diego, California United States

The all day Everything Tour is fun for the whole family, and lets you see nearly everything San Diego has to offer. From the historic Gaslamp Quarter where the fun is always happening and the iconic Horton Plaza where the shopping is just as fun as navigating the mall. You will see the beautiful rose garden of Balboa Park and the natural Beauty of the Point Loma Ecological preserve where you can wade through the tide pools looking at sea anemones, crabs, lobster, fish and the occasional octopus. You can walk around Ocean Beach and San Diego’s famous Maritime Museum, experience the always beautiful Balboa park where a Family photo is a must, and stroll through Old Town San Diego and see how San Diego has changed over the centuries from the small Mission and Mexican community it was to the Most Beautiful City in America.
*If booking more than 2 people please submit separate orders!

Private Tour: Secret Food Tours San Diego in San Diego, California $370 Tour Provided by Viator
5.0 (10)

Private Tour: Secret Food Tours San Diego

San Diego, California United States

On our Secret Food Tours: San Diego, you'll walk into Gaslamp while enjoying dishes with influences from Mexico to the Far East.

Your guide will take you on a mouth-watering food journey exploring diverse cuisine that has evolved over generations. Feast on the freshest fish Taco, the Melt Burger, sweets and of course our delicious Secret Dish!

At the end of your tour, you'll have sampled some of San Diego's most delicious dishes and gained a better understanding of our culture and history.

As a private tour, everything works around you! Our start times are much more easy going, dates can open up. It's a much more intimate and cozy experience. No need to shout over other tourists, you will have every question answered, and leave feeling like a native yourself!

E-Bike Tour in Balboa Park in San Diego, California $169 Tour Provided by Viator
5.0 (9)

E-Bike Tour in Balboa Park

San Diego, California United States

On this Balboa Park E-Bike Tour you will learn what San Diego locals know, that Balboa Park is San Diego’s best kept secret! As the largest urban cultural park in the country, Balboa Park is one of the most unique attractions in San Diego. From hiking trails, to desert gardens and world-class museums, you could easily spend an entire day in this gorgeous San Diego park.

Private San Diego Segway Fanatic Tour in San Diego, California $99 Tour Provided by Viator
5.0 (8)

Private San Diego Segway Fanatic Tour

San Diego, California United States

Are you a segway fanatic? If you have ridden segways numerous times. Skip the training arrive and ride. This tour moves quickly to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time. With a knowledgeable guide, cruise along the San Diego downtown and urban neighborhoods and see interesting sights along. Check out areas like Balboa Park. The outskirts of Little Italy. The San Diego Embarcadero, with views of Coronado while riding along the bayside waterfront. Making our glide through the popular Gaslamp Quarter.We will cover 12.5 miles in 2.5hrs steady cruisin.

The San Diego Tour from S.OC in San Diego, California $99 Tour Provided by Viator
5.0 (7)

The San Diego Tour from S.OC

San Diego, California United States

Come join us for a fun-filled adventure of touring “America’s Finest City” – San Diego! From the white sand beaches of La Jolla to the oldest Spanish settlement of Old Town, the vibrancy of The Gaslamp Quarter, Seaport Village, Downtown San Diego, Little Italy, and Coronado Island, San Diego has it all and we want to show you the best of it on our sightseeing tour of San Diego! Whether on vacation with your family or in town for the day on business, you will be sure to fall in love with this city on the sea. From our Best Coast Tours family to yours, come cruise with the Best!

Downtown to Balboa Park Tour in San Diego, California $295 Tour Provided by Viator
5.0 (6)

Downtown to Balboa Park Tour

San Diego, California United States

Join us for a unique, private adventure in and around downtown San Diego with a guided tour in a motorcycle sidecar! Learn about the past & present of “America’s Finest City”, the birthplace of California, cruising in style! It's safe, it's fun, & it's an unforgettable experience of a lifetime!

With Pegasus Sidecar Tours, your private driver & guide will take you on a tour around the beautiful San Diego area in our top-of-the-line 3-passenger sidecar rigs. This means 2 passengers can sit in the sidecar, and a third behind your personal driver and guide. Our helmets are equipped with industry leading SENA communication system offering 4-person HD audio connectivity, so you can talk directly with one another & with the guide during the entire tour.

Pets are also allowed to ride along, for what is life without our furry friends!

There is even a convertible top that can enclose the sidecar in case (by some rare chance in San Diego) it rains. Tours are highly customizable. Lets ride!