Make the Visitors Center your first stop in Balboa Park for information on how to plan your day. Our fully staffed info center is open daily from 9:30am - 4:30pm with extended summer hours, 9:30am to 5:00pm, beginning on June 26 and ending September 6. Bi-monthly Events Guide Passport to Balboa Park Tours and Free Tuesdays Balboa Park Free Tram  Purchase Tickets Souvenirs and e-shopping

Balboa Park Bi-monthly Events Guide

Make your first stop in Balboa Park at the Visitors Center, pick up a bi-monthly Events Guide and find out what’s going on in the Park! The guide includes a detailed map of Balboa Park, current listings of exhibits and special events, tours, music and theater offerings. Order a copy by sending 50¢ and a stamped-self addressed envelope to: Balboa Park Visitors Center, 1549 El Prado, San Diego CA 92101.

Passport to Balboa Park

Visit the museums with your Passport to Balboa Park, a discounted admission booklet that you can buy at the Visitors Center or in any participating museum. It costs $30, it’s valid for a week, and gets you into 13 Park attractions—more than an $80 value! Recognized as the cultural heart of San Diego, Balboa Park is home to 12 of the city’s most acclaimed museums. Included in the Passport package are the San Diego Museum of Art, San Diego Aerospace Museum, San Diego Automotive Museum, Museum of San Diego History, Museum of Photographic Arts, San Diego Natural History Museum, San Diego Hall of Champions Sports Museum, San Diego Museum of Man, San Diego Model Railroad Museum, Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, San Diego Art Institute, and Mingei International Museum. The Japanese Friendship Garden is the newest attraction included in Passport. Order now!

A program of participating institutions and the House of Hospitality.

Free Park Tours and Free Tuesdays

Discover Balboa Park Tour. Free guided tours hosted by the author of the Discover Balboa Park guidebook. Easy-paced one hour tours meets Fridays, 1:00pm at The Prado entrance to the Visitors Center.

Architectural Heritage Tours. The Committee of 100 offers one-hour tours highlighting the Spanish Colonial architecture in the Park on the first Wednesday of each month at 9:30 a.m.

Offshoot Tours. Offered every Saturday by trained volunteers, the tours meet at 10:00 a.m. for an easy-paced one-hour walk. Tour themes include Balboa Park history (first Saturdays of the month), palm trees (second Saturdays), other trees in the Park (third Saturdays), desert vegetation (fourth Saturdays), and every fifth Saturdays offers the tour del dia (exploring the Park’s Palisades area). No tours offered from Thanksgiving weekend until mid-January.

Ranger-led Tours. Approximately one hour long, these tours meet at 1:00 p.m. every Tuesday and Sunday and cover the historical and botanical treasures of Balboa Park. For large tour groups or special arrangements, call the Park Rangers’ office at 619 235-1122.

Self-guided Tours. Pick up a one of the self-guided garden tours or the self-guided Kate Sessions walk from the Balboa Park Visitors Center.

Free Tuesdays in the Park

As a public service Park organizations offer free admission on a rotating basis throughout the month.

First Tuesday

• San Diego Model Railroad Museum
• San Diego Natural History Museum
• Reuben H. Fleet Science Center
• Centro Cultural de la Raza

Second Tuesday

• Museum of Photographic Arts
• Museum of San Diego History
• Veteran's Museum and Memorial Center

Third Tuesday

• San Diego Art Institute
• San Diego Museum of Art
• San Diego Museum of Man
• Japanese Friendship Garden
• Mingei International Museum

Fourth Tuesday

• San Diego Aerospace Museum
• San Diego Automotive Museum
• San Diego Hall of Champions
• House of Pacific Relations International Cottages

Fifth Tuesday

• Normal museum prices in effect.
• The Timken Museum of Art is always free.
• Veterans Memorial Center is free, donation requested.

*Some museums may offer complimentary admission to their permanent collections only and charge admission to special exhibitions.

Balboa Park Free Tram

The free tram provides access to Balboa Park’s museums and attractions. Park in the spacious Inspiration Point lot and wait at Tram Central, a shady arbor with benches for the tram will deliver you to into the heart of Balboa Park. Trams pick up from Tram Central every 8–10 minutes. Riders may also board at one of the designated pick-up areas around the Park.

The tram operates seven days a week: 8:30 am - 6:00 pm. with extended hours during summer months.

The Balboa Park Tram is provided as a free public service by the City of San Diego Park and Recreation Department.

Tickets

Pick up one of these convenient ticket packages right in the Balboa Park Visitors Center. You can even order online!

San Diego Zoo Deluxe Package. Avoid the lines and walk right in! Package includes admission, 30 minute narrated bus tour and Skyfari ride. Adult package $30; child (3-11) $18.

Order now!

Old Town Trolley Tour. Awarded San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau "Finest Service Award." A completely narrated tour takes you to over 100 points of interest with 8 stops where you can get on and off for attractions, shopping and dining. Includes Old Town San Diego, Harbor Drive at the waterfront, Seaport Village, the Marriott Marina, Horton Plaza, Coronado, the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park. Start in Balboa Park for ample free parking. Adult $24; child $12.

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San Diego Passport to Adventure. Includes Old Town Trolley Tour, Deluxe San Diego Zoo package, 1 or 2 hour Hornblower Harbor Tour, San Diego Maritime Museum, San Diego Museum of Art, 2-for-1 at any Bazaar del Mundo restaurant, Seaport Village VIP Discount shopping card, Horton Plaza Discount Booklet and Souvenir Gift. Adults $69.95 (actual retail value, $93)

Order now!

Souvenirs and e-shopping

The Balboa Park Visitors Center offers a wide variety of gifts, handmade creations by Park artists, books, videos, CDs, and Balboa Park souvenirs, shirts and hats. Come inside for our online gift shop!