• Performing Arts

    Centro Cultural de la Raza

    Start your journey at the Centro Cultural de la Raza, a lively community cultural center that creates, preserves, promotes, and educates about Chicano, Mexicano, Latino, and Indigenous art and culture. Be sure to check out the vivid murals; each is 15 by 25 feet and mixes indigenous graphics with contemporary design and color.

    WorldBeat Center

    The WorldBeat Cultural Center highlights the African diaspora and indigenous cultures of the world through music, art, dance, education, sustainability and technology. Its vivid murals by local artists commemorate important leaders and historical cultures.

    Centro Cultural del la Raza building with colorful murals depicting people and animals.

    Centro Cultural de la Raza

    Celebrating Chicano, Latin, and Indigenous art and culture.

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    The entrance to the World Beat Center. The building is covered in bright and colorful murals.

    WorldBeat Center

    Healing the world through music, art, dance, and culture.

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  • Museums

    Veterans Museum at Balboa Park

    Located on Park Boulevard, honors the memories of all men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces and Wartime Merchant Marine. Highlights from the museum’s collection include WWII artifacts such as the pen that Admiral Nimitz used to sign the Japanese surrender document and the first American flag captured by the Japanese in the Philippines. Also, see if you can find Sen. John McCain’s autograph on its elaborate mural.

    San Diego Air & Space Museum

    Head over to the San Diego Air and Space Museum to join the ranks of other great explorers. Discover artifacts from the Wright Brothers, Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and other pioneers.

    San Diego Automotive Museum

    Speed on over to the San Diego Automotive Museum to see cars and motorcycles to see a variety of makes and models that highlight car culture throughout history. Its collection even includes a motorcycle that belonged to legendary movie star Steve McQueen.

    Institute of Contemporary Art, San Diego

    Experience something new and exciting at the Institute of Contemporary Art, San Diego. Founded in 1941, ICA showcases contemporary art and artists from the Southern California/Baja Norte region, with a focus on San Diego County.

    The San Diego Museum of Art

    Wander the beautiful galleries of The San Diego Museum of Art, which host a fine selection of European old masters, 19th and 20th-century American art, an encyclopedic Asian collection, and growing collections of contemporary and Latin American art.

    Timken Museum of Art

    There’s more art to discover at the always-free Timken Museum. While small in size, the museum’s collection is impressive and features European old masters, 19th-century American art and Russian icons. The collection also includes the only Rembrandt painting on public display in San Diego.

    Museum of Photographic Arts

    Stroll down El Prado to check out one of the few institutions in the country devoted to photography, film and video. The Museum of Photographic Arts’ collections represents the entire history of photography, its aesthetic movements and technological advancements.San Diego Model Railroad Museum

    San Diego History Center
    Brush up on the region’s past at the San Diego History Center. With 45 million documents, 2.5 million historic photographs, 1,700 oral histories, 1,500 films, 15,000 historic objects, 7,000 items of historic clothing, and a significant collection of San Diego artwork, there’s something here to spark everyone’s interest.

    Fleet Science Center

    Discover the possibilities at the Fleet Science Center where you’ll find more than 100 interactive exhibits that connect people of all ages to the power of science.

    San Diego Natural History Museum (theNAT)

    Learn about the unique biodiversity of Southern California and the Baja California at the San Diego Natural History Museum. Watch out for dinosaurs!

    Mingei International Museum

    Dedicated to art of the people (mingei) from all eras and cultures of the world, Mingei International Museum features dynamic, changing exhibitions of historical and contemporary folk art, craft and design.

    The entrance to the Veterans Museum at Balboa Park. The building is white with a red terracotta roof. The front entry way is arched with wooden doors.

    Veterans Museum at Balboa Park

    Honoring San Diego's military history and heritage.

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    Visitors walking into the entrance of the San Diego Air and Space Museum.

    San Diego Air and Space Museum

    Examine the intersection of science, space, and aviation history.

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    Building and entrance to the San Diego Automotive Museum.

    San Diego Automotive Museum

    Exploring the history and evolution of the automobile.

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    Institute of Contemporary Art, San Diego

    The Park's home for progressive and experimental art.

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    The entrance to the San Diego Museum of Art.

    The San Diego Museum of Art

    Cultivate your curiosity through great works of art.

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    Timken Museum of Art

    Discover fine art in the "jewel box" of Balboa Park.

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    Museum of Photographic Arts

    Offering new perspectives on photography, film, and video.

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    San Diego History Center logo on a glass door that leads into the musuem.

    San Diego History Center

    Shining a light on the rich culture and heritage of San Diego.

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    Fleet Science Center

    Fleet Science Center

    Engaging science lovers of all ages.

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    A group of diverse aged adults looking at a mammoth fossil display at the San Diego Museum of Natural History.

    San Diego Natural History Museum (theNat)

    Explore the natural wonders, both past and present of Southern California

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    A display of the Global Spirit exhibition at the Mingei Museum. An adult visitor with short brown hair can be seen walking through the exhibit space.

    Mingei International Museum

    Sharing human creativity through folk art, craft, and design.

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  • Food & Drink

    Artifact at Mingei

    Craving something different? Check out Artifact’s menu inspired by Northeastern Thailand’s cooking methods, spices and botanicals.

  • Parks Trails & Gardens

    Japanese Friendship Garden

    The Japanese Friendship Garden has plenty of paths to explore. Keep an eye out for koi fish; they were born in Japan and hand-selected for the Garden by the Koi Club of San Diego, who proudly maintain the fish and pond.

    A diverse group of adults waiting in line at the entrance to the Japanese Friendship Garden. A brown and white structure and trees are in the background.

    Japanese Friendship Garden

    An immersive experience of Japanese gardens and culture.

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Plan Your Visit

A roadway in front of Plaza de Panama and the San Diego Museum of Art with a white jeep stopped to let a group of adults and an adult with a motorized wheelchair cross the road.

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Whether by car or plane, we’ve got the details you need to get here.

Park Map and Directions
Diverse groups of people surrounding three white pop-up tents on the El Prado walkway outside of the House of Hospitality.

Events

See what's happening in the park the days you are here.

Upcoming Events
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From museums to musicals to Shakespeare under the stars, immerse yourself in all the arts, sciences, and history you can handle.

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