• Parks

    Visit the Park with your furry friend at Nate’s Point Dog Park, one of three areas where your pup can run, play and mingle.

    Pepper Grove playground where children are playing on large colorful play structures, slides, and swings.

    Playgrounds

    Run and play on one of the many playgrounds located throughout Balboa Park

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    A doberman pincher dog wearing a blue collar standing under trees at a fenced in dog park.

    Dog Parks

    Three different dog parks, including an off-leash park, for you and your furry friend to enjoy

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  • Gardens

    Take a relaxing stroll through Alcazar Garden. Named for and inspired by the Alcazar Castle in Seville, Spain, this formal garden is planted with thousands of annuals that provide a vibrant display of color throughout the year. Discover a tropical oasis in the Palm Canyon. Take a walk along its shady paths lined by 58 unique species of palms. Find inner peace while exploring the outdoors at the Japanese Friendship Garden. There is something for every type of nature lover here: rambling pathways, winding streams, a bonsai tree collection, and koi fish ponds. Look for butterflies at the Zoro Garden. This sunken stone grotto is designed to attract and support the life cycle of butterflies. See how many you can spot.

    Two adults holding hands while walking in Alcazar garden.

    Alcazar Garden

    Stroll through ornate fountains, exquisite turquoise blue, yellow, and green Moorish tiles, and a shady pergola.

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    Three people walking up a dirt pathway surrounded by palm trees in Palm Canyon.

    Palm Canyon

    A tropical oasis containing more than 450 palms, including 58 species.

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    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 and Museum

    An immersive experience of Japanese gardens and culture.

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    Three people walking down a stone walled ramp into Zoro Garden.

    Zoro Garden

    A former nudist colony turned butterfly garden.

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  • Museums

    Get out of the sun and see some stars at the exhibit on Kumeyaay cosmology at the Museum of Us while learning what other cultures see when they look up at the night sky. If you enjoy your art outdoors, explore the area around The San Diego Museum of Art. Sculptures from a variety of artists and styles grace the Plaza de Panama and the Museum of Art’s own May S. Marcy Sculpture Court & Garden. Maybe you like nature that’s a little…further away…like in space! Check out the San Diego Air and Space Museum to see moon rocks and objects that have helped humans explore new frontiers of nature. Let nature surprise you at the San Diego Natural History Museum. The museum is devoted to flora and fauna of the bi-national region from prehistoric times to now.

    Two people walking towards the front entrance of the Museum of Us.

    Museum of Us

    Exploring the human experience through unique, interactive exhibitions.

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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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    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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    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 (The Nat)

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

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  • Food & Drink

    Wrap up your visit to the Japanese Friendship Garden with refreshments at the Tea Pavilion. Enjoy sandwiches, salads, and, of course, a large selection of teas. Have a seat on the patio overlooking the garden. Grab your snacks and head over to admire the stunning Morton Bay Fig Tree. When measured around its trunk, this tree is the second largest in the state of California. Stop at the San Diego Zoo, home to more than 3,500 rare and endangered animals representing more than 650 species and subspecies.

    Front entrance to the Japanese Friendship Garden's Tea Pavilion. The building is beige with brown trim and a roof.

    The Tea Pavilion

    Appreciate delightful Japanese cuisine while taking in scenic views.

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    Detailed metal door entrance to Panama 66 at the San Diego Museum of Art. The bar and California Tower can be seen in the background.

    Panama 66 at The San Diego Museum of Art

    Draft beer, craft cocktails and locally sourced food. Entertainment varies throughout the week.

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    Lady Carolyn Pub entrance surrounded by green ivy

    Lady Carolyn’s Pub

    Grab a drink or tasty treat before watching one of the Old Globe's spectacular performances.

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    Several groups of people sitting at tables at the Alaska Airlines Flight Path Grill.

    Alaska Airlines Flight Path Grill

    Admire planes flying overhead while you enjoy some American-style food.

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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.

Get Directions

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
Two young adults with long brown hair. They are walking with the lily pond and botanical building in the background. One adult is wearing a peach colored sweater with a multicolored dress and the other adult is wearing a white sweater with a multicolored dress..

Get Your Tickets

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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