Balboa Park

Parking | Museums | Balboa Park Video | Wonderland Video

Balboa Park is one of San Diego’s most popular tourist spots. It has 15 museums, including the San Diego Air and Space Museum, the Museum of San Diego History, and the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. Balboa Park also offers a unique variety of performing arts and venues, such as the Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater and the Old Globe Theater. Lastly, it is home to the world-famous San Diego Zoo

Parking:
Take the free tram from the Inspiration Point parking lot, which is between Presidents Way and the Balboa Park Activity Center, to get to the center of Balboa Park. There are also many smaller lots throughout the park.

Valet parking is available in front of the House of Hospitality and The Prado in the Plaza de Panama.

Valet Parking Hours:
Tuesday - Thursday 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Friday - 5:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Saturday - 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sunday - 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
No valet parking on Mondays.

Hours:
The Park is open 24 hours a day; the Visitors Center is open 9:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. every day; and museum hours vary.

Admission:
Admittance to the park itself, the Botanical Building and most of the gardens is free. Cost of museum passes vary.

Balboa Park Museums

Reuben H. Fleet Science Center This science museum was the first to combine science exhibits with an IMAX dome and planetarium, which set the standard for most museums today. It includes a science store and café.
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Japanese Friendship Garden This garden includes a Zen garden for meditation, a coy fish pond, an exhibit house, ceremonial gate, and a bonsai exhibit.(Photo courtesy of Balboa Park Marketing)
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Mingei International Museum Mingei features exhibitions of contemporary folk art, craft, and design. This museum represents many areas of the world, from Mexico to Indonesia, with pottery, jewelry, woodcarvings, and more.
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Museum of San Diego History This museum tells the story of San Diego’s history all in one building through the use of costumes, artifacts, art, textiles, and photographs. (Photo courtesy of Balboa Park Marketing)
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San Diego Hall of Champions Sports Museum San Diego Hall of Champions is a museum of over 42 different American sports. It includes the Breitbard Hall of Fame, which honors famous athletes from San Diego and other parts of the country. (Photo courtesy of Balboa Park Marketing)
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San Diego Model Railroad Museum This museum has an indoor model railroad track and at 28,000 square feet it is the world’s largest museum of its kind. The models represent different railroads in the Southwest. (Photo courtesy of Balboa Park Marketing
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San Diego Museum of Man Museum of Man is San Diego’s only anthropology museum and focuses on pre-Columbian history of the Western United States. (Photo courtesy of Balboa Park Marketing)
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San Diego Natural History Museum This museum is a research institution that features giant screen films of public programs for everyone. It is the second oldest scientific institution in Southern California. (Photo courtesy of Balboa Park Marketing)
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Museum of Photographic Arts Here you can view over 4,000 pieces of art that create a time line of the history of photography. This museum also contains a state-of-the-art movie theater and a 20,000-volume library. (Photo courtesy of Balboa Park Marketing)

San Diego Museum of Art Here you can find pieces as old as from the year 5,000 B.C. It includes Spanish works by El Greco and Murillo, impressionist era paintings, and Italian works by Veronese and Giotto. (Photo courtesy of Balboa Park Marketing)

San Diego Air & Space Museum At the Air & Space Museum, historic spacecraft and aircraft are housed from around the world. The museum emphasizes the contributions San Diego has made to the field of aviation. (Photo courtesy of Balboa Park Marketing)

San Diego Art Institute (SDAI): Museum of the Living Artist The Art Institute is an art gallery dedicated to the advancement of the visual arts. New exhibits are opened by artists every four to six weeks. (Photo courtesy of Balboa Park Marketing)

San Diego Automotive Museum This museum features a large collection of cars and motorcycles that display the history of the automotive industry. (Photo courtest of Balboa Park Marketing)

Centro Cultural de la Raza This museum is a cultural arts center committed to educating about Mexican, Chicano, and Latino culture. It features rotating exhibits as well as dance, theater, music, and film performances.(Photo courtesy of Balboa Park Marketing)

Marston House The Marston House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is located in the middle of five acres of landscaped gardens. (Photo courtesy of Balboa Park Marketing)

Timken Museum of Art Timken Museum displays a collection of European sculptures, paintings, and tapestries and was designed by architect Frank Hope, Jr. The museum includes works by Rembrandt, Pieter Bruegel the Elder and Eastman Johnson. (Photo courtesy of Balboa Park Marketing)

Veterans Museum & Memorial Center Veterans Museum was created to honor those who have served in the US armed forces, marines, and coastguard. It holds documents, memorabilia, artwork and photographs. (Photo courtesy of Balboa Park Marketing)

WorldBeat Cultural Center The WorldBeat Center promotes cultures through education and through the display of dance, music, and art. Concerts and lectures are offered throughout the year. (Photo courtesy of Balboa Park Marketing)

Wonderland: Balboa Park by Noah Tafolla

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