12 Best Attractions in San Diego

Head to Balboa Park to explore local San Diego museums, large open spaces, natural vegetation zones, green belts, theaters, walking paths and an amazing zoo! The park is an urban cultural park with over 1,200 acres, so there are plenty of things to do!

The feature attraction in Balboa Park and one of the must-see attractions in all of San Diego is the world-famous San Diego Zoo! The zoo is a great way to experience San Diego with kids and an excellent way to spend an afternoon with family in the San Diego sunshine.

The San Diego Zoo is home to more than 3,500 animals with 650 species and subspecies throughout the zoo. In addition to housing a variety of animals, the San Diego Zoo has an abundance of things to do perfect for making family memories!

Save Big on Admission!

Save up to 55% off on gate admission prices when you purchase a Go San Diego pass in advance. The pass can be combined with other top area attractions like SeaWorld San Diego in Mission Park or one of the many museums in Balboa Park and throughout San Diego.

Purchase the Go San Diego pass via our website to save even more and stack the savings on top of the already highly reduced prices offered by Go San Diego!

Upgraded Your Experience

Visitors have the option to purchase upgraded experiences and private tours that will take their San Diego Zoo visit to another level. Options include: inside look tours, animals in action experiences, discovery cart tours, early morning cheetah experience and more.

Kids Programs

One of the most popular programs at the San Diego Zoo is the Kids Program. Children will be educated on animal species at the zoo and wildlife conservation. In addition, they can celebrate their birthday with an Aussie Outback Birthday Bash!

Attractions and More

The San Diego Zoo is an easy place to spend a few hours or an entire day due to its wide variety of attractions. Visitors can go on guided bus tours, botanical tours, attend shows, go to animal encounters, take a trip on the Skyfari Aerial Tram and so much more!

Mission Bay is home to more than 4,600 acres of water and shoreline. Located just north of the San Diego International Airport and just south of the popular neighborhood of Pacific Beach, it is home to the Mission Bay Park which has an abundance of water sport activities and a water playground.

Have a picnic with your family at one of the many beautiful Mission Bay beaches, go paddle boarding or go for a refreshing swim. To say Mission Bay is a San Diego point of interest would be an understatement!

The Mission Bay Park has activities like water skiing, sailing, kite surfing and stand-up paddle boarding. There is something available for every age and experience level at the aquatic park.

SeaWorld San Diego is conveniently located in Mission Bay Park. This San Diego point of interest is an animal theme park that has up-close animal encounters, outside aquariums, theme-park rides and plenty of activities for everyone!

Exciting Shows

There are family-friendly shows that can be experienced at SeaWorld. Dolphin Days, Sea Lions Live, Orca Encounter and Polynesian Fire Dancing are available to entertain you at SeaWorld.

Thrilling Rides

Add a little bit of thrill to your SeaWorld adventure by going on roller coasters, raft rides or gondola rides. There are rides for everyone ranging from thrill seekers to family-friendly mini coasters. Notable rides include the Tidal Twister, Electric Eel, Tentacle Twirl and the Manta.

Animals Encounters

Of course, what would a trip to SeaWorld be if there were no animals? Visitors can explore aquariums, feed the sea lions and gain knowledge on marine life.

Another popular San Diego point of interest is the Embarcadero which houses the city's maritime history and is located just a short walk from Downtown San Diego. Visitors can experience historic ships, museums, harbor tours, restaurants and shops while exploring Embarcadero.

Museums the Explore the Sea

Embarcadero is home to the USS Midway Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego and Maritime Museum of San Diego. Each museum boasts a variety of artifacts and explores history that guests will enjoy learning about.

Events by the San Diego Bay

The area is popular for events like the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival which is a three-day event held in November. Other events include the Day at the Docks Celebration, Big Bay Boom 4th of July Celebration, Festival of Sail and more!

Seaport Village can be found on San Diego Bay in the Embarcadero and boasts 14 acres of waterfront activities. Visitors will have access to approximately 54 shops, 13 casual dining restaurants and 4 fine dining restaurants. If you're searching for great San Diego shopping and amazing food then Seaport Village is the place to go!

In addition, there are many events that take place at Seaport Village year-round. Seasonal events include pictures with Santa and the Waterfront Music & Arts Festival.

From shopping to dining to amazing events, Seaport Village is one of San Diego’s must visit points of interest!

One of San Diego's most popular points of interest is La Jolla which is home to breathtaking beaches, outdoor activities, dining, shopping, tours and entertainment. For visitors looking for the ultimate experience, a visit to La Jolla should be part of your itinerary!

The La Jolla Beaches

La Jolla houses some of San Diego's most beautiful beaches. There is Wipeout Beach, La Jolla Shores, Torrey Pines State Beach, The Children’s Pool, and the La Jolla Tide Pools that is well known for some of the best tide pools in all of San Diego. Head to La Jolla to spend a day of fun in the sun with your family at the beach.

Featured Tours

If you're searching for a unique experience, La Jolla has a variety of tours available. Popular tours include snorkeling with leopard sharks, kayaking tours, walking tours and dolphin sightings.

Dining & Entertainment

Head to the La Jolla Playhouse or the Comedy Store for exciting entertainment from live shows. Following the show, hit up one of La Jolla's infamous restaurants or cafes for some of the best cuisine.

Old Town San Diego, is a San Diego neighborhood that has something going on at all times! This area houses approximately 32 restaurants, 10 hotels, 100 boutique shops and 36 museums & historic sites.

Old Town Events

Old Town is known for always having a party or event waiting for you to explore. If you're searching for some nightlife perfect for groups or couples or a celebration to enjoy, Old Town has just that. One popular event is the Día de los Muertos celebration in Old Town which takes place on Nov 1st & 2nd and is a positive honoring of loved ones whom have passed.

Dining

This San Diego county point of interest has decadent cuisine ranging from European to Asian to Mexican to Italian. While there's plenty to choose from, Old Town is one of our favorite places to try authentic Mexican specialties!

Old Town History

For the history buffs, Old Town San Diego is filled with historic sites and museums that give a glimpse into San Diego's past.

The Alvarado House was built in 1824 and has since been reconstructed so guests can see what architecture looked like back then. There is also the Whaley House which has been named one of the Travel Channel's Most Haunted Houses in America and is one of our Most Haunted Places in San Diego!

Tours of Old Town San Diego

For visitors who are really wanting to get the best out of their experience, Old Town San Diego has guided tours that will show them around and allow for a complete experience.

The tours will fill you in on all of the "need to know" items and will also dive deeper into the area's history. In addition, visitors will get a bit of a spook by hearing stories about ghosts in the area.

Pacific Beach is a great location to take part in many of the top outdoor activities San Diego has to offer such as sunbathing, swimming and surfing. For visitors searching to experience San Diego nightlife, this popular beach area needs to be added to the list of places to visit!

Step back in time with a visit to one of the most popular neighborhoods in all of San Diego! Explore the history of the Gaslamp Quarter with its Victorian-era architecture as well as its art and culture by day.

Stay for the nightlife after hours and catch some music over dinner and drinks. The area is perfect for a couples night out or even for those looking to enjoy a drink or two, without breaking the bank, but while still being able to enjoy a lively atmosphere.

One our favorite food walking tours is the Brothels Bites & Booze Tour where you learn about the checkered history of the Gaslamp Quarter while eating and drinking. It is worth checking out!

Balboa Park features more than a dozen museums, such as San Diego Natural History Museum – theNAT, the Fleet Science Center and San Diego History Center, many of which are part of the Go City San Diego pass! Save on admission prices when you purchase a Go City San Diego pass in advance and combine with other gear rentals and attractions to save even more!

Start with our featured selections below and go deeper into the best museums in Balboa Park for even more!

Japanese Friendship Garden

The Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park is 12 acres and offers educational programs, exhibits and festivals. This unique garden was created to express friendship between San Diego, California and Yokohama, Japan where the sister garden can be found.

Marston House

Marston House was created after George W. Marston, more commonly known as the "Father of Balboa Park." The Marston House dates back to 1905 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. This San Diego museum offers several walking tours and an abundance of San Diego history.

Comic-Con Museum

With a planned opening date in 2021, the Comic-Con Museum in Balboa Park will celebrate the ever-popular Comic-Con year-round. This museum will feature comics, exhibits, programs and events featured from popular comic books.

San Diego Art Institute

San Diego Art Institute can be found in Balboa Park and is the only contemporary cultural institution in the park. The museum features work by artists located in Southern California and Northern Baja.

The Veteran's Museum at Balboa Park

The Veteran's Museum at Balboa Park was created in memory of the men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces and Wartime Merchant Marine. There are permanent, rotating and visiting exhibits that explore San Diego military history and feature war-related memorabilia.

The Ocean Beach beaches, located just south of Mission Beach and Mission Bay Park and just west of the San Diego International Airport are a must visit location for those traveling with a pet.

Spend an afternoon with your dog at the Ocean Beach Dog Beach or walk the boardwalk and catch a wave at Ocean Beach Pier & City Beach. Both beaches come complete with lifeguards and are perfect for catching an amazing San Diego sunset!