Free things to do · San Diego · United States
8 free things to do in San Diego
San Diego without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: preserveamerica.gov, Public domain
Quick answer
You can fill at least 3 days in San Diego without paying an entry fee: Balboa Park, La Jolla Cove, Hotel del Coronado and Old Town San Diego State Historic Park are all free. Balboa Park's gardens, El Prado and the organ pavilion are free, and several museums offer free days for San Diego residents only, so check each museum's policy.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 8
- Low-cost extras
- 4
- Cost level
- Expensive
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–February and November
Free sights and experiences
Park · Balboa Park
1.Balboa Park
Walking the gardens and El Prado is free; pick two museums for a day rather than trying to cover them all.
- Time needed
- Half a day to a full day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Architecture
- Kids
- Art
- Outdoors
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Waterfront · La Jolla
2.La Jolla Cove
Keep a respectful distance from the sea lions and seals; rangers and signs mark the closed areas.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Kids
- Iconic
Architecture · Coronado
3.Hotel del Coronado
Take the ferry to Coronado, rent a bike at the landing and ride the flat streets to the hotel and beach.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Architecture
- Couples
- History
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Historic site · Old Town
4.Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
Combine it with a walk up to Presidio Park above Old Town, site of the original 1769 Spanish fort and mission.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Kids
- Food
Viewpoint · Point Loma
5.Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
Stay back from the cliff edges, which are unstable and unfenced in places.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
Neighbourhood · Gaslamp Quarter
6.Gaslamp Quarter
Walk Fifth Avenue in the early evening when the street lamps come on, before the late-night crowds arrive.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- Food
- History
Neighbourhood · Little Italy
7.Little Italy
Come for the Saturday market and stay for lunch on Piazza della Famiglia.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Free
- Shopping
Park · Barrio Logan
8.Chicano Park
Combine it with lunch and the galleries along Logan Avenue nearby.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- History
- Off the beaten path
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Balboa Park | Balboa Park | Half a day to a full day |
| La Jolla | La Jolla Cove | 1–2 hours |
| Coronado | Hotel del Coronado | 1–2 hours |
| Old Town | Old Town San Diego State Historic Park | 2 hours |
| Point Loma | Sunset Cliffs Natural Park | 1 hour |
| Gaslamp Quarter | Gaslamp Quarter | 2 hours |
| Little Italy | Little Italy | 2–3 hours |
| Barrio Logan | Chicano Park | 1 hour |
Worth a small ticket
Nature · Torrey Pines
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
Park at the beach lot and walk up the road for the full climb, or pay to park at the top for shorter walks.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Outdoors
- Views
- Nature
- Active
- Photo spot
Historic site · Point Loma
Cabrillo National Monument
Check the tide tables and visit the tide pools at low tide, usually best in winter afternoons.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- History
- Kids
- Nature
Religious site · Mission Valley
Mission San Diego de Alcalá
The trolley's Green Line stops a short walk away at Mission San Diego station.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
Waterfront · Mission Beach
Mission Bay and Belmont Park
Rent bikes and ride the ocean-front boardwalk from Mission Beach to Pacific Beach.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Active
More ways to save
- Balboa Park's gardens, El Prado and the organ pavilion are free, and several museums offer free days for San Diego residents only, so check each museum's policy.
- Beaches, Sunset Cliffs, La Jolla Cove, Old Town State Historic Park and Chicano Park cost nothing to visit.
- Taco shops and happy hours are the best-value meals in the city.
- Stay in Mission Valley or Old Town for lower hotel rates with parking, then drive or ride the trolley into town.
- Check the Convention Center calendar before booking; downtown rates spike during Comic-Con and large conferences.
- Multi-attraction passes save money only if you visit several paid sites such as the zoo, the Midway and SeaWorld on consecutive days.
Questions travellers ask
+Is San Diego expensive to visit?
San Diego is expensive for most visitors, but 8 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in San Diego?
Balboa Park: Walking the gardens and El Prado is free; pick two museums for a day rather than trying to cover them all.