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The Balboa Park Walking Tour

1 Review 5.00 out of 5 stars Based on 1 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor | Recommended by 100% of reviewers | San Diego, USA

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On average, this is booked 30 (0) days in advance.

2 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
and 1 more
Spanish

Overview

Enjoy a professionally escorted historical walking tour of Balboa Park in San Diego, California. Relax as your Tour Guide Extraordinaire from Another Side Tours makes sure you see all of the most interesting and historic spots without skipping a thing.

We take our guests to Balboa Park daily and we are the experts on this crown jewel in the heart of San Diego. Balboa Park is America’s largest urban cultural park, but it is so much more than that! Balboa Park is a national treasure and it is just a fascinating place with a rich history and it is here waiting to be explored by YOU!

Besides open areas and natural vegetation, the park contains a variety of cultural attractions including the Spanish Village Art Center, an assortment of museums, theaters, numerous beautiful gardens, shops and restaurants as well as being the home to The World Famous San Diego Zoo. Balboa Park was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1977 and we are sure that you will love it too.

What's Included

  • Snacks Small snacks. For example, chips or a granola bar
  • Bottled water
  • Tour Guide Gratuity is not included.
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Meeting Location

Meeting point

1549 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101, USA

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

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Our secure website provides real-time availability, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
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Balboa Park

We take our guests to Balboa Park daily and we are the experts on this crown jewel in the heart of San Diego. Balboa Park is America’s largest urban cultural park, but it is so much more than that! Balboa Park is a national treasure and it is just a fascinating place with a rich history and it is here waiting to be explored by YOU!
Read more

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

El Prado

El Prado in Balboa Park is the central, long, and wide promenade that serves as the main thoroughfare, connecting various plazas and leading to numerous cultural institutions, museums, and gardens, all while showcasing Spanish Colonial Revival architecture.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Casa De Balboa

The Casa de Balboa, located in Balboa Park in San Diego, is a historic building originally named the Commerce and Industries Building, now housing the San Diego History Center, Museum of Photographic Arts, and San Diego Model Railroad Museum, among others.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Botanical Building and Lily Pond

A vibrant array of water lilies and lotus bloom along the shallow reflecting pond, originally constructed for the Panama-California Exposition in 1915.
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3 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Spanish Village Art Center

The Spanish Village Art Center is an art center in Balboa Park in San Diego, California. Anni von Westrum Baldaugh was among the artists who had studio space at the Spanish Village. Current tenants include the San Diego Mineral and Gem Society and the Southern California Association of Camera Clubs.
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3 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Alcazar Garden

Alcazar Garden is a formal garden in Balboa Park in San Diego, California. It is named for Alcazar Castle in Seville, Spain; its design is patterned after the castle's gardens.
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3 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Spreckels Organ Pavilion

The Spreckels Organ Pavilion in San Diego's Balboa Park is home to the world's largest outdoor pipe organ, featuring over 5,000 pipes and hosting free Sunday concerts. Marvel at the sight and sound of the amazing Spreckels Organ, which consists of more than 5,000 pipes ranging in length from 12 inches to 32 feet. Housed in an ornate vaulted structure with highly embellished gables, the 100-plus-year-old organ comes to life each Sunday during free weekly concerts.
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3 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

California Tower

The California Tower, a prominent San Diego landmark within Balboa Park, is a 198-foot, three-tiered structure with Spanish and Mexican architectural elements, and it's part of the California Building, which houses the Museum of Us (formerly the San Diego Museum of Man).
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

San Diego Museum of Art

The San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA), located in Balboa Park, is the region's oldest, largest, and most visited art museum, offering a diverse collection spanning various periods and cultures, including Spanish and Italian old masters, South Asian paintings, and American art.
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3 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Moreton Bay Fig Tree

The iconic Moreton Bay Fig tree in San Diego's Balboa Park, a champion tree in California, is a massive, evergreen fig tree (Ficus macrophylla) planted in 1914, and is estimated to be over 100 years old. It's one of the largest of its species in California, with a height of 78 feet, a crown width of 123 feet, and a trunk girth of 486 inches.
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3 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Desert Garden

The Balboa Desert Garden was established at the Park Blvd. location in 1976 and contains more than 1300 plants, including succulents and drought-resistant.
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3 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum

The Japanese Friendship Garden (JFGM), also known as San-Kei-En, in San Diego's Balboa Park, is a 12-acre garden celebrating the friendship between San Diego and its sister city, Yokohama, featuring traditional Japanese garden design elements like koi ponds, stone lanterns, and a cherry blossom grove.
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3 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Zoro Garden

Zoro Garden is a six-acre sunken garden in Balboa Park in San Diego, California. It is located between the Fleet Science Center and Casa de Balboa. The name refers to the Persian mystic Zoroaster. The stone garden was originally built for the 1915–16 Panama–California Exposition.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Bea Evenson Fountain

Bea Evenson Fountain is an outdoor fountain in San Diego's Balboa Park, in the U.S. state of California.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Old Globe Theatre

The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego is a renowned regional theatre complex, California's oldest professional theatre, and San Diego's largest theatre organization, known for its diverse programming, commitment to both classic and contemporary works, and its beautiful location within Balboa Park.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 999 travelers

Frequently Asked Questions

(6)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the The Balboa Park Walking Tour?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (PDT). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

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Activity code: C-5044P13

Reviews

5.00
1 reviews

Average 5.00 out of 5 stars based on 1 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and partner sites such as Trustpilot, Viator, and TripAdvisor

5 stars
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4 stars
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3 stars
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2 stars
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1 star
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On average, this is booked 30 (0) days in advance.

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What's Included

Activity name

  • SnacksSmall snacks. For example, chips or a granola bar
  • Bottled water
  • Tour Guide Gratuity is not included.

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 999 travelers
  • Operated by a business

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Free Cancellation

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You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (PDT).

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