10 Best Free Things to Do in San Diego
How to Experience San Diego on a Small Budget
For a budget-friendly day of sightseeing, check out our guide of free things to do in San Diego. If you’re traveling to San Diego on a small budget, you’ll find the city has plenty of free activities and attractions to help keep your expenses on track. Its 17-mile coastline is teeming with beaches, so just pack a picnic, sunblock, blanket, and umbrella for a day of sunbathing, swimming, and snorkeling.
Parks and botanical gardens are plentiful in San Diego, many offering trails with panoramic views of canyons and the surrounding ocean. To experience the city’s rich history, opt for a self-guided tour of the Old Town area, featuring colorful murals, street performances, and buildings dating back to the 19th century.
What are the best free things to do in San Diego?
1. Head for the beach
A bonfire at the end of the day
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo, Budget, Group
San Diego has over 30 beaches along its 17-mile-long coastline, offering plenty of space for free activities such as sunbathing and swimming. Popular family-friendly beaches in the city include Ocean Beach and La Jolla, while Black’s Beach is where advanced surfers and fans of nude sunbathing often gather when the weather is good.
Enjoying an evening bonfire with friends and families is also a common activity in San Diego as most of its beaches have fire pits. Note that these pits are first-come, first-served.
Location: San Diego, California, USA
2. Balboa Park
Views of Cabrillo Bridge, Alcazar Garden, and Palm Canyon
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo, Budget, Adventure
Balboa Park is an expansive landscape with dozens of museums, themed gardens, and historical landmarks. Hiking is a popular activity as there are 6 trail routes through the park’s most beautiful gardens and vantage points overlooking the West Mesa canyons.
Families with young children can ride a miniature train through 4 acres of the park. Art lovers can spend hours at the Spanish Village Art Center, which features daily demonstrations by local photographers, sculptors, metalsmiths, jewelry designers, and clay artists. Read more
Location: San Diego, CA, USA
Phone: +1 619-239-0512
Balboa Park
3. Explore Old Town San Diego
Nineteenth-century homes at the Old Town State Historical Park
Good for: Couples, Families, History, Photo, Budget
Old Town San Diego has a vibrant Spanish community and historical buildings dating back to the 1800s. A must-visit is the Old Town State Historical Park, where you can learn about San Diego’s colonial lifestyle at Junípero Serra Museum and possibly spot a ghost at Whaley House.
The Bazaar del Mundo marketplace is teeming with Mexican restaurants and bars, as well as shops selling clothes, souvenirs, and accessories. There are also live mariachi performances throughout the day, especially at Fiesta de Reyes. Read more
Location: Old Town San Diego, San Diego, CA 92110, USA
Explore Old Town San Diego
4. Presidio Park
The Padre Cross memorial can be found at this historic park
Good for: Families, History, Photo, Budget
Presidio Park was the first European settlement in California, dating back in 1769. Today, this 40-acre landscape features miles of walking trails and spacious picnic spots with views of Old Town San Diego. Relax with your meal and take in the beauty of the surroundings.
If you want to learn about the history of Presidio Park, the Junipero Serra Museum has a collection of archeological finds such as art, clothing, and tools created by Mexican and Spanish settlers, as well as Kumeyaay natives. Read more
Location: 2811 Jackson St, San Diego, CA 92110, USA
Open: Summer: Daily from 6 am to 9 pm, Winter: from 6 am to 7 pm
Phone: +1 619-692-4918
Presidio Park
5. Enjoy free events at San Diego Central Library
Rare books and artifacts on the 9th floor of the library
Good for: History, Budget
The San Diego Central Library, located in Park Boulevards, features over 5.3 million books and audio-visual materials. The upper floors of the library are dedicated to raw materials and artifacts detailing the history of books over 4,000 years.
Highlights include a 13th-century Bible handwritten in Latin, 19th-century Japanese prints, and miniature books that can only be read by using magnifying glasses. San Diego Central Library also hosts free activities all year round, including classical orchestra, Zumba workouts, and book talks by renowned authors. Read more
Location: 330 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
Open: Monday–Tuesday from 11.30 am to 8 pm, Wednesday–Saturday from 9.30 am to 6 pm, Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm
Phone: +1 619-236-5800
Enjoy free events at San Diego Central Library
6. Explore La Jolla Cove
Sea lions and seals to be seen from the boardwalk
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo, Budget
La Jolla Cove, part of San Diego’s ecological reserve, features plenty of wildlife and natural landscapes that make for memorable snapshots. Families get to enjoy swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing, and building sandcastles at the Children’s Pool, which is also a popular spot for seals during pupping season.
The coastal boardwalk along La Jolla Cove is lined with shops, restaurants, and cafés with beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean. When it’s low tide, the southern end of La Jolla Cove is where you get to check out colorful crabs, anemones, and limpets living in tide pools.
Location: San Diego, CA 92037, USA
Explore La Jolla Cove
7. Timken Museum of Art
Guided tours of the museum’s art collections
Good for: History, Budget
The Timken Museum of Art, located in Balboa Park, displays European and American artworks dating back to between the 14th and 19th centuries. Art lovers can find masterpieces by Rembrandt, Nicolaes Maes, and Emanuel de Witte, and can enjoy talks on art-related topics.
This museum is one of the few places in San Diego that offers free admission and guided tours all year round. If you want to learn about the museum’s collection, tours are available in numerous languages, including English, Spanish, German, Dutch, Polish, Italian, Filipino, and Russian. Read more
Location: 1500 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
Open: Wednesday–Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm, (Closed on Monday and Tuesday)
Phone: +1 619-239-5548
Timken Museum of Art
8. Spruce Street Suspension Bridge
Views of Sessions Canyon at this pedestrian bridge
Good for: Photo, Budget
The Spruce Street Suspension Bridge spans 114 meters across Kate Sessions Canyon on Bankers Hill. Built in 1912, it’s part of a 30-minute hike to Harper’s Topiary Garden in San Diego.
Crossing the suspension bridge is free of charge, and you get to enjoy panoramic views of the canyon from a height of 21 meters. Make the most of your journey to take some epic pictures. If you’re wary of heights, do note that the Spruce Street Suspension Bridge can get rather wobbly on windy days. Read more
Location: W Spruce St, San Diego, CA 92103, USA
Open: Daily from 6 am to 10 pm
Spruce Street Suspension Bridge
9. Seaport Village
Live music by street buskers along the waterfront
Good for: Families, Photo, Budget
Seaport Village is a dining and entertainment hub with a waterfront promenade in San Diego’s Harbor Drive. The 14-acre complex has over 50 shops selling clothing, souvenirs, accessories, and local artwork, and there are plenty of casual and fine-dining restaurants.
The waterfront is teeming with street painters and musicians, while families can enjoy some fun at a 19th-century carousel for a few dollars per ride. Seaport Village hosts free activities all year round, one of which is the Salsa under the Stars concert. On selected Friday evenings, locals gather at the central courtyard and dance to live music by the Manny Cepeda Orchestra. Read more
Location: 849 W Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
Open: Daily from 10 am to 9 pm
Phone: +1 619-530-0704
Seaport Village
10. Watch free summer movies in various parks
Classic and contemporary films at the open-air theaters
Good for: Couples, Families, Budget
Every summer, San Diego’s parks attract film buffs with free screenings of classic and contemporary movies. These events take place from May until October, usually on Friday and Saturday evenings. Popular spots include the USS Midway Museum, Ocean Beach, and Old Town San Diego.
Whether you’re a film buff, or just looking for a fun evening, give it a go. Be sure to bring along comfortable mats or chairs, as well as snacks of your choice if you’re not planning to purchase anything from concession stands and food trucks at the parks.
Location: San Diego, California, USA
Open: May–October: Selected Fridays and Saturdays from 6 pm
Watch free summer movies in various parks
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