Balboa Park: Guided Walking Tour

Find the hidden gems and history within San Diego's finest urban cultural park

Duration: 2h
Live guide: English
Max group size: 15
Wheelchair accessible

Registered address: PO Box 16868, 92176, San Diego, US

Contact details

Reach out to the Tiqets Help Center, we act as a contact on behalf of the activity supplier

Included

2-hour guided walking tour of San Diego's Balboa Park
One complimentary beverage at a local coffee cart
Professional licensed tour guide
Exclusive access to the park resource list with recommendations on how to enjoy the park after the tour

Not included

Additional food and beverages
Tips/gratuities for your guide (optional)

Meeting point

698 El Prado, 92103, San Diego

Show your smartphone ticket to the guide at the starting point: Next to the Founder's Plaza Statues, between 6th Ave and Balboa Drive on Laurel Street/El Prado at the west entrance of Balboa Park
Statues are up a small incline, and you will meet your guide there

Description

Experience a slice of San Diego's history and culture with tickets for a guided walking tour of historic Balboa Park. Originally founded in 1868, Balboa Park's 1,200 acres lie in the heart of downtown San Diego, standing as a cultural symbol of the city for decades

Admire the iconic California Tower, built for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition; its face depicts the early history of the city, and the tower itself is a San Diego landmark.

Head to Alcazar Garden, inspired by the same-named gardens in Spain. Used for both the 1915 and 1935 expositions, the garden offered fair-goers a respite from the hustle and bustle of the exposition, and it provides a picturesque foreground to photos of the California Tower. Keep your cameras handy for Insta-worthy photos around every corner.

Soak in the Spanish-style architecture unique to southern California at Prado and follow the colorful tiles to the Spanish Village Art Center. Featuring over 200 contemporary artists, you'll browse local crafts under terracotta roofs as you sip your included coffee.

On your way to the Botanical Garden, look up to see one of the largest Moreton Bay fig trees in California. As of 1915, the Balboa Park Botanical Building was the largest wooden lath-roofed building, and its craftsmanship has withstood the test of time. While the adjacent lily pond – and the photogenic koi fish – may be a beautiful photo opportunity, the pond served as an important part of the war effort and helped injured soldiers and sailors during WWII.