Explore Balboa Park

Explore Balboa Park The Balboa Park Explorer Annual Pass gets you special access to San Diego's crown jewel with exclusive perks, events, and news!

The Balboa Park Explorer Annual Pass gets you into amazing museums and more for 365 days! Enjoy exclusive perks, discounts, and invites to special events in addition to personalized staff recommendations and monthly tailored newsletters bringing you the latest in Park news, events, and programs! With your Annual Pass you have the opportunity to explore the rich cultural and artistic offerings of B

alboa Park in an easy and affordable way. Rather than pay different admission rates at each museum, you can choose from our convenient Annual Pass options, saving you time and money. Choose what you want to explore, when you want to explore it! Interested in purchasing an Explorer? Buy it on our website, through any Explorer kiosk in the lobby of all participating museums, or at the Balboa Park Visitors Center.

“The Traveling Tables of Amistad“ comes to the Museum of Us. Presented by the Friends of International Friendship Park, ...
09/03/2026

“The Traveling Tables of Amistad“ comes to the Museum of Us. Presented by the Friends of International Friendship Park, the installation transforms segments of the former border wall into community tables—creating spaces for conversation, connection, and reflection.

On view Sept. 6–19, 2026 at the Museum of Us

🎟️ Included with general admission and the Balboa Park Explorer Pass

Visit the Museum of Us and experience this thought-provoking two-week pop-up installation.

Learn more at museumofus.org/exhibits/traveling-tables-of-amistad-popup-exhibit

🐔 Meet The Famous San Diego Chicken at the San Diego History CenterSDHC welcomes Ted Giannoulas, the legendary entertain...
09/03/2026

🐔 Meet The Famous San Diego Chicken at the San Diego History Center

SDHC welcomes Ted Giannoulas, the legendary entertainer behind The Famous San Diego Chicken, for a special evening celebrating one of San Diego’s most recognizable sports and entertainment icons.

Best known for his outrageous antics, physical comedy, and unforgettable appearances at sporting events around the world, The San Diego Chicken has spent decades entertaining millions of fans all without saying a word.

Hear the stories, memories, and behind-the-scenes moments from the remarkable career of one of the most beloved and iconic characters in sports history.

RSVP Today: sandiegohistory.org/event/the-famous-san-diego-chicken

📷 Ted Giannoulas during the "Grand Hatching" to reveal the new Famous Chicken character in 1979.

🥳 Early Access at The NAT for Balboa Park Explorer PassholdersOn Sunday, Sept. 9, The San Diego Natural History Museum o...
09/03/2026

🥳 Early Access at The NAT for Balboa Park Explorer Passholders

On Sunday, Sept. 9, The San Diego Natural History Museum opens an hour early for its members and Balboa Park Explorer Passholders! Enjoy The Nat from 9-10 AM on the first Sunday of every month. Whether you're seeking a quieter museum experience or simply exploring without the crowds, The Nat is open early just for you with an exclusive showing of ”Prehistoric Planet: Walking with Dinosaurs” at 10 AM.

Not a Balboa Park Explorer Passholder? There’s still time! Get your Museum Pass today at: go.explorebalboapark.org/rediscover-m

You came for the stunning architecture and the beautiful gardens, but did you know that Balboa Park is also home to 16 m...
09/01/2026

You came for the stunning architecture and the beautiful gardens, but did you know that Balboa Park is also home to 16 museums that can be accessed with one convenient and affordable pass?

The Balboa Park Explorer Pass gives you access to 16 participating museums of arts, culture, history, nature, and science across the Balboa Park Cultural District.

Make your next walk in the Park a little more memorable. Explore more of what’s waiting inside.

Get your museums pass today at go.explorebalboapark.org/rediscover-m

Study break? Museum day.Friends visiting? Museum day.Nothing to do between classes? You know what to do. 😉For just $109,...
08/27/2026

Study break? Museum day.
Friends visiting? Museum day.
Nothing to do between classes? You know what to do. 😉

For just $109, college students can get a Balboa Park Explorer Annual Pass with 365 days of unlimited access to 16 museums featuring art, science, history, nature, and culture.

Valid school ID required.

Make Balboa Park your go-to campus escape. Get your Annual Pass: go.explorebalboapark.org/rediscover-m

08/25/2026

🏎️ Don’t miss your chance to see these incredible machines up close! These pinnacles of automotive engineering are on view at the San Diego Automotive Museum through Friday, Sept. 18.

“Numinous Hypercars: Titans of Speed” is an exhibition exploring the world’s most extraordinary automobiles as objects of art, emotion, and innovation. Featuring iconic hypercars in a cinematic environment of light, sound, and motion (video), the exhibition invites visitors to experience the awe, beauty, and power of machines engineered beyond imagination.

The Balboa Park Explorer Pass gets you access to up to 16 participating museums! Learn more at go.explorebalboapark.org/rediscover-m

The San Diego Automotive Museum invites you to celebrate the launch of Louie Mattar’s Fabulous Car, a picture book writt...
08/23/2026

The San Diego Automotive Museum invites you to celebrate the launch of Louie Mattar’s Fabulous Car, a picture book written by H. Lewis. Meet the author, have your copy signed, and enjoy light appetizers from 11 AM — 1 PM on Saturday, Aug. 29.

The book tells the story of mechanic and craftsman Louie Mattar, who modified his family car from 1947-1952 so it could travel across the country without stopping. The highly publicized vehicle featured a surprising array of amenities, including a running shower, drinking fountain, electric stove, chemical toilet, nationwide mobile telephone, and Turkish ho**ah. It was also equipped to automatically refill the radiator, change the oil, and inflate the tires while the car was in motion.

The Fabulous Car still runs today and is on view as part of the San Diego Automotive Museum’s permanent exhibitions.

Event activities are included with museum admission and the Balboa Park Explorer Pass.

Learn more about this event: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/louie-mattars-fabulous-car-book-launch-at-sdam-tickets-1997937497839

Put down the phone. Pick up a little curiosity. Your next adventure is waiting. ✨With a Balboa Park Explorer Pass, you c...
08/21/2026

Put down the phone. Pick up a little curiosity. Your next adventure is waiting. ✨

With a Balboa Park Explorer Pass, you can spend the day exploring museums filled with arts, science, history, culture and more—all in the heart of the Balboa Park Cultural District.

Purchase your museum Pass today at https://explorer.balboapark.org/rediscover-balboa-park/?promo=meta

08/20/2026

Step into the glamorous and fashionable world of Cecil Beaton. ✨
Photographer, illustrator, writer and designer, Cecil Beaton is best known for his contributions to Vogue Magazine and his iconic portraits of old Hollywood's most dazzling stars, from Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn to Elizabeth Taylor and the Royal Family.
Grab your bestie, put on your favorite outfit and come see 𝘊𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘭 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘯’𝘴 𝘍𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥, on view now at The Museum of Photographic Arts at The Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art through Jan. 10, 2027.
🕙 MOPA at SDMA Hours: Thursday – Sunday | 11 AM – 5 PM
📸 This exhibition is generously sponsored by the Bern Schwartz Family Foundation and organized by The National Portrait Gallery, London
📍 1649 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego

Admission to this exhibition is included with the Balboa Park Explorer Pass.

Address

1549 El Prado
San Diego, CA
92101

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 9am - 4:30pm
Friday 9am - 4:30pm
Saturday 9am - 4:30pm
Sunday 9am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+16192327502

Website

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