The Private Balboa Park Tour
San Diego, US
95% of travellers recommend this
-
Private Tour Experience
-
Duration 2 hours
-
Round Trip Pick-up included
-
Expert Guide narration
-
Bottled Water and Snacks provided
-
Luxury Vehicle transportation
Discover Balboa Park with a private guide, exploring its rich history and beautiful gardens in a luxury vehicle for an unforgettable experience.
Featured Reviews
Included
-
Private transportation -
Air-conditioned vehicle
-
Round trip pick-up and drop-off
-
Narration by professional guide
-
Bottled water and small snacks
-
Transportation by mercedes sprinter
Excluded
-
Gratuities -
Food and drinks, unless specified
-
Entrance fees to attractions, unless specified
Discover Balboa Park with a private guide, exploring its rich history and beautiful gardens in a luxury vehicle for an unforgettable experience.
Highlights
- Explore 1,200-acre cultural icon
- Visit Spanish Village Art Center
- Experience Japanese Friendship Garden
- Discover unique exhibits at Museum of Us
- See the iconic Botanical Building and Lily Pond
Meeting Point
Our office is inside the brick-lined courtyard next to the Horton Plaza parking garage, look for the Another Side Tours sign and the blue door. Please see 'Additional Information' for information on where to park or call us at 1-619-239-2111
300 G St, San Diego, CA 92101 , United States
End Point
Our office is inside the brick-lined courtyard next to the Horton Plaza parking garage, look for the Another Side Tours sign and the blue door. Please see 'Additional Information' for information on where to park or call us at 1-619-239-2111
300 G St, San Diego, CA 92101 , United States
Pickup
Check if pick-up is available from your location, you will select during checkout (providers may allow other pickup locations)
What to expect
Balboa Park
Where culture, science, and nature collide, Balboa Park is home to more than 16 museums, multiple performing arts venues, lovely gardens, trails, and many other creative and recreational attractions. A variety of cultural institutions among its 1,200 beautiful and lushly planted acres, there is something for everyone. Home of the San Diego Zoo. (Something to see another time).
Spanish Village Art Center
San Diego’s coveted secret for art lovers at Spanish Village Art Center. Located between the Zoo and theNAT these quaint buildings and colorful courtyard were originally built in 1935. They depicted a charming old village in Spain for the second California Pacific International Exposition.
Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum
The Japanese Friendship Garden ("JFG") is an expression of friendship between San Diego and its sister city, Yokohama.
Museum of Us
Specializing in cultural anthropology, the Museum of Us explores the human experience from multicultural perspectives to spark dialogue, self-reflection, and human connections. During your visit, you’ll explore a variety of unique, interactive exhibits that cover a vast range of human history and culture.
Botanical Building and Lily Pond
The Botanical Building with the Lily Pond and Lagoon in the foreground is one of the most photographed scenes in Balboa Park. The Lily Pond, built as a reflecting pool for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition features annual plantings of water lilies and lotus. The plantings inside of the Botanical Building include orchid displays, cycads and palms, a scratch-and-sniff garden, and seasonal displays.
5 minutes
Admission Not Included
San Diego Natural History Museum
The San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat). From rattlesnakes and flesh-eating beetles, to dinosaurs and fossils, to historic archives and art, there’s something for every type of nature nerd here at the home of one the oldest biological research centers in the region. Visitors will be impressed by the unique, interactive exhibitions that span across five floors. The museum features a giant-screen theater with daily showings, as well as rotating exhibitions that bring nature to life.
Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden
The Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden contains more than 1,600 roses including Hybrid Teas, Florabundas, Grandifloras, Miniature Shrubs, and Old Roses.
Comic-con Museum
The Comic-Con Museum will encourage an appreciation of comics and related popular arts through exhibits, programs and events drawn from across the Comic-Con universe. Considered the cultural heart of San Diego, Balboa Park is already home to numerous museums, galleries and theaters along with the famous San Diego Zoo. Now, with the help of the City of San Diego, CCI is in the process of converting the 1935 Federal Building into what is planned to be a world-class museum by day, and a very unique fan community venue by night.
California Tower
The California Tower, the soaring, intricately detailed, portion of the California Building, is an icon of San Diego, and can be seen from miles around. The building houses the San Diego Museum of Us. The nearly 200-foot-tall Tower and Dome of the California Building are covered with intricate carvings, colorful tile, and glass beads.
5 minutes
Admission Not Included
Spreckels Organ Pavilion
This unique organ contains more than 5,000 pipes ranging in length from the size of a pencil to 32 feet and is the largest outdoor pipe organ in the world. The Spreckels Organ is housed in an ornate vaulted structure with highly embellished gables.
Old Globe Theatre
Modeled after Shakespeare’s Old Globe in London, the Old Globe. Theatre was built in 1935 for the presentation of abridged versions of Shakespeare’s plays as part of the California Pacific International Exposition.
The experience can be subject to change due to bad weather or unforseen circumstances. We always endeavour to give you the best possible experience.
Additional Information
-
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller -
Service animals allowed
-
Public transportation options are available nearby
-
Specialized infant seats are available
-
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
-
Children 5 and under are free
-
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
-
A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
-
This is mostly a walking tour of the park, but you will also travel by private vehicle to sites that are too far to reach on foot
-
Lyft & Uber: We are listed on the ride share apps as 'Another Side Of San Diego Tours'. Ride-shares are the preferred and best way for our guests to come to us.
-
Parking Option 1: The LAZ Parking lot is located at 8th Ave. and G Street. The address is: 665 8th Ave San Diego, CA 92101
-
Parking Option 2: The Park-It-On-Market lot is located at 7th Ave. and Market Street. The address is: 614 Market St. San Diego, CA 92101
-
Parking Option 3: The next closest all day lot is at the corner of 2nd Ave. and Island. The lot is directly across from 100 Harbor Club Dr. San Diego, CA 92101 **Not available from 7/1 thru 7/31 due to Comic Con***
What our experts say
-
Check out the Rose Garden's blooms. -
Visit the nearby San Diego Museum of Us.
-
Bring a camera for stunning photos.
-
Dress in layers; it can be cool.
-
Plan lunch at The Prado nearby.
This is a popular product and the date you are looking for just sold out. Next available date is