How many days do I need for San Diego attractions?

Plan two days for Balboa Park, La Jolla, and a harbor cruise. Add a third day for museums or LEGOLAND with kids.

Do I need reservations for San Diego attractions?

Reserve timed entry for the USS Midway Museum and high-demand Balboa Park exhibits, especially on summer Saturdays.

The country's largest urban cultural park with 16 museums and gardens within walking distance.

8:30 a.m. weekdays. Parking fills by 10 a.m. near the Organ Pavilion; use the Inspiration Point lot and shuttle.

Free tram loops every 10 minutes. Most museums offer elevator access; Botanical Building is closed for renovation until late 2024.

Rotating art exhibitions, Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, and family-friendly science labs.

Grab coffee at Panama 66 before lines surge. Evening concerts happen every Tuesday in summer.

Where the shoreline meets wildlife encounters and historic lookouts.

Arrive 90 minutes before low tide to see Garibaldi fish while snorkeling. Street parking near Prospect Street rotates every 2 hours.

Check tide charts for tide pools. Rangers host whale-watching talks in January-March.

Visit on weekday evenings; weekend traffic restricts access. Stay on marked paths to protect cliffside flora.

Educational and interactive attractions that welcome stroller access and have clean restrooms.

San Diego Zoo: Book the early-morning wildlife tour to beat the heat; we confirmed feeding times with keepers.
Fleet Science Center: Hands-on aerospace exhibits; purchase the Explorer Pass for bundled museum access.
Birch Aquarium: Touch tide pools staffed by Scripps Oceanography docents trained in marine biology.

Plan 2 days for Balboa Park, La Jolla, and a harbor cruise. Add one more day for museums or LEGOLAND if traveling with kids.

Reserve timed entry for the USS Midway Museum and popular Balboa Park exhibits during summer Saturdays.