The best day of the week to visit Balboa Park is Tuesdays. Every Tuesday of the month, a different set of 4 to 6 museum offers free admission; donations are accepted. This is a great way to experience Balboa Park because your day’s itinerary is already planned out for you. The featured museums are often located in all areas of the park, allowing you the time to admire all of the Spanish architecture and beautiful landscapes. Plan to spend an entire day in the park, and get there early, as some of the museums close as early as 3 pm.

Even if you are unable to visit the park on a Tuesday, there are still many exhibits and gardens that are free every day of the week. The Botanical Garden, located at the end of the large Koi pond near the Visitor Information Center is always open at no cost and showcases a variety of indigenous plants and flowers. The Koi pond also located adjacent to the Timken Museum of Art, which is always free. You can also purchase a passport that will grant you access to all of the museums for $39 for adults and $21 for children, and is valid for 7 consecutive days. The Balboa Park Passport will grant you access to all of the park museums, with the exception of any special exhibitions for which an additional fee may be required. If a trip to the San Diego Zoo is also in your travel plans, a Passport including zoo admission can be purchased for $65 for adults and $36 for children.