https://au.trip.com/travel-guide/attraction/san-diego-1954/tourist-attractions/type-all-of-cultural-institutions-70-53/?locale=en-AU&curr=AUD
App
Customer Support
AUD
Find Bookings
Stays
Flights
Trains
Car Services
Car Hire
Airport Transfers
Attractions & Tours
Attractions & Tours
eSIM & SIM
Flight + Hotel
Travel Guides
Map
Gift Cards
Trip.com Rewards
Deals
Top 20 Best Things to Do in San Diego
1,205 Views
Top 20 Best Things to Do in San Diego
Popular Best Things to Do Near San Diego
1,913 Views
Popular Best Things to Do Near San Diego
Top 3 Family-friendly Attractions in San Diego
1,369 Views
Top 3 Family-friendly Attractions in San Diego
Trip
Travel Guides
North America
United States
California
San Diego county
San Diego
Attractions in San Diego
San Diego Cultural institutions
View on Map
Attraction Types
Clear
Cultural institutions
Subcategory
Clear
Museums
Specialty exhibition halls
Science & technology museums
Planetariums
Leisure activities
Historical attractions
Exhibitions & events
Nature and wildlife
Sightseeing tours
Parks
Outdoor activities
Water sports
Show More
Areas
Clear
Downtown San Diego
Balboa Park
Miramar / Kearny Mesa
Mid-City
Misson Bay / Loma Heights
San Diego Intl. Airport Area
Mission Valley
Pacific Beach
Rancho Bernardo / Carmel Mountain
Hillcrest
Little Italy
Black's Beach
Marina District
San Diego Old Town
Midway-Pacific Highway
Harbor Island
Gaslamp Quarter
Sorrento Valley / Mira Mesa
Mission Hills
Ocean Beach
Carmel Valley
Mission Beach
North Clairemont
Asian Pacific Historic District
Hotel Circle
Shelltown
Universal City
Anaheim City Center
South Los Angeles
Hollywood
Downtown Los Angeles
Beverley Hills
Miracle Mile
Koreatown
LAX International Airport
San Francisco Downtown
Westwood
Venice Beach
Santa Monica
West Hollywood
West Los Angeles
Sunset Boulevard
Northeast Los Angeles
Chinatown
Historic Core
Silver Lake
Bunker Hill
Fairfax
Little Tokyo
Big Bear Village
Show More
Booking Tickets
Clear
Available for today
Available for tomorrow
Free entry
Attraction Rating
Clear
4.5+
4.0+
Number of Reviews
Clear
100+
50+
10+
Popular Attractions in San Diego (2025)
Only view San Diego
Available for today
Free entry
Cultural institutions
Clear All
Recommended
Traveler Rating
Popularity
Most Booked
Distance (Nearest First)
1. USS Midway Museum
8.9
4.8
/5
1.0k Reviews
based on 25.8k reviews
No.6 of Best Things to Do in California
Museums
Darwin927
Although the tickets are quite expensive, if you buy in advance, you can save 3 dollars per person, but there is no problem buying now. Trip.com It's quite fast to buy, just scan the code for a pdf on-site. Very fun experience, good interaction, there is a small theater to watch, you have to cry. There are also some exhibition halls opened after the epidemic, which are well designed. Remember to line up to the tower to see. There are many retired veterans with yellow hats inside, which is very honorable. It's very big, easy to get lost. We went shopping for 3 hours and didn't have time to listen to the voice guide. The audio guide has Chinese, but it is best to bring a 3.5mm headset.
Available for tomorrow
San Diego
1.7km from downtown
From
AU$ 62.16
2. Balboa Park
5.8
4.7
/5
135 Reviews
based on 13.1k reviews
No.9 of Best Things to Do in San Diego
Museums
chenweiwen
Balboa Park: Balboa Park, covering an area of 4.9 square kilometers, is a famous cultural park in the center of San Diego, USA. It is named after the Spanish explorer Vasco de Balboa. Balboa Park is the former site of the 1915 World's Fair in California. The city of San Diego built many magnificent museum buildings for the World's Fair. The complex castle buildings not only reflect the characteristics of the Spanish colonial Renaissance period that was popular at the time, but also reveal a strong Gothic, Baroque and Rococo style. There are 14 museums, four theaters, a complex sports field, a rose garden and a Japanese garden in the park, adding brilliant colors to the park. The famous San Diego Zoo is also located in the park. Most of the venues in the park have been demolished, leaving only a few to be preserved forever, so that future generations can imagine the grand occasion of the year. In 1977, Balboa Park was rated as a national historic landmark.
San Diego
2.4km from downtown
Free entry
3. San Diego Air & Space Museum
5.1
4.7
/5
31 Reviews
based on 885 reviews
No.13 of Best Things to Do in San Diego
Museums
Science & technology museums
rxzhao
Although the San Diego Air and Space Museum is not as big as the one in Washington, it is a very good place to visit. The museum is divided into two areas, telling the evolution of various aircraft during World War II, and also has real models of modern aircraft. 👍It is very suitable to bring children🤭, there are many interactive sessions, and you can fly the plane yourself.
San Diego
1.2km from downtown
4. Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
4.6
4.7
/5
27 Reviews
based on 5.7k reviews
No.16 of Best Things to Do in San Diego
Historic buildings
Museums
Natural scenery
旅の径
Unique historical origins have created a unique customs. Touring San Diego, the Old Town Historical Park is worth visiting. Walk the park, in the old streets and alleys with strong ancient charm, the deepest FIESTA DE REYES is the most popular. Fiesta de Reyes, is a group of Mexican-style courtyards integrating catering shops and leisure and entertainment. Environment - "Dream Searching Travel" This "Remember" cool atmosphere is natural, stage - young and old dancers are full of fun, surrounded by tourists from Wuzhou to eat and eat, enjoy themselves... Experience the colorful exotic style, it feels really good.
San Diego
5.8km from downtown
Free entry
5. San Diego Automotive Museum
4.5
4.5
/5
11 Reviews
based on 286 reviews
No.17 of Best Things to Do in San Diego
Museums
love is blue
Had a great time at this museum. I found the staff here very helpful. Most of the cars on display here are American. This is very interesting for visitors like us because we don’t see such types of cars in the UK. However, it would be even better if there were more European cars on display. The car from the Louis Matt coast to that coast is still very interesting. Considering the weather is so hot now, it is good to enjoy the air conditioning inside.
Available for tomorrow
San Diego
1.4km from downtown
From
AU$ 27.90
6. Maritime Museum of San Diego
4.3
4.7
/5
39 Reviews
No.20 of Best Things to Do in San Diego
Historic buildings
Museums
小思文
The San Diego Maritime Museum is also quite interesting. There are also many tourists who come here. Maritime is related to the development and utilization of the ocean. The environment and space of the entire museum are also quite large, which is very suitable for visiting.
Available for tomorrow
San Diego
1.7km from downtown
From
AU$ 38.25
7. The San Diego Museum of Art
3.9
4.4
/5
44 Reviews
based on 322 reviews
Museums
Specialty exhibition halls
小思文
The gallery is a new continent discovered by accident, you can see a lot of European artists painting art, the entire gallery space is quite large, with modern and contemporary collections, very rich color art form oh.
San Diego
2km from downtown
8. San Diego Natural History Museum
3.6
4.4
/5
41 Reviews
based on 461 reviews
Museums
西溪老翁
San Diego Museum of Natural History San Diego (San Diego Natural History Museum) "Learn about San Diego's history, starting with dinosaurs and big lizards" explores Southern California's natural history - from the past to the present - at the San Diego Museum of Natural History. From rattlesnakes and carnivorous beetles to dinosaurs and fossils to the pendulums proving the earth is spinning, everyone has their own hobby. Visitors will be impressed by the unique interactive exhibition that spans five floors. The museum features a huge screen theater, showing films of 2D and 3D every day, as well as rotating exhibitions, bringing nature to life. The museum is divided into four floors, the first floor is the ticket office and animal specimens, the second floor is a variety of biofossils, the third floor is a biological skeleton, and the fourth floor is related photography. The entire museum combines science and environmental protection, with an extremely rich storage capacity and easy to understand explanations. Address:1788 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA
San Diego
2.1km from downtown
9. Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum
3.6
4.8
/5
10 Reviews
based on 384 reviews
Specialty exhibition halls
西溪老翁
San Diego Japan Friendship Park (Japanese Friendship Garden San Diego). There are Japanese parks in many cities in the United States. These Japanese parks are a bit similar and are also messengers to spread Japanese culture, increase Americans' understanding of Japan, and enhance the friendship between the two countries. Japanese parks are not big, but they have distinctive Japanese characteristics and are very delicate. San Diego Japan Friendly Park is in Balboa park in San Diego. San Diego and Yokohama are sister cities, so the park has become a symbol of friendship between the two cities. It is a bit different from Seattle, which has the oldest Japanese park in the United States. (The Japanese garden in Seattle was built with active fundraising from local Japanese people.) In 1999, the famous Japanese architect Takeo Uesugi completed the design of the Friendship Park, but it was not until 2015 that all his architectural ideas were implemented. Uesugi's design concept is fully guided by the principle of returning to the truth: Quqiao flowing water, stone lanterns, Japanese maples, pine trees, rhododendrons, teahouses, etc. Entering the park, immediately lamenting the Japanese ingenuity and love for nature.
San Diego
1.8km from downtown
10. Fleet Science Center
3.4
4.5
/5
29 Reviews
Museums
Science & technology museums
美国完美之旅
The Science Center is very popular with local children and tourists. There are many exhibits that children can use to explore basic environments and physics. Jerusalem feels like Jerusalem in the theatre of the all-weather movie Top Production. If you have children, this is their place.
Available for tomorrow
San Diego
2km from downtown
From
AU$ 39.77
1
2
3
4
5
...
100
Popular Types of Attractions in San Diego
Cultural institutions
|
Museums
|
Specialty exhibition halls
|
Science & technology museums
|
Leisure activities
|
Spa/massage
|
Farms and pastures
|
Camping · Campsites
|
Historical attractions
|
Exhibitions & events
|
Performances
|
Concerts
|
Exhibitions
|
Nature and wildlife
|
Natural scenery
|
Beaches and shores
|
Mountain climbing
|
Sightseeing tours
|
Boat tour
|
Night view
|
Parks
|
Amusement parks
|
Water parks
|
Outdoor activities
|
Cycling
|
Mountain climbing
|
Hiking
|
Water sports
Popular Restaurants in San Diego
Tom Ham's Lighthouse
|
World Famous
|
Tavola Nostra Pizzeria e Cucina
|
George's at the Cove
|
The Cottage
|
Addison
|
Great Maple(Hillcrest)
|
Duke's La Jolla
|
Harmony Cuisine 2B1
|
Crudo Ceviche & Oyster Bar
|
The Grant Grill
|
THE MARINE ROOM
|
Humphreys Restaurant
|
Juniper & Ivy
|
Manhattan Of La Jolla
|
Ruth's Chris Steak House
|
Bencotto
|
The Smoking Goat Restaurant
|
Raised by Wolves
|
Morton's The Steakhouse
|
Mister A's
|
Cowboy Star Restaurant and Butcher Shop
|
El Agave Restaurant & Tequileria
|
Monello
|
Bistro du Marché by Tapenade
|
Cafe Sevilla of San Diego
|
Provisional Restaurant at Pendry San Diego
|
Rustic Root
|
Civico 1845
|
Sugar and Scribe
Popular Destinations
Boracay Island Travel
|
Santiago Travel
|
Melbourne Travel
|
Western Visayas Travel
|
Hangzhou Travel
|
Shantou Travel
|
Krabi Travel
|
Jiangchuan District Travel
|
Los Angeles Travel
|
Huangshan Scenic Area Travel
|
Corinella Travel
|
Thailand Travel
|
Port Fairy Travel
|
Brisbane Travel
|
Koh Kood Travel
|
Ayvacik Travel
|
Poperinge Travel
|
Anxi Travel
|
Changsha Travel
|
Vientiane Travel
|
Russellville Travel
|
Pays de la Loire Travel
|
Wood County Travel
|
South Point Travel
|
Ankeny Travel
|
Cleveland County Travel
|
City of Wolverhampton District Travel
|
Cyberjaya Travel
|
Dorset Travel
|
Woodbridge Township Travel
Recommended Attractions at Popular Destinations
Bangkok attraction near me
|
Manila attraction near me
|
Tokyo attraction near me
|
Taipei attraction near me
|
Hong Kong attraction near me
|
Seoul attraction near me
|
Kuala Lumpur attraction near me
|
Los Angeles attraction near me
|
Shanghai attraction near me
|
New York attraction near me
|
Shenzhen attraction near me
|
Osaka attraction near me
|
Singapore attraction near me
|
London attraction near me
|
Guangzhou attraction near me
|
San Francisco attraction near me
|
Beijing attraction near me
|
Macau attraction near me
|
Bali attraction near me
|
Jakarta attraction near me
|
Paris attraction near me
|
Ho Chi Minh City attraction near me
|
Istanbul attraction near me
|
Phuket attraction near me
|
Chicago attraction near me
|
Seattle attraction near me
|
Toronto attraction near me
|
Orlando attraction near me
|
Cebu attraction near me
|
Chiang Mai attraction near me
Contact Us
Customer Support
Service Guarantee
More Service Info
About
About Trip.com
News
Careers
Terms & Conditions
Privacy and Cookies
About Trip.com Group
Other Services
Investor Relations
Trip.com Rewards
Affiliate Program
List Your Property
All Hotels
Become a Supplier
Security
Payment Methods
Our Partners
Copyright © 2025 Trip.com Travel Singapore Pte. Ltd. All rights reserved
Site Operator: Trip.com Travel Singapore Pte. Ltd.