Visiting San Diego on a Budget - A Simple Way to Save on Your Vacation

By Go City Expert

There is a reason California has been deemed the Golden State of our nation. With seemingly endless beaches and sunshine - California offers an outdoor playground for kids and families of all ages. Southern California is a great choice for budget-minded travelers when you use a Go San Diego Card, which makes visiting San Diego on a budget a breeze. We’ve connected with some SoCal locals to put together a list of budget-friendly family fun for your next San Diego adventure.

Save on Admission to Tourist Attractions

Admission to many of these San Diego tourist attractions are included on the Go San Diego Card. The Go San Diego Card give you the flexibility to choose as you go from dozens of top attractions to create a vacation tailored to your family's interests. See all available passes, attractions & prices – Learn more. A few of the attractions include:

  • The San Diego Zoo
  • LEGOLAND® California
  • SeaWorld® San Diego
  • USS Midway Museum
  • And more!

Top Attractions to Visit for a Budget Friendly Trip The San Diego Zoo

Image of Animal, Wildlife, Mammal, Kangaroo, Koala, The San Diego Zoo is home to over 3,500 animal ranging from salamanders and frogs to elephants and giant pandas. With a such variety, there is sure to be an animal to wow everyone. This animal haven offers 100 acres of paths surrounded by flourishing plants and is also open 365 days a year. We suggest hopping on the Skyfari to get an overview of the park and map-out your day. The Skyfari offers a bird's-eye-view of exhibits, plants and San Diego’s Balboa Park: you may even scope out an evening picnic spot. Getting In: San Diego Zoo tickets are included on the Go San Diego Card.

LEGOLAND® California

Image of Boy, Child, Male, Person, Female, Girl, Glasses, Located just north of San Diego in Carlsbad, CA, LEGOLAND California is a world of its own. With over 60 rides and attractions, LEGOLAND ignites the imagination while guaranteeing to get everyone’s creative juices flowing. The Imagination Zone exposes children to hands-on stations that allow them to build and race their own cars. Too young to build your own race car? LEGOLAND also offers a DUPLO Play center designed to tap into your toddler's inner engineer. Other attractions at LEGOLAND include: NINJAGO World, Miniland USA, Pirate Shores, Explorer Island and much more for creating a memorable trip. Getting In: LEGOLAND California tickets are included on the Go San Diego Card.

SeaWorld San Diego

Image of Child, Female, Girl, Person, Boy, Male, Adult, Woman, Water, Photo credit: Mike Aguilera/SeaWorld® San Diego
Dive into life underwater with a visit to Sea World San Diego. SeaWorld San Diego is home to a variety of aquatic life and allows visitors to get up close and personal with penguins, sea turtles, dolphins, whales, sharks, California sea lions and more! Ever wanted to speak dolphin? SeaWorld San Diego’s Dolphin Interaction Program is a must-do attraction that teaches you to communicate with dolphin’s using the universal language of play and various hand signals. If you’d rather look and not touch – the park offers a number of shows and attractions that both educate and entertain us about life in our oceans. Getting In: SeaWorld San Diego tickets are included on 3, 5, and 7-Day Go San Diego Cards.

USS Midway Museum

Image of Airport, Airfield, Aircraft, Airplane, Vehicle, Adult, Female, Person, Woman, Glasses, After getting a glimpse of what its life living under the ocean, explore life on the ocean by visiting the USS Midway Museum, America’s longest serving Navy air craft carrier of the 20th century. The USS Midway Museum allows guests to get an inside-look at what life was like aboard the ship for over 225,000 Midway sailors. There are over 60 exhibits that feature all facets of life aboard the Midway from sleeping quarters, engine room, machine shops to the ship’s jail and post office. With over 972 feet to explore, most visitors spend 3-4 hours exploring this “City at Sea.” Getting In: USS Midway Museum tickets are included on the Go San Diego Card.

San Diego Harbor Tour

Image of Vehicle, Yacht, City, Boat, Ferry, Water, Waterfront, There is something amazing about a city-scape from the ocean; hop aboard a San Diego Harbor Tour for the chance to see San Diego Bay from a different perspective. The San Diego Harbor Tour highlights a variety of historical and naval landmarks in San Diego. The tour allows guests to choose between the South Bay’s Coronado Bay Bridge and USS Midway or a tour through North Bay, each tour lasting about an hour. Regardless of which Bay is chosen, you’ll be immersed with both history and beauty while cruising through San Diego Bay! Getting In: One Hour Harbor Tour by Hornblower Cruises are included on the Go San Diego Card.

Fun Options to Visit During Your Trip:

Whether a short or long-stay in San Diego, this city offers so much. Educate the inner scientist, please the ocean lovers or create your own tour-de-San Diego all whilst saving money; below are some fun budget-friendly options also included on the Go San Diego Card. San Diego Zoo Safari Park – If you didn’t expect to go on an African Safari in San Diego – think again! The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is home to over 2,600 animals including lions, tigers, elephants, giraffes, antelope and more! San Diego Air and Space Museum – Located in San Diego’s Balboa Park, fly through aviation history at the San Diego Air and Space Museum. The museum is home to the first vehicle that defied gravity in the sky – a model of the Montgolfier brothers 1783 hot air balloon. San Diego Natural History Museum – Also in Balboa Park, the San Diego Natural History Museum (TheNat) offers enriching history of Southern California and Baja California. View over 200 skulls, fossils and plant life with TheNat’s unique educational family-friendly exhibits. Whale Watching Tour- Spend an afternoon on the water, where you’re guaranteed to see gray whales! This excursion is narrated by a naturalist from Birch Aquarium and will be sure to enlighten you with knowledge off the majestic gray whale. GoCar Tours - Meander through the streets of San Diego with San Diego’s first-ever GPS guided tour car. This little yellow storytelling Gocar will point out landmarks, let you choose the stops and makes for a great way to see the city!

Free Activities for a Budget Friendly Vacation

San Diego Beaches – A trip to California simply isn’t complete without a swim in the Pacific Ocean. Grab the towels, pack the lunches and take a drive down the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) to one of our favorite beaches near San Diego: Mission Beach, Coronado, Imperial Beach and Moonlight Beach. You won’t want to leave the beach before sunset and be sure to pack the camera – California sunsets are a truly stunning. Seals at La Jolla Cove – While exploring the La Jolla area, you’ll want to follow the crowd for this one. On any given day at La Jolla, people gather around Shell Beach and Children’s Pool to watch as Seals and Sea Lion’s swim and frolic throughout the area. These furry friends are used to modelling for photos all day long and you may even want to capture the 'seal scooch' on video. Seaport Village- San Diego’s Seaport Village will satisfy the foodie, music lover and shopaholic all in one place. With over 50 shops, free outdoor entertainment and a variety of restaurants - this unique area is a great place for an afternoon or evening stroll. Old Town- When the Europeans first settled in California, Old Town San Diego was their place of choice! Historic Old Town is now considered the birthplace of California offering rich history, museums, artisan festivals, galleries and restaurants all in one convenient, beautiful area. Mission Bay Park – With 27 miles of sandy shoreline, Mission Bay is scattered with campers, kite boarders, runners and beach goers alike. Mission Bay is a great place to spend an afternoon or evening picnic. We suggest renting bikes and cruising down the 14-mile bike path while taking in the stunning views.

Let's Recap on Visiting San Diego on a Budget

There you go - a few great recommendations for things to do when visiting San Diego on a budget. Remember, many of these great budget friendly attraction options and more are included on the Go San Diego Card, where you can save up to 55% on combined admission vs paying at the gate. So when you are planning your trip, consider including some of these options to your San Diego vacation itinerary.

Go City Expert
Go City Travel Expert

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10+ Things to Do in San Diego When it Rains (Popular Indoor Activities)

While San Diego is typically sunny and temperate year-round, it does get its share of rain on occasion. If any of those rainy or gloomy days happen to pop up on your vacation, don’t worry! There are plenty of fun indoor activities and things to do in San Diego when it rains, from museums to aquariums and more. Looking for some fun things to do indoors? Try out some of these: Balboa Park Museums USS Midway Museum Birch Aquarium The New Children’s Museum Museum of Contemporary Art And more! San Diego Air & Space Museum Fans of science, particularly the history of flight, will want to make sure not to miss out on a chance to visit this Balboa Park mainstay. The San Diego Air & Space Museum is one of the country's best, reflecting San Diego’s naval heritage and the important role it plays in the development of flight across the 20th and 21st centuries. Of course, the history of space flight spans much further back than the 1900s – which you’ll learn after a visit to this exciting museum. See the actual balloon flown by the Montgolfier Brothers in 1783, Wright-era aircraft, navy bombers, and even the Apollo XI Space Pen. There’s so much to explore inside this attraction that you’ll forget all about the weather outdoors. San Diego Natural History Museum Another Balboa Park favorite, the Natural History Museum is filled with fascinating exhibits and artifacts. There are five floors filled with dozens of interactive exhibits that house everything from gigantic dinosaur bones to tiny gemstones. You’ll also get the chance to watch a selected film at the museum’s theatre, with films offered on topics such as “Ocean Oasis” and “Wild Africa.” Don’t miss out on the chance to take the whole family here. USS Midway Museum The USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum is one of the city’s most popular attractions, and it’s a great rainy day option because you’ll probably beat many crowds by visiting on a less-than-sunny day. The inside of this amazing retired aircraft carrier is fascinating for military buffs of all ages, with areas like crew sleeping quarters and the flight control deck available for touring. Visitors will learn all about the history of this iconic craft and her 50-year service, which spanned several wars and multiple campaigns. Keep in mind that parts of this attraction are outdoors. Birch Aquarium If the animal lovers in your life are down about missing the San Diego Zoo on their rainy day, then be sure to take them to the delightful Birch Aquarium for a chance to encounter some fascinating wildlife. Explore an extensive variety of marine habitats and informative exhibits, including topics like “Boundless Energy,” “Wonders of Water,” and “Live Tide Pools.” There are also exhibits organized around specific types of marine life, such as “There’s Something About Seahorses” and the popular “Hall of Fishes and Shark Reef.” Plus, you’ll get an amazing view of the water from inside the aquarium – a great chance for stunning coastline photos without worrying about getting wet. Fans of the Birch Aquarium may also find the Living Coast Discovery Center of interest, which is located south of San Diego. Fleet Science Center This amazing scientific complex is not to be missed by those with an interest in the natural world or technology. The Fleet Science Center is filled with interactive exhibits, displays, and programs that allow visitors to make the most of their learning experience. Try out the Tinkering Studio for a chance to make your very own great invention, or check out Dream! Design! Build! This exhibition features hands-on building activities to help you dream like a visionary, design like an architect, and build like an engineer. It’s also home to the first IMAX dome theater, so be sure to use that complimentary IMAX ticket that comes with Go City® admission! More Balboa Park Museums Of course, there are plenty more museums in Balboa Park to choose from. Whether you’re interested in the history of human civilization, or just love to look at old cars, there’s something for you to explore. One of our favorites is the San Diego Museum of Us, which provides an excellent study of human history through art, anthropology, archaeology, and much more. Others will get a kick out of the Automotive Museum and the Model Railroad Museum, which are just perfect for collectors and excited kids. The best part is, that a few of them are relatively close together so you aren’t getting soaking in transit. If you’re looking to explore museums that are further apart, take advantage of the free Balboa Park tram to get around. Art Museums If you prefer artwork to automobiles, there are many opportunities for you to enjoy as well. Indulge your creative side with a visit to one of the region’s many art museums. For example, the San Diego Museum of Art is the most traditional, featuring all paintings, sculptures, and craftwork. The Museum of Photographic Arts features some truly compelling examples in this genre. If modern art is more your thing, then a trip to La Jolla is in order to scope out their fantastic contemporary collections. San Diego is also home to the Museum of Contemporary Art and the San Diego Art Institute. New Children’s Museum Families know that sometimes the hardest part of traveling in bad weather with kids is the lack of opportunities for them to get out and burn off some energy. That’s where the New Children's Museum comes in. This exciting and interactive museum offers dozens of exhibits and themed areas for children to explore, climb, play, and create. With a particular focus on the inspiring potential of art, this museum offers plenty of chances for kids to express themselves through creativity, whether that’s by crafting their own sculptures or by participating in guided art-making activities. Whaley House Many visitors forget that San Diego is a city with a ton of history. With American roots stretching back to the mid-nineteenth century, you shouldn’t be surprised to come across historical homes that date back to California’s debut as a state.  That’s why a visit to the lovely Whaley House is in order. Built by San Diego pioneer Thomas Whaley, this house first served as his family home before later being used as a general store, a theater, and even the San Diego County Courthouse.  Mingei International Museum The Mingei International Museum is a globally focused institution that tells the history of humanity’s relationship with art and how artistic works impact culture. You’ll see art and artifacts from around the globe and throughout history, although the collections have particular strengths in African and Japanese art, contemporary American craftwork, and pre-Columbian artifacts.  Of course, with 26,000 objects in their collections, it’s clear that they represent a little bit of just about everything. Quick Rainy Day Recap  So if you’re in search of some ways to spend some time indoors and things to do in San Diego when it rains, we hope we’ve given you plenty of attractions and activities to choose from. There are, of course, plenty of other options too, such as shopping in fun downtown areas like Seaport Village, taking in a theatrical performance, or exploring the local cuisine.  Can't choose? No need, see it all with Go City® With an All-Inclusive Pass from Go City, you can visit both attractions for a fraction of the cost. Plus, you could save up to 50% on all your San Diego must-sees. Or pick an Explorer Pass, if you've chosen your fave and have a specific bucket list you're dreaming of ticking off. ☀️Compare San Diego passes☀️ – 🌏 Explore other destinations 🌏 – ✈️ Buy a pass ✈️
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