Whether you've just admired a Monet, wandered through South Asian sculpture galleries, or sipped a cold brew in the sculpture garden café, there's plenty more to explore just steps from the San Diego Museum of Art. Nestled in the heart of Balboa Park, the museum is surrounded by a rich mix of cultural institutions, peaceful green spaces, and quirky attractions. This guide rounds up 20 nearby spots that are perfect for art lovers, families, solo explorers, and everyone in between. So if you're wondering what to do after SDMA, consider this your next-stops list.
May S. Marcy Sculpture Garden
📍 Address: 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA
🚶 Walking distance from San Diego Museum of Art: 1 minute
💸 Budget: Free
Looking to ease out of gallery mode without letting go of the art vibe? Just step out the back of the San Diego Museum of Art and into the May S. Marcy Sculpture Garden. This peaceful outdoor space blends thoughtful curation with open skies and greenery, making it one of the most relaxed and rewarding places to spend time in Balboa Park.
The garden features a rotating collection of modern and contemporary sculptures, many on long-term loan from the Putnam Foundation. Pieces vary in scale and style, but all are beautifully spaced out to allow for quiet appreciation and conversation. Whether you're into minimalist geometry or bold bronze figures, there's something here to catch your eye—and maybe inspire your next sketch or Instagram post.
If you're lucky, your visit might coincide with live jazz performances or events hosted by Panama 66, the museum café located just a few steps away. It’s a great spot to grab a drink or snack and enjoy it al fresco with views of the sculptures and the park beyond.
Mingei International Museum
Mingei International Museum
📍 Address: 1439 El Prado, San Diego, CA
🚶 Walking distance from San Diego Museum of Art: 2 minutes
💸 Budget: $$
The Mingei International Museum takes the idea of “everyday art” and transforms it into something extraordinary. After a top-to-bottom renovation, this space has reopened as one of the most stylish and welcoming museums in Balboa Park—perfect for those who appreciate form, function, and culture all in one go.
“Mingei” translates to “art of the people,” and that spirit flows through every inch of the museum’s rotating exhibits. Here, you’ll find objects from across continents: handwoven textiles, ceramics, folk toys, glasswork, furniture, and much more. The curatorial approach feels both elevated and approachable—you don’t need to know the difference between Bauhaus and Baroque to be completely captivated.
What makes Mingei especially unique is its celebration of global creativity through the lens of the handmade. Whether you’re admiring colorful Oaxacan wood carvings, intricate Japanese kimonos, or contemporary design pieces, the museum invites you to think about the role of craftsmanship in everyday life.
In addition to gallery spaces, there’s also a free public area in the front showcasing local art, and a museum shop that’s hands-down one of the best places in the park to buy meaningful gifts—think hand-painted mugs, artisan jewelry, and design books.
Pro tip: Check their schedule for hands-on workshops or free admission days—especially good if you're traveling with curious kids or design-loving friends.
Botanical Building and Lily Pond
📍 Address: 1549 El Prado, San Diego, CA
🚶 Walking distance from San Diego Museum of Art: 3 minutes
💸 Budget: Free
Need a breather after gallery-hopping? The Botanical Building and Lily Pond is one of Balboa Park’s most picturesque and peaceful spots—a perfect counterpoint to the visual energy of SDMA. Whether you’re looking to snap a photo, sit in stillness, or stroll through lush greenery, this stop delivers all the right vibes.
The building itself is a piece of architectural history—one of the largest lath structures in the world, originally built for the 1915 Panama–California Exposition. Step inside and you’ll find over 2,100 tropical plants, from ferns and orchids to cycads and colorful bromeliads. It’s humid, fragrant, and entirely immersive—a sensory experience that feels a world away from city life.
Outside, the reflecting Lily Pond stretches out like a natural mirror, flanked by palms and blooming seasonal flowers. Ducks paddle past water lilies, and koi glide beneath the surface while visitors relax on benches or snap photos from the edge.
This space isn’t just a pretty backdrop. It’s a grounding, restorative part of the Balboa Park experience, perfect for solo travelers looking for calm, couples on a romantic stroll, or families in need of a snack break and scenery.
Timken Museum of Art
📍 Address: 1500 El Prado, San Diego, CA
🚶 Walking distance from San Diego Museum of Art: 1 minute
💸 Budget: Free
Right next door to SDMA, the Timken Museum of Art might just be Balboa Park’s most underrated treasure. It’s compact, free to enter, and filled with works you’d expect to find in major European institutions—making it a perfect addition to your art-filled day.
The collection focuses on European old masters, Russian icons, and American portraits, with pieces by the likes of Rembrandt, Rubens, and Veronese lining the walls of its sleek mid-century building. The museum’s interior is light-filled and minimalist, which puts the art front and center without distraction. It’s the kind of space where you can take your time, enjoy a little solitude, and genuinely connect with the work.
What sets the Timken apart is its mix of intimacy and depth. With only a few galleries, you can walk through the entire museum in 30–45 minutes, but you’ll come away with a full artistic experience. It’s also staffed by passionate docents who are happy to share insight—ideal if you like your art with a bit of storytelling.
Don’t miss the icon room, which holds one of the finest collections of Russian religious art in the western U.S. Even if you’re not usually drawn to ecclesiastical pieces, the history and symbolism on display are truly fascinating.
Balboa Park Carousel
Balboa Park Carousel
📍 Address: 1889 Zoo Place, San Diego, CA
🚶 Walking distance from San Diego Museum of Art: 6 minutes
💸 Budget: $
Sometimes the best way to appreciate art is to take a spin on it—literally. Just beyond the museum row, the Balboa Park Carousel offers a charming throwback experience that’s just as delightful today as it was over a century ago.
Built in 1910, this hand-carved wooden carousel is one of only a few in the world still operating with its original brass ring game—a rare feature that lets riders on the outer horses try to grab rings as they circle past. If you’re traveling with little ones, this is pure magic. But adults love it too, whether for the craftsmanship, the kitsch, or the breezy fun.
Each of the carousel’s 52 animals is an original, hand-painted work of art—from prancing horses to frogs, pigs, and even a dragon. The paintwork, the music, the gentle whirl—it all feels timeless and oddly soothing in the best way.
Set under a shaded pavilion near the San Diego Zoo entrance, the carousel is surrounded by snack stands and benches, making it a perfect pit stop on a family itinerary or a cute detour on a casual park date.
Japanese Friendship Garden
📍 Address: 2215 Pan American Place, San Diego, CA
🚶 Walking distance from San Diego Museum of Art: 5 minutes
💸 Budget: $$
If you’re in the mood for quiet beauty and a bit of cultural immersion, the Japanese Friendship Garden delivers on all fronts. Tucked just below the Prado walkway, this tranquil oasis unfolds in layers of koi ponds, stone bridges, cherry trees, and winding gravel paths—all designed to encourage stillness, reflection, and appreciation of nature.
The garden is a symbol of the relationship between San Diego and its sister city, Yokohama, and you can feel the spirit of friendship in every detail. From the carefully raked Zen garden to the bonsai trees and traditional architecture, every corner is a blend of art and nature.
Spread across 12 acres, the space includes upper and lower gardens connected by a serene canyon trail, plus a beautifully designed tea pavilion and a rotating exhibit hall featuring Japanese calligraphy, textiles, and more. It’s a great way to experience Japanese culture without leaving Balboa Park.
This is also a great spot to reset if you're traveling solo or on a date—it’s quiet, scenic, and thoughtfully curated, making it ideal for conversations or contemplative walks.
Pro tip: Visit during cherry blossom season (typically March) for the full pink-hued magic, but the garden is stunning in every season.
Fleet Science Center
📍 Address: 1875 El Prado, San Diego, CA
🚶 Walking distance from San Diego Museum of Art: 6 minutes
💸 Budget: $$
If your brain’s still buzzing from all that art, give it a new kind of playground at the Fleet Science Center. This interactive museum is all about exploring how the world works—from physics and biology to space, sound, and technology—and it’s just as fun for grown-ups as it is for kids.
The Fleet packs in over 100 hands-on exhibits designed to be touched, twisted, and tested. Want to play with light and shadow, simulate earthquakes, or challenge your reflexes in a game of reaction time? It’s all here—and it’s highly engaging without ever feeling overwhelming.
But the real showstopper? The IMAX® Dome Theater, which was the first of its kind in the world. The wraparound screen fully immerses you in deep-sea dives, outer space adventures, and nature documentaries that leave you feeling like you’ve stepped into another world. It’s worth checking the schedule ahead to time your visit with a film that piques your interest.
Exhibits rotate regularly, and many are geared toward sparking STEM interest in younger visitors—though even the most museum-weary adults will find themselves poking buttons and solving puzzles. There’s also a maker studio, a café, and seasonal events like escape rooms or science-themed movie nights.
San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat)
%C2%A0%20non%20ed?_a=BAVAZGE70)
San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat)
📍 Address: 1788 El Prado, San Diego, CA
🚶 Walking distance from San Diego Museum of Art: 7 minutes
💸 Budget: $$
Looking to get your dinosaur fix, explore ancient ecosystems, or learn more about SoCal’s wild backyard? The Nat—short for the San Diego Natural History Museum—offers a beautifully curated dive into the natural world, with plenty of eye-popping displays and hands-on opportunities for curious minds.
This is one of the oldest natural history museums west of the Mississippi, but don’t expect dusty cases and endless Latin labels. Recent renovations have made the museum dynamic and accessible, with a focus on the unique environment of Southern California and Baja California. Think fossils, gemstones, native plants, insects, and real-life stories about the region’s biodiversity.
On the upper levels, you’ll come face to face with skeletons of ancient sea creatures and dinosaurs, detailed dioramas of local wildlife, and engaging exhibits that explore the intersection of humans and the environment. Interactive features and touchable displays keep things fun and fast-moving—great if you’re with kids or just want to learn by doing.
There’s also a giant-screen theater that shows stunning nature documentaries and science films throughout the day—perfect for resting your feet while expanding your brain.
One of the most unique aspects of The Nat is how deeply rooted it is in local science. Many exhibits draw on research and fieldwork done by the museum’s own team of scientists, so there’s a strong sense of relevance and connection to the region you’re exploring.
Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater
📍 Address: 2130 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA
🚶 Walking distance from San Diego Museum of Art: 8 minutes
💸 Budget: $
Step into a world of storytelling and nostalgia at the Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater, where stringed characters and clever voices bring fairy tales, folktales, and original stories to life. This cozy indoor theater is a hidden gem for families, but it’s also great for anyone who appreciates handmade art and old-school entertainment with a twist.
Opened in 1948 and named for pioneering puppeteer Marie Hitchcock, the theater has been delighting audiences for decades with live puppet shows featuring marionettes, hand puppets, shadow puppets, and more. Performances rotate regularly and include everything from humorous adaptations of classic tales to seasonal shows and educational performances. You never quite know what you’re going to get—and that’s part of the fun.
The theater itself seats about 200, so it’s intimate without being cramped, and performances typically last around 30–45 minutes—just long enough to keep kids engaged and give adults a refreshing break. It’s also air-conditioned, making it a great escape on warm San Diego days.
Shows are staged by the San Diego Guild of Puppetry, a passionate and talented group of artists and educators who clearly love what they do. After the show, you’ll often have the chance to meet the puppeteers and even see how some of the puppets are made.
Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden
📍 Address: 2125 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA
🚶 Walking distance from San Diego Museum of Art: 9 minutes
💸 Budget: Free
A gentle stroll from the museum district brings you to the Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden, where over 1,600 rose bushes bloom in waves of color, scent, and texture. It’s one of the most peaceful corners of Balboa Park—and absolutely worth a visit, whether you’re a green thumb, an amateur photographer, or just in the mood for something beautiful.
The garden is laid out in neat, walkable rows with plenty of benches and shaded spots where you can sit, read, or just take in the view. There’s a peaceful rhythm to the layout: symmetrical paths, splashes of red, pink, yellow, and white petals, and the constant low hum of bees and birds going about their day.
Many visitors are surprised to learn just how diverse roses can be, and this garden proves it. From big, ruffled blooms to petite tea roses, the range of varieties is impressive. Each plant is labeled, so rose enthusiasts can geek out properly—and yes, the scent is as lovely as you’re imagining.
The garden is maintained by the San Diego Rose Society, and it’s particularly stunning in the spring and early summer, when the blooms are at their fullest. That said, something is usually flowering here year-round, so it’s always worth a stop.
Bonus points: It’s adjacent to the Desert Garden, which showcases cacti and succulents in a contrasting style—dry, spiky, but just as visually captivating.
Pro tip: This is a popular spot for engagement and graduation photos, so early mornings or weekdays offer a quieter experience. Bring your camera—you’ll want it.
San Diego Automotive Museum
📍 Address: 2080 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA
🚶 Walking distance from San Diego Museum of Art: 9 minutes
💸 Budget: $$
If you’ve got even a passing interest in engines, design, or just cool vintage stuff, the San Diego Automotive Museum is a standout stop in Balboa Park. This museum isn’t just for gearheads—it’s for anyone who’s ever admired a classic car, dreamed of hitting the open road, or wondered how transportation has evolved over the decades.
Inside, you’ll find an impressive collection of motorcycles, classic cars, custom builds, and racing machines, all displayed in sleek, themed exhibits that rotate throughout the year. From 1930s roadsters to 1980s icons, the variety is broad enough to keep everyone intrigued—yes, even those who don’t know their Chevys from their Cadillacs.
One of the museum’s most memorable pieces? Louie Mattar’s Fabulous Car—a 1947 Cadillac retrofitted to be driven continuously cross-country without stopping. With its built-in shower, ironing board, and even a drinking fountain, it’s part car, part time capsule, and part bonkers road-trip fantasy.
There’s also a thoughtful emphasis on Southern California’s car culture, with exhibits on lowriders, custom builders, and the state’s long-standing love affair with the automobile. The museum does a great job blending education, nostalgia, and wow-factor moments.
Families will appreciate the interactive displays, while car fans can dig deep into restoration details and design elements. It’s not a huge space, but it’s dense with detail and easy to navigate—ideal for a visit before lunch or as a mid-afternoon detour.
Pro tip: The museum is housed in a beautiful Spanish Colonial Revival building from the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition—so the exterior is just as cool as what’s inside.
Casa del Prado Theater
Casa del Prado Theater
📍 Address: 1800 El Prado, San Diego, CA
🚶 Walking distance from San Diego Museum of Art: 5 minutes
💸 Budget: $–$$
For those who love a touch of drama—on stage, that is—the Casa del Prado Theater offers a delightful detour into the performing arts scene of San Diego. Housed in a stunning Spanish Colonial Revival building dating back to the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition, this cozy venue serves as the home stage for the San Diego Junior Theatre, one of the oldest youth theatre programs in the country.
The shows here are heartfelt, polished, and always entertaining. From classic musicals like The Sound of Music to more modern plays and original works, the lineup changes each season and highlights the talent of young local performers. The productions may be youth-led, but the execution is top-tier—you’ll forget you’re watching students by the end of Act I.
The theater itself has an intimate, welcoming vibe, with a vaulted lobby, old-school charm, and good sightlines from nearly every seat. It’s a lovely spot to escape the sun, soak in some creativity, and enjoy a live performance that doesn’t demand black tie or Broadway prices.
There’s a strong community energy around the theater too—families showing up to support their stars, volunteers guiding you to your seat, and occasional talkbacks with the cast. It’s a feel-good experience that adds a new layer to your Balboa Park adventure.
Pro tip: Check the Junior Theatre website for showtimes and ticket availability—performances typically run on weekends and during school holidays.
With so much packed into the heart of Balboa Park, your visit to the San Diego Museum of Art can be just the beginning. Whether you’re craving fresh air, family fun, cultural deep-dives, or just a beautiful spot to sit and snack, there’s something nearby to match your mood.
From roses and carousels to cutting-edge science and outdoor serenity, the area surrounding SDMA offers a perfect blend of activity and escape. So take your time, mix and match your favorites, and build a day that’s as colorful and creative as the museum itself.
Ready to ramp up your San Diego experience? Discover our 4-day San Diego itinerary so you don't miss a beat.
Step up your sightseeing with Go City®.
We make it easy to explore the best a city has to offer. We’re talking top attractions, hidden gems and local tours, all for one low price. Plus you'll enjoy guaranteed savings, compared to buying individual attraction tickets.
See more, do more, and experience more with Go City® - just choose a pass to get started!
