My Favorite Fun FREE Things to Do In San Diego

Thinking about visiting San Diego but wondering what to do that doesn't cost an arm and a leg? I've got you covered with these FREE things to do and places to visit!

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San Diego, California is known for it’s beaches, beautiful year-round weather, health conscious people, glitz and glamour, and….high prices.

I won’t lie, southern California (or all of California) is expensive - arguably the most expensive in the country. New York and Hawaii also rank right up there. We’ve got the most expensive housing prices, grocery prices, taxes, restaurant prices, and even as a local I sometimes have sticker shock.

My list of places, activities, and events will help you save money while still having fun and frolicking in the sunshine in San Diego. I am including some other recommendations that go hand-in-hand with the free activity since you’re in the area already.

Balboa Park - San Diego’s urban oasis. This is much more than a “park”! There are wide open green spaces, trails, gardens, and hidden nookies and crannies perfect for picnics and cat naps. A 1200-acre urban oasis since the mid 1800s. Think Central Park, with Southern California weather! I’ve lived in San Diego for 25 years and run through the park at least 5 times a week and it never gets old! There are museums within Balboa Park for a fee to enter, but on the first Tuesday of every month, many are free with a local ID. The San Diego Zoo, one of the largest in the country with 12,000 animals, is on the northern edge of Balboa Park. It’s not free but if you’re going to Balboa Park, you may want to consider a zoo trip. In mid-December, we have December Nights which is a Friday and Saturday night, only. It’s free to enter, and the Christmas displays are beautiful, and it’s one of the biggest outdoor festivals in all of San Diego annually. The food you may wish to enjoy, which encompasses everything from Mexican to Korean, is not free.

Coronado Island - Located just a 10-15 minute drive south of downtown San Diego by way of a giant bridge. There is also ferry service between downtown and the island but the drive is a cinch. Manicured lawns, quaint streets, old money, yachts, cute shops and trendy restaurants. But the free part is the natural beauty, the quaintness of it all, water on all sides, wide wide fine sand beaches. Bring a towel and take in the view! Coronado is also home to the Hotel Del Coronado (locals refer to it simply as The Del) one of the grandest and oldest hotels in the country. It’s free to wander around, maybe buy a drink or a snack, and make yourself comfy watching the ocean - and also great people watching and Coronado in general is very family friendly. We love The Henry (reservations are better if you can) and if you’re wanting to feel like you’re in Paris, try Little Frenchie. Also check out my Top 10 Paris Secret Tips post!

Del Mar - Located just north of San Diego, Del Mar (like Coronado or La Jolla) has a reputation of being very upper crust and high society. So you’re probably wondering, what’s free? Well - very little, haha! Although I adore going to Powerhouse Park and Seagrove Park. They’re wide grassy knolls and spaces, overlooking the beach and the sand and ocean below. My husband is not a fan of sandy feet (he’s a sand magnet) and the closer you get to the water, the colder it gets. Pro Tip: 72F by day is often 62F at night and the wind off the ocean makes it feel more 52F. I never go to ANY beach/body of water in San Diego even in the dog days of summer without a sweater (or sweatshirt + blanket) because no matter how hot it feels at 3PM, by 7:30PM you’ll be thankful for your sweatshirt and blanket! We bring a cooler and snacks and sit on the grass and just watch the ocean, the families, and great sunsets. This is a super family friendly area. And after sunset, there are dozens of walkable restaurants from casual to fine dining. Try Poseidon which is literally right next to said grassy area and get the shrimp cocktail for the biggest shrimp in San Diego!

Mission Beach Boardwalk - This is what I think most people think of when they think of Southern California in general. A boardwalk with beautiful people roller skating, biking, walking, working on their tan, laying on the beach next to the boardwalk and living the life. Remember the intro to the show Three’s Company? This is that boardwalk! You’ll find all walks of life here - from young to old, rich to poor, tourists and locals alike. There are numerous semi-divey restaurants along the boardwalk so if you need some greasy fries or 2-for-1 drink specials, this is your spot. Grab a drink and a snack and watch the world (and the people) go by - or do it in the sand with your own cooler and snacks. Mission Beach is also home to Belmont Park, since 1925! Complete with a wooden roller coaster that feels more shaken-than-smooth, it’s part of the iconic aspect and we go at least once every summer. On the other side of Mission Beach, there’s Mission Bay where you’ll find grassy areas, it’s much more chill and laidback, and is where larger groups and families tend to picnic and hangout.

San Diego Beaches and Bays - With 70 MILES of coastline, San Diego has a body of water for everyone! I mentioned Coronado and Del Mar specifically above, but if you’re looking for another high end, classy beach, La Jolla is your area. If you’re looking for hippy-dippy vibes, go to Ocean Beach. If you’re young and hip, check out Pacific Beach. There’s a beach for everyone spanning from the Mexican border all the way into very North County San Diego (north of Del Mar, there’s Solana Beach, Encinitas, and Oceanside). Do your research based on where you’re staying, your tolerance for a drive, and you are forewarned - in the summer, free street parking should be considered a miracle. Expect to pay to park, $10-30 for the day, depending on which beach, how long you’re staying, and how far you’re willing to walk from your car to the beach.

Old Town - A throwback to the wild, wild west with Mexican-influenced charm, history, culture, food, tours, and more. If you have kids, they’ll have fun seeing this glimpse of the past with a strong Mexican presence here from the music to the food. If you’re looking for tacos, you’ll find them here. Ironically, though, we come for the sushi. My favorite sushi restaurant is called Harney Sushi and has been in old town for 25+ years, and we think it’s the best sushi in San Diego.

Downtown Area - Embarcadero which is where the USS Midway ship is, and there’s lots of walking and strolling along the water, and little shops and lots of restaurants in an area called Seaport Village. Also downtown is the Gaslamp Quarter, which is where there are blocks of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. None of them are free obviously, but if you’re looking to stroll up or down 5th or 6th Avenue and people watch, or wander in and scope out the lobbies of some of the fancier hotels in San Diego, or perhaps grabbing an inexpensive snack at a restaurant in the Gaslamp, there are restaurants to serve your needs.

Tell me if you’ve ever been to San Diego and what you did that was memorable! Or are you planning a trip here?

Please note that all photos are mine, I took them with my own phone camera, and didn’t “get anything off the internet”.