TIPS
Local know-how for San Diego — where to go, what it costs, what trips people up — checked against the agency, the dataset or the law that decides it, and dated so you can see how fresh it is.
23 tips · showing 1–15
10 free things to do in San Diego that are actually worth it
Balboa Park's gardens, the Sunday organ concert, Sunset Cliffs, La Jolla's seals, shore whale watching, Mount Soledad, Old Town, Chicano Park, the Little Italy Mercato and Liberty Station. The usual catch is parking.
Organ concertSun 2 p.m.
Kids Free San Diego 2026: what's actually free this October, and the catch
All of October 2026, kids get in free with a paid adult at 70-plus museums and big attractions. The Zoo and Safari Park admit up to six kids 11 and under per adult. The catch: rules vary by place, and CityPASS-style passes don't count.
DatesOct 1-31, 2026
San Diego's 7 Bridges Walk: a swaying suspension bridge, a 1905 wooden trestle and 5 more in one loop
A free 5.5-mile loop through Bankers Hill, Hillcrest and Balboa Park crosses seven historic footbridges, including the 1912 Spruce Street Suspension Bridge that wobbles as you walk. Allow about three hours.
Loop5.5 miles
The big free holiday events in San Diego, December 2026
December Nights in Balboa Park (Fri–Sat, Dec 4–5), the Mission Bay Parade of Lights (Sat, Dec 12) and the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights (Sundays, Dec 13 and 20) are all free; the Holiday Bowl is Monday, December 28 at Snapdragon Stadium.
December NightsDec 4–5 · free
San Diego Zoo vs. Safari Park: which one for your trip
They cost exactly the same, so price is not the tiebreak. The Zoo is walkable and 15 minutes from downtown; the Safari Park is 1,800 acres in Escondido, 45 minutes to an hour away, and built around vehicle-based viewing.
Adult day ticket$78 at both
Do I need a car in San Diego?
For downtown, Old Town and the border, no. For the beaches, Balboa Park or Coronado, the Trolley does not go there — every one of those is a bus, usually with a transfer at Old Town.
Airport to downtownRoute 992, $3.00
Where do I park for Balboa Park without paying?
Mostly you can't right now — Balboa Park went to paid parking on January 5, 2026. City of San Diego residents can register for free parking in Level 2 and Level 3 lots; everyone else pays. Paid parking is scheduled to end entirely on January 1, 2027.
Right nowPaid, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. daily
6 things to do in San Diego when it rains
The USS Midway Museum, Fleet Science Center, The Nat, Comic-Con Museum, Liberty Public Market and a Convoy food crawl. All keep you mostly dry. Note the Comic-Con Museum is closed Wednesdays.
Priciest$39–$41
Halloween in San Diego 2026: what's on, from toddler-friendly to genuinely scary
Little kids: SeaWorld Spooktacular, LEGOLAND Brick-or-Treat and the Zoo's HalGLOWeen, all included with admission. A real scare: Howl-O-Scream or Balboa Park's Haunted Trail. The Haunted Hotel and Scream Zone are off this year.
HalloweenSat, Oct 31
San Diego farmers markets, day by day
There's a certified farmers market somewhere in the county every day of the week — about 44 in all — with the biggest choice on Saturdays (Little Italy Mercato, 8 a.m.–2 p.m.) and Sundays (Hillcrest, La Jolla, Broadway Pier); weeknight favorites are Pacific Beach on Tuesday, Ocean Beach on Wednesday and North Park on Thursday.
Certified markets countywide44
Thanksgiving in San Diego 2026: turkey trots, racing at Del Mar and what's open
The big turkey trot is Father Joe's Villages' 5K through Balboa Park at 7:15 a.m. on Thursday, Nov 26; Encinitas and Oceanside run their own. Del Mar races from 11 a.m. Many museums and city buildings close, so check before you go.
Biggest trot7:15 a.m.
The best new restaurants in San Diego: 9 openings from 2025 and 2026 worth booking
Lucien in La Jolla (San Diego's only new Michelin star in 2026), Fleurette at UTC, À L'Ouest in North Park, Mesa Agrícola in Escondido and Three Three Seven downtown lead the openings worth a reservation.
Picks9
Dog-friendly restaurants, bars and breweries in San Diego: 187 spots, mapped
187 places across San Diego County let you bring your dog, from Ocean Beach brewpubs and bayfront patios with dog menus to Julian wineries. Here they are by area, each on a map, with where dogs can actually sit.
Places mapped187
San Diego's MICHELIN-starred restaurants
Five in San Diego County after the June 2026 guide: Addison in Del Mar with three stars, and one star each for Soichi, Lucien, Jeune et Jolie and Lilo.
Starred restaurants5
The best San Diego neighborhoods for eating out
Little Italy for density, North Park's 30th Street for neighborhood spots, Convoy for Asian food, and East Village and Barrio Logan for newer places — Michelin's own San Diego picks cluster in exactly those areas.
Most choiceLittle Italy
