Plan Your Visit

Open Daily 10:00 am to 4:30 pm between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Open daily 10:00 am to 4:00 pm during the winter.

(Closed for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.)

Balboa Park has multiple small parking lots scattered throughout, including one beside the east side of the Natural History Museum and two near the Balboa Park Carousel on Village Place and Park Blvd. Additionally, visitors can park in the large public parking lot directly south of the San Diego Zoo.

For convenient access to the heart of Balboa Park, visitors can park at the Inspiration Point lot situated on the east side of Park Blvd. between Presidents Way and the Balboa Park Activity Center and then ride the free tram to the center of the Park. The Balboa Park Map provides an overview of the available parking lots and tram stops.

Valet parking is also available in front of the House of Hospitality (and The Prado restaurant) at the Plaza de Panama. The service is available Tuesday through Thursday from 5 PM to 10 PM, Friday from 5 PM to midnight, Saturday from 10 AM to midnight, and Sunday from 10 AM to 10 PM. However, there is no valet parking on Mondays. A few parking spots for people with disabilities are available on Village Place in front of the Village.

For more information on transportation options to Studio 23 in Spanish Village, please visit the Metropolitan Transit System’s website at https://www.sdmts.com/. Alternatively, travelers can utilize their Online Trip Planner (OTIS) or call 619.233.3004. The Metropolitan Transit System also provides a printable downtown bus and trolley map (PDF*) for reference.

Spanish Village is conveniently located on the #7 bus line, which frequently runs between downtown San Diego (along Broadway for most of the downtown portion of the route) and east San Diego and La Mesa (along University for most of the eastern portion). To get to the Village via MTS bus from downtown, take any outbound #7 bus. The nearest stop to the Village is at the pedestrian overpass, which crosses over Park Blvd. Another stop at the Rose Garden is also nearby. If traveling from east San Diego, take any inbound (Downtown) #7 bus. The nearest stop to the Village is immediately after the Zoo, at the pedestrian overpass that crosses over Park Blvd.

Visitors can also take the Old Town Trolley Tours of San Diego, which stops at nine of San Diego’s top tourist spots, including Old Town, Seaport Village, Horton Plaza, Coronado, and Balboa Park. The trolley stops in front of the Zoo, just a short walk from the Village.

Visitors can use the Balboa Park tram for a free and easy way to navigate around Balboa Park. The tram picks up from several parking lots at Inspiration Point, behind Spreckels Organ Pavilion, east of the Comic-Con Museum, and in front of the San Diego Air & Space Museum. To reach the Museum of Us, ride the tram to the stop in front of the equestrian statue next to the House of Hospitality and The Prado Restaurant. Spanish Village is a short walk down El Prado, west toward the Cabrillo Bridge. The tram runs every eight minutes and travels in a loop through the Park.

If you start to feel a bit hungry, here are some options in the Park:

For the best coffee, muffins, and croissants, you can’t beat Daniel’s Coffee Cart, located in Spanish Village Art Center just behind the Gem and Mineral Society and between Studio 8 and 18. (https://www.facebook.com/danielscoffee)

The Prado, House of Hospitality A full service restaurant nestled within the Park, expect a long wait unless you make reservations.  The food is worth it, however! (https://www.cohnrestaurants.com/theprado/menu/)

ARTIFACT, an upscale restaurant that features world spices with craft cooking for a unique dining experience. (https://mingei.org/visit/artifact)

Panama 66 (https://www.panama66.com/), located within the Sculpture Court of the San Diego Art Museum features pub food and drink in a lively atmosphere.  They even have live music on weekends.

Craveology, Fleet Science Center Craveology is the perfect location to pick up the lunch or treat you’re craving. The casual, friendly atmosphere has a great selection of items, including salads, sandwiches, wraps, flatbread pizzas, and hot sandwiches.  (https://www.fleetscience.org/craveology-cafe)

World Beat Café, WorldBeat Center (Vegan/vegetarian menu only) https://www.worldbeatcenter.org/about-us/cafe/ Open only on week-ends: Features African, Jamaican, and Creole cooking. Check out the Baobab Smoothie!

Tea Pavilion, Japanese Friendship Garden  https://www.cohnrestaurants.com/teapavilion/menu/  Light Japanese fare plus sandwiches.  Has a wide selection of gourmet teas.

The Craft Café at the Mingei Museum has pre-made salads, sandwiches, smoothies, and locally sourced pastries. (https://www.urbankitchengroup.com/artifact-at-mingei/menu/craft-cafe/)