These days, it’s hard to do anything in town without spending some bucks—whether it’s $15 for a burrito, $20 for a cocktail, or $2,000 for a tiny studio apartment. But if you know where to look, San Diego provides plenty of activities that don’t require tapping your card or fishing for loose change in your couch. Here are some of the best things to do in San Diego for free.
Free Activities | Free Museums & Attractions | Free Events
Free Activities in San Diego
Hit the Beach
San Diego spoils us with so many great things that we often forget we’re home to some of America’s best beaches. With 31 beaches across 70 miles of coastline, there’s plenty of room to throw down a towel, grab a good book, and bask in the San Diego sunshine. For a classic boardwalk experience or a game of volleyball, hit Mission Beach. For a little slice of seclusion, try Torrey Pines State Beach. Looking to work on your longboarding skills? Join the crowd at Tourmaline. If you need more inspiration, check out our list of less-crowded beaches.
Tennis & Basketball at Local Courts
Whether you’re looking for a pick-up game of basketball or want to work on your backhand with your tennis partner, San Diego offers plenty of free courts to get your game on. Popular b-ball courts include Robb Field in Ocean Beach, Mission Bay Park, North Clairemont Recreation Center, the Embarcadero, and Allied Gardens Rec Center. For tennis, check out the PB Rec Center, Coronado Cays, and City Heights Rec Center. See a full list of San Diego city tennis courts here and basketball courts here.
Hike Mission Trails Regional Park
Only 20 minutes from downtown, Mission Trails is a beloved local area for hiking and climbing. The park holds a visitor center for kids, over 60 hiking trails, ample toprope climbing routes, and lots of scenic views. The visitor center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, so make sure to park outside the gated lot if you plan on staying for sunset.
1 Father Junipero Serra Trail
Watch the Gliders at Torrey Pines
Visit the Torrey Pines Gliderport atop the cliffs at Black’s Beach to see paragliders and hang gliders suspended in La Jolla’s skies. For a fully free outing, pack your own lunch and bring a picnic blanket. If you leave your hoagie at home, check out the Cliffhanger Cafe at the Gliderport, which offers affordable sub from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Parking at the dirt lot is free but can be challenging during the school year, as it doubles as overflow parking for UCSD students.
2800 Torrey Pines Scenic Drive, La Jolla
Watch a Sunset at Sunset Cliffs
You know what you’re getting with a name like Sunset Cliffs—beautiful coastal views, surfers gliding along the water, and colorful tapestries in the sky every day at sundown. Each evening, you’re bound to see a handful of engagements, several bougie picnics, and potentially the elusive “green flash”—if you can avoid blinking. After 28 years of living in San Diego, I’m starting to believe the green flash is an urban legend. See for yourself.
1253 Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, Point Loma
Bike Around Mission Bay
Home to over 12 miles of bike paths, Mission Bay is a prime destination for cyclists to explore. The area’s many bridges connect its various beaches, so you can pedal past them all. Road warriors can extend their treks by circling Fiesta Island or continuing their ride through Ocean Beach and along Sunset Cliffs toward Cabrillo National Park. For more, see our article on San Diego’s most scenic bike paths.
1590 East Mission Bay Drive, Mission Bay
Explore Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
This East County hideaway offers visitors the chance to see wildflowers bloom, explore the iconic Slot Canyon, conquer rugged mountain bike trails, or catch a shooting star on a clear night. The park spans over 600,000 acres, allowing for free dispersed camping as long as your vehicle is parked one car length off the road and at least 100 yards away from a water source. Bring water, sunscreen, and an appetite for adventure.
200 Palm Canyon Drive, Borrego Springs
Picnic at Kate Sessions Park
One of the most quintessential San Diego activities is enjoying a picnic on the grassy hillside of Kate Sessions Park. Every weekend, swaths of residents gather at this Pacific Beach park to practice slacklining, graze on charcuterie, and let their dogs get their zoomies out. Visit at sunset to see bright orange skies draped over Mission Bay and the San Diego skyline in the distance.
5115 Soledad Road, Pacific Beach
Snorkel at La Jolla Cove
With just a snorkel mask (which, if you don’t have one, you can typically buy or rent for under $20), swimmers can explore the underwater oasis of the Matlahuayl State Marine Reserve. Beneath the surface, you may spot leopard sharks, sea turtles, dolphins, and various coral-dwelling crustaceans. Warm water in La Jolla persists from June to early October, so you won’t need to invest in a wetsuit.
1100 Coast Boulevard, La Jolla
Explore Seaport Village
Seaport Village is a great place to spend time by the bay without having to pay. The spot is ideal for strolling with Fido, taking little ones to the park, or catching a free live music performance every weekend. Looking for more entertainment? Every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., visit the Tuna Harbor Dockside Market and observe local fishermen unloading their latest catches.
849 West Harbor Drive, Downtown
Fish Off the Oceanside Pier
Practice your jigging and rigging skills on the Oceanside Pier for the afternoon. Along the pillars, fisherman cast their lines in hopes of catching sand bass, perch, mackerel, and halibut. Fishing licenses are not required for fishing off a public pier, so cast to your heart’s desire or your bucket’s capacity. You might just reel in tonight’s dinner.
Spend a Day in Julian
A trip to Julian is well worth the gas money, especially since it provides a number of complimentary adventures once you arrive. Pop into this beloved small town off the 8 for a taste of life in the countryside. Embark on the Julian History Hunt with an answer card provided by the Julian Town Hall, hike the Stonewall Trail for a view of Cuyamaca Mountain, or take a free tour through the Julian Jail, home to the city’s first indoor toilet. No, you cannot use the toilet.
Free Museums & Attractions in San Diego
Visit Balboa Park
Built for the Panama–California Exposition of 1915, Balboa Park has provided free entertainment to San Diegans for over 100 years. Among the park’s 18 museums, seven offer gratis entry (with optional donations), including the Timken Museum, the San Diego History Center, and the Museum of Photographic Arts. The remaining museums have monthly free days for residents, which you can find in our Balboa Park museum guide. Other complimentary attractions in the park include the Botanical Building (once construction wraps later this year) and the Spanish Village Art Center.
Old Town San Diego
It’s easy to overlook Old Town when you’ve lived in San Diego your whole life, but the spot is rich with hidden gems, family-friendly activities, and free attractions. Step back in time to experience San Diego circa 1830 with various gratis experiences, including a blacksmith demonstration at Blackhawk Livery Stable, a carriage tour at Seeley Stable, and a walkthrough of San Diego’s oldest schoolhouse, Estudillo House. Old Town is a must-see for local history buffs on a budget.
Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center
One of 19 US Olympic and Paralympic training sites across the country, Chula Vista’s Elite Athlete Training Center is the place to see our nation’s best athletes prepare for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Built in 1995 and encompassing 155 acres, the complex offers free self-guided tours of the training facilities for track and field, rowing, soccer, beach volleyball, cycling, BMX, and more.
2800 Olympic Parkway, Chula Vista
Birdwatching at Tijuana River Estuary
San Diego is the most biodiverse county in the continental US, and the South Bay offers plenty of outdoor spaces to connect with nature. One such place is the Tijuana River Estuary, bordering Imperial Beach. It’s a popular spot for birdwatching, nature walks, and casual bike rides. Here you can observe egrets fishing, creatures swimming in the waterways, and coyotes and bats emerging at sundown.
301 Caspian Way, Imperial Beach
Walk Through Chicano Park
Take a stroll through this San Diego neighborhood rich with Latino culture and history. Established in 1971, the park memorializes the people displaced during the construction of the Coronado Bridge. Today, Chicano Park serves as a sanctuary for the community, decorated with more than 100 murals, a number of statues, several gardens, and a playground. Once a year, the community gathers to celebrate Chicano Park Day, showcasing local artists, cuisine, and lowrider culture.
1949 Logan Avenue, Barrio Logan
Free Tour of Scripps Pier
Ever wondered what’s happening atop La Jolla’s Scripps Pier? During the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, visitors can enroll in a free one-hour tour of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, which researches our oceans, local sea life, and climate change. Tour reservations fill up fast, so be sure to reserve your spot well in advance.
8650 Kennel Way, La Jolla
San Diego Central Library
Catch up on your summer reading list at the colossal San Diego Central Library. Opened in 2013, the Central Library offers unique amenities, including the second-largest collection of baseball memorabilia, a garden courtyard, a start-up incubator center, an art gallery, 3D printing at the IDEA Lab, and more. While you’re at it, use your library card to secure your free California State Library Parks Pass, providing day access to over 200 state parks.
330 Park Boulevard, Downtown
Free Events in San Diego
Free Yoga Class at the Rady Shell
While the Rady Shell at Jacobs Park is typically home to big-ticket concerts, the venue also offers a massive, free monthly yoga class. Whether you’re a novice yogi or a human pretzel, everyone can benefit from some deep stretching in a judgment-free zone. RSVP on Eventbrite to reserve your spot for this flow led by an instructor from Fit Athletic.
222 Marina Park Way, Downtown
Hillcrest Walk in Art
Every first Thursday of the month from 5 to 10 p.m., art lovers can stroll through Hillcrest to view work from San Diego artists. Located in Mural Alley, which connects 4th and 5th streets to University Avenue, the free gathering offers live music, artist showcases, food vendors, and performances for connoisseurs of the arts.
435 University Avenue, Hillcrest
Mockingbird Improv’s Open Jam
Liberty Station’s Arts District offers loads of complimentary entertainment for San Diegans on a budget. On the first Thursday of each month, catch local comedy organization Mockingbird Improv’s Open Jam comedy show after strolling through the area’s free art galleries. Laughs are priceless, but Mockingbird Improv’s monthly show is supported by optional donations that fuel the nonprofit’s mission of bringing comedy to all walks of life.
2590 Truxtun Road, Suite 200, Point Loma
San Diego Winyl Club
Held at the west end of Balboa Park each Wednesday, Winyl Club is the hottest picnic in town. Local DJs serenade a crowd of hundreds at this laid-back gathering, which is family-friendly and popular with all ages. Pack snacks, a nice bottle of sauvignon blanc, and a group of your closest music-loving friends.
Visit Little Italy Mercato
Tip: Go grocery shopping before hitting the Little Italy Mercato on a Wednesday or Saturday to make all those produce stands and pop-up food vendors less tempting. Regardless of what’s in your wallet, the farmers market is a great excuse to take a stroll downtown, converse with your fellow neighbors, and connect with the city. Just blocks away is the San Diego bayfront, offering plenty of additional free attractions to fill the rest of your day.
600 West Date Street, Little Italy
Free Concerts at Spreckels Organ Pavilion
Every Sunday from 2 to 3 p.m., stop by the historic Spreckels Organ Pavilion for a free concert provided by the City of San Diego. The pavilion seats 2,400 for performances by the civic organist or guest artist, which offer the opportunity to hear the largest outdoor organ in the world, with over 4,500 pipes.
2125 Pan American East Road, Balboa Park
