10 Best Free Things to Do in San Diego

One of the best free San Diego attractions is none other than the visiting one of the beautiful area beaches. There are several beaches to choose from in San Diego with some of the most popular being La Jolla Cove, Mission Beach, Coronado Central Beach, Ocean Beach Pier & City Beach and Pacific Beach.

A family beach day is always a great way to create memories! Families can spend time together building sandcastles, swimming, surfing or just have a meaningful chat while sunbathing. Let's just say, a free day at the beach can be just as good as the most expensive San Diego attraction you can find!

Another great free activity for families, couples and anyone looking for a fun activity is going for a bike ride around Mission Bay. The Mission Bay bike path is a paved trail that loops around the bay. It's a great option for families who want to get outdoors, exercise and get some fresh air!

The bike path is anywhere between 3 miles and 19 miles depending on which route you choose to take. While riding through Mission Bay, there will be views of the aquatic park, palm trees and of course, the bay.

The Children's Pool in La Jolla is another popular, free activity where families can spend a day enjoying sunshine and the area's wildlife. This unique San Diego attraction dates back to 1932 when a seawall was built to protect the shore from oncoming waves, making it the safest place for children to swim.

Now, the Children's Pool is popularly known for the abundance of harbor seals and sea lions that can be found bathing there. For those interested in witnessing wildlife firsthand, Children's Pool in La Jolla is the perfect choice.

Do keep in mind that although swimmers are allowed, it is highly discouraged due to concerns about water quality and safety.

One of our favorite things to do is to have a camp fire along the bay in Mission Bay. It is great for couples, families or just a group of friends.

There is nothing like sitting along the bay while roasting marshmallows when the sun is setting over the bay providing from some iconic photos of Mission Bay.

There a quite a few places along Mission Bay that have fire pits where you can have a camp fire. Since Mission Bay is a park operated by the City of San Diego, the fires are only permitted between 5 am and midnight giving you enough time to enjoy your fire at no cost.

One of our favorite locations for this is at Vacation Isle with the bay to the west so you can see the sunsetting over the bay!

For families searching to get a piece of southern California history, spend an afternoon exploring the state's birthplace, better known as Old Town San Diego. There are a variety of preserved historic buildings that will take visitors back to when the town was first created in the 1820s.

Old Town also features a haunted history! Visitors can take a ghost tour to hear the ghost stories or checkout one of the other most haunted places in San Diego for even more paranormal fun!

Old Town State Historical Park will give you a glimpse into San Diego's past through its collection of 19th century businesses and homes. There's also the Whaley House Museum which has been designated a haunted house in the state of California - enter if you dare!

Those are just a few options of places to visit in Old Town and there are plenty more for the budget conscious traveler to explore!

Balboa Park is an urban cultural park that boasts over 1,200 acres. Visitors will have access to free amenities and attractions like: hiking trails, dog parks, interactive sculptures, museums, park tours and gardens.

In addition, there are free seasonal activities such as: the Annual Ethnic Food Fair in spring, Chinese New Year in spring, summer movies in the park, twilight in the park during summer, and kids free October and December nights.

While not completely free, heavily discounted admission to the world-famous San Diego Zoo as well as many of the more than a dozen Balboa Park museums located in the park can be had when you purchase a Go City San Diego pass in advance of your travels. Save even more when you stack our additional savings on top of the discounted rates!

Balboa Park truly offers it all and will easily be an entire day filled with fun.

What better way to have a romantic evening than watching the sunset on the beach? Pacific Beach and La Jolla are ideal locations to spend an intimate evening with your significant other as you watch the setting sun over the ocean.

To make the night even more special, pack a dinner or some snacks to enjoy with each other, all for free as San Diego’s beaches are all free for the public to explore. Many beaches also have free parking to make sure your adventure doesn’t come with any unexpected costs!

One of the best places to spend the day exploring in San Diego is the Embarcadero. Embarcadero is a Spanish word that means "the landing place" and in San Diego county, it is just that! This San Diego attraction is home to the USS Midway, Seaport Village and is also the San Diego cruise terminal.

Spend time walking around Embarcadero to see some of the best sights San Diego has to offer along the San Diego Bay. A few notable areas include: Seaport Village which is a waterfront marketplace that features restaurants and shopping and Embarcadero Park South where you can catch the symphony playing during the summer.

Torrey Pine State Natural Reserve is home to over 3,000 of the nation's rarest pine trees and is 2,000 acres of coastal state park. Head to Torrey Pine State Natural Reserve to explore eight miles of trails and witness beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean.

The reserve features hiking trails for every experience level. There are family-friendly hiking trails and more advanced hiking trails for the ultimate outdoor enthusiasts. No matter the experience level, Torrey Pine State Natural Reserve in La Jolla, California will make for a noteworthy hiking encounter.

Mission Trails Regional Park, also known as the third Jewel in the City of San Diego Park System, is one of the largest urban parks in the United States and is the home to numerous popular hiking trails including: Cowles Mountain, Kwaay Paay Peak and Old Mission Dam Historic Site. There are around 65 miles of trails and over 7,200 acres where hikers and mountain bikers can go to spend their day making memories.

The Mission Trails Regional Park not only offers visitors a variety of hiking trails, it also has a notable history dating back to 1974 where it was used by the Kumeyaay Indians to store water for the Mission San Diego de Alcalá. Head out to this popular hiking trail for a fun filled day of history, fresh air and wildlife!