1,000 FREE San Diego Activities and FUN things to do in San Diego is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to FREE fun things to see and do. Hopefully, it will jumpstart your engine and get you to realize that San Diego is Paradise on Earth when it comes to living in and enjoying every minute of the San Diego Adventure.
- 20 kid FREE Attractions
- 30 Parades Annually
- 30 Art Galleries at Spanish Village in Balboa Park
- 50 Maps & Walking & Driving Tours
- 54 miles of Beaches (La Jolla Shores is #1)
- 75 Places to eat offering kids eat FRE
- 75 Places to eat a FREE meal on your birthday
- 140 San Diego Festivals
- 200 Farmer’s Markets
- 250 Hiking Trails
- 340 City Parks for picnics & family outings
- Art: La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art free ages 25 & under
- Art: Art galleries line the block of Prospect Street in posh La Jolla
- Art: Timken Art Gallery in Balboa Park ALWAYS FREE
- Art: Mingei Museum Gallery in Balboa Park free to residents 3rd. Tue.
- Art: San Diego Art Institute Balboa Park free to residents 3rd. Tue.
- Art: San Diego Museum of Art free on 3rd Tue. for residents
- Art: Spanish Village Art Center in Balboa Park (21 Art Galleries) FREE
- Art: Art Walk at Liberty Station (August) Art Museums
- Art: Coronado open-air art walk at Spreckels Park weekends
- Antique District: Ocean Beach Antique District
- Antique District: Adams Avenue
- Bikes: 240 miles of bike lane tours of San Diego sights
- Boat Launching is FREE at all lakes & Bays in the county
- Boat Parade: San Diego Bay Boat Parades (2 times in December)
- Boat Parade Mission Bay Boat Parade (December)
- Body Surfing: World Championship July In Oceanside
- Camping
- Christmas Lights: Tree Lane of Lights, Rancho Penasquitos
- Dog Parks & Beaches
- Farmers markets 200 countywide
- Festival: Festival of the Bells at Mission San Diego de Alcala (June)
- Festival: Lemon Capitol of the World in Chula Vista
- Festivals: Sandcastle Building Contest July in Imperial Beach
- Fishing at all piers in the county is FREE
- Fly Fishing Lessons Free at Otay Lakes
- Flower Fields in bloom (Mar 1–May 10) Carlsbad
- Free admission to SD Zoo on Founders Day Oct. 2
- Free admission to SD Safari Park Oct. 2 Founder’s Day
- Garden: City of Coronado Home Front Garden competition
- Garden: Self Realization Fellowship, Encinitas
- Garden: Water Conservation Garden (a gardener’s #1 must-see)
- Glampinghub, luxury camping
- Gliders at Glider Port at Torrey Pines viewing platform
- Hikes: Rancho Penasquitos Canyon County Preserve
- Hikes: Cowles Mountain (highest in County)
- Hikes: Iron Mountain 5.2 mile (1 hr.)
- Hikes: Mt. Woodson Summit & Potato Chip Rock
- Hikes: Around Lake Miramar
- Hikes: Around Lake Hodges
- Hikes: Around Otay Lake
- Kite Festival: Ocean Beach Annual Kite Festival
- Military Families: Free Admission to the Zoo
- Military Families: Free Admission to SeaWorld
- Military Families: Free admission to Air & Space Museum
- Military Families: Free admission to the USS Midway
- Museum: Bonita Historical Museum
- Museum: Flying Leather Neck Marine Museum
- Museum: US Marine Museum at Marine Recruit Depot
- Museum: Free admission for Children to USS Midway
- Museum: Heritage Museum of the Americas (#1must see Museum)
- Museum: Coronado History Museum
- Museum: Olympic Museum & Training Facility, in Eastlake
- Museum: International Cottages Balboa Park (weekends)
- Music: Organ concerts year around balboa Park
- Nude Beach: Black’s Beach Bathing Suit Optional Beach
- Octoberfest La Mesa Village
- Over the line championship for two weekends in July on Fiesta Island
- Parks: Fiesta Island at Mission Bay
- Parks: Old Town Historic Park No admission & Free parking
- Parks: Balboa Park Free admission Tuesday’s for locals
- Parks: 340 City Parks for picnics and family outings
- Parks: Mission Bay 4,600-acre Aquatic Park
- Parks: Mission Trails Regional Park 65 miles of trails & info. Center
- Parks: Anza Borrego State Park, larger than the state of Rhode Island
- Parks: La Jolla Scripps Park at La Jolla Cove
- Scuba Diving at La Jolla Cove Underwater Park
- Street Fair: Carlsbad Annual Street Fair (April)
- Street Fairs: Encinitas Street Fairs
- Street Fair: Little Italy 🇮🇹 Feta (yet to be announced)
- Street Fair: Ocean Beach Street Fair (June 26, 2021)
- Street Fair: Rancho Bernardo Street Fair (Oct)
- Sunset: at Sunset Cliffs in Point Loma. See a green flash!
- Surfing: Summer Girl Surf Pro championship
- Surfing: Luau and Legends of Surf Invitational event La Jolla
- Surfing: California Surf Museum Tuesday Free Admission
- Tide Pooling Ocean Beach and La Jolla Shores
- Tours: Guided Gaslamp Historic tour
- Tours: Self-Guided Tour of Little Italy
- Tours: Self–Guided Tour Old Town
- Tours: Self-Guided Tour of Hotel Del Coronado (circa 1888)
- Views: Mt. Helix highest hill accessible by car in east county
- Views: Mt Soledad Veterans Memorial Park
- Walk: Self-Guided Embarcadero Walk (3 miles)
- Walk: Sunset Cliffs on Sunset Cliffs Blvd. Pt. Loma
- Walk: 50 Self-guided tours featured in Sandiegan.com
