Parks and gardens in San Diego

San Diego's green spaces range from the 1,200-acre Balboa Park, home to Spanish Colonial Revival architecture and diverse botanical collections, to the historic grounds of Old Town. The city features specialized sites like the Japanese Friendship Garden, the whimsical Harper's Topiary Garden, and dedicated desert and rose gardens. Cultural landmarks include Chicano Park, located under the San Diego–Coronado Bridge and known for its extensive mural collection, and the lath-enclosed Botanical Building, one of the world's largest such structures.

San Diego Parks and Gardens — Map

Leandro Neumann Ciuffo / CC BY 2.0

A

Balboa Park

Historic 1,200-acre urban park featuring museums, gardens, theaters, and the San Diego Zoo. Known for its Spanish Colonial Revival and Mediterranean Revival architecture and cultural attractions.

Bernard Gagnon / CC BY-SA 3.0

B

Botanical Building

Situated in Balboa Park, this botanical building and the adjacent lily pond is one of the most photographed scenery in the park.

C

Old Town San Diego Historic District

A historic district encompassing the site of the first European settlement in California. It contains numerous buildings from the 1820–1870 period, reflecting the region's Mexican and early American history.

D

Harper's Topiary Garden

A private residential garden in Mission Hills featuring over 50 hand-trimmed topiaries. The collection includes diverse shapes such as elephants, whales, and dinosaurs, all visible from the public sidewalk.

Visitor7 / CC BY-SA 3.0

E

Zoro Garden

Zoro Garden is a 6-acre sunken garden within Balboa Park in San Diego, California. It is located between the Reuben H.

F

Japanese Friendship Garden

A 12-acre garden in Balboa Park representing the bond between San Diego and Yokohama. It features a large koi pond, a bonsai exhibit, a ceremonial teahouse, and traditional stone lanterns.

G

Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden

This Balboa Park garden features over 1,600 rose bushes representing more than 130 varieties. The display includes hybrid teas, climbers, and floribundas, with peak blooming occurring between March and December.

H

Desert Garden

Established in 1976, this 2.5-acre site in Balboa Park showcases more than 1,300 desert plants. The collection includes succulents and drought-tolerant species from across the globe, particularly vibrant during winter months.

Rpotance / CC BY-SA 4.0

I

Chicano Park

Chicano Park is a 32,000 square meter park located beneath the San Diego–Coronado Bridge in Barrio Logan, a predominantly Chicano or…

J

Spreckels Park

A nice park with restrooms and playgrounds for all age groups, also suitable for picnics.

Racemanryan / CC BY-SA 3.0

K

Old Town San Diego State Historical Park

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, located in the Old Town neighborhood of San Diego, California, is a state protected historical park…

Other Lists

San Diego's Absolute Essentials San Diego's Sacred Sites Historic Piers San Diego Museums & Galleries