There are many things to see and enjoy in San Diego that are absolutely free. With 70 miles of beautiful beaches, near-perfect weather and a variety of summer street fairs, concerts, and arts and cultural events, San Diego offers a fun and inexpensive summer getaway. Check out the list below!

  1. Head to one of San Diego’s over 30 beaches

Put on your bathing suit, all are open to the public! It’s perfect for body surfing, boogie boarding, building sandcastles, collecting seashells and basking in the sun.

 

  1. Take San Diego’s 59-Mile Scenic Drive

Hit the road and take in the sights like city’s charming neighbourhoods, unique attractions and natural wonders.

 

  1. Catch a number of free summer concerts

Take advantage of San Diego’s warm summer nights. The concerts are held throughout the county.

 

  1. Visit House of Pacific Relations International CottagesinBalboa Park

This happens during the free International Cottages’ Lawn Programs, a summer-long event where a different country is celebrated each Sunday through ethnic foods, songs and dance.

 

  1. Explore La Jolla Cove

Catch a magnificent Pacific sunset and watch sea lions play along the shoreline.

 

  1. Visit Seaport Villageand the new Headquarters at Seaport

Best time to go there is on weekends when there are free entertainments.

 

  1. Stroll through the 16½-block historic Gaslamp Quarter

Located in downtown San Diego, you can find unique stores and numerous restaurants, nightclubs and bars here, many of which are set in turn-of-the-century Victorian architecture.

 

  1. Visit Cajon Classic Cruise

Marvel at over 400 classic and specialty cars on display every Wednesday throughout the summer in downtown El Cajon. You can also listen to live music, and have food or go shopping.

 

  1. Take free fly-fishing lessonsfrom the San Diego Fly Fishers club

Lessons are available on Sunday mornings from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Lake Murray, in La Mesa.

 

  1. Visit Farmers’ Markets all over the city

Sample more than 200 varieties of fresh produce grown in San Diego at one of the region’s many Farmers’ Markets, held daily at locations throughout the county.

 

  1. Head out to Spreckels Organ Pavilion

Located in Balboa Park, enjoy free outdoor organ concerts every Sunday at 2:00 PM. There’s also the Centennial International Summer Organ Festival which occurs on Monday evenings at 7:30 PM through August. This June, Twilight in the Park free concerts are held at 6:30 PM on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday summer evenings.

 

  1. Have a workout in Mission Bay Park

Bikers, walkers and joggers share more than 20 miles of scenic paths winding through sunlight and shade near the shoreline with workout courses at planned stations along the route.

 

  1. Experience the annual Ocean Beach Street Fair & Chili Cook-off

This month, the festival features more than 200 vendors, local artists, food, a children’s area and entertainment on five stages.

 

  1. Have fun at Mission Beach and Pacific Beach Boardwalk

Rollerblade, skateboard, ride a bicycle or people watch along the scenic three-mile boardwalk running along the coastline.

 

  1. Catch San Diego’s many Fourth of July fireworks and celebrations

The activities are being held in numerous communities throughout the county. The Port of San Diego celebrates with the Big Bay Boom fireworks extravaganza over San Diego Bay, the largest fireworks display in the county.

 

  1. Go to  Laguna

Have a hike, bike or picnic while enjoying the fresh mountain air whispering through the pines.

 

  1. Hike the trails of Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve Park

Witness the rare and elegant Torrey pine trees, a number of animal species and miles of unspoiled beaches below.

 

  1. Visit Mission Trails Regional Park

This park features a state-of-the-art Visitors Center where guests explore and learn about the wonders of nature and the native people who once lived on the land. Don’t miss the over 40 miles of natural and developed hiking and biking trails.

 

  1. Go scuba diving or snorkeling La Jolla Shores and Cove

See spectacular creatures of the sea in some of the clearest waters on the California coast.

 

  1. Watch the annual World Championship Over-the-Line Tournament

Two weekends each July, watch San Diego’s original boisterous beach softball event at Fiesta Island on Mission Bay.

 

  1. Stroll through the new and beautiful Embarcadero

Chill at the new Waterfront Park, promenades and an 830-foot-long water fountain. Visitors can view impressive public art sculptures and memorials celebrating San Diego’s international ties, cultural diversity and military and maritime heritage.

 

  1. Explore the iconic 24-mile Bayshore Bikeway

This is a must-do for bicyclists visiting San Diego

 

  1. Have your heart melt in San Diego’s dog beaches

Watch tail-waggin’, Frisbee-catchin’ and stick-fetchin’ dogs splash in the surf. Man’s best friend is permitted to roam leash-free at all hours of the day on designated beaches in Ocean Beach, Coronado and Del Mar.

 

  1. Partake in the annual San Diego LGBT Pride Parade and Festival

This is one of the most popular events of its kind in the country. Free festivities include a mile-long parade through Hillcrest in July.

 

  1. Experience the Julian Gold Rush Daysin June

Celebrate the discovery of gold in the East County mountain community of Julian on the weekend which includes gold panning, gold mine tours, face painting, historic skits and more.

 

  1. Take free tours in San Diego’s local craft beer scene

Some great breweries include Green Flash Brewing Co., La Jolla Brewing Company, Karl Strauss Brewery and Stone Brewing Company. Beer lovers can go behind the scenes and sample several microbrews from some of the world’s top breweries.

 

  1. Hang 10 at the California Surf Museum

Admission is free on Tuesdays. This museum houses a permanent collection of historic boards, photographs and videos on Highway 101 in Oceanside. You can explore its colorful and educational display on the sport of surfing and the legends who braved the waters over generations.

 

  1. Take a walk or run along the 65+ miles of trails of Balboa Park

Never miss the largest urban cultural park in the United States, and discover its beautiful Spanish Colonial-Revival architecture and glorious gardens. Also, visitors can take advantage of the Park’s variety of other free offerings, including ranger-led walking tours.

 

  1. Have fun at Hillcrest Cityfest Street Fairi

Happening in August, catch a lot of crafts, food booths, three entertainment stages and beer gardens.

 

  1. Gather for a cozy beach bonfire

Have one in San Diego County’s bonfire-friendly beaches, located in Coronado, Ocean Beach, Oceanside, Mission Beach and Pacific Beach.

 

  1. Take a self-guided walking tour of the UCSD Stuart Collection

Enjoy a display of contemporary sculptures scattered throughout the University of California, San Diego campus in La Jolla. Tour maps are available at the Gilman Drive campus entrance.

 

  1. Spend an afternoon at Tidelands Parkin Coronado.

The park’s 22 bayfront acres feature four baseball fields, a playground, skatepark, picnic tables, small beach with an exercise course, boat access, fishing pier and bike and pedestrian paths.

 

  1. Swim at the tidepoolsof La Jolla Cove and Point Loma

Make sure to go there when the tide is low, when the pools are teeming with aquatic life.

 

  1. Take a drive to the top of Mt. Soledad in La Jolla

Home of the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial, enjoy a breathtaking, 360-degree views of San Diego. Spectacular views also await at the top of Mt. Helix in La Mesa, offering visitors a birds-eye glimpse of San Diego’s East County communities.

 

  1. Spend an evening under the stars watching a free movie

After a day enjoying San Diego’s beautiful beaches, world-class attractions, numerous golf courses, fabulous shopping and amazing cultural institutions, it’s now time to relax.

 

  1. Visit to theChicano Park Murals

Established by activists in 1970, this cultural park has received international recognition as a major public art site for its commanding mural paintings set underneath the San Diego-Coronado Bridge. Some of the murals narrate the history of Barrio Logan where the park is located.

 

  1. Take a hikealong any one of the county’s many trials.

Wake up early and explore San Diego’s natural surroundings.

 

  1. Catch the annual Unleashed by Petco Surf Dog Competition in Imperial Beach in July

Visitors can watch the fun as more than 40 dogs compete in small dog, large dog and tandem surfing challenges.

 

  1. Explore Old Town State Historic Park

Experience San Diego’s first “downtown.” The six-block park features 12 acres of Mexican lore and historical sites presented in shops, restaurants, museums and several carefully preserved or restored adobe and wooden buildings.

  1. Visit the S. Olympic Training Center

Located in Chula Vista, there are free guided tours of the 150-acre lakefront facility, offered at 11:00 AM on Saturday; tours begin at the Copley Visitor Center. Self-guided tours are also available Mondays-Saturdays – 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM.

 

  1. Visit the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego

It offers year-round free admission to guests 25 and under with valid ID at both its downtown and La Jolla location as part of its effort to engage youth in San Diego’s global art scene.

 

  1. Explore Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum

Over select summer weekends, former Marine pilots invite pilots and non-pilots of all ages to get behind the stick during Open Cockpit Days.

 

  1. Experience the annual Switchfoot Bro-Ambeach day in July

This features a surf contest, live music performances, and nerf surf jousting exposition between surf contest heats. The event will welcome back the annual Rob Machado Bro Junior.

 

  1. Visit the Self-Realization Fellowship Ashram Centerin Encinitas

It is here that Paramahansa Yogananda, one of the preeminent spiritual figures of our time, wrote his “Autobiography of a Yogi.” The meditation gardens are open to the public Tuesdays-Sundays – 12:00 to 4:00 PM.

 

  1. Take a stroll at Oceanside Municipal Pier

It’s the longest wooden pier on the U.S. West Coast. The pier is a perfect setting for fishing, walking and wave watching.

 

  1. Browse through the Ocean Beach Antique District

Located along Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach, it offers the largest concentration of antique and collectible dealers in San Diego County. Here, guests can find one-of-a-kind antiques, mid-century modern furniture, fine estate sale items, vintage jewelry and specialty memorabilia.

 

  1. Walk along the Batiquitos Lagoonin Carlsbad

Look for birds, insects, plants, fish and animals in one of the few remaining tidal wetlands on the Southern California coast. The nature reserve is open Monday-Friday – 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM and Saturdays-Sundays – 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

 

  1. Have fun during the Festival of the Bellsin July

This is the anniversary celebration of Mission San Diego de Alcalá, the first of California’s 21 missions. Guests can celebrate the beginning of Christianity in the western United States with food, entertainment, dance and traditional activities like the blessing of the bells.

 

  1. Visit Queen Califia’s Magical Circle

This is a free sculpture garden in Escondido, open on second Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and provides docents to answer question about artist Niki de Saint Phalle’s (1930-2002) nine mythic large-scale sculptures within a circular “snake wall” and maze entryway.

 

  1. Experience San Diego Arts with a Self-guided Tour

San Diego’s culture scene is rich in colors, flavors, and sounds. See everything from breathtaking waterfront views to one of a kind artworks.

 

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