Best Museums in San Diego

How to choose a museum in San Diego

San Diego has about 110 museums in this directory, from Balboa Park's famous collection to small specialty museums. Museum of Illusions in the Gaslamp Quarter, the Craftsmanship Museum in Carlsbad, the USS Midway Museum downtown and the Cabrillo National Monument Visitor Center in Point Loma top our list.

Balboa Park alone has more than a dozen museums within walking distance, so it's the easiest place to see several in one day. Many Balboa Park museums offer free admission to San Diego residents on rotating Tuesdays; check the park's schedule before you go. For the USS Midway, plan at least three hours.

Before you go: a quick checklist

• San Diego residents with ID get free admission to many Balboa Park museums on a rotating Tuesday schedule. See our Free Things to Do guide for this month’s dates.
• Visiting several Balboa Park museums? Compare the Balboa Park Explorer pass with single tickets.
• Check for special exhibitions, which can cost extra even on free days.
• Ask about military, student and senior discounts.
• Many museums are closed one weekday each week, so check hours first.

How we ranked San Diego's best museums

We started with every museum in San Diego County that is open, verifiable and reviewed by visitors, then scored each one on review quality weighted by review volume, so a perfect score from a handful of visitors can't outrank years of consistent praise from thousands. Rankings are editorial and never for sale; paid placements are clearly labeled Sponsored and sit outside the ranking.