San Diego Natural History Museum is one of The 15 Best Places for Exhibits in San Diego.

1. San Diego Natural History Museum

8.7
1788 El Prado (in Balboa Park), San Diego, CA
History Museum · Balboa Park · 54 tips and reviews

Mark K.Mark Kelley: awesome live reptile exhibit going on now!

MRS B B.MRS B Banegas: So much interesting information. Great exhibits.

Caroline L.Caroline Li: The temporary whale exhibit was beautiful, loved all the photography as well

San Diego Zoo is one of The 15 Best Places for Exhibits in San Diego.

2. San Diego Zoo

9.4
2920 Zoo Dr, San Diego, CA
Zoo · Balboa Park · 563 tips and reviews

Vuong N.Vuong Nguyen: Check out the park walking up to the Polar Bear exhibit and then take the bus down for a cool summary of the park

echoecho: Impressive conservation efforts. Super knowledgeable staff (be sure to take advantage of the bus tour, sit right upper deck). And of course PANDAS (1 of 4 zoos in US exhibiting pandas) and BIG CATS!

JonathanJonathan: Expensive. Lots of hills. Great animal exhibits.

Birch Aquarium is one of The 15 Best Places for Exhibits in San Diego.

3. Birch Aquarium

8.5
2300 Expedition Way, San Diego, CA
Aquarium · La Jolla Shores · 118 tips and reviews

Tracy C.Tracy Cotton: The view from the Tide Pool exhibit was worth the admission and a cool little aquarium as well.

@socalwithkids@socalwithkids: Be sure to visit the outdoor exhibits, including the tidepools, Boundless Energy exhibit, and the sharks. Visit on an afternoon & catch the sunset over La Jolla. Gorgeous view!

Eddie V's Prime SeafoodEddie V's Prime Seafood: We love the Green Flash Concert series! Enjoy the sunset and live music then head inside and check out the beautiful aquarium exhibits!

San Diego Museum of Us is one of The 15 Best Places for Exhibits in San Diego.

4. San Diego Museum of Us

8.0
1350 El Prado, San Diego, CA
History Museum · Balboa Park · 33 tips and reviews

Cherie D.Cherie De Sues: Free on Tuesdays and the museum has great dinosaur exhibits, bones and videos. Outside the sunflowers are blooming, and the botanical gardens are close by!

K12 IncK12 Inc: Did you know? Like the zoo, and other museums in Balboa Park, the Museum of Man began as “The Story of Man through the Ages,” an exhibit at San Diego's 1915 Panama-California Exposition. Read more.

Arthur M.Arthur Mitchell: Located in the heart of Balboa Park, this museum features many fine exhibits on the Native Americans of Southern California.

Elephant Odyssey is one of The 15 Best Places for Exhibits in San Diego.

5. Elephant Odyssey

9.5
2920 Zoo Dr (San Diego Zoo), San Diego, CA
Zoo Exhibit · Balboa Park · 10 tips and reviews

Natasha B.Natasha Baucas: You'll also find the lions, 3-toed sloth, and leopard exhibits there.

Jackee F.Jackee F.: Amazing! The most extensive elephant exhibit of all time.

Katie M.Katie M: The whole exhibit is amazing but be sure to check out the tar pit demo/replica in addition to admiring the elephants. Fascinating historical stuff!

The San Diego Museum of Art is one of The 15 Best Places for Exhibits in San Diego.

6. The San Diego Museum of Art

8.7
1450 El Prado (in Balboa Park), San Diego, CA
Art Museum · Balboa Park · 37 tips and reviews

San Diego ReaderSan Diego Reader: Exhibit Review: "The Lush Life of Toulouse-Lautrec" Read more.

The Bailey Gardiner TeamThe Bailey Gardiner Team: Spent the whole day at the Museum this weekend, and strongly recommend visiting the Hodgkin & Gainsborough exhibitions before May 1. Notice the similar brushwork of both artists - very cool.

San Diego ReaderSan Diego Reader: W.S. DiPiero examines the "Thomas Gainsborough and the Modern Woman" exhibit, and explains what a "stomacher" is in this week's Reader Read more.

Museum of Photographic Arts is one of The 15 Best Places for Exhibits in San Diego.

7. Museum of Photographic Arts

7.8
1649 El Prado (in Balboa Park), San Diego, CA
Art Museum · Balboa Park · 20 tips and reviews

chelseychelsey: Awesome exhibit up right now!

skulldilocksskulldilocks: Awesome exhibit by Jessica Lange

Connie C.Connie Chiu: Me of my favorite photography galleries around. I especially love the photography at night exhibit.

Polar Bear Plunge is one of The 15 Best Places for Exhibits in San Diego.

8. Polar Bear Plunge

8.8
2920 Zoo Dr (Northern Frontier, San Diego Zoo), San Diego, CA
Zoo Exhibit · Balboa Park · 24 tips and reviews

Shannon F.Shannon Flood: The male in thus exhibit has to share space with his girlfriend and sister.

Miriam G.Miriam Goldman: One of the best exhibits there. If you're not up-close and personal with the bears, just wait. They will come out and it will be worth it.

Erica D.Erica Derobbio: Awesome exhibit.

Tiger Trail is one of The 15 Best Places for Exhibits in San Diego.

9. Tiger Trail

9.3
San Diego Zoo's Safari Park, Escondido, CA
Hiking Trail · Northeastern San Diego · 7 tips and reviews

Matt S.Matt Steele: Probably the nicest exhibit at either the Zoo or Safari Park.

JNETJNET: Beautiful exhibit to see tigers :)

eric b.eric bornemann: Beautifully themed area for tiger viewing. Cute little kids playgrounds well.

Gorilla Exhibit is one of The 15 Best Places for Exhibits in San Diego.

10. Gorilla Exhibit

9.0
2920 Zoo Dr (Lost Forest, San Diego Zoo), San Diego, CA
Zoo Exhibit · Balboa Park · 6 tips and reviews

Katie M.Katie M: Fantastically designed exhibit with multiple places to watch the gorillas from. Such a lively bunch.

San Diego ZooSan Diego Zoo: We have 2 gorilla family troops, and they trade off on exhibit. Each is led by a mature male known as a silverback. One troop is led by Paul Donn and the other by Memba.

Miriam G.Miriam Goldman: Beautiful. They're so humanoid, it's stunning.

Balboa Park is one of The 15 Best Places for Exhibits in San Diego.

11. Balboa Park

9.6
1549 El Prado (at Park Blvd), San Diego, CA
Park · Balboa Park · 334 tips and reviews

Ingred C.Ingred Chamberlin: Check out the Automotive Museum's Steampunk Exhibit this summer. Discounted admission if you're dressed steampunk.

ThrillistThrillist: Hit up the nation’s largest sports museum and don’t miss the 40 exhibits of local athletes who are way better at sports than you.

Arturo S.Arturo Salinas: La exposición de Piratas, en el museo de ciencias naturales está muy bien para la chiquillería.

Mingei International Museum is one of The 15 Best Places for Exhibits in San Diego.

12. Mingei International Museum

7.8
1439 El Prado (at Balboa Park), San Diego, CA
Art Museum · Balboa Park · 11 tips and reviews

Pablo AlbertoPablo Alberto: Vale la pena conocerlo, las exposiciones son rotativas. Algunas cosas están buenas y otras no tanto

Nico P.Nico Pitney: "Beautifully renovated in 2022, boasting additional exhibit space, a new courtyard and outdoor terraces and a flexible theater space + two new dining options"

Leo H.Leo Hwang: Very cool. Small but wonderful displays.

Gorilla Forest is one of The 15 Best Places for Exhibits in San Diego.

13. Gorilla Forest

8.5
San Diego Safari Park, Escondido, CA
Zoo Exhibit · 5 tips and reviews

Katie C.Katie Cox: Baby gorilla on exhibit!

Jeff S.Jeff S: Monroe the baby is here on exhibit.

Mary Kate C.Mary Kate Carroll: Great way to watch the gorillas

San Diego History Center is one of The 15 Best Places for Exhibits in San Diego.

14. San Diego History Center

8.0
1649 El Prado #3, San Diego, CA
History Museum · Balboa Park · 4 tips and reviews

Sean R.Sean Robison: Fun Dr. Seuss exhibit.

min J.min Jegal: Handbell concert is warm-hearting! Beautiful sound!! :-) It's a must!

Mary S.Mary S: One of the many museums in balboa park

Hippo Exhibit is one of The 15 Best Places for Exhibits in San Diego.

15. Hippo Exhibit

8.9
2920 Zoo Dr (Lost Forest, San Diego Zoo), San Diego, CA
Zoo Exhibit · Balboa Park · 7 tips and reviews

Erica D.Erica Derobbio: Amazing exhibit.

Miriam G.Miriam Goldman: The hippos both hang out together in the armpit of the underwater section of the enclosure. Great for a selfie with the beast!

San Diego ZooSan Diego Zoo: Our hippos Funani & Otis just had a male calf in January 2011 named Adhama. River hippos are considered the most dangerous animals in Africa.