San Diego Natural History Museum

San Diego Natural History Museum

San Diego Natural History Museum
4
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Features fascinating exhibitions and a giant-screen theater showing films with a focus on the natural world. The Museum’s award-winning exhibit design team creates exhibitions that focus on the unique and biodiverse southern California region. In addition, the Museum hosts several traveling exhibitions each year which teach visitors about our natural world as it is today and as it was in the past.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles461 reviews
Excellent
148
Very good
174
Average
95
Poor
28
Terrible
16

wemjam
Carleton, MI1,592 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023
We purchased the day pass that allowed access to 4 museums for the day in Balboa park. We knew we wanted to go to the Natural History Museum and Air and Space museum and the pass was about the same price to be able to access 4 museums versus just paying single entry for these two.

We spent the better part of almost 3 hours at this museum. It is set up across 4 floors and includes movies that can be watched on different subjects throughout the day. There is a LOT of different things to see and experience here. We ended up leaving for a bit and getting a bite to eat and then coming back and finishing our day here. We decided to do this museum last as it is open late on Friday's (I believe it was until 10pm) while all the other locations in Balboa park usually are closed by 4-5pm. So we were able to do 3 other museums and then come here and finish our day.

This museum is really worth the stop for both adults and children alike.
Written July 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MikeB1952
Santa Fe, NM1,171 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
We had hoped to go to the SD Zoo. But with rain, thought it better to do an inside activity. The Natural History Museum (The NAT) is nearby in Balboa Park so we decided to do the NAT instead. Nice choice. The museum is quite extensive with numerous fossil and geographic displays. There are bunches of other stuff too. We were a bit brain dead after viewing all the information.
Written March 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MartyBrian
Windsor, CO274 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020 • Couples
We had a rainy week in San Diego so decided to venture down to Balboa Park and check out a museum. We chose the Natural History museum. It was very interesting and educational. From the gemology display to the taxidermy lots to see. One of the most intriguing exhibits was a photography exhibit of insects. See picture, there were insects that were magnified and the detail was amazing. There were three movies, we watched all of them and they were all good and suitable for all ages. The gentleman that ran the movies was very friendly. There was a room with live animals and the out of storage room was really neat. Glad we went even if not glad for the rain!
Written March 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TheLeongOhana
United States7,556 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Family
This was an expensive museum to visit but seemed to display just a limited number of exhibits.

The Living Lab held display cases with spiders, snakes and other smaller animals that were popular with the younger kids.

The Fossil Mysteries section showcased dinosaur era fossils, displays and recreations. Another popular spot for the kids.

Hidden Gems, Unshelved and Hidden Cameras were other permanent exhibits.

The Exhibition Baja was better with more details and interesting displays. It was surprising to find out the extent of weather changes which also included snow!

We missed the last movie (three options - Titanosaur, Wings over Water and Ocean Oasis). Admission includes the movies.

We wrapped up our visit in around one hour.
Written December 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kelly
Phoenix, AZ10 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
I'm sure this is a nice way to spend an afternoon as a family with kids, especially on a rainy day. We went as a group of three adults and found some of the exhibits interesting but were overall bored. We are the type to enjoy museums but there wasn't much here that caught our eye. Also, a word of warning: the "cool stuff from storage" exhibit involves a lot of dead animals (and not in the typical museum way) - some preserved in jars, some taxidermy in quite dead-looking poses. I did not enjoy looking at these myself and I saw a child become very distressed after looking at them himself.
Written June 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jolsies
Lafayette, IN664 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022 • Couples
This is a great, interactive museum for kids. We went as a couple because we love history, but it was pretty sparse in our opinion. We enjoyed the museum in Chicago much better. It spans across four floors but the first floor is mostly the theater, the second floor has many displays, the third and fourth floor have a few things to see. There is a dinosaur section, but it’s small. They have a scavenger hunt for kids at one of the displays. I still think it’s worth seeing if you’re taking kids out for the day.
Written August 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rebekah T
1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022 • Family
Long ago you could wander the museum and spend hours looking thru the glass cases of creatures. Now you follow a painted pathway, with few interesting objects, and you're out on an hour . Total waste of money. Bring back the glass cases!!!
Written September 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Iambic
Vancouver, WA507 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
Six years ago, we provided a so-so review of the museum. This time, we attended with a grandchild and saw the museum in a different light. Before, we'd not paid attention to the kid-centric information and displays, the opportunities to do things like feel animal pelts. If you're a kid or with kids, the museum is a rewarding place: lots of good learning.
Written February 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

CatherineBH
San Diego, CA1,209 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023 • Family
We have been going over the years with our grandkids & kids and this is a great, educational museum for all ages. The museum also has a “live” reptile exhibit which the kids enjoy. We also enjoy the educational 20-30 minute movies that are well done. Today was “free Tuesday” and it was busy with lots of kids.
Written January 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mitch
Las Vegas, NV40 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Couples
Not a bad place to visit for a family as most exhibits are definitely geared at kids. We went as two adults and am glad we went but wouldn’t have a reason to go back. $22 a person and for that price I felt like there were better exhibits in Balboa Park
Written May 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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San Diego Natural History Museum - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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