California Tower
California Tower
4.5
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A city landmark located inside San Diego's Balboa Park, this 200-foot tower announces its presence every fifteen minutes with a carol of chimes.
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Neighborhood: Balboa Park
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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.
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4.5
64 reviews
Excellent
39
Very good
24
Average
1
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profesora42
Huntington Beach, CA44 contributions
Apr 2016 • Friends
Although this is a high tower with lots of stairs, the guided tour is broken up with a stop on every landing for info about what there is to see, etc. It is so excellent and gorgeous - and the view would be worth the hike even it it were daunting. You are allowed to spend time at the top moving from side to side to be able to see it all. I am 74 and had no problem doing it but was somewhat apprehensive beforehand. Don't be! The guide was charming and informative. Well well worth it! There are even lockers down at the ground level where you lock up your purses, etc., so you are unencumbered while you climb.
Written June 2, 2016
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.
Blessed
Lake Stevens, WA336 contributions
Apr 2016
The actual tower is 125 steps however we completed more than 165 steps to get there counting the entrance to the museum. It was a sunny, clear day and we had a spectacular view. The tour includes about 12 people with 2 guides one leading and one at the end. You take a flight of stairs then rest on a landing hearing information about the history of the tower. It was a lot of stairs but well worth the effort to get there. $22.50 cost includes the entrance to the museum of man.
Written April 15, 2016
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.
on2thenextevent
San Diego, CA95 contributions
Jan 2015 • Couples
I'm a native San Diegan and I have admired the California Tower in Balboa Park for years! Never dreamed I'd be able to climb the tower! This year is the 100th celebration of Balboa Park and the museum worked for months to get the tower ready for climbers. I'm not a young chick anymore so wondered if I would make it. No problem! I think they said it was 123 steps and there are several landings where the group stops and learns more about the tower. They actually have some benches for those who want to rest before the next series of steps. When I got to the top, I said to myself - That wasn't bad at all!! And, what a view! We had 2 guides, Maddy and Marc. Both were a wealth of knowledge and I truly enjoyed the whole experience! Go to this website to get tickets for a specific day and time: http://www.museumofman.org/california-tower/. Don't just show up!! The ticket includes admission to the Museum of Man and it is fascinating!! Don't miss the climb!!
Written February 2, 2015
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.
Tonya C
Fall River, Massachusetts, United States225 contributions
Jun 2018 • Solo
The California Tower is located in the Museum of Man at Balboa Park. This was one of the sites I really wanted to see on my first trip to San Diego. It costs about $10 and it’s a guided tour and I think they only allow a couple of people up at a time. For those who have some fears about having to climb a bunch of stairs, I think this is doable for most who have minor limitations. I’m thinking about my aunt who has bad knees and my mom who is nervous about having to climb a bunch of stairs. The good thing about this is that you stop at each landing and listen to the tour guides so it’s not like you are climbing all the way to the top in one sitting. Unfortunately, there is no elevator so those with very limited mobility would not be able to do this. The stairs are a little narrow but the guides are very patient so no one is rushing you up or down the stairs. While the inside of the tower was nothing spectacular, the view from the top makes for some good photos.
Written February 13, 2019
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.
Gatordogs
San Diego, CA134 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
This is a must do in Balboa Park! The views from the California Tower are amazing. This is a guided tour that lasts 40 minutes. You learn a little bit of history about Balboa Park and the California Tower. In order to accommodate all levels of fitness, the group stops for a break after each flight of stairs.
Written October 17, 2016
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.
Denise P
56 contributions
Sep 2015 • Friends
Balboa Park is a wonderful place to spend the day for locals and tourists alike. Closed since 1935, the California Tower, accessed from the second floor of the Museum of Man, reopened to visitors in 2015. You have to climb seven floors, including one metal spiral staircase, to get to the top, but there are plenty of stops along the way. If you ever climbed the Statue of Liberty, you got this! This climb is not difficult, but may be a challenge for individuals with mobility issues.
Once you get to the top you'll have views to the San Diego zoo, Cuyamaca mountains, and of course, the park. You'll have a birds eye view of the architecture, the beautiful roof tiles, and planes, so many planes making their approach to Lindbergh field.
You can visit San Diego without visiting Balboa Park, and you can't visit Balboa Park without climbing the California Tower. After you're climb, reward yourself with a visit to The Prado restaurant.
Once you get to the top you'll have views to the San Diego zoo, Cuyamaca mountains, and of course, the park. You'll have a birds eye view of the architecture, the beautiful roof tiles, and planes, so many planes making their approach to Lindbergh field.
You can visit San Diego without visiting Balboa Park, and you can't visit Balboa Park without climbing the California Tower. After you're climb, reward yourself with a visit to The Prado restaurant.
Written August 22, 2016
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.
C C
San Clemente, CA85 contributions
Jan 2016 • Couples
After over 50 years its open! Tours are inexpensive and not hard, there are several stops along the way and usually around 10 to 12 steps at a time. Lots of history and stories with spectacular views.
Written February 8, 2016
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.
FoggyMonday
Escondido, CA292 contributions
Mar 2015 • Solo
I was so excited to learn the tower had opened to the public for the first time since 1935 and I was in Balboa Park as soon as I could get there.
The staircase to the tower is hidden around the corner from the street level main room in the museum. I had to check my bag in a locker. No purses, backpacks, etc. Cell phones and cameras are allowed. At each floor - there are seven - the guide stops and talks about the history, renovation.
The views are beautiful, the history of the California buildings and the 1915 exposition is fascinating.
The staircase to the tower is hidden around the corner from the street level main room in the museum. I had to check my bag in a locker. No purses, backpacks, etc. Cell phones and cameras are allowed. At each floor - there are seven - the guide stops and talks about the history, renovation.
The views are beautiful, the history of the California buildings and the 1915 exposition is fascinating.
Written July 24, 2015
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.
LAtoEverywhere
Los Angeles, CA412 contributions
Nov 2014 • Couples
This Tower, about the Museum of Man, is the thing I photographed most on my visit. You can go up it again. It was $30 for the special event. We learned more about it on the ranger tour. It was made to last while some of the other buildings were not.
Written November 22, 2014
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.
jer b
Bristol, CT1,756 contributions
Jun 2018 • Friends
This was fun. A bit on the pricey side but well worth it. Two volunteers escort you up the 125 odd steps up to the eighth level. They stop along the way and provide very interesting commentary about the tower and it’s history. The also described the evolution of Balboa Park itself. Stunning views on a clear day. Fun to watch planes coming in for a landing over the city! The only disappointment was that you could not go higher up into the tower. There were two more levels, but it appeared to be a treacherous climb up a spiral staircase.
Written June 26, 2018
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.
Is it possible to do just the tower climb instead of the whole museum admission? Although the museum looks great and I would love to check it out, I may be short on time and just interested in either the climb or the museum.
Written March 11, 2018
Hi, yes I believe you can just do the tower climb. Of course bundling the Museum with the climb is probably more cost efficient, but it's still do-able.
Written March 26, 2018
I was wondering about the lockers. Is there an actual lock provided? Are they secure? I am coming directly from the airport and will have a carry-on bag with me (the size of a largish purse). Thanks.
Written March 5, 2018
Hi, yes a locker is provided although I think for a small fee (can't really recall). However, yes they are secure. I'm not sure about the size, I think we might have put a small backpack in ours. I would call and ask these questions to be certain though.
Written March 7, 2018
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