Balboa Park in San Diego has no shortage of beautiful natural spaces, but the Alcazar Garden adds a cultural theme. Built in 1915 and originally called Los Jardines de Montezuma, or the Montezuma Gardens, it was redesigned in 1935 inspired by the gardens of Seville’s Alcazar Castle and restored again in 2008.
Though only a few steps from a parking lot and a busy plaza, it seems to be in a different city or continent altogether. At the same time, the garden celebrates San Diego’s long Spanish heritage. Spend a few minutes between museums and other activities taking in the atmosphere.
Walk down the symmetrical paths, which lead past boxwood hedges where more than 7,000 annuals show their bright hues. Appreciate San Diego’s balmy weather, which keeps the flowerbeds colorful even in winter.
The garden’s centerpieces are a series of star-shaped fountains decorated with blue, yellow and green Moorish tiles in 28 different designs. Sit on the edge, which remains cool even on the hottest southern Californian day and run your fingers through the softly bubbling water.
Soak up some sunshine by sitting on the tile benches that surround the fountains, decorated in a similar fashion, or rest in the shade at the pergola that borders the garden. Walk under its vine-wrapped roof and pillars. Get iconic pictures of the California Tower, visible rising over the trees surrounding the formal garden. Continue on to the adjacent museums and the rest of the park.
The Alcazar Garden is located in the heart of Balboa Park, a few steps from the San Diego Museum of Art and a 10-minute walk from the entrance to the San Diego Zoo. The whole complex lies northeast of downtown, a 10-minute drive or 40-minute walk away. Drive from San Diego Airport in 10 minutes or take buses in 40 minutes. Several bus lines run through Balboa Park, making connections relatively easy without a car. The on-site parking garage is open daily from mid-morning until dusk. The garden has no admission fee.
