# Balboa Park Official App — user reviews > 32 indexed App Store user reviews of Balboa Park Official App by Balboa Park Online Collaborative, rated 4.50/5 from 182 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/balboa-park-official-app/id970502543/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/balboa-park-official-app/id970502543.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 135 · 4★ 26 · 3★ 6 · 2★ 6 · 1★ 9 ## Newest reviews (10 of 32) ### 4/5 — OK but needs a bit of work. *2019-03-26, version 4.6* Lots of info here but sometimes hard to read when the text shows over a blurry photo background (as in the tour section). And why does it keep asking me to turn on Bluetooth to connect to my accessories? I don’t have any! In the food section, the 19th Hole needs a better photo. And why include Albert’s since it is inside the zoo (paid entrance)? And not include the cafe in the Nat’s lower level (free entrance)? One more complaint: the calendar is woefully incomplete, too many missing events. ### 3/5 — Info quickly out of date and not accurate *2017-09-18, version 4.0.1* Many park museums hours changes after labour day and app still shows summer hours. Web sites also do not load in-app. This app can help plan your tour but confirm details and buy tickets in normal browser. No need to register your email with app either. ### 5/5 — So many events and locations *2017-07-25, version 4.0.1* Balboa Park is a world class destination that continues to grow in beauty and life. Even if you already have your favorite spots, this app helps you explore and appreciate it even more. ### 5/5 — Helpful! *2017-07-12, version 4.0.1* A local and use frequently. ### 5/5 — Super helpful! *2017-07-03, version 4.0.1* Directions, places, even tours this app is super helpful when visiting the park! ### 5/5 — Love!!! *2017-03-07, version 3.2* I absolutely love this app. The features such as parking and trip planning are great. And it makes planning your day at the park that much more convenient. I definitely recommend this app for all San Diegans. ### 5/5 — Incredible *2015-08-15, version 2.3* This app is absolutely fabulous. Every city needs something like this. I've never been organized enough to plan my trip to balboa very well but now I can!!! Also, I can discover so many new things to do. I love balboa park and can't wait to explore more of it with this app. Great job! ### 5/5 — Awesome *2015-05-25, version 1.0.1* I recommend this application for all ages it takes you all around and you can make to do list to ensure you see all what the park has to offer.😀 ### 5/5 — Excelente guía! *2015-04-21, version 1.0.1* Me encantó esta aplicación puedo encontrar horarios de museos, próximos eventos, cafés y lugares donde comer. ### 5/5 — Super user friendly! *2015-04-16, version 1.0.1* Great app! Made planning a day of park activities with the kiddos easy breezy. And love the 'find my car' feature - so smart! ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Frustrating app *2026-04-16, version 5.3.5* When tapping “want to visit” it from the Alcazar Garden, took me to the veterans garden. Then when trying to navigate around the park, the lack of street names appearing on the map made it difficult. Lastly, despite selecting satellite display for the map, it would not show it. The satellite view would have made following the map a little easier. ### 1/5 — Why still up?! *2025-06-16, version 5.3.5* Hasn’t been updated in 4yrs, ie, abandonware. So why is this still in the Apple Store?! ### 1/5 — Out of date, messy *2024-01-25, version 5.3.5* Too messy. If you want to see what exhibits are on, you click on the museum’s icon and go to a page about that museum. (If you tap the “Exhibits” button there you get sent back to the app’s home page.) Then you need to go to each museum’s website for current exhibit info. Food: out of place and out of date. You can’t eat at Alfred’s, it’s in the Zoo. And Tobey’s is far away in the golf course. And there’s a new place in the NAT. And you missed the place in the Fleet Science Center. The Events section seems to be the best bet for current special exhibits - if it’s up to date… It shows opening dates only, so some may be closed already. The narration part of the trails section is neat. It only plays when the phone is held by your ear. Move the phone away and it stops. Walk to the next location, put the phone up to your ear and it picks up where it left off. ### 1/5 — Out of date, messy *2024-01-19* Too messy. If you want to see what exhibits are on, you click on the museum’s icon and go to a page about that museum. (If you tap the “Exhibits” button there you get sent back to the app’s home page.) Then you need to go to each museum’s website for current exhibit info. Food: out of place and out of date. You can’t eat at Alfred’s, it’s in the Zoo. And Tobey’s is far away in the golf course. And there’s a new place in the NAT. And you missed the place in the Fleet Science Center The Calendar section seems to be the best bet for current special exhibits - if it’s up to date… It shows opening dates only, so some may be closed already. ### 1/5 — Does not work on OS 16? *2023-02-28, version 5.3.5* Don’t understand why it wants access to my mail? Hasn’t been updated in 2 years. Does not seem to work on OS 16? ### 1/5 — Calendar *2021-06-25, version 5.3.5* I downloaded this app specifically to plan a trip. If you want me to turn on my location and Bluetooth, then fix your calendar so when I put in the specific dates, you show me events on those SPECIFIC DATES and not EVERY SINGLE EVENT BETWEEN NOW AND THEN. It negates the entire action of me entering in my specific dates and it’s the only reason I Downloaded the app in the first place. Do better. ### 1/5 — App was probably good awhile ago *2020-01-20, version 4.6* Now app only features The Museum of Man, and nothing else. I want to tour other parts of balboa park but I’ll have to do it without this app as it is useless unless I want to buy tickets to a museum I don’t care to see. ### 1/5 — Needs help *2015-09-28, version 2.5.2* I'm a local and this app is all but worthless. Why must you monitor my location even while I'm not using the app? Why can't I easily see what museums are free each Tuesday? Very disappointing. ### 2/5 — Dysfunctional map *2023-10-21, version 5.3.5* The map never shows the text. Some fancy 3D overlay always covers whatever text that comes up no matter what I do. ### 2/5 — Antarctica? *2015-10-21, version 2.7* The new tours and trails feature just shows a map of Antarctica. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Really improved *2024-09-11, version 5.3.5* The Balboa Park only provides tons of useful information, and lets you share that with friends. Every museum is listed with cost and operating hours. There are even links to the few museums that have their own apps. There is even a find your car option. I like that you can create an account and save favorite activities or museums. This is really useful for the iPhone smaller screen. If you have a computer or an iPad, the balboapark.org website will provide all the same information. ### 5/5 — Spectacular *2019-10-04, version 4.6* This app is spectacular. Truly one of the most useful, informative, user-friendly apps I have ever used. Really enables you to enjoy fabulous Balboa Park to its utmost. ### 5/5 — Never miss an event! *2018-01-15, version 4.3* Easy to see what's happening. ### 5/5 — This app rocks! *2017-10-08, version 4.0.1* This app gives so much information! ### 5/5 — Love Find a Bathroom and Car Option *2017-09-21, version 4.0.1* This option has been a life saver for our family. The park is amazing and easy to drift away from the car. This option allowed us to find our car and public bathrooms. ### 5/5 — Great App *2017-09-16, version 4.0.1* I recently moved to San Diego and found Balboa a little intimidating before I found this app! Very comprehensive and easy to use. ### 5/5 — A must have *2017-09-13, version 4.0.1* A wonderful app for a true hidden jewel in San Diego. ### 5/5 — GPS function worked Great *2017-09-09, version 4.0.1* This app is really nice I found everything I was looking for Plus more. The GPS function worked Great for Me it made navigating the Park easy ### 5/5 — Love it! *2017-08-03, version 4.0.1* Great for local residents to get the most out of this fabulous park ### 5/5 — Very helpful *2017-07-28, version 4.0.1* I like the GPS map that can help guide you in the park --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-07-05.*