San Diego ZoovsMission San Diego de Alcala
Both are rated very highly by those who travel for a living. On balance, San Diego Zoo scores significantly higher than Mission San Diego de Alcala. San Diego Zoo comes in at #1 in San Diego with accolades from 7 publications like Michelin Guide, Travel + Leisure and Frommer's.
San Diego Zoo
Fodor's
Concierge
Lonely Planet
Michelin Guide
National Geographic
Where
Time Out
Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Show All Reviews
2929 Zoo Drive, San Diego, CA 92101
From $0/night
Fodor's "Balboa Park's—and perhaps the city's—most famous attraction is its 100-acre zoo." Full review
Concierge "No other local attraction is more synonymous with San Diego than the Zoo, a 90-year-old institution that lives up to its reputation."
Lonely Planet "This justifiably famous zoo is one of SoCal’s biggest attractions, showing more than 3000 animals representing more than 650 species in a beautifully landscaped setting." Full review
Michelin Guide 2 Stars
"One of the largest, most diverse and most celebrated zoological parks in the world." Full review
National Geographic "World-renown 100-acre (40-hectare) facility in Balboa Park, with a botanical collection that rivals the animals. Bus tours skirt most enclosures quickly." Full review
Where "It's world-famous for a reason. Visitors can get up close and personal with more than 4,000 creatures from nearly every corner of the world. " Full review
Time Out "Nestled in Balboa Park, San Diego Zoo fully deserves its reputation as one of the finest in the world." Full review
Travel + Leisure "The expansive “habitats” include a tropical rainforest filled with gorillas, a recreated Arctic tundra with polar bears and reindeer, and a Giant Panda Research Station." Full review
Travel + Leisure "This world-famous zoo in Balboa Park houses more than 4,000 animals including giant pandas from China and many rare and endangered species"
San Diego Travel Guide
February 23, 2021
Travel + Leisure "The zoo is home to more than 12,000 animals and more than 650 species and subspecies. Plus, its wildlife alliance arm has made great strides in areas like genetic diversity, reproductive sciences."
14 of the Best Zoos in the U.S.
April 8, 2022
Mission San Diego de Alcala Fodor's Lonely Planet Michelin Guide
Afar Magazine Where Afar Magazine
Condé Nast Traveler
Frommer's
10818 San Diego Mission Road, San Diego, CA 92108
From $0/night
Fodor's "It's hard to imagine how remote California's earliest mission once must have been; these days, it's accessible by major freeways (I–15 and I–8) and by the San Diego Trolley." Full review
Lonely Planet "Although the site of the first California mission was on Presidio Hill, in 1774 Padre Junípero Serra moved it about 7 miles upriver to this location, closer to water and more arable land." Full review
Michelin Guide 1 Star
"California's first mission, with its gleaming white stucco façade and distinctive five-bell campanario." Full review
i
Note the 18C painting of St. Didacus, rescued from the fire of 1775, and the hand-carved wooden statues
Afar Magazine "Mission San Diego is the very first Mission built in what is now the state of California and was built in 1769." Full review
Where "Founded by Father Junípero Serra in 1769, Mission San Diego de Alcala has served as a historic monument and a working Catholic parish." Full review
Afar Magazine "An active parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego, Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá remains a tranquil place of worship and reflection." Full review
Condé Nast Traveler "Services still happen daily in this mission dating to 1769." Full review
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Make sure to spend some time in the gardens, which are filled with palms, flowers, and succulents.
Frommer's "Known as "the King of Missions," the San Luis Rey is the largest of California's missions and one of its most beautiful." Full review
