Old Mission Santa Ines Reviews

Didn't take any tours, but spent a lot of time walking the beautifully kept grounds and gardens. I loved the out doors Stations of the Cross. Highly recommend for those wanting a break from the Solvang experience.

There is so much history here and while this one isn't huge it is interesting how it is was out here in farmland. Check it out if you are in town and add it to your Mission visits, We drove into San Diego to visit the Mission and that was is great to tour.

A beautiful piece of California history! This place is well preserved and a great place to tour. The view from the parking lot is also amazing as it looks out over the valley below.

Well kept museum, garden, and cemetery. Very nice view of nearby valley. Perfect place to walk and think in the quiet.

This is sort of the entry point to the beautiful Solvang that oozes the old-world flavour. The entire area is beautiful and can be walked down in an hour. The only problem is of car parking. If you are fond of cakes and pastries, this, surely will be, your face place. It is full of awesome bakeries. You can also look for cheap souvenirs.

My wife and I traveled to Solvang this past weekend and did the self guided tour for only $5.00 each. The history and artifacts are truly amazing. There is a cemetery within the mission that gives you a real feel for how old it is. The Mission was built in 1804.

Always interesting to tour these Missions in California. You will learn so much about the area and the history of how it was settled.

Fine example of Spanish Colonization of the now California coast. Mission is large and has extensive grounds. Cemetery on grounds, a well, rose garden, cactus abound and bell chapel. One of Spain's many missions from San Diego to past San Francisco. All were joined by the Camino Real thru Spanish California.

Named after St. Agnes of Rome it was founded in 1804 by Father Estévan Tapís of the Franciscan order to help relieve the missions of Santa Barbara and La Purisima Concepción overcrowding by Indians living north of the Coast Range. Most of the original church was destroyed in an earthquake in 1812, it was rebuilt in 1817 with 6-foot-thick walls, that supported large wooden beams from the forest on the nearby Figueroa Mountain range.
In 1853 cattle rustler Jack Powers briefly took over Mission Santa Inés, using it as a place to keep his stolen cattle, he was eventually forced out of the area in 1855.
The mission fell into disrepair and Father Alexander Buckler in 1904 started to restore it, but it was not till after WWII that the Hearst Foundation donated money to help pay for a major restoration, which is continued by the Capuchin Franciscan Fathers.
Today it is a museum and local parish church of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. It is also designated a National Historic Landmark, noted as one of the best-preserved of the 21 California missions.

TIP: Visit early in the morning before all the tourists arrive, it is a peaceful tranquil place.
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The Mission is worth a visit. It is one of the historical sites in California that should be preserved and visited by all.

The mission was very interesting and had audio in specific areas so that you could learn more about the history of the mission and the area at the time the mission was active. The gardens are very nice, as well. For $5 - worth the trip!

Being a retired 4th grade teacher , I love visiting the missions. This one was very beautiful. Has a self guided tour. Though I understand this is a catholic place of worship, I wish they did a better job of honoring the Chumash indigenous people whose land was taken to build this mission. The gardens are extremely well cared for and very peaceful . Pushing someone in a wheelchair can be challenging on the pebbled walk and on the dirt through the stations of the cross.

How can you not visit the mission when it is right there. It was small compared to others but it is good that it is holding services. The mission tour was self guided and not extensive. Some of the vestments were lovely and well preserved. The gardens were peaceful and lovely.

This is the second time visiting this mission, the last time was many years ago. Our group did the $5 self-guided tour. If you like California history and visiting CA missions, then you’ll enjoy. They have a beautiful garden in the back, a rose garden on the side, and gorgeous valley views across the parking lot.

After leaving here we visited some wineries.

Located just north of the mountainous division between Southern And Central California, this 19th mission in the chain is located in an inland valley just to the east of the "Danish Tourist Center" of Solvang. Founded in 1804 by Father Estevan Tapis, successor of Father Lasuen. Mint is situated 35 miles north of mission Santa Barbara, and is the last mission founded in what is now considered southern California. The mission architecture is typical, with a roughly 350 foot square quadrangle that had 22 arches and a balcony on the priests' residence wing. Mission workers were famous for their leatherwork, fashioning much sought-after saddles and other tack. They also excelled at ironwork. Secularised in the 1830s, the mission buildings declined, and both property and buildings were given over to private ownership and dwellings. The mission was never entirely deserted, however. Some small efforts at maintenance and restoration were undertaken just after the turn of the 20th century, and accelerated greatly in the 1940s to 1960s. The church, residence building and garden are now restored. The hCapuchin Franciscans now administer the mission. It contains a huge collection of art, pottery, tools, paintings, statuary, vestments, manuscripts and other artifacts from the mission era. Gift shop, museum and self guided tours open from 9:30 am to 4 pm, $5 per person. Docent tours are available if arranged for in advance for $6. Masses at the mission: Saturday vigil at 5. Sunday at 8, 9:30, 11 and 5 pm. This mission is easy to find, only 100 feet east of the town of Solvang. You can easily walk from the Danish town to the mission. Take Highway 101 to exit 140, and east on State Road 246 into Solvang. This roadway turns into Mission Drive. The mission will be just past Alisal Road, on the right. The mission is named for St. Agnes, a young Roman woman martyred in 304 A.D. Enjoy!

My wife and I love going into these old missions and trying to imagine how the old settlers lived. We could only picture that the beautiful grass and walkways were at one time gardens and trees of some sort that produced food. This was one of the few missions that we found was really quite peaceful with a beautiful setting and not just a concrete courtyard. We could not quite get a sense of who was allowed to be buried in those graveyards because we saw more modern and some gravestones it looked like there was married couples so they weren’t just priests. Overall it’s worth the five dollar self-guided tour.

Every California Mission is a historical landmark, and Mission Santa Ines is exceptionally well preserved and in a very peaceful setting at the edge of Solvang village. This Mission offers a very nice self-guided tour through their small museum, there are four rooms in series where you press a button in each room to hear the exhibits described. They have artifacts from early days of the Franciscan Mission, and some paintings and vestments. The tour then leads into the sanctuary, which is impressive, and then out to the large peaceful courtyard with nice landscaping. The tour only costs $6 per person and is a good value, plus it supports upkeep of the Mission.

We were walking around Solvang and decided to stop by the Mission to look around. We didn't take the tour, but just walking around the grounds immersed you in the history of the place.

Although the gardens are nice and the surrounding views are beautiful, much of the actual mission is reproduction. There are audio recordings on the self-guided tour, but the narrator is monotone and I quickly lost interest. Worth the $5 fee to look around though.

Fantastic old mission. My grandfather had once painted behind the altar, although it has since been redone. Used to go to mass there when I lived in town. Excellent Priest and not long-winded!!

The building is absolutely gorgeous. The architecture very well preserved. The saint images are beautiful.

Used to come here on field trips as a kid, and now we take our own son here when we're in town.

Big large old mission right in the middle of town. Old, historic and very austere. Beautiful grounds and lots of history to soak in and read about. It's truly beautiful and peaceful.

We'll be back.

Located right next to Downtown Solvang. Large California Mission with Beautiful Gardens and small ancient cemetery. There is a nice historical Museum and the Main Chapel is beautifully decorated in painted murals. Founded in 1804, it has survived major a earthquake and has been restored to it's original glory. Worth visiting.

Takes you back to the early days of California. The church has that mission feel, with the high beamed ceilings and tile floor. The museum is worth seeing if your not familiar with the California mission story.

All the missions up and down California are so interesting to see and visit.
So much history and way of life can be seen and explained. Most are maintained very well and a great tool in teaching your children the way it was and way of life in that period.

The mission museum has quite a collection of vestments, church records and missals. The church displays some of the original decorations on the wall behind the altar. Outside, the beautifully manicured gardens with grape arbors takes the visitor back in time to what it looked like 200 years ago.

This place has a lot of history and beauty! For $5, you could tour the church and the grounds. The gardens were my favorite! So peaceful and beautiful. They take a lot of time and care put into it. Also check out the nice gift shop.

We were glad that the self-guided tour was open. The museum is small but very interesting and educational.

The site is well maintained and very informative. They have very nice grounds and historical data. It will take you about half to a full hour to tour. Weekends are busy. They still hold mass on Sundays.

As always, the California mission is great. Beautiful outside and the interior is spiritual. The adjoining mission buildings are well restored. It is well worth a visit to this and other missions.

Went to daily Mass twice during the week. About 50 people there each day. Priests were very good with their homily. Very special place

Just east of Solvang on rte 246, I find this one of the best of the California missions I have visited. It is still a working church, which I think adds to its aura of peace and tranquility. The beautiful church interior and sanctuary are adorned with many pieces of colonial South American art. There are several rooms of historical displays and artifacts, both interesting and informative. The inner courtyard is beautifully landscaped and perhaps a small reflection of heaven itself.

Wasn't sure what to expect, but very pleased with walking tour. Much of the mission was refurbished or restored over time since it's original 1804 founding. Many historical pieces to view. Well worth the time to visit.

Old Mission Santa Ines is a beautiful place full of peace and serenity. The gardens were lovely and we spent a quiet afternoon wandering and relaxing.

So glad that this mission is so close to where I stayed. The service was wonderful and I was thankful that I did not have to miss Mass just because of travel. They allso have a wonderful little gift shop where you can get some of the religious items such as rosaries. The grounds are so very peaceful to walk around in and there is a serenity about the place. I enjoyed it very much.

We weren't expecting to be able to hear mass but we got to the Old Mission Santa Ines church on time for the 11:00am. We even had breakfast before the mass. The Old Mission Santa Ines is a very beautiful old church. The choir was very good and sang well. After the mass, we tour the back lot of the church where the old graveyard is. Right across the church, next to the parking lot is a beautiful view of vineyards/fields.

I wouldn't call this a must see, however if in Solvang, and you have 45 minutes and $6.00 USD then give it a visit.
Beautiful building and grounds. Majestic old church.

This mission is beautifully standing strong. The grounds are well kept and manicured. It was nice to see in such a quaint town. You must visit when you are in town.

This is an authentic mission. It is easy to access and has a great gift shop. It is one of the smaller of the California Missions.

Amongst the tourist hub-bub of Solvang, this mission is an oasis of tranquility. We wandered through the grounds just as folks were being called to mass. The church bells were so enchanting as we looked out over the fields below the mission grounds. You could almost imagine the padres greeting the local farmers back in the 1800's.

Recently restored, this mission is a delight. The garden is beautiful and the cemetery really interesting. Totally recommendable

This mission is still a working parish, and is in great shape. RV parking is available across the main highway.

The ethos of Old Mission Santa Ines in Solvang is summed up in their value statement which reads: “We the people of Old Mission Santa Ines, following the path of Jesus Christ, are making His vision a reality through love, unity, justice, joy and hope.”

Mission Santa Ines has been in continuous use as a Catholic Church since its founding two centuries ago. It is named after Saint Agnes (Ines is Spanish for Agnes), a Christian martyr of the 4th Century revered for bodily purity and chastity.

It was the 19th of 21 missions built by Spanish Franciscan priests in California between 1769 and 1836. This mission at Santa Ines dating back to 1804, was founded by Father Estevan Tapis.

From its incredibly picturesque location on a hilltop, Mission Santa Ines offers panoramic views of the Santa Ynez River Valley, as also the Santa Ynez and San Rafael mountain ranges.

This mission was devastated by a huge earthquake in 1812, but has since been painstakingly rebuilt – one can only imagine the grandeur of the old mission building as we are told that even today, the present structure does not match up to the original one!

Mission tours are offered between 9am and 5pm every day of the week. The self-guided tour starts at the Gift Shop. The next section shows timelines of major events and displays a detailed model of the mission. Then one goes on to see the artefacts and vestments of the mission before entering the Madonna chapel and church. From here one moves into the mission gardens and the cemetery. One reenters the Gift Shop to exit the building. Push buttons activate the pre-recorded audio tour sound system. The admission fee per head is $5.

This mission is an active parish of about 1300 families of the Santa Ynez Valley. Baptisms, weddings, confirmations and funerals are conducted here apart from regular services in English and Spanish.

Today the mission is administered by the Capuchin Franciscan Fathers from Ireland who continue to serve the needs of parish members and the larger community.

Old Mission Santa Ines is a place that will stay in my memory. The silence, the calm, the beauty of the landscape, the serenity of the mission itself, all combined to give me an incredible feeling of inner peace the like of which I haven’t had for much too long.

Nice to stop and enjoy the view and history of the place. They have a mini tour and a fee to enter the church with the mini museum. Entrance is from the souvenir shop.
maybe spend about 45mins to an hour at this place.

We have been to a lot of CA missions, and this one is by FAR the best preserved/renovated. The audio tour is very good and informative. The people working there are marvelous, the gardens gorgeous, history great. Really, really nice!

Long before someone decided to establish an "ersatz" Danish tourist trap at Solvang, Spanish Catholic missionaries established this mission. The self guided tour includes audio lectures about the mission, it's history, artifacts, and relations with the indigenous people. A very educational and informative experience.

The original mission traces its origins to 1804. The current site is an on-going restoration of a rebuild dating to the early 1900s. It is a beautiful complex with a working Catholic Church with masses in Spanish and English. The church is lovely with ornately painted altar. Don't forget to visit the beautiful gardens

Intetesting interior. Lots of parking. Small shop. In a nice rural setting outside Solvang. Good history lessons for kids and adults.

Santa Ines is another nice example of a Spanish Colonial mission, well preserved and maintained. Quite spacious and still in active use. Take a self guided tour an enjoy the mission!

This is a beautiful mission with expansive views! It's tucked away - off the main touristy streets, so we wouldn't have known it was there if we hadn't chosen the parking lot we found.
Mass was just beginning, so we didn't get to see inside the church, but the outside was breathtaking and worth walking the grounds.

One of the original missions on the CA Mission trail. The mission is beautifullyl preserved and still a working church. The views are spectacular.

We enjoyed the old mission self guided tour. Lots of artifacts to view in each room while listening to the recorded history. The grounds are historical as well with lots of impressive information displayed. At one time they had 7,000 cattle and 600 horses. Didn't know the Indians used asphalt for floors. It's still an active Catholic Church so check the museum times.

A well preserved mission church walking distance to the shops in Solvang. This is a good find for us. We enjoyed site seeing in Solvang, it’s architecture design, museum and food but also makes our trip complete visiting this church. Well maintained and awesome view of the valley.

Spend at least an hour in this church.

Mission Santa Ines, located on the outskirts of Solvang is a beautiful old California Mission, with a still active congregation. Great place to attend mass if you are there at the right time. There is a self guided tour for a small fee and it is worth taking the tour.

During our December shopping trip to Solvang we spent time at Mission Santa Ines. It is walking distance from our hotel. The grounds are immaculate, tranquil and very beautiful. The self-guided tour is well worth the $1.00 for the map and information brochure. I sat in the garden reflecting and enjoying nature.... with the bustling main street of Solvang less than a block away! The knowledgeable staff in the gift shop were very friendly and welcoming. A must visit on a trip to the area.

This mission is fairly rundown and not particularly interesting. only $5 so not much investment required.

Lovely gardens, and the tour is worth your time. The old mission is truly beautiful and the history is palpable within her walls.

Really pretty flowers outside. Great views of the valley. The inside is neat to see. Glad we stopped by.

Doesn't mean much
It's quiet there
Beautiful view to admire from a bench
Supplement to visit Solvang

Consider viewing this Mission on a sunday when the church is open and save yourself the admission fee. There are only two rooms of artifacts plus the church on your self guided tour but the church is closed except for Sunday mass.

The mission is a nice place and I would definitely recommend seeing it if you are in Solvang. I would not recommend making a trip to Solvang just to see the mission.

A little bias about this place, being a local resident and A Catholic. Has a beautiful museum full of local chumash culture and artifacts. Also nice view of the Santa Ynez river and Refugio mtns. Great little gift shop. Great rest stop while in the valley.

we could not go in since we were running out of time, but yes it looks to be good . will surely visit the next time when in solvang.

A very small museum in the mission, beautiful church, your could finish the whole tour in less than an hour.

We found Solvang village a bit of a zoo on the blazing hot weekend morning after our overnight visit, and were tossing up whether to head straight back to our base on the coast when we decided to at least visit the Mission before we left.
For $5 each, we did the self guided walking tour, and absolutely loved it. The art, the historical artifacts, the presentation and the care with which the whole site has been looked after and presented were very impressive.
Also loved the gardens.
Pretty much our favourite piece of Solvang! Not too crowded, loads of parking, plenty to see and learn, and lots of places to just sit and relax in lovely surroundings.

Built in 1804, this Mission is considered one of the favorites, maybe because it is nestled in the beautiful Solvang. We came here the last day of 2015. Entrance is cheaper compared to other missions at $5 for adults and free for 12 and under. You can practically do a quick tour for about 30 minutes. You can see different artifacts and vestments - one which was reputed to have been worn by Fr. Junipero Serra! There is the Madonna Chapel and church. Outside you will see the cemetery and the garden. Enjoyed the amazing view across the Mission too. Well worth the visit! I suggest that you visit this place first before you proceed and explore downtown Solvang since it is the first site to see upon entering the town (located on the left side if you are coming from the south or LA)

This is a mission with the great balance of tranquility, beauty, and spirituality.
It was an enriching experience and I look forward to coming back!
You will enjoy the garden, it's very serene.

We're not Catholic, but we love history. The Spanish missions are a fascinating part of historic California that we enjoy visiting.

The US isn't known for a lot of old buildings, so the missions are something special. Mission Santa Inés is one of the last of the 21 missions built, in 1804, and restored in the early 20th century. Where European chapels are often gilt to the gills and loaded with stained glass and tapestries, the California missions used a whole lot of paint. It's charming. There's plenty of interesting photo opportunities.

But what I like most is that it's still in use as a place of worship. One Christmas we stayed in Solvang and the mission was a stone's throw away from our hotel. We showed up for a midnight Christmas mass, and it was well attended. Historic is good, but it warms the heart to see it still fulfilling its original purpose.

We arrived kind of late to tour the entire mission but from our experience it was nice. We walked around from the rear and to the museum gift shop and around the front. Then we went wine tasting.

One of our group of three attended 8 am mass here on a Thursday morning before we took the self-guided tour for $5 each. Prior to the tour I was under the impression that Fr. Junipero Serra founded all of the California missions. Fr. Estevan Tapis actually founded Santa Ines. The exhibits in the buildings and grounds were impressive. The cemetery has graves dating back to the 1800s.

We spend half day in solvang, so didnt get a chance to go inside the mission and check it. But saw it from the outside. Its close to the solvang main town.

$ 6 per person , $ 5 for children

What a gem! This was not even on our itinerary. What a great find! So beautiful. Glad we saw this and enjoyed learning about the history.

Our family of 7 attended Christmas Day Mass in this nice historic mission. Afterwards, we toured the grounds and enjoyed the lovely scenery. A nice church to attend for the holiday!

I liked this Mission. The price is 5 dollar for an adult ticket. The 1st 3 rooms have an overhead recording to explain things in the rooms which is nice. The grounds were maintained.

We took the self guided tour. It was very similar to other California missions, but we enjoy seeing them all. The gardens were also lovely and serene.

Just a ways up from the tourist area in Solvang is the Santa Ines Mission. This is still an operating Catholic Church but they are seemingly accustomed to outside visitors. It is a very nice church, and worth seeing for $5. There are not extensive mission grounds (go to nearby La Purisima for that), but from the parking lot, there is a nice visual of the Santa Ines Valley. For a nice drive, go up to route 154 to Santa Barbara.

While visiting Solvang, we decided to stop in and see this historical site. The cost was was only $5 to take a self-guided tour. As you go thru the first part of the building and rooms, a narrated story of the the room you are in is played. I'm normally not a "museum" type of guy but I found this tour interesting. The main chapel was a bit simple but was quiet & reverent. Next up is the garden area that was impeccably maintained. Boy this would be an awesome location for wedding bridals or family photos! The outside grave yard is worth a quick look.

BOTTOM LINE: Well worth a visit to see this historic mission & church when you are in the Solvang. It is located withing 15 minutes of town by walking. I spent about 45 minutes here strolling thru the church & grounds. A gift shop is also located here. MY RATING: 10/10.

One of the last of the Alta California missions, Santa Ines is nicely restored with a particularly pretty chapel. It was also the site of the first seminary and institute of higher education in California, dating back to 1844. The mission is located in the Danish village of Solvang, which makes for an interesting contrast of cultures. While there is plenty of parking at the mission, the road through town can get very busy on weekends.

We very much enjoyed our short time at the mission. It's worth a stop, especially if you aren't visiting other missions along the California coast.

We chose not to tour this mission due to time constraints. The self guided tour costs $5. Lovely gift shop and georgous rose garden.

Great stop among the 21 missions in Alta California. It's small, but a great get away from the hustle of Solvang. Kids 12 and under free. Adults $6. We spent about an hour total. We walked around the grounds after going through the buildings. The views are great. Although the mission grounds are much smaller than the original land it was built on, you get an idea of life in the 1800's, when it was built. Worth a visit.

The walking center start almost there.

Relax place, there are diary Mass at 8 am.

Nice views of the valley.

Beautiful place to visit if you have time. The self guided tour was $5 per person. Kids under 12yrs are free. Getting in a little history is always a treat for us so this was a fun stop. The tour is as long or short as you make it. We spent about an hour here looking at all the artifacts and then enjoying the outside gardens. They are beautiful and the views are breathtaking.

If you want the history of California as influenced by the Spanish and native Americans this is the best place to be. You will visit the museum, the chapel itself, the surrounding gardens and the cemetery. The gardens and orchards are well preserved and a nice place to sit and relax.

The mission is worth a visit; very complex and complicated history. Restoration is still ongoing - at least that is what we were told.

This active Catholic Church has a well-curated collection of old mission tools, vestments, furnishings and other items from the 1800s mission life. Cemetery has over 1000 people buried here but most graves are not marked. What’s worthwhile is the self-guided audio tour. You push little buttons on the wall in seven areas to hear the history and backstory on each room and the church itself. Plenty of free parking and charming gift shop staff.

Easy to walk to as it is in downtown Solvang... lots of history and well preserved. Wonderful grounds

Santa Ines is a beautiful and quite old CA mission with some interesting history. It is a small mission with a chapel and some gardens with a cemetery. The chapel and the gardens/cemetery are lovely, however the $5 tour takes only about 10 minutes max.

My mom likes to attend mass each time we get to stay in Solvang. She finds the congregation welcoming. She finds it so peaceful.

It was ok . There are some nice things to see but other things in the area that are much better things to see . Would not have been a big deal to miss not seeing it for me.

Just one block off the main shopping street of Solvang, this is a peaceful quiet place to spend a half hour or so. The entry fee is only $5 and the pamphlet is worth getting for the information. This is a working mission. The gardens are a great place to sit, watch the birds and just relax

Lots of walking on this property. But quiet and peaceful. Can see excavation spot. Hard to imagine so many Indians living in one area. Church ceremony was going on at the time we were there. Catholic/Mission churches are always so interesting and beautiful inside.

We visited the Mission and took the self guided tour. Wonderful history and artifacts. The church itself is sweet and Mass was special. The gardens are lovely and even though California is in a drought, still pretty with water resistant plantings. A great place to stop and meditate, say a prayer, and feel peaceful. The gift shop had many lovely items, and the staff are so nice.

Very interesting and nicely done tour. Simple, nothing fancy self guided tour but a good learning experience in an amazing setting. Enjoyed the garden very much.

A beautiful and serene place. Loved just stepping into the gift shop and seeing the original wood in the ceiling and the homemade tiles on the floor. And how thick the adobe walls are!

So we walked the outside grounds it was nice just taking pictures and seeing the flowers they wer beautiful.

Lovely gardens...interesting old cemetery...easy walk from the center of town...wonderful vistas...nice places to sit in the shade...

We found the mission on a morning walk on our little stay in Solvang. We all enjoyed wandering around the grounds reading about the history of the mission. We also did the self guided tour of the museum for $5 an adult. The church, gardens and the history of it all was amazing.

During our stop in Solvang, we visited the small chapel a short while for adoration.
We weren't sure how to go into the main church. The lady at the gift shop said there was Mass each morning at 8:00.
The grounds are small but we walked around. There are Stations of the Cross out side..and I believe there is a small school near the convent.
It is very special to see these missions.

We went there for our Christmas mass and it was nice and warm mass. The church is simply beautifully and feel cozy due to its right size.

Personally, I love the small chapel with Virgin Mary paintings from around the world s shrines.

It was very impressive and great visit for us.

It was such a beautiful place and filled with reverence. I was surprised at the architecture which was a mixture, to me, of cultures that came together to build it.

The grounds are serene and encourage meditation. I loved all the 1700 century art work and learned a lot. It is all beautiful preserved and worth your time.

So peaceful! Very neat that it currently has masses going! People in gift shop were very helpful! Loved seeing the 14 stops of Jeaus

As you walk through the mission each location has a button that allows you to listen to a pre-recorded explanation of where you are standing.

Spanish style. Love stations. Cross. And saint with flowers. Good to see some culture and. Spanish art. Cross.

I went to Mass there on Sunday. It was a warm, welcoming place. The grounds and views were beautiful. I did not do the tour, but enjoyed my time there

In the early times that the Catholic Church was building missions along the coast of California in hopes of getting the Native American People converted to the Catholic Religion, this mission was one in the chain built on or near the coast. Yes, most look alike and the tours are generally the same but, you've got to see them all. Right? I think the most interesting part of these tours is how the Native American People accepted these foreigners initially and then rebelled against them and some sort of war happened. I'm sure you'd have to have been there to fully understand why such behavior happened in most of these missions but, suffice to say they did happen. This mission hopping my not be for you but they do give an interesting view of the history involved in the days of early California. Remember, he/she who is not a student of history is therefore doomed to relive it. Ron.

This is an hour stop while in Solvang. We did take the $5 self guided tour, which was interesting. Liked the old vestment on display. The Mission is beautiful inside. Nice grounds.

If you like visiting Missions this is another. If you have never done so then you should go at least once. This one has audio playing in each room as part of a tour. It costs $5.

Super quaint, peaceful, charming mission. The location is absolutely amazing! It overlooks the field & is only a couple minutes from all the fun stuff in Solvang. The mission itself isn't too big and about average sized compared to another missions but worth a stop in the town of Solvang

Nice self- guided tour with informative push button info stops. Interesting artifacts, including several priestly vestments. Church and gardens are well preserved and beautiful. Staff on site were very welcoming.

Great break from wine tasting and shopping. Self-guided tour but the signs make it easy to navigate. Be prepared to spend at least an hour here.

Wander the mission and read about California doing it early years under Spain. In your minds Eye see what the Native Americans saw as the Men from the South in strange cloths started building and changing their lifes

There are lots of places to visit, but you might want to put this near the top of that list. The self guided tour is very informative and steps you through the development and history of the Missions in California. For the $5 entrance fee it was well worth the time & money spent.

The grounds are lovely, but we went during a time that the tours were limited. However, it was still a lovely area to walk and photograph the vistas. Very close to the downtown area - so you can walk there easily from local restaurants.

I'm not a history buff but my companion is... This was one of my to do list in my Solvang trip so I gave in. I was surprised because I enjoyed going to their little museum and knowing the history behind the Old Mission Santa Ines. We even attended the morning mass. You need to pay $5 to go in the museum though.

Very pretty Mission. Great little gift shop. We had a dog with us so we just walked the grounds and went into the gift shop. But it was very peaceful and beautiful to walk around.

We've been in and around Mission Santa Ines many times, for a variety of reasons. It is charming, a classic California mission, open every day and very well maintained.

I recommend it highly to anyone new to the area.

Having visited all the California missions, I am surprised that this one isn't better known. It has a great little self-guided museum and the mission church has been well-preserved. For Catholics, it also has a large modern Blessed Sacrament chapel for prayer. Tourists visiting Solvang are wrll-advised to walk here for an hour well-spent.

The church was closed ado we walked the grounds. Stations of the cross is unique with an addedresurrection archway.
But really tired of the white Nordic Jesus especially when depicted for a mostly Hispanic congregation.
Amazing views from the grounds.

Most other missions are self guided tours this one has audio narriation at several stations which made this probably the most informative mission I've been to.

This historic Franciscan Mission is still an active Catholic Church and Catholics are welcome at mass. It is a beautiful historic property and has well maintained beautiful landscaping. This is a nice historic stop and a spiritually restful and rejuvenating place to visit. A must see location

If you're into history, then this is the place for you! There is a small fee to get in. There is quite a bit to see.

I've been to Solvang many times but happy to finally see this beautiful Mission. The grounds were clean and kept up. There was a a wedding party at the time and a horse and carriage.

Visiting the Mission should be on your list to do when in Solvang. The grounds are nice and the views are STUNNING. It's a smaller Mission compared to others I have been too, however it is very nice and interesting. The self guided tour is worth the few bucks.

Whether you are religious or just like seeing interesting landmarks, this is definitely worth a visit, and is a very popular place for tourists and church-goers alike. The church itself is simple and beautiful. The views are peaceful and pastoral. There is a lovely (but tiny) gift shop, with wonderful staff. Remember that this is a working mission that does a lot of outreach work in the surrounding communities. We go there every time we visit Solvang, and have formed a strong bond with one of the Irish Capuchin Franciscan priests there (they came over in the 1920s). You couldn't meet nicer people. Go there.

The tour is self-guided and pretty interesting! The cemetary had some fascinating grave stones -- good insight into pre-Danish Solvang.

There is plenty of parking. Admission is about eight bucks. The self-guided tour is informative about the history of the missions

Like most of the California Missions, this one has lots of interest. It has more "patina" than most and it is worth the visit.

The grounds speak much of history tying together work of the Franciscans, Native Americans, Spain, Mexico, and the USA. The museum features some priceless art, artifacts from early years to a very peaceful inter garden. Nice stop to relax and learn.

This was a lovely mission. It is worth the admission price ($6) for a self-guided tour to see the museum and the inside of the church. This mission is in beautiful Solvang, so there are plenty of other locations to walk to from here. The gift shop is small, but has some lovely things.

Hubby and I biked to Santa Inez Mission (on a whim) from our hotel in Solvang. So glad we discovered this gem. They charge $5 to get into the actual church but it's really worth it. It's nice to have a guided tour in each sectional room that plays over speakers. The grounds were kept really clean and was an overall a nice trip.

This is a small mission, easy to walk in a short amount of time & worth taking a look.
We parked in the public parking lot and walked through the arched walkway. If you didn’t know the mission was there, it’d be easy to miss.

This is one of the better "preserved" missions. Everything is in terrific condition, particularly compared some of the other missions. It sits on the top of a hill looking down a picturesque valley.

It also sits at the end of a long string of tourist-trap blocks and offers a quiet and serene respite from the gaudy and tacky shops lining the streets of Solvang.

We were actually having a pretty bad experience in Solvan until my husband stumbled on this place. It was later in the day so the buildings were closed, but the grounds were open and the public is allowed to walk around and enjoy the beauty. It is kind of a surprise to find this tucked back behind a bank drive-through area, but we were so glad for something quiet and relaxing after a bad day. The gardens, especially the roses are so bright and cheerful! There is an absolutely amazing spot that overlooks the valley to just sit and reflect on life, and of course, the architecture is stunning as well. We had a great hour strolling through and enjoying everything.

If you're in Solvang, be sure to visit this hidden treasure. Even though it is found on the main boulevard in Solvang, out is easy to pass it by, thinking it's a ranch. The scenic views are breathtaking, the grotto a lovely oasis and the tour of the grounds is worth the stop. Be sure to visit the gift shop.

Plenty of free parking. Grounds are maintained; nice long path to take a lovely walk. Nice scenery to take pics. Little gift shop has entrance to museum tour ($5 per person).

This is an active Catholic parish that goes back to original missions founded by Fr. Serra. The mission is well preserved and is a super visit for those who like to study the history of California and the missions

It is anazing regarding available building materials. The mission is a place of worship and plays an important place in Californiz history.

The views from the Old Mission are breath taking. We strolled along and took in the outdoor Stations of the Cross which reminded me of my days in the seminary!

This Mission and grounds were very nicely restored. They had a self guided tour and the church was available to see before the service. It is amazing to realize this was all built with labor from the Native Americans in that part of California, with local materials. It is still in use as a convent and rectory.

We stayed in Solvang this past weekend and decided to attend Sunday Mass at the Mission. I loved the service we attended. After Mass we took the self guided tour of the mission. It’s one of the smaller Missions I’ve been to. My kids weren’t too excited about being there, but there are a lot of things to see in the museum area.

Historic and beautifully maintained. Plan to spend several hours to take in all the stops along the tour. A true landmark.

Right in downtown solvang walking distance to all the action. Situated on a hillside with amazing views.

Our kids loved this history adventure! The story boards and narrated audio added to the experience. The garden is absolutely breathtaking.

One of Father Serra's most beautiful California missions. Beautiful grounds and buildings. And incredible views of the nearby mountains and valleys.

Cannot really comment much on the museum other than it is pretty much like any other mission found in California.
The church and its ceremonies are absolutely fulfilling, of course if you are catholic. Sunday masses are a joy to attend with the beautiful music from the youth group and the priest is always spreading a wonderful message of love thy neighbor.

I have visited the Mission Sta. Ines four times now, and again am pleased with its preservation and its importance in California history. The grounds are beautifully maintained and gave me that 'moment in time' feeling. That it is part of a functioning parish is even more impressive-- while I was there parish members were preparing food packages to give to local people in need.

While visiting Solvang, we decided to take a tour of the Old Mission of Santa Ines. I had previously toured and mission in Carmel and found the histories and architecture of the old Spanish missions to be quite interesting. Santa Ines was also quite interesting. We paid $6 each for a self guided tour of their museum ( religious and indigenous artifacts), the chapel ( still in use today) and the grounds including the cemetery. The whole tour takes a hour or less and is a must for those interested in the Spanish colonization of the area and Catholic Church history in the U.S.

This mission was part of a mission trip with our family. It is near the outskirt of Solvang, California a cute Dutch community with good food. The mission is newly renovated and cost $5.00 per person age 12 and older. Less than 12 was free. All of the funds go to the renovation fund. We spent about 30 minutes here and that was enough time. Nice museum and gift shop. The mission is an active parish and it was unique in that it has an audio tour. Overall nice and clean and fresh, but nothing that really set it apart from the other missions. Grounds are simple and has a few prayer areas

The Old Mission is a great place to tour they have interesting pictures and artifacts along with a garden and Cemetery. The admission price is $5 which is reasonable. They also have a gift shop.

One of the 21 Mission's built hundred's of year's ago. This Mission was built in 1804 and is a active beautiful Mission to this day. There is a large parking lot and the self guided tour is available daily from the gift shop at a cost of $5.00 per person. There are many artifacts in the rooms visited with automated information at each area. You have access to the beauty of the main church & alter area. You exit to the large inside patio area where there are information displays of what took place on the Mission grounds many years ago. Back outside the Mission, the information displays continue to detail what took place in that area. You can spend as little as a half hour to a couple of hours taking in Mission Santa Ines & what it has to offer. I liked what I saw!

Very nice and peaceful Mission. While it is much smaller than the Santa Barbara Mission it appears to have more original structures.
The self guided tour is great and the push button recordings in each room was very informative.

One of the many missions in the area. It's in average shape compared to the other's I have been too. Nice, easy stop if you have not been to the others, the history component of the specific area seems better than the other missions I've visited - though maybe I am mixing some up. You can walk in the back gate right from the downtown area so I'd say why not check it out. Only $5 to get in.

A great trip to the Santa Ines mission in Solvang California.

The people in the gift shop are very nice. The tour was only $5.00 per adult. A good value for your dollar.

Enjoy

While in Solvang we decided to visit the Old Mission Santa Ines and am glad we did. The architecture is very specific to the area and not something you see everyday. I enjoyed the tour and learned more than I thought I would inside. The grounds are kept nicely and the scenery is amazing. I would recommend stopping by for some history!

Pretty church, nice gardens. Very old artwork. Its worth a visit if you are in the area. Still has scheduled masses.

Worth the time to visit this lovely mission convenient to Solvang. One of the 21 built by Catholic Missionaries between late 1700's and early 1800's. Nice self-guided walk through the buildings, garden, small cemetery and church. Many artifacts worthy of your time.

As you drive thru Solvang this was a small cute mission we visited. Gift shop open but interior was closed. We were only able to walk around the front.

Stopped here on our way out of Solvang and walked around the outside. Didn’t stop in for a tour due to time but definitely a pretty place.

Definitely worth a visit when in Solvang. Take the self-guided walking tour through the old church mission (built in 1804), garden and cemetery.

We love visiting old missions. We biked here from our hotel. The tour is very quick. Be careful of Sunday tours as there is mass so you can't view the church when mass is in session. The stations of the cross outside were beautiful and the view of the San Inez valley is beautiful.

Very educational. The self guided tour of the church and grounds is well done. Very beautiful church painting, etc., and
lovely garden.

The place was full of crowd which was having great view to see them and people was so humble the to stay

We went first thing in the morning and it was quite peaceful. This mission seems a bit more rustic than the others but was our favorite one to visit.

This was my first Mission experience, and it did not disappoint! Totally a spiritual journey into a past I knew nothing about. Peaceful, beautiful, surreal, breathtaking.... Hope to come back again soon!

We had a wonderful time touring the Mission. It's beautiful and full of amazing things to see. The Church is very special. A must see.

We have 21 missions in California and I've been to at least 2/3 of them. This one has no particular interesting characteristic. The only thing out of thing out of the ordinary is its proximity to Solvang. If you've never been to a California mission, by all means go! If you have, though, you won't be impressed. You're better off going to Mission La Purisima Concepcion a few miles away.

A place of history and worship. Worth a stop. There is a beautiful garden and a museum. We didn't do the tour but maybe next time!

It is so easy to reach the Mission, is right on the main route of visiting Solvang. Easy parking, beautiful setting. You get to enrich your history knowledge and you feel a little more "spiritual". A quiet walk in the chapel and gardens gives you a little time to reflect on life's meaning.

Peaceful and well maintained mission. It's smaller and less informative than mission San Jose but definitely worth a drop in, if you're in Solvang. The staff gave us helpful instructions and a map for the self-guided tour. The gardens are pretty and a good place to unwind.

We walked from our hotel to a beautiful, peaceful setting at the Mission. Very serene, would probably walk there everyday if I lived in the area, a must see

Enter through the gift shop. $5 charge. Interesting pictures a few artifacts a beautiful old style church, peaceful garden . unfortunately the adjacent cemetery is in terrible shape. Not worth trying to read the headstone.

This mission, one of 21 missions in California, is a good place to learn about the mission period in California. It is only a short hop from the main village in Solvang.

It’s a beautiful place to visit but no tours are offered by the misión it’s a self guide overall I would prob go early during weekends I went on a Friday about 12 and there were a few ppl . I stayed back and let them go before me so I could tour the rooms quiet it was a large family w all ages and they were explaining things to the kids so kinda noisy but it self guided so as long as you don’t exit you can go back n forth through the rooms and the garden/cemetery outside

This is one of my favorite missions to stop at. The history of the area is so rich and the missions truly are the best place to pick up Native American history (ironically)!

This mission is very old and has gone through remodeling projects. I attended the 8 AM Mass. The music prigram was led by a very talented soloist and she was a very adept guitar player. All the capuchin priests were very warm and 🙏 welcoming as well as the parisioners. Fathe had us raide our hand if we were visiting. The inside of this mission is stunning. There are great tours to learn more about the interesting history.

This little mission has been part of the family for years and years. Most recently mom worked as a volunteer until she died. Quaint church that is rich in history of California. The ranch surrounding it was where my grandfather was foreman until the 1960s. Now it is a vineyard.

Nice tour of the mission with great history and beautiful grounds. The church was quaint and well kept as were the grounds.

The MISSION IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF HISTORY WELL WORTH A VISIT. you can take a guided tour. There are so many artifacts and treasures to see. Grounds are peaceful and lovely.

We were on a trip to see California Missions with my ten year old grandson. We enjoyed seeing this Mission and its' grounds and taking the self guided tour after our breakfast downtown. The collection of old Mission garments were amazing! We had a very pleasant experience.

Just beyond the much-visited Danish-themed commercial area of Solvang is this place of quiet beauty and California history. The grounds are lovely, with a beautiful view of the valley below. The Blessed Sacrament Chapel can be visited without doing the tour.

A worthwhile stop as this is one of the original
California Missions and part of the Mission Trail. Located at the eastern end of Solvang it is an easy and quick stop to see where it all began in the early days of California.

The grounds are stunning! Do take a stroll and enjoy the views. However, we witnessed a very unfortunate interaction between the gift store staff and some guests ahead of us who were interested in seeing the sanctuary. A fee was necessary to access the sanctuary and the way the staff conveyed this information was rude and unacceptable. My guess is that the staff is "tourist tired," and if so, they should not be working with the public. I'm afraid that staff attitude deterred us from inquiring any further about visiting the sanctuary (fee or no fee). I would have rated this visit much higher (especially because of the grounds), but the staff attitude was a bit shocking for a representative of a Mission site.

Fantastic historic Franciscan Mission. Beautiful site with old cemetery, wonderful church and grounds!!

You feel very cool and calm when you are around it. Loved to stay there for half an hour. Overall village is very serene and picturesque. Nice coffee and great bakery items..

A must see Mission, we had family visiting from Illinois and not familiar with the missions/ California history and this is a beautiful one to see. the chapel and gardens are wonderful

We just had a 5th visit to Solvang in 12 years and every time we go, we attend mass daily. We absolutely love the mission!

I went to school at the San Fernando Mission so have always enjoyed visiting them. In fact we’ll be doing a motorcycle ride through the SCMA and visiting all the missions from San Diego to Sonoma. Mission Santa Ines has a $5 entry fee for visiting the Museum and Sanctuary which includes the interior grounds and cemetery. The Museum was very nice, informative and professional. The staff in the gift shop was great too! This is one of the best restored missions we’ve visited. Make sure and visit the 14 Stations of the Cross which is to the right of the parking lot. Highly recommend and the best $5 you’ll spend!

The old mission is nice great location, great view, short tour for
The church, Souveiner shop carries a large inventory of Catholic supplies such as books, variaties of saints figuirine and other items.

My wife and I came to Solvang for her birthday. We love visiting the Missions, so this was a great opportunity. The mission was built in 1820, and has a great self guided tour with naration. The mission is still in active use and you nay attendca mass. There is artifacts on display and even a vestment worn by Father Juniper Serra. The tour is 5.00 a person. A must see when visiting the area.

to this mission, right in the town.
$6 entry
One of the better ones and we had seen a few by the time we got to this one.
Large if simple church but beautiful murals and trompe l'oeil all around the alter. Pleasant grounds which will only be better as the season goes on.

Very nice Spanish Mission in California, with a great Mexican attendance to Sunday Mass. Very nice chapel.

We visited Santa Ines Mission when we were in Solvang. It is the 19th of the 21 California missions that were built in the period from 1769 to 1823.

Santa Ines Mission was founded in September 17, 1804 by Father Estevan Tapis.

We found the mission beautiful and spiritual. It is an active parish today.

There is a museum, gift store, and the mission.

Today we take everything for granted. This mission features a part of the asphalt foundation for California's first institution for higher learning. Chumash natives hand collected asphalt pieces to make it! Impressive collection of vestments including one purported to have belonged to Juniperro Sera himself.

I went here with a friend on her suggestion. I’ve never been to Solvang or the mission before this day but was very pleasantly surprised at the total experience. Was quite a relaxing day walking around the mission and taking their walk through tour inside. Lots of history here. And a friendly stray cat inside the garden grounds.

This is a must to visit when going to Solvang. Beautiful Mission, and very knowledgeable staff. I would definitely recommend the tour.

My husband and I attempted to take the self guided tour and our stroller would not fit through the door. Only one of the two doors was open. The lady working completely ignored me when was trying to see if she could help. Being that there was no one else in there besides her and I don't think it was accidental. We left and walked around the grounds for a bit but wish we could have seen the inside.

Wonderful stop. Enjoy the Museum, gift shop, tours and daily Mass in beautiful church. Beautiful gardens.

Old Mission Santa Ines is a peaceful, charming mission quite in line with the town of Solvang itself! There is a $5 entrance fees to be paid at the Gift Shop. The self guided tour takes you through a timeline of the Mission, some artifacts connected to the Mission, a small Madonna Chapel, the Church and the gardens behind the gift shop. I couldn't visit the church itself as a service was going on when I visited. The front facade of the Mission looks similar to a lot of other Missions spread across California state. I got to know that the Mission has been in continuous use as a church since the early days.Credit must be given to the people and organizations who take care and effort to preserve this wonderful Mission and its grounds!
The artifacts display and the Madonna Chapel was impressive but what I really liked was the well maintained garden in the compound. The walk through the small gardens was quite pleasant. They have a plaque which mentions that this was the first institution of higher education in the state of California! There is a statue of St Junipero Serra stands in front of the gift shop - a testament to the founder of California Missions.

Very nice Mission in a very nice town.
This Mission was founded on September 1804 by the Franciscan Father Estevan Tapís.

This was one of the larger and nicer missions we have seen in California. One can see how the native indians lived together with the folks from the Mission through the pictures. Very nice garden in the back leading to an ancient cemetery at the far end. Good to spend an hour or so..

It is not a fancy location, nor a particularly beautiful church. However, the museum part of this location is very interesting. If you are a history buff, it is very worthy of your visit.

There are 21 Missions in California and we've now visited about 12 and plan, over time, to see them all. Many were constructed by an industrious and courageous Friar who came from Majorca in the Mediterranean to Mexico and up into California converting Natives to Catholicism, tending to the sick and building Missions that were intended to be refuges for travellers - about a days ride apart. This one has, like many, been ravaged by time but more recently lovingly rebuilt and is very attractive in both appearance and architecture.

I stumbled upon the mission while walking my Dog as my husband worked at a business nearby. I walked the exterior gardens and wandered around. I was drawn to the historic plaques and explanations about Mission life. I never saw a reservoir at a mission before. I also never knew they had a laundry set up for the Indian people to wash the laundry. There are benches along the overlook area of the meadow/valley/planting area. There are benches at each part of the 14 stages of the cross. I moved from bench to bench taking in the peaceful morning sun. I met some Brothers dressed in the classic brown robes. They took a moment to chat with me. I felt very welcomed. I will come back one day, I want to tour all the missions. This mission looks to be well preserved. I wish I had more time to linger and look at all it has to offer.

Visiting this historical mission is something like viewing and listening to the whispering winds of the past. The missions, I imagine, where the busy hubs of their day. I also know that the coming together of the various peoples and cultures where not always accepting of differences. Nonetheless, the significance of the missions are invaluable. Santa Ines stands valiant, strong and as relevant today as it must have been many long gone days ago. Its a must see and something of a respite along your site seeing tour of Solvang Valley attractions.

My husband and I had a weekend getaway in Solvang for our anniversary. We knew Sta Inez Mission is nearby from our hotel so we went there to worship and say thanks to the Lord for the blessings. We had been in the church before this visit.

Unfortunately, we were not able to enter the church because we have to pay. It’s not the money because it is affordable. However, I feel that someone doesn’t have to pay to go to a church to worship. It should not be treated as a business. I am a Catholic worshiper and I believe that worshiping is free and the house of God should be open to all.

Sermon was very nice. Church is lovely. We were married here over 15 years ago and love to visit from our home on the East Coast.

$5 admission for adults (no senior price), children were free. Nice, small museum, pretty grounds as most of the museums have. They were closed the 4th of July but didn't advertise that anywhere. They grounds around the museum are used for the towns July 4th celebration and fireworks.

Deo gratias! Take the $5 self guided audio tour, Pray to Our Blessed Mother in the chapels. Inspect the fantastic artwork and vestments. Pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory in the graveyard. Great gift shop too.

We were driving around looking at the holiday lights on Christmas Eve and happened upon this church. Nice old Mission architecture and style. We heard a chorus of people signing and drove around to see the additional buildings. There is an outdoor Stations of the Cross too.

Restored paintings are fantastic. Hope the ones in the main part of Mission church are done soon. Very hard to photograph though given the lighting and angles, too much reflection. Can’t use flash but I don’t think would have helped anyway, maybe would be worse. Nice Mass. Friendly. No problem parking. At this time of year garden is very green even though has been a dry month. Grottos nice although potted flowers needed tending.

All the missions are beautiful in there own way, I been to all it is a great bucket list.the best time to travel to missions are spring or fall it can get very hot during th summer.

We came during a Spanish mass, is a Catholic mass the people are very nice even if you are not Catholic and don't speak Spanish

Mission was closed when we had arrived, so we walked where we could. Nice mission with history, well maintained and should be seen by all who are interested in California missions!

We visited by early light and one sees right away how fine a spot for meditation and respite this is. We did not go inside anywhere but walked along the garden and through the Stations. The gift store is standard for a mission. BUT THE VIEW!!!

Definitely worth visiting this beautiful mission. Easy walk from main downtown area. The stations of the cross garden area is simply incredible- I found it to be deeply moving and beautiful.

We paid $5 for the entrance. The souvenir shop selling good stuff. We took lots of photo during the tour. I was amazed by the interior of the mission

Santa Ines is beautifully maintained, and it has a lovely gift shop. Hats off to the volunteers, employees, and donors.

The museum has a variety of artifacts many original to the mission. The chapel is restored and used currently. The gardens are quite simple, but a pleasant place to stroll and relax. The museum store has an interesting variety of books.

What intrigued me the most about this historical California Mission, along the El Camino Real, was to learn about the native people part of the equation. Part of the grounds of Santa Ines have an area where the native people lived as part of the mission culture. The missionaries fed, clothed and housed many of the native people, but my impression is that it was not a good trade off. Some Missions apparently treated the natives better than others. Regardless of the history, This place is located in the beautiful rolling hills of Central California and Solvang and should definitely be on your travel itinerary.

We try to visit California Missions when we are in the area. They offer a slice of history and each one is a little different.

This Mission turned out to be a pleasant surprise and much larger then I thought. The grounds are very lovely and like all the CA missions this one has lots of history and wonderful old architecture. A must see!

A beautiful mission with rolling hills that you can leisurely walk thru. The mission is still operating so you could attend church services.

We took the short self guided tour of the Mission ($10) - it is in really good shape and they have nice short tour of religious and historic artifacts for you to see, along with the Church and grounds.

literally right around the corner from downtown Solvang (lots of restaurants and small shops) - an active church with an OK museum

Usually when you visit a mission there is a lot of history. Here it felt more like an old working church, abandoned because this isn't the primary religion of the area, open to tour.....Honestly it was "fine". Good for a 30 minute side trip if you are in the area. It is not worth a special trip and if you miss it totally that will be OK as well.

Lots of history. Church is still in operation. Impressive collection of religious items. Audio tours available or self guiding. Cost $5.

Peaceful views and an outdoors "stations of the cross" - unique and meditative. Easy access walking from town. Nice break from the milling crowds.

Very nice small Mission at the edge of town and the very busy tourist streets. The gardens around the mission are quite large and well maintained. Tours are $6 tours that includes the gardens; also a small gift shop. Nice place to explore if you like missions / churches to get away from so many people just 2 blocks away.

There are no public bathrooms so you need to go around the back side on the other side of the parking lot where there are nice restrooms.

The self guided tour at the Santa Ines Mission is a must for any history buff. It is right on the main road near downtown. The main chapel is remarkable. How they could build such structures 200 years ago is mind boggling.

Very well kept mission with active chapel where they have masses. There is a beautiful walk in the vineyard below the Mission, make sure you plan some time for it. After you are done with the history and outdoors stop by at the bakery next door for some yummy baked treats.

The Old Mission is a great place to visit. Beautiful grounds, gardens. Very peaceful. Many historical exhibits. The gift shop has many great books that were very inexpensively priced. I bought 2. I would go back again

A part of California history. It is both inspirational (for Catholics and non Catholics) and beautiful. The architecture and view across the valley are breathtaking. The chapel takes you back in time.

Stopped by when we were in Solvang and it was an interesting spot. We opted out not to pay for the self guided tour of the inside the building but from the outside it was pleasant to look at. They had an area towards the back the parking lot where you could look over and see the rolling hills for miles! The gift shop was nice but packed w items, was nervous about pumping something and breaking it!

Mission Santa Inés is the 19th of 21 California missions established by the Franciscan Fathers, and it was founded in 1804. That is all the history I am going to give you. If you want to learn more, then you can look it up. Even better, you can visit this lovely mission yourself. It is located in Solvang, the Danish capital of America.

As Catholics who travel extensively we always seek out places to attend Sunday Mass wherever we go .After a lovely Mass we read the bulletin and found that the residents of the local facility for patients with Alzheimer's disease were presenting a Bell Ringing Concert on the following morning in the church. We attended and were so impressed with the woman who orchestrated the concert. She was amazingly energetic, talented and patient as she darted back and forth reminding the performers when to ring their bells. Following the concert Father Peter, the Hospitality Host invited all of the attendees to have a complimentary lunch in the hall. I think that we were the only "tourists", but the ladies of the parish and Father Peter could not have been more gracious and welcoming. If one ever has the opportunity to attend Mass or an event at the Mission, clear your calender and "GO".

One of the original California missions. Traditional Catholic services. Walking distance from most hotels in Solvang.

This Mission is beautifully preserved inside and outside. We strolled thru the lovely gardens and took in all of the beautiful scenery.

Whether you are Catholic or not, I always recommend visiting Catholic Churches on your travels since this is often where the best historical architecture can be found. Old Mission Santa Ines is no exception. Founded in 1804 as one of the original missions established by the Spaniards, Santa Ines Mission is a well-preserved example of Spanish Mission architecture which was the foundation for California style even to this date.

There are docent tours available for $6 and self-guided tours for $5. Children under 12 are free for both. Docent-led tours and group tours must be scheduled in advance with the gift shop. The tours will gain you entry to the museum, garden and Church. The tours are daily with the exception of major holidays (Christmas, New Year, Thanksgiving, Easter).

This is an active Catholic Parish so it's possible you may encounter people praying within the Church, though there will be no tours during a Catholic Mass. For those attending Mass, Mass times are daily at 8 AM, Saturday Vigil at 5 PM in English and 7 PM in Spanish. On Sunday, Mass times are 8 AM, 9:30 AM, 11 AM, and 5 PM (youth Mass). Spanish Mass on Sunday is at 12:30 PM.

Of course the Mission is located in fabulous Solvang and the main shopping district is within walking distance to the Mission. In fact, there is a back gate from the garden which leads to a large parking lot for the Solvang shopping district. Plus, the Mission is located near Alamo Pintado Road where you can take a leisurely country road drive and see parks, wineries, apple farms, nut and berry farms, a miniature horse ranch, lavender farm, olive oil stand and much, much more!

It was enchanting to see all the history of this mission. The garden was very beautiful with a water fountain and a cemetery.

This is a small mission, not sure if they have something to see inside since it was Christmas day the day we visited. We like the view of the mountains from there, as a historic place is a good stop, but not much to see.

This is a low key lovely visit to a place way out of the past.
The mission is well preserved, though under key, and a fine tribute to the past.
It is no overwhelming, but historical, and we are glad we enjoyed this historic site.
Gift shop is lovely, very reasonably priced and clerks helpful and welcoming.
I recommend going, especially since it is so close to town.

This mission is fascinating. There are audio messages in the museum, which has outstanding exhibits. The buildings, grounds, and gift shop have been beautifully and lovingly restored. Santa Ines mission is well worth a visit.

My husband and I enjoyed our afternoon tour of the mission--- great history display in the museum and wonderful garden to stroll and enjoy.

The mission provides a nice insight into the development of Christian culture in Western America. Nice to visit if you're already in Solvang, not worth it to come out of your way.

This is one of the original 21 California missions established by the Spanish padres in 1804. It was here long before the Danish town of Solvang was established and is within walking distance of this popular tourist town. It looks out over a beautiful valley with an orchard of olive trees in the distance. It is a working Catholic church still, so often a wedding or funeral is happening. There is a gift shop where you can purchase nominally priced tickets to tour the few museum-like rooms and the courtyard behind. The hispanic club of the church established a lovely outdoor walk with the stations of the cross. A nice hike near the olive orchard leads to a creek and restorations of two old buildings and mills. My only complaint about this mission is that it does not look its age. Funds from their yearly fiestas have over-restored its facade, and it looks like it was built last year! It does not have the weathered charm of the nearby La Purisima mission about 15 miles to the west. It is good for a short visit and to acquaint oneself with the history of the California mission days.

A beautiful litte mission that is well restored and full of interesting tibbets about early California. The grounds are also well maintained and picturesque. Great photo ops.

I've visited most of California's missions. Santa Ines is in need of a little love, err, money.
There's a nominal fee to visit the museum and chapel.

The museum portion has pre-recorded information in each of the display rooms. Unfortunately, the recordings weren't working and you had to guess what you were looking at.

The chapel is typical, but subdued compared to some of the larger, well-funded missions.

The grounds were well kept and are worth the stroll.

My family and I did not do the tour but we did go to the Spanish mass. We got there as it was coming to an end. We walked through the rose garden area with our baby in her stroller and walked the stations of the cross with her in her stroller. Great walk, beautiful mission. Must see while in Solvang!

Visited the place early in the morning after breakfast, so had the whole mission to ourselves. Found the audio narration a bit distracting so only heard the first couple of them - there are buttons in each room to activate the narration. Not as large as San Luis Obispo to the north or San Luis rey to the south, but still, beautiful, serene, captivating as most missions are. Love the history about them, and the wonderful art and cultural artifacts that fill these places. A sharp contrast to Solvang's danish atmosphere but they greatly complement each other.

We tried to visit this historic part of California history, and never made it into the Church. The gift shop wanted $14 for a magnet (worth $4) and then wanted money to look in the Church (a self-guided tour). The Church used to be open to all - no cost no questions. Money, money, money. Where is Martin Luther when you need him?

Simple but nice garden. The artifacts are extensive and educational. We had to wait for mass to finish to see the church, but that was fine.

Good place to visit to understand the background history to Solvang. Nice museum and the inside of the Mission Church is lovely. Really pleasant gardens.

Only $5 admission. Offers a great guided tour for groups if you call in advance to arrange a time. Great location and easy access at the edge of the city - right next to the Corque Hotel. A quality gift shop. Large parking area for easy access for bus or RV.

We stopped by during our 21 year anniversary trip. We did the tour and took our time taking it all in! We met father Peter who gave us a blessing and also gave us two rosaries as a gift. They also allowed us to have a small picnic on the ground which was beautiful! All the staff/volunteers there were great!

Never had been to a Mission before. It basically consisted of a church, some old museum type of stuff, a little shop and a beautiful garden/park area

We spent some nice time walking around the mission, it’s small but not crowded ( it is Wednesday afternoon) we found it very relaxing, lots of areas to sit and take it all in. The gardens are beautiful and well maintained. The church is very quaint.

The grounds are well maintained and the views of the surrounding countryside are worth the visit. There are old ruins of water reservoirs and bathing and washing areas. There appears top be very little of the original mission left, just some arches.

We visited Mission after spending the morning at La Purisima Concepcion. It is unfair to compare the two missions, but Mission Santa Ines did not compare to the ability to walk through, explore and learn. Our children were not as engaged to the history of the Mission, and soon became bored. My wife and I shared the same sentiment after our visit, "That was it?"
As a positive, the town of Solvang is a great town to explore with lots of shops and unique bakeries.

While driving back from Carmel we decided to visit and tour all missions between Carmel and Brea. We visited old Mission Santa Ines. The history of California comes alive when you visit these missions and they are beautiful too.

First time to visit this Mission and enjoyed the serenity of the gardens and the history of this mission. We especially liked the fact that adoration was being held in a side chapel. Spend an hour with our Lord, in silence or prayer.

We decided to attend a service here, to our utter shock it was packed and there was only standing room left. Not our cup of tea, but it was interesting to experience. The grounds of this place are beautiful though if you can see the garden on the inside or walk the trail.

Beautiful gardens! We felt such a peace here and took many pictures....a beautiful site. We post stuff online and hope to have more people visit this beautiful site.

I found the Mission to be inspiring when one understands the history of the California Missions. It is an island on an oasis of the modern life and should provide a very soulful
and restful visiting experience

So much history and just knowing the mission has been there for over 225 years is impressive. The Franciscans have done an excellent job of maintaining the property and it is inspirational to walk the grounds.

This is a must see church. It's a good look in to the past of how nice old churches look. I'll be back.

Short visit with a few pictures. It was raining so did not walk in the garden. Looked like a very nice stations of the cross outside area. Tour was $5.00 so I passed. Very pretty mission. Worth a visit in nicer weather.

This mission has a rich history of the Chumash Indians. We really enjoyed walking around all of the grounds and reading the signage. If you're in Solvang you need to stop by here and just spent 30 minutes or so walking the lovely grounds. There is also a gift shop and a church you can go into.

Visited this small mission in Solvang the last two years. Both my sons enjoy history, and they enjoyed the small museum and walking around the grounds.
As it is still an active parish, we did run into service times during both trips. On this last trip, we had first planned to visit on Thursday afternoon, but noticed there was a funeral going on and chose to return Friday morning before we left, instead.
On Friday, we came by before leaving town. My mom had a chance to talk with one of the ladies from the parish, who was so friendly and helpful with information.
We very much enjoyed our visits here. Be sure to check out the rose garden on the south side of the church. It was just lovely!

Stop by for a quick visit to the church. Since it's not Sunday, there's a $5 entrance to see the mini museum they have and was able to visit the church. Gift shop has lots of neat religious stuff.

We went to the picturesque town of Solvang for a day trip! We saw this quaint mission. The place had so much history to offer.

Stopped by to visit the mission , pretty area nice scenery overlooking the mission ,nice gift shop , there was a wedding going on so did not get to see it as good

Very pretty old historical mission. Awesome views of surrounding mountains and groves. Lots of flowers, Church services still held. Catholic services. Very large and expansive. Set behind town of Solvang easy walk in back through adobe gate.

This is a small Mission, well run and extremely tranquil. We could well imagine sitting in the garden reading a book. They charge a nominal $5 for a self guided tour and although we found the commentary a little long, it was interesting enough.

I did a self guided tour of this historical mission and it was very informative. It's a must when visiting Solvang! Also went to mass on a Sunday evening at this church. It was beautiful!

The Santa Ines Mission is definitely worth visiting. The mission itself is well preserved and interesting, and the gardens are beautiful!

We stopped by on a Sunday morning during service which was being broadcast on the grounds. It was very peaceful to hear the service and the singing as we were walking around. An old cemetery is on the back of the property with the Stations of the Cross beautifully marked and overlooking the valley. Definitely worth a stop!

The Mission was closed because of Covid but you can still walk the grounds, as we did. The rose garden is beautiful and there are places to sit, mediate, and pray if you wanted. There are benches available to sit. The place is so serene and beautiful. It was disappointing the church was closed. Will go back again when open.

Mass was beautiful, and afterwards a lovely lady named Nini came over to us and presented us with rosaries, which we will treasure. Spectacularly lovely old church.

We paid a short visit to this mission and particularly enjoyed the garden, which was quite beautiful. The church was nice, too. This mission is smaller than the one in Santa Barbara. If you've never been to a California mission this could be a good starting point.

Family visit to Solvang - easy drive to Old Mission - quiet retreat and great views of the Valley. Took a nice walk through stations of the cross - nice path and easy walk. *Note they do charge admission for self guided tour inside*

This mission has a nice self guided tour. It provides a lot of detailed information about the mission and the lives that were led there. It has a pretty garden.

The mission is a wonderful place to visit, and the whole surrounding area makes it worth a drive out there. We went to Mortensens Bakery afterwards and had some amazing pastries which are definitely the best around...soooo flaky and delicious.

Mission Ines was just a short walk from our hotel. It is one of the newer missions, There is audio in most rooms that gives a summary of the items in the chamber. We have visited many of the missions. Each is unique and gives insight to the history of California. They are always worth the visit.

Founded in 1804, beautiful historic mission. The Mission is beautiful, and the grounds are well kept. Full Catholic Mass is still held in Mission. I especially liked the sacred walk
Outside the Mision, the beautiful view of the Santa Inez Valley and picnic areas on the outside grounds.

A wonderful place to walk around, find some quiet time to pray, catch up on some history, or just take in the view. It's a great respite from the hustle of downtown Solvang.

We visited this mission prior to walking around Solvang. There is an entrance fee and worth it to see how the native indians were christianized. Aside from the beautiful church interior, the park-like area outside was also nice.

We enjoyed visiting this mission while in Solvang. It is well maintained and still in use...many masses, in either English or Spanish. The rose garden is lovely as are the views from the site.

The tour is a good value. They have a collection of original vestments. The narration is informative. Unlike some other missions, this is an active church. Very enjoyable.

Sorry, just passed by , was not able to stop, we wanted to but was running late, so could only say what I saw, was beautiful, will make sure I have time to stop by next time, instead of just driving by

For only $5/adult it was interesting to take the self-guided tour through the Mission. A very interesting history.

It's pretty much in downtown Solvang, so no need to drive outside of the main downtown core.

This is a nice mission to visit. It has a walking tour of the gardens out side & a nice tour for a small fee on the inside. This is still a working church~ We have seen wedding's & funerals here. During Danish day's the front doubles as a food court & children game's. The history of this church is great! There is a small gift shop as well.

History in places like this start with the Old Mission Santa Ines. This is no doubt a nice way to start off your adventure in Solvang. A beautifully well kept mission which shows how far back Santa Ines reaches. A must visit!

Garden areas were nice, not sure about the recorded walking tour of the mission itself. Like most of these missions they kind of ignore the obvious that it was one of the means of making native american tribes more submissive to their wants and needs. This was done by using them for cheap labor while forcing them to give up their own beliefs for a new creation story. Not a fine moment for human kind overall for human kind. That being said it's still history if narrowly defined by the history given on the recording and well maintained by church.

Enjoyed walking the grounds and through the exhibits. Interesting piece of history. Was surprised to see it open as so many places closed in California

A beautiful and peaceful spot with a wonderful if small museum and self guided tour. Gardens and grounds are beautiful.

The mission sits next to Solvang, a Danishish Village now sporting lots of Chinese tourists. The mission is in great shape and well worth a look. little has change over the years since we came here on a grade school fieldtrip.

I highly recommend visiting this Mission for it's beauty, peaceful courtyard and church sanctuary, and history and museum rooms which tell the story of the Chumash Indians. Definitely, worth a visit.

Went there to a friend's wedding, very nice place full of history. Father was able to do the mass in English and Spanish.