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San Antonio Missions National Historical Park Reviews
4.7
5 of 605 Best Attractions in San Antonio
Reviews
The Mission San Jose is the most accessible mission of the seven Spanish missions in the San Antonio mission trail. You can access the SA bike trails from here and even rent bikes to travel the trails along the SA river which connects the missions.
Our ranger who gave the tour was super funny and informative. So much to learn, too bad I already forgot most of what she say. ;-(
If you like old building or are interested in church history, these are a don't miss. There are five missions to visit (including the Alamo) and all are free, along with the grounds and gardens. You can actually bike to all of them from downtown San Antonio on the path--about 6 or 7 miles along the river trail.
Romney and I have visited the missions twice now, It is so nice that they have taken such good care of these structures in Texas. Go to the Alamo and get on the 40 public buss and pay 3 bucks to do the whole route hop on hop off public transport.
There are several missions along the San Antonio River. The Alamo is famous however we really enjoyed the others just as much, if not more. We highly recommend taking the time to visit them all.
A great way to see the missions and get a glimpse into the early settlers and how they interacted with the locals.
I was really enamored by the outer 4 missions, so beautiful, well preserved and the services/church inside are gorgeous. You MUST go look at these if in SAT.
The beauty and architectural design that has endure for centuries is a sight to behold. It also offers a time to just sit and reflect and be in the presence of God.
Rent a bike and take a 2.5 mile ride to visit this mission. Amazing slice of history right in the middle of it all. Felt more like Europe than San Antonio.
It took about 2 hours to tour the 4 missions from San Antonio. Because of COVID, Mission San Jose was the only one with an open visitor center. The architecture of the churches are beautiful and there is a lot of history in these old buildings. If you want to go in the churches, avoid Sunday mornings.
We went on the Mission Trail to see all the Missions in the San Antonio area from south to north first thing in the morning in July as they started to open. It was silly hot in San Antonio while we were there, but plenty of sunscreen and starting early helped a bit. Several of the missions have inside areas and visitor centers which helped break it up. The missions were a wonderful look at colonial history, with informational signs and enough of each one left that you got a sense for how these places felt and worked in their time. The fact that several of the historic churches are still in use only enriches the experience. The heat of the summer also added to our appreciation of what it would have been like scratching out an existence here before AC.
We planned our Mission trail trip for a day that ended in a walking tour of the Alamo in downtown San Antonio, a site that bridged the history between the original missions and the Texas Revolution. The missions are a treasure and I hope they are preserved for centuries to come.
Beginning in the early 1700's the Franciscan monks built a series of missions to protect and educate, as well as convert, local indiginous Native Americans who were peaceful and looking to get away from roaming bands of attacking Apaches, Kiowa and Comanche tribes who demanded tribute and killed many of the farming locals tribes. The compounds were walled with living quarters and chapels built at each mission. The northern most mission is the Alamo, famous from the Texas Revolution, but all missions were involved in the wr with the Mexican goverment in 1834-1836. Several mile of National Park with hiking and biking trails. A must see in San Antonio.
The missions are a great place to learn about their history and get a great nature walk. The junior ranger scavenger hunt keeps the kiddos involved and makes a great way to learn somerhing new.
Great tour with Michael Robinson from San Antonio Pro Tours. He has a wealth of knowledge of the history on all four missions in the park. Very interactive and fun.
We spent almost 3 hours between the 4 individual missions in the park. Well worth it as each are different and unbelievable the way they are built during a time when it was all done by hand!
What a treat. Seeing 500 year old missions. Learning the history of the area. They are easy to get to, there are dedicated and knowledgeable staff and volunteers at each one. And best of all, they are free so you can take the whole family. Don’t forget your camera!
If you like history, this is a must. Take an afternoon to drive to the various missions, many of which are active parishes, and learn the history of the Spanish in the area. Of course, the most well-known is The Alamo but Mission Jose is much larger and Mission Concepcion is the most beautiful.
We went on the missions tour, we loved all the missions but missed having a docent to answer questions or have literature available to help us understand all that we were seeing. There were places you could scan a phone and listen but unfortunately I don't have a smart phone. I enjoyed my stroll through the mission and reading what little info was available on the story boards. Darn Covid...........
We have visited all missions on the trail. Each is unique. I like that they give a little information here and there to read, but otherwise you can explore on your own. Great photo ops! Interesting to go inside the chapels and see how they are still being used today. Properties are within easy driving distance of each other, and area all well-maintained.
I wish we would have had more time to walk around but we did the driving tour and saw all the missions. I really enjoyed this National Park.
We went on a Sunday and it was very cool to see that the missions are currently active. If you go on Sunday, check the schedule ahead of time so you’ll be sure to be allowed inside. Lovely grounds and wort going to all five.
Growing up in Texas and having visited San Antonio several times I had no idea these missions existed. They are definitely worth visiting as they provide so much context and history of San Antonio’s original people. It takes about 30 mins to an hour to visit each one. If you are strapped for time and can only see one mission, go to Mission San Jose. It is the largest mission and the most intact. It took about an hour and that wasn’t without reading everything. If you plan to see all four missions, I highly suggest you purchase a daily bus pass for $2.75 a person. Mission trail is about 10 miles long so the bus ticket was a well worth it. There is a route that takes you to all the missions. You can either purchase tickets on the bus or across the street at Alamo Plaza in the visitor center. If you purchase on the bus, you need exact change. Also, bring a piece of paper with you and the Mission San Jose visitor center has stamps you can use of each mission for a free souvenir.
National Parks has done a fine job in preserving these historical locations! Each is easily accessible via private vehicle, public transportation (our mode of transportation), or bike paths.
We spent the morning driving around to visit the 4 missions and the aqueduct that have been lovingly preserved and maintained by the National Park Service. Visiting provides enlightening insights about the early Spanish colonists and Native people and the history of this arid region. The engineering accomplishments of water management were quite interesting. A lot of people chose to bicycle between several of the missions. This looked fun, though I expect that it can be unbearably hot in this area during the summers. Winter and early spring are probably much better times to visit.
Definitely worth visiting when you are in San Antonio. Take the tour from the National Park ranger. It gives you the perspective on the mission effort of the era.
We initially planned on 4 hours to experience the San Antonio Mission Trail. By the time all was said and done, this adventure consumed just about the entire day. We opted to experience this trail by renting the B-Cycles which are plentiful in San Antonio. What a wonderful way to travel from mission to mission.
The missions themselves were wonderful to visit. We spent probably close to a half hour at least at each one, with probably the longest visit at Mission San Jose. The highlight of the day was the final mission stop at Mission Concepción where we stumbled on a talk being given by one of the volunteers. The back story he provided had us on the edge of our seats - highly informative. If you’re able to find out when such talks will be offered, it is well worth scheduling your arrival time to take advantage of the narration at Mission Concepción.
We enjoyed this day experiencing this bit of San Antonio history. Recommended for history buffs, Catholics, and those who enjoy religious sites.
We enjoyed walking through the Museum and learning more about the history of the people. The grounds were very interesting and we walked through to the Church, which was just beautiful.
In town to visit the Spanish Missions. I teach 7th grade Texas history, so I decided to make the trip out from Houston. I am glad I did, but I wish I wore more comfortable shoes.
I got a ton of great pictures, and it was fun to make history real. I am looking forward to bringing it all home to my students.
A few recommendations:
1. Wear comfortable shoes and dress comfortably - it is a lot of walking.
2. Expect to make a day of it.
3. Bring water
4. Enjoy the history
Each of the missions are about 2 miles apart. There is a bike trail that can be used to see all of them. It is free to the public. Each of the Missions still hold Catholic Mass.
Very cool locations. Wasn't initially aware but it actually 4-5 locations, we were only able to visit 3. They were very cool and informative to visit. Would highly recommend, esp to history buffs.
Great on and off bus tour for only $2.74 per person. The bus stops at each mission every 20 minutes. You can take as much time as you want at each stop. Start with the Alamo in downtown San Antonio. When you are done cross the street and catch the Viva tour bus.
The five San Antonio Missions are a UNESCO World Heritage site, in part because these historic missions are so close together, unlike in California where the missions were built a day’s horseback ride apart. They’re definitely worth seeing if you’re in San Antonio. If you don’t have time to see all of them, here’s how I would rank them in priority:
1. Mission San Jose- the largest and most fully restored, with excellent and free guided tours by the park rangers. If you can only visit one mission, visit this one; there’s lots to see.
2. Mission Concepción- the oldest unrestored stone church in the US. It’s the only one with some of its original fresco work still visible, and a quarry.
3. Mission Espada- the first mission, with a small church. Charming and pretty.
4. Mission San Juan- the church here was whitewashed and closed when we visited because of construction, but they had some nice exhibits.
The Espada Aqueduct (between Missions Espada and San Juan) was roped off and closed when we were there.
And of course, don’t forget to see the fifth mission, the Alamo, the only one that’s downtown, although it’s not part of the National Historical Park.
Take the time and follow the mission map. See all five missions and learn about their excellent history. I was impressed that each mission was still an active congregation. The National Park Service has done an excellent job gathering information and presenting it in an interesting way.
Take your time and visit all the Missions making for a great day.
Each mission had its own charm. The mission route is well marked and easy traveling.
We bought a pass on the VIA bus so we could hop off and on to visit all four missions. Of the four missions, only Mission Concepcion and Mission San Jose have information centers. If you have the National Park Passport book be sure to stamp your book with all four Mission stamps at one of these, because Mission San Juan and Mission Espada do not have a visitor's center. Missions San Jose and Concepcion are active Churches with regular services. These two are also the most well preserved. It is interesting to see the early history of the area and how life was over 200 years ago.
Not only does this place still have services, one can see how the ancient church functioned. Several portions of this facility are in great shape.
This was such a beautiful day trip, and it was free! My favorite was probably San Jose but all of them were beautiful.
Lots of room to walk and explore the mission. Has a museum full of interesting information. Make sure and catch the movie at the welcome center.
We loved Concepción and San Jose. They are maintained well with remarkable detail and clearly visible original frescos and painting on the walls. Simply gorgeous. I love praying in old Catholic Churches.
We enjoyed our visit to the Missions National Historical Park. It was very educational. The rangers were pleasant and helpful. We recommend visiting at least Mission San Jose first before The Alamo. You will learn about the time of the missions. This is well worth your time to visit!
Great time exploring the missions and the history surrounding these churches. We did a combination of driving and walking, though there is a walking and cycling route from The Alamo to the end. Worth a visit when in the area.
Interesting history, structures constructed 300 years ago. We toured using the car and had no trouble finding locations.
It’s worth visiting as many missions you can while in SA , every one thinks of the Alamo, but there are so many more.
See as many as you can, they won’t disappoint.
The main offices of this National Historic Park are at Mission San Jose. Lots of free parking and picnic tables. The Visitor Center is full of helpful information and area park maps about all the area Missions.
Just a short drive from downtown. This mission is probably more like it was in the 1700's with lots of area around it. Fun to walk around.
Spiritual, historical, and very charming. Seeing the missions made me want to learn more about the history of Texas and when it was part of Mexico.
I was impressed with how well maintained these historical grounds and buildings were kept. It was definitely not a busy time so we had the chance to take our time and visit the churches. We had an excellent day and the missions were in easy walking distance on the Mission Trail.
The Missions of SA are just south of the downtown. There are four of them, and all are reached very easily by car and have enough parking spaces in front.
Apart from that by every of them we saw a bus servicing those mission (cannot remember the bus number) very frequently, so it's an option for those without a car.
Unfortunately, we visited them during the government financial blockade so we couldn't get inside the Missions, but the gates were open, so we could see the exterior and compounds.
This NHP includes 4 of the major mission in San Antonio. Everyone visits The Alamo, but at these missions a much more complete history of the region is explained.
This park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
To explore is you drive to each of the 4 missions and view each church and read the historical markers in order to get the gist of the history.
The missions are, from South to North, Mission Espada, Mission San Juan, Mission San Jose and Mission Concepcion.
The visitor center is at Mission San Jose.
The Alamo is not part of the park, but it was one of the San Antonio missions
It does take some time to visit all the site, but it is worth it if you have a keen interest
Close to downtown this link of ancient Franciscan missions had a tremendous impact on Texas' development. You can bike on their bikes or bus for $1.30 between the missions. These are still active churches.
I enjoyed learning the history of the missions and seeing the beautiful land that it is located on. I appreciate how it is maintained.
Highly recommend renting a bike and biking along the Waterway to see the missions. Can rent an electric bike for those wanting to take it easy or regular bike for those that want more exercise ($12.99/day). Or if a bit more adventurous, a scooter. Super fun way to see the missions which are quite interesting. The biking trail offers lots of rest stops, signage, and very well-maintained. Mission San Jose and Mission Concepcion were my favorite.
Coming from California, this was more of the same with which I am familiar. See no more than two of the missions or you will be merely be repeating the same experience.
ALL of the missions were great to see and since I visited during the week, they weren't busy at all. You can tour all of them at no charge but if you want more in-depth information, audio tours and tour guides are available for a small fee. Highly recommend to learn about Texas history!
The Alamo and Riverwalk may bring you to San Antonio, but the best attraction in town is the Missions National Park and the 4 individual missions that make it up. Each mission is incredible on its own, but when you put them together with a great park that has river, lake, waterfall over a dam and amazing bike and walking trails, it is the best attraction in San Antonio. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our time here. Great history, architecture, nature and culture make this a "Must See". Come for the Alamo and Riverwalk but be sure to visit the Missions. Also see the individual reviews for each mission as they will detail more about each structure. Finally, there is a very easy path and road that will take you to each mission starting at San Jose.
you can not go to San Antonio with out visiting here take your time and walk around and see real History.
Take your time. There is a lot to see, do and read about. There was a chance to hear the bells of the mission ringing which was magical.
We toured Espada, San Juan, San Jose and Concepcion. The sites are beautiful, well kept and contain a ton of information about the history of these Missions. The tours are self guided and very easy to figure out. There are many plaques along the way to keep you in the loop. The restrooms are very nice too. We started at Espada and worked out way North. It took us (two adults with no handicaps) 3 hours to get through all 4 missions. We did the Alamo later. We loved the experience and would absolutely recommend making the tour if you have the time. San Jose was my favorite with Espada as a 2nd favorite.
We rode bikes from Blue Star bike shop to the four missions and back. It's a long ride but it's very pretty- you get to see a giant chunk of the river as well as four great missions. Fun day trip!
Our guide took us here and gave a most informative visit. A bit wobbly at time but suitable for wheelchair users. Toilets at the entrance - use them!
The Missions are beautiful and a nice gateway into San Antonio history. Each of them has a church where Catholic services are held. Each of them has their own beauty and architecture. The docents help the history come alive. I highly recommend for a full afternoon. You CAN walk this route, but a car is helpful. They are not "close" by one another, as in you cannot see one from another.
The day we visitied there was a wedding so we couldn't go in the mission, but the property and the parts we could see were very pretty.
The missions are very cool and following the trail (either car or bike) becomes a sort of adventure! There is a lot of history with these missions, as well as the religious and spiritual aspect. We started with Mission Espada and ended at Mission Concepcion. The small church at Espada was my favorite. Decide for yourself which one you prefer.
Amazing and beautiful insight in to early Texas. A real view to the past. My favorite was espada but all 5 missions are worth at least a few minutes.
If you want to see a good looking mission that does not get nearly the crowds of the Alamo, this is your best choice. There is history here, but nothing like that of the Alamo! Visually, it is very attractive. The location is on the south side of town and not all that easy to get to, but worth the trip.
First, pick up a brochure "San Antonio Missions." Okay, I did that for you; see my pictures. Second, head to the Mission Espada: that's the furthest south. If our self-guided "tour" was any indication, most people do the opposite.
All four missions are on flat ground and involve short, level walks to see the sights of each, which have helpful and well designed information signs. There are also some replicas to see. Most of the buildings that are still standing aren't open to the public, but the exteriors are interesting nonetheless.
If you don't have a vehicle, there is Via public transit #40 that takes you to a whole host of attractions in the area, from the Alamo to the River Walk to Hemisfair Park to the missions. I also spotted bicycle racks!
We visited in Christmas Eve so there were reduced hours and not all the visitor centers were open. Had those been open for more context, we likely would have rated this higher.
Free, easily accessible, and well maintained. San Jose Mission was the most complete of the four. Visiting this one first helps to provide more context for what the other three would have looked like.
We paid $2.75 to ride a hop on and off bus to view the historical missions. They are out of town and not walkable in the 100 degree Texas heat. We were amazed at what we learned. Fun and factual.
An outstanding park. I highly recommend it to history buffs and folks who just like nice scenery. Takes about an hour to visit. Moderately crowded. Free.
This is just the beginning of a great tour of pre-San Antonio days. The park tells the story of the conquistadors and the religions they brought with them.
The park service provides a very informative and interesting tour through the grounds of this site. Much more to see and much less crowded than the Alamo. We did only Mission San Jose. Would have gone to see the relatively well preserved church at St. Clementine, but Sunday services prevented
Whether you enjoy art, history, religion or beautiful grounds, you have plenty of reasons to visit all them missions. It's easy to navigate even for those with a wheelchair or walker. Take your time and take it in or spend just 20 minutes at each, but don't miss them.
You can take a bus in the Plaza opposite to the Alamo and buy a bus tickets for the day, The bus will take you to all the missions. Due to the heating I will recommend you go early in the morning so you can finish before midday.
The park is free and filled with beautiful architecture and history. Be sure and watch the movie in the information building as it brings everything to life.
We started at the San Jose Mission, and watched the video first. It was a good overview and helped us to understand the missions history. The exhibits tell an informative story and we learned a lot. The Park Rangers are extremely helpful!
They gave us an easy to use address card, which we used with our Google Maps to locate the other missions which are within a couple of miles of each other.
We went on a guided tour of the missions as part of our holiday tour. It gives great insight of the history of Texas and why the missions were built
A must see when in San Antonio, we visited all 5 missions, the Alamo is downtown and the others are a short drive away. There is also a cycle trail to them by the river. The missions are free to visit, with a visitor centre available at one of them and a theatre to give you more information. Every mission have restrooms and drinking water available and plenty of car parking.
I did the Gray Line all day Historic city tour with Alex G as my tour guide. Alex was a lot of fun and very knowledgeable. San Antonio has a lot a rich history and good to see that the city is preserving this history. The Japanese Gardens was my favorite stop. I just love beautiful gardens. And the missions was a first for me. Amazing history there and I was amazed with hearing about what happened there. Thanks Alex for taking pics when my cellular phone died and sending them to me. Now that’s service. Want to add that Alex is a keeper, so professional and kind. He made this a great experience. I am really glad I chose this tour. Thank you, Martha.
Wonderful history. Each Mission is beautiful and peaceful with it's own unique character. Tour at your own pace. Toured by car, short drive from Riverwalk area. Plenty of parking at each Mission. San Jose was my favorite. Be sure to check out the movie. Not to miss when visiting San Antonio.
We did our Missions Tour with San Antonio Detours. Mel was a wonderful guide. We had a small van with about 12 people altogether. The Missions are located along the San Antonio River. Beautiful setting. We walked the grounds of all four Missions and were able to enter the churches at each one. Mel pointed out interesting details and gave us the history of each mission. The tour lasted about 3 hours. I would highly recommend this tour when visiting San Antonio.
Great history and no crowd. You can easily drive the entire road and get out at each mission. Ample parking. There was no cost. My party and I decided to get the rental electric bikes that were right at the trail; that was the highlight of my San Antonio long weekend.
We were able to visit all of the missions in one afternoon. Each mission is unique and we enjoyed that they're all well maintained inside. We also enjoyed that we could walk around and tour the missions at our own pace rather than having to be part of a tour group.
My sister and I started our day here. Very glad we did to understand the history of the missions. We had cool rainy weather but still managed to see it. In good weather, it would be enjoyable to start here and then bike the trail to see all the history.
Very easy to visit all Five of the missions (the Alamo is one of these). Largest collection of Spanish Colonial architecture in the world.
I visited this site in Feb, not really knowing what to expect, since I’d never visited a mission before. I am so glad I did! The site is laid out with a lot of information about how the spaces were used, and with background on who built the mission and how it was run. We didn’t get a chance to see other missions in the area, but I’m sure they’re all worth a visit if they are like this one. This are no admission fees, which is a reminder of how great it is to have national parks available.
Easy to walk around - very flat. We spent approx an hour wandering.
Must see when you are in SanAntonio. Different missions in various state of repairs. All moving in their own way. Save on driving, use public transportation, buses, get day pass. On/off as often as you want.
We were very inspired visiting three of the San Antonio Missions. The buildings have been preserved very well and knowing that Mass is held at the missions by a loving parish was very uplifting. The information about each mission is fantastic and the artwork and sculptures are incredible. We bought a book about the missions so we could better remember more about them when looking at our photos.
This historical park is four missions, about 3 miles apart along the MIssion Trail. The main mission is Mission San Jose. They have the largest parking area and the visitor center is located here.The other missions are Mission Concepcion, Mission San Jan and Mission Empada. All are unique, well maintained and beautiful to tour. There is no admission fee to any of the sites. The ideal way to tour these four missions is by taking the VIVA bus #40. It runs every 30 minutes. The fare for an all day ticket is $2.75/person. A single fare is $1.30. You can board the bus at any of the missions and buy your ticket on the bus. You can also catch this bus, and others, at Alamo Plaza and buy the bus ticket ahead of time in the Alamo Plaza Visitor Center. The missions all have churches and although the missions are all open on Sunday, there are church services so parking can be difficult. Definitely recommend visiting all four missions.
With the exception of the currently being renovated Alamo, all the missions are worth a visit. I suggest starting at the farthest from downtown and working your way back through all four.
The San Antonio missions are a great way to see the history of the San Antonio area and the architecture is stunning. Each of the missions along the trail has a separate brochure from the National Park Service and you can find restrooms at each as well. Turn off your GPS between locations and follow Mission Street between the locations.
I drove south from the San Antonio airport and started at the southernmost Espada Mission then worked my way north stopping at San Juan, San Jose, Concepcion and finally finishing at The Alamo in downtown San Antonio. These mission are very important historical sites, listed in UNESCO. Definitely a nice day tour of Spanish, Mexica, Texan and American history.
Of course, it's a really cool place preserving the culture and work of the Spanish missionaries and their culture. The church building in particular is very well preserved (well, and repaired) over time and tells their story well. Not much more to add from what others have said. Though we were lucky enough to be there for a young couple's wedding. It looks like they have an active church there too. Proves centuries later the mission of the site lives on.
This is a beautiful park. We started at the Visitor Centre where a very good film is the best way to start. We then drove round the park area to see the Missions. Enjoyed also stopping at the dam and the aqueduct. Hard to believe how the past was for indigenous people. Saw lots of butterflies and birds on the way.
This is a must visit if you’re in the San Antonio area and you are the least bit interested in authentic historical landmarks the history of the native Hispanic and Americans that converge in this area creates a very interesting walk down historical Lane. I travel there with my 19-year-old and my 15-year-old and we had a very engaging enriching experience.
This takes you back in time and shows you how the Indians were treated at the Missions. Make sure you take the time to see the movie as well.
The missions are very interesting to visit, and the app that we used for our walking tour brought out a lot of history. We visited three missions on our walk, and the walk itself was very pretty.
A good day out. Take time to take in as much as possible. Staff are very friendly and helpfull. Some of the myths are revieled. I was very suprised at the amount of British that were there to defend the Alamo.
This is a must if you want to see Spanish Colonial architecture at its finest. You must see all of the Missions on the Driving Trail to include (Missions Concepcion, San Jose, San Juan and Espada. Don't forget the main Mission, Mission San Antonio de Valero (Alamo) for the entire package of Missions. Beautifully preserved by the NPS and Concepcion, San Jose, San Juan and Espada are only a few miles from each other.
We flew to San Antonio many times during the past few years, but this was our first visit to the Missions last month in May. There is no parking fee nor admission fee to the site. We were so glad we visited here during our trip. It's just a 20 minute drive from the Riverwalk area hotel we were staying at. Beautiful structures and great history. Make sure to wear a hat and use some bug spray. Very worth the visit.
We visited all 5 of the Old Spanish Missions. Mission San Jose is the most impressive, but they all have unique features and history that we found enjoyable.
Alamo was nice to visit. Good history lesson, was a little bit of a line on a Sunny Saturday. Everything moved quick though. Was glad I went to visit!
Go when the weather is mild. These are beautiful, old, incredible missions, and they still have services you can attend. What a spectacular way to learn about history.
Very polite people. Very cordial attention. Clean and organized city. Well signed airport and lots of food options and shops.
Four missions have been partially restored, with each having a church that is still being used. Considering these were originally built in the 1700s it's amazing they are still here to be viewed. The park service maintains and monitors these missions so they have plenty of plaques describing the missions, they construction and the people who lived there. A must see if you enjoy history and architecture.
The story of the missions is interesting and we are fortunate that someone had the foresight to save and restore them. These are part of the Park Service, but are also active churches. If you can only visit one, I suggest it be Mission San Jose.
The Missions National Historical Park and the Spanish mission churches collectively form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These missions are old for the New World, begun in the early 1700's along the road that would become known as the El Camino Real. There are really 5 missions including the Alamo, but the Alamo was never finished. The other 4 missions are spaced out about 2.5 miles apart and can be visited by driving, walking or riding a rental bike along the trail that connects them or, as we did, by taking the special city bus VIVA #40 that stops at each mission. You just hop on and off at will for a cheap flat day-fee of $2.50. The churches are still active churches, each at different stages of preservation. They were all built as fortified settlements to protect the priests and their native converts against Apache raids. There is a large National Park Visitor's Center with gift shop at Mission San José, the largest of the mission churches, where there is also a museum and theater with a film on life in the missions. Mission Concepción is oldest unrestored stone church in the U.S. all 4 are unique in their construction and appearance. Mission San Juan is the most rustic and Mission San Francisco de la Espada is the smallest but most picturesque.
Best half-day in San Antonio was here. Saw all 4 missions and the aqueduct. Make sure you go in all the visitor rooms and buildings as they are full of more history. It was kind of shocking that hundreds of people lived in each with only 3 monks and 2 soldiers.
We drove along the recommended route to see all 4 missions, having done the Alamo the previous day. Unfortunately for us it was raining hard all morning. However this did not detract from the sense of history and interesting tales at each of the 4 missions. The park stamps were available at all 4 sites - the visitor centre located at the second one. A great 1/2 day tour with easy driving.
Very cool to see these old Spanish Missions and learn about their influence on surrounding people and culture. We opted to drive ourselves from misson to mission and at times on-line maps had some issues but we did manage to get to all of them. The missions were not busy at all but it was July so most people were smart and stayed inside. We were not able to go in the church at Mission San Juan, but enjoyed talking to the ranger there. We did get to go into the other 3 churches. Visitor center at Mission San Jose was very nice. We also enjoyed viewing the aquaduct near Mission Espada. Church entrances were not always the front door, so keep in mind you may have to walk around and try doors (Mission Concepcion).
If you would like to find out information about these missions before you go enter "San Antonio Missions World Heritage Site" into your search engine.
Well worth seeing, it really shows what the Spanish missions were about and the influence that they still have over the peoples here. make sure you do them all.
With time being short I was not able to cover all of the missions but I would love to return some time soon to see everything. I did manage to visit Mission Concepcion, Mission San Jose and the Visitor Center. The displays were informative and brochures including a map were very helpful. I saw many cyclists riding the route. The scooter rentals are another alternative. I drove my car as walking is only for the very ambitious. The well preserved Mission Concepcion actually had a Sunday mass in progress when I visited. There is one warning that should be heeded and that is the presence of fire ants. Signs indicate that if you stop to take a photograph or rest you should be sure that you are not positioned where the ants are located or you risk painful bites.
We are glad we ventured out to these missions and didn’t only visit the Alamo. These missions are so much more authentic and easy to visualize in their original configurations. Many people were riding bikes and walking the grounds. There was a Sunday church service going on in Spanish with music in one of the active churches. We learned a lot about the communities living in the missions through the informative displays. Great job with this free National Park!
Each mission is quite different and well worth the visit(s). Structurally, they appear unique and each has its own character. The surrounding grounds also differ among these missions. When added to the trip to the Alamo, this is an essential part of the San Antonio experience to understand history in this US region.
Not so much like a park but just located right in the city. People living all around and life going on right around these places. They are all very pretty and neat and we enjoyed our visit. They where having Church at most of them while we where there.
One of our favorite places. The views were nice and wasnt too crowded. I would recommend for everyone that enjoys history
We’ve lived in San Antonio for nearly 30 years but I’d never been to the Missions. Grandkids clamored for me to take them so I did. I’ve been to The Alamo many times but had never had the opportunity. The grounds are lovely. We felt transported back in time while walking through the park, the Church and outlying buildings. A must see when you visit our fair city!
Did not know the missions were once brightly painted. Great exhibits about life at that time. Amazing architecture. Don't miss the acequias that still work today.
A fascinating National Historical Park! Great Rangers, Volunteers and Book Store personnel. An excellent movie and easy to follow paths to the historical churches. A great experience. I recommend during the summer to visit when the park first opens due to the extreme heat.
We only went to Mission San Jese, because of the heat in the early afternoon. It park is a definite must see when you visit San Antonio!
Are family did a trip to San Antonio and we visted all four of the Missions. We loved them and they all still use the church. Can can do a tour at San Jose and I would definitely do it. It was a great visit and would do it again.
completely worth the time to check out. The history of the missions made seeing them in person even more memorable. The architecture was beautiful, and they made for great photographs. Although I didn’t go on a guided tour, I listened in on some while I was walking around and the guides were very informative. I recommend checking these out while in San Antonio.
Very interesting history of the early Spanish settlements in the area. We visited 2 of the Missions, each slightly different. You get an appreciation for the long and deep history of Hispanic settlement in the area. Spanish has been spoken in this area since long before the US became a country.
Have only been to the Alamo before, so spouse and I wanted to visit the other 4 missions. One is 300 yrs old, the others around 250 yrs or so. The mission trail for the other 4 missions is very easy to follow. Churches are amazing; lots of photos to take. There were a few surprises to me, concerning the size of the compounds, security walls, interior buildings, etc. If you like history, this is a must see.
While attending a conference in nearby San Marcos I took the opportunity to visit the four missions in San Antonio under the management of the National Parks Service – Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo (commonly known as Mission San José), Mission San Juan Capistrano (referred to as Mission San Juan), San Francisco de la Espada Mission (known as Mission Espada), and Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción de Acuña Mission (known simply as Mission Concepción). These four missions make up the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. A fifth San Antonio mission, the best known, is Mission San Antonio de Valero (commonly known as the Alamo), which is under the control of the Texas General Land Office. Persons interested in early Texas history, particularly as it relates to colonization, race relations, religion, architecture, and government would thoroughly enjoy visiting the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. There is plenty of parking at each of the four missions and the staff members are friendly and helpful. There is no charge associated with visiting these four missions.
Personally I prefer touring the missions instead of the Alamo. Missions are so much less crowded. Rangers were great working with our kids on their Jr Ranger books.
If you want to learn a little history, go on the San Antonio Missions tour. It is very old and very informative. It’s a nice walk and very peaceful.....
We visited during the government shutdown, but the grounds were open (and allow dogs), as well as the mission San Jose. So beautiful.
There is some interesting history of why the friars established the missions. They were trying to form communities as well as bring comverts into the church. The people lived inside the walls of the mission and learned how to work together to take care of everyone. There is no cost to visit but they do accept donations and they have a gift shop.
Very well maintained grounds and the each of the interiors of the churches are unique. Signage is good and gives a nice synopsis of the areas.
The San Antonio Missions NHP is a jewel right outside of downtown San Antonio. We visited as we are big fans of the National Park system and it is really a unique historical place with lots to see.
The main church still holds mass, so be aware of that, and the National Park Service has done a great job of keeping lots of areas open for public to see and explore, with lots of signage to explain the happenings there.
For families with kids, don’t forget to get set up with the free Junior Ranger program. The activity book is just the right length and not too long (looking at you, Jean Lafitte), and has really fun activities for kids of all ages.
Among the National Historic Parks, this one stands out and is rightfully a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The rangers here are very helpful and have a ton of interesting knowledge to impart, as well.
We highly recommend the San Antonio Missions NHP!
We travelled to the first three by the excellent Viva Bus which costs $2.75 for unlimited rides on Bus #40 to get to these sites. Beautiful sites, worth the visit. It's really not a place for young children. It's a great places for those who have a love of history. Other than the bus ride it's completely free. The church and Mission is active. There is a website where you can connect to a self-guided tour. There are also stations with information. People are very helpful just ask. Starting point for the tour is the Alamo. You can buy the one day ticket or one for multiple days.
We had an amazing day with our family learning about the missions and exploring. We took the 10am tour at Misión San Jose and our tour guide was friendly and very interesting. The we drove up the river to the other two missions and then back toward San Antonio to see the aqueduct and misión Concepcion. Each site was different. The whole visit was from about 9:45 am to about 2pm.
Building and churches that are steeped in tradition.
Went to Easter Mass in April 2010. Very moving!
In Southern and South Western parts of US one can find large number of Missions. They are from the times when Spaniards ruled the area. Some people may be interested in visiting them, and this Historical Park is a definite yes. For others, not necessarily...
We love learning about history and visiting units of the National Park Service, so this was a must-do for us. One quick note — there’s so much talk of biking between the four missions (which does look really neat) that I almost missed the fact that you can easily drive from one to the other too. Given that we visited on a cool and rainy day, that was our choice.
I would suggest starting by going to the visitor center at Mission San Josè where they have a great film that explains the history of the missions and National Park rangers at the ready to answer questions or offer advice about how to visit. Then head out and wander the grounds.
This is not just a place for people who enjoy history. It’s also a wonderful place for photographers as each mission has its own beauty.
But my favorite part of this park is that all four missions are active Catholic parishes. What a beautiful legacy of the original missions.
We had a hard time locating 5he missions. The map makes it appear that they are close together. We stopped for directions but no one was of any help. If you can catch the bus by The Alamo.
The San Antonio Missions National Park consists of several missions of which we visited two – San Juan and San Jose. (San Jose has the visitor’s center and gift shop.) These missions are well worth seeing, not only for the historical aspect, but for the amazing buildings. We walked the paved walkways with our dog and enjoyed the hours spent. One can spend a little time or spend hours reading the information. Although the Alamo is better known, these missions have much more to see.
You'll need to drive to see all 4 missions but worth it. San Antonio takes care of their historical properties. There's no admission for any of these and all are unique in style and purpose.
The missions are well worth a visit whether you are a history buff or interested in the Spanish culture of the Southwest. I was surprised that admission was free.
Enjoyed visiting two missions. Because we had a tour guide, we learned some interesting information on the missions. If we didn't have a guide, it would not have been as interesting.
Did you know this park is a UNESCO world heritage site? It consists of the five missions in San Antonio and each of the missions are ran independently. The main visitor center is located at the Mission San Jose. The missions are very well restored and are a treat to visit!
This is the park area around the Alamo and we wandered through the area reading all the plaques and looking at all the statues. It was comfortable weather and we found a good place to sit in the shade. A park with history.
We really enjoyed how different the missions were, both in terms of buildings still standing and how they felt. On a warm and sunny afternoon the garden at San Espada was lovely and you really appreciated how far away from civilisation it was.
All I can say is do not miss the Missions Tour that takes you to three of the oldest missions in the U.S.
The variations in the five missions are worth comparing. The exhibits are varied in quality with that at San Jose being the best, since it is biggest and has the National Parks Info center. Start there. Unfortunately the church was closed for an event, but the whole enclosure was available to us and the exhibit in the rooms to the left of the church were quite nice. The mission was heavily reconstructed, which may impact authenticity,but on other hand provides a sense of scale and components for a working community. Presentation makes some recognition of role protection and suppression of native culture. Concepcion was also closed, San Juan and Espada were open churches, but had less other things about. Espada is out by the woods, which makes for a nice atmosphere trying to picture life 300 years ago.
A short drive out of San Antonio, there are 4 missions you can visit (plus the Alamo of course). All free, self guided tours, but there is a park ranger led tour also available as well. Really enjoyed and learned allot.
Visited 2 missions-San Jose and Concepcion. Beautiful buildings, and even some of the murals have been preserved. Our tour guide Kate gave an excellent history lesson and answered all our inquires. Much to see. The only remaining examples of Spanish missions in the US.
We visited all four missions easily within two hours. This was one of the highlights of our trip and very easy to do on your own.
If this is likely to be your one and only trip to San Antonio then the missions tour is a must, especially to help understand the history of the area. By far the best was is forget the traffic and catch the #40 bus from downtown and it will take you to the other missions presuming you have just left the Alamo anyway, 1 down 4 to go. It is a nice leisurely afternoon out, whether yo go to Espada and work your way back or take them in order matters not, they all have something to offer. Mission San Jose is the middle of the tour and close to refreshments. It also gives the best idea of what the Alamo would have looked like in 1836, since Bracketville film set closed. The buses run every 30 minutes and more or less just stop at the missions, and all the drivers we have found over the years are very friendly and helpful. We have done the tour several times over the years and it has been interesting to see the missions being gradually restored, a San Antonio gem.
These are a beautiful way to spend a day, we rented bikes from the bikeshare and visited each of the missions. We were fortunate to visit on a Sunday and were welcome at a mariachi mass! It did get very hot in May so plan accordingly.
Absolutely worth a trip, the culture, the beautiful, well kept grounds. Makes for a good walk, jog or bike ride.
Incredible well restored mission. No one to give us a tour but the self guided audio tour was very helpful. Gained a whole new perpective on life during the early years of Texas.
This was amazing! We watched the video and had a guided tour. Our tour guide was awesome. The history of the mission and the church is incredible.
This place is beautiful is a definitely a must see if able to walk the ground. It definitely a picture spot, to just enjoy moment.
You do need a car to see all four of the missions but we found each very interesting. Each has a cute gift shop as well. We arrived at San Jose to catch a bit of the Mariachi Mass.
Fun hour walk through the entire complex. Much has been preserved or restored. The church is still functioning. Great visitor center with park rangers that can help answer questions. Free entrance and parking was plentiful.
Start your visit at Mission San Jose at the Visitor's Center. They can give you an overview and map to the other sites, all within a short of each other and right in San Antonio. We were able to visit San Jose, Espada, and Concepcion all in the late afternoon. Be sure and go to Mission Conception because you can go inside and see the original frescoes.
The missions we visited other than the Alamo were in good repair and still in use. Lovely buildings. Sometimes it was bit difficult to find them.
This Mission has a great history, allows you to discover some ancient history and almost feel the presence or Aura of that history while visiting this place. It gives you a prospective of what was and where it all begin back in the 1700's and the history of the Franciscan that started it.
Really enjoyed this trip. Guide was right on time, very well informed, and pointed out lots of extra information such as “this is a good lunch place” etc. pace was perfect, and group was very small. I’ll definitely use this service again!!
We started at Mission San Jose and joined a very interesting Ranger tour. We learned a lot during the tour.
We drove around to the other three Missions. These are a must when visiting San Antonio.
Great place to visit. We really enjoyed touring this beautiful historical missions. The grounds were beautiful and we enjoyed the self guided tour. I would also say we love riding bikes and if this is also your thing you would love all the concrete bike trails that runs near the mission
We visited the San Jose Mission. I thoroughly enjoyed the site. The mission is large and the site was not crowded. The park was free to enter and parking was free too. If you enjoy photography, architecture, or history, this is a good site to visit. The stone arches by the church make for a great spot to take photos.
The highlight of this site was the church sanctuary. It was open to visitors, and was serene and peaceful. I would highly recommend this site.
I've been to the Alamo many times, but this was the first time I ventured out to see the other 4 missions. I'm so glad I did! These are all so beautiful, and some even have church services still. I learned so much about the missions just walking around and reading the displays, and it was so easy to visualize how they would have looked in their prime. If you haven't visited the missions in San Antonio, be sure to add them to your bucket list.
A bit of info: They are all free to enter. They are all within a few miles apart along the San Antonio River, and all have parking. The mission San Jose is where the visitor center/gift shop is located. Be respectful when walking into the mission churches as there could be a service or funeral going on. Also, men will be asked to remove their hats (it's a respect thing here in the south)
I suggest starting at the first one then visit all 4. They all are about 2 miles apart from each other and all offer onsite to life back in the 1700’as. Many of the original structures stand and the architecture is beautiful.
I loved every bit of the time that we spent touring the San Antonio Missions NHP--it's by far my favorite thing we did in San Antonio. We first stopped by the visitors center and got maps (and bought souvenirs). Then we spent time at each of the four missions, walking the grounds and touring the churches. While we were at the Mission San Jose there were several choirs singing in the different buildings and it was absolutely breathtaking--I had goosebumps. Each of the missions was so different and unique.
I felt like we really took our time exploring the missions, and even with the short drives between them, it still only took us 3-4 hours to see them all. And even better, it was completely free, thanks to our amazing National Park Service. It was a perfect morning spent in San Antonio
Nicely maintained and informative mission with trails to several others. Being inside the walls of the mission can give a sense of spaces that people used in earlier times. Enjoyed the architecture, chapel, and grounds. Do not miss the glass shop just outside the mission walls.
The Missions are the best of both worlds. If you are a National Park geek, museum goer or history buff, visit them all! They are easy to find, near one another, beautifully restored and manicured, and highly informational. Not so much? Just go to the San Jose Mission and the NPS Visitor Center. The museum is small, the gift shop is also, and that’s where you “see the movie.” And the movie, around 25 minutes, is well done. We visited the Alamo in the morning, drove to San Juan and decided to see the next two on the way out of town to the south. Wish we had hit Concepcion also but didn’t want to circle back. Now, I cannot say I visited them all 😢. But each provided good history and a nice, easy walk. Recommend!
This is a string of missions dating to early 18th century. This was the first established string of missions, and for that matter, the buildings west of ole Miss. An transit bus does the route. All are very different. Most rush to the first three on route, but all are worth the visit so take your time and don’t rush to the first three. Don’t forget the fourth.
Excellent, informative park. I went on a gorgeous day. Excellent guided tour by ranger. The church is beautiful.
The Spanish Missions of San Antonio are some of the most interesting parts of the city. The Alamo is the most famous, and little remains (but is being reclaimed). The other missions along the river will show you more about how they were constructed, inhabited, served the community, and introduced new ways of life to the area. Take time, walk the river south of downtown, go to the missions and learn more about how San Antonio was established. The experience will help you appreciate the Spanish and Mexican influence that is so important to San Antonio.
We were only able to make it to two of the missions (San Jose and Concepcion), but we really enjoyed them. Some of the preservation work is just incredible, and we enjoyed learning about the early missionary work and how people lived within the mission enclaves. My kids were totally bored after about 10 minutes, but what do they know?
Complex hasn’t lots to offer. Take the time to listen to a few of the dressed up actors as they have a wealth of information and are very enthusiastic about what they do
Phil here again, me and the Misses planned a day to visit the San Antonio Missions Historical Park. If you are a history lover you will enjoy seeing the Missions and reading and learning the history of each location. Plan a day and don’t be in a hurry because there is so much to see.
You start at the trail at Acequias where you see how they developed an irrigation system for their survival. From there you travel to Mission Espada, and yes you park and walk around each mission and there is so much to learn. Third stop is Mission San Juan, and you will learn that each Mission has its unique characteristics and history.
Fourth stop is Mission San Jose. This is in my opinion the favorite stop on the tour. The architecture here is unbelievable. Fifth stop is Mission Concepcion, check out the painting on the ceiling when you walk around the property. The last stop on the mission trail is Mission San Antonio, otherwise known as The Alamo. I suggest reading up on the Mission Trail before you go and enjoy a little history lesson while you’re in San Antonio.
Wow!! This is almost worth a special vacation just to see these 4 missions. I only knew about the Alamo in the area so finding out about these missions was a definite plus. The park rangers are very helpful and knowledgeable. My goodness the rangers were great here. The fact that these buildings still hold worship services still floors me.
Please go to at least one of the missions. Mission of San Jose. Watch the movie to understand the history of the place. Nice, small museum. All free. Learning a bit of history certainly enhances the trip.
Visited this area three other students during our trip to San Antonio for the FBLA National Conference. Did some research before hands scope out transportation and attractions. We decided to take public transportation from downtown, and it is a very quick and inexpensive alternatives to other options. Recommend getting the Via Go Mobile app to purchase round trip tickets.
We started at Concepcion, and the volunteer there was quick to offer our group of four and informal 50 minute tour of the property. Very informative and enjoyed every minute of it.
We tried using the bicycle kiosk at the first mission, Concepcion, but we realized it was inoperative and had to walk another point seven miles down the road to the next station. I would recommend this mode of transportation if the weather is decent, as the daily rental is 12.99 and I would recommend getting the b-cycle app to rent the bikes.once our Transportation issues were resolved, we went to San Juan and San Jose. It got pretty hot, so I'd recommend starting as early as possible in the morning. San Juan is the treasure of the group of four missions and definitely a must see if you're only going to visit one of them. If you want to get a taste of the historical significance of San Antonio, please spend at least a half day exploring these amazing properties.
These four missions are all different, each offering their own take on history and church design. The churches all continue to service their communities. This is a national treasure for good reason. I can't believe I waited so long to see them. Don't miss out on these hidden gems!
Knowing that most of the chapels were still used for religious services I'd hoped the visitors walked in with an attitude of reverence. Not sure what the park can do differently but that aspect was missing.
My husband and I went for New Years, and it was packed! The river walk is nice, but it's not the San Antonio I remember from 10 years ago.
Didn't even know this existed before our trip. We started at the far southern end and worked our way back. Each mission was larger and better preserved as we worked in. Worth seeing.
Theres so much history about these missions, its amazing thinking about the people that were here hundreds of years ago right where one is standing
We rented bikes and biked to the missions. What a treasure! We loved the guided tours and the trip between missions was beautiful!
The San Antonio Missions NHP is a little misleading, its not one place. Its 4 missions and they are 3 miles apart. So yes you have to drive to see them all, but it is well worth it. We happened to be visiting on a Sunday and the bells were ringing and I thought that was awesome they still ring the bells. But I kept seeing people walking up to the mission in dress clothes and going in. We walked up to the doors and someone asked if we wanted to come in and I realized they were having church. All 4 of the missions still have services in them. If you are looking for a visitor center it is at the Mission San Jose Church.
Don't miss this. It has national and world importance in the history of the region. The buildings are a delight to behold. The visitor's center is an added bonus.
Each mission was totally different! Some have beautiful frescoes, some you learned more about their daily lives, and others were very near the San Antonio river, lots of walking involved!
I lived in north San Antonio for a couple of years back in the early 90’s and visited the Alamo several times, but somehow I never heard about the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. This Texas history treasure is located about 5 miles south of downtown San Antonio, and should be on your sightseeing itinerary, immediately after you visit the Alamo. The mission is more interactive, larger and way less crowded than the Alamo. It will also give you a more complete picture of what the Alamo mission would have looked like back in the 19th century. The grounds, the buildings and the museum/gift shop are laid out over several acres and makes for an easy hike. The restoration of the buildings is well-done. If you go in the spring or fall, you can enjoy a beautiful, cool walk through the mission grounds. This is a great place for kids, or teenagers who like experiencing history with a hands-on feeling. It is also free of charge, if you are looking to do something fun on a budget. I will make this a regular stop on my visits to San Antonio. Enjoy the trip down history lane.
Great way to get a sense of the deeper history of Texas. Went on this tour with friends from Indiana in the mid 1990s and it was fun to share the history of my family's home state.
We spent about 2 hours here @ the San Jose Mission & 4 of my five kids did the Junior Ranger program.
The initial movie was a good & informative show about the indigenous people of South Texas & the origins of the Missions.
We walked the grounds & visited the active Catholic church there. It was very beautiful.
We homeschool our kids & these Ranger programs make it fun.
I was very disappointed. I was really looking forward to this tour for my family. Waited almost three hours and nobody came to pick us up.
We visited three of the missions on a recent trip to San Antonio. Each one is vastly different, and each is interesting in their own design and structure. They are all free to explore, although Concepcion was under repair so fairly limited in scope. We started with the Mission San Jose'. This one is the most preserved and the largest grounds. We also visited Concepcion, as well as Espada. As I said, each is different, as well as the history and lay out. We really enjoyed our visit. I would be careful with uneven surfaces around the grounds for all, but overall very easy to visit and enjoy.
Counting the Alamo, there are five missions spread out over about 10 miles. All are well preserved with good historical signage. Mission San Jose and Mission Concepcion are the standouts, but all are interesting.
We went to the Missions starting at San Jose because this is where the visitor center is. Momma likes the historical movies but because of covid the theater was closed. But we got there in time for the guided tour and it was very informative about the building of the missions, the life in the missions and why there are five missions so close together. 4 of the missions are within the park, Mission Conception, Mission San Jose, Mission San Juan, and Mission Espada, the fifth being the Mission San Antonio de Valero, or the Alamo.
We went to San Juan, San Jose and Conception and the drizzle became rain, so we skipped Espada. If you can't do them all concentrate on Conception (90% original) and San Jose, (guided ranger tour).
We giot to see inside Mission Conception but there was a funeral at Mission San Jose, so we didn't see inside that one. A funeral you say. Yes, these are all operating Catholic Churches to this day.
This was probably our favorite part of the trip. The "park" consists of 4 historic sites that run south from the Alamo approx. 2.5 miles apart. Where the Alamo is dedicated to a specific military event that happened at one mission, the park focuses on the history, culture, and architecture of all the Spanish Missions.
Each one has different architecture and history as well as different amenities. If you are going to pick one or two you should check out the NPS website to decide what you might like best.
For transportation, there is a scenic road along the San Antonio river the connects several parks and smaller historic features. It is possible to hike/bike it. If you drive there is ample parking at each site and the drive is nice, and there is also a city bus that will take you to all four sites.
This is why San Antonio is here, why it is the second largest city in Texas, why it is one of the most visited cities in the United States. It's all about the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, which preserves four of the five Spanish frontier missions that formed an important part of a colonization system that stretched across the Spanish Southwest in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. These outposts were established by Catholic religious orders to spread Christianity among Native Americans. Located at 6701 San Jose Drive, the park was originally established in 1975 as the Mission Parkway on the National Register of Historic Places encompassing 84 historical sites along the San Antonio River on the southern side of the city of San Antonio. In 1983, the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park was established to oversee four of the five missions in the area. In geographic order from north (upstream of the San Antonio River) to south (downstream) they are Mission Concepcion, Mission San Jose, Mission San Juan and Mission Espada. The Espada Aqueduct, listed as a National Historic Landmark in 1964, is located due east of the Mission San Juan, across the river, and is part of the park. Curiously, the fifth and best known mission in San Antonio, the Alamo, is not part of the park. Located upstream from Mission Concepcion, in downtown San Antonio, the most visited tourist attraction in Texas is owned by the state of Texas. Built in 1716, Mission Concepcion is the best preserved of the four missions and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970. Mission San Jose, established in 1720, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. Mission San Juan was built in 1716 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. And the oldest of all, Mission Espada, built in 1690, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. For tourists, the Mission Reach Ecosystem Restoration and Recreation project was completed in 2013, adding 15 miles of hiking, biking and paddling trails that connect the four missions to the San Antonio River Walk through a series of park portals.
The mission are a very good place to visit, the infrastructures are very good, and it is very authentic. The only thing is that when we went to visit all the restrooms were closed because of the government shutdown so be careful ...
Get a driving map for the Mission Trail so you don't get lost, or buy the tour to drive you from place to place. Each of the missions is unique in its own way, and the largest still has Mass on Sunday for the local community...please be respective if you happen upon a service or wedding while you are touring. Great for families as room to run around outside between visiting the various structures and reading (or listening to) the information available.
We visited all 4 missions over two weekends. This was my favorite thing we did in San Antonio. Personally, I thought that these missions were more impressive than the Alamo.
My favorite was San Jose, but all four are very much worth a visit. Each one is different. They’re only a short car ride apart from one another.
Parking is free, as is visiting the missions. Donations accepted inside the churches.
Loved these missions. Very informative. Easy free parking for cars at each site. Don’t walk from the Riverwalk, too far!
This is a place you want to visit. It is quite, well kept, and gives you a glimpse into the history of the area.
A fun way to learn more about San Antonio’s history. Alex our tour guide was accomodating, very knowledgeable, sharing fascinating historical details and local insights that made the tour interesting. The itinerary was well-paced, with a perfect balance of sightseeing and free time. We highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting San Anyonio!"
During the last weekend we visited the city of San Antonio, Texas. Strongly recommend this city, mainly now during the Christmas season, the city was alive, lights and celebrations all over the city. One of our highlights has the discovery of the San Antonio Missions National Historic Park, the park has four distinct visitor areas, each between 2-3 miles from the previous one.
We were able to cover all these four areas with a pre-arranged limousine tour. Our guide was Michael, an excellent guide with a great knowledge of the history of this area. We strongly recommend his services, you may contact him at (210) 632-7839, or e-mail at michael@sanantoniodetours.com.
Sunday afternoon, we visited four of the five mission in San Antonio area. We started with San José y San Miguel de Aguayo, followed by Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción de Acuña. San Juan Capistrano y San Francisco de la Espada. The fifth mission is the well-known San Antonio de Valero (el Alamo) that we visit earlier by ourselves.
If you ever read the books or saw the Redwall cartoon as a kid, this place (all four of them) will seriously cause you pause. The history is immense, more than I can explain here. Make sure to go to Mission San Jose to watch the film. It will explain a lot and don't forget to see the water well behind the church at San Jose as well.
We enjoyed going to the visitor center first and watching a very good movie about the missions and the people who lived there. There is a lovely parkway connecting the different missions that is a pleasant drive as well.
Incredible site to see with a large grounds, original architecture and an fantastic church. A must see mission if you're in the area and want to see a true piece of history.
We only had time to visit two missions but we found them really interesting. The story of the missions was really well told.
Due to the weather we were not able to use the bikes to explore the missions but on a nice day this would be a good option.
These 4 missions and aqueduct are great and free. They each have visitors centers with additional information. They are active churches so be considerate of the areas. Very charming and a true slice of history of the area.
We went to San Antonio to see the River Walk and the Alamo. I am sooo glad we took in the Missions National tour. This is exquisite. Listen to the people at San Juan Capistrano Mission and the work they have done. The other sites are great. As to the Alamo - I was not impressed. So much has been decimated by building that the actual battle site has been lost. The missions are great.
We went to two of the four on the Spanish Mission trail, and were not disappointed. The Mision La Espada is the oldest and the southern most on the trail of missions. The National Park has a website from which you can hear audio descriptions at each of the marked sites at the mission. Alert! The restrooms have much to be desired, and the visitor center wasn’t even open. The other one we visited was the San Jose mission which has an excellent visitor center and small museum. Be sure to watch the movie that gives an excellent history of the missions and the impact on the indigenous peoples of the region. The San Jose mission has the famous “Rose Window” which is worth seeing.
Amazing visitor center—the movie haunted me as I went through these cities of old. Lovingly preserved and something to see at every turn. So cool that they’re still in use today. A highlight of my trip
Not including the Alamo, we managed to comfortably visit the other 4 missions in about 3 hours, and that was even at a leisurely pace for us. The park has a website where you can hear a free audio tour, but there are plenty of signs on the grounds of each mission that we didn’t find the audio tour to be necessary.
Start here and watch the video then take the guided tour. From there make sure you hit the other missions in the area each is unique and offers a great look at the history of the area. Plan on half a day to take it all in.
We came to San Antonio with plans to tour the Alamo and we had heard of the other four mission churches. It became almost a religious pilgrimage visiting these site which are still used by the San Antonio Archdiocese centuries after they were built. Each site is unique and shares its own place in history. The park service and the Diocese are doing an outstanding job of maintaining these beautiful sites. I think in our minds we expected to see ruins, skeletons from the past, but these are viable living history that takes you back in time to when they were active communities. If you plan a trip to San Antonio, yes, visit the Alamo but also plan on visiting these 4 sites. You will not be disappointed.
Love the river walk and the Alamo! Food was fantastic especially the bbq! The caverns were beautiful but the walk was exhausting! Worth it thou!
Our trip to the Missions was one of the highlights of our trip. Don’t miss this important piece of history!
Try the Mission Reach Trail and bike between the San Antonio Missions! What a wonderful way to visit them all!
We enjoyed the visit to the San Antonio Mission, a visit to the past was very educational. The trip was fantastic and education for the entire family.
After our visit to the Alamo, we took the time to visit the other four missions in San Antonio. It was amazing to step back into this part of history and see how these communities were built.
Great fun for all
History, art, architecture, religion all together
Start at the Alamo and take the missions bus for $2.75 day pass
See them all no admission fees
San Antonio is known for the Alamo. But The Alamo was a church. Now, it's a part of The San Antonio Missions, UNESCO world heritage. There are 5 churches. The admission is free. You will learn how the Spanish introduced Christianity in Texas. You must visit!
The Riverwalk was excellent. There is paid parking 1 to 2 blocks from the river. Did not find the Alamo that great. Visit the Japanese Tea Garden and the Witt Museum. Go on the train ride at Breakenage Park. It is to get around the city to see the attractions. Also, Natural Cavern Cave tour is worth seeing.
The San Antonio missions are ALL worth a visit! Not just the ones at the park. They are a real gem if you like old buildings and their history! Well maintained and located at beautiful sites! Pretty on the outside and on the inside as well!
This is one of the most interesting places to visit in San Antonio. We had a very good tourguide. This place is so packed with history. It's def. a must see place
we had an excellent tour with Ranger Carmelita at Mission San Jose - she's an excellent narrator. all four missions are worth a visit for different reasons, and very close to one another - we drove, but you could easily bike or even walk if you spent all day.
We came on a Sunday morning in June and I would recommend that as a good time. There were few people there and the heat was tolerable in the morning. There is no fee to enter (donation boxes in several places), ample parking in the morning and helpful NPS staff around. Both the NPS and the Church have air conditioned gift shops. There are restrooms, and the site seems accessible. I loved that the church still holds mass ; we were able to listen to the hymns being sung from outside. We were told that if you arrive at the right time, visitors are welome to the service. We were a few minutes too late, and didn't want to wait until the noon service.
We visited the Missions while in San Antonio. We thoroughly enjoyed visiting and seeing the history of the missions. The chapels were so well preserved. A must see.
Take the VIA bus 40 - stops across the street from Alamo. Cost for seniors $1.35 one day all day (not senior $2.75). Get a schedule at visitor's center - runs every 15 min week days, every 30 min weekends. Use your phone for guided stops WorldHeritageSA.com You can go in any order. I suggest see the Alamo 1st or on a separate outing then take the bus all the way south to Espada, then back to San Juan, San Jose and Conception. San Jose is largest mission - visitor center, movie, No restaurant, so I went to Pizza Hut across the highway at traffic light. San Juan restroom was closed on weekend. 4 missions made a nice day outing
Park rangers were on hand to answer questions. . . nice walk around grounds. Amazingly preserved with church still holding Mass! Turned out Conception was under renovation so glad we stopped at San Jose' first and took a self guided tour.
Don't miss any of the 4 Missions, they each have a charm of their own and the park as a whole is a credit to the NPS. You can either drive between each one ( approx 10 miles in total) or hire a cycle (very reasonable) or get the bus (so cheap) or walk if you have the time. The grounds of each one are left natural which suits the atmosphere and each church doesn't take very long to see so ideal to visit all on the same day. The NPS visitor centre is based at one and there is a small room with audio diaries. They all are alongside the Riverwalk/cycle trail and the whole thing is amazing just outside this big city and wonderful to see. Free entry too.
This is what a historical tourist facility should look like ,its very green peaceful and quaint.There is plenty of parking the area is not commercialized or with excessive amount of guests crowding the different exhibits that are simple but substantial in historic valeu
It was 10,000 degrees out in San Antonio the week we were there, so of course, we decided to tour the Missions. Man, was it blazing hot. Not much shade, and there was a lot of dust. A couple of the churches were locked, so we could only see the exteriors. But, we soldered on, and enjoyed the movie at the visitor's center. You don't want to miss the movie because it explains what you are looking at. There was no one at the individual missions to answer questions, or explain the buildings, so I recommend going to the visitor's center first, and the aqueducts last. Bring a bottle of water with you, and wear a sun hat. Just say'n....
Outstanding place to visit. It's beautiful. The place is very maintained for all visitors. Great location for pictures.
Loved the Hill Country and the Missions. Michael Robinson was so knowledgeable. We had an enjoyable and hassle free two days of tours. Michael was fantastic. Take a tour with him and you will not regret it.
This is a well maintained National Historic Park that has taken in 5 of the Spanish Missions built, (the Alamo is not part of this Park system). They have beautifully restored the missions as best as possible and are active Catholic Churches. This is a MUST SEE/MUST DO adventure when you come to San Antonio
Beautifully preserved/restored 18th century Catholic missions, still operational churches today. Beautiful artwork and solemn, contemplative atmosphere with some playing Gregorian Chant to enhance the experience. Each has a small museum detailing the origin, history and culture of the time period. A great way to spend the day, whether driving, biking or, for the stout hearted, hiking. Well maintained grounds and trail system. Knowledgeable and friendly staff, both park service and parishioners, are there to provide in depth information to supplement the museums.
The missions were impressive and the churches
that are still active are beautiful to see
I was so glad that i took the time to visit them all
5 total counting the Alamo
I recommend using the city bus route that stops at the 4
outlying missions
They are not walkable from downtown
especially in the hot weather
$2.75 for a 24 hour bus pass
It’s a quiet route and the drivers are friendly
We drove the entire missions road, stopping at each mission to walk around the compound and go inside the church/sanctuary when possible. Absolutely beautiful! Absolutely amazing historical experience too! Be sure to get a NPS map at the Alamo to guide you. Plenty of free parking at each location. Give yourself at least 3 hours. Highly recommend!
The best part of our visit to San Antonio, Texas. We came to see the Alamo, a part of the mission system, but the remainder of the missions made them the better part of the historical part of the trip. A must see (all of them)!
Everyone talks bout the Alamo but I definitely preferred the Missions. Less crowded but still so much to see. The church was my favorite. Very pretty inside!.
Each individual park is unique within itself. Each has it's own history, uniqueness, beauty and separate geographical location. One thing they have in common is the outstanding stone and Iron work. What a great historical experience.
The two closer to downtown are the most visited, but all four are worth seeing and they are only a few minutes apart by car. Mission Concepción was unfortunately under construction when I went, and the church was closed to visitors, but you could still see the outside area and some of the adjoining rooms. San Jose is the best of the four sites, and is absolutely beautiful. It also has a well preserved courtyard, and has a large visitors center. San Juan is in my opinion the last good of the four, but still worth seeing as it has a pretty church and is on the way between the others. Espada is the furthest out and feels more isolated, and it has scenic courtyard and church with many floweing plants. All four are still active churches and if you are Catholic you can attend Mass every Sunday. Also in the park is the trails along the river, the Espada Aquaduct, and the dam, and the ruins of Hot Wells Hotel are nearby too. A must see for history lovers. I would suggest either a car or a bike, as walking the trail would be time consuming.
The miles long walking/biking trail that runs between the five old Spanish missions is the hidden gem of touring in San Antonio. Free museums to visit and interest walk, jog or bike at the same time.
Each of the mission churches are 2 1/2 miles apart and you can get there by bus, renting a bike or walking along the River Walk. Each one is unique and I would recommend seeing all of them.
Unesco heritage sites are always worth it--and there are not too many in the United States. We really enjoyed our visit to the Missions Historical Park. Even though it's located inside the city and surrounded by homes and businesses on all sides, the park feels self contained, a beautiful greenbelt housing 4 missions. Each of the missions has something unique and all are worth visiting. Everything is free, and the missions are within a few miles of each other. We only had a limited amount of time, so we drove from mission to mission. It's nicely signed, you can't get lost. If we had more time, I would have loved to walk from one mission to the other. There is a visitor center at Mission San Jose, with a movie and ranger tours. So if you don't know much about missions, that's a good place to start to give some background. Also, as opposed to the Alamo, there were no lines here and no large crowds. By all means, see the Alamo, but the rest of the missions also deserve attention and are well worth a visit.
While visiting San Antonio in late February we toured one of the four well preserved Mission campuses that are managed & operated by the National Park Service. There is a unique joint partnership with the city, the Catholic Church and Park Service that appears to be a great arrangement. Cost is free. Self guided tours are available with the help of printed maps & educational materials. I would like to tour the other three missions on our next visit.
While visiting San Antonio, decided to drive along the mission trail to visit the different missions. Since I had a rental car, decided to drive using Waze to guide me rather than go with a tour group. This way I could go at my own pace. After reading reviews on TA, decided to avoid visiting on Sunday since I wanted to go inside the missions and visited in the morning before the tour crowds arrive. I really liked the missions which offer some amazing architecture. The missions are located south of downtown San Antonio and seem isolated which is a good thing.
Mission Row was very nice and very educational. Loved the displays depicting the life of the indians and the priests during that time period
The Alamo is a historical landmark that represents a the transition of Texas from Mexican rule to independence and USA settlement. Don’t miss the exhibit in the building adjacent to the old church, as it contains written history and artifacts.
Two of the missions are incredible sites while the other two are essentially ruins with modern buildings. We were absolutely amazed by the two that still have complete structures. It was an amazing visit.
I really recommend going to a few if not all of the missions in San Antonio. They are all still working churches and the displays here help to show that not everything old in the US is east of the Mississippi River! They tell the story (good and bad) of Spanish colonization and relationships with Native Americans-- things that still influence the Southwest US.
The San Antonio Missions National Historical Park is a UNESCO world heritage site and an absolute must visit for anyone visiting San Antonio. It includes the 4 missions : Mission Concepción, Mission San Jose, Mission San Juan, and Mission Espada. The Espada Aqueduct, also part of the Park, is due east of Mission San Juan, across the river. All of the missions and the Espada Aqueduct are within easy driving distances of each other. One can easily spend half a day within this historical park. Visiting all of the sites within the park connects the dots in the history behind these structures and complexes.
I went to service at Mission Concepcion and the people there were ever so welcoming! I felt at home and will definitely find my way back again! Love it!
I love going out on clear days and taking photos of the evening sunset. The Sunrise photos are the best.
We hit all the missions in one afternoon. What a sense of culture, history and architecture. If you miss this, you miss the whole idea of South Texas' past.
Loved the missions! We rode on electric bikes to each one.Highly recommend a truly spiritual experience
My wife and I visited four missions in San Antonio in addition to the Alamo. They are all wonderfully restored and beautiful. We had a great time.
Its a lovely place to learn about our city. San Antonio is a 300 year old city, one of the oldest in the United States.
I brought my children here so they can learn a little bit about our history, and this national park is lovely with plenty of activity to enjoy, and history to learn.
Makes a fun learning environment for kids. Good generally year round with the pleasant weather we have here.
This was a very historic park. Each church had a little something different to see. They were so beautiful. Great places to say a prayer or just sit and ponder a while.
The park consists of three missions which were part of the effort of Spanish colonization of the region. Interestingly the Alamo fortress originally was the first mission in the area. We saw the mission of San Jose only as we are not that much into Spanish colonial history and architecture. It's free admission and the ranger at the entrance provides some information and distributes the park's maps. Parking is plentiful. The place is easy to find.
Interesting perspective to the history of the region, all tied together by the missions. The only drawback was that the insides of the missions were closed due to COVID.
If you're visiting San Antonio, TX, you can't miss the Missions National Historical Park. Easily, it will take around half a day or more for you to visit it. There are 4 Missions inside the Park and they are around 2,5 km distance one from another. There are buses that stop nearby every mission. We got a day pass and it was pretty easy and cheap to visit all the four missions.
If you have a car available, there is a parking at every mission site. The are bicycles for renting too, but the sun is too hot, so this was not a choice for us.
You'll be able to learn a lot about Texas history and the spanish colonization in the area. There are museums at some missions and it's possible to enter the churchs at the missions, except at Mission Espada.
You won't need to pay to visit the Missions.
This is worthwhile on so many levels. These are not just historical sites, but working parishes who have Mass on Sunday in both English and Spanish. They are kept up well, and many have parishioners on site giving information. Note there are not park rangers at every mission all the time, so it is best to go to the visitor center first. DO get a map, and do be ready to do a round about to some places if it rains, If there is flooding, some of these become hard to access. You can bike this as well. One thing I would have liked is that if you want to go down the entire old "Mission Road" to each place it is not marked well, and the streets change names on and off. I do wish the park service would have it better marked with the traditional park signs. Note you are not just "out in a national park" ,the city of San Antonio has grown around these missions. So yes, do use the Mission road, it's a great way to get the feel of how they are laid out, BUT use your GPS to get to every mission. Still a wonderful journey.
Each missoin is very different. Don't simply think think you can visit one, and you've seen them all. Each one has character all its own.
We enjoyed the beauty and history of the missions. I actually enjoyed our visit to these missions more than the Alamo. Not overly crowded and there was a park ranger at more than one of our stops giving lots of info.
I have been wanting to visit the missions of San Antonio for a long time and was happy. I got to do it on a Texas vacation. Each mission is very different even though the story of their origin is basically the same. The four missions can be done in one day, but it would be a full day if you spend a good amount of time at each one. We started at Concepción and made our way to Espada, and we lights Concepción in a spot of the best, mainly because they were the most original. The national park service rangers were amazing as usual and very helpful. We used waze to move between the Missions. Has the weather been better? We might had biked it, but it was over 100° every day. Sure, you see the aqueduct.
The San Antonio Missions are spread along a 10 mile walking/running/biking path that crosses over the river and through many beautiful parks. I only stopped at one mission but there was a lot of information at placards along the paths and if I had more time I would have liked to stop at all the missions. There are bike rentals available and the path along the river can take you back downtown.
Wonderful long guided tour put on by the National Park Service. Junior Ranger Badges for the kids. Great pics of Ancient Stone Buildings and flower gardens. Very Very safe area with lots of free parking. $5 Electric Rental Bikes. Free Entry.
Part of the National Park Service, these missions (we saw San Jose and Concepcion) are beautifully restored and maintained. Free tours by Park Rangers are a must. Lots of kids when we were there, but it wasn't too distracting. Lots to think about after you leave.
It’s great that San Antonio and the National Parks support FREE cultural locations as this which has the San Jose Mission on site, with free informative park ranger guide to provide detailed information that travelers might not always have time to research. We then drove to see Mission Conception, free, and of course The Alamo is free. All are beautiful architectural history sites to be preserved for all to see. Wished we had time to drive to Mission San Francisco de la Espada.
Great work to preserve these sites and the history they have in these communities.
Suggest you visit the Visitors Center first for information and directions, plus it is I think the most complete site of the four. Others sites are not far away and have their own interesting features.
Each mission focused on something different.
The NPS has done a great job and made it so each mission offered something different. The hand made mats at Mission Espada were super cool and the ranger there was fantastic! Also loved the ranger that did our tour at the main mission. She was very knowledgeable.
There are 5 Missions within the Mission District of San Antonio. You can drive to each one and there is plenty of free parking. We chose two - Mission Concepcion and Mission San Jose. Both beautiful and the history can be felt all around you. We were even more surprised when we learned that Mass is still being held in these Missions. I can't wait to go back for a visit and see the other 3 Missions! They date back to the 1700s. Try googling to learn more before you visit.
Several missions, fantastic historic sites. A lot to see. Better to enjoy on foot and take the bus in a nice day.
My family and I explored San Antonio’s Mission Concepcion. It was built in the 1700’s. The grounds are nice and the chapel is lovely. They were practicing music for a wedding and were very gracious and accommodating to allow us to come into the church while they were practicing. We enjoyed the history and the architecture.
You really have to see the missions! All that history and beauty. It was amazing! We did the tour with Grayline, which was outstanding because of the guide. All the culture and beauty, easily accessible.
Went through all the four missions on a separate day from the Alamo. The weather was abysmal but we still made it. Can't miss out on seeing these and learning about the history and purpose of each one.
The San Antonio Missions National Historical Park encompasses 4 missions just south of San Antonio. Add in the Alamo (a mission) and you have the 5 missions this town is known for.
The Park does not include the Alamo, but it does includes San Juan Capistrano, Concepcion, La Espada and San Jose. The park’s visitor center is at Mission San Jose. Currently with COVID the visitor center is closed as are some of the buildings at a few of the missions but otherwise everything is open and outdoors so a visit is a perfect way to avoid COVID. Everything is free to visit. If you go consider the following things.
1. San Jose is the best preserved mission and probably the best one to see first followed by San Juan. Concepcion has the best church but when we were there is was not open.
2. There are signs at each mission but there is also wifi and you are encouraged to access the website provided at each mission where you can listen to audio guides at each mission about the mission.
3. Visit all four missions as they are only about 3-4 miles apart and each one adds to your understanding of the mission system. Coming from California with its own missions it was fun to compare the difference between what we have in California and what was happening here in San Antonio.
4. Consider bringing a picnic lunch. There were picnic tables at each mission and we had a great lunch halfway through our mission visits.
5. Take a car, and plan to spend about 2 hours (more if you stop for lunch).
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The 4 mission buildings just south of downtown San Antonio are interesting historic sites to visit to see what could be accomplished in the 1700s. Each of the 4 sites has a different surrounding area, from a walled plaza to an open park-like area. We visited on a Sunday and found that each of these sites still has a functioning church maintained by the Franciscans.They are small simple churches but very interesting to see. They can be easily reached by car a few miles from downtown, but you will need a car to see all of them. One of the largest is the San Jose Mission right next to the visitor center. We were not able to see the best preserved Mission Conception because of a special event.
Love history, but due to a knee injury not a fast walker. Not a problem here. View at your own pace, stay as long as you like. Was not crowded, bring water with you. Weather can get very warm.
We visited all 5 missions and they were all interesting. Since we were there on a Sunday we were able to go to a mariachi mass at San Jose Mission. It was fabulous! The music was just wonderful. If in the San Antonio area, this is a must see. The volunteers in the missions were very accommodating and had lots of information to share. We did visit the Alamo as well but these missions were more elaborate and interesting.
When you think of San Antonio you usually think of the Alamo, but there are several more restored Spanish missions to explore there, some of which predate the Alamo by
Did you know that the Alamo in the center of San Antonio is just one of the historic Spanish missions located there, one of which predate the Alamo by centuries? One of them is still an active Catholic Church. Another has a beautifully landscaped and restored compound where converted Indians lived and where taught trades. All are accessible to the public by car, but why not walk, bike or scooter there via the Mission Trail, a new feature that skirts the San Antonio River with a paved path! You can rent scooters and be on your way.
We stopped here and walked around the mission. We couldn't go in due to a church service going on. What we saw was beautiful.
It is easy enough to visit the missions and the Alamo. We drove our own car and I had printed out descriptions of each mission from the internet. It was an interesting way to spend an afternoon. Anyone with an interests in history would enjoy visiting this UNESCO Heritage site
The San Antonio Missions are an experience that everyone visiting here should take. Learning about the heritage of the natives in this region of Texas, helped us to realize the significance of the blending of cultures.
It is best to start the experience at the Visitors Center at the San Joes Mission where a short film can be viewed, setting the scene for understanding the missions. Then go to the farthest one, Espada, and continue north to San Juan, San Jose and Concepcion.
The churches are active Catholic parishes. We attended the 12:00 Mass at San Jose which was supported by a mariachi band and a great choir. Truly an inspiring experience!
We did two of the Missions, Concepcion & San Jose. The Alamo was too long of a wait because of Spring Break but there were some interesting plaques along the outside that showed a lot of the history.. San Jose offered a free tour with a Park Ranger that was very good. They also had a free movie that was interesting. If you only visit one of the 6 this is the one!!
We had a chance to visit all four missions and were fascinated by their history and how unique and interesting each mission was. It was hard to pick a favorite as they each have their own history and are different shapes and sizes. I would highly recommend visiting the missions when in San Antonio. We went via the tour offered by Grayline and the transportation and guide were great.
The Alamo is right in the center of town and very easy to visit. We were without a car, so we took the VIA bus which cost us $2.75 round trip unlimited stops to the other missions. We got on the bus close to the Alamo. The buses take you to all the Missions. You get off the bus and tour the Mission, then when you are ready, go back to the bus stop and hop on the next one. They come by every 15 minutes or so. There is an app available that shows arrival times. This is so easy and extremely cheap! The missions are beautiful and free. If you are into photography, this is a must!
The Mission has been well restored with good information on its history. It's a pity the gift shop closed just as we were about to leave.
Wonderful park, visit 5 missions 4 of which are still active. Learn Spanish, Mexican, Indian, and Texas history along the Mission Trail.
Free to visitors. Not something I would take kids to, but a great learning experience for those history buffs. William our guide had lots of stories and good information on the mission as well as the area. Nice little church and the priest was inside greeting everyone.
We rented bikes and rode down the Riverwalk to all of the San Antonio missions. It's a 20 mile bike ride, and took us all day to complete. I love stopping at all the missions and learning about each one. They are all different from each other, and are definitely worth going to. It was cool to see how the further out you go, the more simple the missions are. Definitely a must-see in San Antonio!
This was an experience. The Alamo is suppose to be the place to see when visiting the City but this is a MUST visit. The walk around was great, felt like we were there when the Missions were built.
Each mission is unique and it's worth checking them all out as they are all free to visit with free parking. We recommend starting your day early to check them out before they get busy. The Alamo gets the bulk of the tourist because of it's location downtown near the Riverwalk, but honestly the other missions are much more interesting and have more to explore and view.
You can spend quite a few hours exploring the grounds of the missions. All are different and well worth the time spent there. Admission is free. San Jose is the largest with a NPS gift store there.
As old as the churches are they still hold English mass on Saturday and Spanish mass on Sunday. Mission San Jose had a free 1 hour guided tour and we learned so much.
We thoroughly enjoyed visiting the Missions. The highlights are obviously San Jose and Conception Missions. The walking tours are very informative and educational. An added benefit is you don't have to drive to each Mission. There is a city bus route that goes by all the Missions. Park at one and get a Day Pass. We Parked at Conception and used the bus to visit the others. Highly recommend
Everyone knows about the Alamo, either the facts or the fiction. However, what I did not know were the additional 3 missions within miles of each other on the South Side of San Antonio.
The missions are maintained by the park service and represent 3 different historical perions of Tejas settlement. The first mission is still an active Catholic church, so reverence needs to be maintained.
I was impressed by the second mission where President Bush 43 had the grist mill rebuilt and it is still working.
The third mission has a multiacre open space surrounded by apartment which surround the mission in a square.
Set aside 3 hours for the tours, it is nice to see non tourista attractions in San Antonio.
The missions are easy to do in a car. It's amazing the differences between each mission, although they all had a common purpose. The aqueduct over the stream was really cool as well. We did this on a Sunday and the parish at Mission San Juan was selling baked goods and brisket tacos, sooo good, and an unexpected surprise.
If you love history you’ll love this. There are 4 missions a couple miles apart that make up the national park; The Alamo is not included. Very interesting history.
Because of the Gov shutdown we were only able to enter one Church at the missions. These are a must see if visiting San Antonio if history interests you. Save your money and use the Mission bus transportation, $2.75 day, instead of the tours.
Do yourself a favor & take the #40 Mission bus for $2.50 Per person & explore the National Park Service Mission Trail. We saw the Alamo which I will discuss in a separate review.
We saw Mission Concepción & Mission San Jose. The first bus stop is Mission Concepción. It is not nearly as well kept by the NPS as the other missions. Although I was grateful for the restrooms, the large white, air conditioned trailer is the very first thing you see. It should be moved to a more private location. What was once a visitor center is abandoned. I’ll be honest, as a historian, I know what it takes to operate historic sites, but this was a bad first impression.
The mission itself was fascinating. There were beautiful 1700’s frescos. Take time to read the signage. It is also an active church. I understand that visitors may participate in worship service on Sundays.
We spent 30 minutes there & caught the next bus to Mission San Juan. It was by far the most restored & active mission site. We arrived just as the educational movie was about to begin. It was very beneficial & aided our understanding of the history. Don’t overlook the small museum! If you take the time to read & see the pieces you won’t be sorry. Some of the items date to the early 1700s.
The mission itself was beautiful & we stumbled on a NPS tour. There was a rain cloud looming, so we listened for a while, then explored on our own. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit. We got back on the bus & observed Mission San Juan & Mission Espada from the bus. Mission Espada had a nice walking trail along the river and features the original acesquia. It was a very long day, however, so we observed these from the bus. I wish we had made a day of it. Each mission had something new to offer history-wise.
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As others have said this is one of the must see places in San Antonio. After visiting the Alamo, we went into a tourist information shop across the street and found out they have a special city bus (VIA) route that stops at all 4 of the missions that are in a string to the south of downtown. A bus pass for the whole day (good for all city buses) was only $2.75 each and we could get off an on at each mission. A much better bargain than the "tourist" buses. Since it was the mission route their were mostly adventuresome visitors on the bus. We did ride a regular route for one leg as it parallels the mission route and the driver stopped and said it would stop at the next mission. He also made sure we knew that we had to get back on the right route number to get to the next mission or back to downtown. Very helpful.
If you don't need your hand held, this is the "route" to go!