Mission San Jose Reviews

Great historical site. Fascinating to be surrounded by such an old historic site. Amazing that so much is preserved intact. Really really recommend.

Probably the best of the missions to visit if you can visit only one. Extensively reconstructed at various times. It gives a very good sense of what life was like.

It was the final stop on the mission tour I took today. An exceptional stop and full of history and beauty.

We rode from the Blue Star Brewery, where you can rent a bicycle and the Blue Star Bike Shop for 4 hours ($20) and rode along the river to Mission San Jose and then walked around and then rode to the Mission Concepcion and explored that one and then came back to Blue Star Brewery and had lunch. In San Antonio, from June thru Sept, you're going to want to ride early and stay hydrated!!! The Missions are 2.5 miles apart and it's easy to find them from the signs on the Riverwalk trail! On your way back you may want to get off the Riverwalk trail and ride the bike lanes back to the Blue Star Complex and not worry about all the uphill peddling! We went back and completed Mission San Juan & Mission Espada on a different day as the furthest Mission is 10 miles out! Beautiful Missions, the Riverwalk trail is a lot of fun riding gentle downhill slopes to the Missions! The food at Blue Star Brewery was good & beer tastings were even better!

The Mission San Jose is a large and well reconstructed mission park. The church was beautiful but we went on a weekend so there were back to back private events - a statement in the attractiveness.

We stopped before we left San Antonio and we are glad that we did. The architecture was beautiful example for the time period. We are from California and have visited a number of missions but Mission San Jose was our first visit that had the walls around the grounds and buildings other than the sanctuary that gave us the understanding of the scale of the life in a mission.

This was the perfect way to start our San Antonio history tour. The mission is pretty has been nicely restored. Loved the colors inside the church. There is no cost to get in but donations are accepted. You can rent bike here. There was a yoga class taking place outside the church and a choir rehearsal inside. There is a National Parks gift shop as well as clean bathrooms.

We arrived at 4 pm. We were walking looking at the mission enjoying the architecture. When we tried to enter the church a man came and locked the door. He said he was closing up the mission because they close at 5 and it took him a long time to close everything. The time was 4:30. Since my relatives were from Kentucky and Pennsylvania we were not going to have time to return the next day. It appears to me if your stated closing time is 5 that is when you should be closing. Very disappointing especially since they were Catholic and wanted to see inside the church and say a prayer. .

Did a drive by to the other Missions but you should definitely stop here. They have a nice visitor center with a very well done film of the history of this area.

Absolutely beautiful church and interesting grounds. There are so many things to check out around the property. Very impressive mission. Take your time to explore. This historical site is incredible. A beautiful place.

This place is beautiful and calming. The restored wall and pathways offer a nice stroll. Walking around the chapel looking at the architecture and listening to the bells takes you back In time. The visitors center was nice and parking is easy. Clean bathrooms and donations welcome.

This is a World Heritage Site, so if you are a history buff, you need to pay a visit. You can either take a bus for $2.75 or there is a bike trail. There are guided tours.

The San Antonio Mission tour is well worth taking. They were beautiful and the history is so interesting. Visitor Center very nice and we watched the 20 minute film. Our guide was awesome. Was supposed to be a 3 hour tour, but ours was almost 4. Well worth the time. We will be back.

It is hard to believe that this place is 300 years old. It has withstood the test of time and has been maintained beautifully! Incredible architecture and an incredibly beautiful place to take photos of family, weddings, etc.

Before you visit The Alamo you should visit all the other missions. It helps tell the story. Mission San Jose is gorgeous.

This church dates back to 1720 and has breathtaking architecture and history. We thought this was the highlight of our trip to San Antonio even more so than the river walk. Tours are offered everyday except Sunday and Monday.

We were pleased to be able to walk around the entire area inside the chapel. Being able to walk inside the walls of this mission made the understanding of the Alamo site so much better.

This mission was great to visit. While it was historic, it would have been nice to have people there to ask questions. It appeared that the rangers were either having a meeting or just talking to themselves. I did later find out I could have used a cell phone to tour the place. Still very good place to visit.

This was a really cool place to visit. They have a small theatre to watch a short film on the history of the mission. Then to walk around and see some of the different things aspects of the mission allows you into their world. I would highly recommend doing the missions (Not just the Alamo).

Such a beautiful historic site. The NPS has really done and excellent job of maintaining the mission. We also spoke to a couple of rangers and they were extremely pleasant and super knowledgeable on the history of the mission. This is a must see if in town

beautiful place, history you can feel. the church is still active and functioning, nice gift shop, good tour guides with national park service

Highly recommend the distinctive architecture as a backdrop for family photos or bridal portraits. Great space to visit

Loved this stop in SA! Take the tour and learn about this important part of history and how the Indians learned about Catholicism.... interesting!!

The most famous mission in the United States and Texas is the Alamo, but Mission San Jose is a must go for anyone visiting San Antonio. The mission covers a lot land, the complex is mostly surrounded by walls. The architecture is of colonial period, and it's beautiful. The church facade is stunning it has a lots of carvings of saints and other religious symbols. Unlike the Alamo, San Jose is a working church, they do have Mass regularly. The National parks have a welcome center, just outside of the mission walls, that have bathrooms, a gift shop, information, and a video presentation that teaches about the history of the San Antonio Missions and the people of South Texas. There interior of the church (the nave) is beautiful, just to think how remoteness of San Antonio, and they were able to make such a stunning work of art, is insane. Near the Entrance the church has a gift shop that sells local native american artisans crafts.
Again this is a must do for those who love history, architecture, and culture, just add it to your itinerary.

Our guide - unfortunately I didn't write down her name - must be an anthropologist. She was so knowledgeable and passionate about the story of the mission and the people who once lived there. Definitely worth visiting.

You get a feel for Texas in the early years. Easy to find via GPS and signage. We went to all the missions there.

My wife and I were amazed to see how large the compound was. Complete with a mill powered by water that was used to grind corn.

We enjoyed our tour very much. There's lots to see at this mission. It's great to know that it is still used for worship.

This is the largest of the 5 San Antonio missions, including the more famous Alamo.

This was a great place to tour. There is an adjacent visitor’s center. We had a wonderful park ranger, Kate who gave us the history and background story as we stopped briefly at various points on the grounds.

This is the most complete mission and gives a good representation of the system which brought in nomadic families to help build the Spanish empire.

They were provided food, shelter and clothing and some protection from invading Apaches.

The trade off was they received new names and were converted to Catholicism by the Franciscans.

Very interesting stuff!

This is part of a national park and became a UNESCO world heritage site in, I believe 2016.

The missions are not too far apart. There are the four together (Espada is farther) and then of course the Alamo.

I highly recommend touring these with your kids/teens and learning more about San Antonio’s history.

The tour is free. You can go from place to place in your car or they offer bike rentals.

Be sure and take a look at the Rose Window.

The ranger who gave our tour was so informative and passionate. We learned so much about the lives of the people who lived in the mission. What an amazing history.

Visited with family. enjoyed walking the grounds and seeing all the amazing handmade architecture and engineering. It is beautiful.

The name 'Queen of the Missions' is well deserved. This historical site is incredible! A journey back into time, very large grounds. Be sure and walk in and around the church. Behind the church are several more structures you can visit and there is a water powered mill in the back that run from the acequias built in the 1700s. The area is free to visit and the gates are open from 9-5.

Junior Ranger program is good. Movie in the visitor Center gives a good overview. Small worthwhile museum in the Visitor Center. Walk around the San Jose Mission is worthwhile. Pickup the helpful map at the Visitor Center.

It is one of four missions on the San Antonio River. Most famous is obviously Alamo. Interesting to see how missionaries were converting the locals and how missions became garrisons.

interesting Mission, still in its original form more or less with walls around a huge compound, lovely old church building; interesting and educational.
Grist mill with horizontal water wheel was something different, just outside the walls.

This place was very breathtaking and well worth the trip. It was rich with history and stories. our guide was very helpful and answered all of our questions. Don't miss out on this great experience!

It was pretty hot when we got there so we made sure we had cold water with us. There is a lot of walking involved all around the complex. The main church is beautiful. They were getting ready to say mass so we just peeked inside. Take note of the carved door (it's huge) and the statues carved into the stone around the door.

We walked in (it's free) to the mission and were redirected to the visitor center to watch the movie about the history. The movie is important. Area very clean, green, easy to walk around. My wife uses a walker and she didn't have any issues.

This is the largest mission covering 6.5 acres! So much history and information available. The church is stunning!

I have been inspired and inspired by this Mission. It filled me with enlightenment. I am absolutely feeling a lot better.

Fully restored mission, with a church that is still functional, a mill and living quarters. This mission is also where the National Park visitor's center is located. Large well maintained grounds. Clean bathrooms and a large parking lot. This mission really helped me visualize what life in the mission was like. Other than the Alamo, this was the busiest of the missions. We enjoyed the little museum and especially the movie which gives a good basic overview of the history and daily life of the Texas missions. There is a ranger led tour twice a day in the morning (10 and 11 I believe). Quality of the tours vary. To be honest, I wasn't too impressed with the ranger that provided our tour, maybe he is new? He seemed really nervous and stumbled over his words and repeated himself a lot. There was a large crowd of people. On our way out to the parking lot we overheard the beginning of the next tour given by a different ranger, much more personable and engaging. Would definitely recommend if you are interested in learning more about mission history.

Lovely place to stop and learn how the missionaries lived and worked. The main gates were in the process of being restored. We didn’t make it into the gift shop within the walls but the one outside had a lot of interesting tidbits.

A very nice mission with a lot to tell about the history of the area and missions. We enjoyed our visit.

When we first stopped here, we weren’t able to go inside because of a funeral, so we stopped again on our way back to San Antonio and I’m very glad we did. The inside of the church is beautifully decorated for Christmas.

Very interesting informational video (23 mins). Really enjoyed walking the grounds and visiting the museum. Beautiful mission.

It’s been over 20 plus years since I last visited the San Antonio missions. The National Park Service in collaboration with the Catholic Church have done a very good job maintaining the churches but also creating visitor centers to provide more information on their history. Definitely so much nicer and better maintained now than my first visit.

The San Jose Mission was the largest in size and breadth including many of the supporting structures. Inside each were more details about life in the mission as well as the efforts during its renovation. Rangers also roamed throughout and gave talks.

It was a little walk from the visitor center to the back where the church was located. Path was mostly gravel.

Great example of a Mission in San Antonio - one of four in the National Park area, not including the Alamo itself. Has a similar layout to what the Alamo would have been like so you can get an idea of what it looked like without the changes brought about by downtown San Antonio and the Mexican Army. You get a good sense of scale and the visitor centre and exhibition in the Mission compound itself explain what was going on in these places. Admission was free and there was ample local parking. You can drive or cycle between the other missions. Very much the vibe of various westerns from my childhood.

Make sure you start your visit at the Visitor Center and watch the movie. You can also join a tour at designated times.

This was a great place to visit. The mission is much bigger than I expected. The church was closed for a funeral.

A great adventure that can be accomplished fairly quicy (1-2 hours). A great look into the history of the area. Could. Use a bit more detail on plaques, etc..

Well worth the trip.

My son and I agreed that we actually enjoyed this stop more than our visit later in the day to The Alamo. The park rangers were doing free guided tours at 10 and 11AM when we were visiting. We learned so much about the history of the Spanish in Texas and how they interacted with the Native Americans. It was all new information to us, and quite eye-opening. The guide did not try to overwhelm us with information, but kept things moving along through the mission at a good pace. She really did a nice job. After the tour we spent a few minutes going through the air-conditioned exhibit area of the mission and the visitor center.

First of all it is only fair to warn people that there is a lot of walking at Mission San Jose. I have a heart issue and this was a tough stop for me. With that said, it was very well worth the trouble. Take your time, stop along the way, and it will be very worth your time.

This is by far the best of the Missions in San Antonio If you have only time to do one this is the one to do. I found the outsides of the building to be better than the inside, even the Church. The architecture is amazing.

Easy to imagine life three hundred years ago. Great informative exhibits. Located right in SA. Would be a great place to show to my grandchildren.

This was by far better than visiting the Alamo, Riverwalk, and the main plaza. The detail that has been restored on the outside of the mission is gorgeous and the grounds are beautifully kept. Its fairly open and you can wander through portions of the walls remaining and peek into the windows as well. We felt as if we were on a movie set.

Quite interesting to know that this is still used as a church and for wedding and other activities today, Well maintained

We visited in June 2023. Our ranger was great and very knowledgeable. The grounds were interesting and it was worth the short drive from the downtown area. The price was right (free!). I wish I could have been there on a Sunday to attend the mariachi service. We unfortunately didn't have time for the movie. Bring water - much of the tour is outside.

This was our favorite of all the missions!!! The Park Rangers were extremely helpful and knowledgeable. San Jose’ is truly the “Queen of the missions!”

I had no idea that some of the missions were so huge. This is 1 not to miss. Unfortunely the bells were just being installed so I did not get to record them as I usually do.

Plan on visiting all the missions to give you a feel of the past. Each mission has a story to share.

Was nice and seeing entire mission ground was great historical background of what alamo use to be before the battle. In addition seeing actual church which is still active.

Plenty of free parking. Nice visitor center - informative displays and clean restrooms. Great tour - the ranger was very knowledgeable. Large site with a number of areas you can enter. It was interesting to learn about Spanish colonization of the area and the impact it had on the indigenous people.

Wow! I can see why they call this one the crown jewel of the missions.

We arrived around 10 a.m on a Saturday in June; although there were other people visiting as well it was far from crowded.

Near the parking lot there’s a very nice gift shop. Restrooms and water fountains/water bottle refill are also located here.

The actual church is on the far side of the courtyard. Along the way are a few rooms in the long buildings that you can go in. I believe there’s another set of restrooms as you approach the church.

The interior of the church is lovely, and the exterior very impressive. If you continue walking past the church ( you need to go through a stone arch) you’ll find an old mill. Also near the church are a few more rooms with furniture inside, so you can see what it was like. There’s also a miniature model of the mission.

Like the other missions, this one is free and there’s no parking fee. The church does welcome a small donation: there’s a donation box inside the church.

If you only have time for one of the missions, this is the one you’ll want to stop at. I highly recommend making this your first stop and watching the informational movie before touring the mission—it helped my kids to fully understand the significance and history.

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!

All four Missions are amazing, but this one is clearly the best of them all. It is massive and well preserved, and the courtyard has numerous rooms to peek into and a scenic park in the center. The church itself is stunning, and is still actively used by the Cahtolic Church. The visitor center is the only sizable one in the Missions, and has plenty of information and merchandise.

Went to all of the missions and though the were all different I enjoyed each for what they were. My favorite? Decide for yourself. Stumped the ranger at visitors center when i asked her where did the bells come from

We arrived at the Mission San Jose visitors center to inquire about the trails between the historic missions centers. While we were staff announced they were offering a free guided tour (which I understand they offer these tours on a regular basis). Kate gave us a very informative tour and explanation behind the history of the missions and about the lifestyle of the families and Franciscan priests who lived there. We highly recommend this historic site.

This is a beautiful mission church and our niece was married here so it was an amazing Catholic wedding mass!

A great way to spend a peaceful Sunday afternoon. The grounds represent a balance of history, architecture and religion.

We visited Mission San Jose and had a great Ranger guided tour with Tatum. We were able to learn about the introduction of the missions in the San Antonio area. This was most helpful to know about the purpose of the missions prior to visiting The Alamo. While historically significant, The Alamo is very crowded and we were not able to absorb the original purpose of the mission there to learn the history prior to the battle. We highly recommend the Ranger guided Tour.

Drove out to one of the 3 (or 4) mission sites. Very easy to get to. Nice walk around the area. The buildings are quite interesting. We went on a Sunday so only the outside areas were open to walking. I suspect going when it's actually open during business hours, it would be an even better visit.

I could’ve spent half a day here. Absolutely beautiful. Plenty of onsight parking on an early Friday afternoon. This must be on your list to visit while in San Antonio.

Mission San Jose offers great insight into the interaction of the Spanish and Native Americans. Postings around the courtyard detail historical information. Plaques in former living quarters document the history for the past 400 years. Be sure to see the old mill outside the courtyard. The church and the grounds in general are well preserved. Stop into the visitor center for more information on all the missions.

Took the bus to visit a couple of missions This was the largest and most impressive. The grounds were nice and the inside also. Important part of the history of San Antonio

Park Ranger Kat gave an excellent tour, jam packed with information and a great balance of serious and lighthearted. So informative, I am still remembering all the details she provided to improve our experience at the mission. She also did an excellent job of steering us around the March Break school tours. I highly recommend the guided tour with Ranger Kat

Rich heritage experience . Well maintained and very nice experience . Connectivity from downtown very comfortable .

Loved the beautifully kept land and the history behind the land. Very picturesque and memorable. Great place for family day tour.

Enjoyed visiting the San Jose Mission much more than the Alamo. Nice grounds plenty of space to feel comfortable during Covid. I recommend skipping the Alamo and visit the five missions.

National Park rangers are exceptional people and they made our visit to MSJ memorable, we attempted the junior ranger badge for my little one which gave our visit a focus, we watched a very moving film on how the local indigenous population sat in catch 22 between Apache attackers and European settlers that eventually killed them and their traditions off through assimilation and disease after thousands of years. We learned a lot about the Mission concept and also how the missionaries despite belief in the honour of their intent never quite achieved the control they had desired. All the missions are different but this was a good first one to start at and you can either drive or for the paltry $2.50 even less for kids, get the fantastic 40 bus to hop between the missions with great drivers reminding you that Texans are some of the friendliest people you'll ever meet. Thumbs up to this mission and the rangers looking after it.

I highly suggest going to the visitor center right outside the mission. They show a video that gives the fascinating history of this mission and surrounding areas. Then meander around the grounds and marvel at this incredible mission.

There are free tours of Mission San Jose most mornings. Our guide was amazing! He was very knowledgeable and worked to keep the kids on the tour engaged. My son is currently studying Texas History in 4th grade and the tour seemed to cover several curriculum objectives! The grown-ups learned a lot too.
There are private companies that offer tours of all the missions, but I wasn't sure my 9 year old would have the attention span for multiple missions. The free tour at San Jose offered by the park was about an hour and just perfect!

Parked the vehicle in the parking lot after hours and followed the paved paths out for about a 4 mile round trip run. Met a local bicyclist unloading their bicycle in the parking lot to ride the paths. Wish we had time to go further. The scenery is exquisite and we never saw a piece of garbage anywhere.

We visited this Mission on a tour. It was beautiful the grounds were well kept and our guide was very informative.

What an impressive, historical mission. We had no trouble finding this National Park. Upon arrival, the ranger informed us that the video was not being shown at this time- disappointed. The videos are so informative!!! Such a sacred building!!!!

Upon approaching the mission, it is amazing to see the walls constructed around the perimeter and imagine the lives of the indigenous people that lived there. The religious carvings on the facade are beautiful and the interior altar beautifully adourned and colorful. A gift shop with many nice items is on the property, as well as restrooms. Still a working church, it was nice to see a family getting ready for a baptism.

This mission is where the visitors center is located, so it is worth a stop. Also, probably the largest mission of the five. Not the prettiest (in my opinion), but worth a stop for sure.

and my suggestion is to visit all of them. Some are better preserved than others and some are "nicer" than others but all are well worth a visit and time spent.
Each of these missions is a history lesson and that should be taken into account when visiting.
I am amazed that each is still a functioning cathedral w/ services and that is much of the charm of visiting these historical sites.

If you like the Alamo, you must see this place.
Takes you on a journey into History just walking through the grounds.

Mission is so beautiful with tons of interesting history. We just walked around on our own because we weren’t sure how our 4 year old would handle a full walking tour. Plenty of info to read along the way. I believe an audio tour is available as well. Nice gift shop with a lot of quality merchandise. Staff was friendly and very accommodating of a rambunctious kiddo. And it’s free!

We were fortunate to arrive just In time for the Ranger Guided Tour. These are given throughout the day. Our Ranger was excellent. We learned a lot about Texas history including the establishment of the missions along the river. Why there and about the people that lived there. Also local people that can trace their linage back to the missions. Very interesting. You also need to know that San Antonio provides a bus route that stops by each mission. Park at one and take the bus to the others. Highly recommended.

If you are a history buff, you want to visit this and the other Spanish missions. Is you can set aside their intended purpose to help pacify the indigenous people of the area to achieve the goals of the then Spanish crown, you might appreciate the achievement of what was built by hand largely by the same indigenous people.

Mission San Jose was a part of our tour. I really enjoyed walking the grounds. I wish I had more time to really explore, read all the signs and go to the visitor center. It’s definitely worth a visit and I hope to be back when I have more time to spend there.

It’s an interesting park enclosed by a walled off fortress.

The church is simple, but it still stands. I was glad to see the rendering of how it looked when the exterior was tiled.

The living quarters are small and cozy, but has a fireplace in each room.

The cooking ovens surround the area as well as some well.

You can spend hours walking around the church and the adjoining buildings and ruins. It is a photographer's paradise! Or you can just go into the church and admire its beauty! The Mission sustained over 300 people in the 1700s.

My daughter and son in-law picked this as a morning tour for us. It was really amazing. First started in 1720, and stone work starting in mid 1700s, the buildings are really interesting. The church is VERY beautiful and sitting inside looking around in silence, quite relaxing. A great place to pray and meditate. Our 5 year old grand daughter was quite taken with the beauty and after 5 minutes being inside, asked if she could stay a little longer. Nice national park representation and clean facilities. Worth the trip!

We hired the AIT-SM tour guides from their website, which gave the history of a still present American Indian story of people who were present and contributing to the development of this area before the missions were ever built. It was by far the best, most meaningful tour I have experienced.

We saw this on the Segway Tour and got the whole story from the guide. He was a local and went here regularly. He was confirmed there. Inside was gorgeous too.

Although the whole site has been reconstructed and hardly anything is original, this is a wonderful place to visit.

It is a large area that was not overcrowded and the tour, which is free, was informative and entertaining.

All the Rangers were happy to answer questions and chat and they made the visit special.

I really enjoyed amazing architecture, walking in greenery and learning about history at the same time. Although it was Sunday and San Antonio city was busy with visitors this place was still enjoyable with acceptable amount of tourists. Access to the park, museum and the church are free as well as parking.

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 went as a family... It was busy. This was an interesting place to visit. We spent almost two hours. The gift shop has a lot of interesting items. I bought the usual post cards. I almost bought a really nice print of the mission, but really have no place to put it.... If it were laminated place mats it would have been perfect. There was a private function in the church... Nice to know it is still functional.

Was incredibly hot visiting this one afternoon in august which isn’t ideal and I don’t think I have it the attention it deserved. It’s a huge compound with a mission in midst of it which was beautifully peaceful and relatively cool. Good visiter centre and parking. It’s just as interesting as the Alamo but perhaps not as well known

We were looking for things to do around Austin and I really enjoy history and outdoor activities. We decided to check this place out and it really was my favorite thing we saw in Austin. I loved reading about the history but also checking out all the old buildings and they are great photo ops as well!

A beautiful experience. The pastor’s homily was truly inspiring and spiritual. The community is very close and welcoming to visitors. The music was wonderful and the singer had a superb voice! Recommend this experience to anyone regardless of whether a regular churchgoer or not.

Well worth the time and a great way to get some exercise- biking from downtown to the missions. The distance between the missions is too great to walk. Biking or driving is the best option. We were fortunate enough to happen upon a historian giving a lecture about the history of the missions- it’s fascinating! Anyone who appreciates history and architecture will love the missions.

If you only have time to visit one mission, Mission San Jose is the one you need to visit, The last time I was here, we didn't have time to see the film, on this visit that is what we did and I'm glad we did, it was well done and very interesting. There was also new artwork in the gift shop and I did purchase a new hand carved, hand painted figure and a handmade and hand painted bowl to add to my collection...so guess you can call me a "collector" now. I also was surprised at a few areas we had missed last time we were there, this is def. a great stop if you love architecture, history and culture.

Always wanted to go when it was cool enough to enjoy. This mission is outstanding. So much to see and learn. Many good photo opportunities.

Our bus driver recommended this as the first stop on the mission trail because of the excellent overview film and the park ranger tours (10:00 and 11:00am). The park ranger tour was excellent - the volunteer tour guide we had was really well-prepared and did a great job of describing life in the mission. It's free, which is even better! Expect to take an hour and a half or two hours here; you will spend much less time at the other missions.

This was included on our city tour as the main stop.

Started visit with a 20 minute film then time to wander around the extensive grounds. Unfortunately (for us) the actual Mission was closed for a private function but I was able to look in door at one end to get a photo of interior, it was empty at that time and not in use.

Small displays in visitor centre and there were guided tour on offer from the Rangers.

We were pleasantly surprised how peaceful and tranquil it was here. In the Movies, the Old West was all fast horses and gun play. This mission is preserved proof that even 150 years ago there were places of peace and tranquility.

An outstanding opportunity to learn so much more about the missions of Texas. The history was amazing and our guide was absolutely exceptional with the information she provided. I'm sure we could not have uncovered all of the history without her knowledge.

Exceptional visit that included a great visitors center & beautiful historical site. We especially liked the curation describing the detail of the details around the mission church door—very cool. Overall, very well done!

We hadn't been to Mission San Jose for years, so it was nice coming here to remind ourselves of the rich history of Texas. The restoration and maintenance of all the missions must cost a small fortune, and I hope many Americans are able to understand part of our past history. It is also nice to visit other missions other than the Alamo to get a true picture of how large some of these Spanish missions were. A really worthwhile visit for both young and old.

This was so neat, even kids liked it! The mission property was much bigger than expected and had many rooms to walk through. The actual mission structure was breathtaking inside.

There are some large unique trees on the property that kids loved climbing around on. Free and ample parking.

Historically beautiful and interesting!

Our third stop on the tour was San Jose. We enjoyed reading about the founding of the mission, as well as the life within the walls of the mission. This is worth the time to walk around the various areas of the grounds. A sudden rain ended our tour, but not before marveling at the architecture design of this location.

The visitor's center is located at this Mission for good reason. It is the most impressive of the 5 Old Spanish Missions that line the San Antonio River. If you only have time to visit one of the Missions, this should be on your list.

Fantastic experience. This is the one you want to start at, as it is the visitor center for the Missions Park. There is much to see and do at this mission. Budget an hour (more if older kids/adults).

This mission was more than looking at an old church. The grounds are quite expansive and diverse compared to the others. I asked some local police officers if they would recommend 1 out of all 5 missions in San Antonio. The agreed San Jose I was not disappointed. Being a lover of history this place felt like a step back into the history with many buildings and grounds to see. There is a visitor center with small museum, film, and gift shop as well. Just lovely grounds and inspirational memorials of the people who established the Mission and Texas.

Mission San Jose is the centerpiece of the San Antonio Mission NHP.
The park visitor center is very nice, and the mission area is very well put together for a full picture of the history of the missions. The church has a beautiful interior and the grounds are impressive.
Don't miss the Rose Window (it is not stained glass)

The San Jose Mission is the largest of the missions we visited. It encompasses the grounds wit the church, a garden, living quarters for the priests, many living quarters for the indigenous people around the inside of the stone walls to protect them from marauding Indians and bandits, a small quarry and a gift shop. It is amazing to experience how these people lived and worked in the 1700's when the area was wild and for the most part uninhabited by whites. Also very educational. Just visiting and experiencing how well this mission was constructed is amazing in itself. A "must see" when visiting San Antonio.

This mission has been at the centre of San Antonio history for centuries. It's size and layout is really impressive.

This place (and the whole mission trail) is worth the drive from anywhere. We love coming here again and again. The beauty is fascinating as well as the history of the compound. Don’t miss it if you are anywhere close by!

We spent Saturday morning touring the mission on our own. They have free guided tours with a park ranger at 10am, 11am, 2pm and 3pm. Mission San Jose is open 7 days a week from 9-5 and it has free parking and admission. The museum gave us a peak into the natives way of life here. The famous “Rose Window” is the oldest examples of baroque architecture in North America. Overall we enjoyed our time here. We spent less than 2 hours touring the grounds.

lots of information and buildings to see at this Mission. Film show in the information centre very good and the actual site well presented.
A good place to visit for an hour.

Mission San Jose is part original and part restored early Southwestern history. It is the best of the five missions in San Antonio not called Alamo. The tour starts with a film that makes a connection with long ago forgotten residents of the area and who we are today and the ranger led tour that follows is excellent. Without the missions, we would be very different today and the story of how the Catholic Church became the vessel that recruited and "civilized" the resident Indians is informative. The mission has been restored to show what life was like in the 17th century. The old church is very impressive, much more sophisticated than you would think with a beautiful rose window and frescoes inside the building. It's still used for services today.
Mission San Jose is an interesting piece of history. Be sure to take the ranger led tour. It's free and brings the place to life.

While in San Antonio it's worth visiting all of the missions, not just the Alamo. The San Jose Mission is very a fort like complex that's still standing with little nook and crannies to check out. Unfortunately the church part was closed during our visit, but there are other museum like things to check out around the property. There is also plenty of free parking at this mission site.

It’s a beautiful place. Andrew, our tour guide, did a fantastic job at providing information. It was informative and entertaining, 45 mins is just the right amount of time. It’s free, highly recommend. Thanks Andrew!

`We had an excellent park ranger give us a tour. The tour along with the free film we watched gave us a good understanding of what went on here centuries before.

We really enjoyed seeing Mission San Jose; of all the missions, San Jose is the largest and has the most to offer. There's a large visitor center with a museum featuring period clothing and weapons. If you have time, watch the free movie about the history of this place and the people who lived here. This mission has the most elaborate architecture, the prettiest interior chapel, the famous rose window, and the most extensive grounds. It's amazing to see history so well preserved. If you only have time to visit a couple of missions, I would make this one a priority.

We really enjoyed out time at the mission. It really is sad though all the lose of the native americans. But I do really enjoy learning more. We watched the 20 minute video they had in the visitor center and really enjoyed learning more about the mission.

The mission is beautiful. It definitely makes me wonder HOW they could build something like this back in the day without power tools. Although the employees explain about life back in the day, I couldn't help but wish there was a little window we could see through and catch a glimpse of how they lived. It is a nice place to visit. I hope your family enjoys it as much as we did. Take a hat.

Huge compared to Alamo which is the mission most of us end up visiting! Come here too. Calmer, beautiful buildings and chapel, lovely grounds to walk around.

Definitely a must tour as the mission is essentially intact and you can imagine what life was like in the 18th century

We did 3 of the missions and loved each & everyone of them.
They each hold something different and unique

A beautiful example of the architecture of this period, and the mission complex is one of the largest here in San Antonio.

My husband and I go here every year. My husband declared his love for me in this mission. It's beautiful and peaceful. The architect is amazing.

First, June is hot in San Antonio. That being said I greatly enjoyed the Mission of San Jose. Exploring the place was cool. The little museum was a bit disappointing but it is a public park and money is always short for these types of places.

Wew drove out to the Mission and it was well worth the effort. Entry is free and the place is amazing. Worth doing the video in the information centre first to provide background then meander around the site.

You will need 1-2 hours to have a good look and the time will be well spent.

Sadly the other missions get skipped over and are falling apart. This is one of them. Hurry before you miss this San Antonio treasure.

This place, in my opinion, is so magnificent. It's the historical value of this place that really gets one to thinking. The place was first started in 1720, Texas is still in the distant future. It has been through some hard times but, remains and the fort style walls around the hole property gives you an idea on how they lived in those times.

Fantastic historical experience. I rode the #42 bus from the downtown area (River Walk) and it was an easy trip. The bus driver could have been a bit more helpful to those of us tourists. We got off the stop before the "official" stop and he could have mentioned this. There is a #40 bus which hits all five of the missions but this is not currently operating in July 2021 due to Covid.

Mission San Jose is by far the biggest mission and the most intact mission. Parts have been restored but the entire exterior wall is in tact along with the church, mill, and living quarters. This mission took us the longest to tour. We were there for a little over an hour and that was without reading everything. If you want to see one of the four missions, but strapped for time this is the one to tour. It gives you the most accurate representation of what Mission life looked like which helped us visualize the other missions since those are more ruined. Loved learning about the Spanish culture and origins of Catholicism in San Antonio. The church is beautifully decorated with form of grandness as the alter is blue with gold trim. They also had beautiful church music playing that really put you in awe of the grandness yet simplicity of the church. This mission has a large visitor center as well with more information. It is also the place to go if you are looking for the National Parks stamps for your passport.

This is part of the Mission Trail (look it up on google) and one of the missions close to San Antonio. Each one is unique and well worth a visit to all of them.

Attended the 12:30 bilingual mass today. Beautiful church and historical site, easy to find. The mass is billed as a "Mariachi Mass" and was wonderful. Large band and choir led the congregation and provided extra musical selections. Folks three from all over the country as well as local parishioners. We were made welcome. Go!

The largest of all the Missions and is the best in my opinion. Get to see how people lived back then. Very hot in the Texas heat so go early.

We were pleasantly surprised by our visit to the Mission San Jose. Loved seeing the detail of the mission walls, garden, and buildings. Since the visitor center was closed, so was the church but we had a nice walk around the grounds. Be sure to check out the mill and acequia in the back. Very interesting. You really get a feel for how they lived way back then. We visited the little gift store for a few souvenirs. Then we got to hear the church bells play. So beautiful and relaxing! This is a much more peaceful place to visit than the commercialized Alamo...yes, we did both!!

Upon advice from friends, we started here for our dip into the Mission history. We watched the film inside the visitor Center first which provided the context for the indigenous roots of the Mission system and the changes to indigenous culture. We then went on a 40 minute tour (free and well worth your time) which took us inside the Mission and provided information on the buildings themselves and the indigenous people who lived there. As a person who comes from The Yukon I was impressed to see the Native peoples hilighted and their contributions and struggles recognized. The Mission itself is a great place to start and was not as busy and hurried as the Alamo.

This is an amazing mission. Our tour guide gave us so much history and insight into what life was like to live in the mission. The Church is beautiful and is still serves as a parish church for local residents.

We lived in san Antonio for 5 years and visited the Alamo many many times. Never visited other missions. We just visited all the missions and it was great. Stop one by one since 5 minutes of easy driving apart. No charge, dollar contribution a.person appreciated. Can do in a couple hours or take half day or more. Allow more time if visit king of missions, the alamo, of course. If do alamo, you are still close to first other mission. Enjoy, we did!

This place is the biggest and best of all the missions. The grounds seem to be the largest and it also seems to be the most intact. There is a lot of good information and displays throughout.

Visited while looking to fill some time. Was able to go o. One of the tours with a Ranger who was very knowledgeable. Definitely worth a visit if you have the time to see some unique history.

The Mission San Jose is one of the oldest Texas Missions, late 1600's I believe. It is truly historic and beautifully preserved architecture. Be sure and take one of the free guided tours!

It was very fun to walk around such a historical place and take pictures. The entrance was free, the building was almost intact after 300 years.

I never knew how many missions had been built in San Antonio; I only knew about the Alamo. Here at Mission San Jose we learned about the missions and the indigenous people that lived within their walls. The church is beautiful. It's great that it is still and active Catholic parish.

We visited two of the missions on our last trip to San Antonio and we really enjoyed exploring Mission San Jose. It is a very large complex and you can spend a few hours exploring here. There are plenty of signs to provide information on what you're seeing and educate you on the history of the church, which was much appreciated. We love history, so this was a blast for us and the fact that it was free to visit was great as well. I definitely recommend visiting Mission San Jose when you're in San Antonio.

We visited in the early morning and there were few other people there. It was peaceful to tour the mission and the still functioning church and to learn more about the era when this mission was at its peak.

Very interesting historic perspective on missions in the US. The movie in visitor center is a must. Also try to arrange a park ranger tour. Clean and inviting history!

Great step-back into history. We enjoyed our day, the helpful guides answered questions and expanded into explanations that were interesting and informative. Must see.

I don’t know where to start. We absolutely loved it. It’s so peaceful and beautiful. It had signs to read and told what you was looking at. I will return to this place.

We spent about an hour exploring Mission San Jose. The mission has been repaired and restored to give a clear picture of life here in the 18th and 19th centuries. Exhibits and interpretive boards are scattered throughout the mission. I was surprised to learn that the mission is still a functioning Catholic church. Other items of note include the water-powered grist mill and lovely landscape of the surrounding area. This is a must-see place to add to a visit to San Antonio.

Beyond the most important one historically, San Antonio de Valero a.k.a. The Alamo, this is the one stop. We hopped on one day $2.75 Viva Tour Bur, route 40, in front of The Alamo and reached San José after a comfortable ride. I recommend you study and scrutinize a map and allow it to come alive, see it-feel it from 750 ft above ground at the Tower of The Americas. It will allow you to grasp the links between the Misiones and their importance in this great city. San José is a mini-model of Game of Thrones towns enclosed by fortresses with a beautiful Catholic Church. Nice theater with 20 minute movie, and nice souvenir shop. Entrance, movie, free of charge. Beautiful tree at entrance.

We were incredibly impressed by the beauty and the size of this mission. Please do not alow yourself to miss

We stopped here on the way to our hotel, Nice location and great info, we walked around and looked at the site for about 45 mins.

Toured this mission and the chapel was amazing and beautiful. I would recommend watching a 20 min movie which provides a lot of history of how the mission was started and the people who were involved.

This is a fantastic place to visit. The National Park Service does a great job on the guided tour. It has a nice little museum attached to the visitor center. It also is a lot less busy than the Alamo.

All 4 of the missions are worth stopping at. It was interesting to see the differences in each. All are also free with free parking so no real excuse not to go. Keep in mind all still have church services on Sunday.

We had a great time taking one of the local buses that takes you all the way to all the missions of San Jose. This happened to be a great location with plenty to see free. Very peaceful I would highly recommend visiting the city

I enjoyed visiting the San Jose Mission. It is a nice open area. There is plenty to see and learn about the people that once lived there. Oh and the best part is that it is entirely free. This would be nice for couples or a family.

The Alamo was and still is the most important mission in Texas history because of the events that took place there. It is the mission most visitors go to see; unfortunately it has succumbed to the ravages of time and being located in a major metropolitan area.
To gain a truer representation of what the missions were make a short drive out to Mission San Jose. Take a tour with one of the Park rangers to learn about the people and history.

Do not miss the Missions in San Antonio as they are a must see! The Mission stories are very interesting and the buildings are beautiful. We do the Missions every time we are visiting and we rank it at the top of things to see and do.

This is a great place to visit. All of the missions are relatively close together. This one was the largest and 90% renovated. Considered a world heritage site and the only one in Texas.

Mission San Jose was a great place to visit along with the other 2 because of all it's history. Although I am not a history buff I like to read about it. It is definitely a sight to see and will surely take you back in time. It was very beautiful.

What an amazing experiance for anyone. The mass was done in both English and Spanish. Towards the end of the Mass, Pastor: Fr. Rogelio Martinez walked down the aisle and asked paritioners where they were from and made you feel welcome. Wonderful Mass with amazing music.

The mission is 300 years old this year (2020). It's under the aegis of the National Park Service. There's a visitor's center. There are the original soldiers quarters and church and Indian quarters and grist mill and granary and the famous rose window. Lots of history. Wear a mask and maintain socia distance with other visitors.

Biggest of the Missions and the only one with an attached Visitor centre which gives a useful overview.
A very large compound with additional displays in some of the rooms.
ESy to walk around
Difficult to know what has been "restored" and what is original
But interesting to see some real "history" in the US of A

It will take you about 2 hours to appreciate the visitors center and the walled compound. The visitors center has a nice 20 minute film inside a theater (nice to cool off). The compound itself is simply amazing; living quarters, fort defense, church, and irrigation canal with functional mill. The church is active, and has a Mariachi Mass on Sunday (noon mass). No admission fee for the cheapos; voluntary donation.

BEAUTIFUL AND VERY PEACEFUL PLACE. Excellent to know about the history of San Antonio and its missions, the church is very antique but it retains its beauty. Very quiet place, perfect to relax. I highly recommend to visit it if you are in San Antonio. You'll love it. Also is a great place to take some good pictures. There is a nice gift shop where you can find lots of religious crafts and beautiful souvenirs to shop. 5 stars ❤️❤️❤️

302 years old. Built in 1720. An amazing, breath taking place to spend an afternoon. Perfect for couples, friends, solo and kids.

Come and tour the history of this region. You can do your own tour as there are some signs and information to teach you. One of the oldest sites in town.

We took the city bus to see all the missions. This is a great place to start for an overview. It's also very beautiful! We had planned to bike but glad we didn't. The Mission Trail isn't really a trail. The missions are just tucked away in various parts of the less populated city. Nothing really to see. A day bus pass is cheap, the bus is clean, and air conditioned!

This is the largest and most complete wall and quarters of the mission sites.

It is still used for services and respect of the sanctuary is requested. They request that no pictures are taken in the chapel.

Well worth the trip to see. The parks dept has a movie theatre with a great history of the missions film. The museum area is with the walk through.

Visited on a Saturday and went on one of the free guided tours. Ranger Dana was probably the best tour guide I have ever had anywhere. Her energetic, passionate and friendly stories answered questions I didn't know how to ask. I appreciated honesty in the telling of the history here. Highly recommend going on a guided tour to augment the learning experience.

It’s always wonderful to visit old churches and cemeteries. It’s nice to see these are being taken care of and having maintenance done constantly. Definitely a great and sad historical place. Sad because of what the Catholics did to the Native Americans.

Stopped in Monday morning for a visit. The visitor center is nice and the movie was really well done. I like how they showed what happened to the Native Americans being stripped of their culture and life inside the stone walls. The church is pretty (we liked the church at Espada better). We loved the honey mesquite trees that are laying on the ground...they remind me of live oaks. Really pretty. Definitely worth a visit.

You shoul absolutely tour this mission. Of the 5 missions in San Antonio, this is the only one that is in tact and has park rangers giving tours. Unless you're Catholic and/or want to see the different churches, the other four are basically in ruins. But San Jose is a gem. I am not usually a history buff, but this place is amazing.

The Alamo is the famous one but if you don’t tour the other mission, at least this one and Concepcion, you’re missing out. Absolutely beautiful church, replica of Juan Diego’s tilma, lovely gift shop, and interesting grounds.

One of the nicer sites visited in San Antonio, this was managed by the NPS. Free admission and beautiful grounds with a the church building. A nice 20 min video (even if a bit dated) at the visitor center. Guided tours given. We enjoyed walking the grounds on a mild January afternoon.

Great fun and beautiful, well preserved church as well as many ruins. Great place to see some history and better understand the culture

This was the best and most elaborate of all the missions outside The Alamo. You will end up spending 1-2 hours here to learn about it and take in the architecture.

Beautiful and authentic place with just the right amount of interesting information.
Nice gift shop at the visitors center.

Worth a visit if you have a little extra time when in San Antonio. It was interesting to learn how the natives and Europeans co-existed and to learn about the culture.

A great example of architecture and traditional carvings. One of more interesting experiences in San Antonio.

Awesome place to visit to learn about the history of San Antonio. Don't just visit the Alamo, get out to a couple of the other missions found on the outskirts of San Antonio, it's worth it. You can either do self guided, or I believe the vistor center can schedule for a guided tour.

Of all the Missions in San Antonio, this is the largest, most detailed, and most intact grounds. This mission yard allows you to see what a fully developed mission looked like to provide a community, safety and place to congregate for worship. Here the entire courtyard is in tact and you can see how people lived in the mission walls. You also see a beautiful and large church that has a rose window and incredible carves and details around its entrance. It does of the ruins of the Indian quarters attached to the church and only one bell tower. However, aside from these small imperfections, San Jose is an incredible Mission and now sits in the center of residential neighborhood. Still the site is well preserved and has the protection from the National Parks system. For me the Missions are the number one attraction in San Antonio and San Jose is the best, number one, Queen of the Missions.

We visited Mission San Jose on our way in to San Antonio. There is ample parking and a visitor's center with a small museum and film. The mission itself is open for self guided tours all day. Guided tours are available in the morning. It's well preserved and the displays are interesting. It's worth the visit.

Did all 5 missions . It is eye opening , humbling and historical . Of all 5, Conceptio and the Alamo has the most open views and buildings. Worth visiting as those wars that happened in the past are still happening presently in different countries with lives being lost.

The Mission San Jose was the nicest of the four missions to see. Each mission has it's own unique features. Remember all four missions still hold Mass.

Managed by the National Park Service, the Park Rangers are there to educate kids of all ages. Inside the visitor's center, they have kid activities that will help them learn about life in the 1700s when these missions were first created. The church is gorgeous and the grounds well preserved. Out back is a grain mill that could operate today. Take your time and explore, then visit the other three nearby missions that are part of this park.

This is not my favorite mission in San Antonio because most of the surrounding compound no longer exists. The church is very beautiful though with some traces of the elaborate painting remaining, elaborate ironwork in spots, and a grand scale. It's also fairly close to downtown so if you only have a few minutes, stop in to get a feel for what these places used to be and what it still is in terms of a parish church.

We really enjoyed touring the mission trail on our bikes. It is better suited to biking than the River Walk downtown area or the museum trail north of the River Walk. The paths are wider and there are less people so you can cruise faster and farther. Excellent maps posted along the way as well as restrooms and water. We stopped in at several of the missions along the way and San Jose was our favorite, it was much better preserved than the Alamo and no people. Amazing amenity that San Antonio should be proud of.

A beautiful historic site. The church is still active so a great job by the National Parks team to give history - but keep building history by a living parish not just a museum.

A beautiful relic of our past and a great way to learn about Texas.

We loved the wide open spaces and the easy exploration of the Mission.

Wonderful mission and grounds. Interesting video shown in the visitor center. Enjoyed the small church shop with religious statues,etc.

The NPS ranger tour was excellent. Our guide did a fantastic job of bringing history to life. Not only did we see the beautiful grounds, but also got a sense for the people who lived there. Absolutely worth the time to see!

Went to all the missions and loved them all. Each was unique but all were well preserved and beautiful. Very easy to find and the NPS employees were all great to talk to about the history of each place.

The mission is very easy to get to by public transport and is free to enter, and what a treasure awaits you! The site is quite large but the film-show explains everything and the staff in the little visitor centre are very helpful. (At times there are guides and there is also a museum).
The history of the Missions is fascinating and explains the roots of San Antonio quite clearly; thus giving you a better understanding of its culture.Although in the past it would have been a very busy and noisy place, it is now a site of great beauty and serenity, especially in the Church and the Friary area. There is a tiny shop in the walls selling a small but tasteful selection of mementos - our only minor criticism was that maybe a small cafe would have been a help (it was a very hot day, we spent a long time there and were quite hungry and thirsty) but we can understand there's probably a desire not to over-commercialise the site.

Be sure to watch the movie before you explore the grounds, it explains the history of the Mission in interesting detail.

Very interesting historical site. Free admission Wish we would have had time for one of the guided tours which are about 45 min guided tours.

Watch the 23 minute movie in the Visitors' Center (shown on the hour) and click on all the QR codes to get the whole story. It's a beautiful mission and shows a lot about life in early Texas.

Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo is still an active parish church. The front of the church is a real work of art.

This was a free and very educational stop for the family. The mission is in good condition considering its age and really allows you to grasp what it would have been like when it was in full use. Such a significant element of the San Antonio history.

This is probably the best Mission I've been to. It has a very nice visitor center with a small museum in it. The grounds are massive with much of the original dwellings and accessories in very good condition. The Church itself is immaculate. The entire tour is very informative throughout as well.

Best time to go is to squeeze yourself into the tiny chapel and attend 12 o’clock Sunday mass. It’s a mariachi mass and if you are celebrating a birthday or special event after mass they will serenade you. Plus either before or after mass or both you can tour what many consider the queen of the San Antonion18th century missions.

This place is beautiful, very well maintained great for a photo session. There is a free movie to watch about the original colonies that lived in the area and how the Spaniards changed their lives

I love this place, these missions are awesome when you are in San Antonio you must go see the missions they're just fabulous you could take the number 40 bus from downtown and if you're there for the month of October Saturdays are free for October only. I suggest that you take the bus to the last mission and then work your way back. You will love all the missions and donate to keep these missions in good shape. Enjoy

We visited all of the Missions by bike..You can rent bikes and ride to all of them..only about 7 or 8 miles ride from the Riverwalk...great experience and a must do.

So much history
Free entrance -free parking
Do not miss the video - very informative
Small gift shop
Friendly staff

Today, my Son and I toured Mission San Jose in San Antonio, Texas. Standing at the front gate and looking into the compound, one can get a true feeling of the 300-year history of this Mission. In 1930, the Mission was almost fully restored to its former glory with a WPA (Works Projects Administration) project. Mission San Jose also gives you an idea of what the original grounds of the Alamo must have looked like before the Mexican Army Siege.

These missions were not churches as such, but communities with a church where the local Indians could be converted to Christianity, taught the English language, and learn a trade. Living spaces were provided for the families. These missions were designed to be completely self-sufficient. They had fields for crops, cattle for meat and dairy, their own mill for making flour, blacksmiths, workshops for all manner of crafts, and a garrison of soldiers for protection.

Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo was known as “The Queen of the Missions” because of its size. The Mission San Jose Church is an active Catholic Parish even today. The “Rose Window” in the church is said to be the finest example of Spanish colonial ornamentation in the United States.

Anyone interested in the history of Texas should make a point the visit this mission. The grounds are totally handicap accessible. Not sure how interested small children would be but older children can learn a lot about the beginning of settlement in South Texas.

There are 4 missions you can see and this one was the best. Cool old church you can walk through with a little bit of old art, plus a walled 6 acre open area that you can explore the ruins of this mission. Best part about the missions are the San Antonio electric assist bikes you can rent for $11/day and a nice paved path between teh missions. Definitely the way to go. The path follows the river and is quite lovely as well.

Great stop on the mission trail. Did it by biking the riverwalk and seeing all four missions accessed by the it. This was probably my favorite mission. Just beautiful. Historic spot with plaques to read.

Represents the history in a state and a region where there is not a lot from the past. This is good for a short visit to learn the history.

Please be aware of online sites that charge a fee for a tour. There are several missions in the area, however you can just drive up and walk around on your own. There are stations where you can read info about the Mission too. I guess the fee helps to support upkeep of the Mission, but beware of price gouging. The replica of st. Francis of Assisi was sobering. This place is a must see.

On our recent visit to San Antonio, my husband and I wanted to do the missions. Our fist stop was at Mission San Jose.

We arrived in time for a guided tour by one of the park rangers and the way he presented the information made us feel like we were back in time, when this part of Texas was part of Spain and how life was so different at the time.

This one mission is in great shape and the mission church is still used by the locals for mass. The movie presented at the visitor center provides more details about the history of the mission and how it serves the community today.

This is definitely a must when in San Antonio, and if doing a guided tour, I'd allow about 3 hours just for this mission.

Really enjoyed the stop at this mission. We had a guide who gave excellent information throughout the tour. It was easy walking, you are able to take photos, including in the church portion. Excellent visit!

This is a great mission to visit in San Antonio. The largest of several and I found it better than going to the Alamo. If you love history, stop here.

Just an Uber drive away from downtown. You could rent bikes and ride around the site which was a nice option.

A very different experience to compare to the Alamo. You get a sense of what life was like living in the area at that time.

This is one of the best preserved missions in the San Antonio region, which has the luxury of 5 missions, including the oldest, the Alamo. Some of the Mission San Jose buildings are original, others are partly restored. There are guided tours that provide excellent background and place the mission in proper historical context. The artefacts and utensils are enlightening; the church is very authentic and the lodging areas make you grateful you live today. Our guide was excellent. There is ample parking and a very good gift shop. The only deficiency is that there isn't a place to have a cup of coffee or refreshments in the mission or the gift shop.

Beautiful grounds, an inspiring mission and deep history all well presented (and its free!) Much better than the Alamo.

We were so very impressed with the emotionally powerful program and how they integrated the audience, inviting visitors to identify their many home countries as well as so many US states.
But the greatest surprise was the informal musical performance they always perform in the beautiful historic courtyard. It is just a wonderful, exciting and fun family performance The Mariachi were dynamic and made it more exciting. Congregants and visitors were invited to join and participate. The 50+ years of dedication of the originators and their growing chorus. We learned the children and grandchildren of the original musicians and choir; are now members themselves. DO NOT MISS this experience!

Although I had been to San Antonio twice in the past, I never new of the missions and their history. This time, my son and I had the pleasure of walking through this one. Thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

We didn't know what to expect, but this place was way bigger than either of us thought it would be. What a great example of a Spanish mission. It was a bit of a history lesson as well as the story of the "conversion/cultural genocide??" of Native Americans is told in a very sort of gotta read between the lines kind of way. Had not really thought too much of what the mission's purpose was before that.

Good way to get a taste of the local history. We chose this one because it's the largest. It's in good repair and is still a functioning parish. The movie in the visitor center is terrible. In fact, you could skip the center entirely and have a good experience walking the grounds and reading the signs. Visit the gift shop near the church, it supports the parish.

Viewed as the model among the Spanish missions in Texas, San Jose gained a reputation as a major social and cultural center. Located at 6701 San Jose Drive in San Antonio, the imposing complex of stone walls, bastions, granary and magnificent church was completed in 1782 and became known as the "Queen of the Missions." During our tour, my wife and I were impressed with three features: the restored Native American quarters, rooms that were built into the walls to hold 350 Natives; the church facade that features from the top, a cross representing Jesus Christ, St. Joseph (San Jose) holding the infant Jesus, St. Dominic and St. Francis, Our Lady of Guadalupe (the Virgin Mary) and St. Joachim and St. Anne holding the infant Mary; and the Rose Window on the south wall of the church sacristy that was sculpted in 1775 and is a rare example of Baroque architecture in America. The mission was designated as the San Jose Mission National Historic Site in 1941 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.

San Jose is the middle of the 5 missions and the most restored from what was a sadly dilapidated state 40 years ago. It has been lovingly brought back to life with many original features. It is virtually intact and gives a very good idea of what the Alamo would have looked like during the revolution era. The visitor centre has a small museum and good book shop. There is a a time line history in the buildings adjacent to the chapel which is still active, in fact only the Alamo is the only one of the 5 missions without a church. Walk around the mission grounds and imagine what it would have been like to live on the frontier, hardy folks in those days. Book in for the guided tour it gives one a much better insight and worth every cent.

We love to visit missions and this one is very interesting in that it served as it own commune. The architecture is gorgeous and it makes for a very nice stroll. There is so much history to learn, so I highly recommend this for your visit.

If you only have time to see one of the San Antonio missions, this is definitely the one! Here you can see the walls that would have existed around the entire mission compound, an example Indian residence, outdoor ovens, the granary, and a gristmill, as well as the church and much more. Keep in mind as you walk around that a lot of this has been reconstructed.

We took the free ranger guided tour (available at 10 am, 11 am, 2 pm and 3 pm), and it was excellent, better than the Alamo tour. She clearly explained why Spain began the missions, why some Indians decided to move in and convert, and why the mission program ended. She really gave us a sense of what it might have been like to live and work in one of these missions.

There’s a visitor center nearby with restrooms. Since this is the largest mission, inevitably tour buses will stop here (we saw two of them in the late morning), but the place is big enough to absorb them. Plan to spend around 2 hours, and definitely take the tour.

My group of 40 plus visited the San Jose mission last week. The film/movie in the auditorium is an abasolute must! So cool to walk the grounds and learn about mission life in early America.

Such a lovely place to visit. It is quiet and peaceful at the mission with a lovely historic church at the center. The staff is friendly and the site is well kept. It is free to visit but donations are accepted. They have a nice gift store for local goods as well.

This place was huge and the video gave a great history. Unfortunately, some people act like they're at Disney when inside the Chapel despite the signs reminding visitors it's a religious building.

neat history. The old church is beautiful and the bell still tolls. Best of the missions in the area.

On a day trip to San Antonio, we decided to drive out to see the mission. I'm really glad we did, it was a beautiful day and the whole place has a peaceful, quiet vibe. There is some educational information in some of the buildings, which was interesting. Our favorite part was just wandering the grounds. The best part is, it's free!

This was a wonderful stop - better than the Alamo. Very large area and so well kept. I had a guide which made it even more interesting! Worth the time to visit.

The history and magnitude of this misson is amazing. There is history in every nook and crannie. A wonderful testament.

We had a little time to explore one more thing in San Antonio so we made our way to Mission San Jose about an hour and 15 minutes before it closed. We watched the movie then wandered the grounds. We did not take a guided tour, but would have if there had been one at the time. We enjoyed touring at our own pace. It is a large area that does require some walking. We had just enough time to see it all. So glad we made the effort.

This mission is a short bus-ride away from the busy-ness of the Alamo downtown area, and this site is more about the "mission" part of San Antonio history and less about the Mexican/Texas conflict like the Alamo is. This site was very lightly visited when we visited around noon in July, and my wife (who loves her historical sites) loved it. I think this is the best and certainly the biggest mission site in SA.

Very interesting. Great tour by ranger. A glimpse into the historic Southwest -- the good, the bad, and the ugly. Beautiful church.

This is a must do if you like history and a general understanding of the state of Texas as well. The National Park has a nice visitors center outside of the mission. They give free tours guided by a park ranger. Our guide did a fabulous job of giving everyone a feel for life in and around the mission. The tour lasts an hour or so and covers the property in and around the mission. I really cannot say enough good things about it.

We loved this mission. You can spend several hours here because there is much to see. Also nice that it's free

We took a 20 minute Lyft from downtown San Antonio to see this mission and we were not disappointed. The grounds are beautiful and well-maintained and it was so interesting to see the only mission that is still an active place of worship.

We spent this long weekend visit to S.A. to do some of the things we have never had the chance to do. San Jose was on the top of the list and we were not disappointed. The Chapel is amazing and the grounds are incredibly well maintained. Highly recommend while in town.

We took us probably 20 minutes to get to the Mission and there was a wedding going on, so we left. I’m sure it would have been interesting, but we didn’t get to find out first hand.

This is known as the queen of the five missions in the San Antonio area. Lots to see and explore. A wonderful exhibit in the Visitors Center and a must-see film there that is well done and provides helpful background that allows you to better understand the history of the mission. They also have a couple free guided tours available in the mornin.

This is one of my favorites. Well kept, easy to get to. Definitely a must stop when in San Antonio!!

This mission was beautiful and had so much history. Be sure to take the ranger guided tours; they know their stuff and it makes it all the more interesting!

Interesting how they lived. The church bldg was beautiful. The movie gave a lot of info. The gift shop had lots to choose from, for gifts too.

As for all these missions well worth seeing and learning the history of the area and the hold that the Spaniards had. They are all worth doing.

This is one of those places in San Antonio you need to stop by for a visit when you come to town. It's almost as important as the Alamo as far as sites go. Good picture opportunities as well.

A historical site with lots of different parts of it to check out and lots of informative information about the site. Better than the Alamo in my opinion, absolutely worth a visit!

A well restored mission. I've visited other missions in CA and of course the Alamo, but never realized how large a full size mission is. With the complete exterior wall restored, the central courtyard is huge. Can really imagine what life must have been like during those times. Nice exhibits on the history of the place and how it evolved from the Spanish, Catholic Church, Mexicans, Texans, disrepair, and resurrection. Kudos to the women in the early 1900's who foresaw the value in restoring this historic site and went about raising the money and political support to do so. A memorable experience. Enjoyed seeing the Church and religious ways the monks used to convert the pagan Indians to Christianity. And I'm an atheist.

I am fascinated by the historical significance and the architecture of the mission. I did the mission as part of a half day tour and the visit was awesome. I liked being able to visit the exhibits and seeing some of the original plans such as the living quarters for the residents when the mission was active.

Part of our wonderful day on the mission trail - we did part by public bus, part walking, part bicycle rental and also uber.
This was our third stop. We rented bicycles and biked on the trail from Mission Espada. Had a little trouble with the rental, one bike was a dud - wouldn't shift gears - had to swap it out at next stand. Tried an electric assist (I was worn out from the dud bike) and that did not work - looked like no battery charge - but the bike was better.
This had a lot of restoration/replication so there was more to see. The Park Rangers were very knowledgeable and happy to answer questions.
We returned the bikes here, and called an Uber to get lunch in the Pearl Brewery area (Green Vegetarian)

This is one of the best and easiest way to learn about the History of San Antonio and Texas. You also learn about the Spanish Conquest in the America’s. If you have a sixth grader in Texas, you can reinforce what your World Cultures teacher is trying to teach, especially the units on Latin America. Get an all day pass from VIA bus #40. This bus can drop you at each of the Missions and pick you up and drop you off at the next one. You should do this. Cheers!

I loved visiting all the San Antonio missions on my recent trip. It is well worth the time and so interesting. These lovely missions are a real Texas and American history treasure!

This beautiful mission was an example about a time in our country's history when Texas was a different place. We visited the Alamo and the other 4 missions before traveling to Houston.

As expected, the National Park tour was excellent. It was a lovely piece of history to experience. Not to be missed

Of all the missions this is the most picturesque and also the most visited (besides the Alamo). It is a mix of original with lots of new build. The church is an active church. Beautiful Spanish colonial architecture.

The grounds and place are well preserved. Everyone should take the time to venture down the San Antonio Mission Trail. Take the local 40 bus as it stops at all Missions.

We only had time for one mission but I would recommend Mission San Jose. It has a video and an exhibit area (air conditioned) to see before you go into the mission itself. It was interesting to get an idea how they lived and what some of the factors were that brought Native Americans to the mission.

So interesting. I am very familiar with the 21 California missions, but the ones in Texas are generally at least fifty years earlier. The responsible citizens of San Antonio in the early 20th century are to be highly commended for taking the initiative to save and preserve the Spanish missions in the region. If they hadn’t, these historic jewels would have been lost to development.

Mission San Jose is large and well-restored. It gives you a lovely feel for life here in the 18th century. If you schedule a visit on Sunday morning, Mass is held in the lovely chapel.

Mission San Jose is the largest, intact Mission. We were told that this mission is the only one that was reconstructed to look like it had been. The church is beautiful, in fact there was a wedding in the church when we were there. The altar is very pretty with a blue background and gold-colored overlays and of course Jesus on the Cross. The grounds are huge and worth walking around. In the back is what had been a water mill. I think this is the best Mission for school groups to get a good feel for what life was like on a Mission. This Mission also has a gift shop.

I heard this was the best of the missions to visit, so that’s why we chose it. It was good advice. The visitors center has displays with information about the mission and more general themes regarding historical figures, weapons, etc. I strongly recommend seeing the video in a very nice theater. It begins every half-hour and lasts around 23 minutes. It’s extremely well produced. We decided at the last minute to join a free guided tour around the mission. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and entertained all questions that participants asked. Afterward, we explored the mission on our own. Public transportation from the River Walk area was great—Via Bus 40, which runs about every half hour. Their app can be very challenging to use, and one of our bus drivers agreed. Be sure to purchase rides with the app beforehand, and show the driver your purchases as you board.

As this is the oldest of the missions and, I believe, the largest, it is the one to see. It is within a wall and provides wonderful photos. Our step on guide gave us a real feel for the history and the people, both the Spaniards and the indigenous people. There is a bit of walking but it's all flat and he went at a slow pace (only a couple of steps at the church itself. The church is surrounded by "rooms" where families lived and there are large cooking ovens outside of the rooms. You can enter them. The church is still used and you may catch a Mass if your timing is right. There is a great introductory video in the welcome area along with a small, reasonably priced gift shop and rest rooms.

Put this stop in your plans for a ‘must see’! The grounds are breathtaking, I so wish we’d have made our plans to include the Mission, we had no idea there would be much to see here! We arrived at dusk, minutes before closing. The pictures do no justice to the majestic grounds. I talked to (I believe a Deacon?, not sure...) who apologized the grounds were about to close but invited us mass the next day ( 3 masses to choose from: English, Spanish & bilingual). We were regretful we weren’t able to go to mass but so thankful we were able to see the Mission.

We made this our last stop to take in the scenery without rushing. Parking awesome and great information about the history of this Mission. Very touched. Will visit again for sure.

This was a very interesting look back at this Spanish Mission and the lives of those who lived there—both the natives and Spanish. Would recommend taking the free National Park Ranger tour. Our ranger, Michael, was very informative. The movie provided other information, but feels a bit dated.

We came late at 4:30 ( close at 5), but we manage took some beautiful pictures of this beautiful church. Please give yourself at least 45 mins to 1 hr to look at this mission.

"Must see mission in San Antonio, Texas. Gray area location. But over all its a really good place to visit on a vacation with family members who can walk or ride.

Mission San Jose was nice to visit. Good history lesson, was no wait or line to get in on a Friday. Everything moved quick. Was glad I went to visit!

The video in the main visitor center is well worth the wait. It's more impactful to explore the Mission San Jose after learning about its turbulent history. Also the video has closed captions!

Enjoyed the visit. Very pretty. An interesting step back in time. The only thing I didn't care for was we went on a Wednesday morning and I think about every 5th grade class within a 20 mile radius was there for a school trip.

After your visit here, drive 15 minutes to Espada Aqueduct (9045 Espada Rd) and see the aqueduct that used to provide the water to Mission San Jose.

We had a wonderful Mission trip here and while it was hot, there was a gift shop to purchase very cold water. Staff very knowledgeable which helps!

If you are going to go to one of the missions; this is the one to make time for. It is really something to see.

This was really cool, because Yet still an active church, the grounds or amense showing what it was like inside the fence line of a mission.

You get to see the little rooms that made up the wall, you walk through an old gate and you can see where they used to cook. I believe those are replicas but they were really cool to see how it was laid out

P churches beautiful, and the day we visited he had had music plane and is quite uplifting

This was the best mission outside of San Antonio for me. The property has been well maintained, we were able to see some details from the past, notably a great gate into the large enclosed space and the small homes built into the outer wall where settlers and native Americans lived are still in tact. Interior is lovely with a blue altar piece. There are many great views of the mission for the photographer.

Definitely worth seeing while in San Antonio. Much larger than the Alamo and beautiful old buildings. There is also a 22 minute film about the mission that is good to watch.

We loved the missions. We went to all the missions on our trip to the Alamo. Mission San Jose was the best out of the mission but all were wonderful.

This was the only mission we visited except the Alamo and glad that we saw it. Don't miss if in the area. It is truly delightful. No entrance fee, watch the short movie before going in.

Another history lesson here for sure! Make sure that there is not a funeral when you go or you will not get inside the chapel.

My family and I learned so much about the missions and Texas history. The inside of the mission is beautiful, and it was really interesting to tour the grounds and different living spaces.

We went recently to get a feel for the area and missions. The grounds were great. I thought I had a feel for the layout and how life went. I felt the presence of God and history in the Chapel and Church. The buildings were lovely.The relief work beautiful. I couldn't imagine it pained. This made me wish I had the day to see them all. There were bikes available. I would say don't miss this one if you have a choice top go

The Park Ranger was most informative about the history of the mission. Beautiful place, well and lovingly restored. There is tons of information about the history of the mission as well as its restoration on the many plaques. Lovely gift shop both attached to the church as well as the Park. Visit both. Drinks and snacks are available in the little gift shop inside the grounds. Masks required indoors.

We really enjoy looking at the missions in San Antonio. They are maintained in a very beautiful manner.

The San Jose mission is a must see when visiting San Antonio. No vacation or visit would be complete without seeing this completely restored mission

This place was pretty, but there is not much to it compared to the Alamo. I did enjoy the large flocks of noisy birds amongst the tranquil setting.

Went with teen age daughter, son and Girlfriend. Enjoyed the history, it was a great historical site. Watched the move in the Vistors center. I feel like this is a better representation of what the Alamo would have actually been like than the Alamo, but that is just me. I went to the alamo aw well, I sort of enjoyed this better as a historical site. The Alamo is a bit touristy and right in downtown. Not really what your expecting, This was great ad kids even said it wasn't terrible.

You can walk the trails along the river, bring your bike, or rent one. I have lived in San Antonio for a long time, but hadn’t done this until the past year. Great activity for natives or vacationers!

Walked around on your own, really neat to see how the people lived during that time & there was a nice church onsite also, glad we stopped here.

I enjoyed the San Jose much more than the Alamo. Not only not so busy, but also the free guided tour. (All entry is free)

The tour tries to make you understand the life back then and the choices people were faced with and how and why they joined the missions. A tour with a high animo, makes it easy to understand.
The church is still operational.

Also domiss the exhibition going over the history of the mission.

Wonderful tour with Micheal and San Antonio Detours. They provided a great experience and so much history and personal knowledge highly recommend them. Thanks for a wonderful tour.