Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa

The San Luis Obispo Mission is such a beautiful and historic place to visit! The history here is incredible, and it really gives you a deep understanding of local culture dating back to the 1700s. There’s so much to see and explore, and my kids enjoyed it just as much as I did. While we were there, we got to witness two weddings and even a quinceañera, which made the visit feel even more alive. It’s clear this mission continues to be a special gathering place for the community. The location itself is stunning—peaceful, welcoming, and full of charm. Whether you’re visiting for the history, the culture, or simply to enjoy the beauty of the grounds, this mission is absolutely worth the stop.

The mission is a very beautiful building in downtown San Luis Obispo. You have an option of paying a small entrance fee to tour the church and the mission museum. We enjoyed walking around and looking at the architecture and learning more about the past of the mission.

WOW, what a treat! We stopped in Downtown SLO to wait out the traffic during Labor Day and as we were shopping, we saw the edge of the Mission SLO - WOW! We have visited so many Missions, but seemed to have spaced on this one. We walked through the facility and it's beautiful! Well maintained and 100% open to the public to check out. As Huell Howser would say "That's Amazing!"

Beautiful mission, very relaxing, and well-reserved they had some construction in the front area of mission. The shop was not open or a museum inside. I just got to visit the chapel and back garden area.

As a true landmark of San Luis Obispo, Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa stands as a testament to the city's origins and growth. This ancient structure, with its weathered crosses and the echoing strains of sacred music, effortlessly draws visitors away from the surrounding hustle and bustle. During our visit, we noticed grapevines already heavy with fruit – a beautiful sight that reminds you of California's unique charm. It's truly a magical place where devout priests reside, yet just across a traffic light from the mission, you'll find an LGBTQ+ pride bar. The proximity of these two seemingly disparate elements, existing without conflict, speaks volumes about the power of inclusivity that defines this city. The church itself is ancient, housing a small museum and gift shop that closes at 4:30 PM. While the overall architecture is old, evidence of later restoration work is visible, blending the past with careful preservation. Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa offers a profound sense of history and peace, making it a must-visit for anyone in the area. It's a place that beautifully encapsulates the spirit of SLO.

This is a fun historical location for both locals and travelers. There are always activities and entertainment on the weekends in the park. They have daily tours of commission. Plus the mission is still operational mass services daily. The garden is cute, and the people are very friendly and knowledgeable. Stop by the gift shop to pick up a little smack to help support 200-year-old building.

This place was small but free. They accepted donations and it was a nice calm place. Very historical

Large and impressive mission with an active congregation. A very large wedding occurred while we were there. Great tour occurs daily. Nice garden to tour. Free parking on site is limited. Paid street parking is plentiful. A very large museum area is free to tour. Great collection of mission and Native American artifacts.

Service: The gift shop lady was so sweet! I told her I'd never witnessed a wedding before and she actually let me peek as the bells rang post-ceremony--such a kind gesture. She was warm, patient, and made me feel welcome. Environment: The church and museum are beautiful and peaceful, with a lot of history to take in. The artifacts were cool to see, and the whole place had a calming atmosphere. The only downside was seeing someone mentally ill bathing in the bear fountain outside--it felt out of place and I hope it didn't affect the weddings happening that day. Shopping: The gift shop had so many keepsakes to choose from, from religious items to cute souvenirs. Definitely worth stopping by if you want something to remember your visit. Overall: A truly beautiful place to experience in San Luis Obispo. All the history, charm, and hospitality made it worth the stop before leaving town.

We had a fantastic tour with Joan. She is extremely knowledgeable about the mission itself, the history of the land, and the surrounding communities. You can tell she loves what she does. The church and grounds are beautiful and well maintained. I love the artwork inside the church and the flower garden. The mission has a parking lot and there is plenty of street parking surrounding the mission. Plus you're in the heart of downtown, so plenty to see in walking distance.

This was my second time actually visiting Mission San Luis Obispo. The first time that I came, I didn't check the hours and I got there about 20 minutes before closing so my tour was very quick. This time I allowed myself hours of extra time to make my way through the mission. The tours begin in the gift shop. The tours are donation only you could either make a cash donation, or you can go online and make a donation, which was nice. This mission is located in downtown San Luis Obispo. So parking can be tricky. There are a few parking spots on the mission property. If you decide to park outside of the mission along the street, you will have to pay for parking. The mission itself is very well upkeep, this church is the only mission church of its kind with its unique L shape architecture. So it's definitely a must see if you are a mission lover, like myself or just appreciate California history. The staff was friendly, and there are plenty of items in the gift shop

We have been following the Missions through out California. This particular Mission is still in use. We were only able to view the Church and other parts of the mission. However, the school area is still in use as were other parts of the mission. What we did see was absolutely stunning.

I had just been to Mission Santa Barbara a couple days before and was so incredibly happy to see that Mission San Luis Obispo offers free tours. They also have a great little museum that you can walk through for free. We enjoyed their cute little gift shop as well. It's a great location and very cool to visit.

Nice mission in the center of town. We were there just before mass, and got to hear the piano and soloist practice. Nice grounds, friendly staff and an interesting history with tales of hidden gold and secret tunnels.

First and foremost, let me just start by saying that the tour guide lady, Angela was beyond kind and informative. When she found out that my daughter was in 4th grade and we were there to learn about the mission she chose for her project, she made sure my daughter had the info. She would give tidbits of information and let my daughter ask all of the questions. The grounds are beautiful and we were able to tour most of the areas. I didn't expect it to be right in the middle of downtown, but it was convenient as my kids and I were able to walk and get some ice cream after. I did get a parking ticket though as I parked on the street near the mission, across from the children's museum. I actually parked there because there weren't any signs in plain view I saw stating that you had to pay for parking. Lesson learned. I'd highly recommend taking a trip here for any age group.

Very cool. The Mission and the museum and the grounds reek of history. The free tour was perfect: informal, not crowded, and quite informative with lots of little tidbits and trivia. The docent who guided our small group around the interior of the Sanctuary and the exterior grounds was very personable as well as knowledgeable. We learned the history of Cali started with these Missions. A most enjoyable few hours. Well done.