Experience
Santa Barbara Tours
Peace and All Good!
There’s no better way to experience the history and grandeur of Old Mission Santa Barbara than with a self-guided or docent-led tour. Situated on 13 acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the Mission grounds include the beautiful Mission church, Historic Cemetery and Mausoleum, a nine-room museum of historical artwork and artifacts, and multiple lush gardens, including La Huerta Historical Garden, which features authentic and ancient Mission-era plants and trees.
We warmly welcome you to this special place, and hope you will enjoy your visit to the Queen of the Missions!
Magnificent architecture of the church façade and convento
Breathtaking Mission church with its colonial-era art and sculptures (subject to closure during services)
Nine-room museum of art and artifacts, including:
Historic Cemetery and Mausoleum: contains the remains of Native Americans, early settlers, and the Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island (buried behind the church tower)
Lush, beautiful La Huerta Historical Garden: features plantings that are representative of the Mission era (1769-1836), including Sonoran wheat, olives, grapes, citrus trees, bananas, sugar cane, pomegranates, peaches, guava and prickly pear. (Tours of La Huerta Garden are available by advance reservation only)
(No reservation required; 7 days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. from July 4 through Labor Day)
Individual Rates
Adults (18-64) $12.00
Seniors (65+) $10.00
Active Military (w/ID): $10.00
Youth (5-17) $7.00
Children (0-4) FREE
(Reservations are required for parties larger than 20 to receive Group Rates)
This tour is perfect for those who would like to visit at their own pace. Tour includes the Sacred Garden, Historic Cemetery, Mission Church and Museum.
Available Booking Times for Group Rates:
(No reservation required; first come first served)
Individual Rates
Adults (18-64) $16.00
Seniors (65+) $14.00
Active Military (with ID)
$14.00
Youth (5-17) $11.00
Children (0-4) FREE
(Maximum of 20 people per tour)
No one knows Old Mission Santa Barbara better than our friendly, knowledgeable and highly trained docents! Make the most of your visit with an entertaining and highly educational tour that provides a fascinating glimpse into the history of the Old Mission, the Mission system, Franciscan Friars and Alta, California! Tour includes the Sacred Garden, Historic Cemetery, Mission Church and Museum.
Monday – Friday at 11:00 a.m. (except Thanksgiving and Christmas)
Every Saturday at 10:30 a.m. (except Christmas)
Every Sunday at 12:30 p.m. (except Easter)
Tour schedule subject to change. Please call (805)682-4713, ext. 166 to verify.
(10 person minimum; 2 week advance reservation required)
Individual Rates
Adults (18-64) $16.00
Seniors (65+) $14.00
Active Military (w/ID): $14.00
Youth (5-17) $11.00
Children (0-4) FREE
(Maximum of 60 people per tour)
Traveling in a group with your family and friends? Make the most of your visit with a private tour led by one of our knowledgeable docents. You’ll enjoy a fascinating glimpse into the history of the Old Mission, the Mission system, Franciscan friars and Alta, California! Tour includes the Sacred Garden, Historic Cemetery, Mission Church and Museum.
Available Booking Times:
(10 person minimum; 2 week advance reservation required)
Individual Rates
Adults (18-64) $18.00
Seniors (65+) $16.00
Active Military (w/ID): $16.00
Youth (5-17) $13.00
Children (0-4) FREE
(Maximum of 80 people per tour)
The ultimate tour for those who want to see it all! This tour provides a fascinating glimpse into the history of Old Mission Santa Barbara, the Mission system, Franciscan friars and Alta, California. Includes the Sacred Garden, Historic Cemetery, Mission Church, nine-room Museum of historic artifacts and interpretive displays, and a special visit to our lush Historic La Huerta Garden, which features a collection of heirloom and historic plants that once grew during the Mission era. Our most comprehensive tour!
Available Booking Times:
(10 person minimum; 2 week advance reservation required)
Individual Rates
Adults, Seniors (65+), and Youth (12-17) $25.00
No children under 12
(Maximum of 25 people per tour)
By Reservation Only: 805.682.4713 ext 166
This 90 minute docent-led tour will take you on a fascinating historical journey to learn about the Mission’s unique architecture, breathtaking artwork, and to view some of its most precious treasures in areas not normally open to the public, including our best kept secret – the Santa Barbara Mission Archive-Library!
Tour includes the church façade, Old Baptistry/Blessed Sacrament Chapel, church sculptures and paintings, Della Robbia glazed terracotta tableau,
and Archive-Library treasures, such as original Edwin Deakin Mission paintings, 1787 translation of the works of Vitruvius, 1774 Franciscan Antiphonarium, and a selection of historical photos, sculptures and paintings.
Individual Rates
Adults, Seniors, and Youth (12 and up) $40.00
No children under 12
(Maximum of 20 people per tour)
By Reservation Only: 805.682.4713 ext 166
This tour, led by Fr. Garret Edmunds, OFM, tells the story of the Franciscan Friars – how they came to be in Santa Barbara and why they’re still here. Offering a behind-the-scenes look into Mission life and history, Fr. Garret will guide visitors through the Church and Sanctuary, the Sacred Garden, the Cemetery, the Mausoleum, and explore private areas of the grounds not normally accessible to the public. Some of these special spaces include the Della Robbia, the Novice’s Courtyard, the Tailor Shop (when available) and the Santa Barbara Mission Archive-Library, which houses documents from the founding of the city and an extensive collection of art and artifacts from early California. Fr Garret has been a member of the Franciscan Order since 1976 and was ordained a Catholic priest in 1982 here at Mission Santa Barbara. His years spent leading tours in the Holy Land and ministering as a Franciscan lend a truly unique perspective and experience to this tour and its exploration of Mission and Franciscan life, both past and present.
*Please note that some areas of this tour are not wheelchair/walker accessible
Individual Rates
Adults, Seniors, and Youth (12 and up) $40.00
No children under 12
(Maximum of 20 people per tour)
LIMITED EDITION TOUR!
By Reservation Only: 805.682.4713 ext 166
Join Mission Santa Barbara Executive Director, Monica Orozco, Ph.D. on a tour of her favorite things at Mission Santa Barbara! You’ll visit private areas of the Mission that have never been open to the public, and enjoy a fascinating exploration of Mission history, including the art and artifacts that help to tell the many stories of early California and Franciscan/Chumash cultural contact. Highlights include the Mission Church as an illustration of the importance of Chumash and Hispanic artisans, documents from the founding of Santa Barbara, 21 paintings of the California Missions by Edwin Deakin and other art from the collections of the Santa Barbara Mission Archive-Library, and the original Mission tabernacle.
*Please note that some areas of this tour are not wheelchair/walker accessible
(No reservation required; first come first served; no children under 12)
Individual Rates
Adults (18-64) $16.00
Seniors (65+) $14.00
Active Military (w/ID): $14.00
Youth (12-17) $11.00
(Maximum of 25 people per tour)
Go behind the scenes at the SB Mission Archive-Library, one of the oldest libraries in California! This guided tour of areas not normally open to the public will be led by one of our archivists and will bring you face-to-face with some of the collection’s greatest treasures. Take in the beautiful works of art, centuries-old rare books, and invaluable historical documents that date to the days of the Spanish Empire in North America and to the founding of Santa Barbara itself.
Available Booking Times:
Thursdays and Fridays at 1:00 p.m. (except public holidays, and at the discretion of SBMAL staff)
Tour schedule subject to change. Please call (805)682-4713, ext. 166 to verify.
Ask at the Tour Desk about package deals!
Kids love Old Mission Santa Barbara! For more than 20 years we have offered fun and informative docent-led tours for 4th graders that meet State of California curriculum requirements for Mission Period education. Self-guided tours are also available. All school tours must be reserved in advance by calling our Tour Office at (805)682-4713, ext. 166 or emailing museumtours@sboldmission.org. Click here for our school tour policies, which must be signed by a school representative prior to any tour taking place.
Self-Guided
School Tour Rates
Chaperones $7.00
Students $3.00
(Maximum of 60 people per tour, including chaperones)
Available Booking Times:
9:30 a.m.
11:30 a.m.
1:30 p.m.
3:00 p.m.
3:30 p.m.
Docent-Guided Regular
School Tour Rates (1 hour)
Chaperones $8.00
Students $5.00
(Maximum of 60 people per tour, including chaperones)
Available Booking Times:
10:00 a.m.
12:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m.
Docent-Guided Regular
School Tour + Huerta Combined (90 minutes)
Chaperones $10.00
Students $7.00
(Maximum of 80 people per tour, including chaperones)
Available Booking Times:
10:00 a.m.
12:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m.
If you need to cancel or reschedule your tour, you must notify us at least 7 business days prior to the scheduled date of the tour, or you will be charged. Exceptions may be made for cancellations due to severe weather conditions.
Please contact the Tours Department seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (805)682-4713, ext. 166.
Any group that chooses to pay for a tour in advance must contact the Tours Department in order to determine number of guests and price breakdown. There are NO REFUNDS on pre-paid tours of the Mission.
If a group pre-pays for a tour, they are still required to check in at the Mission Tour desk to confirm their reservation and receive the necessary information for their visit.
** TOUR PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE **