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Old Town San Diego State Historic ParkvsMission San Diego de Alcala
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park and Mission San Diego de Alcala are both rated highly by expert writers. On balance, Mission San Diego de Alcala ranks slightly better than Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. Mission San Diego de Alcala comes in at #7 in San Diego with positive reviews from 6 sources like Fodor's, Frommer's and Afar Magazine.
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
Fodor's
Travel + Leisure
Michelin Guide
National Geographic Travel + Leisure
Frommer's
San Diego Avenue at Twiggs Street, San Diego, CA
From $0/night
Fodor's "The six square blocks on the site of San Diego's original pueblo are the heart of Old Town." Full review
Travel + Leisure "Take a step back in time in San Diego's historic Old Town district, a state park that re-creates life as it was in 1850s rancho California." Full review
Michelin Guide 2 Stars
"A colorful group of restored and original historic buildings... one of only two California houses certified (by the US Department of Commerce) as being haunted." Full review
National Geographic "The park encompasses buildings of the mid-1800s, focusing on the settlement’s original ties to Mexico. The striking Serra Museum just up the hill is the site of California’s first mission. " Full review
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Free guided tours daily at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Travel + Leisure "Learn about life in the early days of San Diego in the early 19th century when it began as a Mexican pueblo. Visit the Whaley House Museum...enjoy authentic Mexican food, mariachi entertainment"
San Diego Travel Guide
February 23, 2021
Frommer's "Dedicated to re-creating the early life of the city from 1821 to 1872, this is where San Diego's Mexican heritage shines brightest" Full review
Mission San Diego de Alcala Fodor's
Lonely Planet Michelin Guide
Afar Magazine
Where Afar Magazine
Condé Nast Traveler Frommer's
10818 San Diego Mission Road, San Diego, CA 92108
From $0/night
Fodor's "It's hard to imagine how remote California's earliest mission once must have been; these days, it's accessible by major freeways (I–15 and I–8) and by the San Diego Trolley." Full review
Lonely Planet "Although the site of the first California mission was on Presidio Hill, in 1774 Padre Junípero Serra moved it about 7 miles upriver to this location, closer to water and more arable land." Full review
Michelin Guide 1 Star
"California's first mission, with its gleaming white stucco façade and distinctive five-bell campanario." Full review
i
Note the 18C painting of St. Didacus, rescued from the fire of 1775, and the hand-carved wooden statues
Afar Magazine "Mission San Diego is the very first Mission built in what is now the state of California and was built in 1769." Full review
Where "Founded by Father Junípero Serra in 1769, Mission San Diego de Alcala has served as a historic monument and a working Catholic parish." Full review
Afar Magazine "An active parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego, Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá remains a tranquil place of worship and reflection." Full review
Condé Nast Traveler "Services still happen daily in this mission dating to 1769." Full review
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Make sure to spend some time in the gardens, which are filled with palms, flowers, and succulents.
Frommer's "Known as "the King of Missions," the San Luis Rey is the largest of California's missions and one of its most beautiful." Full review
