Experts' Choice Award Old Mission Santa Barbara
What the experts agree on
The "Queen of the Missions" commands Santa Barbara's hilltop with iconic pink twin domes and rare Chumash-Hispanic spiritual fusion. Its beauty and historical significance make it unmissable even for non-religious visitors.
“Catch up on early California history at the beautiful, centuries-old Santa Barbara Mission.”
– Travel + Leisure
Concierge "Even if you avoid church tours like the plague, head for this hilltop landmarkthe view and historical experience are worth it."
Lonely PlanetTop choice
"Called the ‘Queen of the Missions,’ Mission Santa Barbara reigns above the city on a hilltop perch about a mile northwest of downtown." Full review
Michelin Guide 0 Stars
"Its twin pink-domed towers rising majestically against the foothills surrounding Mission Canyon, the church of California's 10th mission dominates the city both physically and spiritually." Full review
Afar Magazine " The legacy of this period lives on at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, a masterpiece of Spanish colonial revival architecture built in 1929 and just five minutes on foot from the Presidio." Full review
U.S. News & World Report2.0
"In the northwest part of town just four blocks from State Street, the Santa Barbara Mission offers visitors a glimpse at the city's early origins. " Full review
Fodor's "Widely referred to as the "Queen of Missions," this is one of the most beautiful and frequently photographed buildings in coastal California." Full review
Frommer's "Established in 1786 by Father Junípero Serra and built by the Chumash Indians, this is a rare example in physical form of the blending of Indian and Hispanic spirituality." Full review
National Geographic "On a slope overlooking town stands the venerable Mission Santa Barbara. At the old mission, founded in 1786, it's easy to picture gray-robed padres saying Mass for the Indians. Franciscan..."
