The San Antonio Missions
Prices & schedules checked October 18, 2026
South of downtown, four 18th-century Spanish colonial missions make up San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. Together with the Alamo, they form what Visit San Antonio calls Texas’ first and only UNESCO World Heritage site.
The basics
- Free: the National Park Service lists no entrance fee for the park.
- Hours: open daily 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; outside grounds are open sunrise to sunset. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
- Start at San José: the park visitor center is at Mission San José.
The four missions (NPS descriptions)
| Mission | Why go |
|---|---|
| Concepción | Original Spanish colonial architecture and frescos |
| San José | The “Queen of the Missions”, the largest mission site, with the park visitor center |
| San Juan | A short nature trail, a historic acequia and a colonial demonstration farm |
| Espada | A peaceful mission site; the nearby Espada Aqueduct dates from the colonial era |
Getting there
- By car: the easiest way to see all four in an afternoon.
- By bike or on foot: the River Walk’s Mission Reach offers, in the organizers’ words, “a quieter outdoor experience with trails, natural landscapes, and connections to the San Antonio Missions.”
- By tour: guided tours from downtown visit the missions without a car.
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Sources
- National Park Service — San Antonio Missions: plan your visit (the four missions)
- National Park Service — Operating hours & seasons
- National Park Service — Fees & passes (free)
- Visit San Antonio — Neighborhoods (UNESCO World Heritage site)
- San Antonio River Walk — Mission Reach
- Viator — San Antonio Missions UNESCO World Heritage Sites Tour
- Viator — Small-Group World Heritage San Antonio Missions Guided Tour