VISIT THE
HISTORIC MISSION

*Free Daily Tours

Monday-Saturday: 1:15 pm
Sunday: 2:30 pm

Additional Tours at 11am
April 1 through Labor Day
Thursday, Friday & Saturday Only

*Tour groups meet in front of the church

Donations Appreciated

Illustration of Mission San Luis Obispo with trees and bushes, and text that reads 'Mission San Luis Obispo DOCENTS'.

Guided Docent Group Tours

A tour guide is explaining something to a group of children gathered around a large bell at an outdoor historic site on a sunny day.

Schools, Organizations, Professionals

Please reach out at least one month prior to your visit if your group or organization includes over 10 people.

You can access the request form below by clicking the “Tour Request Form” button. Download it to your computer, complete it, and save it using your school or organization’s name along with the requested date.

Once filled out, please email the form to conato@oldmissionslo.org

If you have any questions, feel free to email us at conato@oldmissionslo.org or call (805) 781‑8220.

Explore what we offer

  • A historic white building with a tiled roof, surrounded by trees and bushes. In front, there is a stone fountain with metal sculptures of animals, including a bear and a dog, and a small human figure. The area has stairs, pathways, and decorative plants.

    MISSION SAN LUIS OBISPO

    Welcome to Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. For over 250 years, Mission San Luis Obispo has greeted travelers, pilgrims and guest with open doors and a place to rest.

    Learn More
  • A tour guide explaining church bells to a group of six adults outdoors on a sunny day. The group is standing in front of three large church bells hanging under a tiled roof.

    FREE DAILY TOURS

    Our docents enjoy sharing their love of Old Mission. Most days, at 1:15 pm, a guided tour begins at the Mission Plaza doors in front of the gift shop. (Sundays at 2:30 pm). Additional tours added at 11 am from April 1 through Labor Day.

    Learn More
  • Interior of a museum with display cases, historical artifacts, framed pictures, and a large mural on the back wall depicting a landscape with mountains and boats.

    MUSEUM

    The museum holds a collection of artifacts, including Native Californian, Mission Era, and American settlement.  There is a $5 per person suggested donation to enter the museum.

    Learn More
  • Jewelry store display case with rings, necklaces, and bracelets, with vintage religious paintings on the wall and a small decorative shrine on a white shelf in the background.

    GIFT SHOP

    Nestled just steps above Mission Plaza at the historic Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, the Old Mission’s gift shop offers visitors a thoughtful selection of items. Click here for hours.

    Learn More
  • Vine-covered trellis walkway leading to a house entrance with a black door, surrounded by greenery and flowering bushes.

    GARDENS

    The gardens are an integral part of the Mission. They have grown and evolved over the centuries. The vine is a reminder of the vineyards that once stretched for acres. Find a bench, bring a book, rest and enjoy the serenity.

    Learn More
  • Two large bells hanging in front of arched windows with trees outside, inside a white-walled room.

    BELLS

    Unique among all the California missions, a group of Mission San Luis Obispo bell ringers ensure the bells continue to sound, calling the faithful to mass and marking special occasions like weddings and funerals.

    History of Bell Ringers

Mission Bell Ringers

The bell ringers at Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa are a dedicated group of volunteer bell ringers who manually pull ropes to sound the mission’s five bells—each named after one of the first missions in Alta California—in patterns that have been passed down for generations. The mission bells are rung daily at noon and 6 p.m. and can be heard in and around the mission and downtown San Luis Obispo.

Performing the Angelus, calling parishioners to Mass, announcing weddings, special occasions, and even funerals, these bell ringers uphold a centuries‑old role as the living voices of the mission and the rhythm of community life

See what our visitors are saying…

  • “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.”

    D.S.
    June, 2025

  • “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.”

    K.N.
    June, 2025

  • “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.”

    A.S.
    July, 2024

  • Definitely worth a stop. Museum has lots of historical artifacts and provides a good summary of the history Stops by to cool off, relax and learn something.

    Calgary, Canada

  • Like the other missions this one has its own unique look. This mission features an excellent museum and pretty but smaller garden. The church with its addition is quite large. Be sure to walk out front for another well kept area . If you can go on the 1:15 free tour it’s about 45 minutes and meets on the front steps. We had Maurice who was very informative.

    J.B.
    October, 2023

  • Good stop! We took part of a tour with a docent, and it was excellent. The docent then answered questions and helped with lunch places . The museum and grounds are nice too.

    B.K.
    May, 2023

  • We had limited time but wanted to stop and see this Mission… were late for the 11 am tour so waited for the 1.15 one (with Chuck) and he did an excellent job.

    N.J.
    June, 2022

  • “Beautiful mission in the heart of town with lots of shops and restaurants nearby. The mission is small but they have it in perfect state. It's a nice place to take an afternoon stroll with family. Free parking and free guided tours.”

    T.L.
    October, 2024

Mass and Reconciliation Schedule

Daily Masses

Monday – Friday
7:00 am and 12:10 pm

Weekend Masses

Saturday
7 am & 5:30 pm

Sunday
7, 9, & 11 am
1 & 6 pm  Español

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Saturday
4:00 – 5:00 pm