I’m delighted that you have chosen to visit this very special place. You follow in a long line of saints, popes, kings and queens, presidents, and prime ministers who have graced us with their presence. One of those distinguished pilgrims, St. Pope John Paul II, commented during his visit here in 1987, “This serene and beautiful place is truly the historical and spiritual heart of California.”
Each person who visits with us is warmly welcomed and offered the opportunity to grow in their knowledge of California and their knowledge of how much God loves them. There is so much to do here during your visit, including walking in the footsteps of our beloved founder and first pastor, St. Junípero Serra, known as “the Apostle of California.” There are several museums, a wonderful collection of art and religious artifacts, and beautiful fountains and courtyards, all deserving some of your time. No visit here would be complete without admiring the unique collection of religious and Mission-related gifts in our museum store.
I pray that you will truly enjoy your visit with us and that you take with you some of the love that sustains the “heart of California.” May you move (in the words of St. Junípero), “Always Forward, Never Back,“ with renewed hope in your heart and great love in your life.
Fr. Paul P. Murphy
Pastor at Carmel Mission
The Camel Mission welcomes you! Whether you're interested in history, culture, religion, or simply a beautiful setting, our mission has something to offer everyone. We havae historic buildings to explore, beautiful grounds to wander, and a fascinating story to discover. To help you plan your visit, we've compiled some important resources below.
Please note: The Carmel Mission is an active parish. Access to the Basilica may be limited at times, due to weddings, services, or special events.
You may call our Museum Store at 831. 624.1271, ext. 210 to check the activities scheduledat the Mission on the day you plan to visit. We ask visitors to consider and be respectful of the prayerful environment.
Monday and Tuesday: CLOSED
Wednesday and Thursday: 10–4 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 10–5 p.m.
Sunday: 11:30–5 p.m.
The Mission grounds close 15 minutes prior to the store closure.
Adults: $15
Seniors (62+): $12
Youths (7-17): $8
Child (6 and under): FREE
Our general admissions includes a self-guided tour through our Basilica, museums, and grounds.
Admissions can be purchased at our Visitor’s Kiosk in front of our Mission Store. Groups larger than 10 people, please refer to the Group Visit section.
If you are with a group of 10 or more and are interested in booking a reservation to visit, kindly email us the following information, which we require when confirming your trip. We typically do not collect payment in advance of a visit, though we do encourage groups of 10 or more to confirm the visit so we may place it on our calendar.
The information you need to schedule and group tour:
Please email visit@carmelmission.org to schedule your tour.
Kindly provide information requested below:
Please email visit@carmelmission.org to schedule your school tour.
If you are looking to set up a Pilgrimage Visit and are seeking permission to hold a private Mass at the Mission, Diocesan authorization is required.
Please contact Pilgrimage@carmelmission.org
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We look forward to hearing from you!
Reach us by phone! We're available for your inquiries during business hours, from Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM PST.
Call 1.624.1271 – ext. 200
We're happy to hear from you! Send your inquiries or comments to reception@carmelmission.org.
Visit us! We're located at 3080 Rio Road, Carmel, California 93923.
