Onsite Tours
Make Mission San Juan Capistrano and gardens your next tour destination. See a snapshot of California’s history by touring our exhibits and museum rooms on a guided VIP tour. Or explore our 10-acre grounds of gardens, fountains and adobe preserved architecture while listening to the multi-language audio tour. For school groups, please view our onsite field trips.
New! VIP Guided Tour
Book a VIP guided tour and explore the Mission grounds. Explore the wine vat, visit the private Sacristy of the Ruins, and touch the historic Mission bells! This is the up close experience our visitors truly appreciate.
On this tour, participants are led by a guide who will provide audio transmitters to each guest. This exclusive tour includes gifts for each guest in the group (adults receive a pin and children receive a bracelet). Our hands-on brick making program, Mission Matters, is also available as an add-on (as available). Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and sunscreen for your tour.
These tours are available in advance by reservation or onsite at the Gate House.
Offered: Saturday at 10:00 a.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Size: Maximum group size 25 *Not private
Cost: $35 (per adult); $30 per child
*All tour and education program availability is subject to change
Adult Audio Tour
Available in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian
Enhance your visit with our self-guided audio tour featuring music, history and storytelling about California history and uncovers the “Jewel of the Missions”. The audio tour grants the listener the unique opportunity to experience history first hand, learn new things about Mission San Juan Capistrano never before heard and see the Jewel up close and personal. This tour is available for free any day, any time, at your own pace. You control what you hear.
Dial 1 to begin the tour. Follow the tour in numerical order or create your own sequence. When prompted, enter the number of the stop you wish to hear more about.
Each stop is approximately 1 to 2 minutes long and is a unique experience. You may start and stop the tour at any point or enter another number anytime you choose.
Mission San Juan Capistrano strives to be accessible to everyone. While some parts of our property are limited due to the historic nature of the site, the majority of our museum rooms and gardens are wheelchair accessible. However Audio tour stops can still be accessed on the audio wand. Learn more about accessibility.
Preview the Audio Tour (English):
How to Use the Audio Wand
Stop 1
What is a Mission? — Founding Document
Stop 2 Additional Information
Mission Agriculture — Olive Millstone
Stop 3
Student Audio Tour “If These Walls Could Talk”- Debuting August 2023
Available in English (Spanish version coming Spring, 2024)
The Mission invites your learners to experience our new self-guided audio tour, “If These Walls Could Talk” which was designed for California students working on their mission studies. The new audio tour takes learners to 23 stops to learn about the early history of the Mission. Listen to the grandmotherly, “Mission Wall” who introduces them to indigenous builders, soldiers, padres, and more. (The tour aligns with CA HSS 3.2.1, 3.2.2, 3.2.4, 3.3.1, 3.3.2; 4.2.1, 4.2.3, 4.2.4, 4.2.5, 4.2.6).
Dial 1 to begin the tour. Follow the tour in numerical order or create your own sequence. When prompted, enter the number of the stop you wish to hear more about.
Each stop is approximately 1 to 2 minutes long and is a unique experience. You may start and stop the tour at any point or enter another number anytime you choose.
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