We had such a lovely experience visiting this historic mission. The weather is beautiful the grounds are beautiful even the gift shop is so cute! You don't have to be religious to appreciate this Mission. The five museums on site are very informative and very interesting very well put together. The courtyards are beautiful the Landscaping is very well kept with beautiful flowers statues and other structures enhancing the nearby Gardens. The flowers are so beautiful. You have to stay long enough to hear the church bells ring it's quite an impressive experience. Perfect activity for the whole family very educational for the children. You'll find yourself wondering off and to the gardens appreciating the beautiful surroundings. Plenty of benches to sit and relax. Gorgeous views.

We like to hit the missions whenever we travel and the Carmel Mission Basilica might have been one of the nicest we have seen. We coincidentally just happened to be there on a Sunday so there was a service in progress. We got to watch the procession come out which was great. Since it’s a fully functioning (and busy) church, parking was challenging. We lucked out and got a spot right in front but others had parked several blocks away so be prepared for a hike if it’s a busy day. The main church is beautiful and you could spend a lot of time there just checking out the details. From there we walked through several smaller areas that had displays of old pieces from the period. Very fun for the museum lover. It really makes you feel like you’ve been transported back in time. From there you can tour the grounds too. Overall, if you like Missions, this is not a place to miss.

Nice fun trip with my family. Beautiful church and mission with enclosed patio with a various plants in the garden. No tour guide, free walk & discover kind of place. Gift shop has a huge variety of inspirational, religious, and momenotos to choose from. Highly recommend to visit if you are in Carmel.

I love this place! It's a beautiful part of California's history and of the Catholic Church's history! Saint Junipero Serra is buried here and St. Pope John Paul 2 visited it! Beautiful and nicely maintained!

Absolutely beautiful. Interesting history about the priest who brought Catholicism to CA coast. Beautiful grounds and beautiful basilica where they celebrate mass. A cool place to check out for people of all religions.