This mission is the largest among the 5 frontier missions built by Spanish missionaries in the early 18th century and now designated as UNESCO heritage sites. This mission also seems to be the most popular mission after the Alamo, as I saw quite a number of tour groups (which are absent in the other 3 missions). For those travelling on public transport, bus 40 links the Alamo to the 4 missions (including Mission San Jose) every 30 minutes, 7 days a week. (I bought a day pass for $2.75 on the VIA goMobile app, which allowed unlimited bus rides in San Antonio.) After travelling 3 miles south from the Alamo, the first mission I saw is Mission Concepcion, and after another 2.5 miles, I reached Mission San Jose. While the mission is visible from the main road, the whole compound is actually walled and there are 2 entrances to the compound, facing east and south, away from the main road. Not only is Mission San Jose the largest of the 5 missions, it is also the most beautiful, thanks to its elaborate facade and beautiful arches. The interior is also beautifully restored, but unlike the other 4 missions, is not air-conditioned. Along the wall of the compound are several rooms displaying the history of the mission and the Spanish colonial era. Outside the south entrance there is a small information center with washrooms and drinking fountain.

Mission San Jose is considered the crown jewel, largest, and most in tact mission of the four on the south side of San Antonio. Like the other four missions, this one is still a functional church, and has been since the first half of the 1700’s. Take your time at this mission, there is really a lot to see here. The walls around the mission are still standing, and the church itself is in pristine shape. Make sure you look for the famous Rose Window on one of the sides of the church and admire the ornate stone carvings around the glass. There is a sign near it that explains who built it, how long it took to make it, and some of the lore around it. The exact reason behind it isn’t really known, but there are several theories or stories. You also get to see quarters where the local American Indians lived. The National Park headquarters are located here. They have a visitor center with a gift shop, some exhibits showing what life was like back then, and also a (free) short movie you can watch. I highly recommend watching this movie before you start walking and exploring - it will give you some perspective from the American Indian's side of things and is pretty enlightening.

Fully restored Mission. Much more interesting than The Alamo. You can really see what life was like in those days with the inclosed walls with the small rooms where the "civilised " Indians would have lived. The rooms had the traditional oven fireplace in the corner and bread would have been baked in the beehive ovens outside. The dwellings of the priests and nuns hasn't been restored but the ruins give you an idea. The church has been restored beautifully and I love the fact it is still a working church with regular masses. The signs everywhere are informative without impeding the view. The mill with the working grindstone was impressive. A bit of a photo tip. The grindstone is in a dark place and is hard to see. My brilliant brother Dan suggested I look at it thru my phones camera and that made it so much easier to see when i zoomed it.

Beautiful place. So much history to learn, the people who maintain and clean this place deserve all my respect. The old mill shows us how hard was life back in the days. Im surprise this place is not a major attraction in San Antonio. Perfect for family pictures, commercial photography... now, this is a real church so please be respectful, Im not catholic but some tourist don’t understand there’s actual services on Sunday, give some space and keep it low, some times tourist must be a ghost, you don’t leave nothing behind and you don’t take nothing other than beautiful pictures of the place, watch your language please!

If you only have time to see one of the missions, the Mission San Jose is the one I’d suggest. This mission has restored much of its walls and had several areas open to see and wander around in. There was a large model of the grounds as they may have originally looked. It was very interesting to see and envision what life might have been like for the original inhabitants. They had a couple of areas with furniture and belongings to also help us see what life was like, but I wish there was more of that; that’s my favorite part of seeing historical buildings. Admission is free; donation based.

I was really surprised how beautiful this mission is. The missions include several sites near the river walk but of course the Alamo is the one that gets all the publicity so I was really shocked just how beautiful this mission is. It's in great condition and provides an insight to how the area was settled 300 years ago. The church is open for viewing and is spectacular. The mission is part of our national park system. There are park rangers that can help you plan your route if you plan on going to all missions. I highly recommend visiting this local landmark.

Absolutely beautiful! I work at The Alamo and have been wanting to visit this mission. It is so rich in history and breath-taking! A butterfly took a tour with me until it was time to go. Wonderful place and they are pet friendly . Gift shop has amazing gifts for yourself or family & friends. Everyone is very friendly and helpful. Bless this great place. The music playing inside the church was just right to make me feel connected and it was a perfect feeling. Highly recommend to everyone!

All the stars for the community at San Jose mission. I assisted the mass at 12 (aka Mariachi mass) and it s such a cultural, spiritual and just human experience. They welcome everyone and they celebrate the diversity. The music is amazing! I d recommend going to the mass and then read the historic information about how San Antonio came to be and the brave Spanish from the Canary Islands that traveled the ocean to set home here.

Great place to visit, go to church, learn, and share with family. This was our third stop on our tour of all the San Antonio missions here and rode up to the Alamo after. While I cycle frequently my family does not. You should be a bit active to be able to make the whole journey, but it's not too bad if you stop and hang out along the way. We brought snacks and went in late spring. Oh and did I forget to mention sun block?

Another historical place worth visiting! It was my first time going there and to say this place is beautiful is an understatement! There is a lot of history in Texas and this is one of those places that carries a lot of it. Monks use to run this Mission and they ministered to the local Native Americans that they also housed in this Mission. A must see for families with children to soak up the culture of that era!

The visit back to the history. I would highly recommend anyone visiting San Antonio to take some time and try the mission trail visit as well. There are quite a few Spanish missions on the trail that give you a good perspective of how life used to be back in the days. I'm really glad that there is no entry ticket or fee to visit these places and they have tried to maintain the historical aspect as well.

Beautiful location! We went during a weekend and it was quiet. There is so much to explore and so much history for people to see at this Mission. The church is gorgeous and everyone was very reverent when inside. There is an area where you can light a candle. There is also a gift shop on location. Outside of the Mission there is a visitor center with a theater and a museum.

Everyone in my family love to stop at the Missions of San Antonio. The history of these missions is amazing and you feel a real sense of Texas and its rich culture, all the way back from the 1700's. The staff were friendly and informative & it's free most of all. The water mill in the back of of the church was a surprise and didn't know that was there! Go visit!

Unreal! While in San Antonio we visited every mission around and this was the neatest. Church services is still held on the grounds and is beautiful. Water still flows through restored mill, the grounds are well kept. There is a center that you can learn about the Indians and watch videos about the history of Texas and people before us. This is a must see.

Very nice mission... Usual interpretive panels plus this site has the NPS Visitor Center with even better interpretation and a video.... It's old but still worth the effort to see.. ideally you'd come here first before seeing any of the other missions but it's certainly not necessary. Had plenty of parking but it's a little off the river walk trail.

Very historic mission church, with lots of beutiful architecture. Toured the sanctuary, the whole grounds, spoke to some helpful people including the local priest. Heard the bell tower chime! So much atmosphere, that I went to several other missions nearby to see more history of the region. Recommend a stop, it's not just for religious folks.

Very beautiful place!. I recommend entering first to the visitor's center, to watch the movie (is played each hour) for having a good introduction to the missions and a better understanding of the places that make up the missions. You can visit the church and all the ruins and fields. In august is very hot, but is worth it.

This is such a cool place. If you're in San Antonio, definitely make the trip out here. This is such an old church with a great history. The grounds are beautiful and well kept. It's not so crowded, so it's a great location to visit if you want to get away from people and go somewhere solemn and sacred.

We loved this mission. Beautiful! There is a peaceful vibe here and lots oh history to learn. Small church from the inside and Mass is still held here. You can attend service but if you're there to take pictures or just walk through, you should wait till service is over. Free admission and free parking.

My husband and I visited this mission on our vacation to San Antonio. It wasnt crowded, and we got to walk along the grounds, through the church, and into some of the small surrounding rooms. The grounds were well-kept and had lots of pretty flowers. There is an old water mill to walk through as well.

Just an amazing step back in time. So much history preserved for us to experience. The entry fee is free with plenty of free parking, making this a must stop in San Antonio. We loved being able to go inside the mission and church to experience it all. The mill on the backside was an extra bonus.

This church is a rare pearl of the past. It is amazing to enjoy its little treasures: remains of original frescos on the wall, wooden steps in the bell tower, decorations near the altar (very similar to the old Spanish churches). You may just wonder how it looked in the past. This is history!

An amazing place. We attended the sunday mariachi mass which brought me back to my youth days. It is a lovely church, very friendly and welcoming to visitors. The campus is beautiful and gives a great perspective on what these missions looked like in their day. An easy trip from SATX.

This is a really great place to visit, even my 21 year old son liked it good ranger his talk. This is the queen of the San Antonio missions. When you visit the Alamo be sure to visit here. This is a National Historic park and you can get your books stamped in the visitors center.

Lovely location. Very quiet and peaceful to walk through the mission and the grounds are spotless. The church is beautiful and the rose window is amazing. There is a little gift shop and an informative visitor center at the front. A great place to spend some quiet time.

This was the 2nd mission started in San Antonio by Fray Antonio Margil de Jesus. The main visitors center is located here. Take the time to see the video and take s guided tour. The rangers are very knowledgeable and it adds to the experience.

This is a great visit if you're doing this mission trail. Warning that the area around this mission is a lot less nice than mission conception. While it's not as well preserved as conception, it's bigger and maybe even more impressive.

I much preferred this historical site to the Alamo. The crowds were smaller. The site was bigger. The mission is in much better condition. The church is still active and is quite beautiful. The rose window is an amazing site to behold.

Beautiful architecture. Of all the missions, this one was my favorite. It was so nice to see the missions first hand. If you're anywhere near San Antonio, the missions are a must see. Such an important part of our country's history.

Was really impressed by this Mission. Free entry, relaxed atmosphere, lots of room for the kiddos to run free, and historically interesting. Came on a Saturday morning and crowds were there but it is so large it dispersed great.

Get place to stop when driving on I-10 in San Antonio. Everyone goes to the Alamo when the Missons are very close to vist as well. Pet friendly walking area and a great gift shop. Bring water and a thirst for southwest history.

Really love the way this place is still kept. It really is beautiful how they are able to keep it preserve, it's a great place to take photos at epically if you want to capture the Authenticity of how it was at that time.

Very interesting place to visit lots of history and culture there don't bother watching the movie you'll never get that 30 minutes back again it gives very little detail it's just a girl whining about her ancestors

Neat mission church on the Mission Trail. I would love to go back to San Antonio and hike the River walk all the way from Mission Espada all the way up to San Antonio and of course visit Mission San Jose again.

Mission San Jose is very well kept up and clean with a large are to explore. The church is also very beautiful and still functions today.
Wait time
No wait
Price for adult entry
Free

Beautiful place to visit! Free entry. The grounds are very well kept and the staff is very friendly. If you have a chance to stop in and learn a little about the history, it's well worth it!

A beautiful place to visit! The welcome center is helpful and informative and the grounds and park are an excellent place to wander and explore. I loved seeing this piece of Texan history.

Next to the Alamo, this is a must-do tour. The Park tour guide was very informative and the church was picture worthy. The museum, although small, had artifacts displayed professionally.

How amazingly beautiful! An absolute must see! The grounds are kept spotless and is so peaceful. The preservation is so impeccable & the religious statues & figures really speak to you❤

You should stop by and learn something new. Rangers were short staffed on our visit, but good signage and rangers on hand. Beautiful grounds, well kept. Would go back.

Great place to visit, free and convenient. Good choice for Sunday walks. You can rent bike at this place, pay by app and bike to see other Missions not that far away.

Took the city bus for 2.75 round trip. The mission had no cost. It was the larger of the few we visited. Also had a mill, a theater that showed a 20 minute video.

Very informative, tranquil, beautiful sights and sitting inside the church you could feel the warmth and take in the love no matter what religion you belong too.

Amazing! A sure stop in San Antonio. One of the best preserved 18th century Spanish missions. It's educational and inspirational. You'll spend about 1/2 hour.

Absolutely beautiful. I took my kids to San Antonio for the weekend. The River Walk didn't impress them, but this mission did. A mist see for any trip to SA.

A must see if you're in San Antonio, TX. Beautiful Church and Property. Saw the movie in the Visitor Center. It was very informative. Enjoyed ourselves here.

Wonderful mission. You can walk to all the others or drive. No admission fee. These missions were built in the 1700's and restoration started in the 1930's.

You will enjoy this place if you like history or western movie. When I walked there I imagined old cowboy movies. I think they should add more exhibition.

Largest missionary in SA. Free admission. Easy parking. Can finish walking around within 45 min. Make sure you drop by the visitor center first. :)

A beautiful historical Mission San Jose It's the largest landscape in San Antonio. A place to pray and reflect. Tropical plants vegetation Exedra

Bravo to our hardworking and ingenious ancestors who not only built this treasure but have also preserved it through many successive generations!

It was really amazing. I think that it was the most beautiful view that I'd seen in the Mission's tour. The outside arquitecture is impressive.

Must-go place if you travel to San Antonio. It’s one of oldest and greatest historical places. It was very cosy and gave me peaceful moments.

Surprisingly a wonderful place to visit to see how the early settlers lived in South Texas. The old mission and church was stunning.

Fun for the kids and adults. Make sure to do the junior ranger program with the kids. Tour was informative. Mission was beautiful!

Bueatiful place!! A large nice grass area surrounded by lots of historical buildings. Great for photo taking and a family fun day.

Beautiful church. There is an air of the holy in there. Go to mass. The priest is friendly and welcomes everyone. GOD bless you.

Real nice place to know the history of the San Jose mission.plus the park and River are close bye.and about the mass on weekends

Very interesting history. Recommend a Ranger guided tour. We attended the Mariachi Mass. Local parishioners are very welcoming.

Totally enjoyed this mission. Actually all the missions in San Antonio. Great town, the weather was perfect in November.

A beautiful place to take pictures because the construction of the place shows an impressive history by the antiquity

Beautiful courtyard. Couldn't go into the church but the exterior was fantastic to look at. Peaceful place to relax.

This mission is the place to visit if you want to see what the Alamo should look like.. Bring a picnic lunch..

Possibly the crown jewel among the four missions comprising the San Antonio Missions National Historic Park.

A piece of Texas history that you should check out. With free daily tours and plenty of shade. A must go.

So beautiful and peaceful. The Holy Spirit was definitely there. I will be back again. I'm from Colorado.

This place really gets you a feel for what it was like back in the day. Beautiful!! Definitely recommend

Historic church and grounds dating back 300 years. The church to visit if stopping in San Antonio Texas.

In my opinion Mission San Jose is the most beautiful and most well preserved of the 4 on Mission Trail.

Beautiful place to be a visit my family and I we keep coming back very inexpensive great place to be.

Nice park documenting the rich Spanish history of South Texas. Highly recommended if in the area.

Wonderful history here! One of four mission historical landmarks. This one was super interesting!

I loved this mission the best. There is the visitor center here to give info about the missions.

Discover the pass history of Texas and uncovered more about the history between Mexico and US

Way better than the Alamo, take a tour they have an amazing staff with lots of information!

Mission San Jose Church. Wonderfully restored interior. Exterior is intact but unrestored.

Gorgeous, I wish I had gotten there in time to have walked through.. Next time for sure.

Absolutely stunning!! So beautiful. Should be one on your list when you visit SA …

What an amazing structure! We enjoyed the NPS tour and the walk through of the church.

A very peaceful place San Antonio always makes me feel like in mexico i really love it

Start you Spanish mission journey here! The visitor center gives a nice overview.

This was my favorite and the most in tacked, it was so beautiful and inspiring!

Great place to see a piece of history. It's worth visiting, if in the area.

Beautiful Mission to visit. They still have church service. A must see.

Worth the drive. Will be 300 years old in Feb. Different than the Alamo

Great place to see. Give yourself plenty of time to walk the grounds

My new favorite place my husband and i really enjoyed this place.

Great historic site to visit and take photos. Plus, it is free.

The largest and most decorative Spanish mission in San Antonio.

Absolutely beautiful a must see in beautiful San Antonio Texas

Simply stunning!. Bike rental outside, mini bio of the place.

Cool place but very hot here since there are no shades.

The size and ambience of the mission. Worth a visit.

Beautiful site and rich in history. Worth visiting.

Was the best mission site we saw. Worth the trip.

Very interesting history and well preserved place

Super cool! Just loved the history o the mission

Really cool bike trail with historic missions

Great place to visit and learn some history.

Loved it. Amazing place and so much history.