Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo

The Carmel Mission, formally Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, is about 13 minutes south of Sand Dollar Inn on Highway 1, on the south edge of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Founded in 1770 and moved to this site near the Carmel River the next year, it served as the headquarters of the California missions under Father Junipero Serra, who is buried here.

Today the stone basilica, its bell tower, and the gardens and courtyards around it are among the most beautiful of the California missions. Museum rooms tell the story of the mission and the Native people of the area. Afterward, Carmel's village and Carmel Beach are a few minutes away.

Tips

• The basilica is an active parish. Check the mission site for visiting hours and avoid service times.
• Allow an hour or more for the museum rooms and gardens.
• Pair the visit with lunch in Carmel or a stop at Point Lobos just to the south.

carmelmission.org

Photo: 2015-09-18 Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo 02 by Burkhard Mücke, via Wikimedia Commons. Original photograph and this image adaptation licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized; website renditions may be cropped and converted in format. This license applies only to the photograph.