Mission Inn Hotel & Spa
Riverside, CA
Free to stroll; tours ~$25
By Simir Shah
★★★★★4.5(11,069 Google reviews)
What parents say
AI summary of 4 Google reviews — not a first-hand visit. How we write these
Reviewers wander the historic hotel's courtyards and corridors freely and treat the building itself as the attraction. Restaurants, a pool and a spa are on site. The downtown around it is small but walkable for food. Riverside summers are punishing, so plan the indoor parts for midday.
A historic landmark hotel with castle-like architecture, courtyards, and a famous holiday Festival of Lights families love to wander. The hotel grew in stages from a small 1876 boardinghouse into the block-spanning landmark it is today, with wings added by different architects between 1903 and 1924 — including the Alhambra Court, modeled on a Moorish palace in Granada, Spain. Each holiday season the property is strung with several million lights and hundreds of animated figures for its Festival of Lights, running for about six weeks starting the day after Thanksgiving.
Plan your visit to Mission Inn Hotel & Spa
Researched from the venue and public sources, not a first-hand visit. How we write these
- Best time to go
- The holiday Festival of Lights is the busiest stretch of the year; weekday evenings are far less crowded than weekends, and the opening Switch-On night draws the largest crowd. Outside the festival season, the exterior and surrounding downtown blocks are much calmer for a walk-around.
- Parking & getting there
- The hotel itself offers valet only; self-parkers use the paid Mission Inn garage behind the hotel, entered from Sixth Street between Orange and Main. During the Festival of Lights, nearby streets close, downtown garages (Orange St, Ninth St, Market St and the Fox Theater garage) fill quickly, advance parking can be reserved through the festival site, and Riverside Transit Agency buses are a recommended way to skip the traffic.
- Best ages
- The festival works for all ages, with Santa meet-and-greets, an outdoor ice rink at Mission Inn Avenue and Orange Street, carriage rides and a carousel. Families with little ones should expect tight, slow-moving crowds on weekend nights and agree on a meeting spot in case anyone gets separated.
- Food
- The hotel has several sit-down restaurants, including the courtyard Mission Inn Restaurant, Las Campanas (Mexican, garden patio) and Bella Trattoria (Italian). During the Festival of Lights, food vendors line Main Street and hot cocoa and snack stands are common.
- What to bring
- For festival nights, bring layers for cool evenings, comfortable walking shoes, and a plan for where to regroup if the group gets split up. Leave valuables out of sight in the car.
- Rain or heat plan
- On a rainy day, the hotel restaurants and shops are the indoor options on site, and The Cheech (Riverside Art Museum) is directly across the street.
Common questions
Can you visit the Mission Inn without staying there?
Yes. The exterior can be explored freely, the restaurants and shops are open to the public, and the hotel offers daily historic tours of the property. During the Festival of Lights, expect lines to get inside the hotel on weekends.
When is the best time to see the Mission Inn Festival of Lights?
Weekday evenings are the least crowded. Weekend nights and the opening Switch-On ceremony are the busiest, with heavy traffic and full parking structures.
Where do you park for the Festival of Lights in Riverside?
Use the downtown public garages on Orange, Ninth and Market streets or the Fox Theater garage, or reserve parking in advance through the festival website. Riverside Transit Agency buses are a good way to avoid the traffic, and SR-60 to Market Street or SR-91 to 14th Street are suggested routes.
Does the Mission Inn still offer tours?
Yes, the hotel runs its own daily historic tours. The Mission Inn Foundation, which ran docent tours for decades, stopped touring inside the hotel in 2024 and now offers sidewalk walking tours instead.
Good for
- Ages 10+
- Stroller-friendly
- Food on-site
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3649 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA 92501, USA
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What visitors say
- Eva★★★★★
I had an absolutely wonderful stay at the The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa. The hotel is beautiful, full of history, and the attention to detail throughout the property is incredible. The staff was welcoming, professional, and made my stay feel truly special. The rooms were comfortable, clean, and full of character, and the amenities were excellent. Walking through the hotel and grounds felt like stepping into another world. The restaurants, spa, and overall atmosphere exceeded my expectations. I enjoyed my stay so much that I’m already planning to return during the Festival of Lights season. Highly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a unique, luxurious, and memorable getaway in Riverside! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3 months ago
- Janet Finazzo★★★★★
My husband and I were so impressed with our annual anniversary dinner this year! We were a little concerned about it being sold to Yaamava’ but pleasantly pleased by our dinner!! Sooo delicious! (Filet mignon, Rib eye) What made it even more special was the manager on duty Jordan and waiter Gerardo! They really Took the time to make our dinner special! We had a great time!! Thank you !!!Thank you !!!!
2 months ago
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