Things to Do in Ventura, United States: Walking Guide

Looking for things to do in Ventura? This coastal California city combines a historic downtown with distinctive architecture and a strong connection to local religious and cultural history. Its best-known landmarks include Mission San Buenaventura, an unusual Mayan Revival church, and Temple Beth Torah. Neywo also offers a free audio guide for Ventura with three narrated places, available in 11 languages.

What to See in Ventura

Ventura’s most interesting sights include historic churches and religious buildings that reveal different chapters of the city’s past. They are spread through the urban landscape, making them well suited to discovering on foot and at your own pace.

Mission San Buenaventura

Mission San Buenaventura stands in the heart of downtown and is formally known as the Mission Basilica of San Buenaventura. Founded in 1782, it was the ninth Spanish mission established in Alta California and the last founded by Junípero Serra, head of the Franciscan missions in California.

The mission takes its name from St. Bonaventure, a 13th-century Franciscan saint and one of the early leaders of the order. Its foundation had originally been planned for 1770, when it would have been the third mission in the chain, but the project was delayed because there were not enough military escorts for a safe journey.

Today, the church and garden are the main surviving parts of the original mission complex. The first church burned down in 1793, while the rest of the original quadrangle—including living and work spaces—was lost over time. In 2020, Pope Francis elevated the church to the status of a minor basilica.

Mission San Buenaventura is an essential stop for anyone interested in the history of Ventura and the Spanish missions of California. To place the city in its wider setting, you can also explore our guide to California.

First Baptist Church of Ventura

At 101 South Laurel Street, the First Baptist Church of Ventura stands out for its striking and unusual appearance. Built in 1926, it was extensively renovated in 1932 and transformed into the Mayan Revival style visible today.

The building is considered a nationally significant example of this scarce architectural style. Its National Register of Historic Places nomination describes it as a fine and essentially unaltered example, associated with the work of Stacy-Judd and a distinctive period in American cultural history.

The City of Ventura declared the church a landmark in 1975, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. Since 1952, the building has been home to the Ventura Center for Spiritual Living, which continues to use the space.

Its architecture makes it one of the most distinctive places to see in Ventura. Even if you are exploring the city mainly for its mission history or coastal setting, this unusual façade adds another layer to the visit.

Temple Beth Torah

Temple Beth Torah is a Reform Jewish synagogue with deep roots in the Ventura community. The congregation was founded in 1938 under the original name Ventura County Jewish Council.

The synagogue represents another part of Ventura’s religious and community history, alongside the Catholic mission and the city’s other historic places of worship. Including it in a walk gives a broader view of the traditions and institutions that have shaped the city.

A Ventura Self-Guided Walking Tour with Neywo

A Ventura self-guided walking tour is an easy way to connect these places without joining a group or following a fixed timetable. Neywo’s free audio guide for Ventura includes three narrated places: Temple Beth Torah, Mission San Buenaventura, and First Baptist Church of Ventura.

The app tells the story of each place as you reach it, at your own pace. There is no group and no schedule, so you can explore independently and spend as much time as you like at each stop. Narration is available in 11 languages.

If you are exploring more of the country, you can continue with the wider United States destination guide or discover another California city such as Solvang.

Download Neywo and Explore Ventura at Your Own Pace

Download Neywo to explore Ventura with a free audio guide covering three narrated places. The app plays each story when you reach the relevant site, allowing you to discover the city at your own pace, with no group and no schedule. Narration is available in 11 languages.