Heading to San Antonio, Texas, and unsure what to do. Nicely, you’re in the correct place as a result of this information is stuffed with enjoyable and funky issues to do in San Antonio for all ages!
San Antonio has one thing for everybody. Wish to go to a museum? There are at the least 6 of them within the metropolis and so they cowl every little thing from pure historical past to the Wild West. Wish to take the youngsters to an amusement park? You’ll be spoiled for selection because the metropolis has a number of of the very best and largest within the state.
I’ve solely gotten began on the enjoyable issues to do in San Antonio so persist with me as I let you know about all the opposite cool issues you might want to see on this Texas metropolis.
San Antonio is nice for {couples}, households, and solo vacationers. Everybody can discover one thing to do right here whether or not it’s touring a historic landmark or consuming at a restaurant inside an 18th century brewery constructing.
Better of San Antonio Fast Information
- Should See: The Alamo, San Antonio River Stroll, San Antonio Mission Path, La Villita, Pearl District, San Fernando Cathedral
- The place To Keep: The Gunter Resort, The Menger Resort, Resort Emma
- Enjoyable To Do: River Cruise, The Buckhorn Saloon & Museum, Ghost excursions, Tower of The Americas, Six Flags Fiesta Texas
- Day Journeys: Austin, Pure Bridge Caverns
- Should-Attempt Meals: Puffy tacos, Barbecue, Bean burger, Hen on a stick
Greatest Issues To Do In San Antonio, Texas
The issues to do in San Antonio vary from enjoyable excursions of historic neighborhoods to sightings of Teddy Roosevelt’s ghost. Town has a lot to supply that anybody can have enjoyable right here no matter their age and private pursuits.
Children love the amusement and theme parks, younger adults benefit from the colourful metropolis heart with enjoyable outlets and eateries, whereas correct adults can tour the Alamo and the historic Mission church buildings. Or have a blast on the largest Six Flags in Texas as a result of adults can take pleasure in amusement park rides too.
1. San Antonio River Stroll
San Antonio’s River Stroll is the highest attraction on this Texas metropolis. Landscaped strolling paths can be found on both facet of the San Antonio River for roughly 15 miles. Retailers, eateries, and lodges line the promenade, which sits one stage under the town’s major roads. The Downtown space of the River Stroll is the most well-liked with vacationers and locals, however the promenade extends many miles north, and you may proceed strolling for greater than an hour.
The River Stroll can get awfully crowded in the summertime months, however discovering a extra tranquil space shouldn’t be a problem. Simply maintain strolling previous all of the busy eating places and bars; the additional down the River Stroll you go, the smaller the crowds you’ll encounter.
How iconic is the San Antonio River Stroll? Sufficient that the San Antonio Spurs rejoice profitable the title by doing a victory boat parade.
Sensible Info: San Antonio River Stroll is a 15-mile promenade accessible totally free at any time of day.
2. Tour La Villita Historic Village
La Villita is a historic artsy neighborhood sitting one stage above the San Antonio River Stroll. The district is listed on the Nationwide Registry of Historic Locations for its Nineteenth-century buildings that function examples of early residential improvement in San Antonio.
This outdated neighborhood is dwelling to artwork galleries, outlets, and colourful sculptures. For those who just like the sugar cranium motif, you’ll like it on this picturesque little village.
La Villita meeting corridor can be on this district, and it’s an iconic sight within the San Antonio skyline. The constructing is understood for the painted flower on its concave roof, and you may simply spot it from the statement deck on the Tower of the Americas.
Sensible Info: La Villita Historic Village is accessible any time of day, totally free. Most outlets within the neighborhood are open from 10 AM to six PM.
The Historic Market Sq. is in western San Antonio, exterior the middle of the town. And it’s completely value it to exit of your option to see it as a result of it’s one of many metropolis’s finest locations for memento buying and low-cost meals.
Come right here for genuine Tex-Mex meals, colourful garments, jewellery, and all types of trinkets and crafts. Even if you happen to’re not very hungry if you go to the Historic Market Sq., I like to recommend you attempt at the least the puffy tacos. They’re an iconic San Antonio delicacy and the most effective native meals.
Bean burgers, rooster on a stick, and candy potato fries are different San Antonio specialties to attempt if you happen to’re doing a culinary tour of the town. I’ll say that it’s factor many of the metropolis heart is walkable as a result of it would take hundreds of steps to burn off all these scrumptious energy.
Sensible Info: The Historic Market Sq. is open from 10 AM to six PM. Entrance to the realm is freed from cost.
4. Respect The View From The Tower of The Americas
The Tower of the Americas is certainly one of two statement decks in Texas and the one one in San Antonio. It was constructed for the 1968 World Truthful and took 18 months to complete.
It’s the centerpiece of HemisFair Park in Downtown San Antonio. Has an statement deck on high and a revolving restaurant the place you may get a pleasant (however costly) meal with nice views. For those who purchase tickets for the statement deck, you additionally get entry to the 4D theater, the place you may take a experience in 4D over Texas.
Insider Tip: Come right here after darkish for a superb view of the San Antonio skyline.
Sensible Info: The Tower of the Americas is open from 10 AM to 10-11 PM. Tickets for the statement deck are $18.50 for adults.
5. Stroll The San Antonio Mission Path
Head to the San Antonio Missions Nationwide Historic Park to find certainly one of solely 24 UNESCO World Heritage Websites in the US. San Antonio missions have been necessary outposts for Catholic non secular orders established by the Spanish colonists. The aim of the missions was to assist unfold Christianity among the many native inhabitants.
4 out of 5 San Antonio missions are preserved within the park; the fifth is by far probably the most well-known recognized, often known as the Alamo. The Mission Path is a strolling path by way of the nationwide park, which lets you uncover all 4 missions on the grounds. Bicycles can be found, and so they’re the very best for getting from one mission to a different shortly.
It’s additionally potential to only drive from one spot to a different, and that is the most suitable choice when you’ve got very restricted time in San Antonio. For those who solely have time to go to certainly one of these landmarks, make it Mission San Jose. It’s the best-preserved constructing with interval furnishings and an exhibit that provides perception into the lives of the native inhabitants within the early 18th century.
Sensible Info: San Antonio Missions Nationwide Historic Park is open every day from dawn to sundown. Entrance to the park is freed from cost.
6. Go On A River Cruise
Don’t have sufficient time to discover the historic River Stroll on foot? That’s tremendous as a result of you may tour the complete pedestrian space in a ship in about half-hour! Go Rio cruises can be found at a number of spots on the River Stroll, so simply stroll alongside the river till you notice a Go Rio ticket sales space or empty boats.
The boats depart each 15-20 minutes, so that you might need to attend a short time for a free seat. Purchase tickets on-line if you happen to don’t wish to wait in line on the ticket sales space, however remember that they’re not timed tickets. Seats on the boat are given out on a first-come-first-served foundation.
I like to recommend doing the river cruise at night time for the best possible expertise. The boats all gentle up in brilliant colours, and there’s one thing particular in regards to the River Stroll after darkish. All of the cruises are narrated, and the information will inform you numerous in regards to the historical past of the River Stroll and its significance for San Antonio and its residents.
Sensible Info: Go Rio cruises happen each 15-20 minutes. A ticket for adults is $14.5.
7. Ghost Tour of San Antonio
San Antonio is a superb vacation spot for ghost hunts and haunted excursions. If that doesn’t sound like one thing you’ll take pleasure in, simply skip to the subsequent factor on this checklist earlier than I traumatize you with ghost tales.
Probably the most haunted constructing within the metropolis is in fact the Alamo, the place individuals to today report seeing ghosts of Texan troopers. Reverse the historic fort is the Menger Resort, one other well-liked vacation spot within the metropolis for ghost sightings. Visitors have reported listening to unusual noises within the resort, seeing faces within the mirror, smelling cigar smoke, and even encountering the ghost of Teddy Roosevelt on the bar.
Go to all of San Antonio’s haunted websites by yourself, or prepare a guided ghost tour of the town. They happen after darkish, in fact, and are my advice if you wish to finish the night time terrified and lie in mattress stressed.
Sensible Info: Ghost excursions of San Antonio happen at night time and often final for 2-3 hours.
8. Get Misplaced At The Japanese Tea Backyard
The Japanese Tea Backyard is near the San Antonio Zoo, north of the town heart. The botanical backyard dates again to the early twentieth century and options koi ponds, stone bridges, a pagoda, and a waterfall. Numerous vegetation and bushes adorn this lush backyard, and the mesmerizing landscaping is the very best factor about it.
Come right here if you happen to ever want to flee the busy streets of Downtown San Antonio. You’ll be able to neglect you’re in Texas for a second as you roam across the grounds of the fascinating botanical backyard.
Sensible Info: The Japanese Tea Backyard is open from 7 AM to five PM. Entrance to the botanical backyard is freed from cost.
9. Go to The Alamo
The Alamo might be probably the most well-known landmark in Texas. The legendary fort is without doubt one of the first missions in Texas and was initially referred to as Misión San Antonio de Valero.
It turned world-famous after the Battle of the Alamo, which was a turning level within the Texas Revolution. Right this moment, the small fort is a museum with artifacts from the revolution period, one of many largest occasions in Texas historical past. The Alamo is without doubt one of the most visited historic websites within the US so it’s all the time busy.
It’s small and doesn’t take lengthy to see. However the traces are lengthy, and you’ll have to wait in line at a spot that’s so well-liked. The church on-site is free, however you might want to purchase tickets for the opposite buildings.
Sensible Info: Tickets for the Alamo exhibit are $14 for adults. A guided tour of the complicated with entrance to all of the buildings is $45.
10. Sightseeing in The Pearl District
The Pearl District is the realm of San Antonio surrounding the historic Pearl Brewery. Initially based because the Metropolis Brewery in 1881, it could shortly grow to be the biggest brewery in Texas and the one one to outlive the prohibition.
The brewery closed down in 2001, and the constructing at present homes outlets and eating places. Come right here to find a distinct a part of San Antonio, one which’s stuffed with historical past and attention-grabbing landmarks however away from the town heart.
The Grotto can be within the Pearl district, located on the River Stroll south of the brewery constructing. It’s a man-made riverfront cave with faces carved into the rocks, strolling paths by way of the cliffs, and man-made waterfalls.
Sensible Info: The Pearl Brewery is roughly a 30-minute stroll from the Downtown, accessible by strolling paths on the San Antonio River Stroll.
11. Uncover The Assortment at The San Antonio Museum of Artwork
The San Antonio Museum of Artwork is situated within the outdated Lone Star Brewery constructing, only a 15-minute stroll from the Pearl District. It has an incredible assortment of Latin American, Greek, Roman, and Egyptian artwork spanning practically 5,000 years. Work, sculptures, images, furnishings, on a regular basis objects, and extra are all on show.
The American assortment is on two flooring and has a piece devoted to Texas artists. The Asian assortment is the biggest within the Southwest, so if you’re an artwork lover in San Antonio, you must see this museum.
Sensible Info: The San Antonio Museum of Artwork is open from 10 AM to five/7 PM day-after-day besides Monday. Tickets are $20 for adults.
12. Amusement Park Rides at Six Flags Fiesta Texas
For those who’re in San Antonio with children, there’s no higher place to take them than Six Flags Fiesta Texas. The theme park is often known as The Thrill Capital of South Texas with greater than 60 rides all through the grounds, together with a water park with at the least 15 slides. For those who’re on the lookout for much more water rides, I recommend you try SeaWorld San Antonio as an alternative.
Rising to a formidable 205 ft, the Scream drop tower is the park’s scariest experience. If you wish to really feel adrenaline coursing by way of your veins, it’s THE experience for you. However the centerpiece of the amusement park is the Boomerang rollercoaster, that includes insane twists and turns at a velocity of virtually 60 miles per hour.
The amusement park may be carried out in a few hours if you happen to’re quick on time, or you may spend a complete day right here occurring completely different rides and having the time of your life. For those who resolve to remain on the Six Flags Fiesta for at the least half a day, contemplate getting a One-Day Eating Deal to save cash on meals.
Sensible Info: One-day passes for the Six Flags Fiesta Texas theme park begin at $45.
13. Discover The Pure Bridge Caverns
Among the best pure landmarks in Texas is only a 30-minute drive from central San Antonio. Come right here for underground excursions of the caverns but additionally to have some enjoyable on the journey programs above floor.
The caverns are exceptional to see with all of the completely different geological formations. Nonetheless, I don’t advocate this tour for vacationers with restricted mobility as a result of it could get very strenuous at instances. Additionally, the humidity is consistently at 99% and the temperature is often round 70 levels, which is uncharacteristically heat for underground caves.
The journey park contains a maze, rope programs, and a number of zip rails above the bottom with panoramic views of Texas Hill Nation. All the things right here is kid-friendly, and there are even a few displays which might be particularly designed for the youngest guests.
Insider Tip: Put on sturdy footwear as a result of the cavern ground is moist and slippery.
Sensible Info: The price for cavern excursions is roughly $30-50, relying on the day you go to and the kind of tour you select. Pure Bridge Caverns Park is open every day from 9:30 AM to five:30 PM.
14. Native Flora at San Antonio Botanical Backyard
San Antonio Botanical Backyard is an unlimited inexperienced house within the northern a part of the town. That includes ponds, landscaped strolling trails, and plush greenery throughout, the place is a sight for sore eyes if you happen to’re uninterested in trying on the downtown buildings.
A number of conservatories are on the botanical backyard, and so they’re particular not just for the vegetation you’ll see inside but additionally for his or her form. The glass constructions are virtually items of artwork and great to see. The vegetation and flowers inside are principally those which might be native to the area, however they’re nonetheless pretty.
The botanical backyard additionally contains a cafe, and it’s an amazing place to sit down down for a fast break earlier than you progress on to the subsequent San Antonio landmark.
Sensible Info: The San Antonio Botanical Backyard is open from 9 AM to five PM. The doorway price is $18-22 for adults.
15. Leap Into an LED Ball Pit at Hopscotch San Antonio
Hopscotch San Antonio is a contemporary artwork gallery with very enjoyable interactive displays. There are solely two Hopschotch galleries in the US, so a visit to San Antonio is the right alternative to find this fabulous house.
It’s not like any artwork gallery you’ve ever visited. Many displays are interactive and very enjoyable. You’ll be able to play in an LED ball pit, stroll round a rainbow cave, and bounce round on a quantum trampoline. The exhibit additionally options murals and sculptures, however they’re removed from conventional artworks.
The artwork gallery can be probably the most Instagrammable locations in San Antonio, so you have to come right here if you wish to commemorate your journey to this metropolis with epic images.
Insider Tip: To interact with among the interactive displays, guests should take off their footwear and put on socks.
Sensible Info: Hopscotch San Antonio is open Wednesday to Sunday from 12 PM to 10 PM. Normal admission to the artwork gallery is $24.
16. Journey Again In Time At The Buckhorn Saloon & Museum
Go to the Buckhorn Saloon & Museum in Downtown San Antonio for a style of the Wild West. The restaurant is a full-on Western saloon and has two museums on the property. One ticket will get you into each museums.
The Buckhorn Museum has a bizarre assortment of taxidermied animals. I didn’t prefer it very a lot. I imply, it’s an attention-grabbing assortment, and I’ve by no means seen something prefer it in my life; I simply don’t like taxidermy very a lot.
I favored the Texas Ranger Museum a lot better, with its recreation of a Wild West city, full with a saloon and a jail cell. You’ll be able to stroll by way of these swinging saloon doorways and pose for photos behind bars, like an actual outlaw. The exhibit has weapons of well-known Texas rangers, their badges, and images.
Sensible Info: The Buckhorn Saloon & Museum is open from 10 AM to five PM. Admission tickets are $22.99 and embrace entrance to all of the displays within the constructing. You’ll be able to e-book them right here.
17. Tour The Spanish Governor’s Palace
The Spanish Governor’s Palace is considerably of a hidden gem in San Antonio. Embrace it in your San Antonio itinerary if you wish to see an enchanting stucco palace full with interval furnishings and ghosts. The palace is rumored to be haunted, and it’s usually included in San Antonio ghost excursions.
You received’t see any ghosts if you happen to go to through the day, and you may concentrate on the impeccable colonial structure and beautiful vintage furnishings. Lovely artworks adorn the inside of the palace and its grounds, however I personally discovered the kitchen space probably the most attention-grabbing. I’ve by no means seen something prefer it earlier than, particularly in such good situation.
Insider Tip: The Palace is located between the San Fernando Cathedral and the Historic Market Sq., so you may see three well-liked San Antonio points of interest in a single afternoon.
Sensible Info: The Spanish Governer’s Palace is open from 9 AM to five PM. Tickets are $5.
18. Day Journey to Austin
San Antonio is simply an hour and a half from Austin. The bustling state capital is without doubt one of the finest locations to go to on day journeys from San Antonio, each for the proximity and great points of interest it presents. Austin is understood for its wonderful cultural scene, nice meals, dwell music, and only a nice environment throughout.
For those who contemplate your self an artwork lover, you’ll have the time of your life in Austin. Town is dwelling to many great museums and artwork displays, which vary from a museum devoted to Charles Umlauf’s works to a contemporary artwork set up named Cathedral of Junk.
The Texas Capitol is an iconic constructing that you could’t miss when you’re in Austin. It’s completely unbelievable to see and guests can get free, 30-minute guided excursions of the landmark complicated.
Sensible Info: Austin is 80 miles northeast of San Antonio. It takes about an hour and a half to achieve the town each by automotive and native bus.
19. Be taught About Texas at The Witte Museum
The Witte Museum is situated in Brackenridge Park and is without doubt one of the oldest museums in San Antonio. It tells the story of Texas from prehistoric instances to at present. The museum has an unlimited assortment of historic artifacts and among the highlights are dinosaur bones and Sheriff’s badges from the 1800s.
It’s nice, and there’s one thing for everybody, it doesn’t matter what age. Children love the enormous dinosaur replicas, and adults have extra enjoyable with the Texas artwork, textiles, and on a regular basis objects from a bygone period.
Not in downtown San Antonio however public transportation is accessible. Bus from Alamo to Witte Museum is 20 minutes.
Sensible Info: The Witte Museum is open from 10 AM to six PM. Tickets are $16 for adults.
20. See The Historic San Fernando Cathedral
San Fernando Cathedral is one more in a string of historic landmarks to be present in Downtown San Antonio. The landmark church was initially constructed within the early 18th century and serves as a beautiful instance of Spanish colonial structure.
The opulent altar and marvelous stained glass home windows are the highlights of San Fernando Cathedral. Free guided excursions can be found to all guests, though you received’t get to see the inside of the church. As an alternative, the excursions take you across the cathedral grounds whereas the native information recounts the church’s historical past.
This church is commonly included in ghost excursions of San Antonio. For those who come right here at night time, you’ll get to see a spectacular gentle and music present, and also you may even expertise some paranormal occasions.
Sensible Info: San Fernando Cathedral is open from 9 AM to five PM and is accessible freed from cost.
Steadily Requested Questions For San Antonio, Texas
How Can I Spend 3 Days In San Antonio?
Three days are sufficient time to see all of San Antonio’s finest landmarks and do a day journey to a close-by metropolis or nationwide park. Go to the Alamo, San Fernando Cathedral, San Antonio Mission Path, the River Stroll, the Witte Museum, the Buckhorn Saloon & Museum, the San Antonio Botanical Backyard, and the Pearl, and go on a river cruise within the downtown.
What Is The Most Visited Place In San Antonio, Texas?
The Alamo is probably the most visited landmark in San Antonio, Texas. The San Antonio River Stroll is an in depth second, with a way more touristy environment than the historic battleground.
What Is San Antonio Greatest Recognized For?
San Antonio is finest recognized for the Alamo and the Spanish mission church buildings. Its wealthy and battle-ridden historical past has additionally made it well-known for ghost sightings.
How Do I Spend A Day In San Antonio?
For those who solely have a day in San Antonio, spend it visiting the River Stroll, the Alamo, Historic Market Sq., San Antonio Mission Historic Nationwide Park, and the Buckhorn Saloon and Museum. In the future is sufficient time to see all these landmarks, and also you may simply have sufficient time to squeeze in a visit to one of many botanical gardens.
Suggestions And Info For Visiting San Antonio, Texas
Greatest Time To Go to
The perfect time to go to San Antonio is from November to April. March and April are typically the most well-liked months for journeys to this Texas metropolis due to the delicate, heat climate. It’s good for lengthy walks across the metropolis heart and excursions to close by parks and nationwide landmarks.
Keep away from touring to the town in the summertime if you happen to can. San Antonio has extremely popular summers, and the temperatures usually exceed 90 levels all through the day. That’s too scorching to be snug if you’re exterior many of the day, particularly with the town’s excessive humidity.
Getting There
Search for flights to San Antonio Worldwide Airport. It’s solely a 15-minute drive from downtown San Antonio, so that you’ll be at your resort very quickly. Buses additionally run from the airport to the town heart; tickets are cheap at $2.5, and the experience is simply 30-40 minutes lengthy. It’s value contemplating if you happen to’re on a tighter price range and don’t wish to spend cash on taxis.
Alternatively, you may fly to Austin after which get a experience to San Antonio. The airport in Austin is greater and busier than the one in San Antonio, with extra home and worldwide connections. The capital is simply an hour and a half from San Antonio by each automotive and bus.
Getting Round
A lot of central San Antonio is walkable, so you may discover a big portion of the town on foot. Biking is well-liked right here and a very good various to taxi rides and automotive leases. San Antonio has bike-sharing system, and you may go to many of the points of interest listed on this information on a bicycle.
A rental automotive would enable you get round San Antonio faster, nevertheless it’s not a necessity. The general public transport community in San Antonio is nice and might even enable you get all the best way to Austin. So, contemplate renting a automotive solely when you’ve got very restricted time within the metropolis and also you wish to go to as many landmarks as potential.
How A lot Time Do You Want
Three days is the right period of time for a San Antonio journey. It’s greater than sufficient time to cowl all the highest landmarks within the metropolis, in addition to a day journey to a close-by metropolis or nationwide park. I like to recommend incorporating a day journey to Austin in your three-day itinerary as a result of it’s very near San Antonio.
Town may be carried out in two days, however you’ll want to decide on between a day journey or metropolis points of interest for the second day of the journey. And if you happen to solely have in the future in San Antonio, prioritize all of the historic locations and buildings.
San Antonio Metropolis Cross
The San Antonio Metropolis Cross is de facto good worth for cash and I extremely advocate you get it if you happen to’re critical about sightseeing within the Texas metropolis. The go presents free entrance to 4 out of eight points of interest of your selection for $59:
- Go Rio San Antonio River Cruises ($14.5)
- San Antonio Zoo ($25)
- The Tower of The Americas ($18.50)
- The DoSeum ($18)
- San Antonio Botanical Backyard ($18-22)
- Witte Museum ($16)
- San Antonio Museum of Artwork ($20)
- The Alamo – Exhibit and Church ($14)
You may get your cash’s value if you happen to go to simply three displays and the fourth one is virtually freed from cost! Getting the San Antonio Metropolis Cross is a no brainer if at the least three of those locations have already made it onto your itinerary. Seize your Cross right here.
The place To Keep in San Antonio, Texas
First-time guests ought to search for lodges in Downtown San Antonio for simple strolling entry to all the very best vacationer points of interest. Many lodges can be found alongside the historic River Stroll, and so they’re among the finest lodges within the metropolis.
The Pearl district can be a beautiful a part of the town to remain in, with loads of attention-grabbing points of interest close by. Listed below are among the finest lodges in San Antonio for all budgets:
- The Gunter Resort is an inexpensive possibility within the Downtown, near all the very best San Antonio landmarks.
- The Menger Resort is an efficient mid-range possibility within the metropolis heart, with the added bonus of ghost sightings.
- Resort Emma is a high-end luxurious resort on the River Stroll within the Pearl District of San Antonio.
Whether or not you keep at a haunted resort or an all-out luxurious resort, I’m fairly positive you’ll have a good time in San Antonio. Particularly if you happen to prioritize visiting the points of interest that you’re genuinely desirous about, versus queuing at well-liked locations simply because it’s what you’re presupposed to do.