Best Things To Do in San Antonio
San Antonio is rich in history, boasts beautiful scenery, and offers a plethora of attractions. It also is my hometown, so I know a thing or two about the best things to do in San Antonio. A trip to San Antonio can involve everything from visiting the state’s most famous landmark, The Alamo, to exploring the River Walk, dotted with cafes and shops, you won’t run out of fun options.
Best Things to Do in San Antonio
In addition to its rich history, San Antonio is filled with natural beauty, gorgeous architecture, historic districts, and more.
San Antonio River Walk
The San Antonio River Walk combines a city park with a network of walkways that run along the banks of the San Antonio River. Visitors flock to this area to enjoy beautiful views of the water, shopping, and dining or to simply soak in the tranquility of the moving water.
I recommend hopping on one of the Go Rio San Antonio River Cruises. It’s a fun way to learn about the history of the River Walk and get a sense of where everything is.
The Alamo
One of the best things to do in San Antonio is to see the Alamo. If you didn’t, were you even there?
Head to The Alamo to take a tour of this mission established in 1718. Originally known as Mission San Antonio de Valero, the mission has a rich history that encompasses far more than the battle that took place on its grounds in 1836. The Ralston Collections Center, which opened in 2023, boasts a vast collection of artifacts, including the Collins Collection, donated to the city by musician Phil Collins. Don’t miss the living history encampment. Demonstrations vary daily but you’ll come away with a taste for what life was like in the 1830s.
Mission San Jose
Mission San Jose was founded in 1720 as a Spanish frontier mission. The largest of five San Antonio missions, it’s best known for its rose window. If you visit on Sunday, you’ll see a mariachi mass offered at this Texas and U.S. National Historic Site.
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
When you’re looking for fun things to do in San Antonio Texas, don’t miss this. Seriously, don’t.
Home to four of San Antonio’s five 18th-century missions, San Antonio Missions National Historic Park spans nine miles, offering visitors the opportunity to get up close and personal with these historic buildings, as well as enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Japanese Tea Garden
San Antonio’s Japanese Tea Garden was originally a rock quarry. In 1915, the city parks commissioner decided the spot would be perfect for a lily pond. Over the years, the site has evolved into the beautiful tea garden it is today, as well as a Registered Texas Historic Landmark and part of the National Register of Historic Places.
San Antonio Botanical Garden – One of the most beautiful things to do in San Antonio Texas
The San Antonio Botanical Garden is a 33-acre tribute to the beauty of nature. A nationally recognized botanical garden, it offers a diverse array of plants and blooms to enjoy, engaging displays, educational opportunities, and more. It also features a research and conservation facility.
San Fernando Cathedral
The San Fernando Cathedral boasts impressive architecture and history. Founded in 1731, this cathedral is the oldest continuously functioning religious community in Texas.
If you’re a Catholic, attending Mass here is a deeply meaningful experience. Even if you’re not, the mass is lovely and you absolutely don’t have to be Catholic or Christian to participate in it, as long as you’re respectful and quiet.
Tower of the Americas
The Tower of the Americas, situated in downtown San Antonio, is a 750-foot building featuring an observation deck that offers panoramic views of the area, a revolving restaurant, a stationary bar, and a 4D adventure ride.
I always called this “The Downtown Tower” when I was a little girl. I think I was well into my teens before I realized it had another name.
King William Historic District
Take a drive through San Antonio’s first suburb. The 25-block King William Historic District was first settled in the late 1800s by wealthy German merchants and showcases historic mansions and gorgeous landscaping.
The best time to visit the King William District is during Fiesta San Antonio’s King William Fair in April.
the historic pearl
Pearl Brewery was once the largest brewery in the entire state. Today, this former brewery is a San Antonio landmark offering events, exercise classes, a culinary institute, and more. The restaurant scene at The Pearl offers a great variety of cuisine, ranging from a French bistro to an eight-course dessert experience.
Check the events calendar – you’ll find everything from outdoor yoga classes to live music.
The Saturday Pearl Farmers Market is a vast, open-air market offering a wide variety of produce, artisan items, wines, and much more.
Briscoe Western Art Museum
Located in the San Antonio River Walk, the Briscoe Western Art Museum features a collection of Western art and artifacts that focuses on American cowboys, Native Americans, Vaqueros, and other cultures that played pivotal roles in the American West.
McNay Art Museum
McNay Art Museum, a gigantic Mediterranean-style mansion, houses 22,000 works in several different galleries, including medieval and Renaissance art, sculpture, and mixed media. The museum also offers educational opportunities as well as tours. The entire campus spans 25 acres, and the outside grounds and patios are also enjoyable to explore.
There are some lovely tiled steps because are generally known as one of the most “Instagrammable” places in San Antonio. If you don’t get to the McNay, look for tiled steps on the Riverwalk.
Majestic & Empire Theatres
The Majestic and Empire Theatres, founded in 1914 and 1929, respectively, have been offering live entertainment for over 90 years. The architecture is stunning and just being in the lobby is an experience.
The Majestic is home to Broadway series entertainment and small concerts and music shows. The Empire is smaller and usually hosts smaller acts.
explore San Antonio’s haunted history
Downtown San Antonio is rumoured to be one of the most haunted areas of the United States. One theory is the mass grave that serves as the final resting place for the many casualties of the historic Battle of the Alamo. Most bars, restaurants, and hotels in the downtown area have a ghost story and some lean into the haunted history more than others.
The best way to get a feel for San Antonio’s ghostly background is to do a ghost tour with River City Ghosts. This one-hour walking tour covers about a mile and takes you to some of the city’s most famous spooky spots. There’s also the opportunity to purchase an extended tour, which goes to an additional four stops. I’ve lived in San Antonio my entire life and had a good grasp of my city’s haunted history and I learned several things on this tour.
The Buckhorn Saloon & Texas Ranger Museum
The Buckhorn Saloon has been a popular gathering place for locals and visitors for over 135 years. Visitors can enjoy a meal and a drink here, and later, they can explore over 500 different animals from around the world, head to the Toepperwein Shooting Gallery, and visit the Texas Ranger Museum where they can see antique revolvers, automatic handguns, shotguns, badges, photographs, and a wide variety of other memorabilia.
If you want to learn more about the Texas Rangers, there is a museum in Waco (approximately a three-hour drive from San Antonio) dedicated to their history.
The San Antonio Museum of Art
Housed in the historic Lone Star Brewery, the San Antonio Museum of Art features a permanent collection of Egyptian, Greek, and Roman artifacts, as well as Asian, Latin American, and contemporary American art and paintings. Additionally, the museum offers a range of educational and enrichment programs.
The witte museum
The Witte is San Antonio’s culture and natural history museum. From a fabulous static exhibit on Texas’ earliest inhabitants to rotating displays that dive into San Antonio in unique ways. One of the most spectacular parts of the museum is the collections center, which houses items that aren’t on permanent display in the museum. There’s a vault with paintings on display that has a window where you may see an art restorer at work as well as a room dedicated to artifcats from the former Hertzberg Circus Collection.
Battle for Texas: The Experience
Battle for Texas: The Experience is a unique museum experience. Fully immerse yourself in a comprehensive collection of Alamo artifacts, sights, sounds, and smells, as you make your way through the 13 days that gave birth to the state of Texas. It’s a 22,000-square-foot attraction with 11 unique, thematic galleries, highlighting Davey Crockett, Jim Bowie, Sam Houston, and more.
Natural Bridge Caverns
Natural Bridge Caverns is located just outside San Antonio, in the beautiful town of New Braunfels.
The largest underground attraction in Texas, Natural Bridge Caverns offers daily guided tours that allow guests to explore large underground chambers and see massive formations, including the largest of these chambers, which is bigger than a football field. Above ground, visitors will discover rocks, minerals, and rough-cut gems at the Natural Bridge Mining Company Sluice.
Experience the Best Things to Do in San Antonio
From historical sites to live theater and even a farmers market, there’s no end to the things to do in San Antonio. Head to this beautiful city to experience its rich history, stunning beauty, and vibrant arts for yourself. With so much to do, you’ll find a new adventure around every corner.
Where to stay in San Antonio
There are lots of hotels in downtown San Antonio, from ultra luxe to budget.
If you feel like a splurge, I recommend The Hotel Emma. While you can gain a little insight into the experience by visiting their lobby or dining in one of their restaurants, staying in one of their guest rooms is an experience that is unparalleled. Another sleek, upscale option is The Thompson San Antonio.
A solid midpriced option with a great location and robust amenities is Marriott Rivercenter. There’s direct River Walk access, comfortable rooms, a rooftop pool, and a delicious restaurant, Tributary.
Fun boutique options include Hotel Valencia Riverwalk and Hotel Contessa.
