San Antonio is the home to almost 1.5 million people, which makes it the seventh-largest city in the United States.
Full of history, bursting with culture and modern attractions, there is a reason why San Antonio is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Texas.
San Antonio is full of green spaces, festive events, and fun places to shop, dine, and celebrate. The city has a unique culture that sets it apart from other big cities in Texas like Austin, Dallas, and Houston.
Additionally, it boasts exciting amusement parks, legendary museums, and art exhibitions.
In this post I’m sharing 20 things to do in San Antonio Texas.
1. River Walk
Located in the heart of San Antonio, the River Walk is the number one attraction in Texas. San Antonio River Walk is a colorful city park with 15 miles of walkways along the San Antonio River.
The reason why this is one of the most visited places in all of Texas is because it combines bridges, walkways, boat tours, bars, restaurants, shopping, and hotels all in one beautiful park setting.
Also known as Paseo del Rio, this world-renowned magical place remains a hot destination in San Antonio where people relax, reconnect, and celebrate.
READ MORE: 21 Best Day Trips from San Antonio
2. The Alamo
Visiting The Alamo is a must-do activity while in San Antonio. The site of the Battle of the Alamo in 1836 is a major historic site in San Antonio and it’s number one on our list of best historical sites in Texas.
Originally built in 1718, and known as Misión San Antonio de Valero, this Texas landmark is rich in history. Visit the grounds that were an important battlefield during the Texas War for independence. You can visit the Alamo church for free (just get a ticket from the Alamo Welcome Center in front of the church or online) but the audio tour and other exhibits require payment. Check the Alamo website for the latest prices.
3. San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
Along with The Alamo, the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park is another tourist location that is rich in history and culture.
Visit four Spanish frontier missions at the national park:
- Mission Concepcion
- Mission San Jose
- Mission Espada
- Mission San Juan Capistrano
All four of these San Antonio missions still hold regular church services. Visitors can go inside the churches during regular park hours.
These national historical sites have been around for more than 300 years.
In 2015 the San Antonio Missions became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
4. San Antonio Museum of Art
The San Antonio Museum of Art is located on the River Walk, more specifically in the former Lone Star Brewery (from 1886).
It’s one of San Antonio’s premier and most iconic art museums.
Founded in 1981 after an expensive building renovation, this museum has a collection that spans more than 5,000 years of global culture.
Whether you’re a fan of Ancient Mediterranean, Asian, Latin American, or Contemporary Art, this museum has a vast collection of art and antiquities.
5. Spanish Governor’s Palace
Another museum for your Texas bucket list is the Spanish Governor’s Palace in San Antonio.
Visit one of the oldest tourist sites in Texas, the beautiful adobe structure features ten rooms, a courtyard, and a fountain.
The Spanish built the Presidio of San Antonio de Bexar to protect the area’s missions. Today, the Spanish Governor’s Palace is all that is left of the presidio.
The Spanish Governor’s Palace is in between Market Square and the River Walk, near city hall.
6. Brackenridge Park
The green and always welcoming Brackenridge Park is San Antonio’s public park.
It’s abundant 343 acres is just a few blocks north from downtown San Antonio.
Spend some time at this intriguing park created in 1899 from land donated to San Antonio by the philanthropist George Washington Brackenridge.
The Brackenridge Park includes baseball fields, pavilions, playgrounds, and walking trails, and is less than 10 minutes away from downtown.
7. San Fernando Cathedral
The San Fernando Cathedral, which has the stunning combination of Gothic and American Colonial architectural styles, is also called The Cathedral of Lady Candelaria and Guadalupe.
This beautiful landmark is in Plaza de Las Islas Canarias, in central San Antonio.
San Fernando Cathedral was founded in 1750 by a group of families from the Canary Islands.
And regular services in Spanish, English, and bilingual, are provided at the cathedral.
8. Pearl District and Farmers Market
When it comes to outstanding tourist attractions in San Antonio, the Pearl District and Farmers Market is one of them.
Recently named one of the top farmer’s markets in the whole country, this place combines live music with meat and cheese producers, various local produce, and cooking demos.
Even though it is open only during the weekends, this market (which also has its own chef-led restaurants) cannot be missed.
9. Historic Market Square
The vibrant Historic Market Square is a place where San Antonio culture comes to life and it’s one of the best things to do in San Antonio.
This outdoor plaza, open since the 1820s and lined with a wide variety of shops and restaurants, is the biggest Mexican marketplace north of the Rio Grande.
The shops and restaurants here offer visitors a festive setting, clothing, folk art, delicious Mexican treats, and mouthwatering meals.
Other goods that can be bought from the Historic Market Square are authentic Talavera pottery, handcrafted gifts, leather goods, and unique curios.
10. Natural Bridge Caverns
The Natural Bridge Caverns is a great San Antonio destination that offers a fun and family friendly adventure.
Established in July 1964, the state park is located near the drive-through wildlife park called Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch.
These are the largest known commercial caverns in Texas.
The interesting thing about the caverns is that they are slowly developing so every time you visit the place, new caverns are formed.
And there are multiple geological formations such as speleothems, cave crystals, or flowstone that can be seen at the caverns.
11. Japanese Tea Garden
One of the most exotic places in all of Texas is the Japanese Tea Garden, also known as Sunken Gardens. This garden began as a lily pond with stone walkways and stone arch bridges (built with prison labor) in 1919 and underwent renovations in 2007 and 2008. Another fun fact – this site used to be an abandoned limestone rock quarry.
Now, the glorious garden includes a variety of beautiful plants and trees, stone bridges, a 60-foot waterfall, and ponds with colorful koi. Located in Brackenridge Park, the Japanese Tea Garden was designed by the world-renowned architect Dionicio Rodriguez.
In 1926 Kimi Eizo Jingu, a local Japanese-American artist, was invited to move to the gardens and opened a small tea house called the Bamboo Room. The Jingu family operated the restaurant (and lived in a house in the gardens) until 1942 when they were evicted due to anti-Japanese sentiment in the US after Pearl Harbor. The family remained in San Antonio and several members of the family attended the reopening ceremony in 2008.
Jingu House is now a cafe serving Japanese inspired snacks, meals, and beverages.
Another great thing about the tea gardens is that it’s free to visit and no reservations are needed, open year round.
12. San Antonio Botanical Garden
An amazing place with tons of greenery and mesmerizing views is the San Antonio Botanical Garden.
Spend a morning walking the trails through a variety of gardens and then have lunch at Jardin Restaurant (plenty of outdoor seating) for a wonderful time outdoors.
This botanical garden, which consists of 33 acres, first opened in May 1980. Ever since, the city’s official botanical garden sees thousands of visitors every year.
In addition to a museum of plants and a tranquil escape, this attraction also offers a living classroom, entertainment venue, and facilities for conservation and/or research.
Don’t miss the Lucile Halsell Conservatory and the gorgeous tropical plants, so many orchid varieties!
San Antonio Botanical Garden has a variety of gardens, walking trails, conservatory, and a great restaurant
13. McNay Art Museum
The McNay Art Museum is a one-of-a-kind museum that also happens to be the very first museum of modern art in Texas.
This breathtaking museum has architecture inspired by the Spanish Colonial Revival era and features landscaping with broad lawns, fountains, and Japanese-inspired gardens and fishponds.
Founded in 1954 by Marion Koogler McNay, and filled with illustrious paintings, sculptures, and works on paper, this place is truly magical for both aspiring artists and art lovers.
Pablo Picasso, Paul Gauguin, Paul Cezanne, Diego Rivera, and Henri Matisse are just some of the legendary names whose works are on display in the McNay Art Museum.
14. Morgan’s Wonderland
A welcome addition to San Antonio, Morgan’s Wonderland theme park opened in 2010 and bills itself as the “world’s first theme park designed with individuals with special needs in mind and built for everyone’s enjoyment”.
Morgan’s Wonderland is totally wheelchair accessible, including a wheelchair accessible Ferris wheel.
Whether it’s exploring the park, various entertainment venues, or rides and attractions, the theme park has something for everyone.
15. La Villita Historic Arts Village
The La Villita Historic Arts Village is an art community in downtown San Antonio, which includes impressive art galleries and shops.
This historical landmark is located on the River Walk.
The community built in the mid-1840s has consistently grown and developed into the extraordinary arts village.
Apart from art galleries and imported folk art from Mexico, this place is popular among tourists for the variety of small shops that sell custom jewelry, gifts, souvenirs, and pottery.
La Villita Arts Village is also an important part of the Fiesta San Antonio celebration.
16. Mission Concepcion
One of the historical sites that should be on your San Antonio bucket list is Mission Concepcion.
This Catholic church founded in 1731 with the full name Mission Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción de Acuña.
Mission Concepcion is the oldest unrestored stone church in the United States.
Rich in history and keeping its design and overall look for more than 300 years, this historical monument is now considered one of the best-preserved structures from the Spanish colonial days.
In addition to the stone church, Mission Concepcion also includes a convent, granary, nave, and sanctuary, all of which have looked the same for the past 300 years or so.
17. Visiting the Majestic Theatre
Just as its name suggests, the Majestic Theatre is truly spectacular.
Located on Houston Street, this is the oldest and biggest theatre in San Antonio.
Since opening in June 1929, this landmark has welcomed visitors from around the world.
Designed by the acclaimed architect John Eberson, the Majestic Theater holds a little over 2,200 visitors.
The Majestic Theatre stands out with its architectural style, which is a combination of Baroque, Mediterranean Revival, and Mission Revival.
18. Aquatica San Antonio
Aquatica San Antonio is the name of the biggest and most popular waterpark around.
With water playgrounds including water slides, swimming pools, and a lazy river, this is a great place for family fun outdoors in San Antonio.
The Aquatica San Antonio theme park sees millions of visitors every year who come to cool off in the water park.
19. Hemisfair Park
Hemisfair Park is an iconic park that houses the Tower of the Americas and the Institute of Texan Cultures.
The park opened in the 1960s and towards the end of the decade, it became an attraction thanks to the HemisFair 68.
This attraction served as the official World’s Fair in 1968, and it celebrated all of the different nations that settled in this region.
Coincidentally, the fair took place during the 250th anniversary of San Antonio.
20. Buckhorn Saloon and Museum
Last but not least is the Buckhorn Saloon and Museum – a privately run museum established in 1881.
Ever since the days of its first owner, Albert Friedrich, the museum’s unique collections and art exhibitions made it a tourist attraction.
Apart from a gift store that has an Old West theme, cowboy hats, and T-shirts, this landmark also offers private events for up to 2,000 people.
And some of the most delicious foods and drinks that San Antonio has to offer.
Have fun exploring all the beautiful San Antonio attractions.
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