This was article was written in partnership with Hotels.com.
We arrived in San Antonio on a Thursday to take full advantage of a long weekend getaway. Besides the basics (where is the Alamo, how do I get to the Alamo, how soon can I get to the Alamo), I hadn’t done much research so pulling into our hotel amongst towering downtown buildings was a surprise – it felt more like a big city than Texas. After a quick check-in we started to explore, that’s when San Antonio really started to shine.
Over the next four days we found San Antonio to be one of the easiest cities to discover we’d ever visited. Most days, everything we wanted to do was either a short walk away or could be reached on the simple to use Viva bus line. The further away destinations, including the missions and Sea World, were easy to find and never too crowded. Some of this was due to our off-peak season travel, but most of it was because San Antonio is made for getaways.
Here are some thoughts to keep in mind as you plan your own trip:
Planning Your Trip
When to Visit
Late September through Early May are the best times to visit. It’s Texas so it’s hot in the summer and that’s also when the crowds really arrive. You’ll have a more comfortable time if you plan your trip in the shoulder seasons.
Tip: If you’re wanting to stay around the Riverwalk area (especially around early January), check out the City of San Antonio’s official site to make sure your trip doesn’t coincide with the annual Riverwalk Maintenance schedule.
How Expensive is San Antonio
San Antonio is an affordable destination. While some hotels and restaurants are more expensive, a budget conscious traveler will have an easy time finding options within their price range.
How Long to Visit
For exploring the city and seeing most of its highlights, San Antonio fits nicely into long-weekend. If you’re up for a longer trip, spend a few days just in San Antonio and then branch out into the nearby theme parks and day trips (Austin and San Marcos are so close).
Getting to San Antonio
The closest airport serving San Antonio is the San Antonio International Airport (SAT). Served by all the major airlines, it’s easy to find flights, and it’s located close to the city. For reference, it’s only a ten-fifteen minute ride from SAT to the Riverwalk.
An alternate airport would be the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS). It’s roughly an 1.25 hours from AUS to downtown San Antonio. While it might not be as convenient as SAT for reaching San Antonio, it makes a perfect airport if you’re up for flying in to SAT and then spending time in San Marcos and Austin before leaving from AUS.
Where to Stay
With the way the city is laid out, if this is your first visit I highly recommend finding accommodations downtown and/or along the Riverwalk. Staying here you’ll be able to jumpstart your day the second you wake-up and for the most part avoid commuting to the fun.
Getting Around
How you get around really depends on what you’re comfortable with and how you want to travel. A car certainly isn’t necessary to explore San Antonio – especially in the central area, where walking is the best way to get around. However for both Greater San Antonio and day trips, a car is super convenient.
On our last trip, we rented a car. When we return to San Antonio though, we’ll probably do a mix of mass transit and car rental, getting a car only for the 1-2 days we plan leave downtown.
By Car:
I always think of renting a car the same way; a car lets me travel on my own schedule and if all else fails I can always figure a way to drive from point A to point B. Outside of downtown, driving is simple and most of the highways are easy to navigate.
Why would I not rent a car in San Antonio: There are a lot of one way streets which can make navigating the city complicated. Parking is available in most places but it can be expensive. Also, you have to valet at most hotels.
Viva Bus Service:
San Antonio has done a great job connecting most of its sites via bus routes. Sure, buses give me the willies, but for exploring San Antonio, they’re worth it. For tourists, there are three main Viva Routes: culture, missions, and central. Each route hits between 14 – 21 destinations including the Alamo, the DoSeum, Mission San Jose, and Riverwalk.
A day pass is only a few dollars and can be purchased and loaded on the Via App which is available in all mobile app stores.
River Cruises/Shuttles:
In addition to the narrated Tours of the Riverwalk, San Antonio has River Shuttles that connect the Riverwalk area with Museum Reach. These are slow moving rides around the city, and aren’t really an efficient way to get from place to place. Though they are really fun to ride and should be considered more as a standalone activity rather than transport.
Bike:
If walking isn’t fast enough for you, San Antonio has a wide variety of rentable bikes – Swell Cycles. These are available at over 65 docking stations throughout downtown and along the San Antonio River with day pass and monthly pass options.
Areas Around San Antonio
While the San Antonio Tourism Site lists eleven separate areas of the city, most visitors will only be concerned with about five. These areas are home to the A-List sites as well as numerous noteworthy local spots, restaurants, and museums.
Downtown/Riverwalk – As home to The Alamo, the Riverwalk, cathedrals, and a mix of hot new dining and local staples, this is where visitors spend most of their time. It comprises most of what tourists consider San Antonio and should almost be broken up into subdistricts (each only a couple of blocks in size) to make planning a visit easier: The Riverwalk, Downtown, The Alamo, Outskirts (which would include things like The Historic Market Square). This area of town is best for booking your hotel if you want to take advantage of the city’s walkability.
The Pearl District – This is the overall trendiest/coolest area of San Antonio. The dining, hotels, and activities here include some of the most noteworthy in the city; including Hotel Emma, live music on the green, breweries, and unique curio shops. Sitting just on top of Downtown is the Pearl Area, which is so close it’s actually accessible vie the River Barge or bike. Book your stay here for the ‘trendiest’ experience.
King William & Southtown – South of Downtown is where visitors will find a more eclectic mix of attractions – hints King William’s designation as The Arts District. Slower paced that nearby downtown, this area is great for biking and actually getting out in the river. Some of our favorite dining here included the Guenther House (our pick for upscale Brunch) and the Friendly Spot (awesome outdoor ice house).
The Missions – Continuing south from Southtown is the collection of San Antonio missions that are collectively designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Mission Espada, Mission San Jose, Mission Concepcion, and Mission San Juan Capistrano among others. Each of these attractions are free to the public, and traveling here is easy accessible via the Viva Public Transit or car.
Greater San Antonio– While there are subdivisions of the further reaches of San Antonio, for visitors it can be lumped into one simple area which comprises the attractions that are roughly 20-30 mins from downtown. These include SeaWorld, Six Flags, numerous golf courses, and other Texas favorites. Just about anything this far away will require either renting or hiring a car.
Top Sights to See
Top Sights to See
Check out our guides to specific attractions and suggestions:
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- Traveling as a family? Our best kids suggestions are all on our Toddler Approve San Antonio Itinerary.
- Find out our picks for our favorite local gems.
- The Alamo was one of our favorite sites, hear more about our experience on post ‘what it’s like to visit the Alamo’.
The Alamo – From the second we added San Antonio to our calendar, I was laser focused on visiting the Alamo. It’s one of those Great Americana Attractions that feels nearly too tied into ‘the myth of the American Frontier’ to actually be physically visited (like Mt. Rushmore or the Oregon Trail End Point). The grounds and the church are free and open to the public – arrive early to avoid a line when entering the cathedral.
In addition to the main compound, crossing the street north towards the Riverwalk, you’ll find pillars and the remains of some of the walls that were part of the original Alamo footprint.
While you’re there :: The Hyatt Regency – I’m adding this stop as a personal favorite. Walking from the Alamo to the Riverwalk (about a block in total), the Hyatt Regency has an amazing atrium that has incorporated the natural path of the river. Definitely worth walking by.
The Riverwalk – It’s an area, a part of the city, and an attraction? Yes, the Riverwalk is all of these things. While it’s officially a fifteen mile waterway, for this we’re only talking about the Riverwalk Loop – which circles through downtown. Lined with restaurants, shops, and attractions, this is a must for any visitor. Take a river cruise (roughly 35 mins) to learn about the history of the area. Our experience was that the tour facts differ from guide to guide, each guide adding in their own personal flourishes.
Historic Market Square – This historically Mexican marketplace stretches three blocks and is lined with over 100 local shops and stalls. On our trip, we grabbed breakfast at Mi Tierra Cafe before strolling through the market for home decor and face paint.
The Pearl District’s Bottling Dept. Food Haul – With a eclectic mix of food stalls and beverages, this place is a great landing point for exploring The Pearl District. From the outdoor patio, kids can play in the fountains, you’ll have great seats for any music that might be on stage, and you can sip on a cool margarita or hyper-locally crafted beer. (This is a great place for dessert too.)
The Saga – At night the San Antonio’s Main Plaza comes alive with a vibrant light show projected onto the San Fernando Cathedral. “The Saga” depicts the history of San Antonio and lasts about half an hour. It’s free to the public, and nearby there is a walk-up bar that serves water, beer, and champaign that can be enjoyed while watching the show.
Bucket List Additions
River Cruise Dining Cruise – Only available for charters, this is the way I want to explore the Riverwalk. As I mentioned, the Riverwalk as seen by Barge Taxi isn’t that exciting to me, but it’s a great backdrop for a night out.
Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch – As many of you know, my favorite activity we’ve ever done as a family was Louisiana’s Global Wildlife Center. This seems to be a similar attraction a drive thru zoo with the ability to feed animals right out the window.
