San Antonio, Texas, is a great place for touring since it is home to some of the most renowned historical sites in the state. If you're looking to spice up your schedule with some exciting activities, you'll find plenty of options for mini-adventures in and around the city.
Visit the Alamo and the city's ancient missions after taking a stroll or a sail along the River Walk. Try eating in the Pearl District or taking a cooking class if you want to sample some of San Antonio's excellent food.
If you have the opportunity to go outside of the city center, there is no lack of activities to choose from, ranging from caving and golfing to indulging your inner cowboy in the neighboring Texas Hill Country. According to the time of year, you intend to visit, you may even be able to participate in the city's renowned Fiesta.
With this list of the best attractions in San Antonio, you can learn about even more things to see and do.
Jump to:
- 1. The San Antonio River Walk is an excellent place to stroll, dine, and cruise around
- 2. Take a tour of the Alamo
- 3. San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and the Mission Trail
- 4. The Cathedral of San Fernando and the Church of San Antonio
- 5. Natural Bridge Caverns & the Canopy Challenge & Zip Lines (San Antonio, Texas)
- 6. Take a stroll around the Pearl District and the Farmers Market
- 7. Historic Market Square is a great place to shop and eat (El Mercado)
1. The San Antonio River Walk is an excellent place to stroll, dine, and cruise around
The River Walk, a series of stone walkways and restaurants that border the San Antonio River as it flows through the city center, is the city's focal point and its most visited attraction. This is a lovely location with tranquil waterways, elegant bridges, birds, and lots of shade provided by the huge trees that tower over the banks. It is located below street level.
Almost everyone who visits this area does so for a walk or to have a meal on one of the outside patios. Taking a guided tour or dinner cruise on the river is one of the most relaxing ways to take in the sights and sounds of the city's most famous attraction.
The boats that ply the river may accommodate up to 40 people at a time. To accommodate up to 20 people on evening dinner excursions, the barge is configured with a big table in the middle. Following a long day of touring, these leisurely boat excursions provide a welcome respite from the rush and bustle of the city, as well as an excellent chance to stretch your legs.
A combination San Antonio River Walk Cruise & Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour, which includes admission to the Tower of the Americas, is a fantastic way to explore the sights.
2. Take a tour of the Alamo
Located in San Antonio, Texas, the Alamo is one of the most significant historical landmarks in the United States and a must-see sight for anybody traveling to the city. A component of the mission station founded here in 1718, the Alamo's church was constructed by Franciscans in 1744, while the Alamo itself was completed in 1718.
Here, in 1836, took place the Battle of the Alamo, which is considered one of the most famous conflicts in United States history. A tiny force barricaded themselves in the Alamo against a Mexican army of 3,000 soldiers. There were no survivors from a fight that some historians believe lasted little more than 20 minutes and claimed the lives of all of the defenders, including famous personalities Davy Crockett and James Bowie.
The Alamo quickly became known as the "Cradle of Texan Freedom," and the slogan "Remember the Alamo!" became a rallying cry for Texans fighting for their independence. The old mission has been designated as a National Monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In the city of San Antonio, Texas at 300 Alamo Plaza
3. San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and the Mission Trail
The San Antonio Missions were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015, marking the first time that such a distinction has been given in the state of Texas. The five missions, including the world-famous Alamo (Mission Valero), were constructed in the early 1700s as part of a Spanish attempt to colonize and convert the area. The missions were founded by the Franciscan Order in an effort to colonize and evangelize the region.
Today, they are one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city. Seeing the Alamo, Mission San Jose, and Mission Concepción are three of the missions that should not be missed if you only have time to visit a handful. Mission San Juan and Mission Espada are the last two missions on the list. The Mission Trail is a path that links all of the missions.
However, if you want to incorporate a little outdoor exercise with your sightseeing, try bicycling between the missions instead of using the car. Using the city's bike-sharing program, you can cycle from downtown to the other four missions in an eight-mile one-way journey or a 16-mile return trip if you have a whole day to spare.
This beautiful and educational trail, which goes along the river and up to the missions, is a pleasant way to spend a day in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The Visitor Center has a Junior Ranger activity book available for purchase if you are traveling with children.
4. The Cathedral of San Fernando and the Church of San Antonio
The Roman Catholic San Fernando Cathedral (Church of Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria y Guadalupe) in San Antonio, Texas, is one of the oldest cathedrals in the United States and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is best known as the burial place of the heroes of the Alamo. The sanctuary of the cathedral is formed by the walls of the old church, which was finished in 1750 by immigrants from the Canary Islands and currently serves as a museum.
In addition to being located on Main Plaza, the cathedral is one of the most interesting locations to visit in San Antonio after dark. This area is transformed into the setting for San Antonio|The Saga, one of the city's most visually arresting attractions at nighttime. This video art installation, created by Xavier de Richemont and shown free of charge every Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening, is a 24-minute video with choreographed music and narration that is projected onto the side of the San Fernando Cathedral every Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening.
Using a stunning display of vivid visuals and Surround Sound, a 7,000-square-foot projection showcases the history and development of San Antonio throughout time. This should be on your list of things to do in San Antonio at night if you're searching for something to do.
5. Natural Bridge Caverns & the Canopy Challenge & Zip Lines (San Antonio, Texas)
Natural Bridge Caverns, the biggest commercial cave system in Texas, is located less than 30 minutes from downtown San Antonio. They are well-known for their vast open chambers, but they also contain tight passageways and fascinating formations to offer visitors.
There are two kinds of cave excursions offered, each of which takes about 70 minutes. Apart from cave exploration, there are many other activities to enjoy in this area. For those seeking a greater adrenaline rush, the Canopy Challenge, a series of platforms and ladders 60 feet above the ground, as well as ziplines, is a good choice. The Sky Tykes, a rope course built specifically for younger children and toddlers, allows even younger children to participate in the activity.
In addition to the caves' underground attractions, there is an above-ground gem and fossil mining experience that gives youngsters and adults the opportunity to witness how gold miners sorted for gold, as well as to discover and identify their own jewels in mining rough. In addition, there is a labyrinth and a store where you can purchase souvenirs, snacks, and freshly made fudge.
6. Take a stroll around the Pearl District and the Farmers Market
Located in the heart of San Antonio's fashionable historic area, the Pearl has beautifully restored buildings, interesting boutiques, and a well-deserved reputation for excellent food and chic restaurants. Vendors within a 150-mile radius of the city set up tables on a pedestrian-only street on weekends to offer fresh fruit, baked goods, sauces, and other specialties. The Pearl is also home to a bustling farmers’ market on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
In recent years, the Pearl neighborhood has been associated with excellent food and memorable dining experiences. While the phrase "fine dining" comes to mind when thinking about the restaurants in this area, they are not all about white tablecloths and costly meals.
This neighborhood is all about the atmosphere and the delicious food. One of only three Culinary Institute of America campuses in the United States is located in the Pearl, which is also known as "The Pearl." As is more generally known, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has significant connections to this region, and its flagship restaurant, the Nao Latin Gastro Bar, is situated in this neighborhood.
7. Historic Market Square is a great place to shop and eat (El Mercado)
When looking for one-of-a-kind goods and souvenirs, Market Square is the place to go. As the biggest Mexican market in the United States, this three-block strip of stores and eateries is well-known across the community. The El Mercado, which is located inside, offers everything from sombreros to ceramics.
Handcrafted artworks and a variety of fascinating things are on exhibit in locally-owned stores, ranging from paintings and dolls to blankets, jewelry, ponchos, gowns, shoes, musical instruments, and a variety of other items.
When you've gotten your fill of shopping, stop into Mi Tierra Café Y Panadera for lunch, supper, a treat from the bakery, or just to take a stroll around the neighborhood. This restaurant, which has been in business by the Cortez family since 1941 and occupies a full city block, is a San Antonio landmark and a local institution.
This one-of-a-kind restaurant, which is open 24 hours a day and serves Mexican cuisine, is lavishly adorned with Christmas lights and fiesta flags and has a bakery counter where all of the baking is done on-site.
Musicians walk around the restaurant, adding to the ambiance of the establishment. Make sure to take note of the massive painting on one of the dining room walls, which depicts renowned individuals as well as members of the Cortez clan.
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