San Antonio is the most historic of the big Texas cities and one of the friendliest. Founded around a Spanish mission and presidio in 1718, it still has the Alamo in the middle of downtown and a chain of four more 18th-century missions to the south, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site run by the National Park Service. Below street level, the River Walk winds past restaurants, hotels and cypress trees along the San Antonio River, and the old Pearl brewery has become one of the liveliest food and market districts in the state. With about 1.4 million people, it is the second-largest city in Texas, with a strong Mexican American culture you can taste in its Tex-Mex, see in its colorful festivals and hear in its music. The big sights are close together, entry to the Alamo and the missions is free, and a city bus from the airport costs $1.30.
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Top tours in San Antonio
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San Antonio at a glance
- Best months: March–May and October–November for warm, comfortable days; June to September is hot, with highs in the mid-90s °F (about 35 °C).
- Time needed: two days for the Alamo, the River Walk, the missions and the Pearl; add a day for the Hill Country or Austin.
- Getting there: San Antonio International Airport (SAT) is north of downtown; VIA bus Route 5 runs downtown in about 30 minutes for $1.30.
- Costs (as of October 2026): the Alamo and the four missions are free; a VIA day pass is $2.75; hotel bills add 16.75% in taxes, plus 2% at hotels with 100 or more rooms.
- Before you go: entry rules, money, driving and general safety are on our United States travel guide.
San Antonio neighborhoods and who each one suits
Downtown, Alamo Plaza and the River Walk
The compact downtown holds the Alamo, the historic Menger Hotel, the Spanish Governor’s Palace, San Fernando Cathedral, Main Plaza and the convention center, with the River Walk looping below it all. Most visitors stay here, and you can walk to almost everything. The area right around Alamo Plaza is full of souvenir shops and family attractions; a few blocks away, the streets are quieter.
La Villita and King William
La Villita, beside the river, is one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, now a small arts village of restored stone and adobe buildings with galleries and craft shops. Just south, the King William Historic District has grand 19th-century houses built by German merchants, shaded streets and a few cafes and inns, with the River Walk running alongside. Southtown, around South Alamo Street, adds bars, restaurants and art spaces. It suits visitors who like a quieter, more residential base.
The Pearl and the Museum Reach
About 2 miles (3 km) north of the Alamo, the Pearl is a former brewery complex turned into a district of restaurants, bars, shops, a food hall, a weekend farmers market and a campus of the Culinary Institute of America. The landscaped Museum Reach of the River Walk links it with downtown, passing the San Antonio Museum of Art. It is the best area for food lovers and for a stylish stay a little away from the crowds.
Market Square and the West Side
Market Square, on the west edge of downtown, has a Mexican-style market with stalls selling crafts, colorful papel picado and pottery, plus restaurants and a bakery, and it hosts many festivals. Beyond it, the West Side is the historic heart of the city’s Mexican American community. Visit for shopping, food and music rather than as a place to stay.
Top things to see in San Antonio
The Alamo
The former Mission San Antonio de Valero, founded in 1718, is famous as the site of the 1836 battle in the Texas Revolution, when the defenders of the Alamo were killed after a 13-day siege by the Mexican army. The small limestone church with its curved front is one of the most recognized buildings in the US. Admission to the Alamo grounds and the Church is free, but to protect the Church you need a free timed reservation, which you can book on the official Alamo website. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with last entry 30 minutes before closing, and closes on Christmas Day. Paid options include guided tours and the Alamo Collections Center in the Ralston Family Collections Center, which holds artifacts from the Texas Revolution and closes at 5 p.m. The Alamo is at 300 Alamo Plaza, where a long-term project is restoring the plaza and the old mission footprint, so expect some construction and changes to the visitor route.
The River Walk
The River Walk (Paseo del Río) is a network of stone paths along the San Antonio River, one level below the downtown streets, lined with cypress trees, footbridges, restaurant patios and hotels. The busy downtown loop is the classic part, especially pretty at night when it is lit up. North, the Museum Reach runs to the Pearl, with public art and a lock that boats pass through; south, the Mission Reach follows a restored, more natural river to the missions. Narrated river cruises run from several docks downtown and take about 35 to 40 minutes; buy tickets online or at the docks. In late November the river is lit for the holidays, and in spring it hosts a river parade during Fiesta.
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
South of downtown, four Spanish colonial missions with their stone churches, walls and farm fields make up San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the Alamo. No entrance pass is needed and visits are free. Mission Concepción is about 3 miles (5 km) south of downtown; Mission San José, the largest and most restored, with the park’s visitor center, is about 2.5 miles (4 km) farther; Mission San Juan, with a demonstration farm, is 3 miles (5 km) beyond that; and Mission Espada is the farthest south. The missions are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with outside grounds open from sunrise to sunset, and close on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Several churches are still active parishes, so be respectful during services.
By car, the four missions are about 15 minutes’ drive apart from end to end, with free parking at each. VIA Route 42 serves only Concepción and San José. The best way to see them is by bike on the Mission Reach hike-and-bike trail, about 10 miles (16 km) of connected trails along the river; bike-share stations are at each mission. Bring water: there is little shade in summer.
The Pearl
The Pearl Brewery operated here for more than a century; today its brick buildings and old brewhouse hold a hotel, restaurants serving everything from Texas barbecue to Mexican seafood, bakeries, bookshops and boutiques around a green plaza with a splash fountain. The farmers market is held on weekends, and there is often free live music in the evenings. Walk or take a river cruise along the Museum Reach from downtown, about 30 to 40 minutes on foot.
San Fernando Cathedral and Main Plaza
San Fernando Cathedral, founded by Canary Islands settlers in the 1730s, is one of the oldest cathedrals in the US and still the center of Catholic life downtown. On some evenings its facade on Main Plaza is used as the screen for a free light-and-video show about the city’s history; check the schedule locally. Nearby, the Spanish Governor’s Palace is a rare example of an 18th-century Spanish colonial residence.
Other things to do in San Antonio
- Fiesta San Antonio: the city’s biggest party, with parades, music, food and the river parade, is set for April 15–25, 2027. Book hotels early.
- Food: Tex-Mex, puffy tacos, breakfast tacos, barbecue and Mexican pastries; the Pearl and Southtown have the most interesting restaurants.
- Museums: the San Antonio Museum of Art on the Museum Reach, the McNay Art Museum in a Spanish-style mansion north of downtown, and the Briscoe Western Art Museum near the river; check each site for hours and prices.
- Cycling: ride the Mission Reach trail from downtown to the missions on a bike-share bike; see our cycling guide.
- Sightseeing on foot: the Alamo, the River Walk, La Villita, King William and the cathedral fit into one easy day; our city sightseeing guide has tips for city breaks.
Day trips from San Antonio
The Hill Country and New Braunfels
North of the city, the Hill Country has limestone hills, rivers and small German-founded towns. New Braunfels, about 30 miles (48 km) northeast, is known for tubing on the cool, spring-fed Comal and Guadalupe rivers in summer and for the historic dance hall in Gruene. Boerne and Bandera, to the northwest, offer old main streets, state parks and a taste of cowboy country. Fredericksburg, with its wineries and German heritage, is about 70 miles (113 km) away.
Austin
The state capital is about 80 miles (130 km) northeast on Interstate 35, usually 1.5 hours or more because of traffic. It makes a long day trip for the Capitol, South Congress and, from spring to fall, the bat flight at sunset, but it is worth staying a night or two if you can.
Natural Bridge Caverns and the coast
Natural Bridge Caverns, northeast of the city near New Braunfels, is one of the largest show caves in Texas, with guided tours year-round at a steady cool temperature, a good escape from summer heat. For the Gulf of Mexico, Corpus Christi and Port Aransas are about 2.5 hours’ drive southeast.
Nearby destinations
- Austin122 km
Getting there and getting around
From San Antonio International Airport
SAT is about 8 miles (13 km) north of downtown, with flights across the US and to Mexico. VIA Route 5 runs daily from the lower roadway (arrivals and baggage level) at Terminals A and B to downtown in about 30 minutes, for the standard $1.30 fare with free transfers; frequency varies through the day and is lower on weekends. Taxis and ride-shares take about 15 to 20 minutes without traffic.
VIA buses
VIA Metropolitan Transit runs the city’s buses, including the faster Prímo lines and VIA Link on-demand service in some areas. Fares as of October 2026:
| Ticket | Standard fare | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single ride | $1.30 | Regular buses, Prímo and VIA Link; transfers are free |
| Express single ride | $2.60 | Express buses |
| Day Pass | $2.75 | Unlimited rides on all buses for 24 hours after activation; sold on the bus |
| 7-Day Pass | $12 | Unlimited rides for seven days |
| Reduced fares | Half price | Children 5–13, seniors 62+, Medicare holders, riders with disabilities, active military and students |
Buy passes in the VIA goMobile+ app, on a reloadable goCard, at VIA customer service centers or at H-E-B supermarkets. Downtown is easily walkable, and the River Walk is the most pleasant way to get between the Alamo, the convention center, La Villita and the Pearl on foot. Bike-share stations are dotted around downtown and the missions.
Driving and trains
A car is useful for the Hill Country and the coast but not needed downtown, where hotel parking can be expensive. Interstates 35 and 10 cross the city, and Loop 410 and Loop 1604 circle it. Amtrak’s Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle trains stop at the station east of downtown, on routes to Los Angeles, New Orleans and Chicago.
When to go and how long to stay
Weather for your datesSunrise and sunset
San Antonio is hot for much of the year. Spring is warm and often pleasant, with wildflowers in the Hill Country and occasional big thunderstorms. Summer is long and hot, with afternoons in the mid-90s °F (about 35 °C) and warm nights. Fall stays warm into October, and November and the holidays are lovely on the River Walk. Winters are mild, with occasional cold fronts.
| Season | Average high | Average low | What it’s like |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (Mar–May) | 74–87 °F (23–30 °C) | 52–66 °F (11–19 °C) | Warm; Fiesta in April; storms in May. |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | 92–96 °F (34–36 °C) | 73–75 °F (23–24 °C) | Hot and humid; sightsee early, swim or tube later. |
| Fall (Sep–Nov) | 90–72 °F (32–22 °C) | 70–50 °F (21–10 °C) | Hot September, pleasant October–November; rainy spells. |
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | 63–68 °F (17–20 °C) | 41–45 °F (5–7 °C) | Mild; holiday lights on the River Walk; short cold snaps. |
Figures are NOAA 1991–2020 normals for San Antonio International Airport. The city gets about 32 inches (822 mm) of rain a year, most of it in May, June, September and October, often in heavy downpours.
Heat and flash floods
From June to September, visit the missions and walk the trails in the early morning, carry water, and plan the afternoon in museums, the caverns or a shaded patio by the river. Sudden heavy rain can flood low-water crossings and creeks in and around the city; never drive or walk through flooded roads.
How long to stay: 2, 3 and 4 days
- Two days: the Alamo, the River Walk and a river cruise, La Villita and King William; the missions by bike or car and an evening at the Pearl.
- Three days: add Market Square, San Fernando Cathedral and a museum, or a summer afternoon tubing in New Braunfels.
- Four days: add a Hill Country day to Fredericksburg or Boerne, or a day in Austin.
Where to stay in San Antonio and the hotel tax
- Downtown and the River Walk: the most convenient base, with many big hotels opening straight onto the river; busy and pricier during conventions and Fiesta.
- The Pearl and the Museum Reach: boutique hotels near the best food, a pleasant walk from downtown along the river.
- King William and Southtown: bed-and-breakfasts and small inns in historic houses, close to the Mission Reach.
- Near the airport and the northern loops: cheaper chain hotels for drivers, but you will need a car.
Hotel tax: room rates are quoted before tax. The City of San Antonio charges a 9% hotel occupancy tax (7% general tax plus 2% for the convention center expansion) and also collects 1.75% for Bexar County, which funds the county’s community venues. The State of Texas adds 6%, for a total of 16.75%. Hotels with 100 or more rooms in the city also collect a 2% Tourism Public Improvement District assessment, so expect about 18.75% at large hotels. Many River Walk hotels add parking charges and daily resort or amenity fees; check the total price before you book.
Practical tips for San Antonio
- Time zone: San Antonio is on Central Time and uses daylight saving time.
- Reserve the Alamo: book your free Church time slot online before you go, especially on weekends and holidays.
- Tipping and prices: sales tax is added at the till; tip about 18–22% in sit-down restaurants and bars (see our United States travel guide).
- Safety: downtown and the River Walk are busy and generally safe; the River Walk has no railings in most places, so watch children near the edge, and keep valuables out of sight in parked cars.
- Emergencies: call 911.
What to pack for San Antonio
Pack light, breathable clothes, a sun hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and a reusable water bottle for most of the year, plus comfortable walking shoes for the River Walk’s stone paths and the missions. A light rain jacket or umbrella is useful in spring and fall. Bring a swimsuit and water shoes if you plan to tube the rivers in summer, and a sweater for chilly air-conditioning indoors. In winter, add a warm layer for evenings by the river. Cover shoulders when visiting the mission churches during services.
San Antonio travel FAQ
Is the Alamo free to visit?
Yes. The grounds and the Church are free, but you need a free timed reservation for the Church. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., closed on Christmas Day; guided tours and the Collections Center cost extra.
Do the San Antonio missions charge an entrance fee?
No. No entrance pass is needed for San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. The missions are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
How do I get from San Antonio airport to downtown?
Take VIA Route 5 from the lower roadway at Terminals A and B; it takes about 30 minutes and costs $1.30. A taxi or ride-share takes about 15 to 20 minutes without traffic.
How much is a bus ticket in San Antonio?
$1.30 for a regular ride with free transfers, $2.60 for express buses, $2.75 for a 24-hour Day Pass and $12 for a 7-Day Pass. Seniors, children and some other riders pay half price.
How do I visit the missions without a car?
Ride the Mission Reach hike-and-bike trail along the river, with bike-share stations at each mission, or take VIA Route 42, which serves Mission Concepción and Mission San José only.
What is the hotel tax in San Antonio?
16.75% in total: the city’s 9%, 1.75% for Bexar County and the State of Texas’s 6%. Hotels with 100 or more rooms add a 2% tourism district assessment.
When is Fiesta San Antonio 2027?
April 15–25, 2027, according to the Fiesta San Antonio Commission. Expect parades, street parties and higher hotel prices.
When is the best time to visit San Antonio?
March to May and October to early December, when it is warm but not too hot. Summer is very hot; plan sightseeing for early morning and evening.
Plan your trip
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Sources
Researched and last reviewed on October 4, 2026. Alamo hours, free entry and reservations come from the Alamo’s official site; mission hours, fees and access from the National Park Service; fares and the airport bus from VIA Metropolitan Transit and San Antonio International Airport; hotel taxes from the City of San Antonio and the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts; Fiesta 2027 dates from Fiesta San Antonio; climate from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for San Antonio International Airport; population from Wikidata. River cruise times, distances to day-trip towns, airport driving times and some neighborhood details are general references and flagged for checking. Prices and timetables change, so check the official sites before you go. For entry rules, money and general safety, see our United States travel guide.
Place data: Wikidata (CC0)