San Antonio

We’ve compiled the best of the best in San Antonio - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.

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  • 1. Brackenridge Park

    Alamo Heights

    Beloved Brackenridge Park has been a big part of San Antonians' lives for more than a century. The 343-acre riverside park makes an excellent setting for a picnic or a stroll, with about 3 miles of walking trails, public art, softball fields, a municipal golf course, concessions, and sights like the Japanese Tea Garden and the San Antonio Zoo. Take a 2-mile ride around the park on a miniature train that runs daily; buy tickets at the Train Depot. The mission of the Brackenridge Park Conservancy is to work as a steward of and an advocate for the park, enhancing and protecting its natural, historic, recreational, and educational resources. One of its numerous projects is the renovation of the Sunken Garden Theater, including the preservation of the historic amphitheater and its backstage facilities, redesigned landscaping, and more. The park is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a Texas State Antiquities Landmark. 

    3700 N. St. Mary's St., San Antonio, Texas, 78212, USA
    210-207–7275

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Free
  • 2. Hopscotch

    Downtown

    This is a 20,000-square-foot space you must see to believe, as descriptions, or even images, don't really do it justice. It is a permanent and uniquely curated (to say the least) gallery of 14 distinctive, immersive, and interactive installations by 40 local, national, and international artists seeking to create high-impact works in sustainable and creative ways. A sample of exhibits includes Gaze, Quantum Space, VJ Yourself, Freefall, Matrix, Experiences Over Things, and many more. Exhibits are on a rotating basis, but it's guaranteed you will see something you like, and maybe something you don't, like any other art. The space also features a public-facing lounge, full bar, and a fun, quirky gift shop, as well as a large patio and food truck. It is highly recommended to purchase tickets in advance for the gallery; tickets are timed to avoid congestion in the hallways and rooms and give everyone a chance to fully enjoy each exhibit.

    711 Navarro St., San Antonio, Texas, 78205, USA
    No phone

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: $24, Closed Mon.–Wed.
  • 3. McNay Art Museum

    Alamo Heights

    The first modern art museum in Texas, the McNay was once the magnificent home of artist, collector, and oil heiress Marion Koogler McNay, who bequeathed her 24-room Spanish Colonial Revival–style mansion and its 23 landscaped acres to the city of San Antonio. It currently houses an art collection of works by Paul Gauguin, Paul Cézanne, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh, and more, for a total of about 22,000 works. The museum also houses the Tobin Collection of Theatre Arts. Robert Tobin was a San Antonio philanthropist who assembled a world-renowned 12,000-item collection chronicling theater history. Custom tours are available for a variety of group sizes, ages, and interests.  

    6000 N. New Braunfels Ave., San Antonio, Texas, 78209, USA
    210-824--5368

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: $20; free Thurs. 4–9 pm and 1st Sun. of every month noon–5 pm, Closed Mon. and Tues.
  • 4. Mission San José

    Southside

    At the center of the Mission Trail and the largest mission, Mission San Jose is known as the Queen of Missions. It's near the historical park's visitor center and it's the best place to catch a tour, led by a Texas Ranger or volunteer, because the history of San Jose is critical to understanding the story of the missions and San Antonio. The mission was founded in 1720 by Father Antonio Margil de Jesus, a prominent Franciscan missionary. The current church is 80% original as the outer wall, granary, convent, and Native American quarters were restored by the WPA in the 1930s. The Rose Window, sculpted in 1775, is located on the south wall of the church sacristy and considered one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in North America.  Start your tour at the stunning Mission San José, the "Queen of Missions." It's adjacent to the visitor's center, where a National Park Service ranger or docent illuminates the history of the missions. San José's outer wall, American Indian dwellings, granary, water mill, and workshops have been restored. Here you can pick up a driving map of the Mission Trail that connects San José with the other missions.

    6701 San Jose Dr., San Antonio, Texas, 78214, USA
    210-932--1001

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Free
  • 5. Morgan's Wonderland

    Northeast

    The world's first theme park designed and built for individuals with special needs, 25-acre Morgan's Wonderland is completely wheelchair-accessible, with playgrounds, attractions, and rides specially built to accommodate wheelchairs, like the colorful carousel and the Whirling Wonder Ferris Wheel. Traditional swing areas also feature wheelchair swings. The Wonderland Express perimeter train ride gives an overview of Morgan's Wonderland and Morgan's Inspiration Island, the latter with five tropic-themed splash pads and a Riverboat Adventure Ride that travels through a jungle setting. And because not everyone's wheelchair is suited for a watery environment, there are complimentary waterproof wheelchairs and protective accessories for guests. The inspiration for such an amazing place is Morgan Hartman, daughter of native San Antonian businessman and philanthropist Gordon Hartman and his wife Maggie. The Gordon Hartman Family Foundation pursues Gordon and Maggie's goal of helping people of all ages with special needs. Morgan Hartman is now 27 and is greeted like a rock-star when she visits her namesake park. Special needs children and adults are admitted to the park free of charge. Before planning a visit, call or check their website for seasonal hours and closings. 

    5223 David Edwards Dr., San Antonio, Texas, 78233, USA
    210-495–5888

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: $19; free for anyone with special needs
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  • 6. Natural Bridge Caverns

    North

    Thirty minutes north of downtown San Antonio, you can trek down 180 feet below the earth's surface for a half-mile walk through this beautiful, historic cavern system. Take the original Discovery Tour to explore the largest show cavern in Texas with its stalagmites, stalactites, flowstones, chandeliers, and soda-straw formations. The more adventurous (and physically fit) can take the Adventure Tour to get down and dirty (read: muddy) like a real spelunker. Caverns are cool with high humidity. Wear comfortable shoes with good traction. Trails can be wet, and climbing and descending stairs are involved. Tour prices can vary by date. Surface attractions include a four-level ropes course, seven zip rails, and climbing towers. Booking and buying ahead is recommended for cavern tours. 

    26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd., San Antonio, Texas, 78266, USA
    210-651–6144

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: $23
  • 7. San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum

    Downtown

    An important museum with an important mission, the goal of SAACAM (pronounced say-cam) is to preserve and share the history and culture of African Americans in San Antonio. It's a small place with a huge story, one that's told beautifully with well-organized exhibits and thoughtful events, like the Black History Film Series, book discussions, workshops, and activities. One permanent exhibit presents a timeline that illustrates black history in San Antonio through archival photographs and documents. Overall the museum uses timeline displays and digital archives to tell the story of African Americans in San Antonio dating from the 1500s to present day. There's even a kiosk for visitors to share their own stories. The small but striking gift shop features items only from San Antonio authors and artisans. The museum is also where you can book river tours on African American history in conjunction with GO RIO Cruises. 

    218 S. Presa St., San Antonio, Texas, 78205, USA
    210-734–3350

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Free
  • 8. San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

    Southside

    A National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage site in Texas, the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park is located on the Southside about 10 minutes south of downtown. Except for the Alamo, San Antonio's missions constitute the park and all four are active Catholic parishes to this day. Established along the San Antonio River in the 18th century by Franciscan friars, the missions stand as reminders of Spain's most successful attempt to extend its New World dominion northward from Mexico. The missions had the responsibility of converting the natives (primarily American Indians) to Catholicism. The missions were also centers of work, education, and trade. They represented the greatest concentration of Catholic missions in North America, and were the basis of the founding of San Antonio. The four missions from north to south are Mission Concepcion, Mission San Jose, Mission San Juan, and Mission Espada. They are roughly 2½ miles apart from one another, but driving between them is easy—they are connected by Mission Road and Mission Parkway—and there is free parking at each mission. Admission to all missions is free. The visitor center and store for the park district is at Mission San Jose. Pick up a map of the grounds there and ask about upcoming special programming; the park is regularly alive with community gatherings, artists working plein air, festivals, and more.

    2202 Roosevelt Ave., San Antonio, Texas, 78210, USA
    210-932--1001-visitor center

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Free
  • 9. San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA)

    Downtown

    Don't miss this magnificent global art museum right on the River Walk. Housed in the former historic Lone Star Brewery, the 69,500-square-foot museum is best known for its spectacular Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Latin American Art, with thousands of works of Spanish colonial art, folk art, pre-Columbian art, and Latin American modern and contemporary art. There are also impressive collections of American Indian, African, Islamic, European, and Ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian art. An extensive collection of Asian art is housed in its own Lenora and Walter F. Brown Asian Art wing, including pieces from the Ming and Ch'ing dynasties. Past exhibitions have included works by impressionists, Matisse, sculptor and designer Harry Bertoia, Carlos Mérida, Rodin, and many more. The museum offers a variety of tours, along with classes, workshops, and special events. The SAMA museum gift shop is one of the best, brimming with accessories, home decor, gifts, art prints, jewelry, seasonal items, and books, including guides to selected collections.

    200 W. Jones Ave., San Antonio, Texas, 78215, USA
    210-978--8100

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: $20, Closed Mon.
  • 10. San Antonio River Walk

    Downtown

    Built a full story below street level, the Paseo del Rio is the city's (and state's) leading tourist attraction, with the Downtown Reach section comprising about 3 miles of scenic stone pathways that line both San Antonio River banks as it flows through downtown, connecting many of the city's sights, hotels, and restaurants. In some places, the walk is peaceful and quiet; in others, it is a mad conglomeration of restaurants, bars, hotels, shops, and strolling mariachi bands, all of which can also be seen from GO RIO Cruises tour boats and river shuttles. To the north, the Museum Reach section of the River Walk extends roughly 4 miles from Lexington Street to Grayson Street. Boat tours do not travel to this section, but the river shuttles do, making their last stop at the Pearl District after a lock-and-dam experience at Brooklyn Street. The final section, the Mission Reach, extends south of downtown, uniquely encompassing 8 miles of riparian woodlands with native plants and an active aquatic habitat. No restaurants, hotels, shops, or river boats are on this stretch, but visitors can access the four missions at the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park via the walking path alongside the river. The fifth mission, the Alamo, is steps away from the Downtown Reach. The San Antonio River Walk and its three distinctive sections extend about 15 miles total. 

    849 E. Commerce St., San Antonio, Texas, 78205, USA
    210-227--4262

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Free
  • 11. San Antonio Zoo

    Alamo Heights

    One of San Antonio's most popular attractions, the 56 acres—34 of which are open to the public—of the San Antonio Zoo house approximately 15,000 animals representing more than 900 species. The Africa Live exhibit comes complete with special circulation and filtration systems for a state-of-the-art underwater hippo and crocodile habitat where visitors can observe them along with African fish. The Tiny Tots Nature Spot is the first zoo exhibit in the nation designed specifically for children under 5 and their families to engage in interactive experiences with nature and animals. Lory Landing is an Australian rain forest environment home to hundreds of brightly colored, active, and curious lorikeets that engage with zoo visitors; cups of nectar are available for purchase at the nearby Lory Café to feed these playful birds. Check the website for a description of other experiences, such as behind-the-scenes tours and feeding experiences available for an additional fee.  Current conservation efforts at the zoo's Center for Conservation and Research focus on fish, amphibians, reptiles, crustaceans, and insects. 

    3903 N. Saint Mary's St., San Antonio, Texas, 78212, USA
    210-734--7184

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: $30
  • 12. Six Flags Fiesta Texas

    Northwest

    Set within 100-foot-tall quarry walls, this amusement park features five themed sectors highlighting Texas's rich diversity, from the state's Mexican and German culture to its rip-roarin' Western past. Nine roller coasters are here, including Batman: The Ride, Boomerang Coast to Coaster, the hybrid wood/steel Iron Rattler, the spinning/twisting Pandemonium, the "spaghetti bowl" Poltergeist, the family-friendly Road Runner Express, Superman: Krypton Coaster (the largest steel coaster in Texas), and the Goliath, a 50-mph body-blasting suspended looping coaster. The Dare Devil Dive Flying Machines that imitate the maneuvers of acrobatic dogfights is the tallest ride of its kind in the world. There's also Scream, a 20-story tower-drop ride. The park has about 40 rides in all, and its Whitewater Bay water park is open seasonally. Rounding out the offerings are many excellent family-friendly live musical shows.

    17000 W I–10, San Antonio, Texas, 78257, USA
    210-697--5050

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: $35
    View Tours and Activities
  • 13. The Alamo

    Downtown

    At the heart of San Antonio, this one-time Franciscan mission established in 1718 as Mission San Antonio de Valero stands as a revered repository of 300 years of Texas history. It is a monument to the 187 Texan and Tejano (Texans of Mexican descent) volunteers who fought and died here during a 13-day siege in February and March of 1836 led by Mexican dictator General Antonio López de Santa Anna. The Texan army lost, but the defeat inspired an April victory at the Battle of San Jacinto with the rallying cry "Remember the Alamo," spurring Texas toward independence from Mexico. Today the historic shrine (Alamo Church) and Long Barrack are the only structures remaining from the 1836 battle. Explore the serene gardens featuring a 16-pounder cannon exhibit, Living History Encampment, Statues of Heroes walk, and illustrated Wall of History. Admission to the Alamo Church is free but requires a timed ticket (reserve online) to keep the crowds at a minimum inside the shrine; with your timed ticket, you can upgrade to the Victory or Death 45-minute audio tour for $9, which also gives you entry to the Alamo Exhibit with its unique artifacts and historical documents. A one-hour Alamo Tour with an experienced Alamo history interpreter is $40. The Young Texans Tour for kids of all ages is $30. 

    300 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, Texas, 78205, USA
    210-225--1391

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Free; audio tour and Alamo Exhibit $9; guided tours $40
    View Tours and Activities
  • 14. The Witte Museum

    A treasure trove of Texas and regional history, art, heritage, natural history, and science, the Witte is one of the city's best museums. As you enter, walk through the H-E-B Lantern, where a replica of a giant Quetzalcoatlus overhead ushers visitors into the beginning of their journey into Texas Deep Time. The Kittie West Nelson Ferguson People of the Pecos Gallery spans the entire second floor and focuses on the prehistoric hunter-gatherers of Texas. Other demonstrations include encounters with native Texas animals that make the Witte their home and exhibits on how the People of the Pecos created rock art that has survived thousands of years. The Bolner Family Museum Store has exclusive items inspired by the museum's collections and exhibitions.

    3801 Broadway St., San Antonio, Texas, 78209, USA
    210-357--1900

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: $14; free Tues. 3–6 pm
  • 15. Blue Star Arts Complex

    King William Historic District

    At this popular and diverse arts center, you can enjoy several restaurants and bars and pay a visit to Blue Star Contemporary, the longest running contemporary art venue in San Antonio. The complex also houses individual galleries and art houses. You can bike or run along the river, too. Admission to the complex is free, but individual venues may charge a fee. 

    1414 S. Alamo St., San Antonio, Texas, 78210, USA
    210-354–3775
  • 16. Briscoe Western Art Museum

    Downtown

    This is a stunning museum that celebrates the art, history, and culture of the American West, located in a beautifully restored 1930s San Antonio Public Library building on the River Walk. The museum is named in honor of the late Texas governor Dolph Briscoe Jr. and his wife Janey Slaughter Briscoe. Highlights of the collection include a monumental bronze sculpture, John Coleman's Visions of Change, that represents both Native Americans and cowboys. Featured works include those by Frederic Remington, Allan Houser, Martin Grelle, Charles Marion Russell, W. Herbert Dunton, and more. There are 14 galleries on three levels, housing paintings, sculpture, photography, and artifacts reflecting Native American art, Spanish and Mexican colonial-era art, and Western folk art. The beautiful McNutt Sculpture Garden is free and open to the public, with access from the River Walk and an entrance on Market Street. 

    210 W. Market St., San Antonio, Texas, 78205, USA
    210-299–4499

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: $12, Closed Tues. and Wed.
  • 17. Casa Navarro State Historic Site

    Downtown

    A signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, lawyer, legislator, and Tejano civil rights advocate José Antonio Navarro built these three limestone, brick, and adobe buildings in the 1850s for his residence and law office. He had sold his ranch near Seguin and moved to San Antonio to be active on the city council. Open to visitors, the half-acre site in Old San Antonio's Laredito area is now a National Historic Landmark and features period furniture and copies of Navarro's writings—he wrote about the history of Texas from a Tejano's perspective and in the Spanish language. It is San Antonio's only historic site focused on the Mexican history and heritage of Texas from the viewpoint of a native Texan with Mexican ancestry. 

    228 S. Laredo St., San Antonio, Texas, 78207, USA
    210-226--4801

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: $4
  • 18. Culinary Institute of America, San Antonio

    Alamo Heights

    One of four branches of the country's most famous culinary school, the CIA Texas campus in San Antonio attracts food lovers and future chefs with a special interest in Latin American culture and cuisine. Associate and bachelor degrees in the culinary arts are offered here, but if you're just a foodie passing through, you can sign up for one-day classes that range from three to five hours on topics like Mexican desserts, live-fire grilling, holiday pies, and more. Or try a short session on Food and Wine Pairing 101. Longer, more intense boot camps are available on Mexican and Mediterranean cuisine and, of course, grilling and barbecue. If you would rather relax and watch someone else work, check out the one- to two-hour chef demonstrations on a variety of topics, with tastings and take-home recipes included. To skip work entirely, make reservations at Savor, the CIA restaurant, for a meal created and presented by advanced CIA students under the guidance of professional faculty.

    312 Pearl Pkwy, San Antonio, Texas, 78215, USA
    210-554–6400

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Public tours $2; cooking classes and demonstrations vary, Closed weekends
  • 19. Fort Sam Houston Quadrangle and Museum

    Alamo Heights

    Visit this U.S. Army military history museum to learn the story of Fort Sam Houston from the late 19th century to the present. It's filled with exhibits about the site's early days, with displays that include old uniforms, firearms, vehicles, and personal papers, which you can see on a self-guided tour. The museum is located in the Quadrangle, which was once an outdoor prison and now where dozens of peacocks, deer, ducks, and other wildlife roam freely. Fort Sam Houston is a National Historic Landmark.

    1405 E. Grayson St., San Antonio, Texas, 78234, USA
    210-221--1886

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Free, Closed weekends
  • 20. Friedrich Wilderness Park

    North

    For locals, Friedrich Wilderness Park is a great close-to-home spot with more than 10 miles of hiking trails, a mere 20 miles from the Alamo on the northwest side of town near Six Flags Fiesta Texas. This 600-acre hilly haven for rare birds and orchids is a nesting site for two federally listed bird species: the black-capped vireo and the golden-cheeked warbler. As a protected area that minimizes impact on the environment, rollerblades, scooters, skateboards, and bicycles are not allowed. Bird-watchers from around the world are often spotted here. Some species are seasonal, such as blue jays (fall and winter), eastern meadowlarks (spring), red-winged blackbirds (spring and summer), scissor-tailed flycatchers (spring, summer, and fall), and double-crested cormorants (winter). You can see turkey vultures, finches, Carolina wrens, doves, northern woodpeckers, northern cardinals, mockingbirds, and more year-round. For trail conditions, check out their Facebook or Twitter, call the park office, or go to Friends of San Antonio Natural Areas ( fosana.org).

    21395 Milsa Dr., San Antonio, Texas, 78256, USA
    210-207--3780

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Free

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