Places to Visit in San Antonio

Places to Visit

San Antonio is one of the most popular tourist spots in the world. It is situated in the state of Texas in the U.S. This city consists of important places that every traveler should visit. You can plan to visit these significant attractions in San Antonio. These places, such as River Walk, the Tower of the Americas, and SeaWorld San Antonio, make your trip memorable. You can plan to visit them with your family and certainly, your kids will be entertained well at these places. You will also learn about Spanish history and the culture of San Antonio. You can also enjoy the energy of this third-largest metropolitan city in Texas. 

You will come across the iconic five 18th-century Spanish frontier missions in your tour here. These missions include The Alamo and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. They were designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2015. Other notable tourist attractions in San Antonio include the Japanese Tea Garden, the botanical garden, Brackenridge Park, the Alamo Bowl, and Marriage Island. There are commercial entertainment parks in the city of San Antonio as well. It includes Six Flags Fiesta Texas and Morgan’s Wonderland Amusement Park. 

With these attractions in San Antonio, the city involves numerous military facilities in and around the city. For example, Brooke Army Medical Center is the only military medical center in the city. It is situated in Fort Sam Houston. Similarly, Lackland Air Force Base, Randolph Air Force Base, Kelly Air Force Base, Camp Bullis, and Camp Stanley are near this city. Moreover, San Antonio is also home to some Fortune 500 companies and the South Texas Medical Center. It is the only medical research and care provider in South Texas. Such attractions in San Antonio are enumerated below.  

San Antonio Tourism Guide

Destination Info
  • IATA Code SAT
  • Airport Name San Antonio International Airport
  • Airport Address 9800 Airport Blvd, San Antonio, TX 78216, United States
  • No. of Runways 3
  • Airport Enquiry No. +1 210-207-3433
  • Official Site https://flysanantonio.com/
  • Country Code +1
  • Currency USD
  • Ideal Duration 3 to 5 Days
  • Visa Required Not Required for Domestic Traveller
  • Best Time to Visit November to April
  • Airline Serving Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways
  • Attractions The Alamo, San Antonio River Walk, San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, Japanese Tea Garden

List of 10 Places to Visit in San Antonio

  • 1
    San Antonio River Walk

    One of the most notable attractions in San Antonio is the San Antonio River Walk. This famous attraction is a city park and a pedestrian street in San Antonio, Texas. It winds and loops under bridges and is equipped with two parallel sidewalks. These sidewalks are lined with restaurants and shops that are popular among tourists. These shops include Shops at Rivercenter, the Arneson River Theatre, Marriage Island, La Villita, HemisFair Park, the Tower Life Building, the San Antonio Museum of Art, and the Pearl. This tourist attraction in San Antonio is also near the five Spanish colonial missions, such as the Alamo and Mission San Jose. If you are visiting the San Antonio River Walk during the spring season, you can attend the annual springtime Fiesta San Antonio, too. 

  • 2
    San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

    San Antonio Missions National Historical Park is one of the must-visit attractions in San Antonio. It is because you will come across the Spanish atmosphere of this city of Texas. This national historic park preserves four of the five Spanish Frontier missions in San Antonio, Texas. It has also been earmarked as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The missions in this site were established by Catholic religious orders to spread Christianity among the local natives. The five missions include Mission Concepcion, Mission San Jose, Mission San Juan, and Mission Espada. Today, the historic site still holds active catholic parishes. Regular services are being offered in these historic buildings. Special services are also being performed, including weddings and funerals. 

  • 3
    San Antonio Botanical Garden

    San Antonio Botanical Garden is a major tourist attraction in San Antonio. It is a non-profit botanical garden comprising the Lucile Halsell Conservatory, formal and display gardens, native gardens, an overlook tower, and the Sullivan Carriage House. One of its famous areas, Lucile Halsell Conservatory, consists of five climate-specific greenhouses surrounding a central courtyard. The structure of this conservatory includes alpine plants, aquatic plants, cacti and succulents, carnivorous plants, epiphytes, ferns and aroids, tropical fruits, palms, and cycads. Other gardens in this botanical garden are the Mays Family Display Garden, The Zachry Foundation Culinary Garden, the Sensory Garden, the Rose and Old Fashioned Garden, the Sacred Garden, the Cactus and Succulent Garden, and the Family Adventure Garden. You should plan your trip to these gardens during your tour of San Antonio.

  • 4
    Brackenridge Park

    Brackenridge Park is a popular public park in San Antonio situated to the north of downtown San Antonio. This park offers numerous sports and activities to keep you engaged throughout the day. It consists of multiple fields for baseball, playgrounds, pavilions, and walking trails. You can also visit the San Antonio Zoo, which is located in the middle of this park. Within the area of this park, you will come across attractions such as the Witte Museum, the Japanese Tea Gardens, the Sunken Garden Theater, and the First Tee of San Antonio. Other nearby attractions, such as DoSeum and the San Antonio Botanical Garden, exist. You can plan to visit Antonio Botanical Garden along with Brackenridge Park for your day to spend at some attractions in San Antonio

  • 5
    The Majestic Theatre

    The Majestic Theatre is another historic tourist attraction in San Antonio. This theatre organizes a wide variety of concerts and live entertainment experiences. It is currently home to the Broadway in San Antonio series, a must-to-watch. Along with these entertainment series, you will also see the Spanish Mediterranean architecture created by John Eberson. Today, people consider it the only atmospheric theatre in the United States. Moreover, it is the oldest and the largest theatre in Texas and the second-largest movie theatre in the United States. Earlier, Majestic Theatre was home to the San Antonio Symphony from 1989 to 2014. It is located in the heart of downtown San Antonio, making it easy to reach. If you are planning for some entertainment in San Antonio, then Majestic Theatre is the one for you. 

  • 6
    McNay Art Museum

    You can discover San Antonio artwork by famous artists at McNay Art Museum. This is the first modern art museum in Texas, consisting of medieval and Renaissance artwork galleries. These galleries portray a large collection of 20th-century European and American modernist works. The collection mainly belongs to Marion Koogler McNay, who founded this museum. After her death, she created a will to establish the McNay Art Museum. She was an American painter and an art teacher after whom the museum was named. Inside the museum, you will discover her 24-room Spanish Colonial Revival-style mansion beautified with fountains, broad lawns, and a Japanese-inspired garden and fishpond. If you are artistic, you should visit McNay Art Museum for more inspiration. 

  • 7
    Six Flags Fiesta Texas

    San Antonio is also well-known for the most thrilling theme parks in the city. One of them is Six Flags Fiesta Texas. It was established about 30 years ago in San Antonio to interact with classic cartoon characters of Looney Toons and Super DC. It also includes thrilling rides, water parks, enthusiastic festivals, and entertainment. This park’s main landmark is the Screen Drop Tower Ride. This ride stands 205 feet tall, seen from nearby places in the Six Flags Fiesta, Texas. Besides, this theme park features numerous forms of in-park entertainment, too. One of these forms is theme shows such as Rockin’ At Rockville High show. Because of these entertaining modes, Six Flags Fiesta Texas is known to be one of the best attractions in San Antonio among tourists.

  • 8
    The Alamo

    The Alamo is one of the major historic sites in San Antonio. This tourist attraction in San Antonio was established as a Mission San Antonio de Valero in 1718, about 300 years ago. Today, this former mission is now known as the Alamo. This mission existed under six independent nations and was a garrison for five armies. However, this site commemorates the historic Battle of Alamo in 1836. It has a rich history and heritage that inspires Texans and people worldwide. During your visit to this famous attraction in San Antonio, you can take a guided battlefield tour, rent a self-guided audio tour, and walk amidst the historic Alamo Church and Long Barrack Museum.

  • 9
    Natural Bridge Caverns

    San Antonio is full of adventures too. If you are enthusiastic about going underground, consider visiting Natural Bridge Caverns. This famous attraction in San Antonio is the largest commercial cavern in the US state of Texas. It is located in the Texas Hill Country, near San Antonio. The neighboring attraction is Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, which is a wildlife safari park. The atmosphere of these caverns is pleasant for tourists as the temperature of the cave is around 70 °F (21 °C), and the humidity rate remains 99 percent constant. Amidst these conditions, you will be able to witness several unique speleothems and other geological formations. You can reach the deepest areas of caverns during your visit to Natural Bridge Caverns. 

  • 10
    Japanese Tea Garden

    The Japanese Tea Garden is one of the most spectacular attractions you must see while visiting San Antonio. This Tea Garden is also known as the Sunken Gardens in Brackenridge Park. It was opened in the early 20th century in an abandoned limestone stock quarry. This park was closed in 2005 for renovation by San Antonio Parks Foundation. After its renovation, the garden was reopened to the public in 2008. The renovated Japanese Tea Garden features a lush green garden, a floral display, and shaded walkways. The garden has also been decorated with stone bridges, a 60-foot waterfall, and ponds filled with koi. It has been listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and is near the San Antonio Zoo.  

San Antonio Monthly Temperature

MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Low 41°F45°F52°F58°F66°F73°F75°F75°F70°F60°F50°F42°F
High 63°F68°F74°F80°F87°F92°F95°F96°F90°F82°F72°F65°F

FAQs About Places to Visit in San Antonio

1 What is the most famous thing in San Antonio?

There is more than one famous attraction in San Antonio. You need almost a week to discover all of them. Some of these attractions that can be covered are McNay Art Museum, Natural Bridge Caverns, Brackenridge Park, and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

2 Is San Antonio, Texas, worth visiting?

When you are in Texas, plan a week’s trip to San Antonio. This second-most populous city is a major metropolitan hub in Texas. It boasts several important attractions, such as the Alamo site, which portrays the famous battle of the Alamo. 

3 Is 3 days in San Antonio enough?

A 3-day trip to San Antonio can be enough if you need more time. These three days will let you soak enough of the history of this city in Texas. Consider visiting the Alamo, McNay Art Museum, and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park during your trip. 

4 Why is San Antonio so famous?

San Antonia is a famous city in Texas. It is famous for its historical significance of rich Native American History and the Texas Revolution. Moreover, the city also depicts the popular five missions of establishing Christianity. It is known to be the most fought city in North America. 

5 What is the coolest month in San Antonio?

January is San Antonio's coolest month. The weather will be pleasant when you discover San Antonio this month. The famous San Antonio River Walk becomes most beautiful with colorful flowers and breezy river waters in January. It has become an ideal place for tourists to stroll along the sidewalks of the River Walk this month.