The 25 Best Things To Do In San Antonio, Texas

Blessed with a prime spot in the Texas Hill Country, San Antonio has more adjacent natural beauty and cultural vibrance than most urban landscapes. The great San Antonio River winds its way through the center of the city with a pedestrian-friendly River Walk that follows right alongside it, offering a serene respite that's lined on each side with countless activities to discover, from art museums to public parks to historic landmarks that have become bustling districts. Beyond its famous puffy tacos and annual spring cultural celebration, Fiesta San Antonio—though, neither is to be missed—San Antonio is chock-full of things to do, places to eat, and interesting stories to learn. These are the best things to do on your next visit to San Antonio, Texas.

Explore the River Walk

Head to the Alamo

First built in 1718 and the most famous of the San Antonio missions, The Alamo (also known as San Antonio de Valera) began as a way station between the trail of missions. It will always be remembered for the Battle of the Alamo, fought March 6, 1836, when the structure was already nearly 120 years old. You can visit to learn more about the history and tour the grounds.

thealamo.org, 300 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205

Walk Around La Villita

Stroll just a few blocks away from the bustling Historic Market Square to the quiet La Villita neighborhood, where you'll find charming bridges that cozy up to a historic arts village (the former barracks for Mission San Antonio de Valero, or The Alamo). It's one of the best spots to perch on a shady bench and watch the city's signature riverboat cruises drift by, while also learning more about the cultural history of the area.

Attend the Annual Fiesta Festival

Fiesta San Antonio, the city's annual springtime festival, is typically centered near the Historic Market Square every April. The extravaganza lasts over a week and is—put simply—an exciting and colorful celebration of culture. The historic Battle of Flowers Parade, the main event, was established back in 1891 by a group of determined women (now a formal association) to honor the heroes who fought for Texas independence at The Alamo. The parade will commemorate its 133th anniversary in 2024. 

Hop Aboard a Boat Cruise

You can find boat cruises around the touristy Historic Market Square and La Villita, which are especially fun during the holidays when the River Walk is decked out in Christmas lights. However, we recommend hopping on a Rio Taxi boat—$15 for a day pass—to Museum Reach, the 3-mile River Walk extension that leads north past the San Antonio Museum of Art, nearly a dozen new public art installations, and the Pearl district.

goriocruises.com, multiple locations

Explore the Blue Star Arts Complex

The Blue Star Arts Complex is an area on the south-of-downtown end of the River Walk where you can find a collection of "cool" local businesses, from the city's first contemporary art gallery to the Blue Star Bike Shop, where you can rent a cruiser to pedal around the adjacent King William neighborhood and embark on the about-7-mile Mission Reach trail that connects four of San Antonio's five Spanish colonial missions. The area serves as your starting point for this popular path.

bluestarartscomplex.com, 1414 S Alamo St, San Antonio, TX 78210

Stop Into Historic Watering Holes

Since the River Walk spans miles and can be a day-long adventure, you can easily plan plenty of stops at delicious restaurants and storied ice houses. Located off the River Walk near downtown, stop into Esquire Tavern—first opened nearly 100 years ago in 1933—for a cocktail perched at what was once declared the "longest wooden bar top in Texas." Further down the River Walk near the Blue Star Arts Complex, hit the city's favorite ice house (old Texas' version of a bar), called The Friendly Spot, housed in a circa-1930s gas station. The outdoor hangout welcomes with refreshing frozen drinks swirling slowly in tanks behind the bar and 200-plus beer options.

Check Out The Pearl District

Shop the Pearl Farmers Market

This multiuse district is located on the site of the old Pearl Brewery, founded back in 1883; and each Saturday and Sunday, you can shop one of the best farmers' markets in Texas. It's a feast for the senses, with over 50 vendors selling vibrant produce, artisanal products such as handmade leather goods, prepared foods such as locally sourced cheeses, and fresh-cut flowers.

atpearl.com, 303 Pearl Pkwy, San Antonio, TX 78215

Tour a Renovated Brewery-Turned-Hotel

Hotel Emma, built inside the old brewhouse that dates back to the 1800s, is a five-star-service ode to the Pearl's history and also to Emma Koehler, who took over in 1914 after her husband died. The in-house restaurant, Supper, and the hotel rooms exude that same cowboy-chic attitude. Stop for a drink (tequila-based preferably) at the house bar, Sternewirth.

thehotelemma.com, 136 E Grayson St, San Antonio, TX 78215

Get Lunch at the Food Hall

The Pearl's Bottling Department, San Antonio's first food hall, has dining options that run the gamut, whether you're in the mood for traditional Mexican street food (including five types of chilaquiles) at Chilaquil, pastrami and BBQ sandwiches at Howdy Child, or smashburgers at Henbit.

atpearl.com/food-hall-bottling-department, 312 Pearl Pkwy Building 6, San Antonio, TX 78215

Catch a Show at Stable Hall

Opened at the beginning of 2024, Stable Hall is a music venue at the Pearl district housed in the old Pearl Brewery horse stables from 1894. Grab tickets to one of the upcoming shows, which are a diverse group including everything from mariachi bands to country singers.

stablehall.com, 307 Pearl Pkwy, San Antonio, TX 78215

Find a Sweet Treat

The Pearl district has become quite the hot spot of food and beverage, with many restaurants within walking distance. However, after the main meal, there are just as good options for a sweet treat to top off your day. At Lick Honest Ice Creams, find artisanal scoops that use Texas ingredients, including unique flavors such as Chocolate, Olive Oil, & Sea Salt and Goat Cheese, Thyme, & Honey. Nearby at Bakery Lorraine, the handmade French pastry selection is impressive, and you can leave with a sleeve of colorful macarons.

Enjoy the City's Many Museums and Parks

Visit the San Antonio Museum of Art

Located right along the River Walk, with even a dock for the public boat cruises to drop off visitors, the San Antonio Museum of Art is a pillar of the artistic community in the city. The exhibits span 5,000 years of art history in a complex of buildings that once housed the Lone Star Brewery. On Tuesday evenings from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., you can visit for free, as well as on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

samuseum.org, 200 W Jones Ave, San Antonio, TX 78215

Explore a Contemporary Collection at Ruby City

Opened in 2019, Ruby City is a newer contemporary art museum that is architecturally significant on its own. You can spot the jewel-shaped structure coated entirely in a shade of vibrant deep pink from blocks away. Over 10,000 square feet of exhibition space is rife for exploring over the course of an afternoon. General admission is free, always.

rubycity.org, 150 Camp St, San Antonio, TX 78204

Tour the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

This National Park site preserves four of the five historic Spanish frontier missions in San Antonio (omitting The Alamo) and is also the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. All four—Mission Concepción, Mission San José, Mission San Juan, and Mission Espada—are open for touring and exploring on your own, which is popular via bike. You can rent a cruiser to embark on the about 7-mile Mission Reach trail that connects all four missions.

nps.gov/saan, multiple locations

Walk Around the San Antonio Japanese Tea Garden

Also known as the Sunken Gardens in Brackenridge Park, the Japanese Tea Garden was designed within a restored quarry and features lush surroundings, including a garden and floral display with shaded walkways, stone bridges, a 60-foot waterfall, and ponds filled with Koi fish. Admission is free.

saparks.org/japanese-tea-garden, 3853 N St Mary's St, San Antonio, TX 78212

Enjoy the Botanical Spoils of the San Antonio Botanical Garden

A non-profit, 38-acre urban oasis near the center of the city, the San Antonio Botanical Garden is a living museum of plants, as well as a research and conservation center. You can join a guided tour on any weekday or attend one of the many community events, including live music nights and movie screenings.

sabot.org, 555 Funston Pl, San Antonio, TX 78209

Where To Eat

Try Authentic Tex-Mex at La Fonda On Main

For nearly 100 years since 1932, La Fonda On Main has been serving up comforting Tex-Mex favorites. Make sure to grab a table in the idyllic garden courtyard, and choose from an expansive menu that makes enchiladas (seven different kinds to be exact) the star. The margaritas are beloved in town, and brunch is a surprise standout.

lafondaonmain.com, 2415 N Main Ave, San Antonio, TX 78212

Enjoy French Cuisine at Brasserie Mon Chou Chou

This stylish French restaurant in the Pearl district practically transforms you to Paris, if it weren't for the Southern twang of the staff. At Brasserie Mon Chou Chou, expect French favorites such as steak tartare, beef bourguignon, and duck confit. For sharing, grab a baguette and cheese plate. Make sure to save room for the dessert menu, and each day of the week features a cozy brasserie special entrée.

brasseriemonchouchou.com, 312 Pearl Pkwy, San Antonio, TX 78215

Get Texas BBQ at 2M Smokehouse

You could recognize 2M Smokehouse from plenty of "best of Texas barbecue" lists. Fittingly, make sure to arrive early on weekends, or risk getting caught in a long line. The menu features classic Texas barbecue staples, such as brisket and smoked turkey, along with dishes punctuated with Tex-Mex flair, including sausage made with serrano peppers, Oaxaca cheese, and Mexican street corn.

2msmokehouse.com, 2731 S WW White Rd, San Antonio, TX 78222

Try the Award-Winning Chicken at The Jerk Shack

Chef-owner Nicola Blaque, a U.S. Army veteran-turned-chef, opened this Caribbean eatery inspired by her Jamaican heritage as well as her new Texas roots. Her chicken at The Jerk Shack is nationally renowned, no matter if you get it jerk-spiced or crispy-fried. Order the chicken by the pound, just like Texas barbecue. On the weekends, you can't miss the braised oxtails. However, the jerk wings and mac-and-cheese combo never disappoints.

thejerkshacksatx.com, 10234 TX-151 Suite 103, San Antonio, TX 78251

Grab a Traditional Mexican Pastry at Mi Tierra Café y Panadería

Mi Tierra Café y Panadería is an 80-year-old family bakery and restaurant known for offering over a dozen different kinds of pan dulce, a traditional Mexican sweet bread. Waitresses dressed in brightly colored garb serve up treats of all flavors and sizes, while the restaurant's famous floor-to-ceiling American Dream mural depicts inspirational people from the local community and beyond.

mitierracafe.com, 218 Produce Row, San Antonio, TX 78207

Where To Stay

Book a Texas-Chic Room at Hotel Emma

This 1800s brewery-turned-boutique hotel is second to none in terms of Texan style and flair. Accented by the brewery’s former smokestack, Hotel Emma’s historic brick building adds a sense of heritage to the city’s skyline and resides over the restored Pearl district. It's hard not to feel cozy in the Western-inspired leather interiors in the rooms and three food-and-beverage concepts. You'll hardly need to leave the grounds.

thehotelemma.com, 136 E Grayson St, San Antonio, TX 78215

Stay Along the River Walk at Hotel Havana

You'll find this Cuba-inspired boutique hotel perched right along the River Walk. Hotel Havana's building was originally built in 1914 and later renovated in 2010. It's located in close proximity to many of the city's art museums and cultural attractions, and the in-house restaurant Ocho is delightfully colorful and picture-worthy.

bunkhousehotels.com/hotel-havana, 1015 Navarro St, San Antonio, TX 78205

Relax at La Cantera Resort & Spa

For those desiring a stay out of the hustle and bustle, La Cantera Resort & Spa offers a wellness getaway on the outskirts of the city with epic Hill Country views. With spa treatments, pools, private villas, and many dining concepts (including a juice bar, fine-dining restaurant, breakfast café, and tapas spot specializing in charcuterie boards), it is a trip all its own.

lacanteraresort.com, 16641 La Cantera Parkway, San Antonio, TX 78256 USA

Get a Dose of History at the Menger Hotel

Located just steps away from the Alamo, this historic hotel is still very much a San Antonio institution. The Menger Hotel's lobby and rooms evoke a preserved feel with plenty of nods to its Victorian-era roots—it did open in 1859 after all. Make sure to stop into The Menger Bar, where Teddy Roosevelt famously rallied the Rough Riders.

mengerhotel.com, 204 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205