What to do on a Day Journey in San Antonio Texas

August 13, 2023

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view of a wide river from a bridge with thick green trees on either side and part of a city skyline visible in the distance with blue sky overhead - day trip in San Antonio Texas

Planning a day journey in San Antonio, Texas? Right here’s my information to the perfect issues to do and excursions to take!

First up, I’ve to say that in the future in San Antonio isn’t actually sufficient! That is the USA’s seventh-largest metropolis: a sprawling metropolis that’s full of improbable points of interest.

It’s additionally a metropolis wealthy with historical past, heritage, and tradition. That is the house of the Alamo, a sight of significant significance in Texas’ historical past, and a UNESCO Metropolis of Gastronomy.

From the tranquil downtown River Stroll and the shocking variety of city inexperienced areas that dot the town, to fabulous theme parks for enjoyable days out and museums that deliver historical past to life… there’s simply a lot to see and do.

However for those who solely have time for a day journey to San Antonio, you possibly can nonetheless pack in numerous the town’s high points of interest.

You received’t be capable to do every part in a day, sadly! So within the put up under, I’ve tried to stay to the key sights. I’ve left issues like Legoland, Six Flags, and San Antonio Zoo off the checklist, as they actually need a full day all to themselves.

Right here’s my information to every part you can’t miss on a San Antonio day journey. Pleased travels…

READ MORE: Causes to Go to San Antonio

San Antonio in a Day: The Quicklist

Don’t wish to organise every part your self? Ebook this San Antonio day journey from Austin and let another person make all of the plans! The 7-hour tour consists of visits to a few of the town’s high points of interest. Click on right here to verify costs and availability.

When you’re tremendous quick on time and solely wish to see the town’s main points of interest, under is a fast checklist of the highest, must-see locations in San Antonio. I’ll go into extra element on all of them within the subsequent part.

Street in San Antonio Texas with a large six storey building of pale orange bricks visible between the trees ion either side of the street

Go to the Alamo.
Discover the River Stroll and take a cruise. When you have time, don’t miss La Villita Historic Village whilst you’re there.
Take in the views from the highest of the Hemisfair Tower.
Head to 1 or two of the town’s many museums: the Witte Museum for pure and cultural historical past; the Buckhorn Saloon & Museums for cowboy tradition and Texas Ranger historical past; or the Briscoe Western Artwork Museum.

12 Issues to Do on a Day Journey in San Antonio

High Tip: When you plan on visiting a number of of those San Antonio in in the future, I like to recommend grabbing the San Antonio CityPASS® – which may prevent as much as 35%. Extra information on the backside of this put up.

1. Uncover Texas Historical past at The Alamo

looking across a grassy lawn towards the Alamo in San Antonio, a very old church with beige stone walls and large wooden doors with blue sky and a few white clouds overhead

Most likely San Antonio’s most well-known attraction, and one that actually encapsulates the town’s spirit, is The Alamo.

Put together to be transported again in time at this tiny mission church. Established as Mission San Antonio de Valero in 1718, the mission was the setting for an iconic battle within the Texas Revolution, wherein Texians and native Tejanos fought for independence from Mexico.

The Alamo is seen as a testomony to the unwavering willpower of these revolutionaries who dreamt of independence from Mexico. The notorious Battle of the Alamo – a gripping conflict that unfolded from 23 February to six March 1836 – left an indelible mark on the panorama of the Texas Revolution.

Although the defenders in the end fell, their bravery ignited a flame of inspiration that will in the end result in victory for the Texian Military and the start of a brand new nation. Independence was declared in April 1836, and Texas later joined the USA in 1845.

Don’t miss the wonderful museum nestled throughout the grounds. Right here, you possibly can delve deeper into the compelling narrative of the Alamo – particularly useful if US historical past isn’t your sturdy swimsuit. There’s a fascinating assortment of artefacts and paperwork which deliver the tales of the battle and the revolutionary fighters to life.

RECOMMENDED TOUR: Small Group Tour with Alamo, Tower & River Cruise

2. Uncover Eating places and Public Artwork Alongside the River Stroll

a wide dark green river with flowers on the bank closest to the camera and a row of tables with different coloured umbrellas on the opposite bank and a small stone bridge in the distance

Flowing proper by means of the town centre, the serene San Antonio River units the tempo of life for the downtown space. And that tempo is splendidly relaxed!

The river is about down a stage from the town streets, so it feels fairly minimize off from the town centre. Tree-shaded pedestrian paths run alongside both facet, related right here and there by small bridges, to create the tranquil San Antonio River Stroll. A lot of that is additionally lined with eating places and bars, offering loads of al fresco consuming and eating.

emily wearing a long blue dress with small white flowers on it standing with her hands on her hips in front of a black wall with two large graffiti butterfly wings made up of different shades of blue - street art on the san antonio riverwalk — *Public artwork on the River Stroll*

Don’t miss the River Stroll Public Artwork Backyard – a set of out of doors artworks by native and worldwide artists. The centrepiece is the 16-foot “Stargazer (Citlali)” sculpture by Mexican artist Pedro Reyes which towers over the river.

3. Take a Cruise on the San Antonio River

wide river in an urban area with two colourful open top boats filled with tour groups, the closest boat is turquoise and the further one is red, there is a church tower visible in the distance and lots of tall trees on either side of the river. The River Walk in downtown San Antonio

To really recognize San Antonio’s downtown river community, I extremely suggest you take one of many Go Rio river cruises. These are 30-minute narrated cruises across the central a part of the River Stroll.

It’s a good way to see numerous the town centre in a short while. Your information will share a brief overview of native historical past and level out a number of the predominant points of interest. They could additionally share some private suggestions for locations to eat and drink! It’s an amazing introduction, so I’d suggest beginning your day journey in San Antonio with one in all these fab cruises.

RECOMMENDED TOUR: River Boat Cruise and Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Move

4. Take in the Views from the Tower of the Americas

looking up at a very tall cylindrical tower with a circular building at the op against a bright blue sky - the tower is reflected in the windows of the all-glass building close to the camera

Some of the iconic points of interest in San Antonio is the Tower of the Americas (also called the Hemisfair Tower). At 750 ft (230 m) excessive together with the antenna spire, it’s the tallest construction in San Antonio. It’s additionally the second-tallest commentary tower within the USA and the third-tallest within the Western Hemisphere!

The tower was constructed for HemisFair ’68, the San Antonio World’s Honest in 1968. Towering over the town centre, the views from the commentary deck are fairly sensational. San Antonio is a reasonably flat and sprawling metropolis – so you actually can see for miles round!

emily standing by a row of wide clouded windows at the top of a tall tower with a view of San Antonio city skyline below and blue sky overhead. emily is wearing a long navy blue dress with pink flowers and a black baseball cap and has her back to the camera with her long blonde hair down.

Hungry? Dine while you benefit from the views from the Tower’s revolving Chart Home Restaurant. There’s additionally the Tower Café situated on the Remark Deck, and Bar 601 close to the very high of the tower.

5. Discover San Antonio on the Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus Tour

The Metropolis Sightseeing Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour is IDEAL for those who solely have in the future in San Antonio. Take an open-top bus tour of the town centre, with a operating commentary to level out the key sights and share native historical past.

There’s one route in San Antonio, with 19 stops at a number of the metropolis’s high points of interest. A 24-hour go begins from $54.11pp, and you’ll hop on and off as typically as you want. Or, you possibly can journey the entire thing in a single go to take heed to the commentary in full, then work out which sights you’d like to return to.

I’ve carried out Metropolis Sightseeing bus excursions in cities all around the world, from Barcelona to Cartagena, and all the time had a fab expertise!

6. Eat your Manner Across the Metropolis of Artistic Gastronomy

In 2017, San Antonio was designated a UNESCO Artistic Metropolis of Gastronomy in recognition of the town’s wealthy gastronomic heritage and its thriving culinary business.

side of a cow hanging from a wooden frame above a fire pit in half of a red metal drum - cooking bbq outdoors in San Antonio on a sunny evening with blue sky above and a crowd of people behind — *BBQ is a Texas traditional – however there’s a lot extra to San Antonio’s meals scene!*

Town is a real melting pot. Almost two-thirds of San Antonians are Hispanic or Latino, and 75% of the town’s inhabitants is made up of individuals of color. Cultural and culinary influences come from the area’s indigenous peoples, the Spanish colonists of the 1700s, European settlers within the 1800s, and African slaves, in addition to extra trendy immigrants.

The result’s a novel fusion of flavours, traditions, and culinary methods. Tex-Mex, Asian, German, Czechoslovakian, Tejano… you’ll discover all kinds right here. And also you’ll shortly be taught that meals is a BIG deal in San Antonio!

Town takes its UNESCO standing significantly. Take a look at SA Metropolis of Gastronomy for culinary trails, occasions, festivals, and extra. And make sure you take a while out of your day in San Antonio to understand some actually good meals!

RECOMMENDED TOUR: Historic Downtown Meals and Tradition Strolling Tour – from $44

7. Store for Native Crafts at La Villita Historic Village

historic building with a collonaded veranda painted cream with stacks of paintings for sale outside in a stone courtyard in La Villita. What to do on a day trip in San Antonio Texas.

Among the finest locations to expertise the melting pot of artwork, tradition, and meals that’s San Antonio is the quaint, riverside La Villita Historic Arts Village.

That is a small Artisan Village close to the River Stroll. It’s a tranquil, leafy neighbourhood crammed with boutique outlets, artwork studios, eating places, and bars.

Throughout the boutiques and galleries, you possibly can discover the works of over 200 native artisans. Jewelry, trend, portray, magnificence merchandise, pottery, and extra – all housed throughout the historic buildings of San Antonio’s “First Village”.

La Villita’s roots return to the 18th century, when it was a easy settlement of adobe huts. Within the nineteenth century, European immigrants moved into the neighbourhood, ensuing within the wealthy number of architectural types we will nonetheless see right now.

8. Indulge your Interior Cowboy on the Buckhorn Saloon & Museums

large old fashioned saloon bar with hundreds of antlers and animal horns on every wall. the floor is blue and white tiles with lots of small wooden circular tables and chairs in two lines next to a long cherry wood bar

Consider Texas, and it’s exhausting not to consider cowboys! And San Antonio has its fair proportion of cowboy tradition.

Town is dwelling to the oldest operating saloon in Texas– the Buckhorn Saloon – the place Pancho Villa is alleged to have deliberate the Mexican Revolution. It’s a significantly atmospheric house, with partitions coated in antlers and an enormous cherry wooden bar the place you possibly can strive an area beer – or maybe a prickly pear margarita, the native speciality.

The Buckhorn Saloon can be dwelling to 2 museums. Upstairs, the Buckhorn Museum is a large assortment of taxidermy animals from around the globe. Apparently, the gathering began when the saloon’s founder determined to just accept horns and antlers as cost for drinks.

Downstairs, the Texas Ranger Museum is one other must-visit. Devoted to over 100 years of Ranger historical past, this sensible exhibit offers a improbable perception into life on the Frontier. There are some GREAT picture ops for cowboy fanatics!

9. Delve into Cowboy Tradition on the Briscoe Western Artwork Museum

close up of a section of an oil painting showing a cowboy in a long yellow coat and white stetson hat on a brown horse herding longhorn cattle along a river valley. — *Shut-up of a bit of Simple Does It by James Robinson, one of many works on show on the Briscoe Western Artwork Museum.*

Talking of cowboy tradition – don’t miss the close by Briscoe Western Artwork Museum.

I’d by no means actually heard of Western Artwork earlier than visiting this improbable museum in downtown San Antonio – however I used to be an immediate fan! There’s an enormous assortment of sculptures and work capturing the attractive Western panorama or depicting life within the American West for cowboys, vaqueros, and Native Individuals.

Don’t miss the McNutt Sculpture Backyard, a peaceable public backyard tucked behind the museum.

10. Be taught Extra on the Witte Musem

large t rex skeleton in a museum against a white wall with its shadow projected onto the wall behind — *Scotty the T Rex on the Witte Museum*

The Witte Museum in San Antonio is a fascinating establishment that provides a pleasant mix of science, nature, tradition, and Texas heritage. Positioned simply north of the Downtown space, it’s a must-visit attraction for anybody who desires to be taught extra about San Antonio, Texas, and the world typically!

It’s a state-of-the-art constructing surrounded by stunning grounds, on the sting of the attractive Brackenridge Park. Delve into the wealthy historical past of Texas on the South Texas Heritage Middle, meet the traditional beasts of the Dinosaur Gallery, or uncover the pure world of Texas within the Texas Wild Gallery.

There’s additionally an amazing programme of occasions and non permanent exhibitions overlaying every part from native artwork to Antarctic Dinosaurs. So make sure you verify what’s on throughout your San Antonio day journey!

11. Go to the Different San Antonio Missions

front of an old 18th century church built from beige coloured stone with a partly ruined front and carved facade. there is an oval shaped window above a large arched double door and a small square tower on the right side of the church. day trip in san antonio texas. — *18th-century church at Mission San José*

The Alamo (part 1) is only one of 5 colonial Christian missions that had been in-built San Antonio in the course of the 18th century. Its bloody historical past could make the Alamo extra well-known, however the different San Antonio Missions are properly value a go to.

The missions had been walled compounds containing a church and a few lodging buildings. Native Individuals who transformed to Christianity got housing on the compound.

This can be a considerably difficult historical past, because the missions performed a task within the colonisation of indigenous communities and may very well be seen as a part of the eradication of Native American tradition. For the missionaries, they had been doing God’s work and saving the Native American’s souls.

Nevertheless you are feeling about it, the missions fashioned an essential a part of the state’s historical past and are value exploring to be taught extra. When you solely have time for one, I like to recommend the Mission San José, which has a very stunning church with an intricately carved facade.

RECOMMENDED TOUR: UNESCO World Heritage Missions Tour (from $65)

12. Escape the Metropolis at Phil Hardberger Park

close up of a pointed purple wildflower in the long grass at Phil Hardberger Park in San Antonio

When you have slightly longer than simply in the future in San Antonio, I strongly suggest escaping the town to go to the city wilderness at Phil Hardberger Park.

Named after the previous San Antonio mayor who acquired it constructed, this 330-acre sustainable city park is managed as a wildlife habitat. Round 75% of the park is left in its pure state, so you possibly can really feel actually wild – regardless of being surrounded by the town.

This beautiful park can be dwelling to the biggest land bridge within the USA. The Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge spans an enormous 6-lane freeway to attach both facet of the park.

It’s 150 ft vast on the high, with a slim path winding between large swathes of grass and wildflowers. There’s loads of house for animals to cross, serving to preserve them off the busy Wurzbach Parkway. I used to be amazed to search out that I may barely hear the roar of the visitors under – it felt like being in the course of the wilderness, as an alternative of on a bridge above a busy motorway.

rusted metal wildlife blind with floral shapes cut out of the walls revealing greenery behind the blind

Don’t miss the two wildlife blinds on high of the bridge. These are additionally public artwork items designed by native artists Ashley Mireles and Cade Bradshaw, with intricate designs minimize out of the metallic sides rather than home windows.

Map: High Issues to Do in San Antonio

Use the map above to plan your day journey in San Antonio. Keep in mind that a few the highest points of interest, just like the Missions and Phil Hardberger Park, are slightly additional out from the Downtown space.

There’s public transport system round San Antonio, so you possibly can hop on a bus and attain spots just like the Witte Museum or Mission San Jose in about half an hour. There are additionally loads of Ubers accessible for those who’re quick on time and don’t thoughts paying slightly extra.

Finest Excursions for Your Day Journey in San Antonio

Use the San Antonio CityPASS® to Save Cash in your Day Journey

San Antonio is a CityPASS® vacation spot – so you possibly can pay one low value for entry to all the town’s main points of interest.*

CityPASS® is a superb multi-attraction ticket accessible in a number of main US cities – together with San Antonio. Buy the CityPASS for $57 USD per grownup (about £47) and you’ll go to any 4 of the next metropolis points of interest – saving round 35% vs paying for every attraction individually:

Go Rio San Antonio River Cruises
San Antonio Botanical Backyard
San Antonio Museum of Artwork
San Antonio Zoo
The DoSeum
The Tower of The Americas (aka Hemisfair Tower)
Witte Museum

You get a cell ticket so there’s no want to fret about printing issues out. Your CityPASS will probably be legitimate for 9 days from the primary day you go to an attraction – and also you don’t want to decide on which 4 points of interest you’ll go to prematurely. It’s SUPER simple to make use of and a good way to save lots of a bit of cash whilst you discover San Antonio.

*(I used to be gifted a CityPASS throughout my go to – however this hasn’t influenced my opinion. I’ve bought one myself in different cities earlier than and have all the time had an amazing expertise.)

Have you ever ever taken a day journey to San Antonio? Scroll right down to share your experiences and ideas within the feedback!

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