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Texas, United States

San Antonio

Spend a day: Alamo and River Walk in the morning, a mission by bike, then the Pearl at night. The River Walk under holiday lights; 3 nights for the river, the missions and the Pearl. Below: 5 sights, 2 activities and 2 places to eat, plus how San Antonio fits into a longer trip.

Plan San Antonio with friendsBrowse 14 places
San Antonio, Texas, United States
Places
14

5 See · 2 Do · 2 Eat · 2 Drink · 2 Shop · 1 Stay

Curated routes
2

Texas BBQ Trail, San Antonio & the Texas Hill Country

Best season
Oct – Apr

also Late Nov – Dec

Warmest month
August

36°C / 98°F avg high

Coolest month
January

17°C / 63°F avg high

Wettest month
May

about 100 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in San Antonio

14 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

5 sights worth building a day around across Downtown, Missions NHP and Pearl. 3 of them are free.

  • The Alamo in San AntonioPhoto: Daniel Schwen · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    The Alamo

    1718 mission and site of the 1836 battle, with the church and Long Barrack.

    Tip Free entry; reserve a timed church entry online.

    • Downtown
    • Free
    • 75 min
    • Morning
  • Mission San José in San AntonioPhoto: Liveon001 ©Travis Witt · CC BY-SA 3.0
    See

    Mission San José

    Largest of the four missions in San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.

    Tip Rent a bike to ride the Mission Reach trail between missions.

    • Missions NHP
    • Free
    • 75 min
    • Morning
  • The Pearl in San AntonioPhoto: Pearl · Google
    See

    The Pearl

    Restored brewery complex with restaurants, shops and a weekend farmers market.

    • Pearl
    • 2 hr
    • Saturday morning
  • San Antonio Museum of Art in San AntonioPhoto: Michael A. · Google
    See

    San Antonio Museum of Art

    Former Lone Star brewery housing strong Latin American and antiquities collections.

    • Museum Reach
    • $$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Afternoon
  • San Fernando Cathedral in San AntonioPhoto: Nan Palmero · CC BY 2.0
    See

    San Fernando Cathedral

    Cathedral founded in 1738 on Main Plaza, whose facade hosts San Antonio | The Saga, a free light projection on the city's history.

    Tip The projection runs several nights a week after dark; check the schedule before you go.

    • Main Plaza
    • Free
    • 45 min
    • After dark

Do

2 activities for when the group wants to do more than look in Downtown. All 2 are free to visit.

  • San Antonio River Walk in San AntonioPhoto: Kkmd (talk · contribs) · CC BY-SA 3.0
    Do

    San Antonio River Walk

    Below-street paths along the river; take a GO RIO boat for an overview.

    • Downtown
    • Free
    • 1.5 hr
    • Evening
  • River Walk in San AntonioPhoto: Nan Palmero · CC BY 2.0
    Do

    River Walk

    Stone-lined walkways along the San Antonio River, with cypress trees and bridges strung with lights through the holidays.

    Tip Take a river barge after dark for the best view of the lights from the water.

    • Downtown
    • Free
    • 2 hr
    • After dark

Eat

Where we would book a table in San Antonio across Market Square and South Side.

  • Mi Tierra Café y Panadería in San AntonioPhoto: Dustin D · Google
    Eat

    Mi Tierra Café y Panadería

    24-hour Tex-Mex restaurant and bakery in Market Square since 1941.

    • Market Square
    • $$
    • 60 min
    • Late night
  • 2M Smokehouse in San AntonioPhoto: 2M Smokehouse · Google
    Eat

    2M Smokehouse

    South Side barbecue with Mexican-American touches like serrano-cheese sausage.

    Tip Open lunchtime until sold out.

    • South Side
    • $$
    • 60 min
    • Lunch

Drink

Our picks for a drink in San Antonio across Pearl and Downtown.

  • Sternewirth in San AntonioPhoto: Christine · Google
    Drink

    Sternewirth

    Hotel Emma's bar in the old brewhouse, with intimate booths in vintage tanks.

    • Pearl
    • $$$
    • 60 min
    • Evening
  • Drink

    Menger Bar

    Dark-paneled 1887 bar in the Menger Hotel beside the Alamo, modeled on the House of Lords pub in London.

    • Downtown
    • $$
    • 60 min
    • Evening

Shop

Markets and shops worth the detour across Market Square and Pearl.

  • Historic Market Square in San AntonioPhoto: Ray Boshold · Google
    Shop

    Historic Market Square

    Mexican-style marketplace with crafts, food stalls and weekend music.

    • Market Square
    • 60 min
    • Afternoon
  • Pearl in San AntonioPhoto: Bilestone · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Shop

    Pearl

    The 1883 Pearl Brewery turned food and shopping district on the River Walk, with a weekend farmers market and holiday events.

    Tip Go on a weekend morning for the farmers market, then walk the Museum Reach back toward downtown.

    • Pearl
    • $$
    • 2.5 hr
    • Weekend morning

Stay

1 place to stay we would book in Pearl.

  • Hotel Emma in San AntonioPhoto: Sarahstrunk · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Stay

    Hotel Emma

    Hotel in the Pearl's 1894 brewhouse, keeping the old machinery in its lobby, with a library bar and rooms on the river.

    • Pearl
    • $$$$

How to fit San Antonio into a trip

San Antonio shows up on 2 of our curated routes, so you can work it into more than one kind of trip.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

San Antonio month by month

Average daily highs run from 17°C / 63°F in January to 36°C / 98°F in August. May is the wettest month, with about 100 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. San Antonio weather and the best time to visit →

Near San Antonio

8 other destinations from our guides within about 350 km (217 mi), measured in a straight line.

San Antonio questions, answered

How many days do you need in San Antonio?

Our route notes suggest 3 nights in San Antonio. On our Texas BBQ Trail route it is stop 3 of 3 in a 5-day trip. The listed visit times for our 14 places add up to roughly 18 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is San Antonio best known for?

Spend a day: Alamo and River Walk in the morning, a mission by bike, then the Pearl at night. Standouts on our list: The Alamo (1718 mission and site of the 1836 battle, with the church and Long Barrack); Mission San José (Largest of the four missions in San Antonio Missions National Historical Park); The Pearl (Restored brewery complex with restaurants, shops and a weekend farmers market).

When is the best time to visit San Antonio?

Our routes through San Antonio are best Oct – Apr or Late Nov – Dec. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in August (36°C / 98°F), the coolest in January (17°C / 63°F) and the most rain in May (about 100 mm).

What are the best things to do in San Antonio?

Start with The Alamo, San Antonio River Walk, Mission San José, The Pearl and San Antonio Museum of Art. Our guide lists 14 places in all, from 5 sights, 2 activities, 2 places to eat, 2 bars & cafés, 2 shops and 1 place to stay.

Where should a group eat in San Antonio?

Our picks: Mi Tierra Café y Panadería (Market Square); 2M Smokehouse (South Side). Open lunchtime until sold out (2M Smokehouse).

What is near San Antonio?

The closest destinations in our guides are Downtown San Antonio & Hemisfair (about 1 km / 1 mi), Pearl & Museum Reach (about 3 km / 2 mi) and Texas Hill Country (about 94 km / 58 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan San Antonio with your crew

Open the Texas BBQ Trail route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 14 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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