20 Things To Do In Downtown San Antonio

You simply just cannot visit San Antonio without spending at least one day, if not the whole weekend, in its lively hangout. Be it morning, noon, or night, the River Walk or Paseo del Rio is blazed up like a cultural paradise, with restaurants, stores, museums, hotels, and more overlooking the river.

Moreover, the river is 15 miles long and 20 feet below street level, but the action is concentrated on this five-mile length. If you are here with your special one, there is nothing more romantic than a river taxi or a couple's selfie on the bridge, and if you want to explore the River Walk from a different perspective, take a boat trip.

It is very popular around the world because of John Wayne's 1960 film The Alamo. Indeed, this landmark has grown so intertwined with San Antonio's international fame that many people refer to San Antonio as "Alamo City."

However, along with the film, San Antonio is renowned for its history. As Alamo also means history. Among the oldest cities in the United States, it has a rich and varied past.

The Alamo is one of 5 historic missions in San Antonio that have been around for more than 3 centuries and provide visitors with an intimate look at life in early Texas. Visiting the Alamo and the historic missions are some of the things that you should not miss out.

Similarly, you can also explore the intriguing UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which include Espada, San Jose, San Juan, Mission Concepcion, and more. If you are with a guide, he/she will show you around the attractions throughout the trip and give insights on the Spanish influences in San Antonio.

You can see Spanish and Moorish architecture within the cathedrals, as well as many of its amazing hidden treasures that date back more than 200 years.

The complexes, which were constructed in the 18th century by Franciscan missionaries, serve as an example of the Spanish Crown's attempts to conquer, convert, and protect New Spain's northern frontier.

Go to Hopscotch if you're in San Antonio and want to do something artsy while also getting a bit tipsy. With 14 unique immersive and interactive installations by more than 40 local, national, and international artists, Hopscotch is a permanently located, specially curated 20,000-square-foot art gallery.

Since its start, the immersive art experience has attracted crowds of people who come to take selfies with colorful but contemplative exhibits created by gifted artists working in a range of mediums.

To avoid giving away the surprise, there will be a ton of neon lights and incredible optical illusions. Many of the displays, some rotating displays are centered around diversity and inclusivity, and a full-service bar amplifies the enjoyment.

SeaWorld San Antonio is a combination aquarium and an exhilarating theme park that allows guests to get up close and personal with a variety of marine animals, such as dolphins, penguins, and polar bears.

The Great White, a lightning-fast coaster with 360-degree flips and corkscrews, and The Steel Eel, a 15-story vertical drop with camelbacks that make you feel weightless, are just two of the numerous exhilarating rides at SeaWorld that thrill-seekers should plan their day around.

Also, for kids, the Sesame Street Bay of Play is a great place to spend time and have fun. There, they can go on exciting rides like the Shamu Express small roller coaster, or just relax and enjoy family-friendly entertainment.

You may immerse yourself in delicious food, music, and good vibes in San Antonio's little pockets dedicated to crafts, culture, and cuisine. With amazing architecture to admire and a plethora of fantastic eateries like Hello, Mon Chou Chou, and others, the Pearl District is the most appealing cultural destination.

You will undoubtedly spend a lot of time here no matter if you are not staying at the famous Hotel Emma. Look for books at Twig Book Shop, visit boutiques, or enjoy some glasses of wine in the garden of Boiler House.

Explore the globe and 5,000 years of art at the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA), a cluster of buildings that formerly housed the Lone Star Brewery. The largest collection of ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian art in the southern United States is a well-known feature of SAMA.

Notable Texas and regional artwork coexist with the works of internationally renowned painters in the galleries of today. The extensive Asian art section features a significant collection of Chinese ceramics in addition to pieces from Korea, India, and Japan.

The biggest known commercial caves in Texas are the Natural Bridge caverns. In the 1960s, four students from a San Antonio university discovered the caves, which are dubbed for the entrance's 60-foot limestone slab bridge.

The natural marvel draws a daily dose of visitors and residents for outings that take them 180 ft down to see massive caverns and ancient structures. There is something for everyone at Natural Bridge Caverns, with a variety of tour options and surface activities, such as obstacle courses and gem and fossil mining.

The San Antonio Zoo, which is home to more than 750 different animal species from throughout the world, is committed to arousing public interest and teaching them about animals, their habitats, threats to their species, and global conservation initiatives.

Additionally, it operates non-animal attractions including the San Antonio Zoo Eagle train ride, which was opened in 1956 and is a 2 ft or 610 mm narrow gauge. The San Antonio Zoo is the best medium for educational purposes for not just children but adults too.

The renowned Tower of the Americas is more than simply an observation tower; it offers amazing city vistas, amusing historical displays, and a 4D theater ride with experiences unique to Texas. For 360-degree views of San Antonio, go to the Flags Over Texas: Observation Deck.

To help you recognize your surroundings and connect some history to the most important vistas, you will get knowledge on the numerous sites you will see from the summit.

Take a ride on the Skies Over Texas: 4D Theater Ride to fly over Texas, see what it feels like to watch a Friday night football game, and get up close and personal with a NASA space shuttle

Big Red and Barbacoa are more of a local sensation that isn't well-known beyond the city. Locals consider the delectable combination of Big Red and barbacoa, or slow-cooked cheek meat, to be among the purest San Antonio cuisines.

Whether it began as a cheap weekend meal or as the ideal remedy for hangovers, it has now been ingrained in San Antonio society. It should not be surprising that this combo has its own yearly festival given how well-liked it is.

The San Fernando Cathedral is a must-see when visiting San Antonio. Built by Canary Island immigrants in the middle of the 1700s, the cathedral is one of the oldest in the nation and is still in use today.

General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna revealed his plans for the Alamo here, and Wild West icon James Bowie got married there. According to local mythology, some heroes from the fight of the Alamo are interred in this unmarked grave.

Even after suffering damage from a 19th-century fire, San Fernando Cathedral still has an old look that invites you to explore its magnificent interior. Travelers urge that you visit the church at night to see the free light display, even though the interior is open throughout the day.

Market Square is a sensory extravaganza and is reputed to be the largest Mexican market in the United States of America. More than a hundred local stores and booths selling food, clothing, handcrafted crafts, folk art, and other items may be found in this three-block square.

You will feel as though you have traveled to Mexico because of the vibrant papel picado, which is a traditional Mexican banner, the entrancing mariachi music, and the lingering Tex-Mex aroma.

Brackenridge Park is an amazing place to escape the heat and crowds of people when the River Walk gets too crowded. Its 343 acres provide plenty of opportunities for leisure: botanists will be drawn to the Japanese Tea Garden, while strollers will enjoy the shaded walks and rustic stone bridges.

You rather wear a dress that is comfortable and casual so that you can truly enjoy the sporting fields, and running trails at Brackenridge. Similarly, the park's natural Sunken Garden Theater serves as a venue for outdoor activities as well. The Witte Museum and the San Antonio Botanical Garden are two of the park's well-known attractions.

A popular year-round attraction for families and adventurers, Six Flags Fiesta Texas is situated around 15 miles northwest of downtown San Antonio. The park offers a wide variety of activities, including go-karts, coasters, slides, and pools.

It's easy to spend a whole day at Six Flags Fiesta Texas with the variety of dining options and shopping opportunities available. To avoid the lines, visitors suggested getting the Flash Pass. Even if you don't buy a Flash Pass, make sure to book a full day at Six Flags to allow for time spent in line, as long waits are a frequent complaint.

The water park is open from midday to seven o'clock from late April to early September. If you buy single-day tickets online in advance, they start at $40.

The Buckhorn Saloon and Museum is the place to go if you want burgers, beer, Texas history, and taxidermy. The bar was first operated in 1881 by a local bellhop named Albert Friedrich, who was known to take horns, pelts, and other items as payment from patrons who lacked the funds to purchase beverages.

His risk paid off since the tavern is now a museum with a collection of curiosities that the owner has gathered over the years.

In addition to the historic saloon where Teddy Roosevelt allegedly recruited the Rough Riders and Pancho Villa plotted the Mexican Revolution, the Buckhorn Saloon and Museum also boasts a Texas Ranger Museum with oddball-changing exhibitions, a cafe, and more.

The DoSeum is going to be a joy for kids of all ages. There is enough interactive exhibit space here, spanning 68,000 square feet, to keep young minds and bodies occupied for hours.

Children may play with sound and light at the Sensations Studio, work with tools, and develop building skills at the Zachry Innovation Station, reasoning abilities at the Spy Academy, and splash about outside at WaterWorks.

The DoSeum is situated in the city's cultural corridor on Broadway. It is next to Brackenridge Park's southeast corner. Parking is provided for free. All galleries are accessible with a general entry ticket, which costs $18 for adults and children and is free for infants under 12 months.

With a height of 35 ft, 3 inches, the World's Largest Cowboy Boots sculpture is very stunning. It weighs 10,000 pounds and is 30 feet long by 9 feet broad.

The expansive scope of his native state and enormous wayside sculptures served as inspiration for Texas pioneer Bob "Daddy-O" Wade's cowboy funk art. He was 36 years old in 1979 and had just gained fame for putting his enormous Lone Star Iguana on a New York City rooftop.

Bob was asked to construct a similar structure on an empty lot in the nation's capital because tastemakers in Washington, DC, wanted some Texas flair of their own. The boots quickly gained popularity, and a bidding war sprang out to get them to Texas. At the time, North Star was owned by the Rouse Company.

One of the most popular summertime destinations for Texans is the Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels. This 70-acre water park, which overlooks the emerald, sparkling Comal River, has a vast array of pools, river rides, and waterslides.

The trams that transport guests from one side of the park to the other throughout the day and the fact that you are permitted to bring your own food and beverages were well-received by families with children.

Although Schlitterbahn is normally open every day from late May to mid-August, its operational hours are subject to change. Schlitterbahn is around 30 miles away from San Antonio.

Ruby City is a center for modern art with a distinctive history. A dream that occurred to artist and mega-collector Linda Pace shortly before her death in 2007 was about a place to house her collection of over 800 works of art.

The vivid crimson structure was constructed by famous architect Sir David Adjaye, who received the drawings Linda had made of the pictures from her dream.

These days, this 14,000-square-foot area is a veritable gold mine of paintings, sculptures, and installations by both domestic and foreign artists, including Donald Moffett, Joan Mitchell, and Marina Abramovic.