San Antonio is a fun city to visit in Texas, even if you have limited time. The River Walk and the Alamo are the highlights, but there are a few more great places to explore.
If you have just one day in San Antonio, you have just enough time to tour the best spots in the city. Here are five places to visit during your visit to San Antonio.
The Alamo
The Alamo is famous for being the site of the battle between Mexican forces and Texas defenders in 1836. It was a brutal battle that the Texians lost. The Texians, under the command of James Bowie and William B. Travis, were greatly outnumbered, but still managed to inflict serious casualties on the Mexicans before losing the battle. This is also the site of Davy Crockett’s famous last stand.
Many first-time visitors are surprised to learn how small the Alamo is. The church, which is the main building of the Alamo, seems dwarfed in the city center of San Antonio, with high rise buildings rising up all around it.
This is the most popular spot to visit in San Antonio, and some sources say that the Alamo is the most popular tourist site in Texas.
It’s best to visit the Alamo early in the day or right before closing hours to avoid the crowds.
Website: Get hours on the official website.
San Antonio Mission Trail
San Antonio is home to five missions. These missions were Spanish communities that were dedicated to converting the native people to Catholicism. Dating back to the 17th century, these missions became the foundation of the city of San Antonio.
The most popular mission is the Alamo. There are four more missions, Mission Concepcion, Mission San Jose, Mission San Juan, and Mission Espada, located just south of the San Antonio city center. These four missions make up the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, which was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015.
Mission Espada
There are Multiple Ways You Can Tour the Missions:
By Bike: The Mission Hike and Bike Trail links the four missions in the Historical Park. You can use one of the city bikes to get between the Missions. It is a 16 mile round trip journey from Mission Concepcion to Mission Espada and back. Click here for a map of the trail that you can download. Biking the Mission Trail will take at least a half a day.
By Bus: Viva bus is a public bus system that you can use to tour the Mission Trail. Hop on and off as often as you like. Learn more here.
By Bus and Bike: If 16 miles is too far to bike, consider taking the bus one way and renting a bike for the return journey (or vice versa).
By Car: This is the quickest, most convenient way to tour the Mission Trail. Each Mission has plenty of parking. With your own car, you can tour the entire trail in just 2 hours.
If you only have time to visit one mission, the best one is Mission San Jose.
Mission San Jose
The River Walk
The River Walk is a beautiful, fun spot to visit in downtown San Antonio. A lazy river winds it’s way through the heart of the city, flanked by hotels and restaurants. I loved the River Walk, and it was so much better than I expected it to be.
You can take a 35 minute boat tour of the River Walk, in which your guide will teach you the history of the area. Most people on these boats looked hot and bored, so we chose to walk the River Walk instead. It takes about a half an hour to 45 minutes to walk the entire River Walk, without allowing time for stops.
Recommended Restaurants:
Here are three spots we tried that we recommend for dinner.
Boudro’s on the Riverwalk. For some of the best Tex-Mex in town, visit Boudro’s. The guacamole is so good that we came back a second time. It’s a small place and it can get loud in the restaurant during dinnertime, but the quality of food can’t be beat.
Zocca Cuisine d’Italia. Located in the quieter section of the River Walk, this is a great place for Italian food.
Ostra at Mokara Hotel. This is an upscale restaurant with a gourmet menu. Reservations are highly recommended for dinner.
San Fernando de Bexar Cathedral
This cathedral is a landmark of San Antonio. It’s a short walk from the River Walk and one of the oldest cathedrals in the United States.
Historic Market Square
Located within walking distance of the River Walk, this is the largest Mexican market outside of Mexico. Many people rave about the food at Mi Terra Café and Bakery.
Planning Your Time
With half a day, visit the Alamo and have lunch or dinner at the River Walk.
Here is a Sample Itinerary for One Day in San Antonio:
- Breakfast at Mi Terra Café and Bakery
- Walk 10 minutes to visit the San Fernando Cathedral.
- Spend the day touring the Mission Trail, either by car, bus, or bike.
- Visit the Alamo in the late afternoon, after most of the crowds have left.
- Have dinner and drinks on the River Walk.
If you have any questions about how to spend your time in San Antonio, let us know in the comment section below.
More Information for Your Trip to Texas
13 Best Things to Do in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas…the live music capital of the world. With over 250 live music venues spread throughout the city, there is always something going on here. Aside from the epic music scene, there are lots of other unique things to do in Austin. Learn the Texas Two Step, wait in line for some of the best […]
10 Essential Austin Restaurants You Should Try
Austin, known as the Live Music Capital of the World, is also home to a fabulous food scene. Barbecue and Tex-Mex reign supreme here but there is enough variety to keep everyone happy. From trailer park tacos to fine dining establishments, there is something here for everyone. Here is our list of Austin restaurants to […]
10 Day Texas New Mexico National Parks Road Trip Itinerary
On this 10-day Texas New Mexico road trip itinerary, you will visit four national parks plus make a quick detour to a gem of a state park that just might be one of the big highlights of the trip. Go hiking in Big Bend and Guadalupe Mountains, explore the underground wonderland of Carlsbad Caverns, and […]
Best of Big Bend: 10 Great Things to Do in Big Bend National Park
Isolated, remote, wild, rugged…this is Big Bend National Park. Located on the southwestern corner of Texas, within the Chihuahuan Desert, is an extraordinary mountain range that is a haven for hikers, backpackers, and outdoor enthusiasts. In this post, learn about the best things to do in Big Bend National Park with tips to help you […]
15 Amazing Hikes in Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park is a hiker’s paradise. Hiking trails crisscross their way through the Chihuahuan Desert, along hot springs and the Rio Grande, and up and over the Chisos Mountains. Take your pick from short, easy strolls to off-the-beaten-path adventures to challenging mountain summits. Here are 15 of the best hikes in Big Bend […]
16 Great Things to Do in Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Canyons, gypsum sand dunes, fossilized coral reefs, the Chihuahuan Desert, and some of the highest peaks in Texas…these are all things that you can see in Guadalupe Mountains National Park. If you like hiking, you’ll love this park. Almost everything in the park requires some sort of short walk or hike…there is very little that […]
Best Things to Do in Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Located in the Guadalupe Mountains of New Mexico sits an underground fantasy land of limestone chambers, stalactites and stalagmites, and long, twisting tunnels. Carlsbad Caverns is breathtaking in its beauty. I’m not a big fan of caves and caverns but I found this place to be unexpectedly amazing. It feels massive like Mammoth Cave in […]
11 Amazing Things to Do in White Sands National Park
White Sands National Park is home to the largest gypsum dunefield in the world. These pure white dunes create a fun place to explore, for both kids and adults. Hike out into the dunes, learn about the wildlife that calls this park home, and go sledding on sand as white as the snow…these are just […]
New Orleans Bucket List: Best Things to Do in New Orleans
Mardi Gras, Bourbon Street, Creole cuisine, jazz, beignets, art galleries, and live music… what brings you to New Orleans? On a map, it might look small, but there are plenty of things to do in New Orleans to keep you busy. Whether you are here to stroll through the French Quarter, go shopping, dine on […]
Savannah Bucket List: 30 Best Things to Do in Savannah
Savannah, Georgia…this is where elegant mansions sit across from shady squares, art galleries and boutique shops dot the city streets, and restaurants and rooftop bars make great hang out spots for both locals and visitors. In this post, we cover 30 of the best things to do in Savannah. We are frequent visitors to Savannah, […]
12 Best Things to Do in Nashville, Tennessee
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear “Nashville?” For me, the answer is country music. Country music was not born here (it was actually born in Bristol, Tennessee) but Nashville is responsible for growing the country music industry over the past 100 years. People travel here to see the Country Music […]
12 Best Things to Do in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky…the home of the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and Louisville Slugger bats. Named after King Louis XVI of France, the city was founded in 1778 by George Rogers Clark. Muhammad Ali and Jennifer Lawrence were born and raised here. One third of all bourbon comes from Louisville. It’s home to several stops on […]
United States Travel Guide: Places to Visit in the USA
Plan your visit to the United States. Learn about the best things to do, how to plan your time, road trip ideas, and sample itineraries.
Comments 8