San Antonio Texas The Alamo River Walk and Missions

Why visit San Antonio

Few American cities wear their history as openly. Five Spanish colonial missions survive along the river, four of them still active parishes, and together with the Alamo they form the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas.

San Antonio is also a city of celebration. Mariachi music drifts across Market Square, the river fills with floats during festival season and families pack the parks on weekends.

Downtown, the Alamo and the River Walk

The Alamo

The Alamo began as Mission San Antonio de Valero, and its small stone church became a symbol of Texas independence after the thirteen-day siege of 1836, when Mexican troops under General Santa Anna overwhelmed the Texan defenders.

Allow one and a half to two hours. Practical tip: entry to the church is free but uses timed reservations, which you can book on the official Alamo website; guided tours and exhibits may require tickets, so check current options and hours before you go.

The Alamo church was part of Mission San Antonio de Valero and saw the famous battle of 1836. Photo: Daniel Schwen, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

The River Walk

The San Antonio River Walk, or Paseo del Río, is a network of stone paths along the river one story below the streets. The busy downtown loop is lined with restaurants, cafe patios, hotels and arched bridges, shaded by cypress trees.

Allow two hours to a full day, depending on how far you walk.

Narrated river cruises carry visitors around the downtown loop of the River Walk. Photo: Billy Hathorn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Main Plaza and San Fernando Cathedral

West of the river loop, Main Plaza is the historic heart of the city, laid out by settlers from the Canary Islands in the 1730s.

Allow one hour, plus time for the evening show. Practical tip: check the cathedral or city website for the projection schedule, and nearby you can also see the Spanish Governor's Palace, a restored eighteenth-century residence.

San Fernando Cathedral on Main Plaza traces its origins to a church founded by Canary Islands settlers. Photo: Daniel Schwen, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

La Villita, Hemisfair and the Tower of the Americas

La Villita is a small historic village beside the river, with stone and adobe buildings now housing artists' studios and shops.

Allow two to three hours for all three. Practical tip: go up the tower around sunset for the best light, and check the official website for current hours and fees.

The Tower of the Americas was built for HemisFair '68, the world's fair held in San Antonio. Photo: Tdorante10, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

The missions trail

South of downtown, San Antonio Missions National Historical Park protects four eighteenth-century Spanish missions: Concepción, San José, San Juan and Espada.

Mission San José

Mission San José is the largest of the group and the best place to start, with the park's main visitor center and a film about mission life.

Allow one and a half to two hours. Practical tip: start here to pick up a map, watch the film and ask rangers about current programs.

Mission San José, restored in the twentieth century, is the largest of the San Antonio missions. Photo: Ashland Thomas, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Mission Concepción, San Juan and Espada

Mission Concepción, closest to downtown, has a twin-towered stone church that has changed little since the eighteenth century, and traces of original painted decorations survive inside. Further south, San Juan and Espada are quieter and more rural.

Allow three to four hours to see all three by car or bike. Practical tip: the Mission Reach trail along the river links the missions, and riding it by bike share is a pleasant way to cover the whole route on a cool day.

Mission Concepción's stone church has stood largely unchanged since the eighteenth century. Photo: Liveon001 ©Travis Witt, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Neighborhoods, museums and gardens

The Pearl

North of downtown along the Museum Reach, the Pearl is a former brewery complex that has been turned into one of the liveliest districts in Texas.

Allow two to three hours, longer for a meal.

The former Pearl Brewery is now a district of restaurants, shops and a weekend farmers market. Photo: Clyde Charles Brown, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Market Square

On the west side of downtown, Market Square, known as El Mercado, is a cluster of plazas and buildings filled with shops selling Mexican crafts, embroidered dresses, pottery and souvenirs.

Allow one to two hours. Practical tip: pick up pan dulce from the bakery for later, and check the city's event calendar for weekend music and cultural festivals in the square.

Market Square, also called El Mercado, is a hub for Mexican crafts, music and food. Photo: Zereshk, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Brackenridge Park and the Japanese Tea Garden

North of the Pearl, Brackenridge Park is a large green space along the upper river.

Allow one to three hours depending on how much you combine.

The Japanese Tea Garden was built in a former limestone quarry in Brackenridge Park. Photo: Corey Leopold, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Food and local flavors

San Antonio is a Tex-Mex city at heart. Breakfast tacos, wrapped in soft flour tortillas, are a morning ritual, with fillings like bean and cheese, potato and egg, chorizo or carne guisada.

Sunday mornings bring barbacoa, slow-cooked beef cheek, often eaten with tortillas and washed down with a red soda.

Popular dishes to try in San Antonio

Where to stay

Downtown and the River Walk is the classic base for first-time visitors, with the Alamo, river cruises and many restaurants on your doorstep.

The Pearl and Museum Reach suits food lovers and couples looking for a stylish, walkable neighborhood with a local feel, connected to downtown by the river path.

King William and Southtown offer historic homes, bed-and-breakfast style stays and easy access to the missions trail.

Where to stay in San Antonio

Best time to visit

Spring is the favorite season, with mild temperatures and wildflowers in the surrounding countryside.

Summer is long and hot, with frequent days near or above the upper nineties, so plan the missions and walking for early morning and save afternoons for museums and the shaded river.

Getting there and getting around

San Antonio International Airport lies north of downtown, about a twenty-minute drive in light traffic, with nonstop flights across the United States and to Mexico.

Downtown is compact and best explored on foot along the River Walk.

A suggested itinerary

Practical tips

• Reserve your free timed entry to the Alamo church online in advance, especially on weekends.
• Book accommodation early for Fiesta in April and the holiday season on the River Walk.
• Visit the missions early in the day and carry water, as there is little shade.
• Dress modestly and keep voices low inside the mission churches, which are active parishes.
• Watch your step on the River Walk, as many sections have no railing at the water's edge.
• Use downtown garages rather than circling for street parking.

Find local businesses in San Antonio on WiserMap

From taquerias and bakeries to bike rentals and repair shops, you can find local businesses all over San Antonio on WiserMap, whether you are planning ahead or already in town.

Explore local businesses