Contents
San Antonio | Introduction
San Antonio is the second-largest city in Texas, located in the southern part of the state. In the 18th century, it was the largest Spanish settlement in Texas and was once part of Mexico. This rich history has left San Antonio with many Spanish-era architectural and cultural heritage sites, giving it a strong exotic charm.
The San Antonio River Walk is the heart of the city, lined with shops and restaurants along the riverbanks, creating a lively atmosphere. Together with famous landmarks like The Alamo, the Mission Trail, museums, and theme parks, San Antonio has become one of Texas' most popular tourist destinations. Many visitors even say San Antonio is more fun than Austin, the state capital located just about 1.5 hours away by car!
San Antonio | 2 Day Itinerary
We stayed for two days — not a long time, but we managed to cover most of the major attractions. Here’s our itinerary:
Day 1: We started at Market Square (El Mercado), located close to downtown, and most attractions are within walking distance. After exploring the market, we headed east, passing San Fernando Cathedral and River Walk, and eventually reached the famous Alamo. Although the walk from the market to the Alamo is about 1.2 miles, it's full of historic sites and the River Walk to enjoy along the way, so it didn’t feel tiring. In the afternoon, we continued exploring and dining around the River Walk area.
Day 2: In the morning, we drove to Natural Bridge Caverns to explore the stunning limestone caves. In the afternoon, we visited the Japanese Tea Garden and then followed the Mission Trail, heading south from The Alamo to visit several missions like Mission Concepción and Mission San José. In the evening, we wrapped up our trip with dinner and a stroll at Pearl District.
If you have more time, both the Mission Trail and River Walk are worth dedicating a full day each. Families traveling with kids can easily extend the trip to four or five days by adding SeaWorld and the zoo. For those planning to visit many attractions like museums and the zoo, consider purchasing a San Antonio Explorer Pass to save on admission fees.
San Antonio Explorer Pass
San Antonio | Accommodation
We recommend staying near River Walk, The Alamo, or Market Square for convenience — most attractions are within walking distance, making your itinerary much easier. If your budget allows, choose hotels right along the River Walk. For a more affordable stay, consider areas around downtown or Pearl District.
Find a stay in San Antonio
San Antonio | Attractions
Historic Market square
Market Square is a lively marketplace filled with Mexican flair and is said to be the largest Mexican-style market in the U.S. You’ll find various souvenir shops and colorful handcrafted goods to explore. The most famous restaurant here is Mi Tierra Café, open from breakfast to late night. It’s incredibly popular, so grab a number early if you plan to dine — long waits are common.
San Fernando Cathedral
One of Texas' oldest churches, San Fernando Cathedral, was built in 1738. Although its exterior looks ancient, a major renovation in 2003 restored its interior while preserving its historical atmosphere. Don't miss the light show projected on the cathedral facade at night — an experience worth staying out late for.
At night, Main Plaza in front of the cathedral becomes a lively gathering spot where many people come to chat and stroll, creating a great atmosphere. Crowds often gather here to watch the cathedral's light show.
Surrounding the cathedral, there are also many historic buildings beautifully illuminated at night. For example, the courthouse building across the plaza draws a lot of visitors who stop to admire and take photos.
San Antonio River Walk
The River Walk is considered the soul of San Antonio. Built along the San Antonio River, the entire downtown revolves around it, filled with restaurants, cafés, shops, and street performers. Some call it the "Venice of Texas." One of the most popular ways to explore is by taking a river cruise.
At night, the lights create a beautiful ambiance, and when the weather is cool, it's perfect for a leisurely stroll with occasional café stops.
River Cruise Package
The River Walk is actually quite long — the stretch from Main Plaza to The Alamo is just one small part of it. If you’re staying nearby, it’s definitely worth taking your time to explore the entire area at a leisurely pace.
The Alamo
No visit to San Antonio is complete without seeing The Alamo. It's not only a historic landmark but also a key site in American history. Entry is free, but it's best to book a time slot on the official website due to high demand.
The Alamo was once a Spanish mission and a Mexican military fortress, with profound historical significance. During the Spanish colonial period, the Alamo was first established as a Spanish cavalry fort, and after Mexico's independence, the Alamo became a Mexican territory.
The Alamo was originally a Spanish mission and later a Mexican military fortress. It became famous during the Battle of the Alamo in 1836, where 200 Texan militia fought fiercely against the Mexican army led by General Santa Anna. After 12 days, all defenders were killed, and the cry "Remember the Alamo" became a rallying call in the fight for Texas independence and later the U.S.-Mexico War.
The Alamo is also the starting point of the Mission Trail for those who want to explore all five missions.
Mission Trail Tour
Mission Trail And Missions
The Mission Trail connects five historic missions: The Alamo, Mission Concepción, Mission San José, Mission San Juan, and Mission Espada — all built by Spanish missionaries in the 18th century and now designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
If short on time, we recommend at least visiting Mission Concepción, the oldest unrestored stone church in the U.S., and Mission San José, the largest and best-preserved mission, famous for its Rose Window.
Mission San Jose
Mission San José, built in 1720, is the best-preserved Spanish mission in San Antonio and one of the most important sites along the Mission Trail. The Spanish established many missions in San Antonio, including The Alamo, but Mission San José is the largest and most well-preserved among them — significantly bigger than The Alamo. Today, it is also recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The entire mission complex has been beautifully restored to its original state, surrounded by a stone wall. Inside the walls, there is a large grassy courtyard, with the main church building standing at the center. The church itself looks truly magnificent and imposing.
The church's most famous feature is the ornate Rose Window, known for its intricate design. This window was used by missionaries to lead prayers and worship, with the priest and the congregation standing on opposite sides. The window's elegant craftsmanship added a sense of solemnity and reverence to the religious ceremonies.
The primary purpose of the mission was to convert Native Americans and teach them to adopt the Catholic way of life. Along the inner side of the surrounding walls, you can still see small houses known as the Indian quarters, where Native Americans who had converted lived.
The missionaries lived together with these residents, and today, you can still see historic structures such as a water wheel, a mill, and a well, all of which have been well-preserved to showcase the living environment of the mission community in the 18th century.
Mission Concepcion
Mission Concepción, built in 1731, is not as large as Mission San José, but its architecture has never been restored, making it an authentic, original structure. In fact, it is the oldest unrestored stone church in the United States, preserving its historic grandeur just as it was centuries ago.
Japanese tea garden
The Japanese Tea Garden, located inside Brackenridge Park, is an Oriental-style garden built in 1917. Interestingly, the initial design of this Japanese garden was created by a Mexican-American engineer. Within the garden, you’ll find traditional elements such as a Japanese torii gate, winding stone pathways, and arched bridges that reflect classic Japanese garden aesthetics.
Adding even more authentic Japanese influence, Japanese-American artist Kimi Eizo Jingu and his family moved into the garden in 1919, further enriching its cultural atmosphere.
Jingu, a tea expert, not only took care of the Japanese Tea Garden, but also built a bamboo teahouse where he served tea and meals to visitors. The Jingu family lived in the garden until 1942, when they were forcibly removed due to anti-Japanese sentiment during World War II.
Afterward, a Chinese-American family, the Wu family, moved in to maintain the garden, and during that period, the garden was renamed the Chinese Garden. Even today, you can still see the "Chinese Garden" sign at the entrance. It wasn’t until 1984 that the garden's name was officially restored to Japanese Tea Garden.
Pearl District
Pearl District is San Antonio's hip and artsy neighborhood, originally a historic brewery that has been transformed into a vibrant commercial area. Today, it’s filled with unique restaurants, cafés, independent bookstores, and stylish hotels like the iconic Hotel Emma.
During the day, you can explore the local markets, and at night, it’s a great place to have dinner, enjoy drinks, and soak up the lively atmosphere. It's also a popular hangout spot for locals to gather and relax.
Natural bridge cavern
Natural Bridge Caverns is the largest cavern system in Texas. Although it's privately operated and somewhat commercialized, the caverns themselves are absolutely stunning — well worth the relatively high admission price.
If you're mainly interested in exploring the caves, we recommend the Discovery Tour, which lasts about 1.5 hours. The cavern is massive, and as you walk deeper inside, you'll discover multiple layers and fascinating stalactite and stalagmite formations of all shapes and sizes.
There are also other activities on-site, such as a wildlife ranch, rock climbing, and adventure courses, making it a great spot for families with kids or those wanting a full day of fun. However, on our visit, we focused solely on exploring the cavern, and it was an unforgettable experience.
From the outside, you can already tell that the cavern must be enormous — just by looking at the walkway areas preserved on the surface, you realize that the entire underground area is filled with stalactites and stalagmites. It gives a sense of how vast and impressive the cave system is even before you go inside.
This cavern was only discovered in 1960, so it hasn't been fully explored yet. Even during the guided tour, you won't see the entire cave, but the sections open to the public are already incredibly breathtaking.
Once inside, you realize just how deep the cave goes, with pathways winding further and further down. At each stop, different guides provide explanations about the formations and history. The interior is truly spectacular, and it's the first time we've ever seen such massive stalactites and stalagmites — an unforgettable sight.
We won’t go into detail about all the different formations here, but we’ve captured the most stunning ones in photos to remember the highlights of the tour.
San Antonio | Restaurant Recommendations
San Antonio is a vibrant and exciting city, so it's no surprise that there are plenty of great restaurants to choose from. During our trip, we tried a few places and would highly recommend these three restaurants.
Rosario's
- Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Price: $$
Located in Southtown, Rosario’s is a well-known Tex-Mex restaurant. From the outside, you can already tell it's a spacious place with plenty of seating, but even though we arrived before peak dinner hours, we still had to wait about 30 minutes — a testament to its popularity.
While waiting, you can grab a drink at the bar and relax in the large waiting area, which is honestly big enough to be its own restaurant — definitely true Texas style! We tried a few frozen cocktails while waiting, and the lively atmosphere made the time fly by.
For dinner, we ordered the Beef Fajitas, Fish Tacos, Shrimp Tacos, and Tortilla Soup. Although the portions didn’t look huge, they were more than enough to leave us full until the next morning.
The food was truly delicious, and after tasting it, we completely understood why this place is ranked number one in the area. If you're visiting San Antonio and want to try authentic Tex-Mex cuisine, Rosario’s is definitely worth a visit!
The Smoke Shack
- Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Price: $$
The Smoke Shack is a Texas BBQ joint with a small storefront, but I really loved its relaxed, casual vibe. Their combo plates let you choose 1 to 3 types of meat, along with two sides.
Between us, we ordered four kinds of meat — of course, brisket (a must-try), plus pulled pork, ribs, and sausage. For sides, we picked corn, potato salad, fries, and fried okra, so there was a great variety to enjoy.
Each meal also comes with a slice of bread, which helps balance out the rich flavors. The portions here aren't as insanely huge as some of the BBQ spots we tried in Austin — they actually look like something one person could reasonably finish. But in the end, we were so stuffed we skipped dinner that night — Texas portions really are no joke!
Southerleigh Brewery
- Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Price: $$
Southerleigh is actually a fine dining restaurant and brewery, located inside the old factory building at Pearl District. We originally planned to have dinner here, but it was really hard to get a reservation, and since we were still full from our BBQ lunch, we decided to just grab a beer at the outdoor bar and enjoy the atmosphere.
The outdoor bar offers about six types of beer, so the selection isn’t huge, and the flavors were fairly average. But the outdoor seating area was super cozy and relaxing, which explains why so many locals and hipsters love to hang out here all night.
Thirsty Aztec
- Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Price: $$
If you’re a fan of Las Vegas-style frozen cocktails, make sure to check out Thirsty Aztec when you’re at the River Walk in San Antonio. Grab a drink to go and enjoy live music along the river — it can instantly turn the River Walk into a fun, party-like Las Vegas vibe!
Their most popular drink is called "Local", a mango-flavored tequila frozen cocktail mixed with other seasonings — a salty, spicy, and refreshing combination that tastes great and comes with a generous tequila shot.
We also tried a small Pina Colada, perfect for those who prefer something sweet and tropical.
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