San Antonio

historic mission district | artistic san antonio | dining delights | outdoor channel(ing)

San Antonio

San Antonio is the oldest big city in Texas (it was established by Spanish colonialists in 1718), but with a rich historical landscape, unmissable river walks and a thriving multicultural dining scene, it’s anything but old-fashioned. Packed with world-class art galleries, UNESCO World Heritage destinations for its Spanish Colonial Missions and Creative City of Gastronomy, the Alamo City is filled with surprises.

The cradle of Texas independence has a long history filled with Western influences (think rodeos and cowboy boots), along with Spanish and Victorian architecture that brightens the downtown’s historic nature. From the Alamo to La Villita Historic Arts Village, there’s so much history to uncover.

This south-central Texas city is well-known for being the site of the Battle of the Alamo, but the history surrounding this struggle, as well as the area’s Spanish colonial past and San Antonio’s missions, reward the curious traveller. Explore the stone archways and bell towers on the Mission Trail, which consists of the missions south of the Alamo (now downtown San Antonio). These four — Mission San José, Mission Concepción, Mission San Juan, and Mission Espada — make up the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. This UNESCO World Heritage site has the greatest concentration of Catholic missions in North America, and the Mission Reach, a 12-kilometre extension of the River Walk, connects all the missions.

Explore San Antonio's colourful yesteryear

On a mission

San Antonio's museums make it easy and fun to learn about pre-colonial Texas and the first peoples, as well as the long history of immigration to the area. At The Witte Museum, you'll find the family-friendly Robert J. & Helen C. Kleberg South Texas Heritage Center, with a recreation of San Antonio's main plaza circa 1849, and exhibits about life in and around the area. Both museums are affiliates of the Smithsonian. Don’t miss the 300-year-old La Villita Historic Arts Village, known as San Antonio’s “first neighbourhood,” where you can wander along the southern bank of the San Antonio River Walk through the collection of historic buildings that now house artisans and shops.

History in action

A convergence of the cultural and the culinary

BACK TO THE TOP

The party doesn’t really stop in San Antonio, with a full calendar of festivals and celebrations all year round. Not only does the city host the largest Day of the Dead celebrations in the United States in October and November, it also has the most extensive Mexican Independence Day celebrations and the country’s largest Martin Luther King Day commemoration in January. Fiesta San Antonio, in April, is an 11-day celebration of the city's diverse cultures, with daytime and nighttime parades and river parades and over 100 events to discover. There’s also the the Diwali Festival, Oktoberfest and the country's largest LGBTQ+ Pride Parade on water (at the River Walk), so no matter what time of year you visit, there will be a fiesta to enjoy.

Fiesta forever

Arts and crafts

Head to the Broadway Cultural Corridor, see the public art along the River Walk, and wander through the buildings of the McNay Art Museum, the first modern art museum in Texas. The vast collection takes you from Van Gogh and Cézanne to Calder and Abakanowicz. Next, explore Southtown Arts District, known for boutiques, galleries and museums (including the crimson Ruby City, designed by world-renowned architect Sir David Adjaye). Downtown, shoppers will love the Historic Market Square, where more than 100 vendors and craftspeople sell their goods, and the Briscoe Western Art Museum, featuring the art and heritage of the American West.

A city overflowing with culture, galleries and festivals

A confluence of Indigenous, Spanish and German heritage influences the arts and culture scene in San Antonio. Art galleries and local artisans offer up a rainbow of arts and culture throughout the city. And then there are the festivals and special events—this non-stop metropolis has can't miss activities on the calendar all year long. Read on for more about the three can't-miss areas that should be on an art-lover's itinerary: the Broadway Cultural Corridor, the Southtown Arts District and Downtown.

San Antonio is one of just two cities in the United States designated as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, a tribute local restauranteurs' constant innovation. It’s made a name for itself on the national dining scene with 13 James Beard nominations and several finalist awards. To find out why San Antonio racks up the accolades, head to the Pearl District to dine on Peruvian-Asian food at Botika or Caribbean Roti and big slabs of pizza at the Bottling Department Food Hall, or choose from one of the many restaurants along the River Walk for a myriad of selections from steak to Italian. There is no shortage of delicious food in the Culinary Capital of Texas.

Award-winning eats

Barbecue for you

Smoky, finger-licking Texas barbecue is at its best in San Antonio. The city is full of pitmasters and restaurants offering both old-school smoked meat styles (mmm, brisket!) and modern interpretations. For the latter, try Curry Boys BBQ, which has won a James Beard Award for their innovative smoked meat curries served with rice and homemade chili oil. Two Bros BBQ Market by Chef Jason Dady is the place to go for classic plates and "fixins," while Weathered Souls Brewing Co—a James Beard Semifinalist for outstanding bar—serves up fresh brews alongside their BBQ plates, sandwiches and tacos.

It starts with tacos but there’s so much more

Tex-Mex flavours are engrained in San Antonio’s dining scene. The signature cuisine was adapted from Tejano home cooking and developed in the 1880s in San Antonio, but it wasn’t until the 1970s that the term came to be known; it now helps to define the city’s culinary history. Even so, the San Antonio dining scene is a delicious mix of old and new. Tacos are a pillar of the eating culture; for iconic San Antonio puffy tacos (light and crispy taco treasures with shells made from fried fresh masa), head to Ray's Drive Inn, where they were invented in the 1950s. Meanwhile, novel up-and-comers offer mid-century-style cocktails and Horchata lattes along with their award-winning cuisine.

You don’t have to go far to enjoy San Antonio’s flora and fauna. The beloved Brackenridge Park spans more than 300 acres surrounding the headwaters of the San Antonio River. It’s home to the San Antonio Zoo—known for one of the world's largest bird collections—and the Japanese Tea Garden, where you’ll find a 60-ft waterfall, stone bridges and koi ponds. Follow the Mahncke Park trail to the adjacent San Antonio Botanical Gardens to explore the greenhouses, gardens and horticulture displays. This is even more kid-friendly than you might think, with giant living sculptures as well as a family adventure garden, storytimes and regular hikes for big and little kids.

Go parking

Walking by the water

Right inside the city, you’ll find lush river pathways, parks and majestic gardens of the famous San Antonio River Walk. The city’s most attractive pedestrian walk is also its most popular attraction, and for good reason. What started more than 100 years ago as a storm solution to prevent flooding has become a 15-mile waterside walkway filled with stony paths and lush greenery. Meander along the rocky paths of the River Walk embankment, where you’ll find tourists and locals delighting in the views and the restaurants and bars too.

The gateway to Hill Country delivers

San Antonio serves as a great jumping-off point for experiencing all that south-central Texas has to offer. A short drive to The Texas Hill Country leads to wide-open spaces filled with lakes, rivers and wildflowers and outdoor adventure. Also a short trip away are the wineries and Dark Sky Parks (for star-gazing) in Fredericksburg, as well as the caves at Natural Bridge Caverns and the tubing opportunities north of San Antonio on rivers including Comal, Guadalupe and New Braunfels.

The Alamo

Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center

Historic Mission District

Artistic San Antonio

Dining delights

Outdoor channel(ing)

San Fernando Cathedral

Plan your trip

The Alamo

San Pedro Creek

Confluence Park

Pearl District

San Jose Mission

La Villita Historic Arts Village

McNay Art Museum + Market Square

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)

Sope, a traditional Mexican dish

Two Bros BBQ Market

Pearl District

Natural Bridge Caverns

River Walk

San Antonio Botanical Gardens

The BLOX Building (left); The Black Diamond (right) Photo credit: Daniel Rasmussen

Surprising

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historic mission district | artistic san antonio | dine-through | outdoor channel(ing)