7 Best Sights in San Antonio, Texas

Beloved Brackenridge Park has been a big part of San Antonians' lives for more than a century. The 343-acre riverside park makes an excellent setting for a picnic or a stroll, with about 3 miles of walking trails, public art, softball fields, a municipal golf course, concessions, and sights like the Japanese Tea Garden and the San Antonio Zoo. Take a 2-mile ride around the park on a miniature train that runs daily; buy tickets at the Train Depot.

The mission of the Brackenridge Park Conservancy is to work as a steward of and an advocate for the park, enhancing and protecting its natural, historic, recreational, and educational resources. One of its numerous projects is the renovation of the Sunken Garden Theater, including the preservation of the historic amphitheater and its backstage facilities, redesigned landscaping, and more. The park is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a Texas State Antiquities Landmark. 

Built a full story below street level, the Paseo del Rio is the city's (and state's) leading tourist attraction, with the Downtown Reach section comprising about 3 miles of scenic stone pathways that line both San Antonio River banks as it flows through downtown, connecting many of the city's sights, hotels, and restaurants. In some places, the walk is peaceful and quiet; in others, it is a mad conglomeration of restaurants, bars, hotels, shops, and strolling mariachi bands, all of which can also be seen from GO RIO Cruises tour boats and river shuttles.

To the north, the Museum Reach section of the River Walk extends roughly 4 miles from Lexington Street to Grayson Street. Boat tours do not travel to this section, but the river shuttles do, making their last stop at the Pearl District after a lock-and-dam experience at Brooklyn Street.

The final section, the Mission Reach, extends south of downtown, uniquely encompassing 8 miles of riparian woodlands with native plants and an active aquatic habitat. No restaurants, hotels, shops, or river boats are on this stretch, but visitors can access the four missions at the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park via the walking path alongside the river. The fifth mission, the Alamo, is steps away from the Downtown Reach. The San Antonio River Walk and its three distinctive sections extend about 15 miles total. 

Visit this U.S. Army military history museum to learn the story of Fort Sam Houston from the late 19th century to the present. It's filled with exhibits about the site's early days, with displays that include old uniforms, firearms, vehicles, and personal papers, which you can see on a self-guided tour. The museum is located in the Quadrangle, which was once an outdoor prison and now where dozens of peacocks, deer, ducks, and other wildlife roam freely. Fort Sam Houston is a National Historic Landmark.

The site of the 1968 World's Fair, Hemisfair is in the process of being transformed into a 40-acre public space for the city. The site currently houses some of San Antonio's best-known attractions: the Tower of the Americas, the UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures, and the Mexican Cultural Institute, as well as the Yanaguana Playground and Splash Pad for children, which was recognized by the Urban Land Institute as an outstanding example of a vibrant, open urban space. Parts of the park are currently under construction; the Mays Family Foundation donated $1 million to build a garden in their matriarch Peggy's honor, a 25,000-square-foot space near the remaining historic homes on the site. The park is open every day from 5 am to midnight, and almost any time of day or night you will see people on the walking paths, dog walkers (dogs must be on a leash), and residents and visitors enjoying community programming like free concerts and outdoor workouts. Hemisfair is also home to various annual festivals and city celebrations. Check their website for upcoming events.

Step into this lovely, lush, flowering oasis within Brackenridge Park that was originally a rock quarry. A man-made 60-foot waterfall is the focus, along with beautiful rock bridges and walkways over and around lily ponds with hundreds of koi fish. The entire place is filled with photo ops perfect for Instagram. The Jingu House café at the top of the garden offers a wide variety of teas and light lunch fare. 

Downtown's Main Plaza welcomes all from far and near, whether they're looking to gather with others, attend a performance, or enjoy the space in solitude. Also known as Plaza de Las Islas Canarias, a nod to the Canary Island settlers in San Antonio, the area has been around since the early 18th century. After ups and downs due to growth and other factors, the plaza is now alive with performers and visitors thanks to the efforts of the Main Plaza Conservancy, a nonprofit dedicated to creating and developing a family-friendly plaza for all ages and promoting arts and culture in an open-air setting. Enjoy free musical concerts, dance performances, yoga, movies, seasonal and holiday events, and more. Check the online calendar to see upcoming and recurring events. The spectacular San Antonio: The Saga is a 24-minute art installation by renowned artist Xavier de Richemont, projected onto the facade of the San Fernando Cathedral. The show runs at multiple times every Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening through 2024.

All are welcome at the oldest standing church building in Texas and the first church in San Antonio. Still an active parish (mass is held daily), San Fernando Cathedral was built in 1731 by the city's Canary Island colonists. Mexican general Santa Anna raised a blood-red flag of "no quarter" here before he stormed the Alamo in 1836, signifying to the Texans that he would take no prisoners. In 1873, following a fire after the Civil War, the chapel was replaced with the present-day construction. A small sarcophagus on display holds the ashes of unknown soldiers, presented as the remains of the defenders of the Alamo. However, some modern historians are skeptical because evidence of military uniforms was discovered, which the Texan army never wore. Special events are held here, including symphonies, singers, musicians, and televised specials.