Many people associate this Texas city with a losing battle, but San Antonio is about much more than the Alamo. Between the Riverwalk, the missions, the shopping and the fabulous food—which ranges from Tex-Mex to German—the city offers a crowd-pleasing mix of old and new culture. Thanks to the mostly mild weather and the walkable city center, San Antonio has long been a buzzing hub for business conferences, and the Alamo naturally attracts a parade of school trips and tour groups. But when you visit San Antonio you'll also find a friendly, unfussy atmosphere, offering a depth of history and natural beauty to boot.
Things Not to Miss in San Antonio
Read Travel + Leisure's San Antonio travel guide to explore this vibrant city, including these popular sights:
• The Alamo
• The Riverwalk
• The San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
• Mi Terra
• The King William district
• HemisFair Park, the site of the 1968 World's Fair
When to Go to San Antonio
From fall through spring, San Antonio boasts mild, tourist-friendly weather, while winter and spring may bring rain and sporadic cold spells. Summer is hot, however, so be prepared. Most places you'll visit will be nicely air-conditioned, but walking outside in 100-degree-plus temps can be tiring. Early summer is a more palatable time to visit San Antonio than late summer, and in June, San Antonio hosts the Texas Folk Life Festival. If you come during the summer, take a day to visit to the beloved (and cool) Schlitterbahn Water Park, north of the city in San Marcos.
On the other hand, the city knows how to celebrate Christmas. Glowing luminaria line the Riverwalk, which makes for a lovely photo op. San Antonio travel peaks again in the spring when the Texas wildflowers begin to bloom. The state flower, the bluebonnet, blossoms in April. To see even more wildflowers, venture just out of town into the Hill Country. One of the city's biggest parties of the year, Fiesta, is also in April.
-
This Zoo Will Let You Name a Cockroach or Rat After Your Ex Then Feed It to an Animal During a Livestream Event
Valentine’s Day isn’t all hearts and flowers for some people out there. But there is a way to have a satisfying holiday when you’re riding solo these... Read More
-
3 Dead After Plane Makes Emergency Crash Landing in San Antonio
A small, single-engine plane en route to Boerne, Texas, crashed down in front of a commercial building in San Antonio on Sunday night, killing all three... Read More
-
You Can Bring Home Your Own Bouquet From This Giant Texas Tulip Field
Greetings, fellow tulip enthusiasts. We come blooming with good news: San Antonio will be getting an amazing new U-Pick tulip field courtesy of Texas... Read More
-
Meet the Very Good Therapy Dogs Who Flew to El Paso to Comfort Victims and First Responders
The Methodist Healthcare System of San Antonio has sent two of their emergency services facility dogs to El Paso, Texas, to comfort the victims and... Read More
-
The 15 Best Cities in the United States (Video)
One would be hard-pressed to find a better-traveled bunch of folks than the readers of Travel + Leisure. You’ve scaled Kilimanjaro and sailed to... Read More
-
The Best 15 City Hotels in the Continental United States
Superlative city hotels channel the distinctive personalities of their urban environments while giving guests tranquil spaces for unwinding after a busy... Read More
-
Hundreds of Dogs in Colorful Costumes Are About to Take Over San Antonio — Here's How to Join Them
In San Antonio, you can parade through the 2.6 miles of tree-lined streets in Alamo Heights with more than 800 of your four-legged friends, both of... Read More
-
The 10 Best U.S. Cities for Eating Out on a Budget
Trying new foods is an essential part of going on vacation — but, if you’re not careful, it can also be a big money drain.Luckily for hungry travelers,... Read More
-
The Best Hotels to Book in 2019
This story originally appeared on Money.com. MONEY’s fourth annual Best in Travel guide highlights 20 destinations in the U.S. and around the world that... Read More
-
San Antonio Is the Food Destination You Didn’t Know You Needed to Visit
There’s a lot more to San Antonio than the Alamo and Riverwalk, and there’s a lot more to San Antonio’s food scene than Tex-Mex and barbecue.Last year,... Read More
-
A Monkey Escaped Its Crate and Ran Around the San Antonio Airport for 2 Hours
A monkey escaped its crate at San Antonio airport on Monday, running around the airport as authorities chased it for almost two hours.CBS News reported... Read More
-
The Best Free and Cheap Things to Do in May Across the U.S.
For Mother's Day, you may want to get in the car, hop on a plane, or bike it across town to visit your mom, bring her flowers, and take her to brunch.... Read More
-
These Are the Best U.S. Cities for First-time Homebuyers
These cities offer first-time homeowners the most home-buying options, the best home values, and the greatest opportunity for property value growth,... Read More
-
The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2018
Travelers today are more aware than ever of all the world has to offer. It’s thrilling to be confronted with so much possibility — but daunting, too.... Read More
-
At 96 Years Old, Barney Smith Is Putting His Toilet Seat Art Museum Up For Sale
Are you in the market for 1,318 toilet seats, each one intricately decorated with everything from Troll dolls to Pez dispensers to a wasp nest? You’re... Read More
