Museums · San Antonio · United States
4 best museums in San Antonio
The collections worth your time, how long each takes and how to fit them together.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Zereshk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with San Antonio Museum of Art, McNay Art Museum and Witte Museum. Together the 4 picks below take roughly 8–9 hours across 4 areas; all charge for entry.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 4
- Free entry
- 0
- Time to see them all
- 8–9 hours
- Areas
- Museum Reach, Alamo Heights and Brackenridge Park
Museums in San Antonio
.JPG){kind=link}
Museum · Museum Reach
1.San Antonio Museum of Art
Housed in the castle-like former Lone Star Brewery on the River Walk's Museum Reach, the museum is known for its Latin American art and folk art, its Greek and Roman antiquities and a large collection of Asian art.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Museum · Alamo Heights
2.McNay Art Museum
The first modern art museum in Texas occupies the Spanish Colonial Revival mansion of collector Marion Koogler McNay, with a courtyard, sculpture garden and modern wing.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Couples
- Architecture
Museum · Brackenridge Park
3.Witte Museum
The Witte covers Texas natural history and culture, with a dinosaur gallery, exhibits on the Lower Pecos rock art and cowboy history, and a hands-on science centre for children.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
Museum · Broadway
4.The DoSeum
San Antonio's children's museum is designed around hands-on play: a water-science area, a spy-themed maths zone, building workshops and a large outdoor play space.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Museum Reach | San Antonio Museum of Art | 2 hours |
| Alamo Heights | McNay Art Museum | 2 hours |
| Brackenridge Park | Witte Museum | 2 hours |
| Broadway | The DoSeum | 2–3 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 4, 4 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is The DoSeum; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 2 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Museum Reach and Alamo Heights): San Antonio Museum of Art → McNay Art Museum, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Brackenridge Park and Broadway): Witte Museum → The DoSeum, at least 4 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- August: highs of 36°C (97°F), about 5 rainy days, quiet crowds. The hottest month; hotel rates dip and the River Walk is quietest at midday.
- January: highs of 17°C (63°F), about 7 rainy days, quiet crowds. Mild, with sunny days but occasional cold fronts that bring near-freezing nights.
- September: highs of 32°C (90°F), about 7 rainy days, quiet crowds. Still hot, with tropical moisture bringing heavy showers at times.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Pearl and Museum Reach — A restored 1880s brewery with restaurants, a farmers' market and river trails
- Alamo Heights — Leafy, affluent enclave near the McNay and Brackenridge Park
- Tobin Hill and the St. Mary's Strip — Bars, live music and taquerías between downtown and the Pearl
More of San Antonio
All things to do in San Antonio · Where to stay · When to go.
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in San Antonio?
San Antonio Museum of Art. Housed in the castle-like former Lone Star Brewery on the River Walk's Museum Reach, the museum is known for its Latin American art and folk art, its Greek and Roman antiquities and a large collection of Asian art.