Itinerary · San Antonio · United States
One day in San Antonio
A day-by-day plan grouped by neighbourhood, so you spend your time seeing San Antonio, not crossing it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: TheConduqtor, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
One day is a taster: the plan below covers the essentials, but most visitors want 3. Day 1: The Alamo and San Antonio River Walk. Base yourself in Downtown and the River Walk.
Key facts
- Days
- 1
- Sights covered
- 5
- Day trips
- None
- Best base
- Downtown and the River Walk
- Book ahead
- The Alamo
Day by day
Day 1: The Alamo and San Antonio River Walk
The Alamo, San Antonio River Walk, La Villita Historic Arts Village and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, then Tower of the Americas in the evening.
Morning
The Alamo
Go early in the morning before tour groups, then walk a block to the River Walk for breakfast. Allow 1–1.5 hours.
Late morning
San Antonio River Walk
Take a narrated river boat first to get your bearings, then walk the quieter Museum Reach to the Pearl. Allow 2–3 hours.
Lunch
Lunch: Puffy taco
Long-established West Side Tex-Mex drive-ins and family restaurants, several of which claim to have invented it.
Afternoon
La Villita Historic Arts Village
Combine it with Hemisfair and the Tower of the Americas, which are a few minutes' walk east. Allow 45 minutes.
Late afternoon
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
Rent a bike and ride the Mission Reach trail along the river between the missions, starting at Concepción. Allow Half a day.
Evening
Tower of the Americas
Go up shortly before sunset to see the city in daylight and as the lights come on.
Before you go
- The Alamo: Church entry is free, but reserving a free time slot online can save a wait at busy times.
If it rains
- Swap in San Antonio Museum of Art (Museum Reach): Arrive along the River Walk from the Pearl, which brings you to the museum's riverside entrance.
- Swap in McNay Art Museum (Alamo Heights): Leave time for the sculpture garden and the tiled courtyard, which are among the most peaceful spots in the city.
- Swap in Witte Museum (Brackenridge Park): Pair it with the Japanese Tea Garden and the zoo for a full Brackenridge Park day.
Where to stay for this itinerary
$$$ · Best for first-timers, families and couples
Downtown and the River Walk
Alamo Plaza, river-level restaurants and the main hotel cluster
Pace and daylight
The sights in this plan add up to roughly 8–10 hours of visiting over one day, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.3 hours in December to 14 hours in June.
Getting between stops: Walking. The River Walk is the most pleasant way to move around downtown and continues north to the Pearl and south to King William and the missions.
More or fewer days
Questions travellers ask
+Is one day enough in San Antonio?
One day is a taster: the plan below covers the essentials, but most visitors want 3. How many days San Antonio needs.
+What should I book before visiting San Antonio?
The Alamo.