With kids · San Antonio · United States
San Antonio with kids
Family-tested sights, a calm base and the practical details that make travelling with children easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
San Antonio is one of the easiest Texas cities for families: river boats, the Alamo, Yanaguana Garden and Market Square are all downtown, Brackenridge Park groups the zoo, the Witte Museum and a free garden, and two big theme parks sit on the edges of the city. Top picks: San Antonio River Walk, The Alamo and Yanaguana Garden at Hemisfair. Families usually base themselves in Downtown and the River Walk.
Key facts
- Family picks
- 9
- Best area for families
- Downtown and the River Walk
- Rainy-day options
- 2
- Busiest months
- April
Best things to do with kids
Waterfront · Downtown
1.San Antonio River Walk
A network of riverside paths one storey below street level, shaded by cypress trees and lined with restaurants, hotels and bridges. The busy downtown loop is the classic stretch, while the landscaped Museum Reach to the north and Mission Reach to the south are quieter and better for long walks or cycling.
Take a narrated river boat first to get your bearings, then walk the quieter Museum Reach to the Pearl.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Couples
- After dark
- Outdoors
Historic site · Downtown
2.The Alamo
Founded in 1718 as Mission San Antonio de Valero, the Alamo became famous for the 13-day siege of 1836 during the Texas Revolution. Its carved limestone church façade and Long Barrack are the core of a site that includes gardens, exhibits and artefacts from the battle, on a plaza being redeveloped with new museum space.
Go early in the morning before tour groups, then walk a block to the River Walk for breakfast.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Book ahead
- Church entry is free, but reserving a free time slot online can save a wait at busy times.
- Iconic
- History
- Free
- Architecture
Park · Hemisfair
3.Yanaguana Garden at Hemisfair
A large free playground on the former world's fair grounds, with climbing structures, a splash pad, sand areas and giant board games, surrounded by restored historic houses and cafés. It is the best place downtown to let children burn off energy.
Bring swimwear in summer for the splash pad and visit in the morning, before the heat builds.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Free
- Outdoors
Zoo · Brackenridge Park
4.San Antonio Zoo
A long-established zoo in Brackenridge Park with an African savanna area, big cats, hippos, a children's area and a large collection of birds and reptiles, set among limestone cliffs from the old quarries.
Go at opening on summer days; animals are most active before the afternoon heat.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
Museum · Brackenridge Park
5.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.
Pair it with the Japanese Tea Garden and the zoo for a full Brackenridge Park day.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
Museum · Broadway
6.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. It is aimed at children up to about ten.
Bring a change of clothes for the water exhibits; children get soaked.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
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Theme park · Northwest
7.Six Flags Fiesta Texas
A large theme park built into a former limestone quarry, with roller coasters set against 30-metre cliff walls, family rides and a water park included in admission in the warmer months.
Go on a weekday outside school holidays and head to the biggest coasters first.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Active
- Outdoors
Theme park · Westover Hills
8.SeaWorld San Antonio
A marine theme park on the west side of the city with animal presentations, roller coasters and aquarium areas, plus the separate Aquatica water park next door.
Check the show schedule on arrival and plan rides around it, as shows set the rhythm of the day.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Outdoors
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Viewpoint · Hemisfair
9.Tower of the Americas
Built for the 1968 HemisFair world's fair, this 229-metre tower has an observation deck reached by glass-fronted lifts, with views over downtown, the missions corridor and the Hill Country on clear days. A 4D ride about Texas runs at the base.
Go up shortly before sunset to see the city in daylight and as the lights come on.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- After dark
- Kids
- Couples
Rainy-day ideas
- Witte Museum — Pair it with the Japanese Tea Garden and the zoo for a full Brackenridge Park day.
- The DoSeum — Bring a change of clothes for the water exhibits; children get soaked.
Where families should stay
$$$ · Best for first-timers, families and couples
Downtown and the River Walk
Most visitors stay downtown, where hotels line the River Walk loop within a few minutes' walk of the Alamo, La Villita, Hemisfair and the convention centre. River-level restaurants and bars make evenings easy, though many are aimed squarely at tourists.
- Good
- Walk to the main sights; Large choice of hotels; River boats and restaurants on the doorstep
- Watch out
- Restaurants on the main loop are touristy; Convention weeks push prices up
- Nearby
- The Alamo, River Walk, La Villita, Tower of the Americas
Family travel tips
- In summer, do outdoor sights before about 11am and save the afternoon for museums, pools or water parks.
- Hold small children's hands on the River Walk; many stretches have no railings along the water.
- Spend a whole day in Brackenridge Park, where the zoo, Witte Museum and Japanese Tea Garden are close together.
- The DoSeum and Yanaguana Garden both have water play, so pack swimwear.
- Choose a downtown River Walk hotel so tired children are never far from the room.
Day trips for families
- Gruene and New Braunfels (About 40 minutes by car) — Gruene is a historic hamlet with Gruene Hall, one of the oldest dance halls in Texas, and riverside restaurants.
- Natural Bridge Caverns (About 30 minutes by car) — A large show cave north-east of the city with guided walks through chambers of stalactites and flowstone, named after the limestone bridge at its entrance.
- Bandera (About 1 hour by car) — Billing itself as the 'Cowboy Capital of the World', Bandera has dude ranches offering trail rides, old-time honky-tonks on Main Street and the Medina River for swimming and kayaking.
- Enchanted Rock (About 1 hour 45 minutes by car) — A huge pink granite dome north of Fredericksburg with a steep summit trail of about 1 km and views over the Hill Country.
When to go with children
The best months overall are March–April and October–November. April is the busiest, so book the big sights early. Weather by month.
Questions travellers ask
+Is San Antonio good for kids?
San Antonio is one of the easiest Texas cities for families: river boats, the Alamo, Yanaguana Garden and Market Square are all downtown, Brackenridge Park groups the zoo, the Witte Museum and a free garden, and two big theme parks sit on the edges of the city.
+What can kids do in San Antonio?
San Antonio River Walk, The Alamo, Yanaguana Garden at Hemisfair, San Antonio Zoo and Witte Museum.
+Where should families stay in San Antonio?
Downtown and the River Walk: Alamo Plaza, river-level restaurants and the main hotel cluster.