Heading to San Antonio? These San Antonio travel tips are the perfect way to make sure that you’ve got the real scoop on what it’s like to visit San Antonio and how to make sure your trip is a success, rather than a series of unfortunate events!
From transportation to attractions to general need-to-knows, enjoy these travel tips for San Antonio from someone who loves visiting this great city in Texas! It’s a perfect Texas getaway that you won’t soon forget!
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Table of Contents
1. Rent a Car
While San Antonio does have some public transportation options, by far the easiest way to get around such a sprawling Texas city is to drive. Unlike a city like Boston or New York which seems to run on public transportation, San Antonio is very much a driving city.
Alternatively, use a ride-sharing app like Uber to get around quickly instead of relying on the buses. Tip! Use the DiscoverCars Search Engine to find the best deals on rental cars in San Antonio!
2. San Antonio is big, just like Texas
If you thought you were getting a compact, completely walkable from end-to-end city, think again. San Antonio is a large, sprawling city once you take into account the suburbs and you’ll want to plan your days carefully so you’re not crisscrossing from side to side and wasting precious travel time.
Of course, the large size means that there is plenty to do, including craft breweries, bars, restaurants, historic attractions, museums, and so much more. No matter what you’re into, San Antonio is more than likely to have you covered.
3. Prepare for Scorching Summers
If you’re visiting San Antonio, in the summer, as many people do, you’re going to want to slather on plenty of sunscreen and make sure you’re dressed in cool, comfortable clothing that will help you wick sweat off your body rather than trap it in.
While many people think of destinations like Florida as the more obvious places for summer heat, a San Antonio summer can be equally hot, if not more, and the humidity can reach 80 to 85% easily.
Carry around a reusable water bottle to keep you hydrated and take plenty of breaks in the air-conditioning.
Keep Reading:: The ULTIMATE Dog-friendly Texas Road Trip
4. Check out the Tex-Mex scene
Texas is known for its famous Tex-Mex, and San Antonio is one of the best cities to explore the wonderful world of guacamole, tacos, chimichangas, quesadillas, and all of the flavors that make up this popular cuisine.
The best place in San Antonio to uncover the heart of the San Antonio Tex Mex scene is Rosario’s Mexican Café Y Cantina in Southtown, serving up the best rice, beans, and margaritas in San Antonio and one of the best things to do in San Antonio!
5. Don’t be Afraid to Ask Locals for Help
San Antonio residents are typically very friendly and welcoming and more than happy to help point you in the right direction or tell you more about why they love San Antonio or the great state of Texas.
While it is a major city, it runs more slowly than somewhere like NYC and as long as you don’t interrupt a person holding a briefcase who seems to be flying down the street late for a meeting, you should interact with and get to know the locals.
The only place where San Antonio natives aren’t as friendly is on the road, but that goes for all of Texas!
6. The Alamo is Smaller than you Think
While the Alamo is well worth a visit when in San Antonio, you should know that it’s much smaller than you think!
You don’t need multiple hours here to say you’ve seen it and check it off your list, so build it into your San Antonio itinerary along with other options so you haven’t blocked out an entire day for it.
7. San Antonio’s Riverwalk is a Must-See
If you’ve ever seen Instagram photos of San Antonio next to a river with some colorful decorations and boutique shops and restaurants, it will have been taken on the Riverwalk.
This is one of the most popular parts of the city, and while it can get crowded at night and on weekends, and in peak season, it’s always worth checking out and getting involved in the atmosphere that makes this place so special.
Tip! It’s also dog-friendly!
8. Visit the Pearl District
Don’t just stick to the Riverwalk in San Antonio, but also check out a more local favorite, the Pearl District.
Known for being the historic site of the Pearl Brewery, this area has tons of family-owned restaurants, a farmer’s market that happens twice a week for most of the year, a beautiful park, and more.
It’s walkable from the Riverwalk at just over a mile to the Pearl District, or you can pay to park in one of the designated parking lots for visitors (but make sure you read the signs to ensure you’re following the parking laws!)
9. See the San Antonio Missions
And by missions, I don’t mean the actual missions, but the name of the Minor League baseball team in San Antonio!
San Antonio isn’t a sports-heavy town when it comes to professional sports, but a Missions game is well worth going to as it’s a fun and relaxed atmosphere with plenty of local support and some great opportunities for giveaways and other promotions.
This is a great way to dive into the local culture and meet local residents sitting around you who will share their love of the home team with you!
10. Take a day trip from San Antonio to the Hill Country
Whether you’re into beautiful landscapes or wineries, Texas Hill Country is a day trip drive away from San Antonio and one of the best things to do if you have a car with you.
You’ll get out of the city and into some of the most spectacular parts of Texas (in a different way), and you can do a simple drive-by of the views and stop for lunch somewhere, or you could make sure you have a designated driver and do your own winery tour throughout Hill Country.
Where to stay in San Antonio?
As I stated previously, San Antonio is HUGE. With all large cities, there are many options to choose from. Below are some of my favorites and the highest-rated in the city. OR check out the map to explore different areas of the city.
- Luxury Option: The Westin Riverwalk: Apartment-style rooms, views of the riverwalk, outside pool, bars, delicious on-site restaurants.
- Budget-friendly Option: Quality Inn and Suites: At just 6 miles from the riverwalk, this hotel offers you a cozy room, free breakfast, and other amenities at a very affordable price!
- Dog-friendly option: Comfort Suites Alamo-Riverwalk: This dog-friendly option is a perfect mid-range choice for those who want to bring their pup along yet still stay close to all the action!
What other San Antonio Travel Tips would you add to this list? Be sure to come follow along in the USA adventures on Instagram!
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