Founded in 1718, San Antonio is the heart of Tejano culture and tourism. And yes, it comes complete with a bunch of Selena murals everywhere… Because let’s be real, anything for Selenas!
In this ultimate 3 day weekend in San Antonio Texas itinerary, you’ll learn how to get to San Antonio, the best things to do, best places to go, and what to eat. This three day itinerary will make for a great long weekend trip.
Table of Contents
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How To Get To San Antonio
San Antonio By Airplane
The best way to get to San Antonio is via domestic flights in the United States. The airport you will fly into is San Antonio International and the airport code is SAT.
San Antonio By Bus
You can take a bus to San Antonio, Texas. I’ve used Greyhound before when traveling in the US. Find your bus ticket to San Antonio here.
San Antonio By Train
There are 19 Amtrak trains that go to San Antonio per day. They can get you to San Antonio from 74 cities around the USA including Sacramento. You can check out if your city has a train to San Antonio here.
How To Get Around San Antonio
Downtown San Antonio is very walkable so you can easily get around by foot. If you don’t have a car, there are other ways to navigate San Antonio.
- Bus—VIA Metropolitan Transit Service – Buses cost $1.30 for one way and 15 cents when transferring to another bus. Express buses cost $2.60. Carry exact change or download the VIA go mobile app.
- VIVA Culture Route(buses 11, 11a, 11b) – These buses travel from downtown to the San Antonio Museum of Art, Japanese Tea Garden, San Antonio Zoo, Witte Museum, Brackenridge Park, and the San Antonio Botanical Garden.
- VIVA Missions(bus 40) – This bus goes from downtown to the four historic missions in the south.
- VIVA Centro(bus 301) – This bus takes you all around downtown, east side and west side. You can catch all of the VIVA buses at Alamo Plaza.
- RIVER TAXI—GO RIO river-taxi shuttles – The River Taxi stops at locations along the Downtown Reach and Museum Reach sections of the River Walk and runs daily from 10am to 9pm. You can book your River Taxi pass here.
- Hop-on Hop-off San Antonio Tour – This bus takes you around the city’s highlights and you can hop on and hop off at the designated stops. Book your bus tour here.
- By Ride-share & Taxi – Uber and Lyft are popular ride sharing options.
- SWell Cycle – This is a public bike-share program and the easiest way to reserve and find the bikes is to download the SWell Cycle app. You can purchase passes at B-stations for 30-minute rides ($3). A 24-hour pass is $12, and monthly membership is $18 ($100 for entire year).
- By Car – San Antonio’s weekday rush hour is between 7:30am to 9am and 4:30pm to 6pm.
Where To Stay in San Antonio
San Antonio is a vibrant city with much to offer. Below are some curated hotels for every budget on deciding where to stay in San Antonio.
Luxury Hotels in San Antonio
- The St. Anthony | A Luxury Collection Hotel – Located in the heart of San Antonio, this beautiful and recently renovated hotel gives some seriously beautiful European vibes. It’s also a designated landmark and comes complete with pool access.
- Mokara Hotel and Spa – Located alongside the San Antonio Riverwalk, this luxury hotel features an on site spa and decadent dining options.
- La Cantera Resort and Spa – This San Antonio Hill Country resort and spa showcases 4 outdoor swimming pools, including an adults-only infinity pool and hot tub, and an on-site golf course.
- Thompson San Antonio – The property is close to several noted attractions, around a 7-minute walk from River Walk and around half a mile from The Alamo.
Mid-Range Hotels in San Antonio
- Drury Plaza Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk – Providing direct access to the scenic San Antonio Riverwalk, this hotel features an outdoor rooftop swimming pool, indoor pool and 2 whirlpools.
- Embassy Suites by Hilton – Embassy Suites By Hilton San Antonio Landmark offers accommodations with a restaurant, free private parking, a bar and a shared lounge.
- Hotel Indigo – This downtown San Antonio hotel is half a mile from The Alamo. Southern dishes are served at Phi Restaurant and Bar in the lobby.
Budget Hotels in San Antonio
- Hotel Gibbs Downtown Riverwalk – Located only seconds from the Alamo and the vibrant Riverwalk area, this completely nonsmoking hotel features an on-site restaurant and modern in-room amenities.
- DoubtleTree by Hilton Hotels – This San Antonio Texas hotel offers on-site dining at the Ventana’s Bistro. The San Antonio River Walk is within walking distance of the hotel.
- La Quinta Inn & Suites – Only 1 mile from the historic Alamo, this San Antonio hotel features an outdoor pool and free Wi-Fi. Each guest room is equipped with cable TV.
Areas of San Antonio To Stay In
- San Antonio Riverwalk – The River walk is best for first time travelers to San Antonio, Texas. It’s central with many restaurants, bars, restaurants, and other tourist attractions.
- Downtown San Antonio – If you’re looking to budget, look for places in the downtown area.
- Southtown San Antonio – This is the best area for nightlife in San Antonio.
- Pearl District – This is the perfect hub for creativity, food, and leisure.
- Northwest San Antonio – Perfect for families traveling and need peace and quiet at night.
What To Eat in San Antonio
There are many delicious regional Texan foods to try and sink your teeth into. When in Texas, do as the Texans do.
- Puffy Tacos – They’re made with ball of masa flattened into a thin round that’s fried to a golden crispness.
- Texas Quail – Not everything has to be bigger in Texas. Check out a dish with this native bird.
- Chilaquiles Verdes – The key to most Mexican cooking is salsa. Chilaquiles plate for breakfast will definitely have corn chips soaked in green salsa.
- Chicken fried steak – In Texas, the perfect chicken fried steak upholds four holy criteria—the right amount of breading to meat ratio, tender beef, crispy crustiness that doesn’t come apart with gravy, and a super generous off the plate portion.
- Charcuterie plate – Texas does their meat right and this plate is no exception. In San Antonio, you can curated regional meats on a plate.
- Pastrami short rib – The best place to eat pepper-crusted short rib is at The Granary ‘Cue and Brew located in The Pearl.
- Twice-fried chicken wings – If you’re missing some KFC (Korean fried chicken), eat your heart out at this twice-fried chicken wing Asian joint called Hot Joy.
- Ceviche de camarones – Alas, shrimp is one of my favorite sea foods and you want it prepared the best way possible in San Antonio.
- Vanilla flan – A San Antonio twist on delicious Mexican dessert, vanilla flan is made of eggs and has a bitter, sweet, and milky taste.
- Cauliflower hot wings – For my vegetarian and vegan friends, who doesn’t love hot wings? Well, now you can skip the chicken and get straight to the cauliflower.
San Antonio Frequently Asked Questions
1. What should you not miss in San Antonio?
Your San Antonio trip should include The Alamo, San Fernando Cathedral, The San Antonio River Walk, drink bubble tea at the Japanese Tea Garden, and go to the murals at Essex Modern City.
2. What can you do for free in San Antonio?
There are a lot of free activities in San Antonio. Some of them include: walking around the San Antonio Riverwalk, The Alamo, Brackenridge Park, the Japanese Tea Garden, San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, historic San Antonio Market Square, and the San Antonio Museum of Art.
3. What is there to do in San Antonio for adults?
Some fun things for adults to do in San Antonio are to go to Six Flags Fiesta Texas, iFLY indoor skydiving, San Antonio River Cruise, and the Buckhorn Museum & Saloon.
4. What food is San Antonio famous for?
Puffy Tacos are San Antonio’s most famous dish and the best place to get them is Henry’s Puffy Tacos. As Guy Fieri once said, “It’s fluffy, puffy, and you can’t get enough-y.” Well said Guy. The tacos come packed with shredded chicken, beans and cheese, carne guisada, spicy beef fajita, or spicy chicken fajita tacos.
5. Can you walk around the Riverwalk with alcohol?
It’s perfectly legal to walk around the Riverwalk with alcohol. Note you can only carry open alcoholic drinks on the Riverwalk and not on the street above.
6. Does San Antonio have four seasons?
San Antonio has a hot season that lasts from May to September. The temperature is above 31.7C (89F). The cool season lasts from November to February with an average daily temperature of 21C (70F).
San Antonio Explorer Pass
To make your trip to San Antonio cheaper, look into the San Antonio Explorer Pass. You can save a bunch of money by paying one flat fee and choose 4-5 San Antonio attractions that are included in the pass. Attractions included are Six Flags Firesta, Seaworld San Antonio, Texas Hill Country and LBJ Tour, and Extreme Escape Games. This is best for travelers who don’t want to see everything and do what they want. Book your San Antonio Explorer Pass here.
Three Day Weekend in San Antonio Itinerary Map
Day One (3 Day Weekend in San Antonio Texas Itinerary)
The first day is an intense one as with this itinerary you will be exploring the city center. I recommend you leave your car at a street level parking garage and go on foot. You can also rent a scooter to take you around easily and quickly. There’s even a nice sit down one called the Razor Scooter. You can download the app here.
San Antonio Historic Market Square
A first-time visitor should definitely go shopping at the largest Mexican market outside Mexico. You can enjoy the sights of old Mexico in the San Antonio Historic Market Square. At El Mercado, you can explore over 100 locally owned businesses, delicious restaurants, and fun bars in this area.
What makes it super exciting are the colorful buildings and hanging multicolored banners. In the main plaza you can also catch live music. Don’t forget to stop by Mi Tierra Cafe y Panaderia for a delicious Mexican bakery and Tex-Mex dishes.
San Fernando Cathedral
The San Fernando Cathedral left its mark on Texas history as it was founded in 1731 and is the oldest, continuously functioning religious community in the State of Texas. I also recommend taking this San Antonio historical down town food and walking tour.
Every Tuesday plus Friday through Sunday there is a free light show starting at 9pm that showcases the history of San Antonio. The light show has three times—9pm, 9:30pm, and 10pm.
Optional: Briscoe Western Art Museum
If you find yourself traveling San Antonio while the weather isn’t that great, check out the Briscoe Western Art Museum. This building was formerly the Old San Antonio Library. Explore the history of the American West and special exhibits that highlight the work of different artists.
La Villita
There are many historic sites in downtown San Antonio. La Villita is an Artisan village is listed on the U.S. government’s National Register of Historic Places, featuring architectural styles that range from adobe structures, to early Victorian and Texas vernacular limestone buildings.
San Antonio River Walk
The iconic River walk is one of the top attractions in San Antonio. It is steeped in the culture and history of Native Americans, Mexican migrants, Spanish trekkers, and settlers in the early 1700s.
The San Antonio Riverwalk is also known as Paseo De Río. It’s about three miles long and packed with poppin restaurants, good food, and bars. It’s the most popular spot for lunch and happy hour. The best time to visit is at night when it comes alive with lights.
I highly recommend you take the San Antonio River Walk boat ride. It’s the perfect spot for a unique experience.
Insider Tip: You can drink open alcohol containers only on the San Antonio River Walk.
Hemisfair Park
This park is home to the Tower of the Americas, a bunch of other cool sculptures, and art. One of the top things to do is take photos at the Wings of Mexico. If you have older kids, you should visit the Yanaguana Garden which is a beautifully landscaped outdoor wonderland.
The Espee
Originally known as Sunset Station, the owners are rebranding it as The Espee. It was a historic train station and is super cool to take pictures at and enjoy the area. The building has a beautiful stained glass window at the top of the staircase and it’s absolutely beautiful.
The Alamo
Did you know the Alamo was once known as Mission San Antonio de Valero? The Battle of the Alamo is famous for its thirteen day standoff between the Texans and Mexicans. “Remember the Alamo” is still a thing. Plus Davy Crockett and William b. Travis were the most famous Americans to be deleted during this Texas Revolution.
Every Friday- Sunday, there is a guided tour for $40 if you’d like go with a tour guide. You can book your Alamo ticket here.
Buckhorn Saloon and Theater
For over 135 years, the Buckhorn Saloon and Theater has been the place for good conversation, drinks, and interesting animal decor. You can practice your sharp shooting skills in the Toepperwein Shooting Gallery and explore over 500 different animals from around the world.
The Texas Ranger Museum houses Texas Ranger artifacts including antique revolvers, automatic handguns, shotguns, badges, and photographs.
Majestic Theater
Established in 1929 and 1914, the Majestic & Empire Theatres are the historic Crown Jewels of Houston St., entertaining San Antonio in the heart of downtown for over 90 years. You can see a broadway show or two and marvel at the beautiful interior.
Day Two San Antonio Itinerary
Day two is also another day filled with culture. You’ll see Texas, Japanese, and Korean culture. Since I got my start in Asia and it’s no secret I love traveling in South Korea and Japan, I had to pay homage to it.
World’s Largest Cowboy Boots
These adorable cowboy boots are on the side of a pretty popping mall. Bring your patience or go early because there’s a lot of people driving past trying to get on the freeway.
Denman Estate Park
Did you know the southern city of Gwangju in South Korea is sister cities with San Antonio? In a gesture to promote friendship between the two cities, Gwangju donated a large Korean pagoda and wall for the people of San Antonio to enjoy.
Japanese Tea Garden
If you’re looking to go to a land far away, the Japanese Tea Garden is a great place to start. General admission is absolutely free. Here you’ll find koi fish ponds, a waterfall, and landscaping inspired by the far east. I personally loved it and felt super tranquil there. I recommend going in the morning before it gets too crowded.
Greetings from San Antonio Mural
Want to send a post card without all the hassle of writing something and sending it to the post office? Stop by the Greetings from San Antonio Mural.
Rainbow Angel Wings (Culture Hair Studio)
Don’t miss out on putting a little more color in your life. Anything with wings does super well on Instagram.
Rainbow Crosswalk
Right across the street from the Culture Hair Studio where the mural angel wings are is the rainbow crosswalk. The rainbow Crosswalk in San Antonio is located in the gayborhood.
The Artisan
This is a really cool building with a lot of Mexican artisans and super awesome mural on the wall.
San Antonio Botanical Garden
There is a section in the San Antonio Botanical Garden that has a Japanese garden donated by the city of Kumamoto. It is a sister city of San Antonio. It’s really peaceful to sit down and enjoy it.
Optional: Natural Bridge Caverns
The Natural Bridge Caverns are family owned and operated. It’s great to go on a day that is stifling hot. They have tours where you can explore the caves and do fun activities. Book your tickets to the Natural Bridge Caverns here.
Optional: Six Flags Fiesta Texas
One thing I learned about Texas… No one loves Texas as much as Texas loves Texas. This love is displayed in their giant Texas shaped swimming pool. Six Flags is one of my favorite theme parks in the United States and I almost always visit whenever I get the chance. You can get discounted Six Flags Fiesta San Antonio tickets here with the Go Pass.
Day Three in San Antonio Itinerary
Today we’ll be taking a leisurely stroll through the Spanish missions of San Antonio which is a National Park Service site. A great way to see them is by car. There are plenty of parking lots available.The mission trail will take you through these historical sites. A lot of people also rent e-bikes to take them along.
Essex Modern City
If you’re excited about cool wall murals, then visit Essex Modern City. It has several murals and you can pick and choose your favorites.
Enjoy the UNESCO World Heritage Site Missions in San Antonio
Did you know the San Antonio Missions are the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in all of Texas? They have been preserved and taken care of to look like as they did when they were first built. These missions are probably some of the coolest historical churches I have visited. You can DIY your trip like I did or you can book any of these tours.
- San Antonio Mission Private Tour With Round Trip Transport
- San Antonio Group Missions Tour With Round Trip Transport
- Historic San Antonio Two Missions Bike Tour (North Route)
- Historic San Antonio Two Missions Bike Tour (South Route)
- Historic San Antonio Three Missions Bike Tour (4 Hour Tour)
Mission Concepción
You can’t leave San Antonio without experiencing a bit more culture. Check out Mission Concepción which looks almost exactly like it did 200 years ago.
Mission San Jose
Mission San Jose is a culturally rich district known for San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. It has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park has several 18th-century Spanish presidios, including Mission Concepción, with its colorful, centuries-old frescoes.
Mission San Juan
Mission San Juan Capistrano was founded in 1731 by Spanish Catholics of the Franciscan Order, on the eastern banks of the San Antonio River in present-day San Antonio, Texas. The new settlement was named for a 15th-century theologian and warrior priest who resided in the Abruzzo region of Italy.
Mission San Francisco De La Espada
Mission Espada is a Roman Rite Catholic mission established in 1690 by Spain. It relocated in 1731 to present-day San Antonio.
The Pearl
The Pearl Brewery completely captured my heart. It is part of the San Antonio Riverwalk. I had such a good time sitting at the beautiful bar and learning about how German beer made its mark on the story of San Antonio. This historic industrial space was renovated to include cute boutiques, restaurants, and Hotel Emma. Visitors are free to enter the hotel and look around. In addition, I recommend trying Pearl Beer. If you’d like to stay at Hotel Emma, you can book your stay here.
King William Historic District
The King William District was by far my most favorite part of visiting San Antonio. They have Victorian Era houses and they’re beautifully decorated during Fiesta San Antonio. Close by you can find the Blue Star Brewing Company. It is a microbrewery with craft beers, upscale pub fare, live jazz & an outdoor observation deck.
If you like art, you should also stop by the Blue Star Arts Complex. It is San Antonio’s longest-running contemporary art space, with arts venues, shops, and restaurants.
I know this itinerary is super packed, but if you want to get the best out of your three day San Antonio weekend. Go to all these places for food, culture, and exciting memories. Good luck with your trip and let me know in the comments down below if you enjoyed San Antonio!
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