San Antonio

San Antonio is a South Texas city known for the Alamo, the River Walk and a chain of Spanish colonial missions. Two to three days is enough to see the core.

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San Antonio is a city in South Texas and the seat of Bexar County. It began with Spanish missions founded in the early 1700s, when the region was part of New Spain, and that past still shows in its old churches, plazas and food. Downtown is built along the San Antonio River.

The Alamo, the former mission where the 1836 siege took place, is the city's best-known site. The River Walk runs beside the river below street level, with paths, shops and restaurants. Four more missions lie south of downtown along the river trail. They are quieter, with original stone walls. The city suits a long weekend for travelers who want history, walkable streets and Tex-Mex food. Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons, since summer is very hot. Plan two to three days to cover downtown and at least one mission at an easy pace.

San Antonio in five

Reserve a free Alamo Church ticketAdmission to Alamo Church is always free, but reservations are required. The grounds are open daily 9 am to 5:30 pm, the Collections Center closes at 5 pm, and last entry is 30 minutes before closing.Plan an Alamo visit
Visit the missions without an entrance feeSan Antonio Missions National Historical Park charges no entrance fee and is open daily 9 am to 5 pm. It closes on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day; the visitor center is at Mission San José.Missions hours and fees
Compare the airport options before landingSan Antonio International (SAT) at 9800 Airport Blvd lists public transportation, rideshare, taxis and hotel shuttles on its ground transportation page. Pick one before you land.SAT ground transportation
Pair San Antonio with AustinAustin is the nearest big city to the north on I-35, so the two combine into a Texas long weekend by car or bus. Houston sits on the I-10 line to the east.Austin travel guide
Walk the River Walk off-peakThe downtown stretch is busiest at midday and on weekend evenings. Go early or on a weekday, and use the quieter southern reaches for a slower walk.

Things to do in San Antonio

See all attractions in San Antonio

Church · San AntonioSan Fernando CathedralArrive at least 15 minutes before Mass to improve your chances of finding a seat.

a very old building with two towers and a dome

Historic site · San AntonioMission ConcepciónBring water and comfortable shoes for time indoors and on the grounds.

Historic site · San AntonioMission San JoseVisit on a weekday for a quieter experience.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to San AntonioPut the places you like in San Antonio on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: San Antonio International (SAT), 9800 Airport Blvd
Getting there: Fly in, or drive I-35 from Austin or I-10 from Houston
Getting around: Walk downtown; bus, rideshare or a car for the missions
Best base: Downtown or the River Walk; the Pearl or King William for quieter streets
Time needed: 2 days; 3 with the missions and Hill Country

Weather by month

Rainy days
Days with storms

Best
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh17°Low7°Cool, quiet
FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh20°Low9°Mild
MarchPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh25°Low14°Bluebonnets
AprilRain12 rainy daysHigh27°Low16°Fiesta season
MayRain15 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh31°Low21°Warm, humid
JunePartly cloudy10 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh34°Low24°Hot
JulyClear7 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh36°Low25°Very hot
AugustClear8 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh36°Low25°Very hot
SeptemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh33°Low23°Hot, humid
OctoberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh29°Low18°Warm, ideal
NovemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh23°Low13°Mild, ideal
DecemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh19°Low10°Cool, lights

Average daily high and low in San Antonio, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in San Antonio

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 29°
Humidity: 68%
Wind: 16 km/h
Chance of rain: 1%

San Antonio

06:51 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-6

Today28°20°1%Monday: Fog. High 28°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 1%.
Tue25°16°45%Tuesday: Rain. High 25°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 45%.
Wed25°14°0%Wednesday: Clear. High 25°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu24°17°5%Thursday: Cloudy. High 24°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 5%.
Fri25°15°9%Friday: Cloudy. High 25°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 9%.
Sat25°16°24%Saturday: Cloudy. High 25°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 24%.
Sun27°16°15%Sunday: Cloudy. High 27°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 15%.

Updated 03:51 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD

Amount

Converted to

USD · US Dollar

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in San Antonio

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Day trips by train

Austinabout 1.5 hours by car or busLive music, the capitol and a lake trail, a simple add-on up I-35.Read the guide
New Braunfelsabout 30 min by carRiver tubing and a German-Texan old town, popular in summer.
Fredericksburg and Hill Countryabout 1.5 hours by carWineries and small towns, which suit a rental car better than a bus.

Before you go to San Antonio

Alamo and museum ticketsTimed entry for the Alamo areaBook timed entry

River and mission toursGuided history and boat optionsCompare day trips

eSIM for San AntonioMaps and rideshare apps at the airportRead the guide

Insurance for a Texas tripSummer heat and trip changesRead the guide

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Rules for San Antonio, checked

The Alamo: open daily 9 am to 5:30 pm, closed Christmas Day; Alamo Church admission is free but needs a reservation.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park: no entrance pass required; open daily 9 am to 5 pm, closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source

Plan around San Antonio

Austin travel guide

Live music and Hill Country, up I-35

Read the guide Houston travel guide

Museums and space history along I-10

Read the guide Driving between US cities

Rail, bus and road options compared

Read the guide ESTA for a Texas trip

Apply before booking flights to San Antonio

Read the guide Travel insurance for the USA

Medical cover for visitors to the US

Read the guide All of the USA

Parks, cities and trip planning for visitors

Read the guide

San Antonio FAQ

Is the Alamo free to visit?

Alamo Church admission is free, but you need a reservation. The Alamo Exhibit in the Ralston Family Collections Center is a separate paid experience. The grounds are open daily 9 am to 5:30 pm and close Christmas Day.

How many days do you need in San Antonio?

Two days fit the Alamo, the River Walk and a mission or two. A third day lets you see all four missions, which are spread south of downtown, or add a Hill Country trip.

Are the San Antonio missions free to visit?

The national park requires no entrance pass and is open daily 9 am to 5 pm, except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. The exteriors are open from dawn to dusk; the visitor center is at Mission San José.

Where should I stay in San Antonio?

Downtown or the River Walk for the Alamo on foot, King William or the Pearl for quieter streets and good dining, and the south side if missions are the priority. Most visits work without a car if you stay central.

When is the best time to visit San Antonio?

March, April, October and November have mild days. July and August are very hot, so plan indoor stops at midday. Spring brings wildflowers and the city's April Fiesta season, which fills hotels.