Perfect San Antonio, TX Weekend Getaway Itinerary: 3 Days in San Antonio, Texas
(Updated: 2023)
San Antonio is located in south-central Texas about an hour and a half from the state capitol, Austin, and is a perfect Texas weekend travel destination. The city is filled with infamous history that has molded the state of Texas and is bursting at the seams with culture, heritage, and tradition. From the legendary Battle of the Alamo to the rich Spanish influence to the iconic man-made riverwalk that the city lives and breathes around, there is so much to learn, see, and do in San Antonio.
The best area to stay in (in my opinion) is around the riverwalk. There is so much life, party, and history here; all easily accessible by foot. If you look at a map, the river forms a circle along Market St, Alamo St, and W Crockett St. Lining the river are riverfront hotels, shops, restaurants, bars, historic sites, and more. You should plan for 2-3 days to get the most from this incredible city to see the best of the San Antonio attractions. And here is how!
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Table of Contents:
Where to Eat & Drink in San Antonio
Suggested Weekend Itinerary for San Antonio, TX
Day 1: History Day! The Alamo & San Antonio Missions National Historic Park
Day 2: Day on the River (& Riverwalk)
Day 3: Historic Market Square, San Fernando Cathedral, Authentic Mexican market & food experience
How to Get Around San Antonio
The city of San Antonio is very walkable if you are staying in the city center around the river walk; which is where I’d recommend you stay anyways because that’s where the action is! Most of the big attractions you’d want to fit into a weekend are all within walking distance of each other so bring your comfy shoes!
If you are a little further out or can’t walk everywhere, you would need to drive a car or use the San Antonio public bus system (VIA Metropolitan Transit).
If you are flying in, the nearest airports are:
San Antonio International Airport (SAT): 15-minute drive from the city center (10 miles)
Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS): 1 hour 30-minute drive from the city center (82 miles)
Where to Stay in San Antonio
As I mentioned above, to get the whole experience of beautiful San Antonio I recommend finding a place to stay near the San Antonio River Walk, whether a hotel or Airbnb.
Here are a few hotel options in the area:
The Westin Riverwalk San Antonio: This is where we stayed for 2 nights and it was perfect! Riverfront hotel with a restaurant downstairs with outdoor riverwalk seating and a rooftop pool with a full bar.
Check rates & availability on Booking.com
Hotel Contessa: 4-star riverfront hotel with a rooftop spa and spacious, luxurious suites. Convenient access to the riverwalk.
Check rates & availability on Booking.com
Drury Plaza Hotel San Antonio: This hotel is in an iconic building in the city. This 24-story building used to be home to the Alamo National Bank. Its location is perfect being within walking distance of entertainment and food.
Check rates & availability on Booking.com
Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk: Hyatt Regency is conveniently located down the street from the Alamo while still accessible to the riverwalk.
Check rates & availability on Booking.com
Omni La Mansion del Rio Riverwalk: If you are into spook and history, this may be the hotel for you. It’s said Omni La Mansion del Rio has a haunted aura as the grounds it stands on were once the battleground of the Battle of the Alamo.
Check rates & availability on Booking.com
Courtyard by Marriott San Antonio Riverwalk: Located on the outer section of the riverwalk but still within worthy proximity. This Courtyard by Marriott has an outdoor patio bistro, rooms with incredible city views, and swings to the lower end of the spectrum in hotel pricing for the area.
Check rates & availability on Booking.com
Hilton Palacio del Rio: This Hilton is located across the street from Hemisfair Park and Tower of the Americas (both of which I go into further detail on in the Things to Do section), while still having immediate access to the riverwalk!
Parking
Most, if not all of the hotels in this area will offer either valet parking or attached garage hotel parking for an extra daily charge. If you are visiting on a budget, I urge you to look into alternative parking garages and lots in the area where you park yourself.
Here is an example of why:
We stayed at The Westin Riverwalk San Antonio Hotel. The hotel offered valet parking for $43/night. Right across the street from this hotel is a parking garage called “Market Street Garage.” At the time of visiting (prices are subject to change), we could park the car ourselves in the garage and pay only $25/night! And this is the exact same garage that our hotel was parking the valet cars in!
This parking garage in particular is a great location and it felt safe and clean. Even if you are just visiting the area for a day, this one is a good choice as it’s centrally located. Still use caution when in parking garages, of course.
Things to Do in San Antonio
I can’t begin to list every single fun and worthwhile experience here in San Antonio; there are too many! Check out the official Visit San Antonio website for more ideas and information. Here are some highlights:
San Antonio River Walk
The San Antonio River Walk is “The #1 attraction in Texas” according to the official San Antonio River Walk site! And I believe it. The river walk is consistently buzzing with tourists. It offers beauty, food, hotels, entertainment, and experiences such as mariachi bands and river cruises.
Location: Get directions on Google Maps
GO RIO San Antonio River Cruises
Speaking of river cruises, book your river cruise with GO RIO! You will learn the incredible history of the river, and the buildings surrounding the river, and just have a good time sightseeing via water. GO RIO also offers water taxi services to get you from one part of the river to another.
Location: 809 River Walk St, San Antonio, TX 78205, United States - Get directions on Google Maps
Shops at Rivercenter
Get your shop on, at the river at the Shops at Rivercenter.
Location: 849 E Commerce St, San Antonio, TX 78205, United States - Get directions on Google Maps
Marriage Island
A small “island” in the river called Marriage Island and yes, that’s what happens here; marriage. If you aren’t looking to engage in matrimony this little place is still a nice spot to check out (if there is not a wedding, proposal, or engagement photos happening. All of which I witnessed in the one weekend we were here). There is some seating and a beautiful view of the river though!
Location: 111 Soledad St #346, San Antonio, TX 78205, United States - Get directions on Google Maps
Rosita’s Bridge
Rosita’s Bridge is a famous bridge on the river is dedicated to Rosita Fernandez, a Tejano music singer, and actress. The singer performed on the stage nearby many times!
Location: 418 Villita St, San Antonio, TX 78205, United States - Get directions on Google Maps
The Alamo
If the San Antonio River Walk is Texas’ #1 attraction, The Alamo has to be #2 (or very close to #1) as one of the most iconic San Antonio historic landmarks. Located in the heart of Texas and the battleground for a history-altering war is The Alamo. You can tour the compound to get a hands-on lesson on the brutal history that took play here.
Location: 300 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205, United States - Get directions on Google Maps
San Antonio Missions National Historic Park
San Antonio Missions National Historic Park is a UNESCO-protected site for preserving four of the five Spanish frontier missions in San Antonio. There are guided tours, hiking, and access to Mission Concepción, Mission San José, Mission San Juan, and Mission Espada.
Location: San Antonio, TX 78214, United States - Get directions on Google Maps
Tower of the Americas
The Towers of the Americas rise 750 feet in the air. At the top are a restaurant and 360-degree views of the city of San Antonio below.
Location: 739 E César E. Chávez Blvd, San Antonio, TX 78205, United States - Get directions on Google Maps
Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
Add a little weirdness to your visit by stopping by Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum. 2 out of 3 of the Texas locations are in San Antonio.
Location: 307 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205, United States - Get directions on Google Maps
Briscoe Western Art Museum
The Briscoe Western Art Museum showcases and educates on Western culture and history by preserving artifacts and hosting public events in honor of Western heritage.
Location: 210 W Market St, San Antonio, TX 78205, United States - Get directions on Google Maps
San Fernando Cathedral
San Fernando Cathedral boasts beautiful, traditional Spanish architecture. Every Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday a light show is displayed on the front of the cathedral to music. Find out more about these details on the Main Plaza website.
Location: 115 Main Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205, United States - Get directions on Google Maps
Historic Market Square
A little slice of Mexico and a must-see San Antonio cultural experience can be found at the Historic Market Square. This market area is home to local Mexican shops, food, and live entertainment. Every weekend there are events happening here. Check out their event calendar here.
Location: 514 W Commerce St, San Antonio, TX 78207, United States - Get directions on Google Maps
San Antonio Museum of Art
The San Antonio Museum of Art hosts over 5,000 years of global cultural collections.
Location: 200 W Jones Ave, San Antonio, TX 78215, United States - Get directions on Google Maps
Where to Eat & Drink in San Antonio
There’s a pattern here and that is there are sooo many good options for every category and food/drink is no exception. Here are a few of my personal faves for San Antonio food and dining.
Mi Tierra Cafe y Panaderia ⎮ Authentic Mexican cuisine in Historic Market Square
Casa Rio ⎮ Tex-Mex is right on the river with great riverfront seating and margaritas. This place is always busy! Expect a wait
The Esquire Tavern ⎮ A bar with the longest wooden bar in Texas and an inconspicuous downstairs lounge
Augie’s Alamo City BBQ Steakhouse ⎮ The place to get your Texas BBQ fix in the area
Dough Pizzeria Napoletana ⎮ Farm-fresh local ingredients are used to create these delicious wood-burning pizzas
La Fonda On Main ⎮ The oldest Mexican food restaurant in San Antonio
Little Rhein Prost Haus ⎮ Bavarian restaurant right on the river
Nearby Attractions
Natural Bridge Caverns (35mins)
Government Canyon State Natural Area (37mins)
Cascade Caverns (39mins)
Guadalupe River State Park (49mins)
Fredericksburg, TX (1hr, 13mins)
Wimberley, TX (1hr, 14mins)
Austin, TX (1hr, 30mins)
Garner State Park (1hr, 39mins)
These are just a few (and I can personally attest to them all), but there are so many more cute towns and adventurous locations just a short drive from the San Antonio area that are worth checking out; I could keep going with this list forever!
READ ALSO: 36 Places to Add to Your Texas Bucket List
Photo by Robin LeeAnn of Unsplash
Suggested Weekend Itinerary for San Antonio, TX
This Texas weekend adventure itinerary to San Antonio is built around a 2-3 day schedule. Any of my suggestions in this itinerary can be switched about and altered with any places in this blog or that you’d prefer! I’ve built this itinerary to help you get the most out of San Antonio in a short 2-3 days.
Day 1: History Day! The Alamo & San Antonio Missions National Historic Park
Start your San Antonio history-filled day with an early rise to tour The Alamo. It gets crowded quickly and ticket sell-through is typically met by midday. You will want to put aside at least 1-2 hours to get through a tour whether that is self-guided or with a group.
After all that walking, you’re probably hungry! Head south to Casa Rio for Tex-Mex on the river and maybe a margarita or two. It’s 5 o’clock somewhere.
Walk off your lunch by walking to the La Antorcha de la Amistad (Spanish for "The Torch of Friendship") at the center of a roundabout on Alamo St right next to Casa Rio. This is an abstract sculpture created by Mexican artist Sebastián as a gift from the Mexican government to San Antonio. You can’t miss it!
Across the street from there are the Shops at Rivercenter where you can do a little shopping. Or, skip the shopping and head straight to the San Antonio Missions National Historic Park where 4 of the 5 UNESCO missions are protected, just a short drive from the river.
Finish the day off with dinner at the Tower of the Americas and also take in the views of the city from 750 ft up.
Day 2: Day on the River (& Riverwalk)
Spend today in and around the river. On the weekends the Briscoe Western Art Museum opens at 10 am so have a slow start to your morning with the museum being your first activity or wake up a bit early to walk the riverwalk before all the hustle and bustle begins for the day. Some landmarks to sightsee in the morning include Rosita’s Bridge and Marriage Island.
Have lunch on the river again, this time trying out Little Rhein Prost Haus with beautiful views of the river, and watch the river cruise tour boats glide by. That’s next!
After lunch, head to the GO RIO ticket office to get your tickets and get in line for your narrated river cruise. You can also order your tickets ahead of time on their website! A boat comes every 15-20 minutes to load up the next group so just wait in line with a margarita until it’s your turn to go! The tours are about 35 minutes long and very informative.
Alternatively, you can book a river cruise tour ahead of time with agencies such as Viator! See some tour examples below.
End your day with more sightseeing on the river, relaxing by your rooftop pool back at the hotel, or getting in the car and heading out of the city center for a bit. Visit the San Antonio Museum of Art followed by Augie’s Alamo BBQ for dinner.
Day 3: Historic Market Square, San Fernando Cathedral, Authentic Mexican market & food experience
A day experiencing authentic Mexican culture! Beginning at noon on the weekends the mini-fiestas begin! Local vendors come to Historic Market Square to sell goods and food and celebrate tradition. I’m telling you, you want to be a part of this!
While in the area, grab a late lunch from Mi Tierra Cafe y Panaderia and dance off the meal in the square with the loud music and festivities. Check out all the small food stands (where you can get things like elote, agua frescas de frutas, and more) and shops with handcrafted goods while you are in the market area.
End the day with the light show at the San Fernando Cathedral that happens every Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night.
Note: You may need to switch your Historic Market Day with Day 1 or Day 2 depending on what day of the week this itinerary falls for you. You want to visit the market when there are events happening! Which occur on Saturdays and Sundays.
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