San Antonio Rover

Things to Do in San Antonio in Summer

By Katie Sagal

Visiting sunny San Antonio this summer and looking for some activities and places to visit? There is lots going on in San Antonio during the summer months. From river cruises and museum exhibits to theme parks and beyond, we are sure you will have fun during your trip. If you’re planning a visit and looking for things to do in San Antonio in the summer, check out our list of the top attractions, festivals and activities going on this year, including...

  • SeaWorld San Antonio
  • Six Flags Fiesta Texas
  • San Antonio Zoo
  • Go Rio River Cruise
  • Alamo Plaza

Heading to the area to celebrate Independence Day? Then check out our post on things to do in San Antonio 4th of July Weekend. In the area towards the end of summer? Here are a few fun things to do in San Antonio Labor Day Weekend.

SeaWorld San Antonio

theme-park-san-antonio

Part aquarium, part amusement park — what better way to spend a summers day than at SeaWorld San Antonio?

This attraction has something for everyone. With a whole range of rides and rollercoasters, thrill seekers are sure to get their fix at this attraction. Be sure to have a ride on the world's tallest and fastest screaming swing - which takes you soaring across the park's waterski lake, reaching a staggering height of 135 feet at its peak!

For the not so daring amongst us, there's the opportunity to sit back, relax and enjoy live music and animal encounters. And for the little ones, the opportunity to meet their favourite Sesame Streeet characters cannot be missed.

If you just want to spend some time getting to know SeaWorld's population of dolphins, whales, and other marine inspiring and curious life, there's plenty of time to stroll around and see those things, too!

Six Flags Fiesta Texas

having-fun-six-flags-fiesta-texas

If you’re itching for some amusement park excitement with a little something extra, head to Six Flags Fiesta Texas for a theme park, done Texas-style. This is one of San Antoni's most popular tourist attractions so it's not to be missed!

In addition to all of the regular rides, slides, and other attractions, you’ll also get to take advantage of a number of special events that run during the summer. With a whole host of events planned, including international holiday festivals, educational events and live performances, the summer calendar is sure to fill up quickly at Six Flags Fiesta. Check out their schedule to see what's coming up next!

San Antonio Zoo

san-antonio-zoo-safari-wildlife-ranch

Here's another one for the animals lovers.

San Antonio Zoo is the perfect summer activity. Get up close to all the incredible wildlife at each exhibit whilst soaking up the sunshine. Be sure to check out Big Cat Valley, a highlight of the zoo, where you can see the big cats in all their glory.

The zoo also offers a number of events during summer. The wild gets even wilder at Jungle Boogie Nights. Annually, throughout June and August, the zoo comes alive in the evenings to make the most of the summer heat. There are a variety of activities, themed events and parties where you can enjoy live music from DJs, dance the night away, and enjoy food and drinks.

San Antonio River Cruise

blur-colorful-river-walk-downtown-san-antanio

If you’re looking to cool down – and you probably will be – then a Go Rio San Antonio River Cruise is a smart choice.

An engaging 30-minute cruise along San Antonio’s fascinating waterfront is just the thing you need to relax AND get a unique view of some of the city’s best sights. It’s an especially smart choice for first-time visitors, as it will serve as a great introduction to the city.

A knowledgable guide will be on board to give you an insight into the history of San Antonio and will point out all the places of interest you should consider visiting on your summer vacation.

Explore Alamo Plaza

If there’s one area of the city that’s a must-explore, then it’s Alamo Plaza.

It’s a beautiful little urban center clustered around that most famous of Texas landmarks – the Alamo itself. In addition to being able to visit the historic Alamo, you can also explore nearby attractions like Ripley’s Believe it or Not!, the Guinness World Records Museum, and Battle for Texas: The Experience. Or, you can just make Alamo Plaza your starting point and jump aboard a hop-on hop-off San Antonio bus tour!

Summer Artisan River Walk Show

Explore more of San Antonio's artsy side with some time spend roaming the Summer Artisan River Walk Show. With a wide variety of local vendors offering their creative productions like pottery, jewelry, knitted goods, painting, and more, you're sure to find something to inspire or charm you at this show. It's also a good opportunity to enjoy the River Walk neighborhood!

Fiesta Noche Del Rio

See San Antonio's annual iconic cultural performance. Fiesta Noche Del Rio really tells a story about San Antonio, with a lovely medley of past & present along with music & dance. The performances are located at the historic Arneson River Theatre.

Save on Summertime Activities

So there you have it. Our picks for some of the top things to do in San Antonio in the summer. There is so much to do, the hardest part will be deciding where to go first!

So get ahead and plan your itinerary using our top choices. Please note, the summer events taking place at some of these attractions may be separately ticketed and not included with the Go San Antonio pass.

Plan to visit some of these top attractions during your trip. Whether you are traveling with your family or a couple of friends, we're sure you will have a great time.

Regular admission to a number of these attractions are available on the San Antonio Explorer Pass. Choose as you go from popular attractions and save on combined admission vs paying at the gate. Check out all San Antonio tourist passes, attractions and prices.

Katie Sagal

Continue reading

Blog

2 Days in San Antonio - A Weekend in San Antonio Itinerary

Spending a weekend in San Antonio and looking for things to do? We put together a list of the best things to do in San Antonio with limited time. Check out this popular 2 days in San Antonio itinerary. This Itinerary Includes: The Alamo (free!) CitySightseeing San Antonio Hop-Off Hop-On Bus Tour Pearl Brewery San Antonio Museum of Art The Riverwalk SeaWorld® San Antonio San Antonio Zoo Looking for some other itinerary options for your trip? We’ve also put together this popular 3 day San Antonio itinerary. Save on Attraction Admission Some of the attractions included in this itinerary are available on the San Antonio Explorer Pass. Choose as you go from many of the top San Antonio attractions and save up to 40% off combined admission vs. paying at the gate. Or, build your own pass and save up to 20% off. For all available passes, attractions, and prices - Learn more. Day 1 Stop #1: The Alamo (free!) Stop #2: CitySightseeing San Antonio Hop-On Hop-Off Tour This comprehensive San Antonio hop-on hop-off bus tour is the perfect introduction to San Antonio. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a resident who hasn't taken the time to see the sights yet, this tour provides a great overview of the city sights. Especially since the tour buses operate on 20-30 minute intervals, it's a very convenient and reliable way to get around to all of the most popular spots. The tour takes you to the best of San Antonio, from the Riverwalk to Southtown while professional guides provide informative and entertaining narration along the way. Enjoy the freedom to hop-on and off and explore any of the 18 stops as you go. Featured stops include: the Alamo, the Pearl Entertainment Complex, Veteran's Memorial Park, El Mercado, and more. Insider tip: Use your San Antonio Explorer Pass and get a 48-hour pass to this City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off tour to get around to the other attractions listed in this itinerary. Getting In: Hop On Hop Off San Antonio Bus Tour tickets are available as an option on the San Antonio Explorer Pass. Stop #3 - Pearl Brewery & Entertainment Complex Hop off at the very next stop: The Pearl Brewery, a culinary and cultural destination along the river, is the perfect spot to grab a bite to eat. It features a farmer's market, multiple restaurants, several boutique shops, a well-curated bookstore, and plenty of entertainment options year-round. This is a great place to stop and get a feel for genuine San Antonio culture, and to enjoy things that the locals love as well. Stop #4: San Antonio Museum of Art Stop #5 - The Riverwalk Finish out the remainder of the bus tour and hop off at the last stop: the Shops at Rivercenter Mall to explore the famous Riverwalk area where you'll end the day. Consider dining here at one of the many delicious restaurants, and then save some time later for browsing the shops and stalls of the waterfront merchants. Day 2 Stop #1: SeaWorld® San Antonio Stop #2: San Antonio Zoo Let's Recap So there’s your perfect 2 days in San Antonio weekend itinerary – packed with some of the best things to do in San Antonio. This itinerary includes all of the most popular things to do in San Antonio and provides a great, all-around overview of the city’s top attractions, landmarks, and historic sites. Use this itinerary as a starting point for planning your San Antonio itinerary and customize it from there; whether you’re a history buff, thrill-seeker, outdoor adventurer, or whatever type of traveler, San Antonio has it all. Save big when you plan your itinerary with the 4- Choice San Antonio Explorer Pass and choose from over 15 top attractions, tours, museums, and more – including popular day trips from the city, like a Natural Bridge Caverns Tour or the Texas Hill Country and Lyndon B. Johnson’s Ranch Tour. Remember, you can save on admission to many of these popular attractions and more with a San Antonio Explorer Pass.
Casey Makovich
Blog

One Day in San Antonio Itinerary - Experience San Antonio in a Day for Under $100

Traveling to San Antonio with only one day to explore? It can be hard to decide what to do with such limited time in your schedule. Fortunately, we’ve put together a one day in San Antonio itinerary to help you make the most of your one day in this historic city. This one day itinerary includes: Six Flags Fiesta Texas The Alamo (free!) Battle For Texas: The Experience Go Rio San Antonio Cruise El Mercado (free!) Spending more than one day in San Antonio? Then take a peek at one of our sample 2-day and popular 3-day itineraries for longer stays, enjoy! Save on Attraction Admission Many of the popular attractions included in this itinerary are available on the San Antonio Explorer Pass. Choose as you go from top attractions and save up to 45% off combined admission vs. paying at the gate. With the 3-Choice San Antonio Explorer Pass, you'll get to enjoy a full day of fun! Remember, this one day in San Antonio itinerary is just one of many ways to experience the area. The San Antonio Explorer Pass® gives you the flexibility to create your own itinerary, so you can choose from many top attractions and create a vacation tailored to your interests. Stop #1: Six Flags Fiesta Texas Start your trip with a half day of entertainment and excitement at Six Flags Fiesta Texas - a part theme park/part water park destination. The park features six themed areas: Los Festivales Crackaxle Canyon Spassburg Rockville Fiesta Bay Boardwalk and KIDZOPOLIS No matter what your favorite type of theme park fun is, from classic carnival rides with varying thrill levels and high-speed roller coasters, to water pools and slides, you'll find it at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. In addition to all of the rides, the park hosts a variety of live shows and entertainment, several dining options, and even shopping venues. Our favorite ride is the Boomerang, a triple-loop coaster that thrill-seekers will adore. NEW! Coming in 2018 is the Wonder Woman Golden Lasso coaster, an exciting single-rail coaster that's among the first of its kind in the entire world! Getting In: Six Flags Fiesta Texas tickets are available as a Premium Attraction option on the San Antonio Explorer Pass. Stop #2: The Alamo (free!) Alamo Square, the famous site of the Battle of the Alamo, is the most visited historic landmark in the state Texas. Conveniently located in the heart of San Antonio, it's easy to visit and a San Antonio must-see attraction. The iconic building you'll see is a former Spanish mission-turned-fortress for the battle and stands today as a testament to those who fought and gave their lives in the Battle of the Alamo--it's also the place where Texian troops won independence and famously shouted “Remember the Alamo!” after months of fighting in 1836. Insider tip: Get acquainted with some of the tales and folklore surrounding The Alamo and learn some of its history by watching the Disney miniseries Davy Crockett from the 1950s and John Wayne’s film The Alamo from 1960 before your trip! Stop #3: Battle for Texas: The Experience After spending some time at The Alamo, walk over to Battle for Texas: The Experience, right in Alamo Plaza. This fully interactive exhibition is one of the best ways to learn about The Battle of The Alamo. You'll get to witness the spectacle and heroism of one of the most pivotal battles in U.S. history. See what life was like in 1836 Texas for the early settlers, learn about the tensions leading up to the Texas Revolution from both Texan and Mexican perspectives, and more through multi-media experiences and re-enactments. You'll even get to see some artifacts from the battle first-hand, including Santa Anna's uniform, Bowie knives, and some of Davy Crockett's personal possessions. This is a great educational experience for kids and adults alike, and is an excellent companion to a visit to the Alamo. Getting in: Battle for Texas: The Experience tickets are an included attraction option on the San Antonio Explorer Pass. Stop #4: Go Rio San Antonio Cruise After soaking up all of that Texan history, explore San Antonio's River Walk area and start with a relaxing, 30-minute cruise along the river. Each boat is operated by an experienced and knowledgeable tour guide who will talk about some of the area's unique history and culture. You'll also learn plenty of fun facts about Texas and the flourishing River Walk community. On this scenic river cruise, you'll pass under bridges and walkways, and alongside a vibrant, bustling riverfront area as your tour guide points out all the important sites. Getting in: Rio San Antonio Cruise tickets are an included attraction option on the San Antonio Explorer Pass. Stop #5: El Mercado (free!) For your last stop of the day, you'll want to pop by El Mercado, the largest Mexican market outside of Mexico and one of the top 10 outdoor markets in the US, according to Frommer’s. Home to over 100 locally owned shops and stores, El Mercado is one of the best places to go for authentic Mexican fare and music and to immerse yourself in one of the cultures that has had such a large influence on San Antonio. Admission to the market is free, although anything you purchase will not be covered by the Explorer Pass. Let’s Recap There you have it – our suggestions for how to make the most of your one day in San Antonio. Plan to add a few of the attractions above to your San Antonio itinerary to make the most of your trip to Texas. Remember, you can save on admission to your choice of popular attractions, like the ones included in this one day itinerary, and more with a San Antonio Explorer Pass.  
Casey Makovich

Have a 5% discount, on us!

Sign up to our newsletter and receive exclusive discounts, trip inspiration and attraction updates straight to your inbox.

Thick check Icon