things to do in downtown san antonio

Things to do in Downtown San Antonio

By Dom Bewley

Are you alone? Is life making you lonely? Well, what are you doing? Don't let your problems surround you. And why is that? Well, because you can always go downtown, of course! Leave all your troubles behind and go where the action is.

Downtown is often the most bustling part of a city, and San Antonio is no different. Here, you'll find plenty to see and do, and most of it is within walking distance. So, what things are there to do in downtown San Antonio? Read on and find out.

Including:

  • The Amazing Mirror Maze
  • San Antonio Museum of Art
  • E-Bike rental
  • Scavenger Hunt by Foot
  • San Antonio Zoo
  • and more!
Image of House, Housing, Staircase, Handrail,

Get spooked on a San Antonio Walking Historical Ghost Tour

Let's kick things off with some spooky goings-on in downtown San Antonio. Did you know that it's one of America's most haunted cities? Well, now you do! Explore some of San Antonio's rich and gruesome history on this walking ghost tour of the downtown area.

This two-hour walking tour takes you around San Antonio's most historic neighborhood, where you'll learn about modern paranormal investigation techniques, different types of hauntings, and the creepy tales that go with them!

Led by a trained ghostographer (we may have made that up), they'll take you to various haunted locations around the city, fill you in on all the history you could want, as well as some taller tales of the paranormal. And don't worry, it doesn't get too graphic. People of all ages are welcome on this eerie descent into San Antonio's past.

Image of Light, Lighting, Neon,

Get confused at the Amazing Mirror Maze

You know those films that include mirror mazes? Usually, they're horror films, and it usually doesn't end well for the escapee. Well, why not try escaping from downtown's very own mirror maze, minus the imminent danger, of course.

At the Amazing Mirror Maze, you'll be immersed in mirrors - a whole maze of them, to be exact. Who knows what will be around every corner. Will it be you, or will it be you? Aren't mirrors fun? Plus, thanks to the 3D glasses you'll get on entry, the maze comes to life in three dimensions. Can you escape the horror of constantly looking at your withered face? Only time, and a visit, will tell.

But wait, there's more! Once you're done, try your hand at the Vault Laser Challenge. Your task? Make it through a hall of lasers. The challenge? You can't break a single one of them. Do your best Tom Cruise, and see if you'll survive.

Image of Art, Modern Art, Art Gallery, Adult, Female, Person, Woman,

Get inspired at the San Antonio Museum of Art

After all that excitement, why not calm your body and open your mind to some inspiring artwork? If that sounds like just the ticket, head on down to the San Antonio Museum of Art and find over 30,000 artistic artifacts from more than 5000 years of history.

The museum houses several collections, including Egyptian, Greek, and Roman antiquities, Latin American artwork, contemporary art, and Asian art. There's even a particular gallery dedicated to Texan art. Yep, even cowboys have a sensitive side.

For cultural fun, the San Antonio Museum of Art is one of the best things to do in downtown San Antonio.

Image of Adult, Female, Person, Woman, Bicycle, Vehicle, Cycling, Bag, Handbag,

Get the heart pumping with a one-day E-Bike rental

Want to get the blood pumping to those measly muscles as you explore San Antonio's downtown? Thanks to the brilliance of technological progress, you can now hop on a two-wheeler powered by the god Zeus himself. They're called E-bikes, and they're brilliant.

Thankfully, San Antonio has docking stations all over the city, so you're never too far from a charge. And if it all gets too much and the sweat's stinging your eyes, simply take a load off, dock the bike, and pick it up when you've toweled off! Freedom! Activity!

And while you're atop your two-wheeled steed, why not explore the Mission Reach trail? This sixteen-mile roundtrip is the city's largest ecological restoration project and the best way to access the UNESCO World Heritage site, the San Antonio Missions. Or head downtown and museum-hop your way through the city. Options!

Image of Adult, Female, Person, Woman, Head, Face, People,

Get lost on a Scavenger Hunt by Foot

Want to see all the city's most significant landmarks, explore its many streets and corners, and have fun doing so? Then boy, do we have just the thing for you. Get involved with this scavenger hunt as you walk, pace, and run around San Antonio!

Solve clues, complete challenges, and keep the host of the game updated with your progress. All you need is a phone with a camera, and you're good to go. Meet up at Hemisphere Park at the large mosaic panther, learn the rules from the mysterious host, and then off you trot.

Fun for the whole family, if you've been forced to bring them on your vacation.

Image of Antler, Adult, Female, Person, Woman, Hunting, Hat,

Get historical at the Buckhorn Saloon and Texas Ranger Museum

And finally, no list of the best things to do in downtown San Antonio would be complete without a touch of cowboy. No, you won't need a horse riding license, if they even exist. All you'll need is your two feet, a head, and the directions to the Buckhorn Saloon and the Texas Ranger Museum!

At the ol' Buckhorn, you'll find hundreds of artifacts from local wildlife discovered during the old west days. Have you ever seen a 10,000-year-old prehistoric elk? No, you have not. Go here, and you will!

And then, at the Texas Ranger Museum, you'll learn about the history of these law enforcers as they attempted to civilize the desert. You'll also see authentic ranger artifacts like weapons, munitions, badges, and clothing.

If the frontier calls to you, and you suspect you experienced it in a past life, it's a must-visit!

And those are our picks of the best things to do in downtown San Antonio! If you're looking for more fun things to do outside of the downtown area, check out Go City. With our Explorer Pass, you can see San Antonio's best bits at your own pace!

Dom Bewley
Go City Travel Expert

Continue reading

Blog

Things to Do in San Antonio in Winter 2019 - December & January Activities & More

Despite the warm weather, San Antonio always has lots of fun and festive activities and things to do in the winter. If you’re looking for things to do in San Antonio in Winter 2019-2020, check out our list of some of the best holiday activities and attractions. Save on Winter Attraction Admission Regular admission to a number of these attractions is available on the San Antonio Explorer Pass. Choose as you go from 20 top attractions and save up to 40% on combined admission vs paying at the gate. See all available San Antonio, attractions & prices. Please note, some of these special Winter events may be separately ticketed and not available on the Explorer Pass. Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Fiesta Texas Where: Six Flags Fiesta Texas When: November 23, 2019 - January 5, 2020 You'll get to meet Santa, go on classic thrill rides, stroll through millions of twinkling lights, and more at Holiday in the Park. Stroll through San Antonio Mingle, where you can meet seasonal characters, marvel at a giant Christmas Tree, and see the city transformed into a magical holiday landscape. You can even walk through real snow in the Winter Wonderland. What's more, snap photos at the Magic of the Season Ornament, a giant tree ornament lit up with spectacular lights and The Heart of the Holidays, a festive musical showing at the Rockville High Theater. Getting in: Six Flags Fiesta Texas tickets are an included Premium Attraction option on the San Antonio Explorer Pass. Christmas Celebration at SeaWorld San Antonio Zoo Lights at the San Antonio Zoo Old West Christmas Light Fest Remember to Save on Attraction Admission So there you have it. Our list of a few things to do in San Antonio in the winter, including holiday events, other seasonal activities in December, January, and more. Remember, some of these options are available on the San Antonio Explorer Pass, where you can save up to 40% on combined admission vs paying at the gate. Please note, the winter events taking place at some of these attractions may be separately ticketed and not included with the Explorer Pass. We hope you plan to add a few of these fun options to your winter vacation itinerary.
Casey Makovich
adventurous things to do in san antonio
Blog

The Best Indoor Activities in San Antonio

The great outdoors is great for a reason, but sometimes, we just want to stay indoors. It may be the weather, or it may be your mood. Whatever the reason, sometimes indoor fun is just as fun, if not more. So, if you're in San Antonio and seeking shelter, these are our picks for the best indoor activities in the city! Including: A San Antonio Spurs game The Magik Theatre San Antonio Museum of Art LEGOLAND Discovery Center Buckhorn Saloon and Texas Ranger Museum and more! Go to a San Antonio Spurs game Play ball! Well, you won't be, but if you decide to spend your inside time at the AT&T Center, then you'll certainly be watching some real ballers playing. Basketballers, of course, when you go see a game courtside! The Spurs are the only major league team in the city, and they're the toast of the town! With five winners' medals to their names and surely more on the way, why not go catch a game and see what all the fuss is about? The stadium itself is a joy unto itself, so load yourself up with some delicious food, pick up a Spurs cap, and go watch some guys throw and bounce a ball around for a couple of hours - great indoor fun when the weather's not on your side. Catch a show at The Magik Theatre Bringing the kids with you? Why not take them to a magical place where they can enjoy educational and inspirational performances of some amazing children's tales? At The Magik Theatre, that's exactly what you'll get. For nearly thirty years, The Magik Theatre has been committed to providing local and visiting kids with accessible theatre shows. With performances of favorites like The Very Hungry Caterpillar and School House Rock, they'll ignite the imagination of little ones the world over. They also have camps and classes where kids can learn about theatre, storytelling, and become part of in-house productions. If you're looking for kid-friendly indoor activities in San Antonio, go check them out. Get cultured at the San Antonio Museum of Art When you think about indoor activities, museums likely spring to mind. These houses of culture and intrigue draw crowds from all over the world, and thankfully, San Antonio has a fantastic art museum right in the city. It's called the San Antonio Museum of Art, and inside, you'll find over 30,000 artistic objects from 5000 years of human history. Highlights of the collections include Egyptian, Greek, and Roman antiquities, Latin American artwork, contemporary art, and Asian art. There's even a special gallery dedicated to Texan art if you want to see what the locals cook up. With so much to see and do, you can at least make an afternoon out of it. Then, when you emerge, who knows? Maybe the weather will be more to your liking. Hit the bricks at the LEGOLAND Discovery Center This one's for kids and bigger kids alike. The 'colored brick that can' has been on the up and up for decades, moving from simple bricks to complex models, adding moving parts and machinery, and even breaking into the movie and video game industries. So it's no wonder that they're now cornering the theme park market, and at LEGOLAND Discovery Center, you'll find a wonderful indoor land full of bricks, color, and activities. Featuring a miniature version of San Antonio, you and your little ones will also discover secrets from the Master Model Builder, save a princess on the Kingdom Quest Laser Ride, and even become Merlin's apprentice on a magical bike ride through the sky. What more could a kid want when looking for indoor activities in San Antonio? Nothing. Nothing at all. Cowboy up at Buckhorn Saloon and Texas Ranger Museum No trip to San Antonio would be complete without a bit of 'yee-haw' action. So, tick off that old box at the Buckhorn Saloon and Texas Ranger Museum! The Buckhorn Museum was founded in the 19th century, when the owner traded with hunters and trappers to collect trophies from local wildlife. Now, you can find a whole world of species on display, from hundred-year-old bison to ten-thousand-year-old artifacts! The Texas Ranger Museum gives you insight into the lawmen of the old west, and what life was like back then. Featuring hundreds of authentic ranger artifacts, from weapons to garb, as well as first-hand accounts of cases and bounties, it's a fantastic trip through history no one should miss. Knock one back on a Brewstillery Tour with VIP Whiskey Sampling Want two booze tours for the price of one? Stuff it down with brown on this beer and whiskey double act, courtesy of San Antonio's own Ranger Creek. For over a decade, Ranger Creek has been providing punters with this immersive distillery experience. Not only will you get key insight into how the brand makes its beverages, but you'll get to sample them too. Over two sweet, suddy hours, you'll be guided by friendly staff as they show you the brewing ropes, the equipment they use, and an overview of the distilling process. Oh, and yes, you'll sample plenty of the good stuff. Enjoy plenty of samples of beer and whiskey, including a unique cask strength, future releases, and unique and rare whiskies, as well as some signature bourbon chocolates. What's not to love? Get prehistoric at the Witte Museum Back on the cultural side of town, why not explore San Antonio's largest museum? With over 10 acres of space dedicated to everything from science to history, the Witte Museum is one of the best. Explore the Naylor Family Dinosaur Gallery, where you'll encounter skeletons, excavate dinosaur bones, and learn about giant dinosaur footprints. At H-E-B Body Adventure, you'll explore the human body like never before. And at the Kittie West Nelson Ferguson People of the Pecos Gallery, you'll learn about the lives and travails of Tecan prehistoric hunter-gatherers. Gaze upon life-sized recreations of their camps, how they created artwork within caves, and what they did to survive. Brilliant fun for little ones and big ones alike; if you're looking for indoor fun in San Antonio, you can't go wrong with Witte Museum. Get lost in the Amazing Mirror Maze And finally, let's end things in a confusing place. If you like getting lost, or having your mind warped, why not try and escape the Amazing Mirror Maze? Thousands of mirrors stand between you and the exit. Countless dead ends and secret corners await discovery. And thanks to the complimentary 3D glasses, the entire thing will come to life like no other maze. Do you have what it takes to escape? Once you've beaten the maze, take a load off with the circus-inspired magic mirrors and try the Vault Laser Challenge – an obstacle course full of lasers you must avoid. Fun? You bet your butt it is. And those are our picks for the best indoor activities in San Antonio! Wondering what takes place in the outside world? Check out Go City. With our Explorer Pass, you can see San Antonio's best outdoor bits at your own pace too!
Dom Bewley
River Header
Blog

San Antonio itinerary - 3 days for first timers

Spending a long weekend in San Antonio and looking for things to do? We've put together a list of the best things to do in San Antonio over a long weekend, so you can spend less time planning and more time exploring.
Katie Sagal

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