39 Fun Things to Do in San Antonio for Adults 2023 You’ll Love

If you’re an adult looking for a fun and exciting vacation, San Antonio, Texas is a fantastic destination. Known for its rich history, vibrant culture, and diverse attractions, San Antonio has something for everyone.

From exploring the iconic Alamo to strolling along the beautiful San Antonio River Walk, there are so many fun things to do in San Antonio for adults. If you’re looking for a thrill, you can ride roller coasters at Six Flags Fiesta Texas or experience the wonders of the sea at Sea Life Aquarium.

For a more relaxed pace, you can visit museums, art galleries, and theaters or indulge in shopping and dining in the city’s many districts.

My guide breaks down the best things to do in San Antonio by location and activity type, then gets into recommendations for food, tours and hotels. Hopefully, you will find everything you need to have an amazing grown-up time in San Antonio in this article!

Things to Book Before You Leave Home
Few things are more frustrating on vacation than missing out on that amazing hotel or tour because it is sold out. Here are our top things to book before your vacation.

🤠 Most Popular Tours in San Antonio:
1. River Walk Cruise -my top pick
2. Buckhorn Saloon and Museums – you’ll never forget this quirky attraction!
3. San Antonio Food tour -don’t eat breakfast before

🛏️Where to Stay in San Antonio :
1. Westin River Walk -River Walk view pool, where I stayed, amazing location,
2. Hotel Havana – boutique style on the River Walk
3. Hotel Menger – San Antonio’s most historic hotel on Alamo Plaza

39 Fun Things to Do in San Antonio for Adults

Downtown San Antonio Things to Do

1. Visit The Alamo

No trip to San Antonio is complete without a visit to the Alamo, one of the city’s and the United States’ most iconic landmarks. This historic site was the site of the famous Battle of the Alamo in 1836 and is now a museum that showcases artifacts and exhibits related to Texas’s fight for independence. This is one of the many fantastic things to do in downtown San Antonio.

Start your visit to The Alamo at the atmospheric church and then walk along Long Barrack, see the 16-pounder cannon and read the Wall of History. Don’t miss the Ralston Family Collections Center and the amazing and priceless artifacts donated by passionate collector, Phil Collins. Yes, that famous Phil Collins. He even narrates the diorama.

2. Watch the San Fernando Cathedral light up

Located in the heart of downtown, the San Fernando Cathedral is a stunning example of Gothic Revival architecture. On Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, the Cathedral is lit up three times after dark (9 pm, 930pm and 10 pm) by The Saga.

The Saga is a projection that covers 7,000 square feet of light, color and visual narration on the cathedral’s facade. The 24-minute free show covers the history of San Antonio and the state of Texas. Don’t miss it.

3. See San Antonio from above at the Tower of the Americas

The Tower of the Americas is a 750-foot-tall observation tower located in Hemisfair Park. The views over San Antonio are spectacular. The tower’s revolving restaurant, Chart House, is an excellent spot for a romantic dinner or special occasion. The Tower of the Americas has a full schedule of special events from movie nights to BBQs to market days at the tower’s base.

4. Experience The River Walk

I absolutely fell in love with the San Antonio Riverwalk. There is a huge range of activities and things to do along the 15-mile trail. Walking is one of the most enjoyable things to do along the River Walk. I walked from Pearl to the King William District when I visited San Antonio. North of downtown, the River Walk has been beautifully landscaped with art, water features, areas to sit and much more.

The River Walk really comes to life around the downtown area. Energy levels are high and music can be heard most hours of the day. Don’t miss Marriage Island and the pretty Selena Bridge, two of the key landmarks of the River Walk. In my opinion, the River Walk is most magical at night when it is light by hundreds of small colored lights.

Another great way to enjoy the River Walk is, of course, from the river. Take a specialty river cruise with narration or use one of the hop on hop off shuttles.

➡️ Book Your River Walk Cruise

5. Travel back in time at La Villita

La Villita is an Artisan Village on the southern bank of the San Antonio River. It is listed on the US Government’s National Register of Historic Places. A range of architectural styles can be seen across its one square black and 25 shops and galleries featuring locally made products and four restaurants. Make sure you check out La Villita’s busy events calendar before you visit.

6. Go West at the Briscoe Western Art Museum

This quirky museum is focused on the American West. The art celebrates the stories of cowboys and Native Americans and the beauty of the Western landscape. The Briscoe Western Art Museum has both permanent galleries and interesting exhibitions. Don’t miss my favorite part of the museum, the McNutt Sculpture Garden.

7. Grab the San Antonio Hop on Hop off bus

I love a hop on hop off bus! They are such a great way to get a feel for a city and the San Antonio Hop On Hop Off Bus is no exception. It covers all of the city’s major sights in its 19 stops. Buy tickets for 1, 2, 3 or 4 days.

➡️ Book your tickets for the San Antonio Hop On Hop Off Bus

8. Have your Mind Bent at Ripley’s Believe It or Not

With over 1200 artifacts and interactive games in its 19 galleries, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not in San Antonio is a great fun place for adults to visit in San Antonio. Once you’ve visited the major exhibitions, you may enjoy going to one of all three of the other Ripley attractions in San Antonio: Ripley’s Illusion Lab, Louis Tussaud’s Waxworks and Ripley’s Moving Theater.

9. Don’t Miss the Buckhorn Saloon & Museum

The Buckhorn Saloon was one of my favorite places to visit in San Antonio. The Buckhorn is several experiences in one: an old-west themed working Saloon, a Texas Ranger Museum, a collection of exotic animals (taxidermy) and a Carnival of Curiosities.

I can’t imagine how anyone came up with the idea of combining all of these things in one location but they did and it is great, quirky fun. Don’t miss this eccentric San Antonio attraction!

➡️ Book Your Tickets for the Buckhorn Museums

10. Enjoy a Night at the Majestic Theatre

The Majestic is San Antonio’s oldest theatre. Built in 1929, The Majestic is the place to go to see some of the hottest acts and musicals in San Antonio.

11. Capture the moment at the Texas Selfie Museum

With over 25 installations and professional lighting, the Texas Selfie Museum is the place to capture some flattering memories of your trip to San Antonio. Visitors can bring professional cameras or just their phones. There are loads of options with different backgrounds and props galore.

➡️ Book your tickets for the Texas Selfie Museum

12. Experience the Thrill of a Downtown Helicopter tour

For a really memorable experience in San Antonio, hop on a 10-minute helicopter trip that will whisk you around San Antonio’s downtown and provide plenty of great photo opportunities. The Alamo and La Villita in particular look spectacular from the air.

➡️ Book your Downtown San Antonio Helicopter Ride

Art and History

13. Immerse Yourself at Hopscotch

Hopscotch brings together artists from across the United States (and many from Texas) to create immersive art experiences collaboratively. The San Antonio branch has 15 immersive experiences, a bar that serves Texas-based beverages inspired by the experiences and a range of one-off events and food experiences.

➡️ Book Your Tickets for Hopscotch

14. San Antonio Museum of Art

Located north of downtown on the River Walk, the San Antonio Museum of Art is known for having the most comprehensive collection of Greek, Roman and Egyptian Art in the southern United States. The museum also has a wing dedicated to Asian art, and best of all there is an excellent selection of art from Texas in the contemporary galleries.

The San Antonio Museum of Art also hosts regular exhibitions plus they have a lovely Italian restaurant, Tre Trattoria, with a terrace over the San Antonio River.

15. McNay Art Museum

Founded in 1954, the McNay Art Museum was Texas’ first contemporary art museum. The museum is home to more than 22,000 works of art ranging from medieval and the Renaissance to 21st-century sculpture to art glass and more.

16. Witte Museum

Opened in 1926, the Witte Museum is a unique mix of a natural history museum, an art museum and a Texas history museum plus beautiful grounds located on the San Antonio River in Brackenridge Park north of downtown. It is the most visited museum in San Antonio.

17. The Blue Star Art Complex

San Antonio’s longest-running contemporary art space, The Blue Star Art Complex, combines studios, art venues, shops, cafes and restaurants. You’ll find vintage clothing, unique artwork, a bike shop, folk art, bars, jewelry and much more. Check their website to learn more about their frequent events, including their first and third Thursday night special openings.

18. Take a Street Art Tour

San Antonio is home to over 200 street art murals. Find out why street art is so popular in San Antonio and see at least 20 murals on a Street Art E-Bike tour.

➡️ Book your San Antonio Street Art Tour

Nature and Outdoor Activities

19. Travel to the bottom of the Ocean at San Antonio Sea Life Aquarium

Get up close and personal with crabs, sea stars and urchins, take a behind-the-scenes tour, attend a sting ray feeding or have a shipwreck experience. All this and more is happening at the San Antonio Sea Life Aquarium.

➡️ Book Your San Antonio Sea Life Aquarium Tickets

20. San Antonio Botanical Gardens

San Antonio Botanical Gardens is 38 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds with so much more going on than just plants. This is a living classroom, research and conservation facility and an entertainment venue. When I visited, I took a fantastic cocktail-making class where we gathered ingredients from within the garden.

21. Have a Wildlife Experience at San Antonio Zoo

You’ll love the San Antonio Zoo if you like interacting with animals. When I visited, I was able to feed both flamingos and giraffes. There is a range of behind-the-scenes tours, including hippos, rhinos and tortoises, a butterfly rainforest, a 4D theatre and much more. The zoo covers over 50 acres and contains over 750 species.

➡️ Book your Tickets for San Antonio Zoo

22. San Antonio Japanese Tea Gardens

If you’re looking for somewhere to take some beautiful photos in San Antonio, the Japanese Tea Gardens is the place. This is where locals go to get their graduation and wedding photos taken. It is 11 acres of stone bridges, koi ponds and tiered gardens and it is very pretty. Grab drinks (including tea) and snacks at the Jingu House restaurant on site.

23. Experience a Real Texas Rodeo

If you’re in San Antonio on a Saturday Night, head to the Tejas Rodeo Company to see bull riding, longhorns and barrel racing. There’s real Texas BBQ on offer for dinner and Country and Western Music after the show. The rodeo runs between March and November.

➡️ Book your San Antonio Rodeo Tickets

24. Play a Round of Golf

Did you know that San Antonio has some of the best golf courses in Texas? The city is home to more than 50 golf courses, from public to private, and from beginner to expert level. Some of the most popular courses include the Quarry Golf Course (named one of the top 100 public courses in the US by Golf Digest) and La Cantera (designed by PGA Legends).

25. Take a Day trip to Texas Hill Country

The Texas Hill Country is a beautiful and unique region of Texas, located just outside of San Antonio. The area is known for its rolling hills, scenic views, and small towns. visit Fredericksburg, a charming German heritage town and the capital of the Texas wine Industry, take a tour of Lyndon B Johnson’s Ranch (known as the Texas White House) and visit quirky Luckenbach, a tiny town dedicated to country and western music.

➡️ Book Your Day Trip to Texas Hill Country

26. Visit the Cowboy Capital of the World

Did you know that the world has a cowboy capital? And it is just a one-hour drive from San Antonio? Bandera, Texas is officially known as the Cowboy Capital of the world and it is filled with wagon rides, old west shows, dude ranches, and everything else cowboy. I had such a fun time there I wrote an aentire article on Bandera Texas.

Adventure

27. Find your Way out of an Escape Room

If you’re looking for a challenge, try your luck at one of San Antonio’s many escape rooms. These interactive games require you to solve puzzles and clues in order to escape from a locked room. It’s a great way to test your problem-solving skills and have some fun at the same time.

➡️ Book your San Antonio Escape Room experience

28. Skydive Indoors

If you want to try out skydiving but are not quite ready to jump out of a plane, this could be your perfect experience. You’ll be trained in skydiving and then experience two 60 second free falls in a wind tunnel.

➡️ Book Your Indoor Skydiving Experience

29. Get an Adrenaline Rush at Six Flags Fiesta

Six Flags is definitely not just for kids. There are thrill rides, water park rides, gaming, live entertainment and loads of food and booze options.

Historical Missions and Sites

30. Take a Stroll Through the King William Historic District

If you’re interested in architecture and design, you’ll love the King William Historic District. This neighborhood houses some of the city’s most beautiful and well-preserved Victorian homes.

The district was established in the late 1800s, and prominent German merchants and bankers built many of the homes. Today, the neighborhood is popular for walking tours and photo opportunities.

31. Step back in time at Guenther House

The Guenther House is a historic home built in the late 1800s. It was originally the home of Carl Guenther, the founder of Pioneer Flour Mills. Today, the house is a museum and restaurant that offers a glimpse into the life of a wealthy San Antonio family in the late 1800s. You can take a guided tour of the house, enjoy a meal in the restaurant, or browse the gift shop for souvenirs.

32. Explore the San Antonio Missions

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park is a UNESCO World Heritage that follows the San Antonio River from downtown through the southside communities. The park includes four missions: Mission Concepcion, Mission San Jose, Mission San Juan and Mission Espada.

It is possible to walk between all four missions but it is 7 miles from Mission Concepcion to Mission Espada. Why not take a guided Missions Tour instead?

➡️ Book your San Antonio Missions tour

Food and Wine Experiences

San Antonio is known for its delicious Tex-Mex cuisine, but there’s more to the food scene than just tacos and enchiladas. Like Austin, San Antonio has some fantastic BBQ joints you’ll love.

33. Enjoy BBQ San Antonio Style

BBQ and brisket are on offer at many restaurants in San Antonio. Here are some of the best known BBQ joints in town:

• 2M Smokehouse – don’t miss their home made sausages and sliced brisket.
• Big Bib BBQ – rib tips, sweet baby back ribs, fried catfish and sweet potato casserole
• Old Smokehouse – have been making mesquite BBQ offerings for 40 years and offer meat by the pound with side dishes. Known for their smoked lamb ribs

34. Experience the Ultimate Tex Mex

Unsurprisingly, there are loads of Mexican and tex-mex restaurants in San Antonio and the quality is generally high. Here are a few that stand

• Garcia’s Mexican – known for their tex-mex comfort good. Enjoy a brisket taco with eggs for breakfast or lunch. Check out the smoked pork taco.
• Acenar – contemporary Mexican over several levels with a great reputation and a Riverwalk location. Don’t miss the short-rib tacos.
• Lala’s Gorditas – the standard for the puffy taco.

35. Visit Pearl Historic District

The Pearl District is north of downtown San Antonio and bordered by the Riverwalk. This was one of my favorite places in San Antonio. The Pearl Brewery was founded in 1883. It went on to become the biggest brewery in Texas but closed its doors in 2001. A plan was developed to turn the 23 acre site into a mixed-use development.

Today, Pearl has over 20 restaurants covering a range of cuisines and holds farmer’s markets every Saturday and Sunday.

➡️ Take a Pearl District Food and History Tour

36. Take a San Antonio Food Tour

One of the best ways to get underneath the skin of the San Antonio food scene is to take a guided food tour. The tours are generally combined with a bit of history and walking.

➡️ Take a San Antonio Food Tour

Nightlife and Entertainment

San Antonio is known for its vibrant nightlife scene, offering a variety of activities for adults to enjoy. From bars and clubs to live music venues and ghost tours, there’s something for everyone to experience.

37. Have a Cocktail at Hotel Menger

The historic Hotel Menger is located on Alamo Plaza in the heart of downtown San Antonio. Built in 1887 as an exact replica of London’s House of Lords Pub, this is where Teddy Roosevelt recruited Texas cowboys to become Rough Riders.

38. Get Scared on a Ghost Tour

Did you know that San Antonio is the most haunted city in Texas? For hundreds of years, locals have told ghost stories. For a unique and spooky experience, consider taking a ghost tour of San Antonio. These tours take you through some of the city’s most haunted locations, including the Menger Hotel and the Alamo. You’ll learn about the history and legends behind these sites while getting a thrill from the eerie atmosphere.

➡️ Book your San Antonio Ghost Tour

And one last fun thing to do in San Antonio for adults….

39. Get your Photo Taken with the biggest Cowboy Boots in the World

35 Feet, 3 inches tall, nine feet wide and weighing in at a Texas-sized 10,000 pounds, the largest cowboy boots in the world are located at North Star Shopping Mall in San Antonio. The boots have a listing in the Guiness Book of World Records and are a popular photo opportunity.

PS If you want to buy some cowboy boots of your own check out Boot Barn and Wandering Cowboys and Paris Hatters for the best cowboy hats.

How to Get to San Antonio

San Antonio is 120 kilometers southwest of Austin and 310 kilometers west of Houston. San Antonio has an international airport and direct flights to many of the major cities in the United States.

Where to Stay in San Antonio

The Westin River Walk

I stayed at The Westin in downtown San Antonio and you can’t beat its fantastic location at the heart of the River Walk. The rooms are huge – make sure to ask for one with a view of the River Walk. Whilst the interior design isn’t ultra modern, it is very comfortable. you can’t beat those Westin beds.

The highlight of my stay was the outdoor heated pool with views of the River Walk and a bar.

➡️ Check Prices and Availability for the Westin River Walk

Hotel Havana

For a more boutique hotel experience on the Riverwalk, check out Hotel Havana. This historic boutique hotel was built in 1914. Today, its rooms are clean and modern with pops of color and historic features like dark wooden floors and ceiling fans.

➡️ Check Prices and Availability for Hotel Havana

The Menger Hotel

The Menger is the ol➡️ dest continuously operating hotel west of the Mississippi. It has a great location on Alamo Plaza, a stone’s throw from the River Walk. As I mentioned earlier, Theodore Roosevelt gathered his rough riders in the bar at The Menger, which is still popular today.

The hotel has the largest heated pool in San Antonio as well as a beautiful Spanish courtyard garden.

➡️ Check Prices and Availability for The Menger Hotel

Frequently Asked Questions about San Antonio Things to Do

IPW and Visit San Antonio covered the cost of my accommodation and most meals and activities mentioned in this article – thanks guys. I paid for my flights. As always, my opinions are my own. This article contains affiliate links. That means if you click through on some of the links in this article and end up making a purchase, I will receive a small commission.