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I am a big believer in making travel affordable, and sometimes, all those admission costs can make or break a visit to a city. There are plenty of festivals and events in San Antonio, but you should not miss some marquis attractions. Less than a year old, the CityPASS® San Antonio has many attractions for first-time visitors: The Alamo, The Missions (UNESCO World Heritage Sites), the plethora of museums, and the spectacular botanical garden. It’s great to stroll on the River Walk but even more fun to take a scenic boat cruise. Many of these activities are accessible through the San Antonio CityPASS®, which provides great savings for travelers.
San Antonio CityPASS®
On a recent trip, I spent the weekend in the Hill Country of Texas and had a quick (but highly productive) visit. The new San Antonio CityPASS® ticket bundles deeply discounted, prepaid admission to several top Alamo City attractions into one easy-to-use mobile ticket. Once activated, you can use it for over nine days to take full advantage of the city sights. You choose which four attractions you want to see!
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Attraction options included in the San Antonio CityPASS® provide a 35% combined savings:
- Go Rio San Antonio River Cruises
- San Antonio Botanical Garden*
- San Antonio Museum of Art*
- San Antonio Zoo
- The DoSeum (Children’s Museum)
- Tower of the Americas*
- Witte Museum*
* I enjoyed these attractions over three days.
When planned well, you can enjoy the attractions at your own pace. I navigated the city using Uber (all very reasonable), but public transport in the downtown core is also an option. Walking along the downtown portion of the San Antonio River Walk is also very enjoyable.
Consider exploring the Museum Reach section of the River Walk, the northern extension of the 15-mile boardwalk. The Museum Reach includes three miles of pedestrian pathways, multiple water features, and over 70,000 plants. The journey leads you past noted landmarks, the San Antonio Museum of Art, and Pearl, a culinary and cultural destination at the reimagined historic Pearl brewery.
Go Rio San Antonio River Cruises
Take a leisurely guided tour with GIO RIO, a fleet of eco-friendly electric river boats in vibrant colors inspired by Mexican folk art. GO RIO offers a 35-minute narrated experience of the San Antonio River Walk with interesting facts about architecture, history and general information about The Alamo City.
San Antonio Botanical Garden
Set aside at least 90 minutes to tour the beautiful San Antonio Botanical Gardens. There are greenhouses, gardens and lovely places to sit and listen to the birds. The San Antonio Botanical Garden is a museum of plants, a tranquil escape, a living classroom, a research conservation facility, and an entertainment venue.
Life is always in full bloom at the Garden, from classes to special events, world-class exhibitions, and new plants! When I was visiting, there was a beautiful display of orchids!
San Antonio Museum of Art
The San Antonio Museum of Art is located on the Museum Reach section of San Antonio’s River Walk. Museum Reach is a public park area that includes three miles of pedestrian pathways, multiple water features, and more than 70,000 plants. The museum itself is housed in the former Lone Star Brewery.
The San Antonio Museum of Art’s collections include ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian art, Asian art, and contemporary art. The Latin American art wing includes the largest collection of popular art in the US. One of my favourites was the POP Art Gallery, which featured many works by unknown artists, including kitsch and quirky pieces. The Latin American Art galleries are a must-see, with works by Colombian sculptor Botero and folk art pieces by Candelario Medrano.
Insider’s Tip: Complete your visit with a bite at Tre Trattoria, Chef Jason Dady’s Tuscan-inspired eatery on the Museum campus. I recommend the Pan-seared potato gnocchi with Gorgonzola crema.
San Antonio Zoo
There’s so much to see and do at San Antonio Zoo! Feed a giraffe and see everything from lions and tigers to turtles and tropical birds. Located a few minutes from downtown San Antonio and the River Walk. The San Antonio Zoo was named the “best zoo in Texas” by the Texas Travel Awards, and for good reason. With more than 800 species and innovative realms like NEOTROPICA — an immersive ecosystem whose design recreates the feel of a remote South American fishing village — the zoo transports visitors to wild places teeming with wild creatures.
The DoSeum
Dedicated to joyful learning and discovery, The DoSeum is San Antonio’s premier museum for early learners and their families, featuring 70,000 square feet of fun, interactive, hands-on exhibits.
The Tower of The Americas
Located in downtown San Antonio, the 750-foot-tall (228.5 meters) Tower of The Americas gives visitors a panoramic view of Alamo City. The tower was built in 1968 for the HemisFair World’s Fair, celebrating San Antonio’s 250th anniversary. Photographs on the observation deck’s floor pinpoint landmarks to help visitors identify their surroundings. Captivating murals on the walls chronicle the history of the many nations that laid claim to what is now the state of Texas.
Witte Museum
The Witte Museum, covering Texas history, wildlife, dinosaurs, and more, is a great place to stop for families and those curious about Texas culture. This natural history museum takes a journey through Texas Deep Time—from the Cretaceous through today. Consistently voted San Antonio’s top museum, with a diorama of indigenous life, wildlife, multimedia, and interactive displays to entertain and educate.
The Alamo – Exhibit and Church
As of March 1, 2024, The Alamo will be added to the San Antonio CityPASS®. Located in the heart of San Antonio, the Alamo is the jewel of Texas heritage and a historic destination for the entire family. Experience the iconic Alamo Church and the new Alamo Exhibit at the Ralston Family Collections Center.
FAQ – What you need to know about the San Antonio CityPASS®
About CityPASS®
For 25 years, CityPASS tickets have been premier products for travelers who want to visit a destination’s top attractions while enjoying significant savings. CityPASS tickets are available in 16 North American destinations: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Southern California, Tampa Bay, and Toronto. Since 1997, more than 26 million CityPASS tickets have been sold. For more information, visit CityPASS.com or download the My CityPASS app.
Cost:
Visiting these attractions is easy with a San Antonio CityPASS® mobile ticket. The tickets cost $59 USD for adults and $49 USD for children ages 3-11. For updated pricing, check the website for full details.
Where to buy:
Tickets can be ordered online at CityPASS.com, arriving moments later via email, or through the My CityPASS app, which can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play or accessed from any web browser. The app conveniently stores the customer’s tickets, provides notifications and entry instructions for each attraction, highlights special offers and upgrades, and more.
Duration:
Once activated at the first attraction visited, San Antonio CityPASS tickets are valid for nine consecutive days, starting with the first day of use.
Once again, thanks to CityPASS® for the pass to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own. Prices and programs are subject to change. CityPASS® and City Pass® are registered trademarks of City Pass, Inc., and the exclusive property of City Pass, Inc.
Other CityPASS® Posts on DownshiftingPRO
- Unlocking Philadelphia: CityPASS® Your Key to Capturing Memorable Moments
- 17 of the Best Museums in New York City
🥾 Explore: Tours & Experiences
🏡 Where to Stay: Top Accommodations
🚙 Hit the Road: Car Rental Deals
🛫 Get Away: Find Flight Deals
🎒 Shop: Travel Essentials