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San Antonio is a busy Texan city renowned for its historic sites and lively atmosphere. It has a wide range of popular tourist attractions, such as the Alamo Mission, the San Antonio Museum, and the Witte Museum, but these can become very crowded during the high season.
If you prefer to step away from the beaten path and explore some quieter sights when you travel, you’ll be keen to learn about the city’s lesser-known points of interest. Here are 20 fantastic hidden gems to check out next time you’re in San Antonio.
1. Japanese Tea Garden
- Website: saparks.org/japanese-tea-garden
- Address: 3853 N St Mary’s St, San Antonio, TX
- Opening hours: 7 am – 5 pm daily
The Japanese Tea Garden lies in a former limestone quarry and a cement factory, but to see it now, you’d never imagine something so beautiful could emerge from an industrial property. The peaceful garden features Koi ponds, waterfalls, exotic plants, and rustic stone bridges and walkways.
The on-site restaurant, Jingu House, serves delicious Asian cuisine. It also has outdoor seating, so you can enjoy the garden’s relaxing atmosphere while you dine.
2. Mission San Jose
- Website: nps.gov/saan/planyourvisit/sanjose.htm
- Address: 6701 San Jose Dr, San Antonio, TX
- Opening hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily
San Jose was established in 1720, making it the oldest of the San Antonio Missions. It’s incredibly well preserved and offers fascinating insights into typical missions of the 18th century.
San Jose is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but it remains an active parish and holds mass on Sundays. Be sure to check out the famed Rose Window in the church, which is considered to be one of the finest examples of Spanish Colonial ornamentation in the US.
3. Hot Wells of Bexar County
- Website: bexar.org/3057/Hot-Wells-of-Bexar-County
- Address: 5503 S Presa St, San Antonio, TX
- Opening hours: 24/7
Hot Wells Hotel and Spa was one of the most exclusive places to stay in San Antonio in the early 1900s. It first opened in 1893, purporting the medicinal benefits of its sulfur water baths, but it burned down just a year later. Its opulent Victorian-style replacement stood for 30 years before it, too, became the victim of a fire. The ruins were abandoned until decades later they were repurposed into the lovely public park now known as Hot Wells of Bexar County.
4. Bracken Cave
- Website: batcon.org/our-work/protect-restore-landscapes/bracken-cave-preserve
- Address: 26101 FM Highway 3009, San Antonio, TX
- Opening hours: Various, by reservation only
Bracken Cave lies close to the popular Natural Bridge Caverns and is home to an estimated 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats. The sight of the huge colony pouring from the cave entrance at dusk is astounding. Make a reservation in advance because access is strictly controlled to protect the bats.
5. World’s Largest Virgin Mary Mosaic
- Website: guadalupeculturalarts.org
- Address: Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, 723 S Brazos St, San Antonio, TX
- Opening hours: 10 am – 4 pm, Monday to Friday
The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center is home to an impressive 40-foot-tall mosaic of the Virgin Mary. It’s incredibly intricate, and its cylindrical shape and red-orange top are designed to imitate the Virgin Mary votive candles popular in Catholic culture.
6. World’s Largest Cowboy Boots
- Address: North Star Mall, 7400 San Pedro Ave, San Antonio, TX
- Opening hours: 24/7
If a giant Virgin Mary ignited an enthusiasm for oversized attractions, head to North Star Mall to see the world’s largest pair of cowboy boots. The 40-foot boots were designed by Bob Wade in 1979. With a fiberglass finish that mimics ostrich skin, the boots couldn’t be more Texan if they tried.
7. Kiddie Park
- Website: kiddiepark.com
- Address: 3903 N St. Mary’s St., San Antonio, TX
- Opening hours: 9 am – 5 pm Sunday to Friday / 9 am – 5 pm Saturday
Built in 1925, Kiddie Park claims to be the oldest amusement park in America, and some of its original rides are still in operation. It’s usually quieter than typical amusement parks, which makes it ideal for kids who don’t like lots of noise. Plus, it lies right next to San Antonio Zoo, so you can swing by after visiting the animals.
8. San Fernando Cathedral City Centers
- Website: sfcathedral.org
- Address: 115 W Main Plz, San Antonio, TX
- Opening hours: 9 am – 5 pm Monday to Friday / 9 am – 6 pm Saturday & Sunday
The impressive San Fernando Cathedral is considered to be the central point of San Antonio, but it actually has two conflicting city center markers. The first is a cross on the floor in front of the church’s main altar, which marks the building’s original entrance in the 1700s. The second, an official city council-approved marker, lies opposite the main altar close to the retablo.
9. The Grotto
- Website: sariverfoundation.org/portfolio/the-grotto-carlos-cortes
- Address: 277 Camden St, San Antonio, TX
- Opening hours: 24/7
The Grotto is an artificial San Antonio River Walk cave created by artist Carlos Cortés. It is located towards the north end of the walk, at a bend in the river between the Camden and Newell Street bridges. Although it’s made of concrete, the Grotto does an impressive job of mimicking stalagmites, stalactites, and natural waterfalls.
10. Briscoe Western Art Museum
- Website: briscoemuseum.org
- Address: 115 W Main Plz, San Antonio, TX
- Opening hours: 10 am – 5 pm Wednesday to Sunday
Briscoe Western Art Museum is a great alternative to the busy McNay Art Museum. Its focus is on the art and culture of the American West, and it tells the story of the West’s history with a range of permanent and temporary exhibits. Highlights include a display of Apache baskets from the late 19th century and a pretty outdoor sculpture garden.
11. Hopscotch
- Website: letshopscotch.com/locations/san-antonio
- Address: 711 Navarro St, Suite 100, San Antonio, TX
- Opening hours: 10 am – 10 pm Wednesday to Monday
Hopscotch is not your typical gallery. It’s an immersive art installation where you walk through unique spaces designed to challenge perspectives and inspire creativity. If it’s not your first time in San Antonio and you’ve already explored the city’s popular art museums and galleries, Hopscotch is a fun alternative.
12. Mexican Cultural Institute
- Website: icm.sre.gob.mx/culturamexsa/index.php
- Address: 600 Hemisfair Plaza Way, San Antonio, TX
- Opening hours: 10 am – 5 pm Friday & Saturday
The Mexican Cultural Institute showcases and champions American-Mexican artists, academics, and cultural leaders. It also hosts a variety of art exhibitions and events, including an annual celebration of Mexico’s Independence Day.
13. Kayaking on the San Antonio River
- Website: mat-tx.com/kayaking.html
- Address: 220 Newell Ave, San Antonio, TX
- Opening hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily
Most people stroll down the River Walk to take in the boutiques, restaurants, galleries, and attractions that line the San Antonio River, but kayaking is a great alternative. Mission Adventure Tours hosts easy two-mile kayak tours that are suitable for beginners and a great way to get the lay of the land in the heart of the Alamo City. If you’re an experienced kayaker and want to lead your own adventure, simply rent a kayak and go it alone.
14. Confluence Park
- Website: sariverfound.org/confluence-park
- Address: 310 W Mitchell St, San Antonio, TX
- Opening hours: 8 am – 11 pm daily
Brackenridge Park and the Botanical Gardens are two of San Antonio’s best-known green spaces, but Confluence Park is not to be missed. It focuses on environmental conservation and education, and its unique, ultra-modern buildings have been created with sustainability in mind.
15. Texas Hill Country
Hill Country is a region of scenic rolling orchards and vineyards dotted with historic towns. The best way to explore is by joining a guided tour that incorporates the LBJ Ranch, the childhood home of former president Lyndon B. Johnson. You’ll learn about the history of Hill Country and the heritage of country music in the region and have the opportunity to sample wine from a local vineyard.
16. Amazing Mirror Maze
- Website: amazingmazes.com/attractions
- Address: 217 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX
- Opening hours: 10 am – 8 pm daily
This quirky attraction in Downtown San Antonio is a great way to take a break from the heat. First, you’ll have to find your way out of a tricky mirrored labyrinth; then, you’ll try your hand at escaping a laser vault before your time runs out. If you’re a fan of escape rooms, you’ll have lots of fun at the Amazing Mirror Maze.
17. Pearl Brewery
- Website: atpearl.com
- Address: 303 Pearl Pkwy, San Antonio, TX
- Opening hours: 5 am – 12 am daily
Pearl Brewery first opened in 1883 and was once considered the biggest Brewery in Texas. After over a century of operations and facing many challenges, it closed its doors in 2001.
Redevelopment quickly took place, and today, the brewery serves as a multi-use hub that is home to a luxury hotel, a variety of boutique stores, and some of San Antonio’s best restaurants and street food stalls. Foodies flock to Pearl to try cuisines from all over the world, but Tex-Mex dishes are particularly good here. If you’re looking for great tacos, this is the place to find them.
18. The Fiesta Festival
- Website: fiestasanantonio.org
- Address: 514 W Commerce St, San Antonio, TX
The annual Fiesta Festival has been held in San Antonio since 1891. It celebrates the heroes of the battles of the Alamo and San Jacinto. Live music and events are held throughout Downtown, with highlights being the Fiesta de Los Reyes in Market Square and the Texas Cavaliers River Parade. Exact dates change each year, but the festival typically occurs in late April to early May.
19. Texas Air Museum
- Website: texasairmuseum.org
- Address: 1234 99th St, San Antonio, TX
- Opening hours: 9 am – 4 pm daily
The Fort Sam Houston Museum is a popular attraction for people interested in military and Air Force history, but the Texas Air Museum is a lesser-known alternative. It showcases San Antonio’s role in the development of America’s military air power and celebrates the pioneers in aviation technology. A major highlight of the museum is its collection of vintage aircraft, which dates back to World War II.
20. Southtown
Southtown lies south of the commercialized city center and offers insights into San Antonio’s bohemian arts and entertainment scene. Three overlapping neighborhoods—Blue Star, Lavaca, and King William—make up the Southtown area. You can expect to see stately 19th-century properties, explore art galleries and studios in renovated warehouses, and shop for unique handmade crafts in quirky boutiques.
Discover San Antonio’s Must-See Hidden Gems
These are some of San Antonio’s best secret spots to escape to when you need a break from the bustling tourist areas. Which ones will you explore on your next visit?
