San Antonio, Texas — Overview for Travelers

San Antonio in a nutshell

Long a crossroads of history (and a meeting place of cultures), San Antonio is a rich blend of deeply rooted traditions and 21st century cosmopolitan flair, a place where America’s past and present merge to create a unique vibrancy.
Now the nation’s eighth-largest city, San Antonio is a joyful melange of the flavors and sounds of Native Americans, Old Mexico, the Republic of Texas, Germans, the Wild West, African Americans, and the Deep South.

For visitors with an interest in gallant deeds of days gone by, San Antonio is history.
Native Americans first lived along the San Antonio River, calling the area ‘Yanaguana,’ which means ‘refreshing waters’ or ‘clear waters.’
A band of Spanish explorers and missionaries came upon the river in 1691, and because it was the feast day of St. Anthony, they named the river ‘San Antonio.’

What’s special about San Antonio?
The Alamo, the River Walk, conjunto music, friendly people, Tex-Mex cuisine and Fiesta San Antonio. Yes, and more.
The answer is as varied as the people who live in and visit San Antonio. Experience San Antonio her natural beauty, her history, her people, her music, her cuisine.

San Antonio has been a colony of Spain, a territory of Mexico, a part of the Republic of Texas and finally a state in the United States. Relics and tales from this iconic past linger along the city streets. Originally colonized by Spain, San Antonio has five beautifully preserved Spanish colonial missions including The Alamo, the location of a famed battle for Texas independence. La Villita Historic Arts Village, a small village that housed Spanish soldiers stationed at The Alamo, is full of life and commerce. Commerce also thrives a few blocks away at Market Square. Known as the largest Mexican market north of the Rio Grande, Market Square is filled with local and imported pieces of art, pottery, jewelry and textiles.

Little known about the regions in and around San Antonio is that many German settlers called this area home. At one point, street signs were written in three languages: English, German and Spanish. German influence sprung the lavish homes of the historic King William District; as well as restaurants and delis that offer visitors traditional German fare. The Hill Country surrounding San Antonio is adorned with small German towns evident through their names, Fredericksburg, New Braunfels, Boerne… In these towns an old version of the German language still lives, untouched by the hands of time that has evolved the language of Germany itself.

Sightseeing & Attractions

Read about it in our article: San Antonio, Texas — Sightseeing & Attractions

Weather‎

‎Best time to visit / season ‎
‎Year-round season. The temperatures in spring and autumn seem particularly pleasant. Summer means heat with high humidity; frequent thunderstorms.‎

Current weather San Antonio: 7-Day Forecast 29.17N 98.21W (weather.gov)

‎Climate & temperatures‎
‎Very mild winters due to the almost tropical location. Summer months hot and with high humidity. In winter, temperatures only fall below freezing once in absolutely exceptional cases. Wind usually comes from the south. In winter, wind can transport cold air from the north. ‎

Map San Antonio, Texas, USA

Essentials, ‎Facts and Figures‎

Population
City of San Antonio: 1,434,625 (Census 2020); 1,327,407 (Census 2010)

Airport
San Antonio International Airport
Website: https://www.sanantonio.gov/sat

‎Altitude‎
‎approx. 198 m ‎

Public Transportation Websites

• Bike Facilities Map (sanantonio.gov)
• San Antonio Transportation — Visitors (sanantonio.gov)
• Home – VIA Metropolitan Transit (viainfo.net)
• Our San Antonio Transportation Services (visitsanantonio.com)

‎Visitor Center‎
‎It is located just across the street from ‘The Alamo’ ‎
‎Address: 317Alamo Plaza, San Antonio‎, Web: Visit San Antonio

Some San Antonio Facts

• Seventh largest and one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S.
• Host to more than 39 million visitors a year, including 31.1 million overnight guests
• Home to the River Walk – a 15-mile network of stone paths along the San Antonio River that connect hotels, shops, restaurants, theaters and more
• Has the largest concentration of Spanish colonial architecture in North America, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, that includes five 18th century missions. The city also has the oldest active cathedral sanctuary in the U.S.
• Designated a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in November 2017, only the second city in the U.S. to receive the designation.
• Home to The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) – one of only three campuses in the country; including a focus on Latin American cuisine
• Known for the Alamo, the number one tourist attraction in Texas and one of the city’s five Spanish colonial missions.
• Entertains with top theme parks: SeaWorld San Antonio, Six Flags Fiesta Texas and Morgan’s Wonderland – the world’s largest ultra-accessible theme park designed for those with special needs
• Offers nationally acclaimed museums including two Smithsonian affiliates
• Recognized for events including Fiesta San Antonio, Luminaria: Contemporary Arts Festival, Culinaria Food & Wine Festival, the Conjunto Music Festival and the largest Día De Los Muertos celebration in the U.S.
• Birthplace of Tex-Mex – experience it in the city’s culture, art, music and cuisine
• Leading golf destination with more than 50 golf courses, many noted among the nation’s best
• Destination for professional sports teams: San Antonio Spurs (NBA), San Antonio FC (USL) and San Antonio Missions (MiLB)
• Top industries include healthcare/bioscience, manufacturing, IT, tourism and aerospace
• Host to eight universities including Division I schools the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and University of the Incarnate Word, as well as the Alamo College System