You know what they say, “Remember the Alamo!” The Alamo is, without a doubt, one of the most historic spots in San Antonio. Constructed over 300 years ago as one of the 5 original missions, The Alamo is best known for the Battle of the Alamo in 1836, where figures like Davy Crockett defended the base in the Texas Revolution.

Visitors can tour the site, view artifacts in the Phil Collins Collection, and maybe even pet Bella the Alamo Cat.

Plus, the all-new Plaza de Valero greenspace is the perfect spot to sit, unwind, reflect, and relax.

• Hours of Operation: Open daily 9a – 5:30p | Collections Center closes at 5p

• Cost of Entry: Free with timed-entry ticket | Upgraded tour options available for an additional fee.

The San Antonio Museum of Art, also known as SAMA, showcases 5,000 years of global culture. The works housed in the former Lone Star Brewery are renowned for being the most comprehensive ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian art collections in the southern United States.

Among their current exhibits, you can find Readymade Remix: New Approaches to Familiar Objects explores how artists transform everyday objects into meaningful works of art, building on Marcel Duchamp’s groundbreaking 1917 “readymade” concept. By reimagining found and manufactured items, the featured artists extend Duchamp’s original concept of utilizing techniques such as mixing, deconstructing, and repeating to explore themes of memory, culture, identity, and history.

Be sure to make a stop at Tre Trattoria, one of the city’s best Italian restaurants, which also sits on the grounds for a nice lunch after your tour.

• Hours of Operation: Tue & Fri 10a – 7p | Wed, Thu, Sat & Sun 10a – 5p | Closed Mon

• Cost of Entry: Varies by age. Children 10 & under are free.

The McNay Art Museum features 25 acres of manicured gardens, outdoor sculpture, and art exhibits, all housed in a 1920s Spanish-style mansion. The art collection features over 22,000 works spanning from the Renaissance to contemporary eras.

Don't limit your exploration to the indoors; their outdoor art pieces are just as moving and inspiring as the masterpieces you'll find inside.

• Hours of Operation: Wed & Fri 10a – 6p | Thu 10a – 9p | Sat 10a – 5p | Sun 12–5p | Closed Mon & Tue

• Cost of Entry: Prices vary by age. Children 12 and under are free. Free general admission every Thursday from 4-9p and on the first Sunday of every month from 12 – 5p.

The Witte Museum is where nature, science, and culture meet. Explore the history of Texas, from the era of the dinosaurs to the present day. The museum offers 320,000 historic and contemporary artifacts, specimens, and works of art, providing endless opportunities for discovery.

Among their incredible exhibits, you'll find Texas Ceramics: From Land to Hand. This exhibition showcases the work of Texas potters who have shaped local clay into both functional and aesthetically beautiful ceramics. Their creations reflect the state’s diverse landscapes, cultural influences, and enduring traditions, telling the story of how artisans turned the land beneath them into everyday art.

• Hours of Operation: Mon & Wed-Sat 10a – 5p | Tue 10a – 6p | Sun 12p – 5p

• Cost of Entry: Prices vary by age. Children 3 and under are free. 

Texas is home to cowboys, and the Briscoe Western Art Museum is home to the art of the Wild West! Explore three levels of distinct eras of the Western frontier, from Native American artifacts to tools of the cowboy trade. 

What great exhibit can you find right now? Aloha Vaqueros! This exhibition explores the unique blend of Mexican and Hawaiian cowboy traditions. Highlighting a little-known story from 1832, it traces how Mexican vaqueros helped shape Hawaii’s ranching culture, leaving a lasting legacy of cross-cultural exchange and heritage.

• Hours of Operation: Thu 10a – 8p | Fri–Mon 10a – 5p | Closed Tue & Wed

• Cost of Entry: Prices vary by age. Children 12 and under are free. 

Located inside the city’s original Central Fire Headquarters, the San Antonio Fire Museum has become one of the top firefighter museums in the country.

Explore antique fire trucks, equipment dating back to the 1800s, and artifacts from some of the biggest 5-alarm fires. 

• Hours of Operation: Tue–Sat 10a – 4p (last entry at 3:30p) | Closed Sun & Mon

• Cost of Entry: Prices vary by age. Children 2 and under are free. 

Happy 10 years to The DoSeum, San Antonio’s museum for kids! Here, young ones can enjoy a hands-on learning experience rooted in STEM principles. Kid-favorite exhibits include Spy Academy, where they can solve mysteries through math, and Little Town, which has its own miniature HEB!

If you're visiting before September 1, 2025, you'll want to catch Emotions at Play with Pixar's Inside Out, which invites children to explore and better understand how we express our emotions and the essential role emotions, memory, and imagination play in our everyday lives.

• Hours of Operation: Mon, Wed–Fri 10a –5p | Sat 9a –5p | Sun 12–5p | Closed Tue

• Cost of Entry: Prices vary by age. Children under 1 are free. 

Located in San Antonio’s arts-driven Southtown neighborhood, Contemporary at Blue Star is an art museum that fosters emerging talent in the contemporary art world, and entry to exhibits is always free.

With 12 exhibitions hosted yearly, there is always something new, exciting, and thought-provoking to see. 

Be sure to catch Fabiola Menchelli: ombré, which showcases new works by Fabiola Menchelli that build on her Parallelograms series. Through minimal, material-focused photography, the installation offers a softened, immersive visual experience.

• Hours of Operation: Wed 12–5p | Thu–Fri 12–8p | Sat–Sun 10a – 6p | Closed Mon, Tue

• Cost of Entry: Free for everyone. Donations welcome.

Hopscotch offers over 20,000 square feet of fully immersive art exhibits you get to be a part of!

Explore 15 installations created by 40 local and international artists that encourage you to play and jump into the art. Here, photos and fun are highly encouraged. 

• Hours of Operation: Mon & Thu 11a – 9p | Fri–Sat 10a – 10p | Closed Tue & Wed | (last ticket available at 8:45p on operating days)

• Cost of Entry: Prices vary by age. Children 3 & under are free.

Explore two museums for the price of one when you visit the Buckhorn Saloon and Texas Ranger Museum.

These museums offer the full Texas experience, showcasing a collection of exotic stuffed animals and offering a glimpse into real cowboy life.

If you’re wondering how the saloon acquired so many hunting mounts, it’s because they used to exchange bar tabs for antlers back in the day!

• Hours of Operation: Hours vary by day; check website for up-to-date information.

• Cost of Entry: Prices vary by age. Children 2 & under are free.