Free San Antonio First-Timer Checklist

The full checklist

San Antonio is friendly to first-timers. The big sights sit close together downtown, several of the best ones are free, and you can skip the rental car for most of a short trip. What catches people out are the small things: the Alamo needs a reservation even though it's free, city garages only take cards, and the heat can wreck a midday mission visit.

Here's the full checklist we'd hand a friend. Every price and rule below was checked against official sites in October 2026. Things change, so use the linked pages to confirm before you go.

Before you go

• [ ] Pick your base. Staying near the River Walk or Alamo Plaza puts most first-trip sights within walking distance. See where to stay.
• [ ] Check what's happening. Big events like Fiesta, conventions and New Year's Eve raise city parking to an event rate. Look at this weekend before you lock in dates.
• [ ] Sketch a loose plan. Three days is plenty for downtown, the missions and one day trip. Our 3-day itinerary has a ready-made version.
• [ ] Download two apps: the SAPark app for paying street meters by phone, and VIA's goMobile+ app for bus fares.
• [ ] Coming in late November? The 2026 Ford Holiday River Parade is Friday, Nov. 27, at 6 p.m., and parts of the River Walk path close that afternoon for parade seating. Our River Walk guide has the details.
• [ ] Set a rough daily budget for food, attractions and getting around. Three to four days is a comfortable first visit.

Booking checklist

• [ ] Alamo Church entry (free, reservation required). Reserve a timed ticket on the Alamo's site or at the Welcome Center. The Alamo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and closed December 25.
• [ ] Optional Alamo upgrade. The guided Remember the Alamo tour costs about $48 for adults and $38 for kids 12 and under. The self-guided audio experience costs about $20 and $18 (as of October 2026). Changes need one business day's notice, and no-shows aren't refunded.
• [ ] Small-group tours and day trips. Hill Country wine tours and van mission tours cap groups at about 10, so book these first. Compare options in our best tours roundup.
• [ ] River cruise: no booking needed. Go Rio tickets aren't tied to a date or time, and boats leave about every 15 minutes. Large groups should call ahead.
• [ ] Thinking about CityPASS? It covers four attractions over nine days, including the Alamo Exhibit and a Go Rio cruise, for about $63 for adults and $53 for kids 3 to 11 (as of October 2026). It's worth doing the math if you'll visit at least three of the attractions.

Packing checklist

• [ ] Refillable water bottle. The missions don't sell single-use plastic water bottles, but every mission site has refill stations (NPS).
• [ ] Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Most of the Alamo site is outdoors. NPS notes temperatures can rise quickly at any time of year and often go above 103°F in summer.
• [ ] Bug spray. The Alamo's own list suggests it.
• [ ] Comfortable walking shoes for the River Walk, the mission grounds and any walking tour.
• [ ] A small umbrella for shade or a sudden storm.
• [ ] A credit card. City parking garages and lots don't accept cash.
• [ ] Clothes without offensive slogans. The Alamo's Rules of Reverence don't allow them.
• [ ] Light layers and a sweater. Restaurants and museums often run cold, and evenings cool off in winter.
• [ ] One nicer outfit for a dinner out, and a swimsuit if your hotel has a pool.
• [ ] A power bank and a small day bag. You'll use your phone for maps, tickets and photos all day.

Want the full list by season? See what to pack for San Antonio.

On arrival

• [ ] Airport to downtown by bus: VIA Route 5 leaves from the far west end of Terminal B on the lower (arrivals) roadway and takes about 30 minutes to downtown for $1.30 (SAT airport).
• [ ] Buy a VIA Day Pass ($2.75) if you'll ride more than twice. Day Passes are sold on the bus, and transfers are free within 2.5 hours (VIA fares).
• [ ] Driving? Don't plan to park at the Alamo. It has no lot. Drop passengers on Houston Street at Avenue E, then use a city garage.
• [ ] Save your hotel address and confirmations offline, plus offline maps of downtown.
• [ ] Find a Go Rio dock (Rivercenter, Historia or Aztec) for a 35-minute orientation cruise on your first afternoon.

Getting around

• [ ] Walk plus rideshare covers most first trips. Uber and Lyft both operate in San Antonio; rent a car only if you're planning Hill Country day trips.
• [ ] Walk downtown. The River Walk technically never closes, though most restaurants along it close around 10 p.m.
• [ ] Know the parking rules. Street meters cost about $1.80 an hour and are enforced Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. They're free after 6 p.m. and all day Sunday. City garages and lots charge about $2 to $10 a day (SAPark).
• [ ] No in-and-out parking at city facilities, so if you leave, you pay again.
• [ ] Missions by car, bike or tour. Mission Concepción is about 3 miles south of downtown, and the missions are spaced 2.5 to 3 miles apart. The Mission Reach Hike & Bike Trail connects them. It's out-and-back, so plan for the return ride.

Must-dos for a first trip

• [ ] The Alamo Church with a reserved ticket. Leave 30 minutes to an hour for the Church and grounds. Hats come off inside, and flash photography isn't allowed.
• [ ] Musket-firing demonstration in Plaza de Valero at 11:30 a.m. daily. It's free and takes 15 minutes.
• [ ] A River Walk cruise with Go Rio (35 minutes, daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. most of the year). Our River Walk guide covers the rest.
• [ ] Mission San José, the park's visitor center, for a free ranger program at 10 or 11 a.m.
• [ ] One more mission, like Concepción, which NPS calls the nation's oldest unrestored stone church.
• [ ] A Tex-Mex or barbecue meal. Start with our food guide.
• [ ] One neighborhood beyond downtown: the Pearl, Southtown or King William.
• [ ] Leave one flexible afternoon. Have a backup for a rainy or very hot day, like a museum or the Pearl's shops.

More history? Our Alamo & missions guide goes deeper.

Food and drink

• [ ] Try breakfast tacos at least once. It's how the city starts the day.
• [ ] Pick two or three restaurants ahead of time, and reserve one nicer dinner. Popular spots fill up on weekends.
• [ ] Check hours before you go. Some places close earlier on weeknights, and Mi Tierra is no longer open 24 hours.
• [ ] Carry a little cash for tips and small vendors, even though most places take cards.

Money-savers

• [ ] Free: Alamo Church entry, the Alamo film Crossroads of History (shown daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), the River Walk itself, and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.
• [ ] $5 parking at St. Mary's Garage (205 E. Travis St.) after 5 p.m. on weeknights and all day Saturday and Sunday. The event rate is $15 when it applies.
• [ ] Free Sunday parking at City Tower Garage (60 N. Flores St.) from 7 a.m. to midnight.
• [ ] Free Thursday-night parking: "Downtown Thursday" makes city-owned garages free from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. every Thursday through the end of 2026, with some exclusions such as convention and Majestic Theatre show nights.
• [ ] Take the $1.30 bus from the airport instead of a cab.
• [ ] Military discounts are offered by Go Rio for active, retired and veteran service members and their families, and the Alamo offers military and senior (65+) discounts.

FAQ

Do I really need a reservation for the Alamo if it's free?

Yes. Entry to the Alamo Church is free, but the Alamo requires a reserved timed ticket. You can book online or at the Alamo Welcome Center.

Can I get around San Antonio without a car?

For a downtown-focused trip, yes. VIA buses cost $1.30 a ride or $2.75 for a day pass, Route 5 connects the airport to downtown, and the River Walk and Alamo are walkable. For the missions, use a tour, a bike or a rideshare.

Where's the cheapest place to park downtown?

City-owned garages are your best bet. St. Mary's Garage costs $5 on weeknights after 5 p.m. and all weekend, City Tower Garage is free on Sundays, and all city garages are free on Thursday nights through 2026. Street meters are free after 6 p.m. and on Sundays.

When is the best time of day to visit the missions?

Morning. You'll catch the 10 or 11 a.m. ranger program at Mission San José and miss the worst of the afternoon heat.